1. Settle Before Use:
Allow the floor to settle for at least 48 hours before placing furniture and rugs.
2. Avoid Wet Cleaning:
Do not wet clean the floor for the first week after installation.
1. Dust and Sweep:
Use a microfiber mop or a soft, bristle broom to remove dust and debris daily.
2. Vacuum:
Use a vacuum cleaner with a hardwood setting or an attachment designed for wood floors to remove deeper dirt and dust, especially in the corners.
1. Mop with Care:
Use a damp (not wet) mop and a cleaner specifically designed for hardwood floors. Avoid water and soap-based detergents.
2. Wipe Spills Immediately:
Promptly clean liquid spills to avoid stains and water damage.
1. Rugs and Mats:
Place doormats at entrances and rugs in high-traffic areas. Ensure they are non-slip and avoid latex or rubber backing which can damage the finish.
2. Furniture Pads:
Install felt pads under furniture legs to prevent scratches.
3. Climate Control:
Maintain a consistent indoor humidity level, ideally between 30-50%,to prevent the wood from warping or gapping.
1. Buffing & Polishing:
Depending on the finish, you might need to buff and polish the floor every few months.
2. Re-sealing:
Floors with a sealed finish might need to be re-sealed every 3-5 years, depending on wear.
1. Harsh Cleaners:
Stay away from acidic or abrasive cleaners that can strip the finish.
2. High Heels:
Avoid walking on hardwood floors in high heels to prevent dents. Provide these guidelines in an easy-to-read format for homeowners, along with any specific recommendations based on the type of finish their floor has, to ensure they maintain their hardwood flooring in excellent condition.
1. Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner:
A pH-neutral, non-toxic water-based cleaner that effectively removes dust, dirt, and grime without leaving a dulling residue. Ideal for regular cleaning.
2. Bona Premium Microfiber Mop:
Works well with the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner fora thorough and gentle clean. It features a durable mop handle and a washable microfiber pad.
3. Bona PowerPlus® Hardwood Floor Deep Cleaner:
Designed for deeper cleaning tasks, this formula tackles stuck-on dirt and grime, especially beneficial for high-traffic areas.
1. Bona Hardwood Floor Polish:
Available in high-gloss and low-gloss finishes, this polish helps renew and enhance the floor’s protective layer, filling in micro-scratches and evening out the appearance.
2. Bona PowerPlus® Hardwood Floor Deep Clean Pad:
A microfiber pad withPowerLoop Technology™ that effectively lifts and removes dirt for a deeper clean. It’s a great tool to use with the PowerPlus Deep Cleaner.
1. Bona Hardwood Floor Refresher:
This product provides a protective layer and revitalizes floors that have lost their shine due to heavy foot traffic.
2. Bona Mega One:
Though typically used by professionals, this water-based finish can be applied to provide a durable, protective coat to hardwood floors, extending their life and beauty.
• Routine Cleaning:
Use the Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner with the Microfiber Mop weekly or as needed to maintain cleanliness without damaging the floor’s finish.
• Deep Cleaning:
Use the Bona PowerPlus Deep Cleaner and Clean Pad periodically or for more stubborn dirt.
• Polishing and Refreshing:
Apply the Bona Hardwood Floor Polish every 2-4 months to maintain the floor’s shine, and use the Refresher as needed for extra luster.Include these product recommendations along with purchasing sources, ensuring users know where to obtain them for their hardwood floor maintenance needs.
Description:
Scratches and scuffs are surface damages that appear as lines or marks on the floor. They diminish the natural beauty of the hardwood and are usually caused by friction or dragging objects across the surface.
Causes:
• Moving furniture without protective pads or felt tips on furniture legs.
• Wearing high heels, sports shoes, or shoes with rough soles on the floor.
• Using abrasive cleaning tools or harsh cleaning products that can scratch or dull the finish.
• Regular foot traffic without protective measures, leading to micro-scratches over time.
Prevention:
Place felt pads or furniture coasters under all furniture legs.
• Use doormats at entry points to reduce dirt and grit that can scratch the surface.
• Avoid wearing high heels or rough-soled shoes indoors. Use soft, non-abrasive cleaning tools and products approved for hardwood.
Description:
Scratches and scuffs are surface damages that appear as lines or marks on the floor. They diminish the natural beauty of the hardwood and are usually caused by friction or dragging objects across the surface.
Causes:
• Moving furniture without protective pads or felt tips on furniture legs.
• Wearing high heels, sports shoes, or shoes with rough soles on the floor.
