Maintenance instructions for the Timberwise wooden floors

Regular maintenance is the key to extending the life of your wooden floor. This article advises on how to perform a maintenance treatment on your floor.

A previous article discussed the daily maintenance of wooden floors, and now it is time to focus on comprehensive maintenance.

The question most frequently asked by our customers is ‘When should the floor be maintained more comprehensively?’. The need for maintenance depends fully on the degree of wear the floor is exposed to. In a regular private home, the period during which the floor does not require maintenance may last as long as 5–10 years.

It is advisable to monitor the degree of wear particularly in the hallway and kitchen, where it may be higher. Maintenance is necessary when the surface treatment has become worn and dirt starts to become embedded in the surface of the floor. The degree of wear of the floor surface can be tested with the aid of simple drop test, in which a few drops of water are dropped on the floor. If the drops spread on the floor surface, maintenance is required.

If a wax oiled floor does not pass the test, it is advisable to treat the whole floor in accordance with the following instructions.

Treating a wax oiled floor:

When the floor has become worn and dirt has become embedded in its surface, it is time to treat the floor. Start the treatment by cleaning the floor carefully with Osmo Color Wash and Care (or a similar neutral detergent). When the surface is clean and dry, repair the scratch and scuff marks in accordance with the instructions for repairing scratch marks. Allow to dry and treat the whole floor as follows:

• White floors: apply a very thin layer of white Osmo Color Hardwax Oil (no. 3041) in accordance with the instructions provided on the product. Please note that the applied layer must be very thin. Depending on the condition of the surface, at least 50 m² of floor surface can be treated with a litre wax oil. Allow to dry in accordance with the instructions.
• Dark floors: apply a very thin layer of clear Osmo Color Hardwax Oil (no. 3062) in accordance with the instructions provided on the product. Please note that the applied layer must be very thin. Depending on the condition of the surface, at least 50 m² of floor surface can be treated with a litre wax oil. Allow to dry in accordance with the instructions.

Treating a matte lacquered floor:

If the lacquered surface has become dull and worn over years of use, the surface of the Timberwise floor can be sanded and retreated. The best way of achieving a floor surface that is as good as new is to have a professional do the work. The surface structure of brushed wooden floors will change if the surface is sanded. The surface layer of a Timberwise wooden floor is approximately 3.5 mm thick, so the floor can be sanded up to 3 times.

Detailed maintenance instructions for wax oiled floors are available here and for matte lacquered floors here.