Engineered Timber Flooring

Award Carpets Gold Coast Engineered Timber Floors Care & Maintenance Guide

Engineered Timber Floors Care & Maintenance Guide - Award Carpets Gold Coast

Welcome to the Award Carpets Gold Coast Care & Maintenance Guide for Engineered Timber Floors. We are delighted you have chosen our quality engineered timber flooring, a timeless and sophisticated choice for your home. Engineered timber floors combine the natural beauty of real wood with enhanced durability, making them an excellent investment for any living space.

To ensure your engineered timber floor retains its elegance and functionality for years to come, proper care and maintenance are essential. This guide is designed to provide you with simple, effective tips and techniques to keep your floors looking their best. By following these recommendations, you can preserve the beauty, strength, and longevity of your Award Carpets Gold Coast engineered timber flooring.

Let’s get started on maintaining the stunning appearance and performance of your engineered timber floors.

How to Care and Maintain Your Engineered Timber Floors?

Follow these simple steps to maintain its longevity:

Cleaning & Care

  • Immediately: Clean up any liquid or water-based spills or any potentially staining marks using a dry, clean cloth. While our floors are resistant to most spots and stains, some materials or colourants (such as tar, grease, oil, dyes, waxes, ballpoint, marker pens, pet mishaps, or foods/beverages containing strong dyes like mustard, curry, cordial, coffee, tea, etc.) may under certain conditions migrate into the wear layer, causing indelible stains.
  • Daily: Remove any loose dirt or grit that could damage the floor by sweeping with a soft dry broom or vacuum (preferably with an effective dust filter and suction nozzle for hard surfaces and turning off the power head, if installed).
  • Weekly: Clean using a waterless timber floor cleaning fluid and microfibre mop. Alternatively, mop the floor using a well-wrung damp mop (the floor should be dry 15 seconds after mopping) and a non-abrasive, soap-free cleaner suitable for timber floors to remove any footprints, dirt, and other stains or marks.
  • As required: Stubborn scuffs and stains can be removed using a damp cloth or sponge with a diluted solution of methylated spirits. Ensure the methylated spirits are completely rinsed from the floor.

When cleaning the floor:

  • Never use abrasive cleaners, nylon scouring pads, steel wool, scouring powder, or bleach, as they may damage the floor.
  • Never use oil, soap, wax, or polishes, as these finishes may make the floor slippery and can leave a dull finish.
  • Never use a steam mop or steam cleaner.
  • Do not flood the floor with water, as excessive water can damage your floor. Promptly soak up bulk liquid spills.

Note: Our engineered timber floors are designed for use in internal environments. While they are easy to care for, robust, and durable, room temperature and humidity should be maintained as recommended. They are not suitable for outdoor use or high-moisture or humid areas such as bathrooms, toilets, saunas, laundries, or any place where elevated moisture levels can be expected, as timber may buckle, swell, or deform if excessive moisture penetrates it.

Protect Your Floor

To enjoy many years of beauty and functionality from your engineered timber floor, follow these simple steps:

  • Place entrance mats (without rubber backing) at all exterior doorways to trap dirt, sand, grit, moisture, and other substances from shoes. Double mats (a coarse exterior mat and a medium interior mat) are recommended for residential installations. Clean mats regularly.
  • Use non-staining felt protectors under heavy furniture. Fit office chairs, filing trolleys, mobile containers, and furniture with soft treads or castors. Chair pads should be used under desk chairs with castors.
  • Avoid placing heavy objects and furniture such as large bookcases, full-sized billiard tables, or kitchen units on any floating installation. This can lead to the floor failing to respond to contraction and expansion, causing squeaking, gapping, and potential failure.
  • Never drag, slide, or roll furniture or appliances across your floor. Protect the surface if using a trolley to move heavy objects.
  • Avoid wearing spiked heels or shoes in need of repair on the floor, as they can cause severe damage. Use runners or area rugs in areas of excessive traffic and wear. Rugs should be cleaned regularly.
  • Keep pet claws trimmed to prevent scratching.
  • Floor-to-ceiling windows and the harsh Australian sun can create floor temperatures over 70°C. Protect your floor from extreme temperatures and strong, direct sunlight by using interior temperature and humidity control (recommended temperatures 10-30°C and relative humidity between 30% and 70%), window tinting, awnings, and/or curtains/blinds. Dramatic temperature changes and/or extreme humidity can cause joints to lip/gap and possible surface checking. Prolonged direct sunlight will cause fading.

Common Characteristics of Engineered Timber Floors

  • Engineered timber floors will oxidise during the first few months due to UV light exposure, typically leading to a darker, fuller appearance. As a result, floors may display some change in colour between exposed areas and areas covered by rugs or furniture. Protect your floor from prolonged direct sunlight with curtains, blinds, shades, or awnings, and periodically move rugs/furniture to expose all areas evenly.
  • Engineered timber flooring products can display discolouration caused by contact with rubber products such as rug/mat backings, furniture feet, rubber-soled shoes/slippers, wheels for trolleys and wheelchairs, etc., which are likely to leave permanent marks. Only non-staining vinyl-backed mats or woven rugs identified as colourfast should be used on timber floors. If the floor is subjected to any of these applications, darker colours are recommended to hide any discolouration.
  • Minor nicks and scratches can be reduced using repair accessories such as colour-matched filler sticks. Products like Tibetan Almond Stick or Gilly’s Scratch Cover oil will successfully cover/disguise most minor scratches and blemishes.
  • While the factory finish of our engineered timber floors may be refinished, doing so will void the Finish/Abrasive Wear Warranty. If your lacquer-finished timber floor starts to show dull spots or signs of wear, consider periodic maintenance, consisting of a thorough clean and application of a topical water-based polyurethane maintenance coating, such as Bona Timber Refresher (always follow the manufacturer’s instructions). This typically satisfies most light scratching and dullness issues and reduces the need for full refurbishment. For refurbishment (sanding and recoating), it is essential to engage a professional flooring contractor before commencing any works.
  • Engineered timber flooring is a living product that constantly moves and changes, which is its inherent beauty. It will expand and contract in accordance with your internal environment. Keeping the environment stable as per recommendations in the installation and maintenance care instructions is key to longer-lasting and high-performing floors.

Thank you for taking the time to review the Award Carpets Gold Coast Care & Maintenance Guide for Engineered Timber Floors. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure your flooring remains as stunning and durable as the day it was installed. Proper care and regular maintenance are key to preserving the natural beauty and longevity of your engineered timber floors.

Remember, our floors are designed to withstand the demands of everyday life while providing a warm and inviting atmosphere in your home. By protecting your floors from excessive moisture, direct sunlight, and abrasive materials, and by promptly addressing spills and stains, you can maintain their elegance and performance for many years.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, the Award Carpets Gold Coast team is always here to help. Enjoy the lasting beauty and sophistication of your engineered timber floors, and thank you for choosing Award Carpets Gold Coast.