Hardwood Floors

 
Homeowner Use and Maintenance Guidelines

Hardwood Flooring is a natural material. There will be different colors, textures, finishes, and stains in your floor. Shoe molding and transitions will not match the finish of your floor. The grain of the wood will vary in intensity and appearance. Boards that are adjacent will be slightly different levels (not totally flat) since they shrink and swell at different rates. Where boards are cut, minor chipping is unavoidable. In daily care of hardwood floors, preventive maintenance is the primary goal.

 
Cleaning

Sweep or vacuum on a daily basis, or as needed, to remove loose dirt before it can scratch or be ground into the floor's surface. Never wet mop or clean your hardwood floor with water as it will raise the grain of the wood and dull the finish. Excessive water causes wood to expand and can possibly damage the floor. When polyurethane finishes become soiled, use Bruce Dura-Luster No Wax Floor Cleaner on a soft cloth, for spills. Periodically, this product should be used to clean the entire floor; follow instructions on the bottle. Check with the hardwood company if your floor has a water-based finish.

 
Dimples

Placing heavy furniture or dropping heavy or sharp objects on hardwood floors can result in dimples. When moving furniture or appliances use a blanket or scrap of carpet (face down) to protect the floor from scratching and gouging.

 
Filmy Appearance

A white, filmy appearance can result from moisture, often from wet shoes or boots.

 
Furniture Legs

Install proper floor protectors on furniture placed on hardwood floors. Protectors will allow chairs to move easily over the floor without scuffing. Regularly clean the protectors to remove any grit that may have accumulated.

 
Humidity

Wood floors respond noticeably to changes in humidity in your home. Especially during winter months the individual planks or pieces expand and contract as water content changes. A humidifier helps but does not eliminate this reaction.

Wood stoves and electric heat tend to create very dry conditions. A Humidifier is recommended. A humidity level of 35-55% is recommended. Gaps, squeaks, splinters, and cracks are normal with changes in humidity.

 
Mats and Area Rugs

Use area rugs in front of sinks and at all exterior doors to help prevent sand and grit from getting on the floor. Gritty sand is wood flooring's worst enemy. However, be aware that area rugs or mats with rubber, foam, or plastic backings may cause yellowing and warping of the floor surface.

 
Recoat

If your floors have a polyurethane finish, you may want to have an extra coat of polyurethane applied by a qualified contractor within six months to one year. The exact timing will depend on your particular lifestyle. If another finish was used, refer to the manufacturer's recommendations.

 
Separation

Expect some shrinkage around heat vents or any heat-producing appliances, or during seasonal weather changes.

See also Warping.

 
Shoes

Keep high heels in good repair. Heels that have lost their protective cap (thus exposing the fastening nail) will exert more than 8,000 pounds of pressure per square inch on the floor. That's enough to damage hardened concrete; it will permanently damage your wood floor.

 
Spills

Clean up spills immediately, before they get sticky or dry. Remove dried spills with a soft cloth dampened with Bruce Dura-Luster No Wax Floor Cleaner.

 
Splinters

When floors are new, small splinters of wood can appear. Gaps, squeaks, splinters, and cracks are normal with changes in humidity.

 
Sun Exposure

Exposure to direct sunlight can cause irreparable damage to hardwood floors. To preserve the beauty of your hardwood floors, install and use window coverings in these areas.

 
Traffic Paths

A dulling of the finish in heavy traffic areas is likely. Use of an area rug in these locations will make long-term maintenance easier.

 
Warping

Warping will occur if the floor repeatedly becomes wet or is thoroughly soaked even once. Slight warping in the area of heat vents or heat-producing appliances is also typical.

 
Wax

Waxing and the use of products like oil soap are neither necessary nor recommended. Once you wax a polyurethane finish floor, recoating is difficult because the new finish will not bond to the wax. The preferred maintenance is preventive cleaning and recoating annually or as needed to maintain the desired luster.

 
GOODIER BUILDERS Limited Warranty

During the orientation we will confirm that hardwood floors are in acceptable condition. We will correct any readily noticeable cosmetic defects listed during the orientation. You are responsible for routine maintenance of hardwood floors.

 
Separations

Shrinkage will result in separations between the members of hardwood floors. If these exceed 1/8 inch, GOODIER BUILDERS will fill them one time. GOODIER BUILDERS is not responsible for removing excess filler that appears on the surface if the boards expand due to subsequent changes in humidity and expel the filler.