Bathroom floor or maybe the entrance by the front door or maybe you have some ceramic tile elsewhere around the home that is causing you problems because it is very slippery when it is wet. We can add + material to paint to make it nonskid but for the most part you can’t do much about slippery ceramic tile ….right? Wrong! There is a clear DIY anti slip aerosol spray for small or medium size areas and a liquid roll on product for larger areas. This acrylic resin blend air dries fast, clear is durable, flexible, and non-yellowing. No Skidding is the name of the product and can be applied inside or outside the home. You can also apply this to pressure treated wood …like steps and decks A perfect product to make your home more safe.
Carpet can be expensive so keeping it well maintained is important. Here are a couple tips for you to use around your house. Make sure to remove any spots and stains quickly from the carpet by blotting with a cotton cloth. Always repair any rips, holes or unraveling in the carpet. Make sure the carpet is always tight if not have it tightened down. Use carpet mats by entry ways to diminish dirt and grime to the surface of the carpet. Avoid getting the carpet soaking wet. Make sure to vacuum the carpet at least once a week, more often when children are in the house. Have the carpets cleaned twice a year to remover grit and ground in dirt which shortens the life of the carpet. Another good idea is to keep pets out of the carpeted areas of your home.
If you store items in the basement make sure they are not place directly on the floor. If the basement floods, you’re stored goods are destroyed. Instead store on pallets or shelves. Always make sure the floor drain is free flowing and not clogged or covered up. Also back sure water is always in the trap or odors will be emitted from the drain. If you have sump pump pour water into the well monthly to make sure that is works. The humidity level in your basement should be around 50% in the summer time. If the humidity level is above 50% run a fan or dehumidifier to help dry out the air. Try and avoid painting the basement floor as this causes a problem down the road. If the floor is dusty use a clear concrete sealer.
VAT is not banned and can still be manufactured in the US.
Originally VAT was banned from manufacture in the US via. July 1989 EPA rule commonly known as the "Asbestos Ban and Phaseout Rule" This ban was remanded by the Court of Appeals. Consequently, VAT can still be manufactured and distributed in the US. For liability reasons, it often is not, but itcan still be foundin buildings that were built well after the July 1989 Phase out rule.
Asbestos use is not banned in Canada and in many foreign countries. Products containing asbestos, such as VAT and even wallboard can often find its way into the US. The EPA does not monitor the use of asbestos in commerce, only when it has to be abated in buildings. Therefore, it’s “buyer beware
For further info check with the states Department of Health
A great way to make the floors in your home more comfortable in the winter time is with radiant heat.It can be installed under ceramic tile, wood floors even carpeting.The problem is if the floor covering is already installed what are you to do? The isa product called speedy heat which is fiberglass matting about as thick as two credit cards with a heating wire running through it, just like an under floor covering radiant heat pad.The mat can be ordered to size and used under area rugs.The best part is it just plugs into the wall.It does not have to be hard wired it is movable and safe. See each plug in cord which is attached to the mat has a GFCI to protect from electrical shock. Use it in the bathroom, unplug it and put in under a throw rug in the kitchen.
If you are adding a coat of urethane to your floor or refinishing that hardwood floor here is the process. Apply with a lambs wool applicator but first make sure all the loose hair is removed from the applicator or it will end up in your finish. After applying a 3-foot wide strip make sure to back brush the urethane for a level finish.
After the each coat has been applied and has dried, scuff-sand the floor with 120-grit sandpaper on a swivel pole
After thefinal coat, allow the urethane to dry completely. Typically, depending on the temperature and humidity, it takes about 72 hours.
You might see tiny brush marks where your brush first touches and then is lifted from the floor. It is nearly impossible to apply urethane without leaving these marks but these tiny marks will rarely be noticed.
The rules are different with water base urethanes .
Safe to say we all like the look of a ceramic floor sometimes the budget can’t stretch that far.A good alternative if you want the look of ceramic with out the high price is Dura Ceramic.This is a sandstone imbedded vinyl.Looks just like ceramic with some benefits. Rather then using cement board during installation this is a direct glue to an underlayment of ¼” luan.The tile can be grouted or ungrouted.Dura ceramic flooring can be installed in any room in the house and upkeep is simple with soap and water.
