Water – Wet mopping or excessive water causes wood grain to raise and the wood to expand, crack, splinter and possibly, in extreme cases, to discolor or mildew.

Oil Soaps – Do not use Murphy Oil Soap™, Endust™, Pledge™, Future™, Mop’n Glo™, Brite™ or other waxes/polishes. Such products will harm the long-term performance of your floor, and may affect its coat-ability later.

Glue Down – The recommended mastic or adhesive is spread on with the proper sized trowel to adhere the wood flooring to the subfloor. It is not recommended to glue down 3/4″ solid.

Ammonia Cleaners – Do not use ammonia cleaners or non-recommended cleaners because they will dull or damage your hardwood floor. Never use Fantastik™ or Formula 409™.

High Heel Shoes – Heels that have lost their protective caps or shoes with any sharp exposed nail or stone will exert up to 8,000 lb per square inch of pressure on a floor. That’s enough to damage any type of floor covering.

Sunlight – Exposure to the sun and its UV rays can cause wood floors to fade, change color, or experience surface checking, and even cause color changes in its protective polyurethane finish. To avoid these problems we recommend using draperies or shades to help block out the sun’s harmful rays.

Daily general maintenance is highly recommended to help keep your real wood floor looking its best. General Maintenance – Immediately blot up spills or spots with a damp cloth.

Biweekly – Vacuum or sweep your floor.

Monthly – Clean floor with Anderson cleaner. Apply the cleaner to a clean, dampened sponge as directed and wipe the surface of your floor. Follow up with a clean, dry terry cloth towel to dry the surface. Never pour cleaner directly onto the floor.

In is common for cracks to appear in floors, especially with wider planks, due to shrinkage and expansion over the year. Small cracks are not harmful to the floor and most will only appear seasonally due to changes in moisture levels. In order to reduce or eliminated the chances of getting cracks in your floor, make an effort to maintain a humidity level between 45% and 55% throughout the year. Air conditioning or a de-humidifier in the humid summer months, and an humidifier during drier seasons helps to keep the humidity level more stable year-round.

Hardwood flooring can be installed on any hard surface, including: ceramic, vinyl, marble, concrete, plywood, wooden sub-floors and old hardwood flooring. Different types of hardwood flooring may be needed for different surfaces, so consult with an expert at The Hardwood Flooring Stores before deciding.

Usually this is due to a poor sub-floor like those found in many older homes.

The old 3/8″ strip flooring reacts to the humidity changes by expanding and contracting, sometimes causing a cupping or crowning effect on the strips. When you walk on the floor, the pieces might flatten out and cause a rubbing effect that gives a creaking sound. It is best to avoid using any solid 3/8″ flooring if possible.

In newer floors it can sometimes be a result of shifting of your floor because of changing humidity. This can be avoided by maintaining an equal humidity level throughout the year.

Excessive water can seep into the floor and cause the wood grain to raise and the wood to expand, crack, or splinter. Excess wear and tear or abuse caused by not protecting areas that lead onto the floor directly from outside can also damage hardwood floors. Keep shoes clean and use mats at entrances to wipe grit off your feet.

Hard cleats should also not be worn in the house. High heals should be in good condition to be worn on hardwood floors. If the metal part of the heel is exposed it will cause damage to any floor it’s on. Oil-based cleaners and other waxes or polishes can harm the surface of your floor and make it difficult to re-coat it in the future.

Ammonia cleaners are too abrasive for hardwood floors and might dull the finish. Over exposure to sunlight – as with anything else, the sun and its UV rays over time will cause your floors to dull or discolour.