lacquered

Maintenance of lacquered floors

An effective maintenance programme will keep the floor clean and looking as good as possible. The following information is designed to provide a starting point for such a programme and is appropriate for both commercial and domestic floors. However, all floors are unique and will require individual assessment because the factors affecting them will vary. Changes in traffic levels and seasonal changes will also need to be taken into consideration, for example, additional matting may be required during periods of snow or heavy rain. The frequency of any maintenance should reflect the use of the floor, and should be altered accordingly.

An effective maintenance regime should consist of:

1. Dry Cleaning:

Floors should be cleaned daily using dry cleaning methods, such as vacuum, scissor mop or soft broom. It is important to remove any abrasive particles of grit and dirt which may scratch the floor seal when trafficked under footwear, chair legs, and other items moved across the floor.

2. Damp Cleaning:

Soluble dirt should be removed by cleaning using a spray-buff system or scrubber drier (large floors), or by mop and bucket (small, domestic floors). Diluted Bona Cleaner, or Bona Care Cleaner should be used as a cleaning agent. When using a buffing system the machine should be fitted with a tan pad. A red pad can be used on floors which are very dirty. Coarser pads should be avoided as they may damage the floor seal. All cleaning materials should be replaced periodically to ensure effective maintenance.

3. Additional Cleaning:

Timber Floors in commercial areas which may often become contaminated with grease from food, sweat, or residue from other sources, may require additional cleaning to remove these materials. Cleaning using Bona Remover will remove these non-soluble materials and restore the slip resistance of the floor seal.

4. Further Protection:

Traditionally floors would be treated with wax-based polish to offer additional protection to the floor seal. However once this has occurred the floor can not receive further coats of lacquer without sanding the floor back to bare wood. An alternative is Bona Freshen Up. This polyurethane maintainer should be applied, by mop or cloth, when the floor seal appears dull due to minor scratches. This should be used following regular cleaning. On a new or recently re-finished floor Bona Freshen Up would be applied when the first signs of wear become visible (i.e a dulling of the surface).

Newly Finished Floors

A floor coated with any Bona floor finish is usually touch dry within approximately 3 hours. However it continues to cure for approximately one week. The floor may receive light foot traffic 8 hours after the final coat of finish but full heavy use should be avoided for 72 hours. Furniture may be returned to the room after 24 hours but should be fitted with protective pads. The floor should not be covered with any protective sheeting/polythene or rugs/carpets for the first week after finishing. Similarly the use of maintenance products should be avoided for this period.

Refurbishment

Periodically it will be necessary to re-finish previously lacquered floors. If the floor has been maintained using wax-based polish or similar, the floor will have to be sanded back to bare timber prior to lacquer application. If just Bona Freshen Up has been used or Bona Cleaner it is possible to apply further coats of finish without heavy sanding. The floor must be cleaned using the Bona Prep System and lightly abraded using the Bona Scrad System prior to applying further coats of finish.

If information is not available regarding the previous maintenance products used on the floor an adhesion test should be made to determine compatibility. An area should be cleaned by hand, lightly abraded, and a coat of finish applied. After 48 hours the surface should be rubbed with the edge of a milled coin - such as a ten pence piece. Adhesion is satisfactory if the lacquer remains intact.

The Life Cycle of the Floor

BonaKemi offers a range of compatible products which, if used correctly, will lessen disruption and expense produced by the full refurbishment of a floor. By frequently assessing the floor’s condition and applying Bona Freshen Up regularly, and adding further coats of finish to the floor before wear has progressed back to bare timber, it should be possible to avoid ever having to sand the floor back to bare timber again.

OILED

Maintenance care instructions for wooden oiled floors.

Osmo Wash Care (weekly)

For private households, a mop, broom or vacuum cleaner is sufficient for normal cleaning purposes. If the floor is very dirty, it can be wiped/mopped clean with water (damp, not wet) containing Osmo Wash and Care. The floor must not receive excessive moisture. The floor should then be dried immediately with a dry cloth in order to avoid wetness penetrating into the joints.

In Public buildings (offices, shops, schools, restaurants etc), wipe/mop the floor daily, or as frequently as you require, with a damp (not wet) cloth. Please use Osmo Wash and Care in the water to avoid lime deposits forming from the water. The floor should be dried immediately with a dry cloth in order to avoid wetness penetrating into the joints.

Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner (yearly)

In private households, remove tough stains with Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner (use an Osmo Polishing Pad, or for oak floors white Scotchpad) and polish the floor. From time to time, as required, the floor should be maintained with Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner, particularly the most-used and most frequently cleaned areas (apply a thin layer, let it dry and then polish it). If floor renovation is necessary, treat the cleaned surface with Osmo Hardwax Oil. One application is sufficient under normal circumstances. Partial floor renovation is also possible.

In Public buildings, depending on the level of floor traffic, the floor should undergo full maintenance up to 4 times a year, or as frequently as you require, using Osmo Liquid Wax Cleaner. Apply a thin layer with a low-speed one-disc machine (RPM < 500) using a beige pad. Leave it to dry for about 2 hours. When dry the floor may be polished with a low-speed one-disc machine (RPM < 500) using a white pad. Approximately once a year, or as frequently as you require, Osmo Hardwax-Oil should be used after the initial treatment. Partial floor renovation is also possible. In order to avoid scratches, felt pads should be used under all furniture, especially chairs and armchairs. A standard protective mat should be used under office chairs with wheels. Please do not use any household detergents containing abrasive substances. Put a floor mat of sufficient size (at least 80 x 100 cm) in the entrance area. Special skills are required to partially repair transparent stained floors without leaving any repair marks. It is important to overlap the new coat and the old in order to blend in the pigments and obtain a satisfying result. Where the floors are badly worn, we recommend sanding the whole floor area rather than attempting a partial renovation.