How to conduct parquet care: tips and tricks from professionals
The range of flooring is increasing almost every day. Manufacturers in every possible way try to persuade us to buy this or that material, endowing it with new, unique, “perfect” characteristics. The competition is huge. It is not afraid only of truly high-quality products, to which, without exaggeration, parquet can be attributed. Parquet flooring is a wonderful decoration for any living space; it is always prestige and durability. People prefer wood for such qualities as naturalness and warmth. In addition, it is able to warm and ennoble any interior - from minimalist to extreme. The latest production technologies, especially wood species, many laying methods infinitely expand the decorative possibilities of parquet. But remember, this material is live, it is not a “set and forget” tile. Regular parquet care is crucial.
Content
Attention to the microclimate
Parquet is natural, environmentally friendly, which means it breathes. With increasing humidity in the room, it increases in size, swells, warps. Dryness of the air provokes the drying out of the coating, the appearance of cracks and crevices. That is why it is worth noting that high-quality moisture protection plays an important role even at the stage of laying parquet.
A gap should be left around the perimeter of the coating - about one centimeter. It is filled with sealant (elastic) - the tool will allow the parquet to expand with changes in temperature and humidity conditions.
Seasonal fluctuations in the size of parquet planks are a natural thing and inherent to a greater or lesser extent to all tree species without exception. It is worth noting that there will be no particular problems with oak, ash, walnut and maple in this regard, but the “exotics” will certainly show themselves in all their glory.
But is it possible to somehow weaken this process? Of course! Providing control of indoor air humidity is half the battle. Parquet should be operated at a relative humidity not exceeding 60%; optimal temperature conditions are 15-25 degrees.
Winter season
The heating season begins and the air in the room, of course, is “dried”. The dies are compressed - cracks form between them. Stop the panic! In spring, the air will replenish with moisture, the gaps between the slats will disappear.
Ah, you want the cracks not to bother you in winter? So you have to additionally moisten the room. For this purpose, it is best to purchase a portable device, and even better (if possible) to integrate a humidifier into the ventilation system. If you do not allow a drop in humidity of 45%, gaps will not appear.
A usual hygrometer will help you monitor the humidity level in the house. From excessively dry air, by the way, human well-being can worsen.
Summer season
In warm, rainy summers, the relative humidity in the rooms reaches 95%. The tree, absorbing moisture, expands. Excess moisture in the air even in a few days is able to "bring" the parquet to the effect of the "boat" - the edges of the slats rise above the center. Something similar can be observed after flooding the floor with water (which was not promptly cleaned and managed to soak). When humidity drops, the slats begin to straighten slowly.
In warm countries with consistently high humidity (India, Indonesia, certain regions of China), for this reason they use a completely different technology of parquet flooring: polished and oil-coated coating is laid on a substrate without glue (free flooring); near the walls they are running out.
The main enemies of parquet flooring
So, based on the foregoing, we can safely assume that the worst enemy of parquet is water in all its manifestations (both in a "pure" form and in the form of particles hanging in the air). Spilled liquid must be removed immediately. When cleaning the parquet, the rag must be wrung out well to a slightly damp state. Vacuum cleaners in parquet care are not your helpers.
Now about the group of "enemies" who create scratches on the floor. This includes pets, furniture, and, of course, the main subject of female pride is high-heeled shoes (stilettos). Animals violate the integrity of the surface with their claws, so the “cat-dog manicure” should be a regular procedure.
For furniture legs it is worth purchasing special linings (felt, rubberized); this is especially true for chairs, armchairs, coffee tables (movable interior elements). Women's shoes, and indeed any shoes with heels - this is a special topic for conversation. If you don’t want to know what scratches from shoes look like, try to be more demanding both for yourself and your guests - change your shoes yourself and change your shoes. One more thing. In no case should you drop heavy, “clumsy appearance" objects on the floor! Of course, none of us is safe from chance, but accuracy and vigilance will not hurt.
Our next “opponents” are dirt, dust, sand. They are able to turn a brilliant, mirror-perfect coating into a scrambled gray. Dust can clog in the pores of wood. A large accumulation of dust and dirt and a rare, improper cleaning will lead to the fact that clogged particles will have to be removed along with the entire top layer, which means that you will have to “recover” from scratch. In order to protect against the multiplication of sand in the apartment, at the entrance to the house (apartment) and in the hallway, it is worth spreading the rugs. Keep them clean.
Remember that even if all rooms are carpeted, one cannot naively assume that the flooring is fully protected. After all, sand is just beneath them and will accumulate in the first place, especially if you allow yourself the weakness to walk shod. The sole is the main source of grains of sand.
Parquet Care Rules
As you know, on top of the parquet is protected by several layers of varnish / oil-wax mixture. In general, the maintenance of this coating is a process of servicing the parquet floor.
