A hardwood floor can add beauty and value to a single-family rental property. However, if your rental home has hardwood floors, you must take particular care to maintain their condition. Regular maintenance is essential. Tenants are frequently very rough with hardwood floors, accidentally scratching and gouging them out of ignorance.
One of the best ways to keep the hardwood floors in your Ocala rental property functional and aesthetically pleasing is through regular hardwood floor maintenance. However, it is essential to know how to maintain a hardwood floor effectively. For instance, the majority of hardwood floors have surface treatments that shield the wood from liquid spillage, scratches, and other types of damage. Keep this finish intact for the best chance of extending the life of your floor.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Avoid using harsh or abrasive cleansers on hardwood floors, as they may damage the finish or strip away the protective sealant. Utilize gentle, safe for wood surfaces, pH-neutral, or specially formulated hardwood floor cleaners. Hardwood can be damaged by harsh cleaning agents or poor cleaning methods. Experts advise using a soft microfiber mop or cloth to sweep grime and dust off the floor. A hardwood floor can be scraped by vacuums, and regular mops use too much water, which could potentially harm the surface.
Avoid Excessive Moisture or Sunlight
It’s crucial to prevent substantial water or liquid spills on hardwood floors since moisture can quickly destroy them. In order to avoid spills causing damage to the wood, clean up all spills right away. Instead of saturating the floor with water, use a barely damp mop to clean it. Additionally, hardwood flooring color may fade if they receive too much direct sunshine. To prevent overexposure, use draperies, blinds, or window films to block sunlight.
Regular Cleaning and Preventative Measures
Working with your tenants to maintain the hardwood flooring in your rental property is one of the best ways to preserve its pristine appearance. One of the first things you should do is provide your tenant with maintenance and cleaning instructions for the hardwood flooring. By instructing them in proper maintenance, you can extend the durability and attractiveness of the hardwood while preventing damage.
In order to avoid dirt and grit from being tracked onto the hardwood floor, suggest to tenants that they place mats or rugs in high-traffic areas and entryways. To prevent scratching or denting the surface when moving or rearranging goods, think about inserting felt pads or furniture coasters under the legs of the furniture.
Periodic Maintenance
Even with excellent maintenance, hardwood floors need a little extra care every few years or in between tenancies. The finish of a floor may deteriorate and gather scratches or other faults with continued use. Nevertheless, if that’s all that’s wrong, it’s likely you won’t need to refinish the floor extensively. A new coat of finish and screening, which roughens up the surface of the existing finish, are typically all that is needed to restore a worn-out hardwood floor. Repairing and refinishing may be your only option if your hardwood floor has become severely damaged, warped, has deep scratches, or has other problems. It takes time, skilled assistance, and specific tools to refinish a floor.
Taking care of hardwood floors does not have to be difficult, but enlisting your tenant’s assistance requires additional planning and encouragement. However, if you keep up strong relations with your tenants, they’ll be more inclined to assist you in preserving the quality of your priceless hardwood floor.
Make managing your rental properties less stressful and time-consuming. At Real Property Management Diversified, we handle the lease paperwork, renter relations, professional vendors, and everything else! Contact us or call us at 352-854-2221 and talk to a professional Ocala property manager today.
Originally Published on November 29, 2019
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