Care and Maintenance         (care & feeding)

Hardwood Flooring General Care and Feeding

·         Vacuum or sweep regularly. NO beater brush on the vac, please-- just the soft, wide bristle head.

·         Remove spills promptly using a clean, dry towel. A slightly dampened cloth will help remove any sticky / slimy residue. Most hardwood floors are cleanable using the Bona wood floor care products available at our shop. You can also locate your specific wood floor in the products listing and click on the link to care and maintenance at their site.

·         Use felt protectors under heavy pieces of furniture and chairs.

·         Use protective mats at all exterior entrances.

·         Spiked heels or shoes in need of repair can severely damage your floor.

·         Never wet or damp mop your wood floors. Water can cause damage to wood flooring. When you do need to do that periodic cleaning we recommend wiping the floor with a towel lightly dampened with warm water and well wrung out, so as to not leave so much moisture behind as to do damage. Follow up with the Bona Wood Floor Cleaner on the Microfiber cloth--it really does the job!

·         Maintain 40%-60% relative humidity to reduce the natural expansion and contraction of wood.

·         For engineered and longstrip hardwood floors properly installed over subfloor radiant heating systems, surface temperature should not exceed 85° F.

·         Never use oil soaps, wax, liquid or other household products to clean your floor. These products will not allow the surface to be recoated with new finish in the future. Such products are often still in the floor even after a resanding--' Don't want to go there.

·         The sun's UV rays can change the color of your floor.   This is normal.   Some factory finished floors have finishes that don't change quite so much, but the wood itself will change over time.  Low E glass is a help.  Wood flooring is a living product, let it age, just like the rest of us.  (If wrinkles appear, do call us- not normal.)

·         Keep animal nails trimmed.

·         Protect your floor when using a dolly for moving furniture or appliances. Never slide or roll heavy furniture or appliances across the floor.

·         If your floor becomes scratched or dull, repairs can often be made using repair processes that offer do not require a full resand, but just a coat or maybe two, depending on the wear.  Try not to allow the floor to wear through the finish to the bare wood -- that would definitely be a resand.

Sheet Vinyl Care and Maintenance

DO:

·         Wipe up spills as soon as possible.

·         Wash your floor occasionally with a solution of ammonia and ward water or you may use the manufacturer's cleaning solution--see their website in the product section of sheet vinyls.

·         For heavy duty cleaning please refer to the manufacturer's recommendation of products and procedures.

DON'T:

·         Don't use detergents, abrasive cleaners or "mop and shine" products - they may leave a dull film on your floor.

·         Don't use paste wax or solvent-based polishes.

·         Don't use a beater bar when vacuuming because it can visibly damage the floor surface.

·         Don't use highly abrasive scrubbing tools.

Proactive Protection for Your Floor:

·         When moving appliances or heavy furniture, lay a plywood panel on your floor and "walk" the item across it. This protects your floor from scuffing and tears.

·         Use floor protectors on furniture to reduce indentation. As a general rule of thumb, the heavier the item, the wider the floor protector needed.

·         Be careful with rolling casters. They can damage the floor. Therefore, we do not recommend them. If you choose to use them, the double wheel type are the best option.

·         Place a walk-off mat at outside entrances to reduce the amount of dirt brought into your home. We do not recommend the use of rubber- or latex-backed mats on the floor because the chemical (antioxidant) used to keep the backing from becoming brittle can permanently stain your floor. We suggest a nonstaining vinyl-backed mat or a woven rug that is colorfast. Most of these products are identified "colorfast" by the manufacturer.

Imediately After Installation:

·         For 8 hours after seam application, protect the sealed seams on your flooring. This will ensure the proper seam bond. If your seams are disturbed before they're dry, permanent damage may result.

·         Maintain room temperature at 65 degrees Fahrenheit for 48 hours after installation is completed. This assures proper curing, setting and bonding of products.

·         The adhesive under your floor needs time to thoroughly dry after installation. Therefore we recommend that you do not scrub or wash your floor for five days.

·         Mobile appliances and furniture should be equipped with easily swiveling casters. They should be at least 2” in diameter with nonstaining hard rubber treads at least 3/4” wide. Do not use ball-shaped casters.

·         To help prevent staining from asphalt tracking, we recommend the use of a latex-based driveway sealer.

·         Draw drapes and blinds during peak periods of strong sunlight. Resilient floors, like other home furnishing products, may discolor or fade when overexposed to the sun.

·         Heat-producing appliances such as a refrigerator or range, or hot air registers emitting a direct flow of heat in excess of 120° F, even intermittently, can scorch, burn, discolor or fade your floor. Cigarettes, matches and other very hot objects can also damage your floor.

·         Avoid wearing stiletto or spiked heels on your floor. These types of heels can indent or damage many types of floors.

Caution: Avoid one-step "mop and polish" products, dishwashing liquids and oil-based cleaners. These may leave a residue which can attract dirt and dull your floor's finish. Avoid cleaners that contain abrasives or solvents which may permanently damage your floor. 

Laminate Flooring Care and Maintenance

High pressure laminate flooring is as close to "maintenance-free" as a floor can get. The high pressure laminate surface makes it virtually impossible for dirt or grime to get a foothold.

Some things to consider to maintain the beauty of you floor:

·         Routine cleaning is as easy as a quick once-over with the vacuum.

·         Wipe up spills as soon as possible

·         Use floor protectors on furniture to reduce risk of scratching. A safety measure.

·         To help prevent staining from asphalt tracking, we recommend the use of a latex-based driveway sealer. But if asphalt is tracked in it is removable with lighter fluid.

·         Place a walk-off mat at outside entrances to reduce the amount of dirt brought into your home.

·         For heavy cleaning use a soap-free household cleaner or visit our product link to the manufacturer's website for their products and procedures.

Never wax, sand or apply lacquer to your laminate floor.

Carpet Care and Maintenance

The proper care of you carpet is important to maintain the longevity of your flooring investment. Shaw Carpets has an excellent program for care. Please use the link below to visit their site.

http://www.shawfloors.com/FloorCare/CarpetCare.asp

You are also invited to visit the site of the manufacturer of your specific carpet for any information that may be especially for your need.

Vinyl Tile Maintenance

The manufacturers know the products best, and there are differences in each such that it is best to consult them directly.  Please use the links provided.

Armstrong vinyl composition tile:
http://www.armstrong.com/common/c2002/content/files/728.pdf

VPI static control tile:
http://www.vpicorp.com/downloads/Installation_and_Maintenance-Static_Control_Vinyl_Tile_LFRev1.pdf

Congoleum
Durastone Tile: http://www.congoleum.com/floor-care.php
Duraceramic Tile: http://www.congoleum.com/floor-care.php

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