Product Care
Timber
Finishing - staining, carpeting & painting
Timber stairs are generally finished by external trades other than stair builders. After staircase installation, S&A Stairs have no control over varying site conditions - which may include dust and grit. Care should be taken to minimise the levels of dust and grit in or around the stair before it is painted or stained.
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Moisture
Excessive moisture over time may have an effect on movement of stair components resulting in the form of cracking or mould. Ideally, timber stairs should not be installed until there is a permanent cover to shield it from moisture.
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Cleaning
When cleaning timber elements of your stair, we recommend using a damp cloth or mop to remove dust or dirt. If using cleaning products, water based variations are best, as products that contain harsh chemicals (e.g. Acetone) may damage surfaces and finishes. For steel or glass elements, window cleaner (e.g. Windex) produces a clean and clear finish.
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Heat
For timber stairs, prolonged exposure to heat can result in shrinkage and movement of the timber. We advise that stairs should not be positioned close to heating vents, heaters or hot electrical appliances.
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Wear & scratch damage
Damage to timber stairs may occur due to continual heavy foot traffic and in particular 'stiletto-heel' type loading or dragging heavy objects over the stair. Depending on the hardness rating of the timber, we recommend that you take care to avoid these types of damage.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel indoors
In order to care for stainless steel indoors, an ordinary household cleaner with low chloride used regularly with plenty of water is all that is required. Drying afterwards will avoid leaving any streaky marks.
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Fingerprints, oils & grease marks
Mild detergent can shift most light marks. CSG Cleanox minimises and prevents fingerprints in high usage areas. No rubbing or rinsing is necessary, the application of CSG Cleanox also provides extra protection against staining and preserves the stainless steel surface and minimises the need for cleaning.
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External applications
Rainfall can be expected to wash of accumulations of dirt and other deposits efficiently from well-designed facades and fittings. However, it is usually recommended to supplement this natural process by washing stainless steel at least once or twice a year. A lot depends on the amount of exposure and severity of the environment. Special attention needs to be given to sheltered areas during routine cleaning.
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Rust marks & tea staining
Early action after the onset of tea staining is most desirable to avoid the underlying surface from being affected. Once the surface suffers from pitting then it would probably require mechanical re-polishing and passivation. Tea staining can be removed by using Polinox US Stainless Steel Rust & Stain Remover. This product will clean and remove rust and stains, such as those caused by coastal environments - this is achieved without affecting the finish of the material.
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Grease, oily film and other organic contamination
Oils and grease may be removed by alkaline formulations or hot water and detergents, or if necessary, by hydrocarbon solvents such as alcohol, Acetone, thinners or eucalyptus oil. In cases the surface should be rinsed with clean water and preferably dried. For directional polished finishes, wiping along the polish direction with very hot, clean water and a soft absorbent cloth is a very good final step to reduce smears.
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Stainless steel cleaning intervals
- In environments that are more than 15km from the beach front or a sheltered bay, stainless steel should be cleaned every 12 months.
- In environments that are 1 - 5km from the beach front or a sheltered bay, stainless steel should be cleaned every 4 - 6 months.
- In environments that are 0.5 - 1km from the beach front or a sheltered bay, stainless steel should be cleaned every 3 months.
- In environments that are within 0.5km of the beach front or within 0.1km from a sheltered bay, stainless steel should be cleaned weekly.
