Maintenance Guide :
Evidence from a wide range of studies indicates that up to 80% of all dirt, grit and moisture is carried into a building by the people using it. This causes abrasive action on the floor-covering, which in turn damages your floor. One of the easiest ways to reduce maintenance costs must therefore be to reduce the amount of dirt, grit and moisture you bring in.

Regular Maintenance

1.    Sweep (Soft Bristle)or vacuum the floor daily – try and minimise the dirt and grit entering your house via dogs, children etc.

2.    Floor protector pads should be used on legs of furniture – these can be obtained from any hardware store. (replace when necessary)

3.    Use Bona Wood Floor Cleaner at least twice a week or when necessary, applying with BonaFloor Mop. (just spray on and wipe off) Refills can be purchased
through Makore.   

4.    Never apply wax or other polishes to your sealed wooden floors. Applying these to a polyurethane finish may make future refinishing impossible.

5.    Regular maintenance (once a month) with Bona Polish will prolong the life of the floor. ( see bottle for application procedure ) This can be purchased through Makore.

6.    Every six months or when necessary a complete floor refresh might be required and can be carried out by Makore Craft.

Important Notes : -

1.    Always remember that the cleaning should be carried as per instructions on bottles.

2.  Avoid direct sunlight onto floor (excessive sunlight could cause discolouring, (expansion and  or warping)

3.     Avoid large temperature swings where possible. If you have air conditioning, do not make the room cool for days and then switch off the unit and let room heat up. (eg. If you go on holiday) Try to keep a constant temperature where possible. Natural temperatures should be fine inDurban.

4.    In high traffic areas it is wise to have mats at the entrance.

5.    It is suggested by the manufacturer of Bona that furniture not be moved onto floor for 5 days from date of completion.

6.    Dogs, Stiletto Shoes, direct Sunlight, Temperature swings and Water are your floors worst enemies.

Beware of the Greenhouse effect

Timber flooring is a natural product that responds to humidity variation by expanding and contracting. These changes may be noticeable. During summer when it is warm and humid the timber will expand. During winter when it is cooler and dry the timber will contract/shrink.  Gaps can appear between the boards. This is normal and you should be aware of this. These gaps should close when the temperature rises and there is more humidity in the air. This can be avoided by controlling the humidity in the house. This seasonal movement is characteristic of timber flooring.
In new or renovated houses / buildings before occupation it is very important to keep the humidity levels between 30 – 55 %. It is during this time when the building is empty and all doors and windows are kept closed with the sun blazing in through windows and sliding doors which have not yet been curtained or blinded that a greenhouse effect is caused. Once you have moved in you need to avoid major temperature swings. If your house is air conditioned, keep temperatures constant. When you go away on holiday and close everything up still maintain constant temperatures. Do not run air cons for months and then switch them off and let temperatures soar in the house. This could cause damage to your timber floors.


Things you should not expect from a Hardwood floor

•    A floor that will not indent – all hardwood floors will indent under high heel traffic ( especiallyheels in disrepair) The sealer that has been applied will not prevent these dents. Somehardwood floors are more prone to denting depending on the species chosen.

•    A floor that is perfect – understand that furniture, cabinetry, doors etc. are fabricated in a factoryunder ideal conditions and containbetween 1 -10 different pieces of wood. Your floor is fabricated on site and is made up of 300 to thousands of individual pieces. Eachfloor is trulyunique.

•    A floor that is uniform in grain and colour – wood is a natural product, it varies from piece topiece. It is not fabricated but milled from a tree and will have grain and colour variations, even if the floor has been stained.


•    A floor that will remain tightly together – natural shrinkage couldoccur ( gaps between floorboards) this could happen during the changing of seasons as the air dries or becomes morehumid. Moisture is lost or gained causing to timber to shrink or expand.

•    A floor that will not “cup” – Cupping of floor boards is characteristic to a degree. Boards arerectangle in shape and a tree is round, giving the boards a natural tendency to “cup.” The wider the board the more likely it is to cup and may not be as a result of moisture.

Important Notes

•    Do not use Cleaner within a week of floor being sealed.

•    The floor must be vacuumed or swept with a soft bristle broom daily, to remove grit and dust from the surface. Walking on dusty or dirty floor damage your floor.

•    Use floor protector pads on all feet of your furniture and keep free from grit. These can be obtained from any hardware store. Replace when necessary.

•    When moving furniture always lift and place, do not drag. If you need to drag take necessary precautions to limit damage. ( drag on a blanket or carpet face down – this may still cause damage)

•    Animals will cause damage to floors, to limit this keep pets claws cut, and try and limit grit carried in on paws. (if possible keep pets off timber floors)

•    Avoid direct sunlight from shining on floors for an extended period of time. This causes drying out and shrinkage as well as colour changes/ fading in your floor.

•    Use mats at all exterior entrances. This will prevent you from walking in grit and dust. Shake out regularly.

•    Try not to walk on floor in stilettos or damaged high heels as well as cleats and some sports shoes. These will dent all solid wood floors.

•    Use rugs, runners or mats in very high traffic areas like passages and kitchens. Shake out regularly to keep free from grit.

•    When using heaters or air-condition systems, try and maintain relative humidity in the home at 30-55%. If necessary use a humidifier or de-humidifier.

•    Do not use water to clean your floor, do not wax or polish it. Wipe up food and other spills immediately with a dry or slightly dampened mop.