Tips & Insights for your Floors

Sep 27, 2016 | News

Recoating Timber, Parquetry or Cork:

  1. Clean floor with AQUACARE 8440 Floor Clean Concentrate
  2. Sand floor with 120-150 grade sandpaper or screen back on a flexible pad to ensure floor is uniformly dull with no sanding scratches, nibs or fur. Vacuum thoroughly. Take care to avoid scratching the surface.
  3. Apply the chosen coating per the directions on the datasheet.
  4. Optional: Apply a second coat of the chosen coating

Maintenance: After your floor has been coated, be sure to follow the guidelines below to minimise the risk of scratching and scuffing:

  1. Walking on floor with socks or stockings 24 hours
  2. Replacing furniture 2-3 days (longer if possible)
  3. Replacing mats and rugs 3-4 weeks
  4. Damp mopping 2-4 weeks

When the floor is dry enough to walk on (normally 24 hours), open all the doors and windows to circulate the air. This is important to ensure proper curing of the coating.

Remember: All coatings provide protection for the substrate, however no coating is indestructible and all coatings will mark or scratch. Sharp objects including sand and grit will scratch the surface of any coated floor. In high traffic commercial environments such as hairdressing salons, night clubs or taverns several factors need to be considered when choosing a coating system such as the amount of traffic, moisture, alcohol and chemicals likely to come into contact with the floor. A thorough cleaning and maintenance program must be implemented after the coating system has thoroughly dried to help maintain the coating.

Ongoing care:

  1. Place door mats outside all entrances and ideally a soft mat inside each entrance to help remove sand, grit and small stones from shoes. When sand and grit is walked over the floor it is abrasive and acts like sandpaper and causes damage.
  2. If possible use mats in high traffic areas e.g. near the sink and/or oven and hot plates.
  3. Use floor protectors on furniture legs.
  4. Keep pet claws trimmed to minimise scratching.
  5. Regularly sweep the floor with antistatic mop to prevent the build-up of grit. Be careful with vacuum cleaners as the cleaning heads and bristles could scratch the floor.
  6. Remove any spills immediately and spot clean as required.
  7. Avoid direct sunlight where possible. Use blinds and curtains to reduce fading and discolouration of timber.
  8. Wash the floor with a pH neutral cleaner designed for timber floors such as AQUACARE 8440 Floor Clean Concentrate.
  9. Do not use methylated spirits.
  10. Do not use too much water whilst mopping (damp mop only) as too much moisture can damage the timber.
  11. Do not use polishes or household cleaners – Particularly those that contain ammonia – as they may damage the floor.
  12. Avoid dragging furniture over timber floors.
  13. Avoid walking on the floor with stilettos at all times as these can dent the floor.
  14. Apply AQUACARE Revive to rejuvenate the floor between recoats.