Once you install gorgeous hardwood floors in your home, there are a handful of maintenance tasks you should perform to get the most out of your investment. Winter care is particularly important since wood flooring tends to dry out, shrink, and form gaps when temperatures drop. Here are some tips on how to avoid cold weather issues.

How to Avoid Hardwood Floor Gaps

1. Adjust Ventilation

One of the keys to keeping your hardwood floors from drying and shrinking is minimizing their exposure to outdoor air. During the winter months, reduce the ventilation in your home. This means caulking gaps in windows, applying weatherstripping beneath doors, and repairing any punctures in your roofing. Add insulation to your walls and attic to provide an extra barrier against chilly outdoor air.

2. Increase Moisture Levels

Throughout the cold season, use humidifiers in the rooms of your home that contain hardwood floors. You may also want to attach a humidifier to your central HVAC system to add moisture to your entire house. Install a humidity monitor to ensure moisture levels remain healthy—the last thing you need is mold and mildew infestations. Keep in mind, too, that daily tasks such as bathing and washing naturally add moisture to your indoor air. 

3. Choose Different Boards

If you haven’t installed hardwood floors yet or are looking into replacements, select boards that will stand up to cold weather. For instance, red oak tends to shrink much less than hickory, so make your species selection based on winter durability. Narrow boards are another smart option since they do not contract as much as wide planks. Limit the number of joints in your flooring, too, since these tend to create opportunities for gaps. 

For over 25 years, Carolina Wood Floors has provided durable and beautiful flooring solutions to residential and commercial clients. They offer new flooring installations, maintenance, and refinishing to the Winston-Salem, NC, region. Call (336) 765-0680 to get a quote on hardwood floors. Visit them online to browse through their gallery of ideas and learn more about wood floor benefits.