Hardwood flooring offers a comprehensive range of advantages over other flooring types. These benefits include, among others, an authentic appearance, durability, and low maintenance requirements. Installing a hardwood floor will also improve your indoor air quality and increase your property’s resale value.
When buying office furniture, selecting the correct type of caster wheels is critical to get the maximum benefit from your hardwood floor and extend its functional lifespan. This post discusses the best and worst caster wheels for hardwood floors.
Best Caster Wheel Options for Hardwood Floors
Reputable manufacturers design caster wheels for specific applications. For example, some caster wheel types provide grip and mobility on tile floors, while others allow optimal maneuverability on rugged and outdoor terrains.
Similarly, some caster types glide smoothly on hardwood floors without causing damage. You also need to know where to buy swivel casters.
Learn more about the best casters for hardwood floors below.
Wide-Tread Casters
Generally speaking, the wider the casters, the less damage they cause to flooring. A wider caster allows an even weight distribution over a larger surface area. As a result, the pressure where the wheels make contact with the floor is lower. Wheel treads with a width of at least two inches are ideal for hardwood floors.
Nylon Casters
Nylon, a thermoplastic, is the ideal construction material for caster wheels due to its various mechanical properties. These properties and benefits include a high load-bearing ability, resistance to wear, and a low roll resistance that allows easy maneuverability. As a smooth, non-abrasive material, nylon wheels don’t leave marks or scratches on hardwood floors.
Neoprene Casters
Neoprene is a synthetic rubber and the ideal caster construction material, especially in healthcare applications. A neoprene caster typically has an inner ball-bearing wheel of aluminum or other metal for added strength.
This wheel type is the perfect option for hardwood floors due to its chemical structure and flexibility. Neoprene casters don’t make a squeaky noise on polished hardwood. Additionally, this forgiving caster type doesn’t leave marks, scratches, or dents on wood floor surfaces.
Mold-On Polyurethane Casters
Do you need casters for heavy furniture weighing 100 pounds or more? Polyurethane casters provide optimal hardwood floor protection without compromising durability, rigidity, and easy rolling.
A mold-on polyurethane caster’s construction consists of a cast iron or metal wheel with a ball bearing. The wheel tread is a permanent polyurethane molding.
If you need casters for a heavy stationary object, such as a piano, consider a high-impact polymer wheel with a thickness of at least three inches.
Worst Caster Wheels for Hardwood Floors
Hard and unforgiving caster wheels are generally unsuitable for hardwood floors. Moving these wheels across a wood surface can leave scratches or cuts, especially if they carry a heavy weight. In addition to causing damage, unsuitable casters can make noises and leave marks on your flooring.
The sections below discuss caster wheels to avoid if you have a hardwood floor.
Ball Swivel Casters
A ball caster features a ball bearing that fits into swaged tubing, allowing omnidirectional movement. However, unlike wheel casters, this type of caster has a small point of contact with the floor, which is at the bottom of the ball roller.
The entire weight of the furniture piece rests on these small contact points, increasing pressure. Consequently, a ball swivel caster can leave your hardwood floor vulnerable to dimples and dents.
Cast Iron and Forged Steel Casters
Hard tread materials, such as cast iron and forged steel, are never suitable for use on wood flooring. The edges and surfaces of these wheel treads may cut into hardwood boards, even while a furniture piece is stationary.
Note that metal and cast-iron fittings and frameworks are not damaging to hardwood as these components are not in contact with the floor.
Phenolic Casters
Phenolic casters are popular due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, affordability, and durability. However, a phenolic wheel tread consists of a tough compound as hard as a bowling ball and can cause extensive damage to a hardwood floor. This caster also tends to leave black marks, which may require sanding to remove.
Prolong Your Hardwood Floor’s Lifespan With the Right Caster Wheels
Choosing the right caster wheels will eliminate the risk of hardwood floor damage and help protect your investment. Generally speaking, softer wheel treads, such as nylon, neoprene, and polyurethane, are suitable for use on a hardwood floor. These materials provide easy maneuverability without making noise or leaving unsightly marks.
