Care and Maintenance
Congratulations on installing your new NOLLER Structured Wide Plank Floor!
Your flooring has been prefinished with either a Rubio Monocoat oil or a Bona Naturale finish (waterborne polyurethane). Please refer to the specific collection to confirm the finish of your floor. Contact NOLLER if you need assistance. Please follow the maintenance guidelines below for optimal performance and aesthetics specific to your NOLLER floor.
During Installation
If your NOLLER floor is installed preceding the conclusion of other interior projects, protect your floors by utilizing a breathable protective layer, over all recently installed floors to safeguard against damage, until all other projects are complete.
- DO NOT USE Red Rosin paper, as it may discolor the finish.
- DO NOT USE polyfilm or other non-breathable coverings, as they can cause damage from moisture accumulation.
Prior to applying a breathable protective layer, clean the floor thoroughly to ensure that no debris is caught underneath. It is important during the application, to tape pieces of protective covering together, but DO NOT tape them to the wood flooring itself.
General Care and Cleaning
- Place floor mats at all entrances to gather dirt and debris that could damage or dull the flooring finish. Check all footwear that may have pebbles lodged in the soles and removed prior to entering
- All door mats and rugs should be cleaned on a regular basis. In addition, they should also be moved intermittently to allow natural color changes caused by UV light to occur evenly across all areas.
- Sweep and vacuum frequently using soft brush attachment. Most degradation to wood floor finishes is caused by debris that is walked on and damage caused by vacuum cleaner beater bar as well as hard head attachments.
- Clean floors frequently and wipe up any standing water or spills as soon as possible. Moisture that is allowed to percolate into the joints may cause damage to your flooring. Additionally, oil-finished finished floor with water left for prolonged periods, are at risk for developing water spots. Do not allow soiled mats or rugs to stay on the floor as they can trap moisture on the surface.
PROTECTION
- Install felt protectors underneath all furniture legs and frequently moved seating.
- People wearing spiked heels on the floor will damage even the hardest wood floors and finishes. Avoid walking on floor with heals whenever possible.
- Pet claws should be properly clipped, at all times. Keep in mind that even with properly maintained nails, your pet has the potential to scratch any finish.
- It is recommended to use elevated food and water bowls or put down a waterproof mat between the water bowl and the wood floor. Check underneath frequently for spills and clean up immediately.
REGULATING YOUR FLOOR’S ENVIRONMENT
- NOLLER recommend a relative humidity of 35% – 55% to ensure the best performance from your wood flooring. Although NOLLER flooring is built to be the most stable wide plank flooring available, extremely low or high humidity levels will affect any wood flooring and can cause serious issues such as cracking, delamination, and buckling.
- Humidity levels below 35% or above 55% may cause movement in the flooring, gapping between pieces, cupping, cracking or other problems. Use of a humidifier during cold winter months and a dehumidifier in summer months may be required to maintain proper humidity levels. We suggest using a humidity meter to help you maintain the optimal level of humidity.
SEASONAL GAPS & SURFACE CHECKS
Seasonal gapping can be expected, particularly in wider planks. Wood is a naturally occurring product that responds to the environment through expansion and contraction that can results in gapping between planks and is not considered a defect. These gaps will begin to close with increasing humidity into the warmer months.
Additionally minor surface checks (cracks) often appear in the surface of the wood flooring, but similarly to gaps, that will begin to close during the warmer months. These natural characteristics of wood are not a basis for complaint, particularly, when there is no evidence of structural failure.
To minimize these changes, it is imperative that the internal temperature & relative humidity (RH) is maintained within the range of 60F to 80F and 35%-55% RH.
Oil-Finished NOLLER Floors will benefit from frequent cleaning using the rubio soap, as way to add lost moisture and rehydrate the wood.
Structured floors are similar to engineered floors. However, we have constructed these floors to a much higher quality than your typical engineered floor. Our structured hardwood floors are built with stability in mind. The core of Noller’s floors is made from a sustainably harvested hardwood with properties harder than oak. The core is constructed of solid hardwood as opposed to multiple layers of pressed Birch plywood. Within the core, individual filets, or strips of hardwood are hand-placed to run perpendicular to the length of the plank. This inhibits the wide planks from cupping and other movement, providing you with the most stable wide plank flooring.
Yes! NOLLER can also be used as wall boarding, ceilings, as well as stair treads and more.
NOLLER Structured Floors are thicker and more solidly built than most engineered floors available on the market. The majority of our floors are just over 3/4″ (13/16″) thick with a 6mm wear layer. Our Developer Collection is 9/16″ thick with a 3.2mm wear layer. Both dimensions offer you the longevity and durability of solid wood flooring. With our unique coloring process, you get the most natural looking flooring that is also reparable. And, with a wide variety of colors, widths, lengths and textures available, we’re sure you’ll find the floor you’re looking for.ccidental.
NOLLER prefinished floors are colored, so there is no messy site finishing that needs to happen after the floors are installed. Our oiled floors are also UV-cured – just buff in a coat of maintenance oil and you’re done.
The uniqueness of our colored floors is due to the reactive color process that is applied to achieve the color. A reactive color is applied and hand-buffed, often requiring several applications to achieve a particular color. The reactive color reacts with the tannins and sugars within each plank to create the color. So, the color comes from within the plank. If you choose to change the color, you would lose the depth of color achieved with this coloring process. But, yes, you could always sand and apply a stain to the floors.
Float, Glue, or Nail & Glue. This flooring is installed like solid wood flooring. While each installation type will have additional materials needed, every NOLLER installation will require the following general tools and accessories: Pencil, Tape Measure, Safety Glasses, Utility Knife, Moisture Meter, Hammer, Shim Wedges, Tapping Block, Rubber Mallet, Carpenter Square, Pry-bar or Pull-bar, Wood Filler, Scraper, Dust Mask, Rags, Chalk Box and Chalk.
No. UV-oiled floors have been installed in many commercial applications, including restaurants, coffee houses, hotels, art galleries, even the Copenhagen airport. With proper maintenance, these floors can be installed anywhere indoors.
Most of our wood species and plank sizes are warranted for installation with radiant heat using hydronic (water) systems. NOLLER does not offer a warranty on ANY flooring installed over electric radiant heat systems. Please read our warranty for detailed information.
Yes. All wood flooring needs to be acclimated to their environment before installation. Your HVAC system should be on and maintained between 60-75°F. Make sure to check that the relative humidity inside is between 35% – 55% for a minimum of seven days prior to delivery, as well as during and after installation of the flooring.
The flooring must be delivered to the jobsite and brought up to ambient indoor temperature (usually 2-5 days). Make sure to keep boxes sealed and unopened until ready to install. Please refer to our Installation Guide for detailed information.
