Maintenance FAQ

1. HOW DO YOU MAKE THE ORDINARY MAINTENANCE OF VARNISHED FLOORS

All kinds of parquet are very easy to maintain. Parquet does not require any particular care, since all things considered it is a durable type of floor covering.
The varnished floor has received a protective surface treatment which, if well looked after, will remain intact for a long time, protecting the wood from wear and dirt, and will retain its characteristics and beauty over time.
A few simple rules should be followed to keep a parquet floor looking good over time:

Place a doormat at the entrance to your home, to wipe the soles of shoes and remove dust or particles which may be abrasive on contact with the surface of the wood;
Remove the dust that deposits every day with dust-grabber cloths, a fringed brush or a vacuum cleaner;
Clean the parquet with a damp, well wrung cloth from time to time. A few drops of neutral parquet cleaner can be added to the water;
Do not forget to perform regular treatments with protective products – which may be self-polishing or re-polishing – consisting of resins dispersed in water. The frequency of treatment will depend on the level of use and foot traffic on the floor.
Always fit felt pads under the legs of chairs.
Do not wet.
Floors subjected to particularly heavy use may be protected with a special POLISH for pre-finished parquet.
Do not use alcohol, ammonia or solvents which may damage the varnish.

These procedures, alternating with polishing even without using specific products, are sufficient to ensure hygiene and keep the floor in good condition over time.

2. WHAT IS THE EXTRAORDINARY MAINTENANCE OF VARNISHED FLOORS?

In a parquet floor, what may deteriorate over time is the surface layer of varnish. Normally, in the areas subjected to greatest wear, the varnish tends to show signs of damage after 6-8 years. In this case, a parquet specialist must be called in to remove the worn layer and revarnish the whole floor. For more serious damage, a thicker layer will have to be removed (about 0.2-0.3 mm). After these operations, the parquet is normally as good as new. One advantage of parquet floors is that if they are properly treated and receive regular maintenance, they are virtually indestructible.
Other floor restyling procedures may be, depending on circumstances:

replacement of the most seriously damaged elements;
resanding;
careful application of filler (on single cracks);
sand-papering (for small scratches).

In exceptional cases, deep resanding may be needed; this will not be required until the floor is 10-15 years old. This procedure is possible up to 7-8 times on traditional parquet and 2-3 times on prefinished parquet.

3. WHAT DOES SANDING PARQUET MEAN?

Parquet needs sanding whenever signs of wear such as scratches or stains cannot be removed by ordinary polishing. It is usually carried out every 7/8 years, since it is an extraordinary maintenance procedure on both pre-finished and traditional parquet.
In practice, sanding the parquet removes a few tenths of a mm from its surface layer.
This procedure has to be carried out by skilled staff with the right equipment. Poor sanding might damage the parquet floor beyond repair, causing marks which cannot be removed by the finishing operations which follow.

4. WHICH IS THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF WAX-TREATED FLOORS?

In order to preserve the beauty of a wax-treated floor, it is important to carry out a few simple steps:

Put a doormat outside the main entrance in order to remove dust or fleck of dust from the bottom of shoes that may be abrasive in contact with the wooden surface;
Remove dust, even by using a vacuum cleaner;
Every once in a while, clean the parquet with a dampened and well-wrung cloth. To dampen the cloth, in addition to water you can also add a few drops of neutral detergent specific for wooden floors;
Eliminate stains or any traces of skid marks caused by rubber soles using the specific solvent for wax-treated floors;
Periodically polish the floor.

Every once in a while, we also recommend re-polishing the floor, after having applied a thin layer of liquid wax to the entire surface.

5. WHAT IS THE EXTRAORDINARY MAINTENANCE OF WAX-TREATED FLOORS?

Extraordinary maintenance of wax-treated floors consists in a new application of wax, to be done only after having cleaned the entire surface with a cloth dampened with wax-based solvent. After applying the wax, proceed with the traditional polishing.
It is suggested to make use of the support of qualified personnel to proceed with such maintenance.

6. WHAT IS THE MAINTENANCE OF OIL-TREATED FLOORS?

Oil-treated floors should be cleaned exactly like the varnished floors. At a later time, and in compliance with the manufacturer’s instruction, liquid wax for oil-treated floors should be applied. Then, the floor can be polished with a polishing machine or with a cloth made of natural fibres.

It is suggested to make use of the support of qualified personnel to proceed with such maintenance.