There are a wide variety of hard floors chosen for a wide variety of locations and for a variety of reasons. Choices range from natural slate and stone, fabricated ceramic tiles, hard wood floors and even different types of vinyl. The different options offer a limitless range of designs, colours, shapes and qualities for aesthetic reasons, but the floor type is also often chosen due to its suitability for the location and the qualities it offers such as durability and ease of maintenance.
Floors require maintenance and no matter how durable or stain resistant a floor is, it will soon lose its visual appeal if not cared for regularly. As an introduction a few basics can be covered which will, in general, be applicable to all floors – although for specifics of each floor you would be well advised to consult a specialist.
In general the main threats to the floor come from spillages which can cause surface damage and staining, and surface scratching which can expose the surface and allow a place for staining and bacteria to build up over time until there is a stain which is impossible to remove using general cleaning techniques. The following simple steps should help you to keep your floor looking good.
The first step is to apply a good quality sealant to the floor. This should be done only when the floor has been properly cleaned otherwise you will be ‘sealing in’ the marks and stains – this happens more often than you would think. The other important factor to consider is choosing the correct sealant. Different floor types require different sealants, and even with similar surfaces (such as natural stone) there can be different sealants which are suitable. You would be well advised to consult a floor care specialist for advice.
A sealant will offer an extra barrier of protection and will help to waterproof the floor against spillages. Spillages are most common in areas such as bathrooms and kitchens, and usually tiles are used in the floors for these areas. If that is your case you also need to consider protecting the grout. Grout is the material used to fill the spaces between the edges of tiles and is a notoriously porous substance which means it will stain easily. Grout usually requires a separate grout sealer which a hard floor cleaning or restoration company will be able to offer you.
Surface scratching is one of the major problems for all surface types and causes maintenance problems. Surface scratching can remove sealants or the ‘glaze’ on ceramic tiles and expose the stainable surface below. Spillages will also affect these unprotected areas – especially with substances such as hard wood and can very quickly leave your floor with an unsatisfactory finish. Surface scratching and abrasions are generally caused by sand, dirt and grit walked in on the soles of shoes. If you doubt this – take a quick look at your shoes when you walk in from the streets, you may be surprised. Regular sweeping and vacuuming will remove the majority of surface grit while the simple step of using doormats should help reduce the amount being introduced into the area.
Regular mopping, depending on the floor type, should be enough to keep the floor looking clean, but read carefully before using a cleaning product to make sure it is suitable. In general, products with an acidic content will affect some floors such as limestone, but a safe bet is to use warm water with a little detergent or a neutral PH cleaner. If you have any doubts – contact a floor care consultant.
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