Having an office space equipped with hardwood floors is something to behold. The smooth wood is a beautiful sight to see while providing the office with a calm atmosphere as well. The fact of the matter is most offices need office chairs. Because of this, many ask the question: do office chairs ruin hardwood floors?
Do office chairs ruin hardwood floors? Whether or not office chairs ruin hardwood floors depend on the wheels. Regular plastic office chair wheels can ruin hardwood floors. However, roller-blade style wheels made of polyurethane are safe for most flooring and will not ruin hardwood floors.
Taking everything into account, there are important things to consider when talking about proper hardwood floor care, especially when office chairs are involved. In this post, we will discuss the relationship between office chairs and hardwood floors, including how to protect hardwood floors from office chairs. Let’s start.
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Are Rolling Chairs Bad for Hardwood Floors?
So, are rolling chairs bad for hardwood floors? Unfortunately, rolling chairs are bad for hardwood floors as they can cause scratches and inflict damage on wood floors. This is because most rolling office chairs are equipped with hard plastic wheels that are not wood-friendly, especially if broken down.
Not only are rolling chairs bad for hardwood floors, but they can cause damage to other types of flooring as well. The problem is you can’t change your floors every year…
Blame the wheels, not the office chair
If you see wood floors with scratches, your first impulse may be to blame the office chair. However, it’s actually the caster wheels that are to blame. The plastic wheels in most standard office chairs are designed poorly for most flooring, especially for hardwood floors. Many buyers fail to realize this issue.
The twin wheels you see on most office chairs are made of hard plastic, usually nylon. Therefore, when you move around in an office chair, the plastic will scrape on your wood floor instead of smoothly rolling. This can become worse as dirt and debris can get stuck in between the wheels, causing more damage to the wood.
With that said, however, you don’t have to choose between sacrificing your office chair or changing your hardwood floor. Let’s talk about how to keep your floors scratch-free.
How Do You Protect Hardwood Floors from Office Chairs?
There’s no denying the fact that hardwood floors are at risk from office chair wheels. Fortunately, there are simple tips and tricks you can do to make sure that your hardwood floors are in tip-top shape. Here are the best ways to protect hardwood floors from your office chairs, ranked from most affordable to least affordable:
1. Change your office chair wheels
The number one thing you can do to protect your hardwood floor is to replace your office chair wheels. Most office chairs are equipped with regular hard plastic wheels that are not friendly for most flooring, especially wood. The good news is, changing your office chair wheels is as easy as it can ever be.
With so many people needing office furniture nowadays, many manufacturers have created special roller-blade style wheels that are guaranteed not to leave any marks and scratches on any flooring. It can never be overstated how much of an upgrade roller-blade style caster wheels are for office chairs.
If you buy new office chair wheels, we highly recommend you check out this particular product. The wheels are encased with a soft polyurethane material that is super friendly to all flooring surfaces, especially hardwood floors. Best of all, they are universally fitted for most office chairs.
Because most office chairs are designed with the same type of wheels, replacing them with roller-blade style caster wheels takes just a few minutes. You can remove and replace the chair wheels without any tools. Easy as one, two, and three.
2. Place a chair mat for hardwood floors
Did you know that most flooring manufacturers will void their warranties if you don’t use chair mats? This is especially true with hardwood floor manufacturers. Because office chairs risk damaging or scratching the wood, placing a chair mat below your office chair can help protect the wood from damage.
Additionally, the surface of the chair mat can provide better movement within your chair. It takes approximately 80% less effort to roll your chair on a mat than on hardwood floors. This means that your legs will experience less fatigue because moving around in your chair becomes that much easier.
If you are keen on buying a chair mat, be sure to find one made with 100% polycarbonate material so the wheels won’t sink. We found one brand on Amazon that is over 3mm thick, so it won’t break or curl. Best of all, the transparent design of the mat means you don’t have to cover up your beautiful hardwood floor.
3. Get a new office chair
Last but not least, you can consider buying a new office chair. Most desk workers neglect their office chairs for so long that they cannot function properly. Sadly, they don’t realize this. If your office chair is in serious need of replacement, you can use this opportunity to shop for the best ergonomic office chair.
Sitting with the right posture is as important, if not more important, than protecting your hardwood floors. Think about it, you wouldn’t want to make your office more beautiful but suffer back pain now, would you? Therefore, it’s paramount to choose the right office chair that can support your body and is friendly on wood.
PRO TIP: If you want a surefire office chair that is safe for all floor types, including hardwood floors, be sure to read our review of the best office chair for carpet and hardwood floors. You’ll be doing yourself a huge favor by being informed on the best selections that can beautify your office space, all the while protecting your interior.
Bottom Line
And there you go, a simple post to answer the question: do office chairs ruin hardwood floors? By implementing the quick and easy tips above, you’ll be sure to protect your hardwood floors from your office chair. After all, having a pleasant office can make your Monday mornings something to look forward to. 🙂
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