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Parquet is the most loved flooring among Italians, always timeless and making spaces refined and adding value to homes.
However, wood is often not used because it is perceived as impractical in common imagination, and one of the biggest questions is: how do you clean a wooden floor without ruining it?
Cleaning parquet is a very simple task, thanks also to the latest generation technologies in wood flooring construction, increasingly effective and technologically advanced surface protections, and specific maintenance programs that make parquet a surface that cleans like any other floor, such as ceramic or porcelain stoneware.
Before learning how to clean parquet, it is necessary to understand that we are still talking about a living material: wood tends to acclimate to its environment, it oxidizes over time, changing its color to the classic burnished hue that gives a sense of lived-in quality that adds value to the craftsmanship and makes it “age well”; moreover, those who choose parquet are aware of purchasing something unique and irreplaceable because it is made by Mother Nature, so each individual piece will be different from another: this is called the “Privilege of Uniqueness.”
Latest generation parquets are divided into two large macro-categories: varnished and oiled. There is also a great technological innovation made by Salis called Legnoresina®, the true revolution in wood surfaces. Legnoresina® is indeed a finish applied to the wooden floor that provides exceptional resistance to abrasion, stains, and wear.
With this major distinction in mind, we always recommend using specific and professional maintenance products, generally provided by the manufacturers which are designed for the specific needs of that finish.
Salis has its specific parquet cleaning maintenance program for floors treated with oil, varnish, or Legnoresina®. The use of these products is extremely simple and does not require specific tools: a floor broom, a bucket, and a microfiber cloth are the only things needed to do a good job, in addition to the specific products, of course.
Salis therefore uses two maintenance kits depending on the surface finish:
OIL KIT which contains the product for ordinary and extraordinary maintenance of oiled floors; WOOD KIT which contains the product for ordinary and extraordinary maintenance of varnished floors and LegnoresinaR.
When to perform ordinary maintenance
Ordinary maintenance is generally carried out every time the house is cleaned. Usually once a week
When to perform extraordinary maintenance
Extraordinary maintenance is generally carried out once or twice a year, or whenever it feels like the parquet has lost brightness and shows micro-scratches. The Revita extraordinary maintenance product, if applied correctly, “resets” the micro-scratches that occur with normal daily passage.
How to perform ordinary and extraordinary maintenance of wooden floors.
A brief tutorial will explain in a few steps how maintenance is carried out on oiled and varnished floors, making the parquet as beautiful as the first day.
Before discussing this topic, it is necessary to know that all wood species over time are destined to change their coloration, which comes from the fact that we are dealing with living organic material that reacts with air and light. However, not all wood species behave the same, and it is therefore appropriate to make a clear distinction between the different wood species:
European-origin species such as Oak, Ash, Cherry, Beech, Fir, Larch, etc., generally have low oxidation, which over time will tend to become warmer. There will not be a strong oxidizing action but a tendency to warm their hue.
The case is quite different for species that come from Africa or South America, such as Doussié, Iroko, Afrormosia, Cabreuva incienso, and American Walnut, which generally have a much faster and more pronounced oxidation.
Not all species with oxidation tend to darken; the unique case of teak is a testament to this: over time, this wood species tends to lighten its darker parts, making them more uniform with the lighter ones.
In recent years, technology has introduced new systems to further characterize the shades of oak and ash: thermal treatment and wood activators are the new frontiers in “bulk coloring” of wood that exaggerate the various shades, making them particularly uneven but increasing their appeal.
In the case of thermal treatment of Ash and Oak, it is noted that after several months the shades tend to lighten, often very noticeably.
For a wood surface to thrive, you also need to live well within your home. This condition occurs when the relative humidity inside the house is between 35% and 65%. Keep your parquet within that range and both it and you will live in balance with the surrounding environment, and the quality of your life will surely be better.
Indeed, a too dry climate will make your lungs more vulnerable to attacks from pathogens, while the parquet will tend to shrink due to lack of moisture; conversely, a too humid climate can cause a sense of fatigue and malaise to the person, while the wooden floor will tend to swell.
Wood flooring has always been the most beloved surface: it exudes warmth and provides well-being to those who experience it, it is a good insulator against heat and cold, it can be renewed and recolored multiple times, but most importantly, it transcends “the fashion of the moment,” because even in a hundred years, it will still have its charm.
