Initial care of site finished floors
Dry times are for water borne finish.  Oil based dry times are two to four times longer than waterborne finish..
These are only suggestions.  Dry times are dependent upon heat, humidity, and airflow. Last modified 11-20-19.
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First Two Days – Use Caution!

Wait 3-4 hours after coating before walking on the floor and then in socks only.

First 48 Hours
- No vacuuming, sweeping, or chemical treatment (Floor is susceptible to marring)

- No furniture – When replacing, be sure to apply furniture protectors to anything sitting on the floor.

- Never slide heavy furniture, always pick it up and set it in place.

- No shoes – only socks

- No pets or heavy traffic

First Two Weeks
- No floor coverings that do not breathe, like rugs, plastic, tape, etc.

- Breathable coverings may be put down temporarily, but need to be removed at night.

- If possible, keep direct sunlight off the floor.

- For the 1st month, it is very susceptible to changing color due to UV light exposure.

- Either move temporary coverings every couple of days or cover the entire floor to prevent uneven aging of the flooring.

Long Term Care of Hardwood Floors
- Use rugs at all exterior doors, sinks, refrigerators, pivot areas, and anywhere heavy traffic occurs. We stand behind the finish manufacturer’s recommendation to not use rubber or foam-backed rugs or rug underlayment. However, these may be a solution for moisture prone areas. Be sure to check initially for oils from the rubber or foam that may bleed into the floor. To do so, pick up the rug after a few days to check it.  Continue to pick up the rug every few weeks to check it for as long as you use the rug. Also, do not use rugs with an underside that feels scratchy to the touch.  If the rug backing is abrasive, then cover the backing with a rug backing that is non slip and non abrasive. We also have rug backing tape to help hold rugs in place.
            
Cleaning
- Wipe up spills immediately.

- Dry clean with a dust mop or vacuum, but be sure that vacuum bristles do not sit in one spot and polish the floor.

- Wet Cleaning – Follow the manufacturers direction. We handle all products. Some hardware stores carry Bona products.

- Use only PH neutral cleaner made for hardwood flooring, such as Kensoks (which is Basic Coatings Squeaky cleaner), Bona, Basic Coatings, or Pallmann.

- Using tap water, wet a dust mop and wring out. Lightly mist the floor with cleaner and go over the entire floor with the dust mop.  Rinse the mop head often (every 30 seconds) to avoid smearing the dirt around instead of picking it up.

- This cleaning removes dust, dirt, and oils, without leaving any residue behind.                 

Climate Control
- Keep temperature and humidity as constant as possible.

- Keep temperature between 60 degrees and 70 degrees Fahrenheit at all times.

- Keep humidity between 35% and 45% in the winter and between 45% and 55% in the summer.

- Be sure that all exterior doors seal out cold air and moisture.

Never
- Don’t use oil soaps or waxes. They leave behind a residue that dulls easily and makes the floor more difficult to recoat and refinish.

- Don’t soak or wet mop the floor.  This causes the wood to swell or cup.

- No high heeled shoes, large dogs, or movement of heavy, wheeled objects such as furniture or refrigerators.

- Extreme pressure actually dents the wood fibers, and requires sanding to correct.

- Dents can be removed or lessened by laying a damp towel on the dent and applying an iron for 3 seconds at a time.

Periodic Recoating
- The life of the finish will depend upon the amount of traffic and the cleanliness of the floor. Recoating may be necessary as often as each year with heavy traffic, but usually every three to ten years.

- Recoat the floor when it shows signs of wear, but before the finish has worn down to the bare wood.  The finish will not clean properly or dark scratches may start appearing when recoating is needed.

Please contact Kensok’s Hardwood Floors at 701-282-6662, when the floor shows signs of wear.

** The information in this publication represents generally accepted guidelines.  However, wood is a natural material, subject to sometimes unpredictable reactions.  Kensoks Hardwood Floors accepts no risk or liability for application of the information contained in this publication.