16 High • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2021 maintenance? • HOUSE TO HOME
hardwood floors
YOUR LOCAL EXPERTS IN SALES
2725 Freeport Road • Natrona Heights
Janet Christine
Joy
Robbie
Cassie
Jennifer
www.crehomes.com
Czekalski
Spece
Foust
Singer
Gillette
McMillan
CZEKALSKI REAL
ESTATE INC.
West Penn™
Multi-List
724.226.0700 adno=200178
NEW
LISTING
Natrona Heights Natrona Heights
Sarver
• Brick 2 story on 200’ deep level lot
• Move in condition
• Gameroom in basement
• Private / Huge parcel
$129,900
Janet/Christine 724-544-1211
Natrona Heights Natrona Heights
$129,900
Janet/Christine 724-544-1211
$149,900
Janet/Christine 724-544-1211
• Adorable 2 story on Carlisle
• Spacious bedrooms
• Gameroom in basement
• Very nice condition
• 3 or 4 bedrooms
• Updated kitchen / 1st floor den
• Formal dining room
• Fenced yard / Detached garage
$27,500
Cassie 724-594-4325
$274,900
Joy 724-889-5899
• Large, level lot
• 83’x200’
• Quiet Neighborhood
• Perfect for building
• 2 flat acres
• Finished gameroom
• Covered patio
• 3 BR / 2 full BA
NEW
LISTING
NEW
LISTING
NEW
LISTING
Natrona Heights
• First floor master bedroom
• Private corner lot
• Beautiful kitchen
• 4 BR / Hardwood flooring
$248,000
Janet/Christine 724-544-1211
NEW
LISTING
Hardwood floors have long been
sought after by home buyers.
In its 2019 “Remodeling Impact
Report,” the National Association
of Realtors revealed that
new wood flooring was the fourth
most popular project to attract
buyers.
Of course, hardwood floors
aren’t just for buyers.
Homeowners who already
have hardwood floors know just
how impressive these floors can
be, especially when they’re well
maintained.
Maintaining wood floors is not
necessarily as straightforward
as it may seem, and homeowners
may benefit from a tutorial on
how to keep the floors under their
feet looking good.
To polish or not to polish?
Polishing floors is an inexpensive
way to keep them looking
good. But the home improvement
experts at BobVila.com note that
not all floors can be polished,
and determining which ones can
depends on the finish.
Floors with waterproof barriers
such as urethane will benefit
from routine polishing. However,
floors with penetrating finishes
like tung oil will need to be waxed
rather than polished.
What finish is on the floor?
The Hardwood Distributor’s
Association recommends a simple
way for homeowners to determine
which type of finish is
on their hardwood floors. Homeowners
are advised to rub a finger
across the floor. If no smudge
appears, then the floor is surface
sealed. If a smudge is created,
then the floor has been treated
with a penetrating seal. The HDA
also notes that recently installed
wood floors are likely surface
sealed.
How often should floors be
polished or waxed?
Wood flooring professionals
recommend polishing floors that
can be polished once every few
months. Waxing wood floors does
not need to be done as frequently,
and most can benefit from a fresh
coat of wax every 12 to 18 months.
What can I do
on a daily basis?
Some simple tricks and daily
maintenance can help wood
floors maintain their impressive
look.
• Utilize floor mats. The HDA
notes that floor mats near entryways
can reduce the time it
takes to clean hardwood floors
and reduce the wear and tear
they endure. For example, tiny
particles like dirt can scratch the
floor and contribute to the kind of
minor damage that adds up to significant
scarring over time. Floor
mats near entryways ensure that
most of that dirt never makes it
to the wood floors.
• Vacuum without a beater bar.
Some vacuums contain beater
bars, which are designed to pick
up human hair, dog hair and
other things that conventional
vacuums may not be able to pick
up. The HDA advises vacuuming
without the beater bar, as it
can contribute to small scratches
in the floor. Sweeping with a
high-quality broom or microfiber
cloth is another way to pick up
dirt without damaging floors.
• Use manufacturer-recommended
cleaning products. Local
home improvement stores sell a
host of hardwood floor cleaning
products, but the HDA notes that
many flooring manufacturers
now sell their own hardwood floor
cleaners designed specifically for
their floors. These products are
likely homeowners’ best bets.
Homeowners who can’t find them
can seek recommendations from
a local flooring retailer.
Hardwood floors are attractive
for many reasons. And they look
even more stunning, and last
much longer, when homeowners
make an effort to maintain them.
METRO CREATIVE
How to maintain
METRO CREATIVE