Studs | Customers walking in studded shoes destroyed the 200-year-old floor of a clothing store – Such destruction is now caused by “cheap life insurance”

Studded shoes the popularity has grown in Finland due to the life-threatening slippery weather, especially during the last couple of winters.

The Finnish floor base has taken a hit at the same pace.

This is inferable From HS's recent survey, where readers report on destroyed floors all over Finland. Based on about a hundred answers, some of the perforated floors are in valuable old buildings and public spaces, some admit to having destroyed their own floors all by themselves.

Of course, many respondents are happy about the opportunity to stay upright, keep their bones intact and maintain their spirits.

But the answers also brought up the fact that Finns don't have a handle on studded shoe etiquette.

Many people don't even think about the kind of destruction that studs can cause.

In the old one The clothing store Kukka & Mekko in Porvoo has a 200-year-old wooden floor. For centuries, some kind of traveler has stepped over it, but now the floor has encountered perhaps the worst resistance in its history: stilt walkers.

“The wife has almost lost her nerve this winter”, Kai Kärki reveals on the phone.

Kärki has owned Liiketila for 11 years together with his wife, who works as a trader Anne Kärjen with. The clothing store has been renovated with a lot of money and piety. Kai Kärki is a construction master by civilian profession.

I would like to protect the historic business premises and my own property, but it is difficult. In the past couple of years, we have seen a real craze for studded shoes, says Anne Kärki.

“It has been said about studded shoes that they are cheap life insurance. Now everyone has acquired such insurance.”

The tips have tried various protection measures. The store has, for example, woolen socks that customers could use inside. Anne Kärki occasionally cleans the floor so that you can walk on it with socks on.

In addition, he has put a no-pins sign in a friendly tone on the store's door. However, the label has been like a red garment for some.

“Some understand it, but some don't care. Some come barking at the door that it's a miracle that they can't walk in studded shoes,” says Kai Kärki.

“Some are such that they try to come in anyway. That if I just come to watch, Anne Kärki laughs.

The label has also affected sales, the shopkeeper says. Many don't come inside because of the ban.

The tips have repainted the floor of Liiketila many times already. It's not a small project: all the goods in the store have to be moved out and the store has to be kept closed for the duration of the project.

In Porvoo many foreign tourists visit, but usually there are no problems with them. They leave the removable thongs by the door.

An exception was made by a foreign couple who marched into the store in their studs. When Anne Kärki kindly pointed out the matter, the man got angry.

“He wrote a terribly nasty review of the store. There was also a salesperson there, when you weren't allowed to come inside,” the review read.

However, the majority of problems are caused by Finns.

“That rustle of studs against the floor!” Anne Kärki tastes the sound image. It hurts from the soul when the sharp studs grind the porous antique floor.

“I am angered by such disregard and selfishness. People don't understand that they are destroying someone else's property.”

The problem is not only with the Kuka & Mekko store. Now many other shops in Vanhan Porvoo have woken up to the marks on the floors caused by studded shoes.

“Now there have been notes on other people's doors as well.”

One Rovaniemi is one of those suffering with the destruction caused by studded shoes Aki Tuomanen. He rents out his holiday apartment in Pyhätunturi to tourists.

“Stud shoes are a constant problem. Someone from Espoo had frolicked with such things all the way to the living room, causing damage everywhere,” Tuomanen messaged HS.

Reached by phone, Tuomanen confirms that many tenants have behaved in his cottage as if it were a public space. The lacquered pine floors of the cottage now have pin depressions almost everywhere.

“When it's not your own space, you walk around the room with your shoes on. Outdoor shoes are not left in the wind closet. Where there are no carpets, there are stud depressions. The studs pull very sensitively through the varnish and leave a hole in the soft board,” says Tuomanen.

Just recently, his cabin has mainly been occupied by British and Dutch charter tourists. They haven't been walking around in stilettos.

“They have been well instructed on how to behave in Finnish bathhouses.”

According to Tuomanen, the problem is purely caused by Finnish vacationers.

One solution could be a prohibition or information sign on the cabin's air cupboard, but Tuomanen would not like to put one. He thinks that the instruction in the cigarette case is a gentler way of communicating.

“It's not nice that when a person comes on vacation, the first thing that hits their eyes is a message: don't act like this.”

Tuomanen says that he has not demanded compensation from anyone either, because the floor has not been in great condition anyway. But now he does not dare to sand the pine floor at all.

