Prefinished Bamboo Flooring: Pros and Cons

 Prefinished bamboo flooring is a convenient choice for homeowners who prefer a ready-made and easy-to-install floor type. The floor is manufactured right through to the final finishing stages. This eliminates the need for further processing work on-site which is usually required for unfinished floors. Various urethanes are used during finishing to give the floor an enduring beauty. Urethanes also protect it from the usual wear and tear effects that come with use. You can get prefinished bamboo floors in natural and carbonized varieties as well as vertical and horizontal versions. Below are the pros and cons of prefinished bamboo floors.

Pros of Prefinished Bamboo Flooring

Prefinished bamboo floors don’t require further processes like sealing, sanding, or staining after installation. Once properly installed, the floor can be used right away. The quick turnaround time is helpful where time is an issue. If you’re looking for a bamboo floor type that will retain its attractive look for several years, prefinished is an excellent choice.

The floor surface is highly resistant to chipping, dents, and scratches. The prefinished surface bears up well in high traffic areas such as the living room or kitchen while retaining its attractive appearance. This makes it one of the most durable floor types available. Prefinished floors often come with an extended warranty. Many manufacturers offer a warranty ranging from 15 to 25 years. Such a floor definitely adds to your home value.

The low maintenance requirements of prefinished bamboo floors make them a favorite with many bamboo floor lovers. Simply use a mop to get rid of dust and dirt. Once in a while, you can do a deep cleaning job using special cleaners that are appropriate for bamboo floors. The floor doesn’t develop stains which makes maintenance even easier.

For those who frequently suffer allergies, a prefinished bamboo floor can help control your allergic reactions. Its hypoallergenic quality guarantees that no allergens will get trapped on the floor. This makes it a safe and effective way of controlling allergies for household members. The versatility of prefinished bamboo floors also endears them to many. The floors easily blend with various decors, ranging from traditional to contemporary. Prefinished bamboo floors easily add to the beauty, elegance, and ambiance of a room.

Cons

The color variety for prefinished floors is rather limited. Unlike unfinished floors which can be further stained into whatever color you choose, the prefinished variety restricts you to a smaller color range. This may be disappointing when trying to achieve a unique color scheme. Should a portion of the floor get damaged and repair becomes necessary, the damaged portion may not match the rest of the floor once sanding has been done.

Replacement becomes necessary which ends up being a more costly exercise than repair. The prefinished boards are beveled on the edges to eliminate the sharp edges. This is because the boards have varying heights and thicknesses when being processed in the factory. Bevelling creates grooves that may feel uncomfortable when walked upon. It also makes it impossible to achieve a flawless, uniform appearance.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Essex Tile Doctor Reveals how to Remove Years of Dirt from Terracotta Floor Tiles

The Terracotta tiles in the kitchen of this property in Danbury near Chelmsford were installed by the owners only five years prior. At the time they didn't like the light colour of the terracotta, so they were sealed with a black pigment added to the sealer in an attempt to darken the floor. Five years later and the sealer had clearly failed, and the tiles and grout were now seriously filthy and impossible to clean.

I wanted to be certain I could remove the dirt and old sealer so whilst at the property surveying the floor I did a cleaning test with Tile Doctor Remove and Go scrubbed into a couple of tiles by hand. The product worked really well and easily cleaned the tiles and grout with excellent results (see picture).

The difference was quite striking and equally impressive so after I worked out a quote, they were more than happy to get me booked in to complete the floor.

Deep Cleaning a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen Floor

I returned on the agreed date and immediately set about applying the same process to get the Terracotta tile and grout clean. I used a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go working it into the tiles using a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine which also cleaned the grout lines.

The Terracotta was rinsed, and the soiling extracted with a wet vacuum. Once done the tiles and grout were inspected and any stubborn areas re-treated using the same process until I was satisfied the Terracotta, and grout was as clean as possible.

The underfloor heating was switched on and used to dry the floor overnight so it would be dry and ready for sealing the next day. This was a helpful addition and avoided the need for me to get the fan dryers out overnight.

Sealing a Terracotta Tiled Kitchen

Terracotta is made from clay and as a result is a very porous material, because of this it took eight coats sealer before it was fully sealed. I applied Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer for this, it contains a colour enhancing formula which really brought out the orange and red colours in the tile.

This sealer is an impregnator that works by soaking into the tile, occupying the pores and ensuring dirt remains on the surface where it is easily cleaned away. It will provide long term protection moving forward and it improves the appearance of the floor without the tiles becoming too shiny.

