Flooring Care
TRUMAN will not be and is not responsible for the areas as listed below. It is up to the homeowner(s) to maintain these items on a regular basis. The homeowner is responsible for reading manuals and maintaining products they purchase according to the manual’s recommendations.
Caring For Your Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood floors are made from kiln dried material, but are subject to the natural processes of shrinkage and expansion. Lower inside humidity in winter, especially near heating outlets, will cause the wood to separate slightly. Too high a humidity, on the other hand, will cause expansion and may lead to cupping or swelling in the center of the board. The above movements vary seasonally and may be related to the time of year which the flooring was installed.
Our Flooring Contractors, hereby indicated as (FC), guarantees all materials supplied under this contract to be as specified and to meet or exceed standards of the trade. The wood floor is to be free of original defects in materials for one year from date to complete. (FC) also warrantees their workmanship for life. All warrantees are limited to the original owner. During this warranty period, Truman Homes will remedy or replace any defective part of work specified in the contract at no additional cost to Customer, according to the following terms and conditions:
Hardwood Cleaning Tips
- Water is wood’s worst enemy. When cleaning, keep moisture to a minimum.
- Polyurethane finish must be cleaned with Bona Kemi or Woodwise brand cleaners. These products are available through (FC) No residual moisture is to be left on the floor at any time. Using a damp mop can dull the finish and over time lessen the life of the finish and void the warranty.
- Grit is one of the biggest dangers to your floor. Tracked-in dirt is like sandpaper on hardwood flooring. Use a walk-off area or entry rug at kitchen sink and every outdoor entrance to catch grit. Vacuum or shake out regularly. Removal of outdoor foot ware and hard-soled shoes is a must.
- Dust mop, broom sweep or vacuum. A good rule: when you vacuum your carpet, vacuum your wood using a proper smooth floor attachment.
- For stubborn stains, or cigarette burns, lightly sand area (with extra fine steel wool). And then apply Dura Seal Touch up spray.
- Install proper felt floor glides on all furniture and keep them clean.
- No high heels!
- Use “Glide Guards” or “E-Z Glides” (peel and stick pads) to protect the floor under the legs or chairs, tables, couches and under your fridge, as per manufacturer’s instructions, to prevent marking wood flooring in kitchen.
**The instructions above must be followed accurately to insure the beauty and life of your hardwood floor.**
Recoating
If hardwood floors are properly maintained, your floor, in several years, will only have to be recoated at one-fifth the cost compared to sanding and refinishing. IF WAXING AND/OR OIL TREATMENTS (I.E. MURPHYS OIL SOUP OR BURTHERS WAX) ARE EVER USED ON THE WOOD FLOORS, COMPLETE SANDING AND REFINISHING WOULD BE NECESSARY. Proper bonding would not take place if polyurethane is applied over wax or oil treatment, and peeling will occur.
**When damp mopping, be sure mop is wrung out well; excessive water may cause water spotting.**
Warranty Terms & Conditions
- This warranty does not apply to any work or materials not provided by (FC)
- Solid wood flooring is 100% natural. It is not fabricated and contains no artificial ingredients. What this means is that wood flooring is subject to all the variations present in nature, consistent with the “grade” and “specie” of wood selected. Natural wood characteristics such as mineral streaks, small knots, grain variations etc. are normal characteristics and are not construed as defects. Nature’s Trademarks leave no two pieces of wood the same and colour or other variations can occur.
- This warranty does not apply to any damages caused by factors beyond the control of (FC) such as, without limitation:
- latent defects in sub-floors, old floors or other materials or work not supplied by (FC)
- improper maintenance, usual or unusual wear on the part of the Customer (see care instructions)
- improper moisture, temperature or ventilation (which may cause swelling, buckling, cupping or shrinkage)
- warranty does not cover scratches or stains caused by domestic pets of any kind
- (FC) specifically assumes no responsibility for imperfections in sub-floors and does not guarantee flooring against swelling, cupping, buckling and shrinkage as hardwood expands and contracts with changes in atmospheric moisture levels. Damage due to water saturation such as, but not limited to, a leaky faucet, broken pipe and wet mopping is not included in any warranty.
- The warranty does not cover colour changes, which result from UV light. All floors (wood, stain, and finish) change colour due to UV light exposure.
- For sub-floors with Radiant heat – maximum temperature of sub-floor under normal use should not exceed 80 degrees F. Room temperature should not vary more than 15 degree F season to season with the humidity level kept up to their proper levels.
- The customer is responsible for keeping the humidity levels, in the areas with hardwood, at a constant level throughout the year. Proper humidity should be controlled between 25-40% for successful performance during and after installation.
- (FC) shall only be obligated under warranty for defects in material, which are discovered within one year from date of completion of the work. Management on an individual basis shall evaluate warranty work after this period.
- Upon receiving a request for warranty work, -(FC) shall be allowed a reasonable amount of time from the date of receipt for the purpose of inspecting the premises.
- In the event that such defect is within the scope of this guarantee, (FC) shall have the sole option of repairing the defects, replacing any material, or correcting any work found to be defective. (FC) warranty excludes and will not pay consequential or incident costs associated with any repair or replacement. Repair, refinish or replacement of flooring material is the sole remedy. No other warranties, expressed or implied, are made, including merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Under no circumstances shall (FC) be liable for any loss or damage arising from the purchase, use or inability to use this product, or for any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages.
- There are no warranties expressed or implied with respect to the labour and materials furnished by (FC) except as specifically set forth herein and no representation or warranty expressed or implied which is not specifically set forth herein shall be binding upon (FC)
- (FC) assumes no liability for delay, cancellation or non-completion of job due to causes beyond the control of (FC) including acts of God, labour disputes or shortages of material.
