Category: Flooring

Here’s how to make your carpets look fresh in an hour

If your your carpet is looking less than fresh, you can brighten it up in around an hour with a few low-cost items you probably already have around your home. The best part? You don’t need a steam cleaner.

This process is affordable and easy, and all you need is shaving cream and baking soda.

Remove stains with a blast of foam

First, your carpet probably needs a spot-clean. An easy, low-cost solution to get rid of carpet stains is shaving cream. Spray the stain with some foam shaving cream (not the gel kind) and let it sit for 30 minutes.

Then, blot it with a clean cloth. This solution works on a wide range of stain types, including grease. Before you tackle the stain, do a test patch in an inconspicuous area of your carpet to ensure it won’t cause any discoloration.

Freshen up with some baking soda

Next, sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda on the carpet and let it sit for 10 minutes. How liberal? You’ll need around one box of baking soda per 10 by 10 feet (3 by 3 meters) room.

The baking soda will absorb odors and cling to dirt particles, making them easier to remove. After the 10 minutes is up, just vacuum like normal. Your carpet will be extra fresh and looking clean.

Bonus tip: Get rid of pet smells

Pet smells are almost impossible to get rid of, but there is a solution. Mix 16 ounces (about 500 ml) of warm water with 10 drops of peppermint essential oil (you can use two tablespoons of peppermint extract instead). Then, spray the stinky area with the solution and let it dry.

 

Carpet Maintenance Tips

Installing new carpeting in your home is an investment and a responsibility. You’ve chosen to not only make your home more beautiful and more comfortable, but you’ve also added to its value and taken steps to decrease your heating and/or cooling expense. As such, it is important that you protect your investment with proper carpet maintenance and care so it continues to add beauty and value to your home for many years.

Caring for your carpet is easy with the right tools. All you should need to keep your carpet looking beautiful on a daily basis is a vacuum, a good stain remover and a pair of scissors.

• Vacuum weekly. Try to vacuum at least once a week to keep dirt and debris from becoming embedded in the carpet fibers. If the area sees a lot of foot traffic, you may need to vacuum more often.

Keep in mind that the type of vacuum you use, as well as how you use it makes a big difference. For instance, you’ll want to use the highest setting on the head of your vacuum to avoid damaging the ends of the fibers. Furthermore, your vacuum should have efficient airflow and large wheels as well.

• Address spills immediately. The longer a stain sits on carpeting, the harder it is to get out. Remove as much of the spill as possible by scooping or blotting, and then add a small amount of water and blot with a towel. Only use a stain remover if necessary, and only use one that’s approved for use with your type of carpeting. Always avoid scrubbing the fibers.
• Clip snags. Don’t pull them. When you see snags in the carpet, don’t pull them. Instead, use a pair of sharp scissors to clip the snag even with the rest of the fibers.
• Remove furniture dents. You can remove dents caused by furniture easily by rubbing the edge of a quarter across them to encourage the fibers to stand back up.

 

Clean with baking soda and vinegar

Similar to the methods listed above, using homemade carpet cleaner made of vinegar or baking soda can help refresh your pile, and has the added benefit of spot cleaning.

Start by liberally applying baking soda to the carpet and working it in with a stiff brush.

Baking soda acts as a natural carpet cleaner, both by removing odors and killing bacteria. Make sure to rub it in more than just one direction and use a fair amount of pressure to fully saturate the carpet.

Allow the baking soda to sit overnight, and then vacuum it up.

Next, mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, and liberally coat the area. Use your brush to raise the pile, and let dry. The smell of vinegar will dissipate after a few hours, and you’ll be left with a clean, new-looking patch of carpet.

Make sure not to put the baking soda and vinegar on your carpet at the same time. The result will be a thick, foamy white substance similar to what’s produced in grade school science projects about volcanoes.

Although the cleaning efficacy won’t be reduced, dealing with the additional mess will be time consuming.

 

How to bring carpet back to life

Things like stains, snagging and a flattened pile can make a carpet look like it has seen better days, but there are plenty of things you can do to bring your carpet back to life

Go for the snip

Snagging caused by pet claws or sliding heavy furniture across the room can quickly make carpet look tatty. People often try to remedy the problem by pulling the thread, but this will just create a carpet run, making the problem look even worse. With snagging, the simple solution to bringing your carpet back to life is to trim it with sharp scissors.

