Wooden Floor Maintenance and Care
1. Excessive and Early wear on finish - scratches,
traffic pattern. Finish Peeling - bubbles, blister Roughness
It can be cured by correct maintenance, especially vacuuming
and not necessarily just broom sweep. Clip dog's nails, felt
chair leg glides, appropriate exterior walk-off mats to prevent
grit, area rugs especially in front of kitchen sinks. Re-coat
if necessary.
2. Finish Peeling - bubbles, blister
Mainly caused by stains that are not dry, excessive burnishing,
early coats not dry, skipped screening between coats, etc.
It can be cured by de-lamination of wood surface, sand and
refinish. Screen and re-coat the surface only.
3. Pet Stains
For the most part minor pet stains will lessen or get lighter
with sanding. Repeated stains (the darker the deeper is the
rule) will not sand out. Several considerations must be given.
1 - Will the floors be refinished? If so, a light or medium
colored stain can be use to "cover or lessen" the
stains. Sometimes a "painted" design on the floor
will cover the stains, or the use of area carpets over those
stained areas. 2 - Removal and repair will give BEST results,
if time, and budget allowances are made.
4. Roughness
Roughness is caused due to excess moisture residue from maintenance,
spills, constant source, condensation causing surface grain
rise. Poor sanding, edging or scraping. Contamination in finish
during dry time could be another cause. It can be cured by
using correct moisture source, light sanding, screening and
also by re-coating.
5. Color - Not right / changed.
It is caused mainly due to in-correct maintenance including
residue of cleaners, waxes, etc. Wood itself changes color
with age. Extreme hot sunlight through South/West facing windows,
color different under rugs or low furniture from lack of exposure.
It can be cured by removing residue and following correct
maintenance procedures. Move rugs and colors will even out
in time and don’t forget to shade large windows.
Concrete and Cement Care
Concrete is an extremely strong, durable material made from
cement and aggregate. Concrete is porous, whether used as
a floor in garage, porch or patio, driveway or walks.
Often porch or patio floors will have an extra smooth surface,
but it will still absorb stains easily. It may be sealed or
painted. Concrete floors are sealed to prevent staining, since
without sealing it absorbs stains readily. Painting concrete
varies depending on its use. Latex floor paints react with
rubber tires in garages, as well as with bicycle tires, lawnmower
tires, etc. The result is peeling. Alkyd floor enamels are
more moisture resistant, and normally old up better under
these conditions. But they are more slippery when wet. If
there is moisture rising from beneath the surface of the floor
it may also cause enamel floor paint to peel.
To clean, wet with clear water. Apply a hot solution of 2
to 2 1/2 ounces washing soda or 1/2 ounce TSP (tri-sodium
phosphate) per gallon of water. TSP can be found in paint,
hardware and home center stores.
1. Grease Stains:
It can be removed by using a stiff long handled brush. Scrub
stain with concentrated detergent suds. Rinse well with hose.
Dry and repeat if necessary. On wet oily surface of concrete,
sprinkle concentrated detergent suds with tri-sodium phosphate.
After 15 to 30 minutes, scrub with stiff brush and hot water.
Rinse with clean water.
2. Rust Stains:
Inorder to remove rust stains, make a paste of 1-part sodium
citrate crystals to 6 parts water and enough whiting or fuller's
earth to make a paste. Spread paste on rust stains and allow
drying. Scrape off. Rust should be removed. Repeat if necessary.
Ceramic Maintenance and Care
Proper care, cleaning and maintenance will help ensure your
ceramic tile always looks its best, whether it's on the floor,
wall, or countertop. Simply follow our maintenance and prevention
steps outlined below.
- Remove soil with a broom, non-oily dust mop or vacuum
- Damp mop or spot clean as necessary.
- Thoroughly rinse all areas with clean, warm water once
a month.
- Ceramic tile floors, like other types of smooth floors,
can become slippery when wet. Use vacuum cleaners to dry
it immediately.
- We recommend protecting your floor against abrasive dirt
at entrances to buildings with dirt catching floor mats.
Marble Maintenance and Care
Highly polished marble and granite floors create an elegant,
upscale atmosphere. In heavily trafficked areas, the polish
can wear off. The options for maintaining your polished marble
and granite floor fall into three broad categories:
1. Restore the polished marble or granite finish periodically,
as necessary. This approach will keep one's stone looking
new.
2. Maintain a commercial floor finish on the marble or granite
surface, using sealers and regular maintenance procedures.
Be sure to select sealers and waxes with caution, as they
may contain ingredients, which could dull or stain the floor.
Before application, clean the floor with soapy water and let
it dry. Apply two coats of sealer in quick succession, using
sealer brushes or pump sprayers. After 30 minutes, remove
the excess sealer with a dry cloth. Maintain the marble with
the daily application of water and soap solution and the use
of high-speed buffers, and clean thoroughly once per month.
3. Periodically clean the surface with a water-detergent mixture,
applying no sealers or finishes. The highly polished marble
will eventually develop a low-luster finish.
We advise you to please contact
us for additional information.
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