Hardwood Floor Care

B & R Hardwood and Tile  612-644-8779

www.brflooring.biz

Hardwood Floor Care   Hardwood floors are very durable yet vulnerable in many ways. This care sheet should be used as a guide to help keep your floor looking beautiful for many years. Here are some rules to help you out. Humidity 1. Wood floors will respond noticeably to changes in humidity level in the home, especially in the winter. A humidifier will help but will not completely eliminate this reaction. New Wood Floors 2. Wood floors will exhibit the following traits: When new, small splinters of wood will appear; dimples or scratches can be caused by moving furniture, dropping heavy or sharp objects, etc. Some shrinkage or warping can be expected; especially around heat vents or any heat producing appliances. 3. Warping will occur if the floor becomes wet repeatedly or is thoroughly soaked even one time. A dulling of the finish in heavy traffic areas is likely; a white, filmy appearance is caused by moisture (often by wet shoes or boots). In daily care of hardwood floors, preventative maintenance is the primary goal. 4. Spills Food spills should be cleaned up in a timely manner using a dry cloth. Use vinegar and warm water solution for tough food spills. 5. Shoes It is recommended that you do not wear high heals on your hardwood floors. Heels that have lost their protective cap (thus exposing the fastening nail) can exert over 8,000 pounds of pressure per square inch on the floor, That's high enough to damage hardened concrete; it will mark your wood floor. 6. Mats Use protective mats at the exterior doors to help prevent sand and grit from getting on the floor. Gritty sand is wood flooring's worst enemy.   7. Yellowing and Warping Be aware that yellowing and warping of the surface can result from rubber backing on area rugs or mats. 8. Furniture Legs Install proper floor protectors used on hardwood floors. Protectors will allow chairs to move easily over without scuffing. Clean the protectors on a regular basis to remove any grit that may accumulate.   9. Cleaning Sweep on a daily basis or as needed. Never wet mop a hardwood floor. Excessive water causes wood to expand, possibly damaging the wood. When the floor becomes soiled, damp mop with a mixture of one cup vinegar to one gallon water. When mopping, be sure to remove any excess water from the mop.   10. Waxing Waxing or use of products like Murphy's Oil Soap is not recommended. Once you wax a polyurethane finish floor, it is very difficult to re-coat the floor, as the new finish will not bond to the wax. Also, once wax is used, then you must maintain the wax and the floor. Preventative cleaning and annual screen should be performed to maintain the desired level of luster.   11. Re-coating It is important to remember that re-coating is much cheaper and easier than re-sanding. Re-coating will take out minor surface scratches and dirt that has penetrated into the surface of the finish. If areas are neglected too long and the finish is worn through, then re-sanding is required. Floors should be re-coated every year to ten years depending on wear. A general rule for re-coating is start at 10 years for one person and subtract two years for each additional person or dog living in the house.   11. Gapping Minnesota is a tough state for hardwood floors as the humidity rises so much in the summer and falls so much in the winter. Minor gaps in the hardwood floor will occur in the winter and the floor may swell in the summer. This is normal. Special Note: We hope that you enjoy your wood floor and refer our name, B&R Hardwood and Tile, to anyone interested in having a hardwood floor installed or for refinishing his or her existing hardwood floor. B&R Hardwood and Tile is not responsible for any damage due to misuse or by not following the customer care instructions above. www.brflooring.biz   call Kurt Kuhlmann @ 612-644-8779