Timber floors are easy to clean and require minimum maintenance; just a regular sweep with an electrostatic mop, soft broom or vacuum, and when necessary, a quick mop using QPCF Floor Cleaner with warm water and a well-wrung cotton mop.
Many people don't wear outside shoes inside. They switch to softer indoor footwear and this not only reduces the cleaning required but also prevents tracking abrasive grit and dirt into the home. This grit acts just like sandpaper on your floor.
Good quality mats placed inside and outside all entrance doors are the next best solution to prevent tracking abrasive dirt and grit inside. Mats placed in high traffic areas such as at the kitchen sink or hallways greatly assist in the reduction of wear in these areas.
It is essential that the floor is cleaned using a minimum of water. Use a damp mop only, never a wet mop, and mop with the grain of the timber not across it. Don't allow water to stand on the floor and wipe up spills or leaks immediately. Use a slightly moistened cloth for sticky spills if necessary, but be sure to wipe the floor dry afterwards. Too much water can result in moisture penetrating the finish which could lead to delamination or cupping of the floorboards.
Do not use steam mops on your timber floors as they force steam (moisture) into small incisions, breaks or cracks that appear in the surface of your floor and could cause the finish to peel and delaminate. All finishes degrade over time by the process of oxidation - a process that is accelerated by heat.
Never use common household products like all-purpose household cleaner, window cleaner, steel wool pads, aerosol furniture polish, wax or similar products to clean your floor. Some are too abrasive and will scratch the surface others will make your floor dangerously slippery and could leave a film of silicon or wax in the timber which will interfere with any future recoating of your floor.
A lot of people might think Methylated Spirits or Kerosene are alright to use. THEY ARE NOT. Any type of petroleum distillate will degrade the finish over time and eventually cause it to look irreversibly dull and drab.
Timber, like many natural materials will change colour on exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Even an old floor that is resanded will expose new timber fibres to the light which begins this colour change process. The amount of change is dependent upon the amount of direct and indirect sunlight exposure the floor gets and the response of different species of timber is variable. This colour change is the most dramatic in the first 6 months after it is sanded and finished. It is recommended that rugs be moved periodically during this time to avoid leaving areas of uneven color.
We see many modern homes with huge expanses of unprotected glass allowing intense morning or afternoon sun to beat directly onto the floor surface. The incredible heat generated cooks the surface of the timber speeding up the process of oxidation by which all finishes degrade.
Timber floorboards cup from gaining or losing moisture faster on one side than the other. The heat beating on the timber surface dries out moisture from the topside of the boards making them drier than the bottom. The boards cup away from the area of highest moisture with the top edges curling upwards towards the board centre.
To avoid unwanted colour change, the possibility of the floorboards cupping or accelerated degradation of the finish it is best to filter the sunlight that shines directly onto your timber floors with blinds, drapes or window tinting.
Your hardwood floor should be recoated when the original finish shows signs of wear, but before it has worn down to bare wood. Once worn to bare wood, the floor will stain easily and may require complete resanding. The recoating process only requires the floor to be cleaned down and then abraded, after which another coat of finish is applied. It is a much simpler and less costly process than resanding.
Queensland Parquetry and Cork Floors Pty Ltd has been supplying and installing flooring products in and around Brisbane since 1978. We have a proud history of being innovative and providing an exceptional product and service to our customers. We specialise in a wide selection of floor coverings including: cork, parquetry, tongue and groove, floating floors, sanding and finishing.
Queensland Parquetry and Cork Floors Pty Ltd, incorporating Contract Floor Sanding and Comflor Commercial Floor Coverings operate throughout Brisbane and the rest of Queensland. For the widest possible choice in practical flooring solutions, visit our Brisbane showroom or call us today.
