You made a timeless, tasteful choice when you installed your hardwood floors. The only problem: they’re super susceptible to scratches, dents, and scuffs.  

The biggest culprit of this damage is your home furniture, especially chairs and tables. Every time they scoot around or someone plops down on them, they impact and grind against your hardwood leaving cuts and ruts.  

Fortunately, with a little effort and the right tools, you can find floor protection from chairs and other furniture that keeps your hardwood safe. Today, let’s look at some practical, actionable solutions to ensure your hardwood is secure against everyday wear and tear.  

Why Do Chairs Damage Hardwood Floors?  

The beauty of hardwood floors seems like it would translate to toughness, but unfortunately, they’re more vulnerable than most homeowners realize. This is especially true with softer woods like pine or birch.  

These dent and scratch easily, and even tougher varieties like oak fall victim to scratches caused by chair legs. Add a little dirt into the mix and any time you scoot a chair, it’s like you ran sandpaper across your floor.  

The worst offenders are rolling office chairs. Their plastic casters grind down hardwood finishes and leave unsightly scars in their wake. Without proper methods for hardwood floor protection from chairs, your floors might turn into a patchwork of scratches.  

Practical Protective Solutions  

1. Felt Pads for Chair Legs  

Attaching felt pads to chair legs is one of the simplest ways to prevent hardwood floor damage. These soft pads are super affordable barriers that enable chairs to glide smoothly without marking up your surfaces. They’re also easy to install and available almost everywhere.  

Make sure to routinely check the pads for dirt buildup or wear. They break down after long periods of use, so try to find durable, high-quality options from trusted brands, and replace them periodically.  

2. Furniture Sliders and Glides  

Any heavier furniture items like dining tables, sofas, or moving islands need extra help. You can find furniture sliders or glides made from felt, rubber, or plastic that allow easy movement without damage.  

Apply sliders any time you need to rearrange your furniture or during your deep cleaning sessions. They’re convenient and easy to install, that’s why we recommend you have a full set on hand at all times.  

3. Area Rugs and Rug Pads  

Rugs aren’t just about decoration or acoustic dampening for your home theater room. They also provide a ton of floor protection from chairs – especially around high-traffic areas.  

Find non-slip rug pads to keep your rugs securely in place. These pads perform a double-duty of keeping your rug from moving and adding extra cushion to protect the floor. Nice to walk on too!  

4. Furniture Coasters  

Furniture coasters – also called furniture cups – are another great way to mitigate damage. They’re made from rubber, felt, or plastic and are designed to evenly distribute weight from heavier furniture pieces. Grab and implement these ASAP if you’re worried about indentations on your hardwood.  

5. Rolling Chair Fixes  

Your office chairs can tear up your hardwood any time you move around in them, mostly due to how their plastic wheels dig into the floor beneath them. Replace those wheels with polyurethane ones immediately. Polyurethane is far more friendly to your floors and offers a smoother glide without leaving scratches.  

If you can’t find replacement wheels, place a protective mat under your office chair. You can find these at most office stores at around the same cost as a big rug.  

Additional Tips for Maintaining Hardwood Floors  

Even if you’ve done your due diligence and applied all these protective measures, you’ll still need to perform regular maintenance. Here’s a few extra tips to help keep your hardwood floors looking their best:  

• Clean Often: Even if you don’t see any debris, make sure to vacuum or sweep frequently to remove any tiny particles that could scratch your surfaces.
• Apply a Protective Finish: There are plenty of durable finishes or floor waxes on the market to help you add an extra protective layer against scratches and moisture.
• Fix Damage Quickly: The moment you spot damage, fix it before it worsens using wood markers or repair kits.

Always follow the flooring manufacturer’s guidelines before using any products or repair kits! 

Extend Your Hardwood Flooring’s Lifespan  

You paid the premium to have a home with beautiful hardwood floors, the least you can do is provide them the care and attention they deserve. With these tips, you can help prevent unsightly damage with smart strategies for floor protection from chairs and other furniture.  

Want to learn more about protecting a wide range of home flooring? Curious about which types of floors stand the tests of time the longest? At Empire Today®, we’ve got you covered with tons of helpful information on our company blog.  

And if you’d like to learn more about your options for upgrading your home flooring, reach out to a member of the Empire® team to schedule a FREE in-home flooring estimate!