It is not uncommon for hardwood floor installers to tape the planks together as they work their way installing a floor — the tape keeps the planks in place while the glue sets. However, while this may work with some floor options, this is a HUGE mistake when installing hard-wax oiled floors. Never use tape on your hard-wax oiled hardwood floors! Despite what you may have heard, even blue painter’s tape is not a safe option. Instead, we recommend using flooring strap clamp to hold the planks together for installation.

When tape is used on a hardwood floor, it can pull the color and finish off or a residue is left behind, which can result in permanent marks on the floor or can be a magnet for dirt leading to premature wear of the floor’s coating. There is also the potential that the chemicals in the adhesive actually react with the finish and essentially corrode it, leaving it discolored. Protect your investment by consulting with your certified hardwood flooring installer to ensure that they do not use tape of any kind during the installation of your new hardwood floors.

If repairs need to be done to the surface of the floor as the result of tape damage, there are some things you can do. With a soft cloth, use mineral spirits to remove the residue marks on the surface of the floor and be sure not to rub too hard. If color is missing from the surface, find a stain that matches the color of the floor to do some touch-up blending. If you do not feel comfortable following these steps, please feel free to reach out to me for assistance!