Laminate flooring is a great product to cover over old asbestos floor tiles.The tiles do not need to be removed but the floor needs to be level.A level compound can be applied to the floor to accomplish this task. Not surprisingly, there are some things about a floating laminate wood floor that's different than normal. It cannot ever be attached to a solid object. Although it doesn't seem like it would hurt anything, it will. Floating laminate floors are made to contract and expand as the temperatures change and, when attached or up against something solid, will begin to warp and peak, requiring replacement of boards. This even includes wall moldings. Make absolutely sure that you are leaving the space between the laminate flooring and the wall that is prescribed by the instructions.
Ceramic tile is one of the most durable flooring materials there is. With proper maintenance, it should last decades but every now in then one cracks. Here is how to repair the floor.
1.Find the tile that matches .I If you don't have any leftovers, bring the broken pieces to a tile store to see if they have anything close. 2. Now remove the tile.Cover the tile with a rag and use a hammer to break it up. If the pieces are still stuck in the mortar, gently use a chisel to get them out. Then use a chisel or putty knife to scrape out much of the old adhesive and grout.
3. You're ready to set the new tile. Spread tile adhesive over the back of your tile, but be sure not to add too much.Push the tile firmly into place and be sure it looks straight. Let it dry overnight. The next day you'll be ready to grout! 4. Make sure you use the same color grout that you used initially, or it will be slightly off. If you don't know what grout was used, get some samples from your local home improvement store and test them out on a separate, disposable surface.Use the edges of a rubber grout float to press the grout into the tile joints and smooth it out. When the grout is no longer tacky, clean up the excess with a damp sponge.
A squeaky stair case can drive you crazy but here is a quick and easy way to solve the problem 1.First track down the squeaky culprit in the staircase. Carefully pull up any carpet and/or sub-flooring that covers the stair, leaving only exposed wood underneath.
2.While putting weight on the tread, drill two pilot holes near the squeak, making sure the hole runs through the step and into the riser .
3.Countersink a screw in each pilot hole. 4.Apply wood glue generously to the dowels and fit into the top of each screw head. 5.If necessary, cut the top of the dowel to ensure it's even with the floor level. Sand smooth. 6.Place the carpet and/or sub-floor over the staircase and re-attach using a finishing nail and tack hammer.If you can access the staircase from below, it may also be a good idea to screw two shelf brackets to the riser and the bottom of the step.
To get a hardwood floor look consider laminate flooring. Let's start by looking at laminate from a durability standpoint.. In almost every aspect, including scratch resistance, dent resistance, water resistance, and the ability to weather well under the pressure of daily wear and tear, laminate flooring is far superior than its real wood counterparts. . About the only real threat to laminate flooring are high moisture levels, which can damage the composite core. Durability may be laminate's most convincing selling point, but the ease with which it can be installed isn't too far behind. For starters, laminate flooring is what's known in the business as a floating floor system. Whereas each plank of hardwood flooring has to be individually nailed to the sub-floor and to its neighbor, laminate flooring simply sits on top of your existing floor once it's assembled with no nailing, screwing, or gluing required. Add to that the fact that click together laminate flooring now dominates the industry.
One trend we're seeing in homes these days, is people are putting in less and less carpet; family rooms, basements. They seem to be going in other areas, more of the hard-type flooring. For instance we're seeing a lot of ceramic tile being use, a lot of slate being used, a tremendous amount of hardwood flooring being used. But they have issues too. Ceramic can be a little chilly, you might think about a heating coil underneath. Wood of course requires maintenance. So a lot of folks are looking for something that looks like wood, looks like ceramic, but doesn't require the maintenance. I've found an excellent product. This is called Aviare Flooring. It comes in many, many different looks. Check it out at www.avairefloors.com
If you like the look of ceramic tile and a lot of us do, how about a ceramic tile that can be installed directing over wood, concrete, tile, vinyl even the old asbestos tile with out removing it first.No need to install cement board or glue because it is free floating.Install on a basement floor and not worry about cracking or moisture penetrating the tile.Sound pretty good?It is called Avaire interlocking floating floor.Only 9/16” of inch thick so that is helpful. It will save you money: no sub floor, glue and quick installation by your flooring installer.It simply clicks together and the grout is solid and elastomeric.No cracking and cleaning the grout.Check with your flooring dealer Avaire interlocking floating floors.