I think you will agree from the photographs that the floor was completely transformed, and I’m pleased to say the owner was really happy and shocked to see it so different from before.

For aftercare cleaning I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, this is a pH neutral product which will ensure the newly applied sealer retains its integrity. Many household cleaning products are simply too strong and will strip away the sealer with use.

Source: Terracotta Tile Cleaning and Renovation Products and Services in Danbury Essex

Refinishing Oak Hardwood Floors

Oak hardwood floors are one of the things that can make a home seem extraordinary. It has the natural beauty which does not go out of fashion through time and you are adding to the value of your house if you have oak floors installed. However, although oak is known to be very durable, it can lose its shine over time. It needs to be refinished once the polyurethane covering on its surface starts to wear out.

What You'll Need:

• 20 to 60 grit sandpaper
•  Hand sander
•  Putty knife
•  Long-handled roller
•  120 grit sandpaper
•  Wood filler
•  Rag

 A refinishing job is also important to protect the wood itself from everyday wear and tear. You will only require a weekend to do the job yourself and if you do not possess some of the equipment needed, you can rent it out from your local hardware outlet. Although a bit challenging, the results of your effort will be well worth it.

Step 1 - Prepare the Room

Remove all of the items from the room that has the floor for refinishing. Once the room is free from any obstacle, take out the moldings from the room edges and sweep the floor to make sure that there is no dust around.

Step 2 - Inspect the Floor

Inspect the entire flooring that you will be refinishing. If there are any staples or nails on it, make sure that you are able to remove all of them before doing the refinishing. Nail holes should be filled up with wood putty. Use the spatula to do it. Ensure that you fill out evenly to make the flooring as even as you can. There is no need to sand it since you will be sanding the entire area anyway to remove the old finish.

Step 3 - Prepare the Sander

Take out the instruction manual for the drum sander and assemble it as directed. If the flooring has been heavily worn down, choose 20 grit sandpaper. If the wear is moderate, you can use a 60 grit sandpaper.

Step 4 - Sand the Floor

Sanding should be started from a corner of the room. Move in the direction of the wood grain and allow the drum sander to work for you. Go about the task back and forth until you have the entire area covered. To ensure that everything has been sanded down, overlap each pass by 1 inch.

Step 5 - Sand the Room Edges

Room edges should be sanded down by hand since they cannot be reached by the drum sander. Use the same sandpaper grit that you used on the sander.

Step 6 - Fine Sanding the Room

After you are done with sanding the edges of the room, repeat the sanding process for the entire room, but this time, use a 120 grit sandpaper. This will be your preparation for the staining.

Step 7 - Clean the Floor

To remove the dust that resulted from sanding, sweep and vacuum the entire area. Never use water on the bare wood.

Step 8 - Stain the Floor

Take a rag and the stain color of your choice and work it over the entire floor area using a circular motion. Ensure that you have the room properly ventilated as you do this as the stain fumes can be toxic. Allow the stain to dry for 6 hours minimum.

Step 9 - Apply Polyurethane

To protect the wood and show its luster, apply a coat of polyurethane. Apply the chemical using a roller with a long handle. Allow the first coating to dry for 6 hours before applying a second coating.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

10 Benefits to Using a Peroxide Cleaner

Peroxide Cleaner, or Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), is a pale blue liquid that is slightly thicker than water and appears colorless when not in its purest form. It has strong burning properties, and is a powerful bleaching agent. It is used as a disinfectant, antiseptic, and even as a propellant in rockets. Hydrogen peroxide only contains water and oxygen and does not contain toxic residue. Hydrogen peroxide is a useful household agent with the following benefits and usage.

1. Removes Carpet and Clothing Stains

Pour a small amount of hydrogen peroxide on the problem surface of your shirt and let it set for a few minutes before finally putting the shirt in the washer. For cleaning carpets, dab a clean cloth with hydrogen peroxide and apply on the stained area of the carpet in smooth, circular motion until dirt is removed.

2. Bathroom Disinfectant

Put your washcloth, loofah and sponge on a basin of hot water with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit there for an hour. Rinse and put to dry.

3. Use for cleaning toilet bowls

Get rid of those stains by pouring half a cup of hydrogen peroxide on your toilet bowl. Let it sit for a few hours. Flush the toilet bowl. Now there are instances when a little bit of stain remains. Just scrub it off. You will notice how easy the stains get rubbed off. You can do this every few weeks.