Wood flooring has always been the most beloved surface: it exudes warmth and provides well-being to those who experience it, it’s a good insulator against heat and cold, it can be renewed and recolored multiple times, but most importantly, it transcends “the fashion of the moment,” because even in a hundred years, it will still have its charm.
At the same time, however, it is one of the floors most “feared” by users, who often “settle” for its imitations due to often unfounded fears.
One of these fears is wear, which in the common imagination portrays parquet as an extremely delicate surface that wears out very-easily.
But let’s analyze this aspect well.
First, there’s a big distinction to be made between “old generation” wood floors and new generation ones.
In the past, woods that were easily available and preferably soft were often used because they needed to be easily workable. Consider, for example, species like spruce, larch, and pine, widely used in farmhouses and old rural homes in the Alpine and pre-Alpine areas, which, however, had the characteristic of not being particularly resistant to wear.
Additionally, the finishes were made up of first-generation oils and waxes that did not provide real protection against wear but tried their best to protect it from daily stains.
A greater understanding of wood over time has led producers to increasingly shift towards harder and more durable wood species, such as Oak, which represents the balance point if one desires both resistance and stability from a floor.
The technology of prefinished parquet has also eliminated the movements of solid wood that, not being counterbalanced, inevitably tends to bow and twist—movements that are almost imperceptible but over time become greater wear in some areas than others.
Another fundamental aspect is the trend in recent years towards characterizing and performing extreme processing on wood: sawing, planing, brushing to various depths, sandblasting, surface texturing, and strong discoloration.
Today, parquet arrives at the construction site having already undergone a process of “controlled” wear by the manufacturer, so that in everyday use and over time, it will become even more beautiful, as it is designed to age well.
Finally, surface finishes are the last piece of the puzzle for a floor that no longer fears wear: from natural oil and beeswax, we have moved to real high-tech protections. Consider, for example, Legnoresina®, the latest great innovation from Salis, which has a much higher abrasion resistance compared to an old-generation finish.
Even small scratches and daily accidents that can occur are no longer a concern because in many cases there are actual DIY “first aid” kits available, and the Legnoresina® Repair Kit is an example: it includes 11 markers, one for each color of the collection, which restore the missing finish.
A prefinished wood floor can generally be sanded between 2 and 4 times.
This largely depends on the thickness of the top layer of wood.
However, this is not the goal of Salis.
Thanks to new technologies in surface finishes, our technical wood surfaces are designed to push this operation further into the future, an operation that is nonetheless invasive and requires the intervention of a professional to perform the sanding.
Finishes like Legnoresina® and Protekta Plus® are created to have significantly higher abrasion resistance than normal paint or standard oil.
It’s undeniable that in the common imagination of many, a wood floor is considered unsuitable for damp environments like the bathroom, or worse, areas at risk of “falling objects” such as kitchen work zones.
In this session, we explain how, thanks to new technologies, parquet can be the ideal surface even in these traditionally taboo places.
Let’s first define where this ancestral fear originates.
Until a few years ago, parquets were made from solid wood elements that were painted on-site; the various strips were not counterbalanced, so in the presence of high humidity, they tended to absorb some of it, leading to movement that often resulted in warping or detachment at various points on the surface.
This issue was particularly exacerbated by unstable wood species and those particularly prone to movement, such as tropical and many African species, for example.
The third element was the surface finish, a real “Achilles’ heel” of wood: old-generation oils and waxes, and underperforming varnishes that allowed water and moisture to penetrate too easily were unsuitable for high-risk areas like bathrooms.
The first innovation was certainly the use of 90% European Oak, a wood species that is sufficiently hard but extremely stable, known since the time of the Romans who exploited its technical and mechanical qualities to build bridges, constructions, and pilings (it is believed that most of Venice rests on European Oak pilings).
The second innovation was the introduction of counterbalanced parquet technology, a fundamental milestone in the process of stabilizing wooden flooring: the various underlying layers counterbalance the movements created by the top layer of wood, redistributing the different forces and neutralizing them.
With this ingenious system, the issues related to wood in the bathroom area have been almost completely reduced, making it one of the environments where one can most enjoy the feel of real parquet underfoot.
