Quartz Carpet & Terradec

To keep your floors from Alternative Surfaces in a good, maintained condition please follow the below maintenance procedures.

There are two different types of Quartz Carpet finishes, Pore Filled and Open Pore and the methods in which they are maintained are different.  For this reason, all instructions should be read prior to any maintenance.  If you are unsure of which method should be used, please contact your installer.

FLOORS:

To keep your Quartz Carpet / Terradec floors in a good, maintained condition please follow the below maintenance procedures.

  • Do not wash the floor for the first week after application, not even with water. This allows sealers to dry/cure completely.

  • Do not use high pressure washing equipment, nylon-grit or strata-grit rotary brushes. If required only use low pressure washing equipment or simply hose down (external applications only).

  • Never use ammonia, bleach, vinegar, hydrochloric acid, citrus or any other cleaners that are acidic or alkaline.

  • Only use neutral PH cleaning products on your surfaces or Stone Soap a neutral detergent and recommended cleaner.

  • Felt protectors on furniture will reduce scratching to the surface. Workstation mats are recommended to prevent desk chair damage.

  • Walk off mats and rugs in high traffic areas and at the entrances will catch dirt before it reaches the floor.

  • A clean microfiber dust mop is very effective at removing dirt on these surfaces.

  • Clean up all spills and semi solids as soon as possible. Some liquids (for example citrus, urine, oil and wine) can stain your surface and need to be removed as quickly as possible.

  • Steam mops are recommended for Open Pore surfaces only. Do not use steam mops on Pore Filled surfaces as this can soften and effect sealers.

  • Hard floor surfaces require regular and specific attention, they are reactive and can be easily damaged by some household and commercial materials and cleaning products.

WALLS & JOINERY:

To keep your Quartz Carpet walls or joinery in a good, maintained condition please follow the below maintenance procedures.

  • Do not wash or wet walls for the first week after application not even with water. This allows sealers to dry/cure completely. Do not use high pressure washing equipment, high alkaline cleaners, degreasers or strippers.  If required only use low pressure washing equipment or simply hose down (external applications only).

  • Clean walls & joinery with a cloth using water and neutral detergents e.g. Stone Soap.

  • Clean up spills immediately and rinse detergents thoroughly.

  • Do not use any body oils as they can leach into the surface and leave an oil stain.

  • Do not place hot objects directly onto surface.

  • Do not prepare food directly on surface.

Open Pore Maintenenace

Open Pore finish can be recognized by the cavities between the stones that are left ‘open’ which means the finish is water-permeable, resembling the look of a stone carpet. This finish is best maintained by vacuuming and can be mopped however, ensure excess water does not remain in the open pores.

Daily / Weekly Maintenance Procedures – Open Pore

  • Internally, like carpet, this finish should be cleaned regularly by vacuuming to remove all dust and debris.

  • If liquid is spilled on the floor, it should be cleaned up immediately with a sponge or cloth.  Avoid spreading the liquid by dabbing the spill with the sponge instead of wiping it. 

  • Externally, this finish should be cleaned with a soft bristle broom. A Garden blower can also be used to remove all dust and debris on the floor.

  • A low-pressure water cleaner can also be used or hose with a soft bristle broom to scrub and rinse.

Annual Maintenance Procedures – Open Pore

  • Steam cleaning internal Open Pore floors annually is important. We recommend steam cleaning the floor once per year for residential projects. For commercial and retail projects, steam cleaning may be required 6 monthly depending on foot traffic.

NOTE: The steam cleaner should not have a metal cleaning wand as the metal can damage the floor finish.  A rubber tip or a machine that uses a rotating brush method increases the suction and better results are achieved. 

Pore Filled Maintenance

Pore Filled finishes have an epoxy sealer applied over them with either a gloss or matt finish. It is usually easily recognized because the sealer is visible and the cavities between the stones are filled. Pore Filled finish can be vacuumed, swept or mopped.

Daily/Weekly Maintenance Procedures – Pore Filled

  • Clean floor as usual with a broom or vacuum.

  • Mop floor using a neutral detergent and hot water. Do not use strong cleaning agents as they may strip the sealer. Wring mop thoroughly. Do not flood floor with excess water.

  • Scuff marks can be removed by placing more pressure on the mop or for more difficult marks use a white scrubbing pad with a small amount of soapy water. Abrasive scrubbing pads should not be used as they can damage the sealer.

  • It is very important to ensure the water, mop and bucket are thoroughly clean prior to use. Dirt particles can become trapped in crevices and leave the surface looking dirty. It is advisable to occasionally scrub floor with a clean scrubbing brush (bristle brush on a rod) and some warm soapy (stone soap) water. This process removes dirt that can become trapped in the crevices.

Monthly Maintenance Procedures – Pore Filled

  • For commercial or high traffic areas; clean existing substrate with auto-scrub machine. An auto-scrub machine has rotary brushes which lifts dirt and debris from the floor and from cavities between the stones to create a clean surface.

Stone Soap can be purchased through the suppliers website by clicking here.