Keep It Looking Great

Flooring Care and Maintenance Guide

The right care routine extends the life of your floor by years. Here is what we recommend for engineered hardwood and LVP in Colorado homes.

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)

Collection

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)

Waterproof, scratch-resistant, and built for real life. Our LVP collection brings authentic wood-look aesthetics to kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and high-traffic areas where traditional hardwood cannot go. Click-lock installation, attached underlayment options, and commercial-grade wear layers available.

View Collection
Sandstone Oak Luxury Vinyl Plank

View product

Sandstone Oak Luxury Vinyl Plank

Warm honey-oak LVP for bright, welcoming spaces. 6-inch x 48-inch planks, 12 mil wear layer, waterproof core. Sold by the box.

View product

Caring for Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood is more forgiving than solid wood, but it still benefits from consistent care. The biggest enemy of hardwood floors in Colorado is low humidity — when indoor relative humidity drops below 30% in winter, wood contracts and gaps can appear between planks. Running a whole-home humidifier to maintain 35 to 55% RH year-round is the single most effective thing you can do to protect your investment.

For daily cleaning, sweep or vacuum with a soft-bristle attachment to remove grit and debris before it scratches the finish. Damp-mop weekly using a well-wrung microfiber mop and a pH-neutral hardwood floor cleaner. Never use steam mops, wet mops, or oil-soap products on engineered hardwood — excess moisture and harsh chemicals damage the finish and can cause delamination.

For oil-finished floors such as our European Oak Grey and Smoked Walnut, apply a compatible maintenance oil once or twice a year to replenish the finish and keep the wood nourished. Polyurethane-finished floors require no periodic oiling but benefit from a professional screen-and-recoat every 5 to 7 years in high-traffic areas.

  • Maintain 35 to 55% indoor relative humidity year-round
  • Sweep or vacuum daily in high-traffic areas
  • Damp-mop with pH-neutral cleaner — never wet-mop
  • Use felt pads under all furniture legs
  • Place mats at exterior doors to trap grit and moisture
  • Never use steam mops on engineered hardwood

Caring for Luxury Vinyl Plank

LVP is the lowest-maintenance floor in our catalogue. The waterproof core and durable wear layer mean spills, pet accidents, and tracked-in mud are easy to deal with — just wipe up promptly and mop as needed. Unlike hardwood, LVP does not require humidity control or periodic refinishing.

For routine cleaning, sweep or vacuum to remove loose debris, then damp-mop with a neutral floor cleaner diluted per the manufacturer's instructions. Avoid abrasive scrubbers, wax-based cleaners, and solvent-based products — these can dull the wear layer or leave a residue that attracts dirt. Steam mops are not recommended for LVP as the heat can soften the adhesive in the click-lock joints over time.

While LVP is highly scratch-resistant, it is not scratch-proof. Use felt pads under furniture, avoid dragging heavy appliances across the floor, and place mats at exterior doors. In Colorado's sunny climate, consider UV-filtering window treatments in rooms with direct south or west exposure — prolonged direct sunlight can cause slight colour shift in vinyl floors over time.

  • Wipe spills promptly — waterproof core handles moisture, but standing water at seams should be avoided
  • Sweep or vacuum regularly to prevent grit from scratching the wear layer
  • Damp-mop with neutral cleaner — no wax, no solvent, no steam
  • Use felt pads under all furniture
  • Consider UV window treatments in high-sun rooms

Common Issues and Solutions

Most flooring problems are preventable or fixable. Here are the issues we hear about most often from Colorado homeowners.

Gapping Between Planks

Almost always caused by low indoor humidity in winter. Run a humidifier to bring RH above 35% and gaps will typically close as the wood rehydrates. Persistent gaps after humidity correction may indicate an installation issue — call us.

Scratches on Hardwood

Minor surface scratches on oil-finished floors can often be spot-repaired with a compatible touch-up oil. Deeper scratches on polyurethane-finished floors may require a professional screen-and-recoat. We can recommend local refinishing contractors.

LVP Lifting at Edges

Usually caused by extreme temperature variation or insufficient expansion gap at walls. Ensure a 1/4-inch expansion gap around the perimeter. If the room temperature regularly exceeds 100F, contact us about SPC core options with higher thermal stability.

Dull or Hazy Finish

Often caused by residue from wax-based or oil-soap cleaners. Strip the residue with a manufacturer-approved cleaner and switch to a pH-neutral product. On LVP, a microfiber mop with plain warm water often restores the sheen.

Questions About Your Floor?

Our team is happy to advise on care, repairs, and maintenance for any floor in our catalogue. Call (303) 625-3835 or email info@floors5280lf.com.

Contact Us

Basket

Ready to check out

0 items in cart

Subtotal $0.00
Review quantities before sending your request
We confirm availability, delivery, and payment details after review
Checkout

Your cart is saved in this browser until you clear it. Need help now? Contact us on +1(303) 625-3835.