Maintenance

• MOPPING: Maintain your bamboo floor as you would any hardwood floor.
  The key to your floors long life and good looks is periodic cleaning and refinishing when necessary. Regular dust mopping is an important part of maintaining any wood floor. Periodic mopping using warm water mixed with dish detergent is recommended. Rinse by mopping using a mix of warm water and two capfuls of methylated spirits. For heavier cleaning use a hardwood floor cleaner specified for polyurethane coated hardwood floors, with a sponge or sponge mop.
  


• VACUUMING: Regular vacuuming is an essential part of maintaining a hardwood or a bamboo floor. A good quality dust mop or vacuum cleaner head (brush or felt) is the most effective tool for removing dust and dirt from the floor. To keep your floor looking its best, dust, mop or vacuum about twice a week. Spills and tracked-in dirt can be cleaned by dry mop or lightly dampened mop. Be sure to dry floor immediately.
  


• MOVEMENT: Bamboo is a natural product and will be affected by environmental conditions despite being very stable. Excess heat, and extreme cold weather or prolonged use of air conditioning will affect bamboo flooring and may cause it to move slightly.
  


• MOISTURE: Even though Supreme Bamboo® Flooring is made from the highest quality bamboo and is highly stable it can still expand and contract due to moisture conditions. It is important to use an air conditioner or humidifier in humid and dry months to maintain a constant moisture level of 40% to 50%.
  


• SCRATCHES: All timber & bamboo floors will scratch. No floor is non scratchable. To help guard against scratches and dents, place protective pads under furniture legs and chairs. Make sure the protective pads are large enough to distribute weight evenly. Use at least 25 mm wide soft vinyl or rubber rollers where necessary.
  


• COLOUR: The natural colour (laminated strips) Bamboo boards will mature and change to a honey colour whereas the carbonised colour will become lighter; this is due to exposure to UV light. Rearrange rugs and furniture periodically to ensure your floor ages evenly. The carbonised colour Bamboo will change back to the same colour as other areas after sometime.
  

• Use protective pads under furniture legs and chairs. Make sure the protective pads are large enough to distribute weight evenly. Use at least 25 mm wide soft vinyl or rubber roller when necessary.
  


• Floor mats placed at entrances to the outdoors will collect dirt or sand that can damage your floors.
  


• Oil from asphalt driveways or roads will tend to leave stains, so be sure to clean shoes well before walking on bamboo floors.
  


• Remove high heels or shoes that need repair. Some types of high heels shoes can severly damage the surface of any floor covering.


• Do Not use scouring powder, or abrasive cleaners on your bamboo flooring.
  


• Do Not use a vacuum with a beater bar.
  


• Do Not walk on floor with spiked heels or shoes that need repair. Damage & indentation caused by footwear of this nature is not covered by warranty .
  


• Rearrange rugs and furniture periodically to ensure your floor ages evenly. The sun’s ultraviolet rays will age most flooring.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Timber feature & colour - gum vein, knobs, pin holes and birds eye are natural characteristic of timber flooring.  It is important to understand that each floor laid is not identical. 
  
  
• Movement of Timber – all timber moves and the rate of movement varies depending on the species, the age of the timber, and the width of the board.  Gapping and movement across a floor can be expected depending on individual circumstances.  Loss of moisture to the air from the extreme heat of fireplaces or exposure to sun light can cause timber to move or shrink. 

• Moisture (cupping & crowning) – timber will absorb moisture depending on the surrounding conditions.  Higher humidity in the air will cause timber to swell and increase in size.  Changes in moisture content will cause wider boards to move more than narrower boards. 

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

• To ensure the full benefit of warranties and to extend the beauty of your new hardwood floor, we recommend the following preventative maintenance steps for your hardwood floor.
  
  
• Use walk off mats at all entrances to keep dirt and grit from being brought inside on the floor. Area rugs are recommended in high traffic areas and at sinks. Mats and area rugs should be slip- resistant with backing that will not discolor the floor.

• To help guard against scratches and dents, place felt floor protectors under furniture legs and equipment.
  
  
• Use soft rubber castors for rolling furniture.

• Remove high heels or shoes that need repair. Some types of high heel shoes can severely damage the surface of any floor covering.

• Maintain optimum humidity levels of 40 – 60%.To maintain a humidity range of 40-60%, it may require either a humidifier or dehumidifier.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

• Do not let sand, dirt and grit build up on your floors.

• Dust sweep and vacuum floors regularly by using an electrostatic mop daily.

• For normal cleaning use a sponge mop with warm water, squeezed very dry, do not wet mop your hardwood floor.

• Protect your wooden floor from direct sunlight to avoid the floor changing colour unevenly.  Once the timber floor has changed colour from exposure to sun light it will remain 2 different colours.

• See your supplier for recommended maintenance and floor care products for polyurethane finished hardwood flooring.