One of the advantages of prefinished hardwood flooring is that the factory-applied finish is baked on, making it more durable and longer-lasting than finishes implemented on-site. Your prefinished engineered flooring doesn’t need much maintenance when it’s new, and keeping it clean must be just a matter of an occasional vacuuming. Water and grit could have devastating effects on engineered floors, so it’s a fantastic idea to store mats placed at all the entryways.
Dirt Control
One of the enemies of your prefinished engineered floor, little dirt particles can fall between cracks and scratch the edges of the planks. If these dirt particles are moist, they can do double the damage from introducing moisture to the vulnerable cores of their floorboards. Over time, this can cause curling of the edges. Normal vacuuming maintains dirt at bay, but avoid using a vacuum with an attached sweeper. The brushes drag dirt across the finish and scratch it. Keeping walk-off mats at all the entryways also helps regulate dirt, as does removing your shoes at the home.
Taking Care of Spills
The very best approach to take care of spills on any hardwood floor is to wipe them up as rapidly as possible. Standing fluids can seep through even the baked-on coating of a prefinished floor, and they can also seep between planks and cause warping. If you do not get to your water spill quickly enough, then it may leave a white spot when you wipe it off. This spot is not serious — spread mayonnaise on it and leave it overnight. The oils from the condiment seep to the finish and replace the water trapped there, and in the morning, the white spot should be gone.
Cleaning and Buffing
Factory-applied finishes are tough, and coating them with wax is not a fantastic idea; wax can make the floor dangerously slippery. Moreover, wax eventually dulls, and removing it can be a laborious process. Instead, it’s far better to wash the floor periodically with the cleaner recommended by the flooring manufacturer. In lieu of a commercial cleaner, mix a cup of white vinegar per gallon of warm water and use that to mop the floor, being careful to dry the floor thoroughly afterwards to prevent water damage. A periodic application of a spray-buff merchandise will fill minor scratches and restore the ground’s factory shine.
Replacing a Worn Finish
No hardwood floor finish lasts forever, and eventually your engineered floor will need refinishing. Because engineered flooring can sustain only a small number of sanding processes, though, it’s best to delay refinishing as long as you can. If the timber is still in good condition, you can often restore the finish by screening. This is a process of scuff-sanding the finish using a floor buffer and 120- or 150-grit sanding display and applying a new coat. Screening raises small amounts of dust which may impact sensitive individuals, but it’s a job most homeowners can comfortably do themselves.