How To Polish An Engineered Floor
One of the greatest things about engineered wood flooring, as well as its amazing visual appeal, is its hardwearing ability. This is, of course, provided you take care to maintain your engineered wood floor, which is why we’re here to help. If you’re thinking about polishing your engineered wood flooring then we’ve got the step by step guide to help you complete the task at hand without a hitch.
- Make space for polishing
As with all big tasks that involve your floor-space, making sure you’ve cleared the room is key. Remove all the furniture if you can, as well as rugs and mats.
If you have anything that would typically hang on to your floor then we would recommend removing this from the room also. In the case of things like curtains, tie them up out of the way and leave them hanging up for the duration of the polishing process.
- Clean floor for polishing
Next, it’s time to prepare your floors before you begin polishing. Brushing, hoovering and mopping your floors is usually all you will need to do, but in ome cases, floors may be ingrained with dirt which it is essential you remove before beginning polishing. Make sure too get into every corner that you can, and don’t neglect to clean your skirting boards whilst you’re there!
For those floors that require a little extra TLC, a wood floor cleaner should be sufficient to help you lift up extra grime. If you’re in a rush to get ahead with your polishing then you can manually dry your floors after mopping them by using either a dry mop or cloth.
- Polish your floor
Now it’s time to actually begin the polishing process. We would advise starting at a corner first, and the furthest corner away from the door you will exit from. This means you can work steadily backwards and across the room until the last portion of the floor that requires polishing is the section directly in front of the door, which can be completed from outside the room.
The One-step Polishing Technique
Coat your applicator in a small, hand-sized amount of polish and then work steadily in arms-length sections with a further amount of hand-sized polish. Allow a small amount of overlap between sections as you move to make sure there are no missed spots.
Once you’ve coated your entire floor the only tool you now need is patience! Check the manufacturer’s guidance on how long your polish will take to dry and leave it as long as you possibly can before walking on it, just to be safe.
The Two-Step Polishing Technique
Using the same starting point, apply the polish paste with a soft cloth to sections just over a metre in size. Once the waxed section of the floor has dried you will notice it turn white in colour, at which point it is suitable for buffing.
Using an electric floor buffer will be much easier – and much less exhausting! – than buffing by hand. Also, an electric floor buffer will keep the final look of your polished floor much more uniform in appearance.
Maintaining Your Wood Floors
Since wood is an organic material, that it will react to its environment. In humid environments, wood gains moisture and can swell. “In dry environments, wood loses moisture and can shrink.” If the environment changes, there will be changes in the floors themselves and how they perform.
For example, moisture can cause the floors to cup. This causes raised edges and lowered centers. On the other hand, if your floors lose moisture, they can gap or split. “This can occur between floorboards or on the face of the boards.”
If these gaps and splits occur but then go away during seasonal changes, he says there’s no reason for concern. “However, if the gaps in your floors are large or do not close during more humid months, it’s time to call a professional.”
Fortunately, there is a way to minimize these issues. “Keep your home between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and between 30 and 50 percent humidity year-round,” Miller advises. To do this, you’ll need to be sure your thermostat isn’t producing ghost readings and false numbers.
Proper Care And Maintenance For Walnut Hardwood Flooring
Walnut wood is a distinctive and durable flooring choice that provides a unique aesthetic for the home. It complements any style of design, offering a touch of warmth and luxury. Hardwood flooring even adds at least 2.5% more to the value of your home.
Installing walnut flooring makes quite a design statement but still needs proper maintenance. This will keep your floors functional and long-lasting for years to come. With the right tips and techniques, you can prolong your floor’s superior condition.
Follow this guide for the best ways to care for your walnut hardwood flooring.
Select the Right Flooring Contractor
This is the most important tip for having lustrous, long-lasting and well-maintained wood flooring. You’ll want to choose a skilled flooring contractor with satisfied customers and referrals. They should also specialize in installing walnut floor planks.
From here they can guide you in the different types of wood species best for your home project. As well as preferences on plank sizing and fabrication options.
Walnut wood flooring runs an average of $5 to $10 per square foot, not including installation. So be sure to factor this into your wood flooring costs. As you’re paying for high-quality products and installation techniques.
Installing wood floors is an investment that you want to be sure you are placing in the right hands. Many contractors also offer some type of warranty to stand by their quality of work.
A skilled flooring installer will also ensure there is perfect spacing between planks. This makes it easier for you to care for your wood floors and keep them in top shape. They may also recommend finishing options to increase longevity.
