Homeowner Wood Floor Care Guide
TO ALL OF OUR WOOD FLOOR CLIENTS:
We want to thank you for purchasing high-quality solid wood plank flooring. Properly cared for, your wood flooring will last a lifetime with minimal upkeep. Here are some helpful guidelines for maintaining and caring for your new wood floor.
CLEANING:
Setting up a regular cleaning routine is necessary. Sweep or vacuum regularly since built-up grit can damage the surface of the wood. The vacuum head must be a brush or felt type.
Be certain the vacuum wheels are clean and do not damage the finish. DO NOT use a vacuum with a beater bar head.
We recommend the use of Basic Coatings Ready-to-Use Squeaky Cleaner.
Please click here for more information. Homeowner Wood Floor Care Guide
FLOOR PROTECTORS:
Place protective felt pads beneath furniture legs and feet to reduce scratches and dents. Replace pads as needed.
HUMIDITY:
As our seasons change, the relative humidity in your home will change and may be quite different from your next-door neighbor. Some of the factors include:
- • How airtight is your home?
• Type of heating system.
• Do you air condition or dehumidify in the summer?
• Size of family water usage.
• Do you humidify during the heating season?
• Do you heat your seasonal home while unoccupied?
• Proximity to bodies of water.
All wood will expand and contract with changes in humidity. In the summer when humidity is at its highest levels, your floor will expand in width. In the winter, when humidity is lower, your floor will contract, possibly leaving gaps between the planks. If you limit the amount of change in relative humidity in your home (dehumidify in the non-heating season and humidify during the heating season), you will reduce the risk, but not eliminate the gaps between flooring planks during the heating season. A 45% – 50% year-round relative humidity level would be considered ideal.
Here are some things you can do to reduce wood movement in your home:
- June-September: Monitor and try to maintain 50% relative humidity in your home and basement or crawl space. This can be accomplished by air conditioning or dehumidifying.
- November-March: Monitor and try to maintain 45% relative humidity level in your home and basement or crawl space. This may require adding 5-7 gallons of water per day to the air.
Remember that maintaining a 45% relative humidity level in your home during the heating season is a compromise. At this level you will reduce, not eliminate gaps between planks, also on very cold days you may notice more condensation on your windows.
You will have to determine where the ideal humidity level is for your home. Correctly monitoring your humidity level starts with using an accurate gauge, most wall-mount dial types are very erratic. We have found a dependable and reasonably priced Hygrometer available from The Weather Store at www.theweatehrstore.com. Item# C3-4096 – NIST Certified Digital Hygrometer 4096. The approximate price is $70.00.
FUTURE MAINTENANCE:
Like any floor covering, your wood flooring will show signs of wear over time, depending on the size and lifestyle of your family. Be sure to inspect your floor regularly for scratches and normal wear and tear. Take the appropriate measures to care for your floor as needed.
Contact Kwaterski Bros. for information on the Basic Coatings TyKote Refinishing System. It is the only true dust-free recoating system. Refinishing a floor with TyKote does not require the use of heavy equipment, trailer-mounted vacuum systems, or intensive labor. Just follow the cleaning steps, apply the bonding agent, and then finish. It takes only half a day to completely refinish a standard area, which will leave you amazed. Leaving traditional sand and finish labors envious. Stop by or call for more information and handouts.
We hope all this information leads to a better understanding of how to care for your new wood floor, answering any questions you may have. With the help of this guide, we trust you too will join the millions of satisfied homeowners who own the most environmentally sound, hygienic, and above all, most beautiful floor covering there is available.