Parquet flooring
Here the rules are:
- after varnishing, for about the first two weeks, the care of the parquet should consist in collecting dust with a vacuum cleaner, then wet cleaning can already be connected to the vacuum cleaner;
- the rollers of chairs and chairs (if any) must be special, unable to damage the coating;
- wipe the floors with a soft cotton cloth, clean with an ordinary vacuum cleaner or a hair brush;
- abrasive materials must not be used during cleaning;
- The use of hard objects is also unacceptable - because this will inevitably damage the varnish layer: as a result, dirt and moisture will penetrate into the tree;
- it is possible to get rid of pollution efficiently with the help of special tools - the so-called “cleaners”. Their uniqueness lies in chemical neutrality with respect to varnish. All major manufacturers of parquet chemistry have in their assortment such products. Ideally, if the client you buy is the brainchild of the same company as the varnish used to protect the floor.
- “cleaning experiments” should not be put on the floor: mop the dishwashing liquid, gasoline, alcohol, paint thinner;
- thorough manual or machine cleaning of the parquet floor should be carried out only according to “serious indications”: if there are strong, hardened contaminants that cannot be removed in the normal mode;
- the varnish layer needs to be updated periodically. Every five to eight years, the parquet is polished and varnish again.
How often should i apply care products?
On the "territory" of the apartment, funds are applied as necessary - approximately every two to three months. In offices, corridors, on stairs - every month or even every two weeks. In institutions where there is an increased load (shops, cafes, schools) - weekly. In places where the load is extreme - very often; It’s difficult to talk about specific dates, the main thing is that the thinnest protective layer on the coating always remains.
To preserve the lacquer “protective barrier” wax-based polishes and special odorless preparations diluted with water are mainly used.
Unlike varnishes, parquet oils do not form a thick outer film - they just fill the pores of the wood. They prevent the penetration of moisture and various contaminants deep into the fibers. Restoring oil-soaked parquet is as simple as possible: resurfacing of the entire surface area (which is inevitable in the case of varnish) is not required - it is enough to process damaged places.
The oil coating is convenient, first of all, with its ultra-fast recovery. As a rule, a day is enough. This is the best option for finishing parquet in shopping, entertainment and other institutions that can not afford long downtime. Maintenance of the oil coating is much the same with varnish - all the same dry and wet cleaning.
It is worth noting that floors, coating with oil or wax mastic need more frequent and more thorough care than varnished.
Typical damage and remedies
Problem # 1 - color change
The reason for this phenomenon may be intense sunlight. A tree of different species behaves differently under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. When choosing parquet, remember this. Individual breeds (for example, cherry) ripen faster. This means that the darkening of such parquet will happen quickly.
Changing the color of the coating is a completely natural and regular process. Carpet a specific area of the floor in the room. After a certain period of time, remove it. You will notice the difference in tone.
Problem # 2 - discoloration and staining
So parquet can react to various substances - detergents, water, urine of pets. Recall that spills must be removed immediately! Ammonia-based parquet care products are not suitable!
Decision - grinding, varnishing. Individual parquet dies may need to be replaced.
Problem # 3 - cracking
It's all about dry air. For the winter period, this phenomenon is permissible. Some time after turning off the heating, the problem should disappear.
Decision - control of humidity and air temperature in rooms.
Problem # 4 - the appearance of wave-like cracks
The process can be observed after laying the parquet or varnishing it. This is the result of a tree moving. The defect is characteristic of some types of wood (for example, oak). It is impossible to eliminate it.
Decision - since this is a natural phenomenon, either reconcile or replace the defective dies.
Problem # 5 - Expansion
This is the result:
- the harmful effects of high humidity;
- insufficient shift between the joints of the strips in adjacent rows;
- insufficient expansion clearance.
Problem # 6 - excessively tight sheet pile
Perhaps the fact is that the packaging was opened too early and the planks had time to swell. Among other reasons: production defects, use of low-quality tools during installation.
Decision - laying should be interrupted. If you have noticed a clear manufacturing defect, the parts must be replaced. For installation of parquet use only special tools and accessories. You can lightly dowel dowels. If cracks appeared in the already laid parquet, the coating should be sanded, putty and repainted.
Summary and conclusions
Summarizing all of the above, we can conclude that caring for the parquet process is quite multifaceted, one might even say, multi-stage. Primary care - compliance with the optimal temperature and humidity conditions. General care - fencing parquet from mechanical damage through mats and all kinds of gaskets. Regular care - removal of dust, dirt, the use of cleaning concentrates and aerosols. Intensive care - periodic application of "protection".
Of all the flooring, parquet is the most reasonable investment. Such a choice will only emphasize your practicality and excellent taste. Do not be too lazy to comply with all the rules for laying and operating parquet, take care of it regularly and with high quality, and you will feel how durable the product can be if you treat it correctly. The feeling of comfort and reliability underfoot is priceless! Take care of him!
Raushan 
klaas
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