Have you ever had the problem of rust on the carpet?That’s right probably cleaned the carpeting and put the furniture back in place too soon and the metal tip under the chair leg created a little rust that is now on the carpet. First off the next time you clean your carpets put a little wax paper under the legs to prevent this from being a problem.I have recommended Iron Out for rust stains on numerous items and it will work on carpet.Iron Out is a crystal that can be mixed with water and then the solution can be applied to the carpet.I would recommend dabbing a cotton cloth onto the solution soaked carpet.After several applications the rust will disappear. When removing a stain from material apply on an out of the way place to make sure no damage or fading takes place.
When we talk about laminate floors the question always seems to work its way back to transitioning from one type of flooring to another.There are several types of transitional moldings available but the most common is Square nose molding or also referred to as end molding or baby threshold. This molding is used to transition from a wood or laminate floor to other flooring like ceramic or tile. It is also used against sliding glass door tracks and metal thresholds or exterior doors. , or to join or another floor surface that is higher then the new floor you are installing.An example would be if the new flooring butted against a marble threshold of a bathroom doorway, then the square nose molding is the correct one to use. To learn more go www.fastfloors.com
Ceramic tile is being used in more and more homes. We're seeing it everywhere, in fact we're going with ceramic tiles that are very, very large. And even porcelain tiles.But when you're installing ceramic porcelain tile, most of the time you're installing a cement board, a thin set, you're on your hands and knees, you're grouting. I'll tell you what, ceramic tile has taken a big step forward. You may be familiar with the laminate flooring, the floating wood floors. Well, now, there is a floating ceramic tile floor. That's right, there is no cement board, there is no thin set. It literally snaps together and floats. Now, you don't want to really use this below grade. But this is perfect for kitchens and foyers, bedrooms. And you may be wondering, if this is a floating floor, how do you address the grout? Well, let me show you. This isn't a regular type of grout. It's not an epoxy. This is an elastomeric grout that is actually sprayed between the tiles. So if you have old, asbestos tiles, you don't have to take it up to do the ceramic tile, you can do a floating floor of ceramic tile.
Also check out a new type of floor called "Avaire"
Most hardwood floors nowadays are protected with polyurethane like we have here. Now, one of the things you've got to remember is that even with a polyurethane finish is eventually it's going to wear. And the choice here is to protect this floor before it wears into the stain, otherwise you need to refinish the floor. Well, there's a wonderful product that can protect that floor. This is by Minwax, there's a cleaner and there's a product called Renew. This is an excellent cleaner to use on a wood floor on a regular basis. Simply spray it onto the floor, mop it off. But I want to talk about this product that actually renews the hardwood floor. What you do with this is, clean the floor, now make sure it's a urethane floor. You can do that very easily by taking a droplet of water an putting it on the floor because if it's a wax floor it'll turn white. If it does not, it's a urethane floor. Now, you want to go ahead and use that cleaner, clean the floor. Then spray this particular product on in an "S" pattern. Then use either a painting pad or a wax applicator. This isn't wax. And just spread it across the floor. What this does, it's a clear finish, you can't walk on it for two hours. But it fills the little pores in the urethane finish. It's kind of like giving it another top coat. It will make it more shiny. It'll give it some luster. And people will think you had your floor refinished. It's that easy. You might want to give it a try.
Hardwood flooring has become very popular in homes today, and nowadays we're seeing more exotic woods like mahoganys and walnuts. Also we're seeing large planks that are becoming very popular. But the one thing I wanted to talk about is hardwood versus engineered flooring. This is a typical hardwood floor. It's usually glued and nailed in place, usually on a wood sub-floor, something along those lines. But an engineered floor, this can actually be used in a basement. A lot of people building rec rooms and basements want to know if you can put a hardwood floor in, and you certainly can. It's an engineered floor. Now there is some limitations. Number one, you want to have less than a seven percent moisture content in the slab itself. And you can get an actual water meter that you sit on the floor that tells you that. This is actually glued directly to the slab. So you can have that wood floor, even in a basement.