• Using abrasive cleaning tools or harsh cleaning products that can scratch or dull the finish.
• Regular foot traffic without protective measures, leading to micro-scratches over time.
Prevention:
Place felt pads or furniture coasters under all furniture legs.
• Use doormats at entry points to reduce dirt and grit that can scratch the surface.
• Avoid wearing high heels or rough-soled shoes indoors. Use soft, non-abrasive cleaning tools and products approved for hardwood.
Description:
Over time, the reflection and gloss of the finish can fade, making the floor look dull and lifeless. This dullness often results from the accumulation of dirt, dust, or residues from cleaning products.
Causes:
• Frequent buildup of dirt and debris that is not properly removed.
• Use of soap-based, wax-based, or harsh cleaning products that leave residues.
• Worn or degraded finish due to lack of periodic polishing or re-coating.
Prevention:
• Regularly remove dust and debris with a microfiber mop or vacuum.
• Use appropriate hardwood floor cleaners, such as Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
• Periodically polish the floor with a product compatible with the existing finish to restore shine.
Description:
Water spots or stains are discolored patches caused by prolonged exposure to moisture.Water infiltration can lead to wood swelling, discoloration, or even warping of the planks.
Causes:
• Spills that are not cleaned immediately.
• Leaks from appliances, plumbing, or windows.
• Excessive moisture during cleaning applications or bathing the floors with too much water.
Prevention:
• Wipe up spills immediately with a dry or slightly damp cloth.
• Avoid using excessive water during cleaning, and always use a lightly damp mop.
• Regularly check for leaks or plumbing issues that could lead to water infiltration
Repair:
• Small water spots can sometimes be removed with proper cleaning and polishing.
• Persistent or severe stains may require professional restoration or refinishing.
Description:
Cracking appears as small splits on the surface of the wood, while gapping refers to spaces between planks. Both are signs of moisture-related movement in the wood.
Causes:
• Fluctuations in indoor humidity causing the wood to shrink (gaps) or expand (cracks).
• Poor acclimatization of the wood before installation.
• Long-term exposure to dry air—particularly in winter climates.
• Improper installation or failure to account for natural expansion and contraction.
Prevention:
• Maintain steady indoor humidity levels (30-50%) with humidifiers or dehumidifiers.
• Properly acclimate the wood for several days before installation.
• Use a hygrometer to monitor indoor climate regularly.
Repair:
• Small gaps or cracks can sometimes be filled with a wood filler or flexible sealant.
• Major gaps or cracks may require professional refinishing or replacing affected planks.
Description:
Buckling occurs when planks lift off the subfloor, forming waves or distortions in the floor surface. Warping involves bending or twisting of individual planks. Both are serious issues indicating structural and moisture problems.
Causes:
• Excess moisture or water infiltration causing the wood to swell.
• Installation over damp or unsealed subfloors.
• High humidity levels over an extended period, leading to continuous expansion.
• Leaks or flooding that go unnoticed over time.
Prevention:
• Immediately clean and dry any water spills.
• Use vapor barriers and waterproofing techniques during installation.
• Maintain consistent humidity levels to prevent excessive swelling or shrinkage.
Repair:
• Minor buckling can sometimes be corrected by removing and replacing specific planks.
• Severe buckling usually necessitates professional assessment, removal, and replacement, and sometimes complete refinishing.
Description:
Finish peeling or flaking exposes the raw wood to damage and moisture. It results from the breakdown of the protective surface layer due to age, poor maintenance, or improper cleaning.
Proper routine cleaning, quick spill cleanup, regular polishing, and controlled indoor humidity are essential to prevent these imperfections. Ignoring these care practices can ultimately diminish the beauty and lifespan of hardwood floors, leading to costly repairs or refinishing.
Hardwood floor gaps can be complicated. They’re caused by a variety of things, and learning how to fix hardwood gaps might not actually solve the real problem with your floor! But don’t worry:
What are Hardwood Floor Gaps?
Flooring gaps are just that – gaps. A noticeable separation between two or more boards in a room, or throughout your house.
Some homeowners get nervous about gaps the thickness of a sheet of paper. But any expert will tell you that’s no big deal. Gaps are an expected seasonal change in hardwood floors. But, whether it’s a hairline gap or something bigger, it’s important to know what you’re dealing with sooner rather than later.
Humidity is the single biggest contributing factor to floor gaps. In the summer months, with windows open and more humid air throughout your home, hardwood floor can start to expand. Conversely, heating your home in the winter makes air dryer, which causes wood to shrink. So, changing humidity levels naturally leads to gaps.
