Maintenance

Wood fibers swell when they absorb water, which can damage floors and their finish. When water gets into your floor, it can alter floorboard dimensions, cause discoloration, and lead to mold build-up between boards.

Floors in kitchens and entranceways are particularly subject to getting wet. Special care must be taken with wood floors in these locations to maintain recommended humidity and temperature levels and prevent water from getting on the floor.

Warning

Never use large amounts of liquid or water to clean wood floors, and never use a saturated mop.

Recommendations

Wipe up spilled water, liquids, or detergents before they are absorbed by the wood fibers.

Place floor mats at each doorway and in front of the sink, dishwasher, and work areas in the kitchen.

Place leakproof saucers under your plants to avoid accidental spills. Choose pots with a waterproof glaze rather than porous clay pots that may let water through.

Abrasives are bad news for your floors. Sand and small pebbles underfoot act like sandpaper on the finish. Even a tiny pebble can damage a finish or leave a mark.

Recommendations

Vacuum as often as necessary. Place mats inside and outside all exterior doors. Mats should trap abrasives while allowing the floor to breathe.

Wood is a natural material that constantly reacts to variations in temperature and humidity. Ideally, the internal moisture level of wood should be between 6% and 9%. Wood swells when it absorbs excess humidity from the air, and contracts when humidity levels fall to low.

Floorboards with higher than normal moisture levels may bulge slightly, whereas spaces will appear between the floorboards if moisture levels are too low. Generally, wood resumes its original dimensions when conditions return to normal.

Recommendations

Maintain relative humidity between 40% and 55% and a temperature of approximately 20° Celsius (68°F) in your home in order to preserve the internal humidity of the wood and thus its dimensional stability. These conditions are ideal for humans as well. If necessary, use appropriate appliances like air exchangers, heating systems, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, etc. to control these environmental conditions.

The species of wood used to make Mercier floors offer a high level of compression resistance. However, if pressure exerted on a wood floor is greater than its compression resistance, marking will result. Pressure is determined by an object’s weight and the surface in contact with the floor. The smaller the contact surface for an equivalent weight, the greater the pressure.

Warning

Avoid wearing high-heeled shoes on hardwood floors as they can mar the surface. Heel surfaces are so small that the pressure exerted can easily reach 3,500 pounds per square inch. Worn or broken heels can mar flooring even more. Avoid walking on flooring in footwear with cleats or metal-tipped soles.

Recommendations

Glue felt pads to the legs of furniture and chairs to avoid scratching flooring when objects are moved. Periodically examine the pads for wear and replace when needed. MERCIER’s felt pads available at your retailer.

Avoid rolling chairs with casters on the finished surface. Put them on rugs or Plexiglas chair mats. Place floor protectors under narrow casters, or replace them with wide rubber or flexible polyurethane casters.

Regularly trim your pets’ claws to prevent scratches and indentations.

Do not drag furniture or heavy objects across the finished surface. Lift any furniture to be moved or place it on a piece of plywood (to distribute the load) laid on a blanket in order to slide it along the floor.

The urethane factory finish on Mercier flooring has a protective screen that filters out UV rays causing yellowing and helps you maintain the original appearance of your floor for as long as possible. We nonetheless recommend that you protect wood surfaces from sunlight or any source of bright artificial light. Move rugs and furniture from time to time to ensure that the color of the floor remains even as it gradually ages.

Please note that it is normal for the colour of the Exotic species, as well as the American cherry and walnut to naturally mature with or without exposure to UVs.

Here are some simple tips for dealing with everyday problems.

Spilled liquid

Quickly wipe up spills with a dry cloth or paper towel, then spray some Mercier cleaner on a cloth to clean the surface.

Sticky or oily stain

Dampen a cloth with Mercier cleaner then rub the soiled area. Rinse the cloth and wipe the surface thoroughly.

Rubber or heel marks

Rub with a cloth lightly dampened with Mercier cleaner.

Stubborn stains

Ink, tar, wax crayon, etc. First, try cleaning the stain using a cloth and Mercier cleaner. If this doesn’t work, pour a small amount of paint thinner or lighter fluid on a dry cloth. Once you have removed the stain, wipe the surface using Mercier cleaner to remove any residue.

Scratched wood or finish

Small scratches in the urethane finish can be repaired with the Mercier touch-up kit. See instructions for minor floorboard repairs.

Deep marks

Floorboards damaged by a blow from a heavy object or for any other reason can be easily replaced. See instructions for floorboard replacement.

You can hide the small holes left by finishing nails and minor scratches with a Mercier wood putty.

1. Fill the hole.
2. Wipe excess wood putty immediately with a clean cloth and Mercier cleaner.
3. Apply a thin coat of urethane to the surface.
4. Let dry for about an hour.

Replacing a damaged or cracked board is a relatively simple operation. If you are not able to perform the repairs yourself, contact your Mercier retailer.

1. Select a replacement board slightly longer than the one to be changed. Check to see it matches the surrounding boards.
2. Using a circular saw or router, cut the board lengthwise to within 1/2” of the edges. For a glued board, make several cuts close together to separate the board into smaller sections.
3. Make a diagonal cut down the center of the board from one end to the other of the cuts made in Step 2. It may be necessary to make more than one cut if the board is glued in place.
4. Using a wood chisel, remove the central part of the board first (between the side cuts).
5. Remove nails or staples (this step does not apply to glued Engineered boards), then remove edges, taking care not to damage the adjacent boards.
6. Remove the underlying construction paper or adhesive and clean any residue from the subfloor.
7. Trim the replacement board to the desired length, cutting excess length from the tongue end.
8. Remove the lower edge of the groove on the end and side of the board.
9. Position the board to check the fit, then remove it.
10. Apply glue to the subfloor.
11. Install the board, using a rubber mallet and a wood block to place it in position.

