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| Floor Crafters' Hardwood Floor Care Guide |
Hardwood Floors
When properly cared for, wood floors are one of the easiest of all floor surfaces to keep clean and looking new, unlike carpet or resilient floors that show wear regardless of care. Wood floors can be kept looking like new year after year with minimum care. Since the majority of wood floors are composed of solid hardwood, this care guide applies specifically to this type of flooring. |
| IMPORTANT NOTICE |
| The following information is dealing with urethane finishes specifically, and not wax or oil finishes. Wax and oil finishes have their own specific maintenance routines. We rarely recommend oil or wax finishes because of the difficulty and frequency of maintenance that is required. The following recommendations are not intended to endorse specific products or brands but to serve as a general guideline in the selection and use of hardwood floor maintenance materials. There are many other products on the market that are safe for the urethane finish on your floor. Always follow label directions, and always make sure that the products you have purchased and are using are specifically designed for hardwood floors and the type of finish that is protecting your wood. Floor Crafters cannot be held responsible for the success or failure of any of the information or maintenance tips referred to here on our website. |
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Protect the Floor
Good preventative maintenance lengthens the intervals between the major renovation operations such as screen and re-coating and complete refinishing of the hardwood floor. Here are some basic rules that apply to all types of floor finishes: |
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Keep grit off of the floor
Use dirt-trapping, walk off mats at all exterior doors to help prevent dirt, grit, and sand from being tracked inside. Throw rugs just inside entrances are also recommended. Dirt and girt are a floors worst enemy- for carpets and vinyl floors as well as hardwoods. Keep door mats clean. Do not place rugs on newly finished floors until at least 2 weeks after the finish has been applied. Rugs strategically placed in front of sinks, refrigerators, and in heavy traffic areas are also a good idea as long as a non slip pad is used to avoid rug slippage on the finish. Be aware that some rubber-backed rugs, foam-backed rugs and non-slip pads contain dyes and chemicals that could discolor the floor. |
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Sweep/Vacuum regularly
Dust mop or vacuum the floor with a felt wand (see the Floor Crafters Vacuum for hardwood floors) Do not use a household dust treatment system, as this may cause your floor to become slick, dull the finish or interfere with future re-coating. |
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Mopping
Spills and dirt may require more than a dust mop. Wipe up food and other spills promptly
with dry cloths or paper towels. Use a slightly dampened cloth for sticky spills if necessary, and then wipe the floor dry with another towel or cloth. Remember that wood and water do not mix. No matter what finish your wood has, it is recommended that you
never pour water onto the floor. While a damp mop may be used on polyurethane and other finishes in good condition, excessive amounts of water can seep between boards and into small scratches causing deterioration of finishes and possible warping of boards. |
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Cleaners
Depending on the finish that has been used on your prefinised or finished on-site hardwood floor, Floor Crafters has the cleaner for you. We sell cleaners from Basic Coatings, Bona, and Mohawk. We also sell cleaning kits, complete with special easy-to-use swivel mop heads and micro-fibre cloths. Please stop in our store for the right products to maintain your floor! |
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Felt Glides for all furniture
We highly recommend the installation and use of felt glides on the bottom of all of your chair and furniture legs. We also sell a variety of felt pads that can be used with a self stick backing for larger furniture legs, speakers and items that are flat on the bottom. Clean the glides regularly since grit can become embedded in them. Brown wool glides are generally the best for durability. Stop in to see our selection. |
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Other Things to Keep in Mind
Keep heels on shoes in good condition, especially high heels
Heels that have their protective cap missing or worn away exposing the steel support rod can dent any floor surface. Even high heels in good condition will generally leave an indentation on hardwood flooring.
UV light causes wood to change color and appearance
To help avoid an uneven appearance, move area rugs occasionally and drape or shade large windows.
Use caution when purchasing wood cleaners and polishes
Some cleaners and polishes can damage wood finishes. Never use wax or silicone-based polishes, paste wax, solvent based cleaners, or pine-based cleaners on your wood floor. Wax or polish can actually make the floor more difficult to clean and will create future problems when the floor requires refinishing.
Periodically Recoat
This is a job for only a professional! Your hardwood floor should be recoated when the original finish shows signs of wear, but before it has worn down to bare wood. Once deep scratches and gouges are present, and dirt is embedded in the grain, a complete refinish will probably be in order. Before the floor gets to this point, a light sanding of the finish layer (screening) and a coat or two of finish can restore the original luster of the floor, and keep moisture and dirt from affecting the grain of the wood.
Floor Crafters uses and is familiar with all types of floor finishes including the new TyKote® dustless recoating system. This process eliminates screening and substitutes a four step water based system. TyKote® not only saves time by eliminating the screening process, but also dries within one hour and minimizes preparation time and cleanup. TyKote® serves as a chemical bonding agent between the existing finish and the new finish being applied, making it perfect for residential applications where dust control is a factor. We can now prepare and recoat the floor quickly and efficiently without the mess and inconvenience created by the traditional screening process. For more information, contact us specifically about this process. |
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