There just seems to be more and more options when in comes to flooring material.Garage flooring is a PVC interlocking tile that is slip and oil resistant.You can dress up the garage floor and not worry about a coating or paint peeling from the floor.How about foam floor tiles for the basement play area or a kid’s bedroom.These are easy to clean and protect children from dangerous falls.I have found ceramic tile that is interlocking. Guaranteed to have accurate spacing for the grout and are super easy to install.Speaking of flooring that is interlocking don’t forget Dri Core the interlocking subfloor panels that elevate the new floor of the cement slab.
Ceramic and porcelain tile is being used more and more in today's homes and we're even finding it even on basement floors, kitchens and bathrooms. Of course installing porcelain or ceramic tile, it's a project. We've got the cement board, you've got the grouting, spacers and you spend a lot time on your knees. This is a new, very unique product. This is called Snap Stone. No grouting, no cement board. It just requires a level floor. This is a floating ceramic tile floor. As you can see, these little tabs on the ends, literally snap together, creating your entire floor. Where the grout would go, they have a specific grout, and what it is, it's an elastomeric grout, you can trowel it in or it's pre-formed where you can just snap it in. No cement board needed because the backing is actually on the back of the porcelain tile. So again, a level floor. This is a project I know you can tackle.
A sagging floor, a broken or cracked joist to the floor can be corrected by adding a sister joist to the existing floor joist. Using a hydraulic jack and a 4x 4 floor and placing the wood across several joists will help raise the joist and floor. Moving the jack up a 1/8 th of an inch each day will help level the floor.Remove any pipe or wire on the sides of the effected joist and apply construction adhesive to the damaged joist.Place a new joist or piece of joist over the effected area and attach using 3” drywall screws.This will add strength to the joist and the floor.You will find that the floor no longer squeaks and you have eliminated any bounce in the floor.Contacting a structural engineer to inspect the situation is always a good idea before making the repair.
Wood floors have become very popular but there are several types to choose from. The first type is laminate flooring. Several companies make laminate flooring that is uses particle board (or similar) as a base and then a top layer that is not necessarily wood but rather a formica type material. It is made to look like wood but does not have the same feel as wood. This flooring is generally put down in sections that are glued or snapped together and does not do well in bathrooms or below grade. Engineered flooring. This flooring typically uses a plywood base with a layer of wood veneer on the surface. This wood has benefits for installation and stability and can have a tough finish. Traditional Hard wood flooring. This is typically 3/4″ thick. You have lots of choices in the type of species of woods.. The installation will require a nailer and you have a choice between non-finished and pre-finished.
When it is time to consider which color of carpet to use there are many factors to consider. Light colors such as white or off white. White carpet will make rooms look bigger and brighter. The problem with light carpet is that it shows everything. Because of that fact it is best left for rooms that are seldom used or for homes that do not have kids or pets. Bright colors such as reds are popular in more modern homes. If you want a bright color keep in mind that they could be subject to sun fading and the color might become tiresome over time. For these reasons bright colors are best left for rooms that do not receive intense sunlight and for rooms where you don't expect to keep the carpet for a great deal of time. Dark colors such as dark blue or even black are often used in rooms such as media rooms. It will help to darken the room to enhance your television or movie viewing. This color of carpet would be best left for large rooms since they could make smaller rooms seem even smaller. Lastly you have neutral colors such as tan or brown. These colors are the most popular because they strike the balance between brightness and soil hiding capabilities. They also tend to go well with all decors so they are good for homes that you may not plan on keeping for a long period. If you have children, pets or think you might be selling your home in the near future you probably want to go with a neutral color.
Old pressure treated decks can look awful and can also be a hazard with all the splinters and warping.Over the years I have found several products that can be laid over the existing decking boards. One product was an outdoor adhesive backed carpet strips and another was Honey Deck an octagon shaped pressure treated wood tile with a rubber type backing.The newest type of deck tiles that I have found are made of Eucalyptus wood. These tiles are about 20 inches square and are fastened together to create a brand new decksurface that can be permanent. The deck tiles are made of durable oiled Eucalyptus which will resist weather, moisture and mildew. They also have matching trim pieces to finish of the look.
