Pre-finished floor

Pre-finished floors and laminate floors feature a tough, ready-to-walk-on surface that’s applied at the mill.

Pre-finished floors may be attached to the subfloor like traditional hardwood, or “floated” without the use of adhesives, depending on manufacturer recommendations. Most laminate floors are floating floors, featuring snap-together panels. Unlike hardwood floors, most pre-finished and laminate surfaces are ready for use immediately after installation.

The following tips pertain to pre-finished hardwood floors:

• Sweep or vacuum the floor at least weekly to get rid of harmful dirt and grit that wears on the protective finish.
  
  
• Place mats or area rugs at all entrances to capture incoming grit and dirt. Vacuum them at least as often as you sweep or vacuum the floor.
  
  
• Always wipe up spills or pet accidents immediately using a soft, slightly damp towel. Place a small rug or mat over the floor in front of sinks to reduce wear and capture splashes, drips and spills.
  
  
• Don’t wet-mop the floor. Excess water may seep between boards or planks and cause dulling, discoloration or permanent damage to the wood. Damp mopping is OK as long as you wring as much water or cleaning solution out of the mop as possible before applying it to the floor.
  
  
• Stick with clean water or a neutral cleaner, such as a highly diluted solution of hand dishwashing liquid and water. Check manufacturer recommendations; some makers recommend a highly diluted white vinegar-and-water solution instead.
  
  
• Follow manufacturer instructions for restoring the shine and luster to an older pre-finished floor.
  
  
• Place glides under heavy furniture legs to prevent scratching.
  
  
• Watch those heels and cleats! Spiky high heels and athletic shoes with metal cleats exert enough pressure to damage many kinds of floor surfaces, not just hardwoods.
  
  
• Pick up heavy furniture to move it — don’t slide it across the surface.

Reference:

National Wood Flooring Association.