Factory-finished floors can be restored after a number of years of use. Depending on the condition of the floor, you have two options. You can apply a new finishing coat if wear is limited. Or you can sand the surface and apply an entirely new finish. This option allows you to stain the floor a different color if you wish.

Daily cleaning and maintenance

use a non-abrasive cloth or sponge with hot water to extend the life and conserve the luster of your quartz.

Tough Stain Cleaning

opt for a mild detergent or a spray cleaner and avoid abrasive liquid or powdered products, such as oven cleaners. If necessary, use a plastic scraper or non-abrasive scouring pad.

Opt for a mild detergent or a spray cleaner and avoid abrasive liquid or powdered products, such as oven cleaners. If necessary, use a plastic scraper or non-abrasive scouring pad.

Caesarstone surfaces do not have any issues below 150 C (300F). However, like all stone, quartz surfaces can be damaged by sudden or rapid changes in temperature. Therefore you should avoid placing hot cookware or crockpots on the surface. We recommend using trivets or hot pads.

Caesarstone quartz surfaces are particularly resistant to scratching. You can further avoid deterioration by not using sharp objects like blades, knives or screwdrivers on the surface. The Use of a cutting board is always advisable so you do not cut directly on the quartz.

Caesarstone guarantees from the original date of installation any material that fails due to a manufacturing defect when fabricated and installed by a Caesarstone Certified manufacturer. This warranty applies to the repair or replacement of defective material that has been permanently installed in your residence. The option to repair or replace the material is at the sole discretion of Caesarstone.

This lifetime warranty is solely available to the original owner of a single family residence in which Caesarstone has been originally installed. In the case of a newly constructed single-family residence, this warranty is available to the first owner purchasing the residence with Caesarstone permanently installed and is transferable according to the terms and conditions found on the web site www.caesarstone.ca

This warranty only applies to material that has been maintained conforming to the above-mentioned guidelines.

Balterio laminate flooring is very easy to maintain, and with suitable maintenance products your floor will retain its superb quality for many years.

If you want to keep your floor looking new for longer, continue proper maintenance and consider the following:

• clean your floor immediately after installation
• maintain your floor daily
• plan for thorough maintenance after prolonged intensive use
• provide cleanliness barriers, such as doormats

Beaulieu’s floorings are solid and durable but, like all floor coverings, they still need proper cleaning and maintenance to stay beautiful. To maintain the shine and sparkling new feel of your floor as long as possible, follow the guidelines below:

Products with dry backing :

1. Ensure to set room temperature and allow proper drying time according to the adhesive manufacturer’s instructions before walking or placing furniture and appliances on your new floor.
2. Ventilate the area for 48 to 72 hours.

All types:

1. Be careful when placing furniture and appliances over your new floor. For heavy items, it is recommended to use furniture sliders.
2. Check the condition of all the casters or rollers on your furniture before setting them on your floor. Replace any worn ones.
3. Protect your vinyl floor by covering furniture legs with felt protectors.

1. Regularly sweep your floor with a soft bristle broom to remove dirt and grit in order to prevent scratches.
2. Mop the floor with a microfiber mop, or equivalent, using a mild neutral detergent (or ammonia and clean warm water) to remove dirt and grime.
3. Rinse with clean water.
4. Wipe up spills with a clean white cloth dampened with warm water.
5. Never use abrasive or acid based cleaners, soaps, paste waxes, solvents or “mop and shine” products, as they can leave a film that will discolour the floor or make it appear dull.
6. When vacuuming, do not use a vacuum with a rotary beater bar as it may damage the surface of the material.
7. Do not use wax or polish. Do not buff.
8. Beaulieu Canada floors, like other type of smooth floors, can become slippery when wet. Allow time for the floor to dry after washing, wipe up any wet areas from spills of foreign substances and wet feet.

If the damaged flooring is along the perimeter of the room, it is best to disconnect the flooring until the
damaged item is removed. Replace the flooring and reassemble.

SIf the damage is located where it is impractical to disconnect and reassemble the flooring, then the following technique should be used :

1. Using a straight edge and a sharp utility knife, cut out and remove the center of the damaged item, leaving approximately a 1″ (25 mm) strip attached to the surrounding items on all sides.
2. Carefully cut back from the corners of the plank or tile to the inside edge.
3. Remove the edges by wiggling the cut piece out from the tongue and groove of the surrounding pieces.
4. Prepare the replacement flooring by placing it face down then folding back and removing the groove strip on both the long and end profile. Using the decorative surface of the tongue end as a guide, cut away this overhanging profile using a sharp utility knife.
5. Position the replacement flooring by engaging the tongue of the long side into the groove of the adjoining piece.”Hinge” the prepared replacement into position.
6. Use a hand roller to assist in aligning the edges into position.
7. Apply a thin application of RO650 seam sealer into all four seams of the replacement. Allow the sealer to penetrate and then wipe any excess from the surface.
8. Weigh down the replaced flooring for at least 15 minutes until the sealer secures the flooring.

Never use a corrosive product. Never use a metal scrubber.

Note: Artek Stone products are not recommended for swimming pools or floors.