General Introduction

Growing technology has enhanced the durability of flooring products immensely. Yet, our fast paced world still renders a lot of wear on our floors from spills to the family pet or foot traffic. Regular maintenance and preventative measures can significantly prolong the new look of this important investment. 

The following information is the accumulation of many years of experience, the guidelines of regulatory flooring agencies and the instructions provided by the leading manufactures of flooring products. The manufacturer of your flooring product may have unique guidelines that should be given seniority over the general advice given by Wolfe Flooring. The following guidelines are for regular maintenance, not initial care. Most likely, the initial care your flooring needs is different than regular maintenance. Generally, new flooring products need about 12 to 72 hours after the installation before they are ready for furniture, regular foot traffic, or cleaning of the seams, etc. Techniques, products, etc. change and some situations are very unique; thus, Wolfe Flooring assumes no liability for omissions, errors or the outcome. These instructions may not apply to historic ceramic tile or antique oriental rugs and other very old and priceless flooring relics. Please exercise general caution implementing any of the following guidelines. You're welcome to call us for a specific professional address of your situation.

Wood

Retain the sales receipt and any product description from the purchase of the goods. If possible, document the manufacturer's name, the manufacturer's full product description including color, and the type of finish used. Furthermore, retain a sample of the wood for comparisons. For insurance purposes, it's good to have a picture of your new product in a safe place.

Retain extra wood for possible repairs that may be needed in the future. Keep the wood in a dry place that stays about room temperature. Do not put this in the attic or a moist basement. Extreme heat or high humidity can ruin the wood.

Keep the outside entrance areas (sidewalks, porches, driveways) free of sand and debris.

Non-staining walk off mats (avoid rubber mats) and entry rugs are strongly recommended at building entry ways (both inside and outside) to catch most of the soiling. The mass majority of the soil and grit that will fall into the wood will do so in the first six feet of the entrances. Use mats on hard surfaces only if possible. Mats should be cleaned recurrently; otherwise, the mats will accelerate the soiling.

Never wet mop your wood floor with water or other general cleaners. This could ruin your investment by causing the wood to swell and cup. Your manufacturer likely recommends an alternative cleaning agent bearing their label using very minimal moisture.

Be very careful when using any over-the-counter wood cleaner. Some products will void your warranty. Test the product in an inconspicuous area and leave it for 24 hours. Follow the instructions on the cleaner carefully. Never use soap or ammonia based cleaners.

Tend to stains and spills immediately after occurrence. Stains set with time. Wipe up spills with a damp sponge or cloth. Wipe the floor again with a dry cloth.

Vacuum or sweep the main traffic areas once per day and the general areas once per week for residential wood. Commercial facilities usually need to vacuum or sweep all areas once per day or twice per day. The sand and grit will act as an abrasive to the wood's shine causing premature finishing problems. If you use a vacuum cleaner, the vacuum should not have a beater bar. (Follow the operating manual of the vacuum cleaner's manufacturer.) 

Change the bag on your vacuum cleaner as specified by the manufacturer to not over stress the engine and to maintain strong suction.

Wax and buff throughout occasionally, especially the high traffic areas. The frequency will vary depending on the foot traffic and maintenance quality. Residential properties are generally going to need buffing once per year or sooner. Commercial properties will likely need buffing every one to three months. (This may not apply depending on the type of finish you have on your wood floor.)

Have your wood professionally reconditioned or sanded and refinished when the finish has worn through in the high traffic areas.

Reflect direct sunlight away from wood to prevent fading from oxidation.

Avoid placing an appliance directly on your flooring that produces high levels of heat. Refrigerators and ovens are known to produce heat that can permanently damage your flooring.

Use non-slip underlayments under rugs to prevent possible dye transfer and to prevent the rug from traveling or slipping. Area rugs should be used in places of high activity (e.g., in front of the kitchen sink) and at pivot-points (e.g., a hallway intersection) to avoid the apparent traffic patterns. Rugs should allow air penetration to the wood which is sometimes prevented by rugs with rubberized backings. Never allow moisture to become trapped under your rug.

Relocate furniture occasionally to distribute traffic patterns.

Avoid dragging heavy furniture across the wood.

Change the filters in you air conditioning system regularly to prevent dust accumulation on your wood floor.

Avoid setting living potted plants directly on your wood surface. Excess moisture can ruin the floor.

Use carpet or felt pad protectors (not plastic or rubber) on the bottom of furniture that is moved frequently. Change out the furniture pads periodically.

Do not walk on wood floors with stiletto or spiked heels, especially those with worn spiked heal caps.

Prevent indentations from furniture with pointed legs by using hard, plastic casters and cups. A wide caster will disperse the weight of the furniture.

Keep your pet's nails trimmed.

Little dents and scratches can be fixed with color-matched pencils and markers supplied by the manufacturer.

Tend to repairs immediately to keep repair expenses as low as possible.

All Materials are Copyrighted © 2000
by Wolfe Flooring, Inc. of Tampa, FL 33637   All rights reserved.
A Full Service Flooring Company:  Sales, Installation, Maintenance & Repairs
Carpet, Rugs, Hardwood, Laminate, Ceramic, Stone, Vinyl, Rubber, VCT
Serving Temple Terrace, Tampa, Brandon, and Surrounding Communities
of Tampa Bay in Central Florida
813-989-2101  or   813-989-2831
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