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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Helpful guide in taking care of your laminate flooring
Glueless flooring is designed to stand up to the toughest household conditions.
However, to keep it looking its best, follow these simple instructions for
protection and care.
Routine Maintenance
• Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.
• Use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth to clean tough spots such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, or tar. Wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
• Regularly sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
• Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care such as Shaw’s R2x Hard Surface Cleaner.
• Do not wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent, or any other liquid cleaning material. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination, and joint-line separation, and void the warranty.
• Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners.
• Do not use any type of buffing or polishing machine.
• For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
• A more frequent dust-mopping or vacuuming schedule may be required in very sandy areas such as a beach home.
Environmental Protection:
• Entry mats will help collect the dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that might otherwise be tracked onto your floor.
• To prevent slippage of area rugs, use an approved vinyl rug underlayment.
• Use floor protectors and wide, load-bearing leg bases/ rollers to minimize the chance of indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector.
• To minimize the natural expansion and contraction of the wood, maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level between 35 and 65% throughout the year.
a. Heating season (Dry): A humidifier is recommended to prevent excess
shrinkage due to low humidity levels. Wood stove and electric heat tend to
create very dry conditions.
b. Non-Heating Season (Wet): An air conditioner, dehumidifier, or periodically turning on your heating will help to maintain humidity levels during summer months.
• Avoid excessive exposure to water during periods of inclement weather.
• Keep your pet’s nails trimmed to prevent them from scratching your floor.
• Never try to slide heavy objects across the floor.
• A protective mat should be used under furniture or chairs with castors/wheels.
Minor Repair Instructions:
• In the event that accidental damage occurs, minor scratches or dents can be repaired using a Flooring Touchup or Color-fill Kit. This special touchup kit contains a filler material that is color coordinated to the color of your floor. WhenColor-fillused properly, the repaired area is often invisible. The repaired area
should hold up to foot traffic and wear just like the rest of your laminate flooring.
Glueless Laminate Board Replacement Repairs:
• Shaw glueless laminate may be assembled and disassembled several times.
• Carefully disassembled glueless joints will retain their original locking integrity during reassembly. New replacement plank(s) should be acclimated in the replacement area for at least 72 hours. This allows them to equalize to the conditions of the flooring in the room where the replacement(s) will take place.
• To replace the damaged board(s), first remove baseboard, wall base, or Quarter Round as needed. Take the flooring apart one row at a time. Lift each row to detach, then separate the individual boards.
• Be sure to stack the individual planks in the proper order for re-installation. This usually eliminates the need to cut planks for start or end of the row lengths.
• For best visual results, replace the damaged board with a piece from the edge of the original installation.
• Insert the properly acclimated new plank(s) along the outer edge of the original flooring installation during reassembly. This practice minimizes the chance that a newer plank will stand out from the original installation.
• Reinstall the baseboard, wall base, or quarter round, and the replacement repair is complete.
Source: http://shawfloors.com
However, to keep it looking its best, follow these simple instructions for
protection and care.
Routine Maintenance
• Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.
• Use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth to clean tough spots such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, or tar. Wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.
• Regularly sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.
• Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care such as Shaw’s R2x Hard Surface Cleaner.
• Do not wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent, or any other liquid cleaning material. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination, and joint-line separation, and void the warranty.
• Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners.
• Do not use any type of buffing or polishing machine.
• For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
• A more frequent dust-mopping or vacuuming schedule may be required in very sandy areas such as a beach home.
Environmental Protection:
• Entry mats will help collect the dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that might otherwise be tracked onto your floor.
• To prevent slippage of area rugs, use an approved vinyl rug underlayment.
• Use floor protectors and wide, load-bearing leg bases/ rollers to minimize the chance of indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector.
• To minimize the natural expansion and contraction of the wood, maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level between 35 and 65% throughout the year.
a. Heating season (Dry): A humidifier is recommended to prevent excess
shrinkage due to low humidity levels. Wood stove and electric heat tend to
create very dry conditions.
b. Non-Heating Season (Wet): An air conditioner, dehumidifier, or periodically turning on your heating will help to maintain humidity levels during summer months.
• Avoid excessive exposure to water during periods of inclement weather.
• Keep your pet’s nails trimmed to prevent them from scratching your floor.
• Never try to slide heavy objects across the floor.
• A protective mat should be used under furniture or chairs with castors/wheels.
Minor Repair Instructions:
• In the event that accidental damage occurs, minor scratches or dents can be repaired using a Flooring Touchup or Color-fill Kit. This special touchup kit contains a filler material that is color coordinated to the color of your floor. WhenColor-fillused properly, the repaired area is often invisible. The repaired area
should hold up to foot traffic and wear just like the rest of your laminate flooring.
Glueless Laminate Board Replacement Repairs:
• Shaw glueless laminate may be assembled and disassembled several times.