The third change came about through the use of innovative technologies in the surface protection of parquet: moving from oil or the classic “little varnish” to technologies like Legnoresina®, for example, which represents a major innovation in the world of finishes. No longer oil or varnish, but 98% pure resins that offer superior performance in terms of abrasion resistance and as a barrier against the penetration of liquids.
The same applies to the kitchen: many still believe that if a container full of water falls on the parquet, it can irreparably damage it; the explanation described above shows that today more than ever, a wooden floor should allow us to live in every space with serenity and that feeling of well-being that only a natural material can provide.
In the kitchen area, there is also a common fear of dropping objects, heavy or otherwise: the truth is that wood is an extremely elastic and resilient material, which tends to absorb and evenly redistribute the forces due to the impact of the falling object, compared to surfaces that are harder but significantly less resilient.
Below we present a video that demonstrates the classic example of a 2 kg object falling from a height of 2.5 meters first onto ceramic and then onto a wooden floor.
It may seem obvious to many, but not everyone knows that a wooden floor can not only be laid over an old floor but is actually one of the most effective surfaces for this use.
Let’s see why.
Today, almost all flooring types can be installed over existing floors: wood, ceramic, laminate, marble. All these materials are designed for overlay installation, provided that the base has the following characteristics:
1) Flatness. If there are depressions, they must be filled with specific leveling materials, many of which are available on the market.
2) If the old floor has some tiles that are not firmly anchored to the support, they need to be removed and the gaps filled with special leveling fillers. If the areas are extensive, it is preferable to use self-leveling mortars after removing the tiles.
3) Before gluing the new surface to the old one, ensure the base is clean and free of waxy substances, as these could prevent optimal adhesion between the two materials.
4) Trim the doors and French doors to the thickness of the new floor. This operation is simple, and today, most installers are equipped with suitable machinery for cutting these elements on-site.
These are the main rules to follow if you want to overlay a new floor over an old one. When it comes to parquet, in some cases, it is even possible to perform a dry installation: this is an application without the use of adhesives, but with the insertion of a suitable sound-absorbing mat placed between the two surfaces.
It’s clear that in this situation, many of the above processes are not necessary.
FLOATING PARQUET DOES NOT NEED TO BE GLUED BUT CAN BE LAID DRY.
The wooden floor is very flexible, so even if there are depressions, its nature allows it to perfectly adapt to the support, avoiding potential breakage points if not well leveled, as could happen with ceramic or porcelain stoneware. In these cases, it is therefore possible to perform a “floating” installation, a technique that has been the most used in Northern Europe for decades.
There is no need to check if the old tiles are well anchored, cracked, or “sound hollow”: it does not matter their nature, the wood will lie on top because it only needs a more or less flat support.
There is no need to perform treatments on the old flooring to ensure the adhesive’s grip: the dry system allows for no additional processing.
The sound-absorbing mat limits the transmission of noise from one floor to another, much to the peace of the neighborhood.
In Italy, most parquet floors are still glued down, and in many cases, there is a lack of culture about this system.
The advice is to consider this technology when undergoing a renovation because it can mean significant savings in terms of time and costs.
Which Salis collections can also be laid floating with dry installation?
– Officina 107
– DiValore
– Umbria
– Armonico
– Fusion
Wood is known to be an insulating material. This doesn’t mean that it prevents the transfer of heat when in contact with heat sources; these are just common misconceptions. The truth is that wood avoids direct heat transmission, distributing it evenly across its surface. This rule also applies to radiant floor heating: when the screed under the parquet absorbs heat, it transmits it to the wood, which redistributes it evenly throughout the house. Compared to traditional heating systems, like radiators or split systems that emit hot air, the heat is distributed equally in every room, thus avoiding unpleasant temperature fluctuations from one space to another.
In the past, technologies were very different, and often, wood flooring on radiant heat screeds had some issues. The pipes used to be spaced far apart, so it was necessary to keep the water temperature very high, up to 50-60°C, to achieve an indoor temperature of 22-24°C. Also, old parquets were solid, and prefinished flooring was still in its infancy; in those situations, it’s easy to imagine how the wood suffered at those temperatures. It was common to find gaps between elements, a clear sign that excessive heat was removing moisture from the parquet, causing it to warp.
