Use and Care Manual

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6
Working with Highwood/Everwood Material
www.highwood-usa.com
Staining
highwood
®
material does not require any staining, painting or preservative treatment to maintain its appearance.
However, stains can be used on the material to alter the color of the product — especially on cut areas of the
material. Water- based acrylic stains, such as made by Cabot Stains, work very well. Alkyd-based stains or
varnishes also work well. Gel-type stains provide more uniform staining and are recommended. Avoid any stain
that contains aromatic solvents (e.g., toluene, xylene).
Sealing
Surface sealers, such as urethanes, sanding sealers, or waxes, can be used to seal highwood
®
products. Do not
use sealers with aromatic solvents (e.g., toluene, xylene). Be certain to test a small area rst before applying the
sealer to the entire surface.
Filling
Large holes from drilling or other fabrication processes can be lled by doweling the hole or lled with plastic
wood products, such as Minwax High-Performance Wood Filler and ZAR Latex Wood Patch. Dowels can be
sanded smooth to blend with the surrounding product. Plastic wood llers can be stained to blend with the
Highwood color.
MAINTENANCE
Little maintenance is required to keep highwood
®
material looking good. The product should be cleaned as
needed to remove dirt and debris. No abrasive or harsh chemicals should be used on the product. Aromatic
solvents (e.g. toluene, xylene) or cleaners containing aromatic solvents (e.g. Citri-Solv) should never be used on
highwood
®
materials.
Cleaning
As the season starts — time to wash away the winter blues.
Give your highwood
®
lumber a scrub as follows:
• Fill a bucket with hot water and dish soap
• Use a rag and the soapy water to wipe the surfaces clean
of dirt
• For any dirt that remains in the wood-grain (NatureTEX)
surface, use a soft bristle brush
• Rinse with fresh, clean water
• For a deeper clean — to really get grime and surface
contaminants out of the NatureTEX grooves and cut edges of
the lumber, use a power washer with a medium nozzle setting
For a quick clean
• You may use most common household water-based cleaners (Windex, 409, Murphy’s Oil Soap, Simple
Green, bleach, etc.).
• If your cleaning product is not in this list, simply test it on a hidden area
• DO NOT use cleaners that contain aromatic solvents (e.g., toluene, xylene)
Working with highwood®/Everwood Material