Use and Care Guide

Installation Instructions T & G Prefinished Engineered Plank
50 Year Residential Warranty
12 Rev.1RH-16HC
CARE GUIDE
CLEANING YOUR FLOOR
● Use a damp cloth to blot up spills and spots as soon as they happen. For tough spots such as oil, paint, markers,
lipstick, ink, tar or cigarette marks, use acetone/nail polish remover then wipe with a damp cloth. Always avoid
allowing liquids to stand on your floor.
 Vacuum, (using the hard floor attachment not the beater bar), dust mop, or sweep the floor to minimize abrasive
grit, debris, and dirt.
● Do not damp mop. Periodically clean the floor with a hardwood flooring cleaner, which is specially formulated for
the finish. We recommend Bona Swedish Formula Hardwood Cleaner.
● Do not use oil based, wax, and polish, strong ammoniated or abrasive cleaners, steel wool or scouring powder to
clean the floor.
● 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 any type of buffing machine.
PROTECTING YOUR FLOOR
 Use quality area rugs and doormats by outdoor entrance areas to prevent dirt, sand, grit and other substances
such as oil, asphalt or driveway sealer from being tracked onto your floor. The rugs must be made of a breathable
material to prevent moisture entrapment. Rugs with rubber bottoms or no-skid pads may leave an imprint on the
flooring.
● Sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly to prevent accumulation of dirt or grit that can scratch or dull the floor
finish.
 Use protective casters/caster cups or felt pads on the legs of furniture to prevent damage to the flooring. Use wide
bearing leg bases, barrel type caster wheels, rubber rollers to minimize indentations and scratches from heavy
objects. As a rule of thumb, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector should be. Make certain to keep
them clean and well maintained.
 Do not use rubber or foam backed plastic mats as they may discolor or leave an imprint on the floor. To prevent
slippage use an approved vinyl rug underlayment.
● Maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level between 35 and 55% and a temperature of 60
o
-80
o
F throughout
the year, to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of wood.
 Environmental conditions below 35% RH or above 55% RH may result in cupping, delamination of veneer from
core and may become unusable as a floor.
Heating Season (Dry): A humidifier is recommended to prevent excess shrinkage due to low humidity
levels. Wood stove and electric heat tends to create very dry conditions. Minor gapping between wood
planks during the heating season is a normal occurrence with hardwood flooring installed over radiant heat.
Non-Heating Season (Wet): An air conditioner or dehumidifier or periodically turning on your heating
system can maintain humidity during the summer months. Avoid excessive exposure to water during periods
of inclement weather.
● Avoid gouges or cuts in your floor from sharp objects. While your floor
is very wear resistant, sharp or pointed
objects can nevertheless damage it.
● Don’t walk on your floor with stiletto-style heels, spiked shoes, or cleats; they may cause indentations in your floor.
● Keep pet’s nails trimmed to minimize finish scratches.
● Rearrange area rugs and furniture periodically so the floor ages evenly. UV sunlight will soften the tone of different
species of hardwood to varying degrees.
 Protect your floor from direct sunlight. Use curtains and UV resistant film on large glass doors and windows. Over
time natural and artificial light could discolor the floor.
 Use a dolly when moving heavy furniture or appliances. But first, put down a sheet of quarter inch plywood or
Masonite to protect the floor and help prevent denting. Carpet or cardboard is not adequate to prevent surface
compression scratches. Never try to slide or roll heavy objects across the floor to avoid denting.