Building green has been in the news a lot. And what that means is something that is really in tune with the environment. This is something very unique. Try a cork floor. And the reason this is environmentally friendly, is they actually strip the tree without cutting the tree down, so it's a renewable resource, and a relatively quick renewable resource. Now why would you want a cork floor? Well, there's a couple of reasons. Number one, this is like a floating floor, so you don't have to tear up the substrate. In other words, if you have old asbestos tiles, you can actually install this directly over the top. Now, another thing is it's very soft to walk on, or at least there's a little bounce, so anybody with a bad back or knee pain, this is going to be a little bit more comfortable to walk on. I know what you're thinking, how durable it is? Well, it's very, very durable. In fact, it's as durable as oak. And it's also got a memory, so, if you have a chair or something and you put a little indentation in the cork flooring, it will actually spring back. Very, very easy to install, something you might want to consider.
MP Global Products, a company which distributes a two-component system for do-it-yourself heated tile floors.The first component is called QuietWarmth, which is a system of low-profile, electric radiant heat underlayments. The underlayment mats line the floor and are butted at the seams to function like a hidden electric blanket beneath the tile. Quietwarmth not only deadens impact sound from the hard surface flooring, but it also makes the surface warm enough for bare feet, and assists with heating the room. The second component isInterlocking Tile. This tile is genuine porcelain tile that is permanently attached to a non-skid, sound-deadening grid. This is a floating tile system, so no thinset or cement board is needed, which saves lots of labor. It installs directly over solid, flat subfloors, including vinyl, wood and concrete, and the rubberized grid absorbs minor imperfections in the surface. Even a first-timer can tile an entire room in a single day, because the tile simply clicks together with a little help from a mallet and block.
When the weather is bad outside we track a lot of residue into our homes. Dirt, grit, sand and salt are all abrasives that can dull wood floors in the home.Make sure that you have an all weather mat on the outside of your home and carpet type mat on the inside as this will prevent a lot of the debris from ruining the finish on your wood floor.A soft bristle broom or a vacuum without a beater bar is good for removing grit between the boards. Never use an oil soap or ammonia on wood flooring as this will dull the finish. There are many wood floor cleaners that do not contain harsh chemicals and are very environmentally friendly that I would recommend.Spills and puddles should be wiped from wood floors immediately. Water is the number one problem for wood floors.
In the past I spoke of a type of vinyl flooring called Konnectothat looks like wood but does not need to be glued to the floor and is made of vinyl .This flooring actually glues to it self with a tongue and groove method.I told you the flooring looks like wood and is about 30” long and 5” wide. Well, they have now extended their line into a ceramic looking vinyl square.It is 16” squares and does not need an adhesive because again it glues to itself.It is a very heavy ridged vinyl and you do not have to remove the old tile. This is perfect for the person that wants inexpensive installation and they can install I them selves.What a great application over old asbestos tile. Just cover with the Konnecto flooring. Wood or a ceramic look.
The process of turning bamboo into flooring entails cutting the harvested hollow bamboo canes into strips, boiling them in a mixture of water and preservative, pressing the softened strips flat, and using a urea-based resin to form them into laminated boards. Even with its light weight, bamboo is, surprisingly, almost as dent and shrink-proof as oak. Bamboo flooring, in fact, is as hard as maple, and because it is not a true wood, can be used in areas where exposure to water makes wood flooring impossible. It is stain and scuff, as well as water, resistant, and ideal for heavily-trafficked areas. To have maximum hardness of bamboo flooring it should be a light color. To make this flooring dark it is pressure steamed an can loose 20% of it’s hardness.
When thinking green for your flooring options …consider bamboo. It is a very renewable resource because it grows very fast… much faster then Hardwood. Bamboo is stronger then many hardwoods and is very resilient which helps resist denting.Bamboo flooring is highly moisture resistant so it performs well in kitchens and baths.Bamboo flooring will appear very much like a hardwood.In fact most people can not even tell the difference in the material. It does require the typical maintenance associated with hardwood floor.Sweep the floor when needed and never with a vacuum cleaner. Stay away from vinegar and water and soap and water for its weekly cleanings.There are many hardwood floor restore products that will not dull the surface of the flooring. The only negative to bamboo flooring is that it tends to be a little more brittle then hardwood.
