Products for the maintenance

The cleaning of wood flooring must be carried out with attention and gentleness. Please carefully follow your floor recommendations as shown in the technical data sheet of the product you have purchased and below. For daily cleaning it is advisable to employ dry cleaners, because stagnant water on the floor inevitably cause swelling and, in some woods, tannin leakage with blackening of the planks, damages that cannot be easily repairable. Instead use vacuum cleaners or brushes with soft bristles to avoid debris and dirt from piling and consequent unsightly scratches caused by foot traffic. Vacuums with a beater bar or power rotary brush head can damage a wood floor and should not be use. Do not use industrial machines, floor washing robots or steam machinery which generally have an abrasive action, high temperatures and use an excessive amount of water that may seep in and damage the floor.

Do not overlook periodic treatment with regenerative and protective products,

this must be carried out according to the intensity of use and its finish.
It is important to highlight that wood floors are made with natural materials subject to wear, scratches and dents.

In order to better protect the flooring use the following tips:

• Use felt protectors under heavy pieces of furniture and chairs

• Use protective mats at all exterior entrances

• Spiked heels or shoes in need of repair can severely damage flooring

• Replace hard plastic, metal casters, or wheels on furniture with soft rubber casters or by using a protective mat under the casters

• Keep pet nails trimmed

• Use protective window coverings to protect hardwood floors from excessive heat during periods of direct sunlight

• Never use rubber backed rugs or pads as they may damage hardwood floors. Area rugs should be soft, non-abrasive, and urethane backed

• Immediately remove domestic pet dirt and any other liquid substance spilt on the floor

1. BEFORE INSTALLATION

1.1. Packaging

Each batch of flooring Foglie d’Oro is assembled in packets composed of a number of elements depending on the thickness and the width of the planks and laid face to face; wrapped with a lateral protection of cardboard (protection of connections), and then wrapped in polyethylene film. All packages are stacked on pallets, tied with a nylon strap, protected with special corner of heavy cardboard and wrapped in stretch film. Each shipment is accompanied by a detailed “packing list” that describes the content, useful both for the immediate control of the number of packages and as an aid to the installer during installation. All documents pertaining the goods is included in the pallet in accordance with the European regulation: DoP, technical data sheet and CE label.

1.2. Handling and storing

During transportation it is important to protect the packaging from wind and weather conditions. Do not employ means of transportation without proper protection. The floor should be acclimatized for at least 2 days prior to installing allowing adaptation to the level of humidity and guaranteeing a greater stability once laid. The flooring must be stored in a dry place, in a horizontal position, raised from the ground. Do not open packs until immediately before installation and in any case as it is required for laying. If you need to inspect the goods before laying completely reseal the packaging afterwards.

The goods must not be stored for long periods at construction sites with not appropriate environmental conditions (temperature and humidity of both underlayment and environmental; refer to to point 1.3) in which concrete or plastering is still fresh. Doors and windows must be in place and operable.

1.3. Site conditions

To allow for correct installation of flooring all other jobs should be completed first: masonry, HVAC and electrical systems, screeds, other flooring, plastering, windows, external doors, painting (first coat). Exception is made for inside doors. Humidity contained in materials employed in other jobs could be transferred to the wood flooring causing deformation and detachment. The areas in which the flooring is to be installed should be devoid of any wastage material resulting from other works, and the place should be perfectly clean. Environmental conditions must be appropriate: temperature between 15 and 25° C (64.4<75.2 °F) and humidity between 45 al 60%. Walls and underlayment must be dry (refer to “Humidity Level” section 1.4).

1.4. Humidity level

Prior to laying the flooring use a hydrometric instrument to measure the moisture content of the substrate and the adjacent walls in the various areas where the wood is to be laid. Make sure that wall, plastering, paintings, etc. are perfectly dry before the installation (humidity level must not exceed 2%) Residual humidity of the underlayment must not exceed the following:

<1,5% for concrete screed with underfloor heating

<0,2% for concrete screed without underfloor heating

<0,2% for anhydrite screed with underfloor heating

<0,5% for anhydrite screed without underfloor heating

<4% for wood subflooring

Note: Employ a carbide hydrometric instrument with exclusion of wood or other dry underlayments in accordance with UNI EN 10329

Higher humidity levels may cause severe damage up to complete removal of the wood flooring and are not to be ascribed to poor quality of the product but solely to a wrong management of the wood flooring.

2. INSTALLATION

The installation must be performed in pursuant to the UNI 11265: 2007, the UNI 11368: 2010 and criteria set forth in standard CEN / TS 15717. Before installation make sure site conditions are appropriate (refer to section 1.3)

Possible installation methods are:

- floating consisting in laying the boards on an underlayment or a membrane, gluing only the connections (T&G) of the boards

- glued, employing specific adhesives to anchor the wooden floor directly to the substrate

Refer to the appropriate symbol indicating the type of installation suggested at the beginning of the section dedicated to each individual product.

2.1. Underfloor heating system

Where underfloor heating system has been designed ensure that it has been installed in a state of the art manner (make sure the it has been executed according to UNI EN-1264-4) and that the heating pipes in the floor have been place in the lowermost area of the concrete screed covered by at least 3 cm (1-3/16’’) of cement.

Before laying the flooring it is essential to run the heating system, regardless of the season, carrying out the thermal shock cycle according to manufacturer and installers specifications.

3. AFTER INSTALLATION

Do not cover floors with plastic, red rosin, felt or wax paper or previously used cardboard. Instead use a breathable material such as clean, dry, plain uncoated cardboard or Kraft paper. Inks from printed cardboard could transfer to the finish of the wood flooring damage it.