FOCUS ON FLOOR FINISHES & AFTERCARE


Knowing how to care for engineered wood flooring is crucial to maintaining the flooring’s aesthetic. Here, wood expert A Wood Idea presents a guide to maintaining engineered wood flooring, which you can share with your customers.


As Wood As New


Engineered wood flooring is a popular choice amongst homeowners. It offers a similar aesthetic to solid wood options without the associated expansion and contraction caused by changes in temperature and humidity.


However, it is vital that homeowners know exactly how to care for their engineered wood flooring to keep it in tip top condition. Here are some main points to cover when advising your customers on engineered wood flooring maintenance…


LACQUERING & OILING


When installing an engineered wooden floor, there are two main finishes; lacquering and oiling.


Lacquering creates a high-shine finish and improves water- resistance by coating the top layer of the flooring. Oiling creates a more natural finish that protects deep into the wood.


Consider the type of finish and level of maintenance preferred. Scratches tend to be more visible on lacquered flooring and in areas of high footfall, which may cause the wood to appear dull and damaged over time. When this occurs, the whole floor’s lacquer may need to be stripped and replaced.


MOPPING & CLEANING


Cleaning engineered wood flooring correctly is important to avoid scratching and damage. To pick up dust and debris from the flooring, use a broom or the soft flooring attachment on the vacuum cleaner.


It’s recommended that a flat-bottomed mop is used over traditional string or strip mops. The latter tend to hold more water, meaning they are more likely to dribble and result in unwanted levels of surface water on the flooring. Using a steam mop should also be avoided. If left, this standing water can cause damage to the floor’s solid wood surface.


In terms of cleaning products, stay clear of harsh detergents or wax-based cleaners and abrasive materials such as steel wool. These can all damage or scratch the surface of the flooring.


20 | Tomorrow’s Retail Floors SCRATCHES


Under the stresses of daily life, engineered wood flooring can become scratched. There are ways of preventing these scratches from forming — for example, using furniture pads to protect the flooring from castors and table legs. Likewise, where furniture needs to be moved, it’s advised to lift items rather than dragging them over the floor’s surface. It’s also beneficial to keep pets’ nails trimmed and avoid wearing high heels on the flooring.


Where scratches do occur and cannot be prevented, the floor could be sanded and re-varnished or re-waxed depending on the finish. However, it’s important to note that, while solid wood flooring can be sanded multiple times, engineered wood flooring only has a thin solid wood veneer. Therefore, it can only be sanded a maximum of two or three times before further damage starts to occur.


While sanding is one option to counter scratches, it’s much more logical to prevent them from occurring in the first place.


STAINING


When liquids are spilt onto the flooring, it’s important to clear them up as soon as possible to protect from damage caused by surface water. Not only this, but if coloured liquids are spilt — such as red wine or ink, for example — the floor could potentially become stained.


The good news is that lacquered engineered wood flooring may offer a layer of protection against staining. However, we still recommend clearing up these spillages as quickly as possible.


In terms of cleaning products, always check the label to ensure the product is suitable for use on an engineered wood floor. If it’s not, you run the risk of damaging the floor further, which could cause patches of discoloration.


www.awoodidea.co.uk www.tomorrowsretailfloors.com


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