So many of us now have hardwood floors in our homes and this time of years when the weather is not so nice outside and we are having plenty of vistors you need to protect your floors against the following:
DIRT and GRIT : Dirt, grit and sand are your hardwood floor’s worst enemies.They act like sandpaper on the finish, causing scratches, dents and dulling. Place floor mats at entrances to trap dirt and prevent damage. WATER AND OTHER SPILLS :Standing water can warp a poorly finished hardwood floor and can damage the finish. Simply wipe up all spills as they happen. HARD CLEANERS : Avoid oil soaps. They can build up and create problems when it’s time to put a maintenance coat on the floor. Instead, neutral pH cleaners made specifically for wood floors are recommended. FURNITURE : Lift the furniture to move it --- avoid dragging. Felt contacts under the legs will help prevent scratches. DENTS : Vacuum with a brush attachment -- don’t use vacuums with beater bars.
Nowadays kitchen flooring is all over the map. We've got vinyl, we've got ceramic like we have here. We even have wood floors in kitchens. And so has the furniture changed. And what we're seeing a lot now is wrought iron and metal furniture, relatively bulky. And when you take a piece of furniture like this, they have these plastic caps on the bottom of it that wear relatively rapidly on top of a ceramic tile floor. And when that wears, I'll tell you these chairs are loud and noisy. Now if you have his type of chair on a wood floor, of course it can do damage to the wood. We need to protect the floor by adding a glide to the bottom of the chair itself. I found these, they're made by 3M. They're very neat. They're self-stick. They're very thick felt pads. And I've found them to be very, very durable. Simply peel off the back. If you need to cut them to size that's fine. If you do not, that's even better. You simply press it on the bottom. It works much better than these plastic caps, and it'll make this chair a lot more quieter on the ceramic floor. If you have wood floors, it will protect the wood floor.
There is a floor drain that is a check valve assembly.
The other day I had a call regarding a floor drain that had water bugs in the drain and the caller wanted to stop them.There is a floor drain that is a check valve assembly. In other word the water can run down through the drain but stops critters from coming up from the drain.
You can also replace the rusted grate of you floor drain with a stainless steel gripper grate.The grate has spring loaded feet that snap into the drain holding it in place.
In case you are finishing your basement and you want to install a floor covering DO NOT just cover over the drain. There are solid stainless drain covers that can be installed over the drain.This way you will know where the drain is in an emergency.
DO clean up spills immediately to minimize damage to your stone.
DO use trivets or mats under hot dishes and cookware.
DO use place mats under china, ceramics, silver and other objects that can scratch your stone's surface.
DO use coasters under glasses, especially if they contain alcohol or citrus juices.
DON'T wait to clean up spills on stone.
DON'T use cleaners that contain acid such as bathroom cleaners, grout cleaners or tub cleaners.
DON'T use vinegar, bleach, ammonia or other general-purpose cleaners.
DON'T use abrasive cleaners such as dry cleansers or soft cleansers.
DON'T use alkaline cleaners not specifically formulated for stone.
DON'T use scouring powders and abrasives because they will scratch the surface.
Care Instructions for Slate:
For cleaning of grease, oil, dirt, dry soil and soap scum:
Mask off and protect any baseboards or adjacent areas to avoid splashing and overspray onto surfaces not intended to be treated.
Sweep or dust mop loose dirt and debris.
Strip off all topical finishes such as waxes and coatings.
Prepare a solution of cleaner mixed with warm or hot water as suggested below:
• Medium Duty Usage — Mix 1 part cleaner to 4 parts of water.
• Heavy Duty Usage — Mix 1 part cleaner to 2 parts of water.
Apply using a low-pressure chemical-resistant sprayer, sponge or mop.
Agitate well using a stiff nylon bristle scrub brush, stiff bristle push broom or a weighted floor machine at 110 lbs.-140 lbs., 175 rpm, fitted with a scrub brush attachment. Some softer slate may not require as much weight on the floor machine, up to 90-110 lbs. may be sufficient. Test first, in an inconspicuous area, to insure that the slate surface is not being damaged.
Rinse well with clean water and mop, sponge or wet vacuum to remove the remaining cleaning solution. A hard surface extraction wand and portable or truck mounted extraction machine may be used.
