Timber Preservation

Timber floors need regular maintenance to maintain its aesthetic appeal. In essence, there are two methods of maintenance.

The first method involves the application of one additional coat of polyurethane coating to the floor when the floor begins to look tired or show signs that the factory finish is wearing. The frequency of this maintenance will depend upon how clean the floor is kept, whether dirt trapping mats are installed at external entrances and the volume of foot traffic that the floor encounters.

The other method involves the application of a metallised polish called Renew. Renew application is easier but needs to be carried out more frequently than the application of a polyurethane coating. In essence, both systems add sacrificial wear layers to the timber flooring to protect the timber and its factory finish. As these sacrificial wear layers are worn away by foot traffic, they need to be replenished.
 
When your floor starts to show signs of wear, either apply one coat of polyurethane floor finish or begin using a metallised polish like Premium Renew.
 
 For day to day maintenance, use a dry fringe mop, vacuum cleaner (bristles down) or soft bristled broom to sweep the floor when required. When your floor requires washing, use one capful of Premium Cork & Timber Cork Cleaner in a bucket of warm water to wash the floor when it looks a little dirty. Make sure you use a well wrung mop.
 
When your floor starts to show signs of wear, consider applying a protective coating to the floor. Polyurethane floor finishes will generally need at least 24 hours to dry and require the entire floor to be clean and vacant of furniture or stock. Renew, although not as strong or scuff resistant as polyurethane will dry overnight and can be applied with stock or furniture in place.

If your floor is stained, try the following options for stain removal.

1. Use one part Premium Cork & Timber Cleaner, diluted in 10 parts of warm water to assist with the removal of milk, cream, beer, soft drink, berries, coffee, wine, fruit, jam or urine.
 
2. Use Methylated Sprit neat on a clean cloth to assist with the removal of ink, lipstick or adhesives. Do not use Methylated Spirit if your floor has been coated with a polish like Refresh and only use it sparingly to help remove any stains.
 
3. Use cold water to assist with the removal of blood.

4. Use White Spirit neat on a clean cloth to assist with the removal of chocolate, grease, oil, shoe polish, tar or shoe scuffs (shoe scuffs can also be removed using a pencil eraser). If your floor has been coated with a polish like Refresh, the use of White Spirit will more than likely remove all polish from the floor, requiring re-application of polish to the affected area. It is always advisable to test the use of White Spirit in an inconspicuous area first.

Depending upon the type of stain and how long it has been left unattended, some boards may permanently discolour. Should this occur, contact our service centre.  As it is possible to repair boards within a floor, you might like to replace the affected boards with new ones