Blog | Wood Floor Maintenance

Cleaning and care tips for Havwoods lacquered wood floors

As well as choosing the species of wood you would like, you will also need to choose a finish when you buy a new wood floor. One of the most popular choices is lacquer, a finish used in many Havwoods floors.

Lacquer is normally a polyurethane coating applied to the surface of wood floors to form a hard and resilient coating. It is designed to protect the pores of the wood from moisture ingress as well as dirt. However, like all wood floor finishes, lacquered floors have to be looked after in a certain way.

To clean your lacquer-finished Havwoods floors, follow these tips:

• Loose debris and dust on the surface of lacquered wood floors should be regularly brushed or vacuumed up to prevent it scratching and wearing away the finish
• You should avoid using steam mops, cleansers or conditioners on lacquered wooden floors – only use a slightly damp micro-fibre mop
• The best way to clean a lacquer-finished floor using moisture is to fill a pump spray bottle with water and gently mist the surface of the floor, before using a micro-fibre cloth to dry the floor and remove any marks or stains.

Your wood floor re-sanding questions answered pt.2

Whilst built to last for years, wood floors may occasionally need to be renovated and re-sanded to remove any surface wear or damage.

In the part 1 of this guide, we looked at a few of the answers to frequently asked questions about hardwood flooring re-sanding. Let’s try to answer a few more:

What does re-sanding involve?

Re-sanding involve using specialist sanding and buffing equipment going through several grades of sandpaper to remove the old finish and maybe a layer or two of the top surface, to get rid of any dents or damage and to leave a smooth, even finish. The wood floor will also need to be re-finished using an oil, wax or lacquer product.

Will there be much dust whilst the re-sanding is being carried out?

This depends on the equipment used to carry out the re-sanding job. However, protective masks should always be worn by anyone in the same room at the time, all furniture will need to be completely removed from the areas being renovated and the property will need to be heated and well-ventilated.

How long before I can walk on the re-sanded floor?

A re-sanded floor will also need to be refinished, so the time you will need to wait before walking on your new floor depends on how long the finish takes to fully dry. This could be anything from 2 hours to over 10 hours depending on the type of finish used.

Your wood floor re-sanding questions answered pt.1

Hardwood floors are designed to last, but they will occasionally need a little renovation to keep them looking great. If you are thinking of getting your floor re-sanded, you are bound to have questions. Here are the answers to just a few of them (continued in part 2 of this guide):

How often do wood floors need to be re-sanded?

Wood floors need to be re-sanded when they reach a certain level of wear. This depends on the amount of foot traffic they receive and how well they are cleaned and maintained. For example, a hallway which receives a lot of foot traffic, which does not have an entrance mat to catch abrasive dirt and grit and which is not regularly maintained will only last around 4 to 5 years without needing renovating, if its looked after the time span can extend to between 10 to 12 years. Floor in other rooms such as the bedroom may last a lot longer if properly looked after.

How many times can my wood floor be re-sanded?

This depends a great deal on the construction, species and thickness of wood you choose, the skill of the sander and the sanding equipment used to carry out the work. If you are on your second or third sanding, you should consult an expert to ensure that the job can be done without fatally weakening the floor. 

See part 2 of this guide for the answers to more wood floor re-sanding FAQs.

Care and maintenance tips for Boen wood floors

All hardwood floors require a certain amount of cleaning and maintenance in order to keep them looking pristine and to ensure they last for longer.

If you have a floor from the Boen range, the way you look after it depends on what finish you have chosen. The following are finish-specific tips for cleaning and caring for Boen wood floors.

Natural oil and Ecoline oil finished floors

A natural oil finish penetrates deep into the wood, to improve the look of the floor and to nourish the material. Ecoline oil does a similar job, but differs from natural oil in that it is a finishing product cured by UV light rather than oxygen.

To keep floors finished with oil clean, you should remove dirt and dust using a cylinder vacuum cleaner or broom. Use Boen floor soap and slightly damp mop for more extensive cleaning, and freshen up the appearance of the oiled finish by treating it with a Boen oil product occasionally. 

Matt lacquer finished floors

Matt lacquered floors look similar to oiled floors but the natural-looking finish also provides more protection against moisture, spills and stains. Cleaning of these floors can be done with a broom or vacuum cleaner, along with a Boen cleaning product to damp mop the floor. These floors will also need to be occasionally treated with a Boen polish matt product to refresh worn out polish. When applying this product, you need to clean the floor and remove all residue from its surface.

Signs that your wood floor needs replacing

Money is tight at the moment, meaning that many of us put off replacing worn out and faulty things in our homes. However, when it comes to wood flooring, you should think about replacement as soon as you spot certain signs.

