CARE AND MAINTENANCE

USE MATS

Shoes carry sand, grit and small stones which will abrate the floor surface in the same way that sandpaper does. Place mats at entrances and where possible place a mat on the inside as well as outside. Use runners and rugs in high traffic areas.

DIRECT SUNLIGHT
Like any quality furnishing or floor covering in your home, direct sunlight will cause discoloring over time. To avoid fading and discolouring, filter direct sunlight with curtains or blinds.

MAINTENANCE PLAN
The most important thing you can do to keep your Toby floor looking like new is to establish a regular maintenance/cleaning programme. Just how regularly you need to maintain/clean the floor is totally depen-dent on the environment the floor is in. Factors such as the level of traffic, the degree of grit carried onto the floor, pets and children, the condition of the immediate outside area etc. all have significant influence on the wear of the floor.

DAILY/WEEKLY
Use an anti-static dust mop to collect dust and dirt. Note some people use a vacuum cleaner, generally we recommend against vacuum cleaners because often the brushes on the vacuum head wear thin and the floor is scratched by the metal.

WEEKLY/MONTHLY
Wash the floor. Avoid harsh detergents and abrasive cleaners. We recommend Toby Polyclean which has been specially formulated for the maintenance of polyurethane coated floors. Your sander can arrange to get a bottle for you. You only need to use Toby Polyclean diluted to 1% in warm or cold water i.e. 50ml per 5 litres of water. Apply with a mop. Wring out the mop in clean warm water and wipe off excess, leaving only a damp finish on the timber surface.

RECOATING
It is advisable to apply a maintenance coat before the surface has been excessively worn. This will save the need for expensive resanding. Just when this maintenance coat will be required is again entirely a factor of wear and care. Obviously the greater the traffic the sooner the need for a recoat. (Ensure your sander puts the details of materials used and date of application on a Toby cupboard sticker. This is then stuck on the inside of a conveniently located cupboard for future record. This information is vital at recoat time as it can save expensive resanding because the applicator knows what recoat material is compatible with the original coating).

[Your new Toby floor]

Toby floor coatings dry within 24 hours but they will take approximately 10�14 days to fully harden. It is important to follow these guidelines:

  • When necessary you can walk on the floor in stocking feet after 24 hours. Avoid walking on the surface with street shoes for 7 days.
  • 90% of the curing takes place within 24 hours, but care should be taken for the first 2 weeks until the floor has fully hardened. Light furniture can be replaced in this time
  • use protective felt pads, and avoid dragging furniture as it may scratch the surface.
  • Heavy items such as fridges should be moved carefully ensuring they are not dragged over new floors.
  • Wait 2 weeks before laying rugs.