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Floors Galore - CARING FOR WOOD

WHY CARE FOR WOOD ?

Wood is beautiful and comes alive when cared for properly. Caring for wood floors is quite simple and can add value to your house. Several factors, however, can damage and destroy your wood finish including the following:

INTERIOR
  • Everyday wear and tear can scrath, mark and damage wood floors.

  • Alcohol, food, cleaners and dirt can permanently stain wood.

  • Water used for cleaning can cause wood to swell and crack.

  • Use floor sealers if possible environmental friendly water based and a wood finish to protect your interior woodwork.

EXTERIOR
  • The South African sun is harsh and ultra violet rays bleach wood causing it to fade and lose its natural colour.

  • Sun and wind dries wood causing unsightly and potentially damaging cracks.

  • Rain and sea-mist penetrate wood, causing it to swell, leading to cracking, warping and rotting.

  • The effect of sun and weather destroy the surface layers of wood.

  • You can counteract these factors by using good quality wood finishes, varnishes, exterior floor stains and sealers.

CHECKLIST OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS

When caring for wood floors, remember the following. In order to be sure of a job well done, it's important to prepare. These are the essential items which will help you through the "WOODCARE" process:

CHECK LIST
  1. Sandpaper (medium, fine & extra fine grades are useful)
  2. Good brush (or roller)
  3. Mineral Turpentine (for diluting varnish)
  4. Small bucket (for mixing)
  5. Brush cleaner
  6. Woodfiller (repair interior wood)
  7. Stirrer (to stir before use)
  8. Damp cloth (to remove dust)
  9. Drop sheets (to prevent mess)
  10. Masking tape
  11. Good quality woodcare products

WOODEN SURFACE PREPARATION

Preperation and application of wooden surfaces does vary slightly depending on whether it is a interior or exterior surface and what product is being applied. The following are a general guidelines when caring for wood floors. For more specific information see your products details page and remember caring for wood floors is easy, if done properly:

GUIDELINES
  • Surfaces must be dry and free from dust, dirt, grease, oil mildew, mould and wax.

  • Always sand in the direction of the grain. On flat surfaces, use long straight strokes. For rounded surfaces such as legs, be sure to sand in the direction of the grain. Sanding against the grain will scratch or scar the wood surface. Do not over sand. This could fill the pores of the wood by polishing the surface and prevent proper penetration.

  • Previously painted surfaces - all loose and flaking paint must be removed by sanding or scraping or with a good chemical stripper.

  • Drying of any coating will vary considerably with temprature or humidity. The colder or more humid it is, the longer the coating will take to dry. Always apply when tempratures are between 10°C and 30°C.

  • Always stir contents thoroughly with a wide, flat stirrer, such as a wooden ruler, before and during use.

  • Do not shake cans as this action will aerate the contents and cause air bubbles in the coating.