DH has ruined week old wood flooring

[Veraper]

I feel sick to my stomach.

We have splashed out on parquet flooring for all of downstairs (sick of renting a rug dr after every dog walk). Have been uber cautious with furniture pads etc.

DH saw ink-like black splodges on the floor last night and had to scrub very hard using the green side of the sponge to remove (still slightly visible tbh). And the floor now has white splodges the size of Xmas choc coins.

We are wooden floor newbies, can anyone save my floors? Has the varnish just come off? They are my dream floors and I didn’t even get to enjoy them yet (still doing up the rest of the house)

Definitely not faulty.
That has had marks abraded out of it.
Wood flooring marks very easily-
It isn’t “ Easy care “
I spilled some toothpaste on a wood floor and it bleached it.
i too was upset.
With pets wooden floors aren’t ideal unless heavily varnished like Oldskool Victorian boards used to be.

More info on tannic acid + metal reaction:

https://www.englishwoodlandstimber.co.uk/talk-tannin-oak-chestnut-cladding-beam/

https://www.woodworkersuk.co.uk/my-oak-has-gone-black/

Yes with everything going on in the world this is a very minor issue. In fact I was telling myself that all night. But after being out of our house for 8 months (was only supposed to be 3) I’m allowed to be upset/annoyed. We’ve only slept 5 nights back in the house. I fully acknowledge I am very annoying when I get something new and sparkly (especially if it’s expensive).

@Delpf thanks a lot! We have just put in timber worktops in as well. Have forwarded your link to DH. Microfibre cloths and distilled water only from now on!

Oxalic acid gets iron stains out of oak

Iron causes inky black marks on oak.

Timber framers spray oxalic acid onto frames where iron marks are.

I assume OP doesn’t have a lot of spare money and this is something they saved up for/got on finance.

Yes it’s a first world problem but when you don’t have much money, things like this can feel devastating at the time.

Get in touch with the company that installed the flooring.

Ask for advice, or see if someone can come to repair the floors.

There are hundreds of wood floor and furniture care and restoration videos on YouTube and elsewhere online. Take a look at a few.

If you decide to try to repair the floor finish yourselves, you may need very fine grit sandpaper, possibly a tin of light stain, possibly some finishing oil, possibly a tin of clear sealer (depending on what sort of finish the floor has now). You will need advice from the people who installed the flooring, so they should be your first port of call.

For now, keep a light coloured rug or towel over the place where your H sanded / sponged the finish off to prevent dirt or liquid from getting into the raw wood.

Solid wood flooring sadly is not a very practical choice. Especially if it has a soft finish. Look at old floorboards. They don't stay looking pristine.

It's engineered so sanding back isn't a brilliant option as you won't have much thickness of wood to play with.

You could try all sorts, but honestly as a former surveyor I would say that if these floors matter to you, get a French polisher in to fix it.

However, with a dog it is going to be difficult to maintain. I sympathise as I wanted wood floor but went for a Karndean type option.

If you ever go for parquet again, try and get hold of reclaimed blocks. They tend to have some bumps and knocks out of them so it's less painful when you inevitably do something bad to them.

@MothralovesGojira and everyone else whose homes are slowly being destroyed by those green abrasive sponges - throw them all out!!

Do not leave a single one under your roof.
Do not allow any more to be bought.

Unfortunately you've picked a very high-maintenance floor for someone who has 35kg dog as well as children. The dog will scratch or dent it just by walking across it - it will never stay as pristine as it is now.

We have a dog and three cats and have dark grey carpets for this exact reason - they're forgiving of stains and damage and don't get ruined by day-to-day life.

Honestly, these things happen. In a few months, the wood will have all aged and these marks will have blended in.

@Veraper
You would be smart to get a small rug or runner to cover the floor in the area after it's been restored. It seems from your photo that it's an area of high traffic, and you'll find it gets a lot of wear and tear.

I have solid wood floors and use a mixture of water, a tiny amount of dish soap, and a squirt of pine sol or fabuloso on them (US). I mop and then dry the floors with microfiber cloths. For spot cleaning, I use a mixture of water, white vinegar, and dish soap in a spray bottle.

However, they are sealed floors. The type of finish is the factor that determines how you can clean them.

It's beautiful flooring
In the description it says it's unfinished for you choose Oil or varnish, so all is not lost just yet
Phone the company customer helpline

When dh was little, he lived in a house that had original mirror finish lino in the bathroom. He decided to use a whole can of Vim scouring powder as talc, and by the time his mum had swept it up, the lovely mirror finish was a less lovely, scratched matte finish.

If only everyone was as magnanimous as you.

Virtue signalling has to be in my top 3 peeves.

https://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/colour-chart/wood-stain-colours

They have tester kits. Might be worth a look.

So I feel like an idiot. Thought we were paying hand over fist for beautiful but durable floors.

Just found this new stain, completely different to last nights ink-like spots.

I’m afraid to touch my floors now!

Right?! Also, I must have missed the memo that said we can only discuss hard-hitting topics on MN

Oh dear OP, i really feel for you.

the only advice i can give is the plaster has been ripped now - the first imperfection has happened. In a week youj wont even notice it.

Floors are there to be walked on sadly so this will happen.

What are the other two?

Almost as hard hitting as the thread on football supporting and the nuances therein that our resident virtue signaller started, or how the book she's reading pans out - now THERE'S some real first world meaty debates and topics for you!

I hate this site sometimes.

Osmo oil for work tops, the clear mat, as it leaves it looking wet ie darkens slightly. Just dab it on the dots.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002AP6YBW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

A quick Google about Parquet flooring brings this up:

Susceptible to Scratches

Just like hardwood, parquet floors are also susceptible to scratches and scuff marks.
Since this type of flooring is not easy to repair once damaged, it is recommended you use rugs and floor mats under heavy furniture to avoid scuff marks. Similarly, depending on the type of wood you’ve chosen, pointed heels and shoes with abrasive soles can also scratch the surface.

Not Resistant to Moisture

Installing parquet flooring in the kitchen, bathroom or basement is not a good idea as it does not hold up well against moisture and humidity. Much like other types of wooden flooring, parquet tiles are highly susceptible to damage from the damp or wet environment.
Therefore, you must make sure the floor is completely dry each time you clean it, otherwise, you’ll end up with damaged wooden tiles.

https://www.zameen.com/blog/parquet-flooring-pros-cons-maintenance.html#:~:text=Just%20like%20hardwood%2C%20parquet%20floors,furniture%20to%20avoid%20scuff%20marks.

To be honest (having worked in an industry involving flooring and sealants), I'd actually want to know:

a) why the sealant didn't do the job, AKA prevent stains

b) why it was so easy to rub the sealant/finish off - my suspicion is that it hadn't cured properly*
*although it all depends on your aftercare advice... you may have received a leaflet saying to wait x number of days before cleaning, in which case the best case scenario is asking for them to re-finish at your own cost...

If you pay for a premium product, you are entitled to expect a premium, hardwearing surface that stands up to normal cleaning. I'd speak to the manufacturer, mentioning the points above and see what they can do to rectify.