Floor Coverings

Marble
A patina can be achieved by buffing with marbling rouge when floor becomes dull. Marble is porous and readily absorbs liquids; therefore, it can stain. In order to prevent staining or dirt build-up, regular cleaning with warm water and a clear, non-abrasive, non-acidic soap is recommended.

Special Note: Always try in a small area, which will not show, before completing the job. If damage results, stop the process immediately.

Quarry Tile
Mop with a house hold cleaner or a vinegar-water solution. Easy maintenance and a natural patina can be acquired by following these steps:

1. Thoroughly clean floor.
   
   
2. Apply a thin film of a soap-less, oil-based cleaner such as Pinesol, or Janitor-in-a-Drum, undiluted to the floor with a soft, clean, cloth. Avoid using a mop, which spreads an uneven film of solution over the floor.
   
   
3. If the floor is “tacky”, try mopping with ½ cup of Pinesol mixed with eight (8) cups of warm water to remove excess oil from the surface of the floor.
   
   
4. Continue routine maintenance using a normal solution of cleaner and water. You may expect a uniform darkening of the grout.
   

Ceramic Tile
The ceramic tile installed on walls or countertops in your home may be washed with any nonabrasive soap or detergent; abrasive cleaners will dull the finish.

Ceramic tile floors are one of the easiest of floor coverings to care for. Simply vacuum floors when needed. Occasionally a wet mopping with warm water may be appropriate. Do not add detergent to the water. If you feel a cleaning agent is required, use a mild solution of warm water and dishwasher crystals (they will not result in a heavy, difficult to remove lather on the grout). Rinse thoroughly.

• Separations - It is natural for slight separations to occur in the grout between tiles. This grout is for decorative purposes only; it does not hold the tile in place. Cracks in the grout can be filled using premixed grout which can be purchased from flooring or hardware stores. Follow package directions.
  
  
• Grout Discoloration - Grout that becomes yellowed or stained can be cleaned with a fiber brush, cleanser and water. Grout cleansers and whiteners are available at most hardware stores.
  
  
• Shrinkage - Tile around bathtubs or countertops may appear to be pulling up after time. This is caused by normal shrinkage of grout or caulk. If this occurs, the best remedy is to purchase “tub caulk” or premixed grout from a hardware store. Follow directions on the container. This maintenance is important to protect the underlying surface from water damage.
  
  
• Sealing Grout - Sealing grout is a Homeowner decision and responsibility. Be aware that once grout has been sealed, ongoing maintenance of that seal will be necessary. As well, limited warranty coverage on grout that has been sealed is void.
  

Cultured Marble, Cultured Granite and Cultured Onyx
As their names imply, have the look of genuine marble, granite or onyx. Cultured marble, granite and onyx products are usually manufactured with a high-gloss coating, called a "gel coat", applied during the manufacturing process, which becomes an integral part of the cultured marble, granite or onyx product. Colorants may be added to the polymer/filler matrix in a manner which provides a "veining" which mimics the appearance of natural products. The polymer casting process yields a rock hard, durable product which takes on the look and feel of the natural product. Cultured marble, granite and onyx products easily meet nationally-recognized standards to resist water, heat, stains, burns, chemicals and everyday wear and tear.

1. Add caulking as necessary for shrinkage or from settling of residence.
   
   
2. Paste wax applied by hand with dampened soft cloth every 6-8 months - prevents hard water build-up, reduces scratching and maintains luster. Allows quick and complete water runoff.
   
   
3. Avoid gritty abrasive cleansers (any dry powders), bleaches or acetone-based nail polish. Use only mild liquid soaps.
   
   
4. Hand wipe or buff any scratches incurred during normal use with similar paste wax using a feathering method.
   

Items NOT to be used or placed on marble:

• Razor blades to remove any foreign material.
  
• Cigarettes placed on any edges.
  
• Any acetone-based cleansers.
  
• Old-style Polaroid® negatives, including curing lotion.
  
• Use only silicone for replacement of faucets or drains.
  

Resilient
The resilient floor covering used in your new home is no-wax flooring. Resilient floors include vinyl, linoleum, and non-ceramic tile. Your new home may have been equipped with resilient floors in areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms due to their convenient maintenance requirement and resistance to wear.

You may experience condition with your new floors, such as raised nail heads, tiles lifting or seams separating. Movement of the floor joists due to shrinkage and deflection causes raised nail heads. Becker Communities has attempted to minimize this problem by using special nails and gluing the sub-floor to the joists to lessen the number of nails used. Separation at the seams is caused by shrinkage, and the lifting of a tile is sometimes caused by failure of the adhesive material in a particular area.

