KARELIA Maintenance Guide
Please see our Karelia Maintenance Guide below.
You can also download it here.
The surface of Karelia wood flooring has been pre-finished with UV-hardened acrylic lacquer or oil/wax.
In order to maintain the beauty of your Karelia floor, follow our simple maintenance instructions.
Post Installation Maintenance:
Immediately after installation of your new Karelia floor, please note the following:
- Do not tape protective materials to the floor (eg cardboard, etc) - these could damage the surface
- UV radiation from the sun alters wood colour over time, especially in New Zealand, which has the highest UV-light in the world. We recommend the following:
- Do not put mats and rugs on the floor straight after the installation
- Once mats are placed (see Preventative Care below) move them around for the first 6 months
Variations in colour - such as carpet outlines - will even out over time as they are exposed to daylight
You can also download it here.
The surface of Karelia wood flooring has been pre-finished with UV-hardened acrylic lacquer or oil/wax.
In order to maintain the beauty of your Karelia floor, follow our simple maintenance instructions.
Post Installation Maintenance:
Immediately after installation of your new Karelia floor, please note the following:
- Do not tape protective materials to the floor (eg cardboard, etc) - these could damage the surface
- UV radiation from the sun alters wood colour over time, especially in New Zealand, which has the highest UV-light in the world. We recommend the following:
- Do not put mats and rugs on the floor straight after the installation
- Once mats are placed (see Preventative Care below) move them around for the first 6 months
Variations in colour - such as carpet outlines - will even out over time as they are exposed to daylight
Preventative Care:
Preventing damage is the best treatment for your Karelia floor:
- Place mats on both sides of all exterior doors, so that as little grit and other dirt as possible is carried onto the floor
- Put plastic mats in entrances under shoe/coat areas to prevent water damage
- Never drag furniture or whiteware - place a carpet offcut upside down underneath the furniture and push it carefully
- Remove stains while they are still fresh - usually just a little water or a mild detergent will be sufficient
- In order to protect the floor from scratches, use felt pads under all your furniture
- Avoid scrubbing with abrasive equipment or using strong solvents
- Remove any grit or other abrasives immediately
- Take your shoes off - never wear stiletto heels
- Ensure you keep your pets' nails short
- Use a plastic mat under your office chair
- Prevent water being trodden onto the floor
- Wipe up spills immediately
- Place dishes/trays under pot plants
Preventing damage is the best treatment for your Karelia floor:
- Place mats on both sides of all exterior doors, so that as little grit and other dirt as possible is carried onto the floor
- Put plastic mats in entrances under shoe/coat areas to prevent water damage
- Never drag furniture or whiteware - place a carpet offcut upside down underneath the furniture and push it carefully
- Remove stains while they are still fresh - usually just a little water or a mild detergent will be sufficient
- In order to protect the floor from scratches, use felt pads under all your furniture
- Avoid scrubbing with abrasive equipment or using strong solvents
- Remove any grit or other abrasives immediately
- Take your shoes off - never wear stiletto heels
- Ensure you keep your pets' nails short
- Use a plastic mat under your office chair
- Prevent water being trodden onto the floor
- Wipe up spills immediately
- Place dishes/trays under pot plants
Cleaning & Maintenance:
Regular care of Karelia flooring involves only the following:
- Remove loose sand and dust with a vacuum cleaner or a brush
- To clean your floor more thoroughly, it can be washed with a mild detergent (pH 6-8) and a microfiber mop/pad
- Use as little water as possible when cleaning (almost dry wipe). If visible moisture does not evaporate within a minute, you are using
too much water (the key is to minimise the use of water!)
- Never use a steam mop to clean your hardwood flooring - hot steam and timber are a no go!
- Clean stains immediately
- We recommend using professional cleaning kits (microfiber mop with cleaning solution)
Removal of Stains:
The fresher the spot, the easier it will be to remove. For stain removal use the substances mentioned in the table below.
