Engineered oak flooring adds a touch of elegance and warmth to any space, and with the right care, it can maintain its beauty for years.
Here’s a comprehensive guide to ensure your flooring remains in top condition.
Avoid Harsh Cleaners and Techniques
Do Not Use Abrasive or Solvent-Based Cleaners: These can scratch or damage the finish of your oak flooring. Opt for cleaners specifically designed for wood floors. Contact us 01904 479900 for more details
Avoid Steel Wool or Scouring Powders: These materials can cause deep scratches and are too harsh for engineered wood floors.
Skip the Wash, Steam, or Wet Mopping: Excessive moisture can lead to swelling, warping, delaminating, and joint separation, which could severely damage your floor.
Protect the Surface and Avoid Adhesive Tapes
Do Not Stick Adhesive Tape Directly on the Floor: Adhesives can damage the finish, especially before it fully cures. The finish on your engineered oak floor takes up to 10 days to cure completely. During this period, avoid wetting the floor and stick to dry cleaning methods like sweeping or vacuuming. You will receive a specific cleaning date along with recommended cleaning and maintenance products for your flooring.
Immediate Spill Response and Regular Cleaning
Resistant to Stains: Your engineered oak flooring is designed to withstand spills from common household substances such as red wine, butter, and other potential stain culprits. Thanks to our advanced finishes, you can rest easy knowing your floors can handle everyday mishaps. However, we do recommend:
Blot Spills Immediately: Use a damp cloth to blot spills as soon as they happen, preventing any liquid from sitting on the surface. Standing liquid can seep into the wood, causing long-term damage.
Regular Sweeping and Vacuuming: Dust, dirt, and grit can act like sandpaper on your floor’s finish. Make sure to sweep, dust, or vacuum regularly, using a vacuum with a hard-floor attachment instead of a beater bar to avoid scratches.
Weekly Maintenance
Wipe the Floor Weekly: Use a damp mop or cloth, ideally microfiber, along with a floor cleaner specifically designed for your type of finish. Microfiber cloths and mops are gentle yet effective at picking up dirt and dust without scratching the surface. The Bona Spray mop is amazing and does the job.
Effective Maintenance Regime
To keep your engineered oak floor looking its best, an effective maintenance regime should include both dry and damp cleaning:
Dry Cleaning: Clean your floors weekly using a vacuum, scissors mop, or soft broom. It’s essential to remove any abrasive particles of grit and dirt, which can scratch the surface when walked on or moved across by chair legs and other items.
Damp Cleaning: Using a spray mop is the easiest and most effective way to clean wood floors. Simply spray and wipe the floor clean. The Mop Pack includes a full cartridge of multipurpose cleaner (suitable for oiled or lacquered floors), a spare refill, and two washable microfiber pads, making maintenance a breeze.
Ongoing Maintenance for Oiled Floors
Buffing and Care Oil Application: Floors finished with traditional oils require regular maintenance by buffing in the relevant care oil. This oil can be applied using an applicator mop fitted with an applicator pad. The frequency of maintenance depends on how often the floor is used and the environment in which it is installed. Our maintenance kit comes with everything you need to keep your floor in excellent condition, including cleaning and care products specifically designed for oiled floors.
Protect Your Floor from Scratches and Indentations
Use Protective Mats: Placing good quality entry and exit mats will help collect dirt, sand, grit, and other substances that can damage the floor. However, avoid rubber or foam-backed plastic mats as they can discolor your floor. To prevent slippage, use an approved vinyl rug underlay.
Install Furniture Floor Protectors: Use these under heavy objects to minimize indentations and scratches. As a general rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be.
Keep Pet Nails Trimmed: Ensure your pet’s nails are kept short to avoid scratching the surface.
Control Your Environment
For your flooring to perform well over time, it’s crucial to maintain consistent relative humidity (RH) and temperature levels within your property. Ideally, RH should be kept between 45-65%. Properties with poor ventilation or excessive heating may experience low humidity, particularly in winter. This can lead to shrinkage or even structural deficiencies in the wood.
Use a Hygrometer or Fid Box: A hygrometer measures the moisture in the atmosphere, while a Fid Box, installed under the floor, monitors environmental conditions. If humidity levels fall outside the recommended range, using a dehumidifier can help balance the moisture content in the air.
By following these care and maintenance steps, your engineered oak flooring will maintain its natural beauty and durability for years to come, ensuring it remains a stunning feature of your home.
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