Did you feel the coolness in the air? Already, signs of fall are everywhere.

Yes, it may seem too early to have summer fade into fall. But here in Colorado, it’s never far away. And while many celebrate those first few days of cold, knowing ski season comes along with wintertime, it can also mean significant changes to your home.

With winter comes snow. And with snow often comes snow melting materials – and some of the biggest problems that can impact hardwood flooring. The only way to combat it is to take preventative measures before problems occur.

When snow occurs, the best way to ward off damage to your hardwood floors is to install mats and rugs near all entrances that lead outside. This will help rub off any snow and snow melting materials as you enter your home.

Even better, take off your shoes and boots the moment you enter. This prevents snow and other materials from being tracked throughout your home.

Snow melting materials can easily scratch the wood. They can also leave an unsightly white residue which can build up quickly. And if water is allowed to puddle anywhere in your home, it can quickly seep in and begin to warp the wood.

During the winter months, wood contracts as the heat goes, up, humidity levels go down, and dryness settles into the wood. That causes gaps to exist throughout your flooring. And these gaps are especially susceptible to problems. If water sinks in, it can cause problems down the road.

There’s no real concern for this expansion and contraction process. Yet you should take care to ensure damage isn’t allowed to occur because of the time of year. If you notice gaps, you can place a humidifier in the room to try and increase humidity in that area. However, this may not be enough to prompt your floors to expand. It may be something you deal with until spring, and the heater is turned off for the season.

The key to understanding how hardwood flooring works and what to expect is to fully educate yourself before you install hardwood flooring into your home.

Have any questions about the process? We’re here to help.