Thank you for choosing Nortwest Premium Hardwood Floors for all your hardwood flooring needs.

Simple steps can be taken to maintain the beauty and luster of your newly finished floors.  These instructions apply both to Glitsa/Bacca (Swedish; Oil-Based) and Water-Based finishes.

Use floors with care for the first 2 to 3 weeks after application of finish.  You can walk on the floor (in stocking feet) the day after we are done (typically after 5 pm on the day following the last coat of finish). Furniture may be placed on the floor 3-4 days upon completion. Area rugs should not be placed on the floors for 2-3 weeks.  It is essential that air circulate around your floor.  Any additional airflow provided (fans or open windows) will help the floors cure faster. Please remember that the floor finish is NOT scratch-resistant, so use extra care especially during the first month. If possible, wear socks or soft booties on legs of pets and regularly trim their nails to prevent scratches. Three to four days after the completion, the floor may be walked on in shoes. Whenever possible, avoid wearing high heeled shoes on the newly finished floor and keep them in good repair as the loss of protective cap can cause small indentations in any floor surface.

Before you put your furniture back, we recommend that you put felt glides under the legs of your table and chairs.  They come in different colors to match your furniture and offer a nail-in or stick-on application. Felt glides will prevent scratches as your chairs slide across the floor.  You may want to put them under any additional furniture that you move around, such as coffee tables.  These may be purchased at most hardware stores, i.e. Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc. Many specialty stores also carry large mats and felt glide cups that surround wheels of chairs or beds to prevent excessive rolling on the hardwood floor.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

Swedish Finish floor should never be waxed nor should you use any oil soap on them.  While oil soaps are excellent products for most wood, the oil and/or wax in them will not allow another coat of finish to adhere to the floor and will necessitate a full refinish down the road, rather than a simple (and less expensive) recoat.

Although advertised as safe for hardwood floors, we do not recommend using steam vacuums as they may increase the risk of warping/buckling associated with water-damage. Use a vacuum cleaner, untreated dust mop or broom. This will keep the sand and grit off your floor and prevent premature wear. Throw rugs should be placed in front of your kitchen sink and at each outside door. Wipe food/other spills right away. Never use spray type dusting aids.  After 2 weeks a clean damp mop or cloth can be used.  No more than once a month, use a mixture of 1 cup of white vinegar in a gallon of lukewarm water to damp mop, being careful not to get the floors too wet.  If, after awhile, you notice a dulling of the finish due to film left with vinegar, try mopping with Woodwise cleaner (which we carry).  Mix 1 cup in a gallon of water and damp mop.  Also mixing some in a spray bottle is great for quick touch up cleaning. We also have complete Woodwise Cleaning Sets which include the cleaner, mop, and terry cloth refills.

We at NORTHWEST PREMIUM HARDWOOD FLOORS value your business and look forward to serving your hardwood flooring needs in the future. With just a little maintenance you can keep your floors looking brand new for many years to come.

We appraciate any feedback on our service and request your referrals to family, friends, and co-workers. Letters of recommendation or thank you notes may be forwarded to us via the Contact Page on our web site. Thank you to all our valued customers!!