Care and Maintenance for Your Timber Floor Polish

The timber floor polish used when sanding and polishing your floors determines the maintenance and care required moving forward.
Every manufacturer recommends their own timber floor cleaning products and cleaning process. For this reason we recommend knowing what finish your have chosen and where your can find these products to buy, for best results. Always seek professional advice when it comes to your particular floor.

TIMBER FLOORS – INTERNAL: Timber Floor Polish Care

Helpful hints for floor maintenance and longevity:

• General Rule of Thumb for walkability after completion:
  • Walk on the floor: after 24hrs (oiled floors allow extra depending on weather).
  • Replace furniture on the floor: after 2-3 days (oiled floors allow extra time depending on weather).
  • Coverings/rugs on the floor: after 1 to 2 weeks depending on the product (oiled floors after 4 weeks).
  • Washing floor: 4 to 6 weeks (oiled floors usually 6 weeks).
• Make sure any moveable furniture has soft pads fitted where they contact the floor, to prevent scratching and scuffing.
• Make sure to lift heavy furniture to move, rather than sliding, as this can cause major scratching and scuffing.
• Avoid wearing hard heels and stilettos on the floor, again to prevent scratching and indentation. Ideally, wear soft soles or socks. Did you know? A 60kg woman wearing a sharp stiletto can exert up to 3,500kg per cm2.
• Sweep regularly with a good quality dust mop, as walking on a dusty or gritty floor is the fastest way to wear out your timber floor, shortening the life of your finish.
• Make sure your vacuum cleaner has a soft bristle head, suitable for timber flooring. Most vacuum cleaners either come with a special head or are made available to order. Be aware of stones etc getting caught in the bristles.
• Every time you vacuum the floor, ensure you remove any floor coverings and vacuum thoroughly.
• Place mats at house entrances, to avoid bringing in excess dirt and grit. Always ensure they are cleaned underneath regularly, to avoid grit wearing into the finish under the mat.
• Use the correct cleaning product when mopping, avoid using excess water, and be careful not to use excess product. Less is best in most cases. Chemicals and wax are NOT recommended unless specified by the manufacturer of the finish.
• Ensure you wipe up any water or liquid spills immediately, to prevent water damage, especially in the initial curing period.
• Rejuvenation after a certain amount of years may be beneficial, depending on the finish. Please see specific guidelines (links provided below).

HELPFUL LINKS for our most commonly used products:

Livos Natural Oils:

http://www.livos.com.au/uploads/469/91/Rej-ConcreteTimberfFloors.pdf

Synteko:

http://synteko.com.au/surface-coating-maintenance/

Bona:

https://bona.com.au/images/bona/pdfs/Domestic%20maintenance%20AU%20Sept%2017.pdf

Loba:

http://www.loba.de/fileadmin/site_structure/produkte/000000/gb/CIN_GB_Care_Instruction_2014.pdf

DECKING AND OUTDOOR TIMBER – EXTERNAL: timber floor polish care

Helpful hints for timber floor polish maintenance and longevity:

• General Rule of Thumb for use once complete (varies substantially depending on weather, location, and exposure):
  • Walk on deck: 24-48 hrs weather depending.
  • Replace pots and furniture: 24 hrs to one week (once it feels dry)
• NEVER place pots directly on decking, they retain water underneath and cause wood rot. There are small ‘shoes’ or stands available to keep them elevated.
• Avoid placing metal directly on the deck, as this can cause permanent iron stains.
• Sweep regularly, particularly keeping leaves off the deck. Rotting leaves will hold moisture, block the gaps, and can cause the boards to rot where the water is not allowed to drain.
• Avoid using abrasive or chemical products to clean, unless recommended by the manufacturer. Use product-specific cleaners if extra cleaning is required.
• For oiled decks, it is recommended to re-coat every 12 months. In high exposure areas, pool-side decks, and very damp areas, re-coating may be required sooner. What to look our for: extremely dry-looking, faded or absorbing moisture.
• To keep the timber colour, clean and re-coat before the timber begins to grey. The water should ‘bead’ on the surface of the product is still working, but the timber may begin to grey before the protective oil wears out.
• Film coats require care more often, particularly in high exposure areas, to avoid cracking and peeling. Once they crack and peel, they require complete sanding to bring them back to condition.