Today, thanks to the latest generation technologies, the water within the pipes of underfloor heating systems can be heated up to 30-35°C, and a typical operating temperature of 22-24°C is more than sufficient to maintain a good climate throughout the house, avoiding the classic on-off cycling of traditional systems.
Finally, it’s important to note that all our parquets are guaranteed for installation over underfloor heating, provided that the installation is done properly and a few simple rules are followed:
– For glued-down installations, it is necessary to use a suitable adhesive;
– For floating installations, it is necessary to use a suitable sound-absorbing mat designed for underfloor heating (available from Salis in the Accessories section);
– It is advisable not to exceed 18 millimeters in total thickness of the parquet to not compromise good thermal transmittance;
– It is advisable to use room humidifiers to prevent the relative humidity of the air from dropping below 35%.
If a dog or a cat could choose which flooring to live on, they would definitely ask for a wooden floor. Its warmth and silky texture make it the most beloved surface for our four-legged friends.
If your pets have already chosen their favorite surface, you might still worry that parquet is “too delicate” when there’s a dog in the house.
It is indeed possible to have both a wooden floor and a dog in your home; you just need to take a few simple precautions. Animals recognize a healthy environment that feels safe before we do.
These are precisely the feelings they perceive in a home with parquet flooring. Therefore, it’s good to dispel any doubts about new wood surfaces because today’s technology allows us to remove any concerns dictated by the past.
Choosing a wooden floor means deciding to add an element to your home that contributes to well-being and is functional for cohabiting with four-legged friends. You shouldn’t be deterred by the possibility that the parquet may get damaged, because choosing the right processing and finish can prevent potential “mishaps.”
The new finishes combined with wood texturing processes like brushing, sawing, and planing help avoid this unpleasant consequence: on one hand, Salis’s finishes are increasingly resistant and high-performing today, and on the other, the texturing done on the surface abrades the softer part of the wood, leaving only the harder part visible.
The only concern might be with large breed dogs: avoid throwing the ball for Fido so that he doesn’t have to make sudden stops, which would force him to try to “grip” the wooden floor with his nails. This simple precaution will preserve your parquet and prevent “minor domestic incidents” for your dog.
The contents of your dog’s food bowl or the urea in urine can potentially affect your wooden floor. The main recommendation is to promptly dry the affected area as quickly as possible.
To address this, Salis offers Armonico, which, thanks to its Legnoresina® technology, helps protect the wood from these small household accidents. In fact, Legnoresina® (see also “Legnoresina®: The Post-Coronavirus Parquet Trend”) resists stubborn stains (such as urine) for up to 24 hours—more than enough time to take action and resolve the issue.
A wooden floor is not very different from ceramic, stone, resin, or terracotta.
If a very heavy object falls on a “classic” surface, it usually fractures.
Wood, on the other hand, is a highly resilient and flexible material, meaning it will tend to dent rather than shatter. Parquet should be seen as a surface meant to be lived on daily, with the understanding that small accidents are simply part of the natural life of a living material.
Over time, these accidental marks will blend into the other surface textures of the product, such as brushing, sawing, planing, scratching, etc.
However, to minimize excessive wear and preserve the wood over time, here are some simple precautions:
– A high-pile doormat of excellent quality placed at the entrance of the home will help thoroughly clean shoes, removing small stones or metallic debris that could damage the wooden surface.
– Adding felt pads under furniture, tables, and chairs will prevent dents caused by concentrated heavy loads.
– For extra care in the kitchen area, using a rug along the counter will provide an additional layer of protection. This way, even if a heavy object falls, it will bounce on the rug rather than hitting the wood directly.
Stability and hardness are generally inversely proportional: wood species like Jatobá, Ipé, and Cabreuva are extremely hard but not particularly stable. On the other hand, species like Spruce, Larch, and Birch are highly stable but not very hard.
Oak has always been the ultimate wood species—sufficiently hard, yet remarkably stable and highly durable due to its renowned elasticity.
When choosing a wooden floor, it is essential to evaluate both parameters (hardness and stability) to ensure the best performance over time.
That said, no wood is entirely immune to dents or scratches if impacted by heavy or sharp objects. However, one of the greatest qualities of wooden flooring is its ability to “age gracefully”—small scratches, dents, and marks add character, enhancing the uniqueness and natural beauty of a material crafted exclusively by Mother Nature
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