Somerset Hardwood Maintenance and Care

ROUTINE CARE
ROUTINE CARE INSTRUCTIONS For Somerset’s Ultimate™ Finish

Somerset Hardwood Flooring features the latest in surface finishing technology. Somerset’s Ultimate™ finish is an
advanced UV-cured aluminum oxide finish. This combination produces a finish with exceptional wear resistance—so
your floor will stay looking beautiful with minimal effort.

Routine Care
Sweep, vacuum, or dust mop your hardwood floor on a regular basis just as you would any floor covering.
Use only vacuum cleaners and/or settings suitable for hardwood flooring. "Beater bars" that agitate carpet fiber can
damage hardwood flooring. Removing loose particulate matter is the best preventative maintenance for a hardwood
floor.

The single biggest mistake in hardwood flooring maintenance, is letting the applicator (mop head) become too dirty,
beyond which dirt is merely spread around.

Clean up spills first with an absorbent towel, paper towel, etc. as soon as they are discovered. Then clean as necessary with
Somerset’s Ultimate™ Wood Floor Cleaner, which is specially formulated for the Ultimate finish. This product should also be
used for general cleaning, as needed.

Somerset’s Specially-Formulated Care Products
We recommend using Somerset Floor Care Products to maintain the beauty of your floor. Somerset’s Ultimate™
Wood Floor Cleaner has been developed to protect and maintain the Ultimate™ finish. This cleaner has been
specially formulated for the easy cleaning and care of flooring in Somerset’s Color, High Gloss, Homestyle,
Character, Specialty, Classic Character, Traditional, Wide Plank, Handcrafted, and Classic Collections.
The use of other products not formulated for your Somerset floor may damage your floor, and void the warranty (see
Somerset’s Limited Warranty for details).

What NOT to use on your new Somerset floor: excess water, vinyl or tile care products, acrylic wax, polish, renovator,
rejuvenator, household wet dusting products, paste wax, oil soaps, furniture polish, vinegar solutions, or steam mops. These
may all damage your floor.

Repair/Refinishing
Minor surface scratches can be repaired using the Somerset Touch-Up Kit designed for your floor color. Touch-Up Kits
are available from the dealer or installer from whom you purchased your Somerset floor, or directly from
www.somersetfloors.com.
Floors that have been damaged from years of wear and tear or neglect can be restored to their original beauty by a
professional wood flooring finisher.
If your decorating needs change over the years, your 3/4” solid or 1/2” engineered floor can be refinished to a new color
to complement your new decor. Again, we recommend this be done by a professional wood flooring finisher.
Options include a maintenance coat that can be applied to the existing finish as needed, or fully sanding and
refinishing the floor. How much work is required depends on the condition of the floor and the owner’s objectives at
the time the work is evaluated by a wood flooring professional.
By properly caring for your floor and following basic preventative maintenance tips and common sense, you can keep
your floor looking new for years, delaying and possibly eliminating the need for major refinishing or repair.
When you make the decision to purchase Somerset Hardwood Flooring, you are making an investment that will
last the lifetime of your home, giving you many years of enjoyment and adding value to your home.

PREVENTATIVE CARE
Hardwood flooring, unlike other types of floor coverings, can be maintained with a minimum amount of effort. To
protect against damage, just follow some basic, common sense guidelines.
One of the benefits of wood flooring is that because it is a natural flooring material, it can be repaired and/or
refinished. Adhering to the following preventative care guidelines will lengthen the time between (and perhaps
even eliminate the need for) major renovation or restoration such as re-coating or refinishing.

Protect Your Floor with Rugs and Mats
Place doormats at all entrances to prevent dirt and grit from being tracked on your floor. Make sure you keep
doormats and rugs clean. Any rug/mat/pad must allow the floor to breathe so no moisture or condensation can
develop. Use only rugs with backings and non-skid pads that are compatible with urethane finish. Some synthetic
products may imprint their pattern onto the floor finish. Natural fiber pads generally will not imprint onto finish.
Use the Right Cleaning and Maintenance Products
Make sure you follow all product labels and use only Somerset Ultimate Cleaner. Do not allow water to stand on your
floor. Sweep, dust mop or vacuum your floor regularly, but do not use household dusting products, because they can
cause your floor to become slick and may damage the finish. The use of Somerset’s specially formulated Ultimate™
Cleaner will ensure that your floor is properly maintained.

Use Furniture Protectors
To avoid scratching and damaging the floor’s surface, place felt furniture pads or other protective pads such as gray
rubber non-marking casters on chair and table legs and any other furniture surface that could possibly cause finish
indentations. Be sure to keep the pads clean and free of grit and dirt. Do not use ball-type casters or casters made of
hard materials such as plastic or metal — these can damage your floor. Do not slide or roll heavy furniture or
appliances across wood flooring. Special tools are available for this purpose, but be aware; the concentrated
weight of such objects may indent hardwood flooring and finishes.

Watch Your Shoes
Make sure the heels of your shoes are in good repair—especially high heels. Heels that are missing their caps or are
worn through exposing metal or other abrasive surfaces can cause scratches and dents on any floor’s surface. And, of
course, never walk across your floor in shoes that have cleats or spikes.

Wood and Water Don’t Mix
Never allow water (or other liquids) to stand on a hardwood floor for any length of time. Also, do not ever pour water
on your floor—it can cause damage to the wood’s structure and to the finish.
Protect from Spills in the Kitchen
Place rugs or mats in areas that are prone to spills, such as in front of the sink, refrigerator and stove. Cotton mats are
recommended because they are easily cleaned. Mats with rubber backings can trap moisture on the floor and
cause damage.

Move Area Rugs Regularly
When exposed to ultraviolet (sun) light, wood’s natural oxidizing properties can cause the color of your floor and finish
to change, taking on an age-worn patina. To keep a consistent color across your floor, rotate area rugs on a regular
basis and use window coverings to protect against sun exposure.

Pet Claws
Keep all pet claws trimmed. Even small pet claws can indent hardwood floor finishes.

Tape
Do not apply tape to the flooring finish. Popular painters tapes typically state (printed inside spool) not for use on
wood floors. Tape “pull” is specifically excluded in the Somerset limited warranty document.