Hardwood Floors
Hardwood flooring, including natural, engineered, and laminates, is a beautiful addition to your home. While it is a beautiful addition, it is important to understand the unique characteristics of the wood you selected and the maintenance requirements. In daily care of hardwood floors, preventive maintenance is the primary goal.
The maintenance guidelines below are generic guidelines; please refer to the specific guidelines for the species of wood you selected.
Routine Maintenance
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Sweep or vacuum | Daily or as needed |
| Damp-mop soiled polyurethane and water based finishes | As needed |
| Clean furniture leg floor protectors to remove grit | Regularly |
| Clean up food spills with a dry cloth | Immediately |
| Extra polyurethane coat by a qualified contractor | Within six months to one year (depends on lifestyle) |
Cleaning
Sweep or vacuum on a daily basis or as needed. Never wet-mop a hardwood floor. Excessive water causes wood to expand and damage the floor.
When polyurethane and water based finishes become soiled, damp-mop with a mixture of 1 cup vinegar to one gallon of warm water. When damp-mopping, remove all excess water from the mop. Please refer to the manufacturer's recommendations for cleaning products.
Protecting Your Floor
Dimples
Placing heavy furniture or dropping heavy or sharp objects on hardwood floors can result in dimples.
Furniture Legs
Install proper floor protectors on furniture placed on hardwood floors. Protectors will allow chairs to move easily over the floor without scuffing. Regularly clean the protectors to remove any grit that may have accumulated.
Mats and Area Rugs
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. However, be aware that rubber backing on area rugs or mats can cause yellowing and warping of the floor surface.
Shoes
Keep high heels in good repair. Heels that have lost their protective cap (thus exposing the fastening nail) will exert over 8,000 pounds of pressure per square inch on the floor. That's enough to damage hardened concrete; it will mark your wood floor.
Spills
Clean up food spills immediately with a dry cloth. Use a vinegar-and-warm-water solution for tough food spills.
Sun Exposure
Exposure to direct sunlight can cause irreparable damage to hardwood floors. To preserve the beauty of your hardwood floors, install and use window coverings in these areas.
Humidity and Separation
Wood floors respond noticeably to changes in humidity in your home. Especially during winter months, the individual planks or pieces expand and contract as water content changes. A humidifier may help but does not eliminate this reaction. See Humidifier.
Classic does not install humidifiers and is not responsible for damages associated with the installation or improper usage of a humidifier.
Recoating of Floors
If your floors have a polyurethane finish, you may want to have an extra coat of polyurethane applied by a qualified contractor within six months to one year. The exact timing will depend on your particular lifestyle. If another finish was used, refer to the manufacturer's recommendations.
Wax
Waxing and the use of products like oil soap are not recommended. Once you wax a polyurethane finish floor, recoating is difficult because the new finish will not bond to the wax. The preferred maintenance is preventive cleaning and recoating as needed to maintain the desired luster.
If you have installed wax or unapproved cleaners on the floor and a repair is needed during the Limited Warranty Period, Classic will only repair the immediate area of the repair. We will not recoat the entire floor.
What to Expect
- Traffic paths - A dulling of the finish in heavy traffic areas is likely.
- Warping - Warping will occur if the floor repeatedly becomes wet or is thoroughly soaked even once. Slight warping in the area of heat vents or heat-producing appliances is also typical.
Related Topics
Warranty Coverage: See Hardwood Floors Standards for coverage details.