Timber floor care guide

A professionally sanded and finished timber floor should last 7 to 10 years between full resands if properly maintained. The right daily habits and products make the difference.

Day to day

• Sweep or vacuum regularly — grit is what wears a finish down.
• Use a barely-damp mop, never a wet one. Water is timber's enemy.
• Skip steam mops and harsh supermarket cleaners — use a pH-neutral timber floor cleaner (Bona makes one matched to the finish on your floor).

Protect the finish

• Felt pads under furniture legs, and lift furniture rather than dragging it.
• Mats at external doors to catch grit; rugs in high-traffic runs.
• Keep pet claws trimmed and be careful with stiletto heels on soft timbers.

The first week after finishing

Floors are walkable 24 hours after the final coat, but the finish takes 7 days to fully cure. Sock feet only for the first couple of days, no rugs or furniture until the week is out, and no wet mopping in the first fortnight.

When it's time

When the finish looks dull in traffic areas or water stops beading on the surface, it's time to talk. Catching it early sometimes means a single re-coat instead of a full resand. Call Russell on 0421 372 851 for straight advice.