It is important to remember that timber flooring is a living material. The wood, although no longer growing as part of a tree, is still very much a part of its environment, responding to light, temperature, humidity, and wear. The general rule is that a proper wooden floor takes four seasons to settle into its environment. It is normal to see some movement in the boards, as some gaps do open up owing to changes in temperature and humidity – fluctuations, which are brought about by heating and the naturally changing seasons of the year. Also, as the floor ages, the colour will mellow and deepen. This is no cause for alarm; it is a natural process due to oxidation of the wood and finish, and the ultraviolet light present in sunlight. This same process is occurring to your painted surfaces, upholstery, furniture, and rugs.

Precautions

• Sharp objects such as high heels, chair and table legs can dent your floor,

whenever possible protect your wood by fixing felt or rubber pads under

items being sat upon or dragged across the floor.

• Special notice should be given to high traffic areas - entrances, walkways,

corridors and areas in front of sinks. The floor may need extra protection

- a mat and frequent re-waxing

• Humidity control is very important.

Our timber flooring is dried back to have a humidity of between 9% and 11%. The optimum relative humidity of the air in a room should be between 55-70%. This keeps the shrinkage and expansion as minimal as possible. Your floor is finished with oil combined with wax. Oil is the traditional finish for wood flooring and wood finished by this method possesses a soft, natural sheen and mellows with age. It is more forgiving of scratches and scuffing, as wax can be rubbed into the odd scratch, virtually erasing it. The finish on your wooden floor should provide years of

protection against reasonable wear and tear. Day to day cleaning should be carried out using a soft broom or a normal vacuum cleaner.