Post-Installation Hardwood & Vinyl Care Tips

Make sure you or your clients are properly taking care of your hardwood floors post-installation. Below are the steps we we recommend taking to maintain and care for hardwood and vinyl floors.

Post-Installation

• No cleaning/chemicals on the floor for a minimum of 2 weeks. Wipe floors with water only.
• We recommend BONA hardwood floor cleaner only.
• Make sure all furniture has furniture pads under all legs that are at least 5 m thick. We also suggest nailing them into furniture and not relying on the adhesive alone.
• Refinishing: When doing paint touch ups Blue painters tape cannot be used for a minimum of 3 weeks.
• To allow the proper curing time, we will move the furniture back into place 2 days after the final coat of finish has been applied.
• Seasonal Gapping may occur. You may notice gaps that appear and disappear in your floor as the seasons change. This is more noticeable in homes with gas/propane heating. This is a normal condition and cannot be prevented.
• Checking may occur. You may notice right after installation or several months later some wood boards show minor cracks (checking) in the finish mostly near the ends of the boards. This is a common occurrence and not a defect.
• Cupping may occur. Cupping is caused by changes in moisture in or around the home which in turn affects that wood. Homes that are not occupied year round are especially susceptible to cupping. Cupping is strictly a site issue and is not covered by any warranty EFC provides. Your sales person will check and document your moisture levels while in your home to make sure wood can be installed.
• Temperature/Moisture/Humidity. Wood is a cellular product. It will retain and give off moisture. Temperature, moisture, and humidity all affect wood. Ideally your home should always be between 65°F and 75°F and 35% to 55% humidity. Changes in moisture around your home will affect your wood floors. Crawl spaces, landscaping, clogged gutters, sprinklers etc. can all raise moisture levels in and around your home thus affecting the wood. Everything listed above is the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain.
• Grade/Variation/Board Lengths. Some species of wood by nature will show lots of color and shade variations. Please remember wood is a natural product and cannot be "picked" through. Some wood will come in mostly short, long or uniform lengths. Once again this is driven by the species and grade of the product. If there are any questions regarding your selections, please review with your sales professional.
• Moldings/Trim. Moldings and trim are made to coordinate with your wood, not match it. Generally, it is made in a separate factory due to the variations that are inherent with natural wood there may be some noticeable differences.
• Walls/Baseboards/Ceiling nail pops. Our installers will use caution while in your home to prevent marking baseboards and walls, however, some minor scratching and marking can occur during removal of your old flooring and installation of your wood. Ceiling nail pops can occur while removing your old flooring or installing your wood. EFC is not responsible, nor do we reimburse for minor scratches, marks and nail pops in ceilings.

If you have any questions about post-installation care tips for your floors, please feel free to reach out to our team!