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Hardwood Floor Care
Wood is a beautifully natural flooring choice and very easy to care for. With proper care and maintenance your floor will last the test of time. Should your floor show signs of wear or slight scratches, you have several options to revive your investment. The most common technique is called a “Screen & Coat”. An experienced flooring refinisher can lightly abrade your floor, smoothing out slight wear and refinish with several new coats of sealer to protect your floor. If your floor appears to need more than just surface attention, your experienced refinisher can fully sand and coat your floor and even add a new stain if your color preference has changed. Please refer to NWFA for all refinishing and sanding guidelines.
Shamrock floors are an investment in the beauty and value of your home. To ensure the full Shamrock Plank Flooring warranty coverage and to extend the beauty of flooring over years of service, the following preventative maintenance procedures for hardwood flooring is required:
1. To prevent excess dirt and grit from coming in contact with your floors, use entry mats or rugs at all exterior doors. Throw rugs are also recommended on the inside of those doors. High traffic or potential spill areas in kitchens should also employ this tactic.
2. Many wood species are photosensitive to direct or indirect U.V. light. Over time, your floor may show signs of a slight change in appearance; move area rugs and furniture occasionally and shade or curtain large exposed windows to minimize this effect.
3. Clean floors often using a broom first, followed by a static floor cloth mop, a terry cloth type hardwood floor mop, or a clean sponge mop. Sand, dirt or any abrasive material must first be swept from the floor. "Beater bars" on vacuum cleaners will cause severe damage to wood floor finishes. Do not use mechanical equipment to clean a hardwood floor. Never wet mop a hardwood floor.
4. Please use felt floor protectors wherever possible. This will allow your furniture to be moved while minimizing the opportunity for surface scratching. Clean or replace your protectors often, as dirt or grit can be embedded in them. Ball type casters are not recommended, as they may dent your floor. Avoid any floor protectors that are plastic.
5. Be aware of marking soled shoes. Marks from marking soled shoes can be removed by using mineral spirits and a soft cloth or towel. Also, avoid stiletto style heels or shoes in need of repair. A person weighing 125 lbs and concentrating their weight on a 1/4" spot can exert 2000 lbs of pressure. Narrow or damaged heels will concentrate weight and cause damage to the floor.
6. We recommend purchasing cleaning products designed specifically for wood floors that are not acetone or solvent based. These can be purchased through your flooring installer or directly from your flooring distributor. Using a vinegar and water dilution is not recommended.
7. Never use any kind of over the counter oil, oil-soap, or solvent-based products to clean or maintain your floor. They will, with repeated use, erode the protective finish and dull the luster in your floor.
8. To maintain the gloss and the smooth appearance of any hardwood floor, it may be necessary to periodically recoat the floor. Your ability to maintain the floor using the above procedures will directly affect the longevity of the original finish. Floors that have been damaged from years of wear and tear or neglect can be restored to their original beauty by sanding, staining and refinishing. For best results, we recommend that a professional wood flooring refinisher do this.
Download Floor Care Guide PDF
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