Use Rugs for More Than Style
Rugs are an excellent way to anchor furniture around a room. But this is not only for making a design statement. Adding rugs to a room will also protect the floor from heavy furniture.
This is helpful in rooms with high traffic areas, like living rooms and bedrooms. A play mat or rug also works well in a children’s playroom, to keep their toys from scratching the floor. You may also want to consider adding a runner in hallways and on the staircase.
Felt protectors can also work in furniture areas without rugs. These help to keep indentations from occurring in the wood.
Use smaller rugs or placemats for areas like below the kitchen sink to catch water splashes. This will also make it easier for learning how to clean hardwood floors in busy areas of the home.
These mats should be well ventilated as not to trap dirt or moisture beneath the back of the mat. Also, place welcome mats near entryways. These help trap dirt, and chemicals from outside, keeping them off your floors.
Adopt a Special Cleaning Routine
When maintained the right way, hardwood floors can last a lifetime. Begin your routine by sweeping or dusting daily. This will help keep dirt, dust, and debris from collecting on your floors.
You’ll also want to vacuum at least once per week. Be sure to use the vacuum’s hard floor mode or a floor brush attachment. Never use a breaker bar as this can cause damage to hardwood floors.
Cleaning often will help pull up any tiny dirt particles in the floorboards. As these can damage the finish on the floor over time.
Use a damp mop as needed, with a soft terry cloth head. A special cleaning mop is also the best way to clean hardwood floors. Bona is a great brand that gets recommended by professionals.
Their cleaning agents are safe to use on the hardwood. They don’t use harsh chemicals that can penetrate into the wood. Be sure to wipe up any extra moisture from the floor afterward.
Always clean up any spills right away. As liquids can cause water damage, or discolor or stain the floor. Don’t use a steam mop, as this can ruin the floor’s finish.
Keep a Healthy Living Environment
A healthy home will prolong the life of your wood floors and provide a safe environment for your family. Keep humidity levels no higher than 50% to maintain a balanced moisture level. As too much moisture can affect your floors, as well as cause mold growth.
It helps to open windows often to let in fresh air. Yet, be sure not to let too much sunlight in. As the UV rays can cause discoloration to your floors over time.
Consider designing a mudroom or entry area for your home. This is a place where the family can take their shoes off so they don’t track in germs, water, or driveway sealant. It’s also important to keep sports cleats and stiletto style heels off the floors.
If you have pets, keep their nails well trimmed so they don’t scratch the floor. Bathe and brush your pets often to keep fur and dander from accumulating on the floors.
Wood Floor Refinishing:
STEP 1: Remove Remaining Carpet
If there is any carpet or staples remaining on your floors, we carefully remove them with needle nose pliers and a putty knife. We use a chemical solvent that is safe for you and your family. We promise to take great care to not damage your original wood floors during this process.
STEP 2: Sand Your Hardwood Floors
We’ve made sure that our sanding method creates minimal dust and odor in your home. We begin with coarse grit sandpaper and repeat the process 3 times or more, using a finer grit each time. This ensures that all damage, scratches, and stains on your floors are completely removed. Our technicians will do a thorough job and will sand hard to reach places by hand where necessary. Once the sanding process is complete, your floors are ready to be stained.
STEP 3: Stain Your Hardwood Floors
Fabulous Floors has a large variety of stain colors for you to choose from. You can see our most frequently used stain colors here, however, if you don’t see a color you love, we can provide additional options. We apply the stain with the grain of the wood, making sure it’s applied evenly throughout your hardwood floors. We finish by buffing the floor and cleaning away any dust or debris with a tack cloth and vacuum.
STEP 4: Seal Your Hardwood Floors
Lastly, your hardwood floors are topped off with a high-quality & long-lasting polyurethane finish. We apply this coat with a mop-like tool and pad applicator. After 24 hours, your floors will be dry and ready for everyday traffic. This polyurethane finish will prevent future wear and damage, lock in your stain color, and make your hardwood floors shine for years to come! You can choose from gloss, semi-gloss and satin finishes for your floors.
Refining Treatment
BRUSHING
Brushing the surface highlights the natural structure of the grain and emphasizes the texture of the wood. Brushing effects vary, depending on the wood species. Brushes are made from different materials in varying levels of hardness, and brushing is often carried out along with other refining treatments such as staining and bevelling of edges.
STAINING
Staining further enhances the wood’s natural colour tones. It also allows us to apply new colours, thus completely transforming the appearance of the wood.
SMOKED
Smoking is an old technique used for treating wood floors, typically oak, to bring out darker shades, while the sapwood remains light. The colour can be different within the boards due to tanine concentrations.