Maintenance

Maintenance

Member of the

National

Wood

Flooring

Association

For information on RECOATING please click here.

Wood can outlast virtually any other type of interior flooring. Furthermore, with some common sense care, not only can it outlast, but can also keep its "like new" appearance virtually forever. We put together a simple "Do's and Don'ts" list for you.

If you just had your floors refinished, remember to lift all furniture when moving, do not place area rugs back and do not clean you floors with any solution for 2 weeks.

Do:

Do keep your wood floors vacuumed and clean. Dust and dirt under foot acts like sandpaper. This constant abrasion "rubs" off the finish much faster. Here are some "dust buster" suggestions:

Walk off mats should be kept by all entrance doors to minimize dirt being carried onto your wood floors.

Vacuum as soon as dust is noticeable with a bristle attachment, not a motorized brush.

	Do damp mop your floor when it appears to be dirty. Best to use a wood floor cleaning kit with a *MICRO-FIBER MOP*. Micro-fiber keeps trapping dirt particles far better than regular mops or rags do resulting in a more beautiful streak-free dry floor. Get a wood flooring kit designed for "surface finished" or "sealed" wood floors NOT for waxed floors. Pre-moistened wipes (such as "Swiffer Wet Wipes") are acceptable as well. If you buy concentrates that need to be mixed with water, we recommend using distilled water. (Tap water has minerals which can leave a film and may dry looking hazy and streaky.)
	Do place mats at exterior doors, in front of sinks, refrigerators and in heavy traffic areas (wait two weeks on a newly finished floor). Be aware that some rubber-backed or foam-backed rugs, and non-slip pads contain additives that may discolor the floor.
	Do place heavy-duty felt protectors under the legs of chairs and other furniture that get moved back and forth . Pry off existing buttons (metal or plastic) using a flat head screwdriver. Quickly scuff surface with rough sandpaper or use alcohol to clean the bottom of the legs to insure proper bond of self-stick protectors. Check every 6 months, replace as necessary. Never wax the base of chair legs.

	Do keep your pet's nails well pedicured to prevent deep scratches. (Ask us about "PAW-TECTION" nail caps.)
	Do place plants in waterproof containers.
	Do have your floors professionally shave-screened and recoated annually (in high traffic areas and kitchens it may be necessary to recoat every six months) to keep that "like new" look and to avoid refinishing.

Don't:

	Don't wait until your floors are badly worn to have them recoated! (You will end up having to completely refinish your floors.)
	Don't use detergent (soapy) cleaners on your floors. A hazy, chalky residue will form that scuffs easily and may cause adhesion problems for recoating.
	Don't wax your floors. Not even liquid waxes such as Preen, Mop & Glo, Future etc.. Will build up, chip, peel and can cause adverse reactions the next time your floors need to be recoated or refinished.
	Don't use aerosol products such as Pledge or Endust as these products also contain waxes which will cause adhesion problems for recoating and they leave a film that scuffs easily can be dangerously slippery.
	Don't use strong solvents on wood floors.
	Don't water excessively. Don't wet mop your floors. Wood and water don't mix. Water seepage between the boards leaves dark stains, warps the wood and causes musky odor.
	Don't use metal or plastic tools when vacuuming. Always use the softest bristle-brush attachment available. (Metal or plastic attachments could scratch the finish.)

When To Call Paul’s European Touch Pro Wood Floors For Professional Maintenance?

We recommend all types of finishes to be recoated periodically. The length of this period will be determined by the amount and type of traffic your floor receives and the care the floor is given between professional visits. The more traffic, the more wear, the more frequently your floors should be done. Generally it is recommended to RECOAT WOOD FLOORS ANNUALLY. (In high traffic or commercial locations possibly every six months.) This will ensure a consistently beautiful and clean floor. With recoating timing is the maintenance!

"What Is Shaving & Recoating Anyway?"

It is a procedure that "erases" surface wear from your floors. This stops the wear from going beyond the last layer of finish by regularly exchanging the top coat with a brand new layer. It can eliminate the need to completely refinish your floors forever (as long as it is performed at the same rate as you wear your floor)!

First, a fine layer of the existing finish is "shaved" off, (thereby removing all surface scratches, finish wear and small imperfections) then a brand new coat of finish is applied. Shaving is also important to insure proper adhesion. Shaving is economical and hassle free. It costs a fraction of what refinishing costs, and there is very little or no dust produced. It is very important not to wait until your floors are too scratched up OR the finish is badly worn. Such defects are below the last layer of finish and therefore can only be removed by a complete resanding of your floors, the very thing you are trying to avoid by recoating periodically.

"Will I have to remove all my heavy furniture?"

No! You don’t walk under the furniture, so the finish is not worn there. The goal is to keep the finish from wearing in traffic areas. Also, since shaving does not involve sanding down to the bare wood, there is no need to remove permanently placed pieces of furniture. Should you ever move them in the future, a simple touch-up will blend in that area with the rest of your floor. However, all easily movable and light pieces (chairs, plants etc.) should be removed.

"How long will the whole process take?"

It’s all done in a matter of hours. Our finishes dry in 1 hr and are non-toxic. If you didn't wait too long, only one coat will be needed. Quick and easy!

This simple procedure multiplies the lifespan of all finishes. Shaving and recoating will SAVE you money by eliminating the need for future refinishing. You can enjoy your floors year after year without the hassle of periodic resanding.