Then, when that sometimes happens, Tuomanen intends to be stricter. After that, a bill goes out to the vacationer who stepped around the living room with studded shoes.

Readers' notes on damage caused by studded shoes

I wore studded shoes at the cottage. There is now also a pine floor full of small holes. I thought that the studs would go into the bottom when walking inside, but it didn't.

Woman, 73, Kitee

Unfortunately, my father's housekeepers ruined the wooden floor of the home with their studded shoes. The feedback was not given when there were bigger concerns at the time.

Woman, 60, Helsinki

The beautifully renovated floor of a parish center was scratched by studded shoes right after the renovation. The ban on wearing studded shoes, which was mainly a friendly recommendation, caused immense heartburn.

Woman, 47

Working in a brand new library, I have been amazed by the anger of customers about the ban on studded shoes. The floor is stone and it's really slippery to touch the soles of the studs. After all, the ban has been drawn up for the safety of customers. Retired customers behave the most aggressively and either leave deeply hurt or march through the space with their spikes in defiance of the ban. Displeasure is directed directly at the staff.

Woman, 59, Lahti

In one of my previous workplaces, users of stilettos caused damage to the floor that required tens of tons of repair. Many of those who messed up the floor treated it as if wearing studded shoes indoors was a human right. “Why have they chosen a material that doesn't last”, was heard from several mouths.

Woman, 40, Helsinki

I work in my own commercial space, which I pay for every renovation myself. Nothing annoys more than a customer coming in wearing studded shoes. After winter, the floor must be completely renovated. The renovation will cost quite a bit, and besides, the space will be out of use during that time. Similarly, the stairwells of the apartment building where I live are damaged by studded shoes. I think it would be reasonable to teach people to remove studded soles at the front door.

Male, 66, Loimaa

Puotila manor house, built in 1540. When you have lunch there, you can see and hear people walking in studded shoes on the handsome wide-plank floor. Pity the floor.

Male, 74, Helsinki

I wore studded shoes at the cottage. There is now also a pine floor full of small holes. I thought that the studs would go into the bottom when walking inside, but it didn't.

Woman, 73, Kitee

I'd rather break the stairs of our over a hundred-year-old house than fall outside. The dog must be walked outside. A rare cold winter in the south. The stairs can be repainted, but the friend who fell badly never fully recovered.

Male, 70, Turku

Stilettos are a must if you want to stay upright! But I myself have wooden floors both in the apartment and in the crab. Yes, it's a shame to walk around making holes, and that's why I try to minimize the use of studs. I miss the time before climate change and the constant freeze-thaw cycle!

Woman, 40, Vaasa

From the elevator door to the home door, a path made by studded shoes has formed this winter.

Man, 80, Uusikaupunki

The valuable conservation site of the nearby town was renovated down to the wonderful wooden floor. The space was forced to be used as a pre-voting site for the presidential election due to its central location. It was agreed that the polling place will be protected with thick carpets. The carpet was probably never tested or looked under at any point. When the president was elected, the beautiful floor was destroyed. Whose pocket will the repair be charged for?

Woman, 59, Lahti

Readers' tips for using studded shoes

In my apartment complex, there is a chair and a shoehorn by the front door. You can walk with socks to/from there and save plastic mats on the platforms and the elevator.

Man, 80, Hyvinkää

I have shoes whose studs can be turned to hide if necessary. If only there was a seat near the front doors where it could be done easily. Of course, the same applies to studded strap users.

Woman, 60, Helsinki

The coating of the corridors of our apartment building cannot withstand studded shoes. We managed to leave a few footprints in the corridor of the living floor before we realized it. Now we wear “wellies” over our studded shoes when we go out, for example, for a dog run. We leave the wellies by the front door. When entering, we take off our studded shoes. For that, there is a folding seat next to the elevator. Wellies and stilettos go under our arms when we walk home in our socks.

Woman, 75, Jyväskylä

I have given up studded shoes and now wear friction soles. I found studded shoes dangerous, for example, inside shops and shopping centers. The shoes felt slippery on the floors and the loud crunch of the shoes was embarrassing.

Woman, 79, Vantaa

Why not adopt the Japanese practice: no outdoor shoes indoors. Visitors are required to wear indoor shoes, or the place in question offers visitors hotel-style slippers or at least plastic covers. This would also reduce the need for cleaning: there will be no broom and sandblasting in the interior. Indoor shoe policy for workplaces and schools as well.

Woman, 70, Loviisa