Although resilient floors are designed for minimum care, they do vary in maintenance needs. All resilient floors require some regular application of a good floor cleaner. This assures you of retaining a high gloss. However, no cleaning or finishing agents should be used on the new floor until the adhesive has set thoroughly. This takes about two weeks.

Much of the linoleum installed is advertised to require “no waxing.” No-wax linoleum is coated with a clear, tough coating that provides both a shiny appearance and a wearing surface. Even this surface will scuff or mark. The following tips will help keep your resilient floors looking their best.

• Wipe up spills and vacuum crumbs instead of washing frequently with water. Wipe up spills immediately. If a spot dries, use a damp sponge or cloth. Mopping or washing with water should be limited; excessive amounts of water on resilient floors can penetrate seams and get under edges, causing the material to lift and curl.
  
  
• Use floor protectors on legs of furniture to minimize scratches and indentations.
  
  
• High heels will damage resilient and sheet vinyl floors. Avoid this damage by removing shoes.
  
  
• Asphalt compounds tracked from drives can permanently stain resilient flooring. Mats placed at doors will minimize this.
  
  
• Some rubber-backed mats can cause floors to discolor in time.
  
  
• Vinyl floors are particularly subject to damage resulting from the installation and removal of appliances. It is recommended that you employ professionals when you encounter such tasks. If you choose to move appliances yourself, consider purchasing a 1/8-inch by four (4) feet sheet of Masonite and utilizing it as a moving aid.
  
  
• Consult your flooring retailer.
  

Unglazed Mosaic Tiles
Use a household scouring powder on a wet sponge or an all-purpose cleaner with a nylon scrubber. Heavy-duty cleaning of floors requires mixing scouring powder with hot water to a paste-like consistency and mopping over floors. Allow paste to stand for about five (5) minutes. Scrub with a brush and rinse well.

Hardwood
You may have elected a pre-finished parquet, strip or hardwood floor. 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 wet repeatedly 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 (often from wet shoes or boots).
  
  
• Each piece of wood flooring sands differently depending on its grain type, plain or quartered, making it virtually impossible for a completely flat surface.
  
  
• Since your floor is being finished in your home, it is not practical to achieve a “clean room” environment. Some dust will fall onto the freshly applied top finish. It will wear off as you use the floor.
  
  
• Wood, as a natural product, varies from piece to piece. Remember, it is not fabricated. It is milled from a tree and will have grain and color variances consistent with the grade and species of flooring selected.
  
  
• Although your new floor will start tight together, as a natural product, it will continue to absorb and expel moisture. This natural process will cause the flooring to expand and contract from season to season, resulting in cracks between some of the boards in your floor. Some stain colors, such as white, will show this process more than others. Home humidifier systems will help maintain a constant humidity level in your home and help alleviate the “breathing” or expansion and contraction of all the wood in your home.
  

The following tips will help keep your hardwood floors looking their best.

• Clean your hardwood floors frequently. Sweep the floors and mop with a soft, dry mop or cloth. Do not use water or water-based cleaners. Use a vinegar and warm water solution for tough food spills. Never wash or wet-mop wood floors. Excess moisture can penetrate the finish causing discoloration and warping.
  
  
• Do not permit water to stand on hardwood floors.
  
  
• Do not drag heavy appliances or furniture across hardwood flooring. Permanent scratches in the finish can result.
  
  
• Shoe marks can be removed using a spot application of a household cleaner and a non-abrasive scrubbing pad. Difficult marks can be removed using a ‘white’ grade polishing pad and cleaner. Keep high heels in good repair.
  
  
• Use protective mats at the exterior doors to help prevent sand and grit from getting on the floor. Gritty sand is wood flooring’s worst enemy. Be aware that yellowing of the surface an result from rubber backing on area rugs or mats.
  
  
• Install proper floor protectors on furniture legs. Protectors will allow chairs to move easily over the floor without scuffing. Clean the protectors on a regular basis to remove any grit that may accumulate.
  
  
• We do not recommend the use of cleaning products containing wax or oils, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap. If these products are utilized, additional finish coats may not adhere properly and the wood may need to be re-sanded to achieve a new look.
  
  
• Waxing or buffing hardwood floors should be done according to the manufacturer’s instructions for materials and procedures. Consider having this done by a professional.