Maintenance And PreservationGuidelines

Application of the maintenance and preservation guidelines is the key factor for implementing the warranty.

  • Use the vacuum cleaner as soon as possible to remove abrasive substances (sand, glass, salt, etc.) that could scratch the finish. The frequent use of the vacuum cleaner is recommended to clean and/or remove any accumulation of dust, on and/or between the hardwood floorboards, which can damage the surface.
  • Maintain relative humidity level between 40% and 50% with an ambient temperature of 20º Celsius in the house to stabilize the moisture in the hardwood floorboards (see The Preparations in the Installation section).
  • Clean your prefinished floor with appropriate hardwood flooring products. Spray a small amount of cleaner on a clean cloth and/or mop and wipe the surface. Never pour cleaner directly on the floor. Note that it's recommended to use small amount of liquid to clean your hardwood floor and to clean your mop or cloth before and after use. It is also recommended to clean the surface at least once a month.
  • Do not use wax, household detergent and/or oil-based soap on the floor. These can damage the finish and leave an oil film making the floor slippery and difficult to clean afterwards. A mixture of water and vinegar is not recommended to clean your floor. Vinegar is acidic and can have detrimental long-term effects on finish.Maintenance And Preservation Guideline 1
  • Water is wood's worst enemy. Immediately wipe up liquids, water and/or detergent spilled on the floor before they are absorbed by the wood fibers. The combination water and sand is also very harmful to the floor. For this reason, we recommend placing a rug or a mat at all entrances, passages, areas with heavy traffic, in front of the kitchen sink, dishwasher and/or work area.
  • Stick felt pads under the legs of chairs and furniture to prevent scratches on hardwood floors when the furniture is moved.
  • Periodically check the condition of the felt and replace those damaged. Avoid moving chairs with casters on the finished surface. Drag these chairs only on carpeting and/or chair mats.
  • Avoid wearing high heels on the hardwood floor. The heels are so small that the pressure can easily reach 3,500 pounds per square inch (about 250kg per square centimeter). The damaged and/or broken heels can cause further damage to the hardwood floor. Avoid walking on the hardwood floor with shoes with metal cleats and/or metal tips.
  • Do not move and/or drag furniture and/or other heavy objects on the prefinished hardwood floor. Always lift any furniture or heavy object to be moved.
  • Protect hardwood floors from sunlight and/or other strong artificial light source. Long and repeated exposure to strong light can change the colour of wood, even if it has received our "sapphire" finish, the most resistant to yellowing on the market. The colour change of the hardwood is a natural phenomenon. Pale wood species can undergo an even more apparent change of colour.
  • Small scratches are easy to cover with a touch up kit that you can get from your retailer.
    • First, clean the damaged area.
    • Then rub the damaged area with a wax crayon that matches the wood colour.
    • Seal the repaired area with a thin coat of finish.
    • It is very important to seal spots on the floor not protected by the finish.Maintenance And Preservation Guideline 2
  • Mont-Royal Hardwoods will be happy to answer any further questions on the maintenance and preservation of your hardwood floor.