Making your hardwood flooring look as good as new can be as simple as purchasing the right kind of solution. But at the same time, the right way to repair your floors depends on factors like the severity of the scratches, the type of wood, and your flooring’s finish.

It’s best to ask your manufacturer for recommendations based on your individual needs. In fact, if you don’t ask your manufacturer, you run the risk of voiding your warranty.

Generally speaking, if the scratch has penetrated only your floor’s finish and is not in the wood, you should ask your hardwood flooring’s manufacturer to recommend a touch-up kit for urethane finishes. Using the kit’s directions, you may be able to easily repair the scratches. Just remember to always begin at the outer edge of the scratch and work toward the center.

Again, it is important to take your individual situation into consideration, so don’t do anything without first asking your manufacturer for recommendations!

To prevent further scratches in your hardwood floors, here are a few helpful hints:

Use floor protectors and wide-load-bearing leg bases or rollers to minimize scratches from heavy objects on your floors. The heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.

Never try to slide or roll heavy objects across your floor. When rearranging heavy furniture or appliances, first put down a sheet of quarter-inch plywood or Masonite to protect the floor, then use a dolly to move your object.

Keep your pet’s nails trimmed to keep them from scratching your flooring.

With some careful maintenance and some minor repairs, you can keep your hardwood floors looking beautiful for years to come.

Homeowners usually think about the effect of sunlight on furniture and artwork, but typically forget that it may also impact their hardwood floors.

Prolonged exposure to sunlight will eventually alter the color of just about any wood floor in some way, no matter what type of wood you choose. While some woods will lighten, others, like cherry and oak, typically darken. If this is a concern, check out the newest water-based urethane finishes that slow color changes more effectively than oil-based urethane finishes. Some finishes can prevent damage from ultraviolet rays even longer with built-in sunscreens.

There are some simple things you can do to safeguard against UV rays. Window coverings can help limit your floors’ exposure to sunlight. Also, periodically rearrange your area rugs and furniture so that the flooring ages evenly.

To find out how your hardwood floors will be affected by sunlight and how best to prevent a change in color, consult your manufacturer for recommendations.

It sounds like you need hardwood flooring that can stand up to challenges like pets and kids – without showing any battle scars.

For you, the experts would suggest oak, a favorite hard wood. Oak’s wood grain hides scratches and dents better than other types of wood. You should stay away from extremely light and dark finishes, which will be more likely to show every flaw.

What else should you avoid? Cherry, maple, pine and bamboo. No matter what you may have heard, these are soft woods that can scratch and dent easily. You’re better off sticking with oak, a beautiful hard wood.

That’s an excellent question for any homeowner, and the answer boils down to one word – moisture. Although opinions may vary about the best hardwood flooring for kitchens, the flooring experts at DirectBuy say the winner is…teak! Teak handles moisture better than any other type of hard wood.

Before you rush out to buy those teak planks, however, remember that nothing will repel water. At best, you can hope for some degree of resistance to significant water damage. If water sits on a laminate or wood floor for an extended amount of time, it is guaranteed to hurt your floor. Think about worst-case scenarios like a disaster with your washing machine, or a power outage melting the contents of your freezer. And it’s crucial to be on top of all those little spills no matter what type of wood floor you choose. Maintenance is key to keeping your floor looking gorgeous for years to come.

Overall, the safest way to go for your kitchen is ceramic tile. It’s beautiful and oh-so-easy to clean up. But don’t rule out laminate flooring entirely. You’ll love that it has the look of hardwood, but with a more low-maintenance flavor.