Care and Maintenance- For Hardwood Floors

CARE AND MAINTENANCE- FOR HARDWOOD FLOORS

An Investment in Beauty

From great castles to country cottages, wood has for centuries been the material of choice for beautiful, durable floors. Today, hardwood floors are considered a perfect complement to any décor-traditional, colonial, or contemporary. Wood’s resiliency makes it a logical choice for kitchens and workrooms, while it’s heat retention makes it ideal for family rooms and bedrooms. Hard wearing wood is also an extremely practical floor surface for areas with heavy traffic, such as entries and hallways. The beauty of wood also adds charm to any living or dining room.

For all these reasons, wood is enjoying a renaissance of interest among homeowners and commercial designers alike.

Easy Upkeep

In the past, homeowners often equated wood flooring with hard work: difficult waxing and buffing were needed to keep wood floors in high-gloss condition. Today, polyurethane and other surface finishes have been introduced that leave a tough, easy care, moisture resistant surface which protects wood floors from spills and stains.

An Investment That Appreciates

A wood floor can be an asset that continually appreciates. While carpeting will need replacement every 7-10 years, a wood floor will last the life of a house, with proper care. Wood floors are often equated with quality and can add to the resale value of your home. The most important reason to invest in wood however, is to enjoy the lasting beauty.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HARDWOOD FLOORS

Wood, as a natural product, varies from piece to piece. It is not fabricated– it is milled from a tree and will have grain and color variations consistent with the grade and species of flooring selected. The grade of wood is determined according to the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association Standards. Do not expect a monochromatic floor.

Do not expect a floor without cracks between the boards, or within the parquet pieces. Although your new floor may start tight together, as a natural product, it will continue to absorb and release moisture. This natural process will cause the flooring to expand and contract from season to season– resulting in cracks between some of the pieces in your floor. Some stain colours, such as white, will show this process more than others.

Your wood floor will never be duplicated. Every wood floor is truly unique.

YOUR NEW FLOORING

A hardwood floor will last a lifetime if properly maintained. The stain resistant, water resistant urethane finish helps keep spills from ever touching the wood surface, so most problems can be prevented by following a few simple procedures. As with any floor covering material, a few moments of care can go a long way in keeping your new hardwood floor looking its best.

Never clean with water

Do not use soaps, detergents, “oil soaps” or maintenance products intended for other flooring surfaces. Use the manufacturers recommended floor care products (available at your United Floors store). They have been specially formulated to help keep your hardwood floor looking its best.

Sweep or Vacuum

The factory applied polyurethane finish on your hardwood floor is very tough, but loose dirt and grit (sand and small stones) can scratch it. Sweep or vacuum as often as required.

Wipe up spills as soon as possible

Wipe up spills with a damp cloth (wring the cloth as dry as possible). Remove dried spills with a cloth or scrub pad dampened with the hardwood manufacturers cleaners.

Never Wax your hardwood floor

If the polyurethane finish becomes dull over time, renew it by re-coating with a good quality, non-yellowing polyurethane finish. By re-coating periodically, your floor will always look great and should never require sanding.

To help prolong the life and appearance of your hardwood floor, try these common-sense solutions:

Use Area Rug

To prevent dirt and moisture from being tracked onto your hardwood floor, you may want to add an area rug. Don’t use rubber, foam back or plastic mats as they may discolour the floor. To prevent slippage of area rugs, use an approved under cushion. Use outdoor mats at the entrances of exterior doors to keep dirt and moisture from being tracked inside.

Use Proper Protection

Place proper felt floor protectors under the feet of furniture and keep them clean to avoid scratching. When moving heavy furniture, use a blanket or carpet (face down) under the furniture and slide it carefully to avoid scratching and gouging.

Avoid walking on your hardwood floor in high heels

In spite of the term “hardwood”, your floor can be damaged by high heels. Because of the extremely high compressive forces they generate, high heels (especially heels in disrepair) can cause denting and related damage to your hardwood floor. The polyurethane finish that is applied, although extremely tough, will not prevent this.

Use Humidity Control

Wood will expand and contract significantly with changes in temperature and humidity. We highly recommend the use of humidity control for all areas where wood flooring is installed.