After Installation

VARNISHING CORKCOMFORT PU AND CORKCOMFORT SANDED FLOORS

General Rules
For varnishing we recommend a range of varnishes, which will give pleasant results.
For Glue-down floors, you should wait 24-36 hours after installation of the floor, to allow the flooring adhesive to dry completely.

If you would prefer to use other systems, which are not Wicanders^®, please use only recommended products by Wicanders^® (see Auxiliary Product Selector table).

Wicanders^® W 2000 Extra Matt
2-Component, waterborne finishing based on polyurethane-resins with very high final hardness, great elasticity and excellent chemical resistance.
Wicanders^® floors surface must be clean and free from dust, oils and wax residues.
Vacuum and tack thoroughly.
Mix the Hardener with the W 2000 on the right proportions (1:10). The containers of each pack are ready for the hardener to be poured directly into the W 2000 container. Shake well. Filter the mixture using a paper filter. After mixing it you will be able to use it in the next 2 hours.
Apply W 2000 evenly with roller: total 100 - 120 gr./sqm/coat (100 - 120 gr/10 sq.ft./coat). Near the walls it may be necessary to use a brush.
Drying time: 4 hours (at 20 ºC / 70 ºF and 65 % R.H.).
If drying time between coats does not exceed 24 hours, sanding is not necessary; if it exceeds 24 hours you must sand the floor carefully (screen pad # 220). However, it is advisable to sand before the final coat. After sanding remove the dust. Do not use detergent or water.

Recommendations: You will be able to walk carefully over the floor after 24 hours. Do not clean the floor with water or detergent for about one week, after applying the W 2000. After this period use the Wicanders^® maintenance products.

Wicanders^® W 700
One-component waterborne sealer based on polyurethane – acrylate – resins for sealing cork floors. 
Wicanders^® floors surface must be clean and free from dust, oils and wax residues.
Vacuum and tack thoroughly.
Apply W 700 evenly with roller: total 100 - 120 gr./sqm/coat (100 - 120 gr/10 sq.ft./coat). Near the walls it may be necessary to use a brush.
Drying time: 4 hours (at 20 ºC / 70 ºF and 65 % R.H.).
If drying time between coats does not exceed 24 hours sanding is not necessary; if it exceeds 24 hours you must sand the floor carefully (screen pad # 220). However, it is advisable to sand before the final coat. After sanding remove the dust. Do not use detergent or water.
Recommendations: You will be able to walk carefully over the floor after 24 hours. Do not clean the floor with water or detergent for about one week, after applying the W 700. After this period, use Wicanders^® maintenance products.

Re-varnishing
All Wicanders^® factory finished cork floors WRT and HPS come with a factory finished wear layer and are ready for immediate use after installation.
Therefore, no varnishing is required after installation.
Only, in very specific situations, where spillages frequently occur or when extreme maintenance with water is required, Wicanders^® offers a sealing system to protect the joints.
(Examples: elderly homes, hospitals, restaurants, cafes, etc.)

Wicanders^® Power Contact
Waterborne 2-Component Adhesive Primer for Refurbishing of Factory Finished Wicanders^® WRT floors without intermediate sanding.
Shake mass, add hardener at a ratio of 2:1 and mix it by shaking.
After mixing it you will be able to use it in the next 2 hours.
1. Clean off any remaining dirt. An intermediate sanding is not necessary.
2. Apply one coat of Power contact by using a trowel or T-bar applicator
3. After drying (approx. 2 h) apply Wicanders^® W 2000
Coverage: approx. 20 g/m² (2g / square foot,) 1 combined package sufficient for ca. 35m²
Because of the arising over pressure, do not store already mixed material in closed packages.

Wicanders^® W 2000
Mix the Hardener with the W 2000 on the right proportions (10:1). The containers of each pack are ready for the hardener to be poured directly into the W 2000 container. Shake well. Filter the mixture using a paper filter. After mixing it you will be able to use it in the next 2 hours.
Apply 1 coat of W 2000 evenly with roller: total 100 - 120 gr./sqm/coat (100 - 120 gr/10 sq.ft./coat). Near the walls it may be necessary to use a brush.
Drying time: 4 hours (at 20 ºC / 70 ºF and 65 % R.H.).
Recommendations: You will be able to walk carefully over the floor after 24 hours. Do not clean the floor with water or detergent for about one week, after applying the W 2000. After this period use the Wicanders^® maintenance products: Power Polish.

Refurbishment
PS: The renovation of an old, used floor cannot be recommended if we don’t know the history of the floor, especially the kind of maintenance products which have been used. If we know all about maintenance products and we can guarantee that all maintenance products are removed completely, we can apply one coat of the primer Power Contact (if necessary) and one coat of W 2000 as mentioned above.
When a floor needs refurbishing, you must remove all maintenance products, dirt, etc., with Wicanders^® Power Strip.
Residues of maintenance products will cause lack of adhesion.
Sand old varnish carefully (screen pad # 220). Remove all dust.
Apply 1 or two coats of Wicanders^® recommended varnishes.
It is recommendable to make an adherence test between the old and new coat, on a small area before the final varnishing.
Do not clean the floor with water or detergent, for about two weeks, after applying the varnish. After this period use the Wicanders^® recommended maintenance products.

Preventive care
- If works will take place in the room where the floor is installed, protect with craft paper, plywood or hardboard.
- Do not drag furniture across the floor.
- Use felt pads on chair and furniture legs.
- Office roller chairs must comply with DIN 68131 (Type W1). Use protective office mats under the rolling chairs.
- Place quality walk-off mats at all entrances to retain dirt, grit and moisture.
- Never use latex or rubber backed mats as they can permanently stain the floor.
- Never use cleaning products with abrasive ingredients or solvent based, e.g. acetone.
- Never use wire brushes.
- Avoid moisture on the floor.
- Place area rugs or mats in front of the kitchen appliances and sink to protect your cork floor from a lot of traffic, water spillages, dropping food, grease, and everything else that can cause premature wear of your kitchen floor.
- Ideal and healthy room conditions are 35 - 65 % R.H. at 20°C (68°F).
- When using intensive room heating, the indoor air humidity may drop so low that the floor is prone to dry out. As cork is a natural material, this may cause shrinkage of the tiles that will result in minor gaps in the flooring joints. Use a room humidifier to prevent this.
- Cork, as a natural material, may tend to fade when exposed to sunlight. Cork and wood, are natural products, colour change may be expected when exposed to natural light over a period of time. Cork will tend to fade while wood tends to mellow or darken. It is important to move area rugs and furnishings to allow for even colour change.
- Use blinds, curtains or other sun screening system to minimise this effect.
- Wicanders^® floors are easy to maintain. You only need a mild detergent and a vacuum cleaner. For daily/weekly maintenance, you can also use a broom handle with a cloth on the end. The removable cloth has a substance with anti-static characteristics, which will clean all the dust and prevent its settling on the floor. 

For maintaining your floor as new, Wicanders^® recommends a range of Maintenance Products, which will give pleasant results.
For its correct use follow the instructions on the packaging labels of each product, as well as the information from technical data sheets.