Board School is our series of educational pieces created to help you maximize your appreciation and the longevity of your wood floors.
Renovations are messy, and depending on timelines, sometimes your floors are installed before the rest is finished. Here are some suggestions to protect your wood flooring through the final reno stages and prepare it for a long life ahead.
Note: If you haven’t replaced your wood flooring yet, Relative Space offers full service installation. Contact us for details.
Read the Manual
Yes, this seems obvious, but oil- and lacquer-finished floors require different types to care. Check out the appropriate guide for your floor as a foundation for lifelong care.
Oil Maintenance Guide | Lacquer Maintenance Guide
Inspect
Take a walk through the house and make sure everything looks right: no scratches, gaps, or dents. If you notice anything wrong, now is the time to talk to your installers.
Protect
If any renovation work is happening after installation, protect the floor. Depending on the nature of the work, you can use protective paper or a thicker fibreboard. Overlap the sides of the protective layers to stop particulate from getting underneath and dulling your floor.
Important: If you have oiled floors, do not apply tape to the surface of the wood!
Last Walkthrough
Once all the work is finished, take a careful and comprehensive look to make sure no damage was done to the floor. If there is any, note it down.
Deal with the Dust
Construction dust stays in the air for days and can cause problems if not addressed properly. If your floor is dusty — or has dreaded drywall dust on it — do not mop right away! That will create a dusty paste on your floors that will be difficult to clean. Always vacuum your floor before mopping, and do it over several days to eliminate the dust as it settles.
Regulate Humidity
Fast, wide swings in humidity and temperature can cause serious damage to wood flooring. Make sure you have controls — humidifiers or dehumidifiers — in place when your floor is installed. You can find more information on page 9 of our maintenance guides.
Move with Care
It’s prevention time! Entrances will benefit from having mats on the inside to collect dust from your shoes (don’t forget to vacuum them). Any furniture that moves — chairs, sofas, tables — and has legs should have protective felt covers on its feet.
The Final Mop
Once the last of the dust has been vacuumed away, give your floor a thorough double-bucket mopping. If your floor has an oil finish, it’s wise to mop with the oil soap once per week for the first four weeks before easing into your normal cleaning regime.