Regular care of Karelia flooring involves only the following:
- Remove loose sand and dust with a vacuum cleaner or a brush
- To clean your floor more thoroughly, it can be washed with a mild detergent (pH 6-8) and a microfiber mop/pad
- Use as little water as possible when cleaning (almost dry wipe). If visible moisture does not evaporate within a minute, you are using
too much water (the key is to minimise the use of water!)
- Never use a steam mop to clean your hardwood flooring - hot steam and timber are a no go!
- Clean stains immediately
- We recommend using professional cleaning kits (microfiber mop with cleaning solution)
Removal of Stains:
The fresher the spot, the easier it will be to remove. For stain removal use the substances mentioned in the table below.
Floor damaged by over washing / wet mopping.
|
Stain
Asphalt, rubber, oil, show polish, soot, chocolate & grease Crayons, lipstick, felt tip pens, ball-point pen Candle wax, chewing gum Blood Fruit, berries, juices, milk, cream, soft drinks, beer, wine, coffee, tea, urine |
Stain Remover
Mineral turpentine, surgical spirit, petroleum ether, or similar Surgical spirit or denatured alcohol Freeze-spray or put a plastic bag of ice cubes on the mark, then scrape off carefully Cold water Cleansing solution or synthetic cleaning agent |
Surface Reconditioning - Oil/Wax Finished Floors Only:
How often the floor requires maintaining with oil depends on use, cleaning, exposure to sun light and personal preference. In most cases, surface reconditioning isn't necessary. For their pre-finished oil/wax timber floors, Karelia uses Osmo oils, which are available in New Zealand.
Remove loose dust and dirt from the floor with a vacuum cleaner and clean the worn area as per Cleaning & Maintenance above. There is no need to sand the surface - simply follow the Osmo instructions.
These are the Osmo product codes for the Karelia floors we offer:
|
Karelia Arctic, Stonewashed Ivory
Karelia Antique, Stonewashed Ebony Karelia Stonewashed Clay Karelia Stonewashed Charcoal |
3111
3168 3192 3170 |
Please contact us for recommendations on where you can buy Osmo oils.
Karelia Installed in a Bach, Holiday Home or Vacant Property:
Your Karelia timber floor is made out of a natural material (wood) and reacts to changes in air humidity (the floor expands and contracts).
If a house is locked up/vacant for several weeks or months at a time, this could affect how the wooden floor behaves. For example, in summer the house heats up to higher than normal, and in winter colder than normal. In the worst case, gaps could appear (through shrinking of the boards) or the floor could start lifting (when expansion is reached with a floating floor installation). The manufacturer, importer, retailer or installer cannot be held liable for this!
Therefore, ensure the house is well ventilated while you are away - ask a neighbour to open doors or windows periodically, and if you have a ventilation system set it to its minimum level.
Karelia Installed in a Brand New House:
In a new house all building products need time to acclimatise. Paint is still drying, etc.
As above, ventilation is the key: ensure the house is properly ventilated, windows opened, etc.
Should you have any queries regarding maintaining your new Karelia floor, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Karelia Installed in a Bach, Holiday Home or Vacant Property:
Your Karelia timber floor is made out of a natural material (wood) and reacts to changes in air humidity (the floor expands and contracts).
If a house is locked up/vacant for several weeks or months at a time, this could affect how the wooden floor behaves. For example, in summer the house heats up to higher than normal, and in winter colder than normal. In the worst case, gaps could appear (through shrinking of the boards) or the floor could start lifting (when expansion is reached with a floating floor installation). The manufacturer, importer, retailer or installer cannot be held liable for this!
Therefore, ensure the house is well ventilated while you are away - ask a neighbour to open doors or windows periodically, and if you have a ventilation system set it to its minimum level.
Karelia Installed in a Brand New House:
In a new house all building products need time to acclimatise. Paint is still drying, etc.
As above, ventilation is the key: ensure the house is properly ventilated, windows opened, etc.
Should you have any queries regarding maintaining your new Karelia floor, please don't hesitate to contact us.