4. Removes Bathroom and Shower Mold

Just spray down the surface with hydrogen peroxide whenever you take a shower. You can use a spray bottle. Wipe the sprayed surface often to prevent the gathering of mold.

5. Disinfectant for wounds or bites.

Wash your shallow wounds or bites with hydrogen peroxide to disinfect affected areas. You can use cotton to dab it over the surface.

6. For all-around cleaning.

What you need is a little spray bottle filled with considerable amount of hydrogen peroxide. Spray it on your sink, floor, garbage cans, hard to reach areas like the corners of your cupboard, tables etc. This not only kills bacteria, it also insures to prevent unpleasant odors from building up.

7. Cleans Dentures and Retainers.

Before going to bed, you can use hydrogen peroxide diluted in water to soak your dentures or retainers. Rinse the dentures before using. Make sure to replace the water every night.

8. Removes Drain Clogs

Overtime slime and other refuse tend to build up on your drain. You can get rid of this by pouring a tablespoon of baking soda over a cup of hydrogen peroxide. Pour the contents on the drain. The foaming and fizzing will remove the blockage from your drain.

9. Lightens Your locks

Mix ten drops of hydrogen peroxide with one liter of water and use the mixture to rinse your hair on regular basis. You will notice how your locks will light up.

10. Used as mouthwash substitute

A small amount of hydrogen peroxide in a glass of water effectively gets rid of germs and odor causing bacterias that cause bad breath.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Newport Tile Doctor Details the Restoration of Victorian Floor Tiling

The client had lived at this property in Newport for a few years and decided that it was finally time to sort out the Victorian tiled floor in the dining room. Some repairs were needed in a few areas and the sealer was fading and due for replacement.

I went over to the property to survey the floor and advised that with repairs, cleaning and sealing the process would take two and a half days. Having worked on many many floors like these before I was very confident that we could repair the floor where needed and restore its appearance.

During the visit I noticed that at the door threshold leading into the kitchen, some of the tiles had been taken up for a gas pipe repair and back filled with cement, I suggested I could repair this section using matching tiles, so I included it in the quote. The quote to renovate and repair the floor was accepted and the job was booked in.

Cleaning and Repairing a Victorian Tiled Dining Room Floor

I began by addressing the tiling issues so my first course of action was to set matching tiles along the doorway border leading to the kitchen, as the previous tiles had already been removed by the gas company it was fairly straight forward job of carefully knocking out the cement. The tiles I had sourced were from a nearby reclamation yard and needed to be carefully cut to size to ensure a good fit with the original. After setting the tiles and grouting I left them to dry overnight.

The following day I began cleaning, using a combination of Tile Doctor Remove and Go and Pro-Clean, leaving the solution to dwell after being brushed into the floor. After around ten minutes the floor was scrubbed by hand with a stiff brush to release the dirt from the tiles. The resultant slurry was then vacuum away and with the floor cleaner I was able to get a better idea of which areas needed more attention.

I restored the perimeter of the floor with a 200-grit diamond block and this was followed up with a 200-grit diamond pad fitted to a rotary machine. These coarse pads cut into the tile surface removing years of grime and giving them a new lease of life. After another rinse and extraction with the wet vacuum the whole floor had a much brighter appearance. The process was then repeated with a 400-grit diamond pad to close the pores of the tiles.

The floor was then washed by hand with water and a sponge to make sure there wasn’t any areas missed, also to ensure there was no residue from the cleaning products left on the floor which could potentially disrupt the sealing process. The floor was then left to dry overnight ready for sealing the following day.

 

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Dining Room

To assist with drying I asked the client to leave a couple of air movers running during the evening and to put them back on in the morning. This worked well and by the next day I was able to confirm the floor was dry and ready for sealing with a moisture meter.

The client had requested a satin finish and so the sealer chosen was Tile Doctor Seal and Go, four coats were applied to the tiles a permanent wet look and gorgeous lustre. Another advantage of Seal and Go is that it’s a water-based sealer so it doesn’t give off a smell as it dries.

For aftercare I left the client a bottle of Tile Doctor pH Neutral Tile Cleaner to help maintain the appearance of the floor. This is a gentle tile cleaning product that won’t harm the sealer, many of the products you find in supermarkets are simply too strong for a sealed floor.

