Homeowner Maintenance Tips

Floor Covering

The three most common types of flooring are: hardwood, ceramic tile and vinyl.

Hardwood floors
Wood floors will respond noticeably to changes in humidity; a humidifier will help, but will not completely eliminate this reaction. Wood floors will exhibit the following traits:

When new, small splinters of wood will appear; dimples or scratches can be caused by moving furniture, dropping heavy or sharp objects, etc. Some shrinkage or warping can be expected, especially around heat vents or any heat-producing appliances. Warping will occur if the floor becomes repeatedly wet or is thoroughly soaked even one time. A dulling of the finish in heavy traffic areas is likely; a white, filmy appearance is caused by moisture.

Daily care of hardwood floors and preventive maintenance is the primary goal. For example, never wet mop a hardwood floor. Excessive water causes wood to expand, possibly damaging the floor.

Waxing is not necessary or recommended. We recommend that in a period of six months to one year, you have an extra coat of polyurethane applied to your hardwood floor. This should be done by a qualified contractor. The exact timing will depend on your particular lifestyle.

Ceramic Tile
This is one of the easiest of floor coverings to care for. Simply vacuum or wet mop if needed, but do not add detergent to the water. If the floor needs cleaning, use warm water and dishwasher crystals, and rinse thoroughly.

It is normal for a slight separation to occur where tile grout meets another material, such as along the edge of a bathtub. Tub and tile caulk can be used to seal this separation. Biermann Homes will repair this once, after that it will be homeowner maintenance.

Vinyl
High heels should not be worn while walking on vinyl floors, as this will cause damage. Clean according to manufacturer’s recommendations, or use a vinegar and water solution.

Scratches, cuts and the like in vinyl after your pre-closing walkthrough are your responsibility.

Floor Squeaks
Extensive research and writing on the subject concludes that much has been tried but little can be done about oak and plywood floor squeaks. Generally, these will appear and disappear with changes in the weather conditions. A certain amount of floor shrinkage is normal. Complete avoidance of shrinkage is impossible.