Rejoice in Michigan, the summer weather is almost here! That means grilling out, fireworks, lounging in the pool or laying in the shade. But for your floors, summer paints a different picture.
Sun, heat, moisture and general summer traffic can have a major impact on your floors, so we wanted to provide our top tips on how to protect your floors this summer.
Minimize the Sun
Yes, we realize after a long winter that letting in as much sunlight as possible is difficult to resist. However, certain types of flooring are fairly sensitive to extended periods of time in the sun. Try and limit direct sunlight on the same sections of your flooring in order to prevent fading of your floors. Closing curtains is the best strategy to prevent sunlight from hitting your floors at all hours of the day. However, if you simply can’t resist allowing the sunlight in your home, try and move around some objects within your home throughout the week to lay some shade on those areas that are in the direct path of the sunlight. Perhaps some nice plants would do the trick.
Avoid Changes in Humidity
Many types of floors tremble at the thought of humidity, and summer months can wreak the most havoc with humidity. While you most likely won’t see any effects right away, prolonged standing moisture will eventually take its toll, leading to warping of hardwood or even mildew growth on carpet, if the moisture is heavy enough. Be sure to maintain a consistent level of moisture within the home. If you’re getting too much moisture during the summer, maybe it’s time to invest in a dehumidifier.
Heavy Traffic Areas
Of course, you’re going to experience your share of heavy rainstorms. Be sure to prevent any of the outdoor conditions making their way to your floors by prepping your entrances to the home. Welcome mats and doors mats are a great way of limiting dirt and mud to your floors. You can also keep plastic tubs at your entrances after a big rainstorm if the kids are coming in with muddy shoes.
So those are the big ones for us when it comes to the summer months. It’s important to enjoy the warm months because we all know they go by quickly. Just a few simple precautionary steps and your floors will enjoy the summer months just as you do.