 

Source: Victorian Floor Tile Cleaning and Sealing Products and Services in Newport Monmouthshire

Refinishing Oak Hardwood Floors

 Oak hardwood floors are one of the things that can make a home seem extraordinary. It has the natural beauty which does not go out of fashion through time and you are adding to the value of your house if you have oak floors installed. However, although oak is known to be very durable, it can lose its shine over time. It needs to be refinished once the polyurethane covering on its surface starts to wear out.

What You'll Need:

• 20 to 60 grit sandpaper
•  Hand sander
•  Putty knife
•  Long-handled roller
•  120 grit sandpaper
•  Wood filler
•  Rag

A refinishing job is also important to protect the wood itself from everyday wear and tear. You will only require a weekend to do the job yourself and if you do not possess some of the equipment needed, you can rent it out from your local hardware outlet. Although a bit challenging, the results of your effort will be well worth it. 

Step 1 - Prepare the Room

Remove all of the items from the room that has the floor for refinishing. Once the room is free from any obstacle, take out the moldings from the room edges and sweep the floor to make sure that there is no dust around.

Step 2 - Inspect the Floor

Inspect the entire flooring that you will be refinishing. If there are any staples or nails on it, make sure that you are able to remove all of them before doing the refinishing. Nail holes should be filled up with wood putty. Use the spatula to do it. Ensure that you fill out evenly to make the flooring as even as you can. There is no need to sand it since you will be sanding the entire area anyway to remove the old finish.

Step 3 - Prepare the Sander

Take out the instruction manual for the drum sander and assemble it as directed. If the flooring has been heavily worn down, choose 20 grit sandpaper. If the wear is moderate, you can use a 60 grit sandpaper.

Step 4 - Sand the Floor

Sanding should be started from a corner of the room. Move in the direction of the wood grain and allow the drum sander to work for you. Go about the task back and forth until you have the entire area covered. To ensure that everything has been sanded down, overlap each pass by 1 inch.

Step 5 - Sand the Room Edges

Room edges should be sanded down by hand since they cannot be reached by the drum sander. Use the same sandpaper grit that you used on the sander.

Step 6 - Fine Sanding the Room

After you are done with sanding the edges of the room, repeat the sanding process for the entire room, but this time, use a 120 grit sandpaper. This will be your preparation for the staining.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Stripping Wood Floors With Natural Products

Stripping wood floors with natural products is possible. While it can be more difficult to find these products, they are becoming more popular and accessible as time goes on and people become more passionate about the environment. While it may be difficult, here are a few materials that you need, as well as steps to help guide you.

What You'll Need:

• Natural wood stripper
•  Recycled rag
•  Natural wood cleaner
•  Outdoor area or ventilation
•  Scraper
•  Sander
•  Paint brush
•  Goggles
•  Gloves

Find a Natural Stripper

Finding a natural stripper will be the hardest part of this job. While they are becoming more available in department and hardware stores, you can definitely find them on the internet. There are a few wood strippers with a citric stripper in them that are natural and great for the environment and worker, but also effective. Since you need to order it online though, make sure you do this long before you need the project to be finished.

Sand

Be sure to use safety goggles and gloves from here through the completion of this project. Sanding the wood is important to get any rough spots, stains, and dirt off. Use a rag and water to wipe down the area first and then allow it to dry completely. You can use a hand sander to keep electricity out of the mix if you wish. This may take longer, but it much more eco-friendly.

Strip Wood

You can apply a thick and even layer of stripper onto the wood using a paintbrush or rag. Check the label to see how long the stripper needs to sit there before being taken off. Typically it is anywhere from five minutes to 25. Natural strippers will often take longer to sit and work in because they do not have strong stripping chemicals in them. Be patient and keep in mind you may need to do this several times.

Scrape off Stripper

After you have allowed the stripper to sit for several minutes or the allotted time, take a scraper and begin to scrape the wood. You will want to start in one corner and just work your way to the other end. You can usually get a lot off in the first try. However, usually, you will need to repeat this twice or more. If that is the case, remove everything you can and then wipe it down with water again. Reapply a thick layer of stripper to the spots that need it and then allow to sit again. Use a scraper and repeat until finished.

Clean Area

Using a recycled rag and the natural cleaner, be sure to wipe down the wood completely to make sure you have gotten all of the stripper cleaned off.

Once you are finished, allow the wood to dry and sit for a few days before treating it.

Source: www.DoItYoursef.com