About a year ago an experienced window cleaner posted that he no longer will move anything in a customer’s home when it is on a hardwood floor after paying for some scratches he is confident he did not put on the floor. He said he had in the past freely moved desks, couches, tables, etc., that obstructed his ability to reach a glass behind them safely.
Recently I had a situation where a customer claimed we had scratched their floor only to have her contractor come out and explain to her the difference between a scratch and a scuff and how her situation was correctable by using a $10 kit from Lowes. (He did it on the spot)
We have always worked very carefully in and around hardwood floors as a precautionary measure for our customers and us. We use drop cloths and ladder stoppers and whatever it takes to attempt to protect the floor.
What are some things you all do to protect hardwood floors?
Unfortunately many homeowners do not protect their furniture from scratching the flooring. Hardwood is very durable, but not scratch or dent proof.
All retail store that sell floor covering also sell felt pads to put on the bottom of furniture for this purpose . Also hardwood manufacturers will not warranty against scratching if the buyer does not take proper precautions to protect their investment !
If your going to move furniture on Hardwood, go out and buy a sheet of 1/8 inch Masonite. Cut 4 pieces (1 ft. x 4 ft) and slide them under what ever you can’t safely lift. The furniture will slide effortlessly on masonite ! Movers & floor installers use this method daily and it will save your back from injury.
I have personally used this method as a floor installer. The last thing you want to do is
repair or replace the the brand new floor that you just finished installing.
Another floor to be very careful with is sheet vinyl . It will tear if furniture is not move correctly. Then you will be replacing the floor . It happened to a painting contractor the same day I finished an installation.
Unfortunately many homeowners do not protect their furniture from scratching the flooring. Hardwood is very durable, but not scratch or dent proof.
All retail store that sell floor covering also sell felt pads to put on the bottom of furniture for this purpose . Also hardwood manufacturers will not warranty against scratching if the buyer does not take proper precautions to protect their investment !
If your going to move furniture on Hardwood, go out and buy a sheet of 1/8 inch Masonite. Cut 4 pieces (1 ft. x 4 ft) and slide them under what ever you can’t safely lift. The furniture will slide effortlessly on masonite ! Movers & floor installers use this method daily and it will save your back from injury.
I have personally used this method as a floor installer. The last thing you want to do is
repair or replace the the brand new floor that you just finished installing.
Another floor to be very careful with is sheet vinyl . It will tear if furniture is not move correctly. Then you will be replacing the floor . It happened to a painting contractor the same day I finished an installation.
In our company handbook we have a section stating that no one person is to move any furniture alone. Always use two people when attempting to move anything.
Dwight,
I use the furniture movers with the carpeted bottom (they are the regular round ones with a sleeve over them) but you still have to be careful that there is no little debris that gets stuck between them and the floor.
Gerd
I have small soft rubber mats I bought at Wal-mart. I think about $8 a piece. When I move furniture I just place felt under and slide away
four years back I was accused of 'scratching" hardwood floors. Then I used nothing but large towels. I’m about 80% sure I didn’t scratch the floors. She claimed the ladders scratched through the towels. I may have scratched them. But I did see other similar scratches in other rooms I had yet to clean
anywho I now have a system when I see hardwood floors to immediately look for scratches. Once I find ANY I start a conversation about scratches on hardwood floors. So far 100% of my clients have told me how difficult it is to keep the scratches from happening. I tell them about my mats, and how I am going to protect their floors, I show them their scratches, they seem grateful and so far I have not had any problems since 2005
Been thinking about offering a service to my customers to replace or install felt on the bottoms of their furniture. This thread has resparked that idea
I put bottle caps under the legs of all the furniture I move in a home. Makes wondering designs in the wood that I give to the customer free of charge. lol. Seriously most of the time I skinny enough to get around stuff but when I can’t I lift one side then the other. Furniture is always moved very carefully. It’s always the items around the stuff I need to move that I worry about.
I try to keep it simple. Huck towels are aways close at hand. I place a folded huck towel under the foot and that is quick and effiecient for me. Felt furniture coaters always seem to be to far away and take to much time to go and get.
