DAY-TO-DAY CARE & MAINTENANCE
For maintaining and cleaning the quality prefinished flooring that we proudly distribute, please refer to the specific manufacturer’s guidelines.
Our handcrafted Vintage French Oak wide-plank wood floors are meant to last for generations and require very little effort to ensure that they do. Unless otherwise specified, our floors are sealed with a renewable oxidized or UV cured hardwax oil finish. The hardwax oil is an all-natural, non-pollutant, non-toxic, no or low VOC product with no biocides, no preservatives, and is lead-benzene free. The oil is produced in Europe from natural materials such as vegetable oil and natural waxes made from purified, renewable natural raw resources. The wood’s open grain structure allows the floor to breathe. This has a regulatory effect on moisture, ensuring a healthy room climate, keeping within the spirit of wood’s natural hydroscopic characteristics. The special features of this finish allow its oils to penetrate deeply into the wood pores to enhance, while the wax remains on the surface, maintaining a beautiful natural satin-matte finish and creating a protective layer. By sealing the wood with hardwax oil, the ultimate color of the floor will be enhanced and flourish with time. Hardwax oil has the most environmentally friendly benefits as a wood finish and contributes to a healthier living environment.
A hardwax oil finish is water repellent and does not watermark, and will not crack, flake, peel, blister or panelize like polyurethane or water-based (laminated plastic looking) finishes. The hardwax oil is stain-resistant against wine, beer, cola, coffee, tea, fruit juices and milk. The floor will thrive over time while it patinas. Taking care of the floor through the process of reapplication will partly retain its essence thereby making it quite easy to maintain.
This is a quick checklist for daily maintenance to keep your custom floors clean while avoiding common mistakes that could cause damage.
- Tracked-in dirt is like sandpaper on hardwood flooring. Use a walk-off or entry rug at every outdoor entrance to catch grit. Vacuum or shake out the rugs regularly.
- Avoid a build-up of damaging grit by sweeping or vacuuming your floors often, taking care to use the “bare floor” setting or attachment. Dry dust-mops with soft cotton cloths may be used as well. Homes with pets might require this daily.
- Wipe up spills quickly to keep your floor unmarked, smooth and level. Wood is a natural material that swells when it absorbs water and shrinks when it dries. If needed, spray a small amount of our approved spot cleaners and use a soft rag to make sure nothing remains on the surface.
- Avoid spiked heels. They strike a floor with more force per inch than an elephant’s foot. Spike heels in disrepair are especially harmful to your floor.
- Round-headed chair glides and narrow wheels on furniture legs can scratch or permanently dent your floor. Spread the weight by using commercially-made felt protectors or furniture coasters to prevent scratches and dents.
- Once every week or two, depending on foot traffic, wash your floor with some fresh, room temperature water and a well-wrung mop. Hardwood flooring naturally contracts in the winter and expands in the summer. During hot, humid months, dry the floor immediately after washing by wiping in a circular motion with a clean, soft and absorbent cotton rag. This ensures there is no extra moisture soaking into your wood when the air is already heavy with humidity. In the cold, dry months of winter, you may leave the thin layer of post-mopping moisture to soak into your parched floors, while taking care to avoid puddles or pooling.
- Do not use oil soaps or general detergents when washing your floors. These cause a residue to build up after prolonged, repeated use. Some products may even strip the finish from your floor, leaving it vulnerable to damage.
- Once a month, or less often for low traffic floors, we recommend using specially formulated gentle cleansers and refreshers available for every floor that we manufacture. You can always find product instructions on our Downloads Page or click on the individual documents below.
We recommend and offer two sizes of commercial grade heavy duty dark brown felt pads. These can be tapped into your wood furniture pieces.
The felt tap in glides are available in two sizes
- 1-1/2″ diameter @ 50 pieces per box for sofas, large chairs use.
- 7/8″ diameter @ 150 pieces per box for regular chairs use
We offer these in full box quantity only and we recommend you keep any extra on-hand for future replacement needs.
DAY-TO-DAY CARE & MAINTENANCE
For maintaining and cleaning the quality prefinished flooring that we proudly distribute, please refer to the specific manufacturer’s guidelines.
Our handcrafted Vintage French Oak wide-plank wood floors are meant to last for generations and require very little effort to ensure that they do. Unless otherwise specified, our floors are sealed with a renewable oxidized or UV cured hardwax oil finish. The hardwax oil is an all-natural, non-pollutant, non-toxic, no or low VOC product with no biocides, no preservatives, and is lead-benzene free. The oil is produced in Europe from natural materials such as vegetable oil and natural waxes made from purified, renewable natural raw resources. The wood’s open grain structure allows the floor to breathe. This has a regulatory effect on moisture, ensuring a healthy room climate, keeping within the spirit of wood’s natural hydroscopic characteristics. The special features of this finish allow its oils to penetrate deeply into the wood pores to enhance, while the wax remains on the surface, maintaining a beautiful natural satin-matte finish and creating a protective layer. By sealing the wood with hardwax oil, the ultimate color of the floor will be enhanced and flourish with time. Hardwax oil has the most environmentally friendly benefits as a wood finish and contributes to a healthier living environment.
