• Woods are a lifetime investment, and decisions concerning them should not be taken lightly
• Routine maintenance should include protecting the surface finish from moisture and heavy wear which creates scratches. This maintenance requires more than sweeping  and vacuuming. 
• Always clean your wood floors periodically with a professional wood floor cleaning product recommended by a wood flooring professional and/or the manufacturer of your particular hardwood floor product. Not doing so may void any warranty or guarantee on the product.

Consumer Expectations:

• Wood floors are NOT impervious to the day to day grit, food, spills, and water

• Preventive maintenance like area rugs, floor protectors (on ALL furniture on your wood floors), and routine maintenance with proper hardwood floor cleaner should always be exercised (improper products can contribute to additional wear, may VOID your warranty, and cause failure when recoating.

  Care for ALL Wood Floors ( the Do's & Don'ts)  PURCHASE Wood Floor Cleaners NOW

Specific Types of Finishes            Learn More >  Types of Wood Floor Finishes
 

Acrylic-Impregnated ( 2 types: WITH and WITHOUT urethane coatings)

• Non-urethane: Low speed buffing with proper cleaning products and pad as recommended by manufacturer

• Use proper dust mop treatments

• White products require special procedures, making sure never to use water or petroleum based products

• Screening (light sanding) in addition to above procedures may be required

• Always follow manufacturers recommendations, and if in doubt, check with a local professional wood floor contractor

 Surface Finishes-(includes conversion varnish, moisture-cured urethane, oil-modified polyurethane, and water-based urethane)

• Follow of complete program of proper maintenance procedures (see above)

• Always follow and use manufacturers suggest products and procedures, if product manufacturer is unknown, use  GENERIC HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANER available at local wood floor retail outlets

• Warranties by most manufacturers are VOIDED if oil soap and products containing wax cleaners are used

• Wipe and clean immediately all spills, and dirt tracking. Stubborn stains should be cleaned with proper cleaning solution as recommended by manufacturer, using a soft dampened cloth. For stubborn stains repeat using wood floor cleaner & soft cloth

• NEVER use a wax or wax based products over surface finishes. 
  NOTE: This can be a VERY DANGEROUS ! 

• If finish losses it's luster, screening (light sanding) and recoating may be necessary . This should be done ONLY by a professional wood floor  contractor (See details below)

Wax Finish

• Always immediately wipe spills with a soft dry cloth, buffing may be necessary

• White spots from water can be rubbed out with a fine steel wood and a small amount of mineral spirits, re-wax and buff as needed to match

• Buffing areas of heavy traffic will return luster, if not re-waxing may need to occur for that area, with buffing the blend

• Cleaners, and manufacturers conditioners can be used over waxed floors, always paying careful attention to manufactures directions and procedures

• NEVER use a wax finish over surface finishes. 
  NOTE: This can be a VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION 

NOTE: Wood floors that have been waxed over and over through the years, may be a serious concern if refinishing (to bare wood). Surface finishes may not and more than most, will NOT adhere properly (a sure sign is prolonged drying time), and/or if it does adhere , failure is almost certain as wear will become excessive early on.
 

Recoating  

Fast Facts > Buffing, Recoating, Screening and Resanding a hardwood floor should be performed by an experienced hardwood floor professional. Some Hardwood floors can not be successfully recoated, as those with different light exposure that have caused discoloration under area carpets, or those improperly cleaned with oil soaps, other cleaning solutions, all contaminating the floor which will cause guaranteed failure.

• Worn areas (through the finish and/or stain)  to bare wood can not be recoated to give desired results, refinishing must occur

• Oil soaps, improper cleaning products, and other unknown contaminates can cause assured recoat failure

• Screening (light sanding with proper grit screen/paper) will ensure proper adhesion of the new finish

• Prefinished or factory finished floors can be screened and recoated following manufacturers direction, using the proper/compatible finish.