Leaving a distinct impression

[Puffer]

Last Sunday, it was the usual pre-Christmas ‘open house’ for a buffet lunch and drinks chez Puffer, with a record 70-odd friends and neighbours dropping in. After they departed and clearing-up was in hand, I found that the parquet flooring in my dining room and adjoining kitchen bore a series of very distinct impressions – small circles of about 4mm diameter and around 0.5 – 0.7mm deep. Although the parquet is not new (and had already been sanded to resurface it), it will need significant attention in at least two main areas to remove these marks, and probably without complete success. Only two or three of the ladies present wore stilettos (and nothing very exciting at that) but one of them was undoubtedly to blame for ‘dropping in’ to a greater extent than invited! The size and shape of the marks suggests that it was not a narrow metal heel tip that caused them but almost certainly the head of the nail that secured the tip and which remained protruding after the tip broke away. I expect the lady in question has now discovered to her dismay the loss of a tip (and possibly damage to her heel) but is quite unaware of the trail it left behind. As you can imagine, I have mixed emotions. I would scarcely wish to discourage any visitor from wearing stilettos to my house or in it (and I dislike seeing visitors walking around without shoes when they are otherwise smartly attired) but I don’t want to suffer this type of damage every time a lady of taste graces me with her presence. Perhaps the answer is to inspect every likely pair of shoes on arrival and at regular intervals thereafter – as if I needed that excuse – but not everyone will appreciate such close attention, I fear. Seriously folks, spare a thought for those whose floors you might damage when enjoying your socialising this Christmas (or at any other time) but do not – repeat not – refrain from sexy footwear for this or any other spurious reason, such as comfort, fashion, image, or allegedly provocative behaviour. Seasonal greetings to all. Now, where’s my angle grinder …?

[Bubba136]

I consider this type of behavior -- to knowingly to wear heels that would damage the floors-- to be very rude. This is precisely why my wife won't allow me to wear metal tipped heels in our house. Our newly refinished (2 years ago) wooden floors suffer enough damage by the sand from the back yard (beach) that is tracked inside even though we are careful to clean our feet every time we enter. Believe me, my wife would let any person know, first hand, if there shoes caused any damage.

[genebujold]

The polite thing for guests to do throughout many areas of the world, including Asia, India, the Middle East, most of Europe, is to remove one's shoes upon entering the house. Only in America and a few other countries do guests regularly keep wearing their shoes. Then again, as proud as I am of our country, we do tend to flaunt things with less regard for others, too. I would agree that Bubba's approach is best - don't wear shoes that will knowingly damage flooring. If you do, be willing to remove them upon entry. Anything else is very rude indeed!

[Puffer]

I agree that it is certainly inconsiderate and selfish for someone to wear shoes that are likely to damage a floor surface, indoors or out (such as on garden decking or of course on a boat). In the case I reported above, I had no reason to believe that the wearer was being cavalier or even careless and I'm sure that an unforeseen and undetected missing heel tip was to blame. Any of the two or three possible culprits would have been mortified if she had realised what was happening and I can scarcely pursue the matter - much as the potential for carrying out detailed investigation and inspection appeals to me for other reasons! But I do now have a valid reason for a polite enquiry and scrutiny as and when suitably-clad ladies make a future visit.

[RPMindy]

Hey, I went to a concert a whiles ago. I went to support one of my cousins who was performing. It was at an older church. I remember walking about while shooting pics and feeling the floor a little funny below me. when i looked down, there were a ton of impressions of heels of various thinness. i figured that over the years, there was enough damage to the wood that only total replacement would cure. there was even a small sign saying to go easy on the floor. hope that does not happen to your floor. but i'd love to have seen the heels that came in and out of that church over the years. kinda like the fly on the wall thingy. RPM

[Dr. Shoe]

I've just laid some beech effect laminate flooring in our hall way. Very nice it looks too but I noticed that it's totally impervious to damage from even my most severe heels!