Care & Maintenance

Please be aware that Essex provides several types of coatings. Before cleaning a particular floor, confirm what type of finish your floor has.  Essex currently provides UV cured polyurethane AND UV cured oil, finishes (color dependent).  Please keep in mind that different coatings require different maintenance and care.  Please see our price sheet, the invoice, or consult your sales representative if you are unsure. 

All Essex finishes may be cleaned with Bona Hardwood Flooring Cleaner.

BASIC CARE FOR ALL COATINGS

For optimal performance, follow these guidelines: Flooring should be one of the last items installed in a project. After installation, great care should be taken to protect the flooring. Use a breathable product such as “Ram Board” or other suitable flooring protectors.  Clean all debris off the floor before laying the protective covering.  Keep in mind that wood is subject to fading when exposed to direct sunlight.  Seasonal movement is to be expected and not considered a defect.

RECOMMENDED:

  • Place walk-off mat at all entrances.
  • Install felt floor protectors underneath all furniture.
  • Remove “spiked heels” when walking on floor.
  • Keep pet claws trimmed.
  • Remove work boots and shoes, they can trap pebbles and sand in the soles.
  • Sweep and vacuum frequently. When vacuuming, make sure the beater bar is turned off.
  • Quickly wipe up any spills.
  • Never wet mop a wood floor, spot clean as necessary.
  • Use mats near sinks, dishwasher, and workstations.
  • Protect your floor when moving furniture.
  • Follow NWFA guidelines for relative humidity (35%-55%) and temperature (60 – 80 degrees) Fahrenheit.
  • Remove any water and sand immediately, they are any floor’s biggest enemy.

UV OIL FLOORS

OVERVIEW:

Environmentally friendly UV oil finishes contain primarily cold-pressed vegetable oils and aromatic hardening oils that penetrate the wood surface.  After curing in the factory, these finishes emphasize the natural beauty of the wood and provide lasting protection. Essex recommends the use of WOCA oil products available at www.wocawoodcare.com.  WOCA Natural soap is a concentrate that is mixed with water.  Cleaning with natural soap protects, seals, and nourishes your new floor, it is the most important key to maintaining the durability of the floor.  Use WOCA Soap White on White to Light Grey floors, use WOCA soap natural on all other colors.

POST-INSTALLATION

After installation protect the floor with cardboard or floor protector until all construction work is completed.   Do not tape the cardboard or floor protector directly to the floor.  Once all construction work is completed, vacuum the floor, and perform regular maintenance as outlined below. 

REGULAR MAINTENANCE 

Vacuum the floor regularly with the beater bar turned off.  In addition, WOCA Natural Soap Spray is perfect for regular cleaning.  It is ready mixed and protects the oil finished floors in a single step.  This is available in both a spray bottle, as well as a convenient spray mop.

HEAVIER MAINTENANCE

To keep the floor clean and protected from dirt, stains, and wear and tear, mop the floor at least once per month using WOCA Natural Soap at a ratio of 3 oz per gallon of water.  It is recommended to work from 2 buckets – one with soap solution and one with clean water to rinse your mop. 

REMOVING STAINS AND SCRATCHES

A unique feature of oiled floors is the ability to remove light scratches. These are best repaired by hand rubbing WOCA Master Oil or, in some cases, WOCA Maintenance paste on the affected area using a cloth.  Follow instructions on the WOCA website for further instructions.

 FUTURE MAINTENANCE

UV Oil finished floors should never have to be re-sanded when properly maintained.  However, over time, it may be necessary to apply more oil to your floor.  The frequency of re-oiling depends on usage and traffic on the floor.  See https://wocawoodcare.com/pages/how-to-clean-and-maintain-residential-oil-finished-floors for further information.

DO'S:

  • Use a cotton mop (not micro-fiber)
  • Use a second bucket for rinsing the mop
  • Thoroughly wring out the mop
  • For spot cleaning use WOCA soap & spray natural
  • For difficult stains use WOCA spot remover
  • For light scratches use WOCA master floor oil natural
  • Keep in mind that frequent sweeping and vacuuming removes debris that can get ground into the grain by foot traffic. Oil finishes penetrate into the wood, protecting it from within rather than forming a barrier above so that the natural wood texture is felt on the surface.

DON'TS:

  • Never use ammonia, vinegar, petroleum-based cleaners, wax, polish, abrasive cleaners, scrubbing pads, furniture cleaners, or any other NON-WOCA brand product to clean your oil finished floor. The sole exception would be the use of Bona Hardwood cleaner.
  • Never mop your floor with only water. Always use WOCA soap or Oil Refresher
  • Avoid using a micro-fiber mop, which can remove oil from the floor.
  • For more details regarding cleaning, preventative products and instructional videos please refer to the WOCA website: www.woodcare.com.

 UV CURED POLYURETHANE FLOORS

OVERVIEW:

UV cured polyurethane finishes are desired for their durability and ease of maintenance.  These finishes offer superior protection to traditional site applied finishes. It is important to note that you should never clean a UV Poly floor with water or steam.  These methods may permanently damage the floor.

POST-INSTALLATION

After installation protect the floor with cardboard or floor protector until all construction work is completed.   Do not tape the cardboard or floor protector directly to the floor.  Once all construction work is completed, vacuum the floor and perform regular maintenance as outlined below.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

Vacuum the floor regularly with the beater bar turned off.  In addition, use Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaner as directed.  This cleaner is available in both a spray bottle and spray mop version.  Do not use waxes, oils, oil soaps, or petroleum-based cleaners under any circumstances.  Do not use any abrasive cleaning implements such as steam mops and wet jets.  Bona offers an extensive line of hardwood floor care products at https://www.bona.com/en-us/homeowner/

HEAVIER MAINTENANCE

UV cured polyurethane finished hardwood floors can be refinished every 8-10 years or longer, depending on wear and tear.  Our engineered hardwood floors meet the certified refinishable criteria set forth by the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA).  When the time comes to have your hardwood floors sanded and refinished, you may also want to consider other changes, such as stain color and the type of finish. For the best possible results, find your local Bona Certified Craftsman (BCC), to ensure the highest level of professional care, treatment, and service. From choosing a stain and finish to sanding and dust containment, your BCC will take care of your needs from start to finish.