Floor repair

Floor repair can mean replacing one plank, one strip or even a whole section of the floor. The company will try and match the replacement floor as accurately as possible to the existing one, but an exact match is not always possible. Holes or gaps between the wood can sometimes be filled, although companies will usually not fill larger gaps as they do not hold the filler well over time. Filling large gaps can often look unsightly as well.

Wood flooring maintenance

The wood flooring company will give you guidance to how you should care for your individual floor, but here are some general tips which apply to all wood floors:

• Make sure that all tables and chairs are fitted with felt floor protector pads on the bottom of their legs. These will help stop them from scratching the floor or making dents in the surface. These pads must be kept grit free, and need to be regularly replaced.
• Only used a nylon broom to sweep the floor. Straw brooms are too rough and will cause scratches on the surface of the wood.
• When washing the floor, do not use too much water as this may cause the wood to discolour or may damage it. After cleaning, buff the floor with a cloth for best results.
• Keep your pet's nails clipped to stop them from scratching the floor.
• Keep mats just inside all doors leading to and from the wood floor, to keep as much grit off the floor as possible.
• Do not roll or slide furniture or appliances across the wood floor.
• Maintain all shoe heels properly so that they do not cause excess pressure on the floor and leave marks.

How much does it cost?

The price of the wood will vary according to which species is dwindling at that time. Wood prices vary enormously throughout the year, so your wood flooring agent will be able to provide you with information about what are the cheapest woods that would be suitable for your floor.

Hardwood flooring, which can range from £15 to £40 per square metre, is more expensive than laminate or engineered flooring, which will generally not cost more than £30 per square metre. Engineered flooring, however, costs between £20 and £80 per square metre.