Repeat the rinsing and wet vacuum process to insure that all dirt, soil and cleaner residue have been removed.
To remove deep or stubborn oil stains, let the surface dry and use professional stain remover:
Apply a ¼ inch thick coat of oil stain remover to the oil stained area. Insure that Oil Stain Remover covers an area 1” to 2” beyond the stained area for the purpose of containment.
Allow 2-3 days for the Oil Stain Remover to dry to a powder.
Sweep and wipe up dried powder and evaluate the stained area for removal.
Repeat process if needed.
Remove any remaining Oil Stain Remover using mineral spirits.
For removal of efflorescence, grout haze, salts, mineral deposits and all other calcium-based stains (acidic cleaning):
Test in an inconspicuous area, as some materials are acid sensitive and may etch when acidic cleaners are applied.
Mask off and protect any baseboards or adjacent areas to avoid splashing and overspray onto surfaces not intended to be treated. This may damage stainless steel and other surfaces.
Sweep or dust mop loose dirt and debris.
Strip off all wax, acrylic, urethane and all topical finishes.
Prepare a solution of Restore™ mixed with warm or hot water as suggested below:
Medium Duty Usage — Mix 1 part of cleaner to 4 parts of water.
Heavy Duty Usage — Mix 1 part of cleaner to 1 part of water.
Liberally apply using a low-pressure chemical-resistant sprayer, sponge or mop.
Agitate well using a stiff nylon bristle scrub brush, stiff bristle push broom or a weighted floor machine at 110 lbs.-140 lbs., 175 rpm, fitted with a scrub brush attachment. Some softer slate may not require as much weight on the floor machine, up to 90-110 lbs. may be sufficient. Test first, in an inconspicuous area, to insure that the slate surface is not being damaged.
Rinse well with clean water and mop, sponge or wet vacuum to remove the remaining solution. A hard surface extraction wand and portable or truck mounted extraction machine may be used.
Repeat the rinsing and wet vacuum process to insure that all dirt, soil and cleaner residue have been removed. Thoroughly rinse all metal surfaces.
Sealing & Protecting:
Natural stone surfaces must be sealed to prevent or minimize staining. Leaving natural stone untreated may greatly hinder the complete removal of stains in the future. The following suggestions are for impregnating the stone and will allow the stone to breathe. Allow new installations to cure for 72 hours prior to applying sealer.
For a natural looking protector on interior and exterior surfaces (heavy duty protection, water and oil repellency):
Sweep or vacuum all dust, dirt and debris.
Mask off and protect any baseboards or adjacent areas to avoid splashing and overspray onto surfaces not intended to be treated.
Insure that surface is clean and residue-free.
Sealers may be applied to damp surfaces one hour after standing water has been removed.
Liberally apply an even coat of sealer using a low-pressure chemical-resistant sprayer, roller or brush.
Allow sealer to penetrate the surface for 20-30 minutes. During this time, distribute excess over entire area to insure even penetration. Wipe off any remaining sealer prior to drying on the surface.
A second coat may be needed for porous, absorbent surfaces and should be applied 30-40 minutes after initial application as directed above.
A minimum of 30 minutes after final application, wipe entire surface with a towel dampened with sealer to remove any residue and excess sealer, if needed.
A full cure is achieved after 24-72 hours; foot traffic may begin in 6-8 hours. Cover with red rosin paper, if foot traffic must resume before the recommended time periods have passed.
Expected coverage is 600-800 sq. ft. per gallon.
Re-application of a heavy duty stone sealer:
A 3-5 year re-application is needed for interior surfaces.
A 1-3 year re-application is needed for exterior surfaces.
Problems with floors are that sometimes they squeak or there is some bounce to them.
Problems with floors are that sometimes they squeak or there is some bounce to them.If your floors have a bounce to them it may mean that the floor joists need to have strength added to them.You can do that by running 2x 8’s between the joists every three feet as this will help secure the joist.The problem with this method is that in between the joists is duct work and plumbing runs for the house.If there is no room to sister the joist then cut 8” wide pieces of ½” OSB board and glue and screw it to the sides of the joists.This will not interfere with the plumbing and it will stabilize the joists from any kind of movement. You also might check out a product called a Squeak Ender for those squeaky sub floors.
© 2012
