In our 50 years of installing and restoring hardwood floors in northeast Wisconsin, we’ve learned a lot about how they can be damaged.
Don’t get me wrong—hardwood floors are extremely durable and easy to maintain. It doesn’t take a lot of work or money to keep them looking beautiful and unblemished for many years.
Unfortunately, our experience has been that some homeowners make easily avoidable mistakes that damage their floors. A prime example is failing to put furniture pads under the feet of chairs (or stools, sofas, etc.)
Furniture pads are inexpensive and take little effort to install, and they can save a floor from getting scuffed up. Using them is a simple step that we strongly encourage all our customers to take.
Glides Are Great; Nails Aren’t
Chair glides are the best pad option for chairs with wooden feet. Glides are a base with a built-in felt bottom that allows the chair to slide across the floor rather than scratching the wood’s finish.
Traditionally, glides have been connected to the leg bottom with a nail that comes attached on the top side of the base. However, we don’t recommend that style. The bases sometimes crack, or come lose from the nail, and when that happens, the nail can easily scratch the floor.
A better choice is to use tap-in glides. Rather than a nail, on top of their base is a hollow cylinder made of thin but sturdy metal that’s sharp enough to be tapped into the wood of the leg bottom with a hammer. These cylinders are less likely to crack the wood than a nail, attach more firmly, and provide more support to the base.
Adhesive Pads Get the Job Done
Adhesive felt pads can also be used for chairs, and they are far better than no protection at all. The problem is that—unlike the felt pads of glides—they tend to come unglued if the chairs are used a lot.
If you have chairs with metal feet, you have no other option than adhesive pads. Don’t worry! They will give you all the protection you need. You might get tired of replacing them, but it’s a minor annoyance at worst—easily worth protecting your floors.
And if you have chairs with wooden feet but are using adhesive pads rather than glides, rest assured that your floors are protected just fine. Glides are nice, but you can get by with adhesive pads as long as you look out for ones that come lose and keep the pads clean. (Whether using glides or adhesive pads, it’s important to routinely clean them if they’re in areas where they might pick up grit, such as a kitchen.)
Takeaway
Hardwood floors are an investment that can last a lifetime—and look beautiful doing it. Just remember: Any chairs that will come in contact with your hardwood floors need some padding!
