Apart from being a great alternative to hardwood and offering dimensional stability, engineered wood flooring is easy to maintain. It entails a hassle-free cleaning process that is simple and achievable within a short period. Engineered wood gives you the best of both worlds: the appeal and grandeur of solid wood and easy maintenance and higher resistance to temperature variations and moisture that the engineering process brings. Continuing on the subject, in this blog, we present three things to remember after installing engineered wood flooring. Read on.
1. Ventilation
Moisture is your worst enemy as it can cause damage to the floor. When installing engineered wood flooring, provide ample ventilation as it helps reduce the overall moisture quotient of the room. Relative humidity (RH) above 60% can raise concerns of issues like permanent deformation. This is caused either due to surface penetration or cellular collapse. Keep liquids away from the room immediately after installation to prevent moisture retention. Leave your doors and windows open to avoid any moisture retention. The more the ventilation, the slimmer the chances of damage to your floors.
2. Protective Coatings
While other work is being carried out in the same room in which engineered flooring has been installed, make sure to protect the floor. Refrain from handling liquids or moisture promoting materials. The floor must be shielded with a moisture-permeable material. Paper is the most readily available material for this purpose. Make sure it does not discolour the floor or transfer residue as it may lead to undesirable gloss variations. When moving goods, ensure that the flooring is protected by a reliable material to avoid damage.
3. Surface Treatment
Spilt liquids need to be cleared immediately. Note that Beech and Hard Maple are relatively more vulnerable to moisture. To prevent discolouration or further damage caused by moisture, additional surface treatment can be done. To treat lacquered floors, use Mikasa Lacquer or an equivalent. Mikasa UV/Nature oil refresher works wonders for UV oiled floors. If the stained floor may be subject to more wear and tear than usual, a supplementary treatment is mandatory. Remember to sweep the floor clean of any debris or particles as they may leave scratches. A lightweight vacuum does a good job of cleaning. Use a damp, not wet mop and run it across for a squeaky clean floor.
Related: 4 Tips To Simplify Your Engineered Flooring Installation
Wrap Up
Engineered wood floors perform exceptionally with minimum maintenance, and post-installation, you need to keep the above-mentioned things in mind. Greenlam Mikasa offers a wide range of easy-to-install engineered floors to choose from. A soft-bristled broom when sweeping and an occasional mop should be sufficient to keep the floors in the best condition. Avoid using harsh chemicals like Ammonia or vinegar-based cleaners on the floors as it may cause damage. For more information on Mikasa engineered flooring options, call us on 1800 833 0004 or email at info@mikasafloors.com.