Parquetry wood floors are designed to last decades. With the correct care and protection, your floor will be a talked-about feature of your home for many years.
Once you have a parquetry floor professionally installed, you will want to keep it looking beautiful.
The main thing you will be maintaining yourself is the actual finish, that is the protective layer on the surface of the wood. You can allocate that to someone who has time. That is important because your parquetry floor is an investment as well as an indication of your good taste in interior style.
Protect, maintain and nourish your floor finish
To keep it looking beautiful, you will need to care for and protect the floor finish itself, by preventing damage and keeping the surface clean and free of dust, or the build-up of fats and oils and stains.
When you are cleaning your floor don’t get frustrated! Take your inspiration from the many historic buildings featuring impeccable parquetry floors that have lasted for centuries. Marie Antoinette didn’t wash a floor in her life, but nevertheless, a pattern was named in her honour.
Take care of a natural timber floor
Timber is a natural product and even with an impeccably laid floor and controlled humidity, you need to take care of your floor to keep it looking as beautiful as the day it was installed.
The most common causes of damage to timber floor finishes are:
- Finish abrasion and wear
- Finish fading in sunlight
- Sunburn of the wood due to high temperature
- Water damage – movement of blocks, and degradation of the finish from over-washing or wet mopping
Abrasion and wear – prevent damage to your parquetry floor
Stones or sand under footwear can be one of the most destructive elements to a timber floor. Wear only soft-soled shoes indoors.
Use a protective mat or rug in areas where children are playing, and even high traffic areas can be protected by a well-placed rug.
Fading in sunlight – protect from the sun
Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light will bleach the colour of the flooring.
To prevent deterioration, remember to use blinds and curtains or solar control films may be applied directly to the glazing to minimise the ultraviolet.
Water damage – prevent spills and leaks
Excessive washing or wet mopping of the floor is to be avoided. Parquetry flooring is wood, and as a natural product it is susceptible to expansion and contraction when exposed to excessive moisture.
A burst water pipe or serious overflow or spill can cause significant damage to parquetry. Wood expands as it absorbs moisture and shrinks when it dries out again, but it never goes back to its original form. Moisture can damage old adhesives and failure occurs.
Cleaning your parquetry floor
Vacuum and sweep regularly. It’s not complicated. A simple cleaning regime will maintain your floor and protect it against abrasion caused by daily wear. Be aware of the parquetry pattern and make sure that dirt, dust and grime is removed from the fine gaps between the boards.
Use a damp mop to get rid of any dust and dirt that the brush and vacuum machine have missed. Do not use too much water as this can damage the surface. Start in one corner of the room and mop in an eight symbol, then work your way through the entire room.
We Love Parquet recommends using only cleaning products with a neutral pH that are specially designed for wood.
Use a natural wax and polish to maintain a dust-free finish.
In warm or humid weather, timber tends to expand as it absorbs moisture when humidity is high. When humidity levels are low and when heating is being used, it contracts. This expansion and contraction can be may be noticeable across the width of a large room. The use of air conditioning during humid weather helps to keep the timber stable.
Regular cleaning and simple measures to protect your floor will help keep it in top condition and a feature of your home for years to come.
For more tips on maintenance of your parquetry floor, call our friendly staff at We Love Parquet on 1300 467 277.