- No installer, retailer, agent or employee of (FC) has the authority to increase or alter the obligations or limitations of this warranty or quote.
- (FC) declines any responsibility for wood floor failure resulting from or connected with sub-floor, sub-surface or job site damage or deficiencies after wood flooring has been installed.
Caring For Your Linoleum
To preserve the appearance of tile or composite sheet materials such as vinyl, precautions should be taken against indentations from furniture. Furniture cups, which prevent heavy furniture legs from cutting or denting resilient flooring, are available at hardware stores, as are smooth floor glides for lighter pieces of furniture, such as chairs. Metal domes should not be used on furniture legs, as they will mar the floor surface. Furniture should always be carried and carefully placed in position, never dragged across linoleum (resilient flooring).
It may take a short period of time for floor tile adhesive to “set” completely. Normal use (foot traffic) and the weight of furniture will aid this process. All resilient flooring is subject to some indentation, and this should not be regarded as a defect.
Resilient flooring should be washed with lukewarm water and a mild detergent. Harsh cleaners can cause fading, discolouration and, in some cases, make such materials hard and brittle. Stubborn scuffmarks can usually be removed with a damp cloth and scouring powder. Never use steel wool or cleaning fluid.
The application of water emulsion type liquid was in thin, even coats is recommended as a protective coating for resilient floorings. Waxes containing solvents, varnish, shellac or any plastic finishing should not be used, as solvents may cause material breakdown or buckling. Use water sparingly when washing floors, as it may seep between tiles, floor joints and when the flooring meets baseboards and other trim. Note that some of the newer materials may not require waxing.
Caring For Your Carpeting
Carpeting is relatively easy to care for, and a simple, regular care plan will go far to maintaining the original appearance for many years. To maintain the optimum appearance, the following procedures are recommended:
- Immediate removal of spills to prevent spots and stains.
- Daily maintenance of heavy traffic areas to pick up surface dirt and lint.
- A thorough weekly vacuuming with a vacuum cleaner, properly adjusted for the type of carpet involved, is recommended to remove “embedded” dirt.
- Seasonal brightening of the surface by cleaning is required to remove oily film on carpet fibres.
- For the best appearance and longest performance from carpets or rugs, professional cleaning is recommended every year or two, depending on use.
Cleaning Carpet Spills
This chart covers most household spills on carpets and fibres. If a stain does not respond, phone your carpet cleaner immediately for advice. Some stains need special chemicals and procedures, best handled by experts.
Dissolve the following oily type spills in Dry Cleaning Fluid.
(Remember to put some “dry cleaning” fluid on a damp cloth before applying to stain.)
- Ball point ink
- Butter
- Crayon
- Oils
- Grease
- Tar
- Cosmetics
- Household cement
- Metal polish
- Shoe polish
- Food stains(┼)
- Vaseline
- Gum
- Wax
NOTE: If you are not able to determine what was spilled, apply dry cleaning fluid first and blot, repeating if effective. Then try the detergent solution and blot, repeating if effective.
Dissolve the following water spills in Detergent Solutions:
- Alcohol
- Ice cream
- Bleach (B)
- Mustard
- Coffee
- Soot
- Food colour
- Urine (B)
- Glue(┼)
- Wine (B)
- Gravy
- Blood (┼ A B)
- Milk
- Carbon black
- Soft drinks
- Egg
- Tea
- Gelatin
- Water colours
- Beer (B)
- Ketchup
- Chocolate(┼)
- Permanent ink
- Crepe paper(┼)
- Syrup
- Fruit juice (A)
- Vomit
- Grass(┼)
┼)These are combinations of material spills that may need both dry cleaner and detergent to dissolve all the ingredients. Apply the solution recommended for the group it belongs to; if repeated applications produce no effect, then apply the other solution and repeat until stain is removed.
A) Apply a small amount of the solution to neutralize the acidity of the stain.
B) Apply a small amount of vinegar/water (a very mild acid) solution to neutralize the alkalinity of the stain.
Seaming
Seams will always be noticeable. Do not expect them to be invisible, especially in Saxony and cut pile carpets. However, with normal traffic, the seams will “walk in” to some extent, making them less noticeable as time goes on. Keep in mind that carpet comes in 12’ widths; therefore, seams cannot be avoided.
Note: Avoid leaving pieces of carpet for long periods of time on vinyl and hardwood floors as they need to breathe. Floors will change colour if covered for a long period of time and material does not allow the floor to breathe.
Avoiding Damage
Most floor coverings installed in kitchens today are soft floors. If heavy appliances are moved for maintenance or cleaning, avoid scuffing or tearing your flooring by using extreme caution. To prevent cuts or indentations to your flooring, the base of your kitchen chairs legs should be free of any sharp edges and should rest evenly on the flooring, if you can please use air bags to move you heavy appliances around.
Fading
There are no carpets manufactured today that will not show some degree of fading. The fading process can be delayed by drawing your curtains or blinds to prevent direct sunlight on your carpet.
Matting
Matting of our carpet is not a manufacturing defect, it is to be expected, especially in residential cut pile or Saxony carpets. Of course, in high traffic areas like halls, stairs, doorways, and in front of your chesterfield, matting or traffic pattern cannot be avoided.
High Heels
Narrow tipped heels will damage carpet vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring and ceramic tiles. Flooring manufacturers will not accept claims for indentation or other damage done to floors.
Future Repairs
Our installers are instructed to leave all leftover carpet and vinyl scraps in your house. Keep them in a safe place. They will come in handy should repairs to your floors be required.