Strong, durable and often less expensive than solid wood, engineered wood flooring has been a staple in our homes for quite a while. To help you keep yours in tip-top condition, three experts share their advice on installation, protection, cleaning and repair.
Choose Your Boards Carefully
When you’re purchasing your flooring it’s important to consider four main areas: construction, species, coating and finish.
For the subfloor, it is recommended that a high-quality plywood with a natural, formaldehyde-free glue.
If you’re going for an oak species, experts suggest going with a slower-growing one because it “has a tighter grain and produces a more stable wood structure.”
It is also advised to choose a wood with a UV-resistant, fire-retardant, hard-wearing coating to ensure a longer and safer life expectancy. You may also want to look into applying an oil finish with a high wax content.
Hardwoods, such as American white ash and oak, are among the densest, hardest-wearing timbers and will not dent or mark easily. Whereas, softwoods such as Douglas fir and pine are not as durable and should be handled with care.
Get the Basics Right
If you’re laying new engineered wood flooring, there are things you can do to ensure your boards stand the test of time. It is imperative to prepare the subfloor first. Check the subfloor to ensure it’s clean and free of any dirt, paint, grease or glue residue that may affect adhesion. You will need to ensure that the floor is completely level.
Because you will need to ensure that your subfloor is perfectly dry, us a moisture meter to test it accurately. When protecting your newly laid floor during the remainder of the construction process, never use plastic to cover it, as this will trap moisture, which could affect the floor. Instead, use a good-quality felt covering can be laid and taped to the [baseboards] to allow the floor to breathe. Alternatively, you could also use builder’s lining paper and then hardboard as these protect the floors while allowing them to breathe.
And what if you have some boards left over? Don’t throw them away. Keep a few spare planks in case of any future damage.
Add Some Protection
Prevention is the best way to protect engineered wood flooring. Stick felt pads under all your furniture and remember to lift rather than drag heavy items.
Keep in mind the importance of room temperature, both during installation and long-term. Generally, the temperature shouldn’t vary drastically. Ideally temperature should be between 64 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have under-floor heating, don’t turn the heating off, just keep it on low.
Sudden changes in temperature will shock the wood flooring and could cause lifting, or the top layer of engineered boards to delaminate. And bear in mind, carpets on wooden floors can add considerable heat to the temperature between floor and carpet.
Keep Them Clean
When asked how you should clean your engineered wood flooring, It is suggested to vacuum, sweep or dust frequently to collect dirt. Make sure you use a soft-bristle head if vacuuming to avoid accidentally scratching the floor.
As for mopping, the key is to use a damp cloth with a little wood floor cleaner, rather than a mop soaked in water. Wood is hygroscopic, so it acts like a sponge and will expand when it gains moisture and shrink when it dries out. This can cause splitting or cracks, so never drench your wood floor when mopping or use a steam cleaner.
The level of maintenance will depend on the level of traffic. Daily cleaning of the floor with a soft mop or vacuum cleaner will remove a lot of dust and/or sand particles. It is recommended that you apply hard wax oil after six to nine months.
It’s a good idea to consult your supplier to make sure you’re using the correct brand of aftercare products. Floor cleaners are specific to the floors, so don’t just go to a supermarket and buy a wood floor cleaner, as it may do more harm than good.
Fill Those Cracks
Small cracks or scratches can easily be filled or remedied using a wood-colored wax stick in an appropriate shade. Repair kits containing several shades of wax sticks, which can be used alone or mixed to create the color required, are available from DIY suppliers.
It is recommended to have an expert do this for you as they will finish with a pigmented oil to revive the color. Or in a worst-case scenario, it’s possible for an experienced installer to remove an individual plank and replace it with a new one.