• Carefully disassembled glueless joints will retain their original locking integrity during reassembly. New replacement plank(s) should be acclimated in the replacement area for at least 72 hours. This allows them to equalize to the conditions of the flooring in the room where the replacement(s) will take place.
• To replace the damaged board(s), first remove baseboard, wall base, or Quarter Round as needed. Take the flooring apart one row at a time. Lift each row to detach, then separate the individual boards.
• Be sure to stack the individual planks in the proper order for re-installation. This usually eliminates the need to cut planks for start or end of the row lengths.
• For best visual results, replace the damaged board with a piece from the edge of the original installation.
• Insert the properly acclimated new plank(s) along the outer edge of the original flooring installation during reassembly. This practice minimizes the chance that a newer plank will stand out from the original installation.
• Reinstall the baseboard, wall base, or quarter round, and the replacement repair is complete.
Source: http://shawfloors.com
Why detergent selection is important when cleaning your carpet?
Your detergent selection is important. It is even more important to remove all the detergent you put into
the carpet. A detergents’ ability to bind to particles of soil and oil is what makes cleaning happen.
However, the detergent residue continues to attract and hold soil even after drying. Increasing the amount
of detergent beyond the recommended level does not increase cleaning performance, but makes the
complete removal of detergent more difficult. Excessive detergent residue is the most common cause
of accelerated resoiling complaints. Shaw does not recommend the use of cleaning agents with
optical brighteners.
the carpet. A detergents’ ability to bind to particles of soil and oil is what makes cleaning happen.
However, the detergent residue continues to attract and hold soil even after drying. Increasing the amount
of detergent beyond the recommended level does not increase cleaning performance, but makes the
complete removal of detergent more difficult. Excessive detergent residue is the most common cause
of accelerated resoiling complaints. Shaw does not recommend the use of cleaning agents with
optical brighteners.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Hardwood Flooring Care & Maintenance
- Do perform routine maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer, this should include sweeping, vacuuming and/or dust mopping to remove dirt and grit.
- Use felt floor protectors on chairs and other furniture. As a general rule, the heavier the item the wider the floor protector.
- Place a doormat outside the exterior entrance to collect excess moisture, sand, grit and other potentially damaging substances from being tracked onto your wood surfaces.
- Do not use any type of buffing machine.
- Do not use oil based wax, polish, or strong ammoniated or abrasive cleaners. Never use soap-based detergents as they will leave a dull film on your floor. It's best to use a microfiber mop system. Call Express for their recommended in stock, cleaning products.
- Do not use a wet or damp mop to clean your wood floors, water is woods worst enemy.
- Spills do happen and they should be wiped up immediately and a damp white cloth or paper towel should be used.
- If your hardwood floor has a polyurethane finish never use a paste wax on it. If your hardwood floor has a wax finish never use a polyurethane finish. These products are not interchangeable.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
How to take care of your tile flooring?
- The surface of most ceramic and porcelain tiles do not need to be sealed, although some require a light application of penetrating sealer to fill the micro pores on the surface.
- If soil is left on grout surface for long periods of time it will leave a stain mark in that area. All Express Flooring grout has stain resistance sealing in it, but not stain proof.
- You can sweep, vacuum or dust mop but do not use a dust mop with oils. A microfiber mop system is a great choice. A razor blade or putty knife can be used to remove tar, chewing gum or any other stubborn spot.
- Do not use soaps that create suds to clean your floor as it will leave a dull finish. Soaps are very hard to remove from the surface as most soaps have wax in them. Hot water is recommended to use when washing your floors. When you are finished washing your floors, you should rinse with plain warm water to make sure all cleaners are removed.
- Allow floors to dry completely before walking on them to assure that moisture will not pick up dirt from the bottom of your footwear.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
How to take care your laminate flooring ?
- Place a doormat outside the exterior entrance to collect excess moisture, sand, grit and other potentially damaging substances from being tracked onto your laminate surface.
- Use only colorfast and non-scratching carpeting or pads on your laminate flooring, do not use rubber mats as it may discolor the surface.
- For added indentation resistance, use felt floor protectors on chairs and other furniture. As a general rule, the heavier the item the wider the floor protector.
- Avoid sharp or pointed objects with concentrated weight such as high heels
- If using a wheeled dolly to move furniture or appliances, place a clean sheet of plywood or other protective layer over your laminate flooring to prevent damage.
- Do not use wax, oils, mop and shine products or any other sealer on your laminate flooring as they do not need anything.
- Do not use a wet mop to clean your laminate floors or any soap-based detergents as they will ruin your floors and leave a dull film on them. It's best to use a microfiber mop system. Call Express for their recommended, in stock, cleaning products.
- Do not allow excess liquid to remain on floor for long periods of time as this can damage your laminate. Spills should be cleaned up immediately.
- Never sand or refinish a laminate floor.
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