If you suspect your floor is in need of replacement, look for:

• Boards which have begun to lift out of alignment
• Boards which have started to cup, bow, sag or bend
• Noticeable gaps appearing between floor boards
• Discolouration of the boards, beyond the colour development and maturation normally seen in hardwood flooring over time
• Warping and swelling of the floor, usually caused by moisture damage

Could you refurbish instead of replacing your floors?

A less expensive option may be simply to get your wood floor refurbished through floor sanding and floor renovation. This may be a viable option if you notice less serious problems with your floor, usually in the surface or the finish. For example, you should contact a wood flooring renovation specialist if you notice:

• Problems with the surface of the floor, such as the varnish wearing away too quickly
• Dents, chips and other minor surface damage
• Minor scratches and scrapes
• Slight corrugation
• Colour change

How to take care of your lacquered sports floor

Even though a solid hardwood sports floor will be durable, especially when given a hard-wearing factory applied lacquer finish by a manufacturer such as Junckers, you will still need to maintain and look after the floor, making sure to protect the line markings.

As these sports floors will usually be left exposed to extreme levels of wear, having an extra coating of the lacquer is often recommended by the specialists.

There are daily and weekly cleaning tasks that will need to be undertaken to keep the sports floor in the best condition, but there are also other preventative measures and things to bear in mind that can affect the flooring too.

For a start, it is advisable to place large barrier matting down so that grit and water aren’t allowed to damage the floor. This product can be cleaned and replaced on a regular basis.

A recommended cleaning product such as Junckers SYLVA fresh can help to remove any soap deposits as well as body fats which make the floor prone to slipping and can create health and safety risks to those using the sports facility.

The heating and ventilation systems should be kept at the right levels so that condensation is not allowed to form on the floor.

Is it a good idea to steam clean my hardwood floors?

Homeowners are always looking for the best and above all, the easiest ways to clean their homes. Steam cleaning is becoming a very popular option for eradicating dirt, dust and bacteria from tiled surfaces from kitchen floors, prompting some people to ask whether it can also be used to clean hardwood floors?

Before you go near your hardwood floor with a steam cleaner system, there are a few important things you need to think about.

Hardwood floors hate moisture and humidity

Excessive exposure to moisture and heat can cause hardwood floors to warp and swell. Unfortunately, moisture and humidity are two of the main things that steam cleaner mops tend to generate.

Is your floor properly sealed, varnished and finished?

The seal or protective finish on your hardwood flooring is what protects it from damage, including damage from heat and moisture. If there are any gaps in this seal, such as in older hardwood floors or in high traffic areas where the finish has been worn away, the moisture from the steam cleaner can penetrate the wood and potentially damage it.

So, what’s the verdict? Should I steam clean my wood floors?

It is not advisable to use a steam cleaner on your hardwood floors, but you can check with your floor manufacturer if you like. A better cleaning option is to occasionally sweep or vacuum your floors and use a dust mop, tackling stains, spills and spots the moment they occur.

Important advice for the use of lacquered floor treatment products

For those that have had either a residential or commercial lacquered hardwood floor installed in the building it is necessary to only use the most appropriate care and treatment products.

Junckers have brought out a number of recommended cleaners and polishes that can be applied to this surface. However, there are still some things that need to be remembered before going ahead with any maintenance on the floor.

Before ever re-lacquering the surface, you should use a product like Junckers SYLVAstrip to clean the floor and then have it keyed. Only then will the surface be ready for this maintenance as it is now dust-free and its adherence is more likely to be hardwearing once more.

If a floor has been treated with polish or wax in the past, it will need to be machine-sanded before Junckers seals can be used to apply the lacquer.

As you prepare the room for use after the lacquered floor has been allowed to settle, place felt pads beneath table legs and chairs so that the freshly-cleaned surface will not be scratched by this furniture. Where extreme wear is more likely to happen, protective matting can also be used.

How to remove stains on a Junckers pre-finished lacquered floor

These hardwearing floors are perfect for both commercial and residential use and therefore do not require any treatment before they can be used.

However, they are still subject to liquid spillages just like any other surface type and so especially in high traffic areas, they will require some maintenance from time to time.

An extra coat of Junckers lacquer can really help when cleaning and maintaining these pre-finished lacquered hardwood floors, but stains need to be treated according to the type which is on the surface.

By removing these marks and stains before they are allowed to damage the surface, this will also mean they are easier to clean too.

For most common stains like milk, wine, beer, coffee and fruit juice Junckers SYLVA CLEANER can be used to remove the mark from the floor’s surface.

When the stain is found to be grease, oil, tar, scuff marks or chocolate the product above is also going to be suitable, while white spirit can also help to get rid of the stain. For lipstick or ink, alcohol is preferred, along with the cleaner. Cold water should be used to remove blood stains.

Before you apply a solution such as Junckers SYLVApolish to re-treat the surface make sure the floor has been washed with a well-wrung cloth soaked in clean water.