Don’t Let the Dry Heat Win: Protecting Your Hardwood This NY Winter

In Western New York, we spend half the year fighting moisture (snow) and the other half fighting the lack of it. While we’re staying warm inside our homes in Tonawanda or Olean, our hardwood floors are often gasping for air.

When your furnace kicks on, the humidity drops, and your wood floors can begin to shrink, gap, or even crack. At Custom Carpet Centers, we want your investment to last a lifetime. Here is how to keep your hardwood healthy until the spring thaw.

How to Protect Your Home from Winter Dryness

1. Aim for the “Sweet Spot” Humidity

Wood is a “hygroscopic” material, meaning it acts like a sponge. It swells in the humid Buffalo summers and shrinks in the dry winter. To keep your floors stable, you need to maintain a consistent indoor environment.

• The Goal: Keep your home’s humidity between 35% and 55%.

• The Solution: If you don’t have a whole-house humidifier, use portable ones in high-traffic rooms. This prevents “gapping”—those small spaces that appear between planks when the wood dries out.

2. The “Salt Scratches” Dilemma

The salt and brine used on the streets in Williamsville and Jamestown are hardwood’s worst enemies. Those white crystals act like sandpaper. Every time you walk across the floor with salty socks or shoes, you are micro-scratching the finish.

• The Fix: Implement a strict “No Shoes” policy. Place heavy-duty mats both inside and outside every entrance to catch the grit before it reaches your wood.

3. Winter Cleaning: Less is More

It’s tempting to deep-clean the salt stains away, but “wet mopping” during winter can be a disaster. If the wood is dry and thirsty, it might soak up too much water at once, leading to “cupping” (where the edges of the board sit higher than the center).

• The Fix: Use a microfiber mop and a professional cleaner recommended by our experts. Never pour water directly on the floor; spray the mop head instead.

4. Add a Protective Layer

Winter is the perfect time to “dress” your hardwood. Area rugs don’t just add a pop of color; they act as a shield in high-traffic zones like hallways and entryways where snow and salt are most likely to land.

Preserve Your Hardwood Floors. Consult the Experts at Custom Carpet Centers

Your hardwood floors are a living part of your home. With a little bit of humidity control and a “boots-off” policy, you can ensure they survive the New York freeze without losing their luster. A little maintenance now prevents expensive repairs or refinishing come springtime.

Talk to the Experts at Custom Carpet Centers

Still seeing gaps in your flooring or worried about salt damage? Our local experts are ready to help. Visit us in Orchard Park, Williamsville, Tonawanda, Niagara Falls, or Jamestown. If you’re in the Olean area, let us come to you with our Shop at Home service!

Call Custom Carpet Centers now to talk to a flooring specialist or visit us online to see our latest hardwood-safe cleaning supplies and area rug collections.