A hardwax oil finish is water repellent and does not watermark, and will not crack, flake, peel, blister or panelize like polyurethane or water-based (laminated plastic looking) finishes. The hardwax oil is stain-resistant against wine, beer, cola, coffee, tea, fruit juices and milk. The floor will thrive over time while it patinas. Taking care of the floor through the process of reapplication will partly retain its essence thereby making it quite easy to maintain.
This is a quick checklist for daily maintenance to keep your custom floors clean while avoiding common mistakes that could cause damage.
- Tracked-in dirt is like sandpaper on hardwood flooring. Use a walk-off or entry rug at every outdoor entrance to catch grit. Vacuum or shake out the rugs regularly.
- Avoid a build-up of damaging grit by sweeping or vacuuming your floors often, taking care to use the “bare floor” setting or attachment. Dry dust-mops with soft cotton cloths may be used as well. Homes with pets might require this daily.
- Wipe up spills quickly to keep your floor unmarked, smooth and level. Wood is a natural material that swells when it absorbs water and shrinks when it dries. If needed, spray a small amount of our approved spot cleaners and use a soft rag to make sure nothing remains on the surface.
- Avoid spiked heels. They strike a floor with more force per inch than an elephant’s foot. Spike heels in disrepair are especially harmful to your floor.
- Round-headed chair glides and narrow wheels on furniture legs can scratch or permanently dent your floor. Spread the weight by using commercially-made felt protectors or furniture coasters to prevent scratches and dents.
- Once every week or two, depending on foot traffic, wash your floor with some fresh, room temperature water and a well-wrung mop. Hardwood flooring naturally contracts in the winter and expands in the summer. During hot, humid months, dry the floor immediately after washing by wiping in a circular motion with a clean, soft and absorbent cotton rag. This ensures there is no extra moisture soaking into your wood when the air is already heavy with humidity. In the cold, dry months of winter, you may leave the thin layer of post-mopping moisture to soak into your parched floors, while taking care to avoid puddles or pooling.
- Do not use oil soaps or general detergents when washing your floors. These cause a residue to build up after prolonged, repeated use. Some products may even strip the finish from your floor, leaving it vulnerable to damage.
- Once a month, or less often for low traffic floors, we recommend using specially formulated gentle cleansers and refreshers available for every floor that we manufacture. You can always find product instructions on our Downloads Page or click on the individual documents below.
We recommend and offer two sizes of commercial grade heavy duty dark brown felt pads. These can be tapped into your wood furniture pieces.
The felt tap in glides are available in two sizes
- 1-1/2″ diameter @ 50 pieces per box for sofas, large chairs use.
- 7/8″ diameter @ 150 pieces per box for regular chairs use
We offer these in full box quantity only and we recommend you keep any extra on-hand for future replacement needs.
LONG TERMFLOOR CARE & MAINTENANCE
Signature White Glove Floor Maintenance Services
Your handcrafted hardwood floor deserves special treatment. While it is virtually maintenance free, requiring only dusting and occasional washing, we do recommend a rejuvenation maintenance service every 5 to10 years, or possibly more often in high traffic areas or commercial applications. Our floors can be rejuvenated without sanding, avoiding dust pollution, toxic fumes, unnecessary expense and hassle.
Our White Glove Maintenance Service includes furniture removal, saving you time and money. Our craftsmen inspect your flooring carefully and perform surface touch-ups and the application of all-natural, non-pollutant and non-toxic hardwax oil. Should your floor suffer any kind of damage, we prefer to repair and save it. In cases of more serious incidents, we will offer an estimate for replacing the damaged floor pieces.
This is what you can expect when scheduling our White Glove Maintenance Service:
- Complimentary assessment of your handcrafted floor to determine the level of rejuvenation and any necessary repairs.
- Photographing and measuring for precise placement of furniture and décor after completion.
- Careful removal of furniture from work areas.
- Deep cleaning of your wood floor.
- Meticulous hand inspection of entire work surface for scratches or damage.
- Hand re-staining or stain touch-ups where required.
- Hand application and buffing of deeply penetrating hardwax oil to smooth away surface scratches, moisturize the wood and bring back its original luster.
- Returning furniture and décor back into place, in most cases within 48 to 72 hours after final hardwax oil application.
What to Do in Case of Damage
Incidents may occur which result in damage to your floors. Most often this is water related, either localized as a result of an appliance leak, or throughout a large area due to weather induced flooding or a plumbing mishap. The good news is, in many cases, your floor does not need to be replaced.
In the event of water damage, a printable copy of step-by-step guidelines is available on our Downloads Page or you may click here for the document.
For non-water damage, such as heavy gouging, chemical discoloration, heat blistering, etc., please contact us as soon as possible for guidance and options.
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