Scarborough Home Repairs: Protect Your Floors From Your Christmas Tree

The Christmas tree is one of the most enduring holiday traditions. Not only does the tree itself bring light and beauty to the festivities, but the whole process of choosing a tree and bringing it home can become a beloved tradition that brings families closer together. Unfortunately, when it comes time to take the tree down, you may find unexpected damage to the floors underneath. Flooring installation services in Scarborough can replace the damaged materials if necessary, but it is preferable to prevent the problem in the first place. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your floors from your Christmas tree.

Clean Your Floors First

Some small pieces of debris may get trapped underneath your tree stand. As you are putting the tree up, you may accidentally drag the debris across the floor and inadvertently cause scratching. Making sure your floors are clean and thoroughly wiped down before you put up the tree decreases the risk that this will happen. There is still a chance of damage, but with a clean floor, it is smaller.

Place a Protective Barrier Between the Stand and the Floor

Before you put up your Christmas tree, you should put some sort of barrier between the stand and the floor. If you have a natural tree, a waterproof pan, similar to the one that goes underneath your washing machine, may be the best protection. Not only does this prevent scratches but also spills when you water your tree. If you do not have this type of pan, or do not feel you need one because you are using an artificial tree, felt pads, towels, or a soft mat may provide the necessary protection. Whatever you choose, if you do not like the look of it under your tree, you can cover it up with a Christmas tree skirt designed to cover the stand.

Do Not Slide the Tree

If you need to adjust the tree’s position after putting it in the stand, lift the entire stand up to rotate the tree or move it back and forth. It may seem easier to just slide the tree in its stand back and forth but try to resist the temptation. Otherwise, you could end up scratching the floor. If you have your protective barrier in place between the stand and the floor, it is at least somewhat less risky to move the tree. Nevertheless, there may be a piece of unseen debris trapped between the floor and the protective barrier. It may be so small as to be barely visible yet still significant enough to cause noticeable scratches on the floor.

Be Careful With Watering the Tree

Obviously, this is not an issue with an artificial tree, but with a natural tree, be sure that you give it as much water as it needs, but do not fill up the receptacle to the point of overflowing. Depending on the type of flooring you have, spilled water can cause warping, staining, discolouration, or peeling and delamination. Some flooring materials are more resistant than others, but hardwood floors are especially vulnerable to water. Wipe up any water that you do spill as soon as possible and don’t let it stand.

You may think that it is better not to water the tree at all, but that isn’t a good idea. If a cut tree is allowed to dry out, it becomes a fire hazard. Watering it keeps it hydrated, reducing the risk of fire. Nevertheless, the tree will eventually dry out completely, so do not buy it too early or keep it up too long after the holiday season is over.
If you find that your Christmas tree has damaged your flooring despite your best efforts, contact Handyman Connection. We offer both flooring repair and flooring installation services in Scarborough.