Assuming your HVAC is working properly, you won’t see major gapping. What you will see is some seasonal gapping from things like turning the heat on in winter months, which lowers your home’s humidity. They’ll generally close back up on their own.
If the humidity is too low in your home, you’ll see more significant gaps. If you don’t have an HVAC, you can address your home’s moisture level by getting a dehumidifier / humidifier.
You can choose to use room humidifiers or furnace humidifiers – either way, it’s a simple way to minimize the chance of gaps showing up in your floors down the road.Hardwood Flooring Gaps: Pre-InstallationWhether you haven’t purchases or are thinking about a new renovation project for your home, here a few things to know about gaps, pre-installation:How wide are your floor planks? Wider planks are trendy, but actually shrink more noticeably than narrower planks, due to their larger size.When selecting a wood floor, know that flat-sawn flooring will gap more than rift-sawn. The reasons why involve some technical info about tree cutting and grain patterns. Flat-sawn floors are still a great, stylish choice – just know that they tend to show more seasonal gapping.Lastly, when it comes to hardwood flooring, it’s best to hire a professional installer. Hardwood is expensive, and a long-term investment. You want someone who knows how to anticipate the natural expansion and contraction of your flooring.
Nail-Down Floors and Gaps
You will see gapping in a nail-down floor. Period. Normal gaps can vary in width from “hairline” up to the thickness of a dime. (Note: THICKNESS, not WIDTH!) Little gaps like that actually tell you that your floor is working properly. They don’t need to be filled just make sure you vacuum them out once in awhile. But, if you’re seeing wider gaps, or consistent gapping throughout your floors, that’s bad.
How was the floor installed? If it’s nail down flooring, the nail pattern will affect gapping. Fewer nails can mean bigger gaps. Of course, too many nails will split your wood. Again, use a professional!
If you’re seeing major gaps, and humidity, installation, and other factors have been ruled out by a flooring expert, it could actually be a subfloor problem. Which would be even less fun to fix.
Floating Floors and Gaps
Floating floors typically experience fewer gaps than nail-down. If you ARE seeing gaps, it’s likely because the floor is “pinched” somewhere. Meaning something is stopping it from moving and expanding as intended.
This happens for a few reasons:
It could be because you haven’t left a proper hardwood floor expansion gap in your installation. If your floor can’t move into its expansion gaps, it generally creates a “V” and starts to split.
Or, you might have laid down too much floor without a transition point (or t-cap), resulting in an oversized, connected amount of flooring that can’t move properly, leading to pinching in certain areas.
It could also be the “click-lock” system – if someone’s damaged the floor locking mechanism during installation, it could just be as simple as replacing a couple defective planks – a fairly simple task on a floating floor.
Another common problem is heavy furniture. Are your kitchen island and cabinets installed directly on top of your floor? The added weight may be stopping your floor from moving correctly.
Finally, if the actual subfloor floor isn’t level, the floor will start to bend, which damages the click-lock joint. Over time, that wear and tear can cause the planks to come apart.
In a floating floor, you really don’t want any gaps at all. If you only notice a hairline gap when you’re laying face down on the floor – as one does – it’s fine. But if you can see it from a standing position in normal light, it’s probably worth looking at.
How to Fix Hardwood Floor Gaps
If it isn’t a major issue, and it falls into the acceptable ranges we talked about before, you generally do not fix a floor gap. It closes up by itself – no muss, no fuss. But here are three ways you can deal with gaps at home.
1) Identify the problem. For nail-down, it’s most likely going to be humidity. Check your HVAC, and have it serviced if required. If you don’t have an HVAC, get a dehumidifier/humidifier to regulate the moisture in your home.
2) If one or two specific planks are showing major gaps, but everything else looks good, you can typically just replace the affected area with new boards. This is a pretty quick project, and no problem at all for a professional installer. Trust me – they’ve seen it all before.
After installation, you might notice some small gaps around the “butting” at the edges of your floors. These aren’t major problems, and you can easily fill them yourself. Just use a color crayon or fill stick.
Filling Hardwood Floor Gaps?
“Filling” gaps in floors isn’t really done anymore. It’s a patchwork fix from an older era, where manufacturers couldn’t control the board-to-board quality as closely as they do today.
We don’t recommend filling any hardwood gaps – over time, if your floor is working properly, the wood will expand and push the fill out anyway. Or, you create a new problem where your fill stops the floor from expanding, causing the wood to buckle. Which isn’t great.Today, if you’re seeing major, non-humidity related gapping, it’s generally best to call in a flooring professional to assess what’s going on.
