Living in Florida has a lot of advantages, but one of the few drawbacks is the extra wear and tear the climate has on people’s homes. Compared to our friends in the North and West, it seems that our roofs have to be replaced more frequently, our homes have to be sprayed for pests, and our flooring wears out faster. Unfortunately, this comes as a surprise to many newcomers to our area who don’t know how to protect their property against this damage. If you’ve just moved into a home, or if you’re thinking about making some upgrades, consider these issues.
1. Mildewing carpets. The first thing that most people who are new to Florida complain about is the humidity, but most people don’t think about how this moisture affects their carpet. The truth is that over time, the gradual build-up of small amounts of moisture is next to impossible to prevent. Frequent vacuuming can help, but it won’t remove water that gets into the padding under the carpet. This water becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew spores, eventually destroying the carpet.
2. Decomposing hardwood. Besides water, the other thing that Florida is famous for is bugs. Termites and other pests are a serious concern for homeowners with wood frame homes or wood floors. That means that the hardwood floors that are so popular in many homes are often a poor choice for a house in Florida.
3. Salt water and sand. If you love swimming, or if your family frequently finds itself on a boat or on the beach, odds are you’re tracking a lot of salt water and sand into your home. Unfortunately, salt water is highly corrosive. This means that it can break down the fibers in carpet and the materials in some types of grout. Sand gets everywhere, gets stuck in carpets and can scrape hard floors like sandpaper.
4. Chlorinated water. If your home has a swimming pool (or if you’re thinking about getting one), it’s a good idea to take the time to think about the effect that all that chemically treated water will have on your floors. Just having people in and out of your home dripping water on carpet and wood floors can cause a lot of damage, but chlorinated water in particular can cause these materials to fade, discolor, or even disintegrate.
Installing tile, or properly cleaning and sealing existing tile can protect your floors against all of these factors. Tiles are resistant to mildew and deterioration, and having them sealed means that there is little to no chance that you’ll need to worry about discoloration.
Gulf Coast Tile & Grout Renewal
239-283-1079