We’ve even heard you can use shaving foam (yes, really!)

Stains can instantly age a carpet but help is at hand with good old shaving foam. Yep, from grease to lipstick, shaving foam can see off pretty much any stain and bring your carpet back to life. Just squirt the shaving cream on the stain, leave for 30 minutes then blot with a dry cloth.

Get raking

A carpet rake could be your new best friend in the quest to bring your carpet back to life. It’s a simple tool – basically a rake with small plastic or metal teeth – and a simple process. Just rake towards you, in the opposite direction of the pile, and marvel at your new-look carpet. Not to be used on woven carpet, though. Carpet rakes are available from Amazon, from around £15.

Fluff it up

Matted carpet can easily be brought back to life. Spritz a little warm water onto the matted area then gently blow-dry with a hairdryer as you fluff the carpet fibres back into place with your fingers, the edge of a spoon or a hairpin. Allow the carpet to dry completely before walking on it.

Clean and freshen up

Baking soda is the go-to solution for bringing your carpet back to life. Not only does it clean, it also kills bacteria, refreshes the pile and removes odours. Apply plenty of baking soda to completely cover your carpet then use a stiff brush to work it in, rubbing it in different directions. Leave the baking soda overnight then just vacuum up the next day.

 

Tips For Cleaning And Caring For Your New Carpet

Vacuum

It will not harm your carpet if you vacuum it as soon as it has been laid, and at regular intervals after that, even if it does not look particularly dirty. A new carpet will contain some short fibres which will be removed by vacuuming. The amount of short fibre which is removed from the carpet in the first few weeks after installation can look very dramatic, but in reality it is only a very small proportion of the pile weight and will in no way affect the carpet’s performance. Regular cleaning will help to keep your carpet looking good for years!

Put down barrier mats

Barrier mats are used to help keep your carpet clean. All types of flooring get dirty but some show dirt more than others. Wool rich carpets, because of the nature of the wool fibre, will generally hide it better than synthetic products and will also be easier to clean. However, it’s a good idea to use small mats or an offcut of your new carpet in kitchen doorways or in other areas where the carpet is next to a hard floor to prevent greasy spots spreading to the carpet. Doorways where there is street access will also benefit from a small offcut or rug. Please remember to keep these mats clean so that dirt does not spread onto the carpet.

Deal with stains immediately

Important: Never rub or over wet your carpet when trying to remove marks. It is very important to clean up spillages as soon as they occur. Do not rub as this will roughen and untwist the pile. Solid residues should be gently removed by scraping with a knife, and greasy residues can be treated with an oil/grease remover sprayed onto an absorbent cloth. Blot frequently but do not rub. Liquid spillages should be blotted up as far as possible with a clean, white cloth or absorbent tissue. Then use a WoolSafe-Approved shampoo solution or trouble shooter spray for upholstery and carpet. Moisten the area of the stain and then blot thoroughly with clean tissue or cloths. Repeat as necessary and allow to dry thoroughly before walking on the area. A wet suction vacuum cleaner can also be used to remove spillages and the trouble shooter spray from the carpet. However, do not use water in the machines, as you do not want to over wet the carpet.

How do you remove residue from hardwood floors?

Cleaning can be an essential part of self-care for some people. The feeling of getting something done and the smell of a clean space could send anyone to bliss town. After a long day of cleaning, though, there’s nothing worse than seeing a layer of residue on your supposedly pristine hardwood floors. Your floor may be clean, but you need to take extra steps if you have to remove cleaner residue from wood floors.

Floor Cleaner Residue

Take a mental inventory on every time you’ve cleaned your wood floors. If they’re always sticky or have a layer of residue, technically, you’re not doing anything wrong. It’s the product that you’re using to clean your wood floors. Floor cleaners do make floors clean, but you have to look at what they’re formulated with before you use them. A lot of cleaners contain three main ingredients: water, solvents and surfactant.

The solvents will cut through dirt while the surfactants make it easier to wipe up the dirt. Unfortunately, it’s the surfactants that cause the residue on wood floors. That’s why it’s important not to mix cleaners. Also, you should stick to one cleaner per wash. If you’re noticing that your floor is always sticky, then you may need to dilute your cleaner because of the number of surfactants in the bottle.

Removing Floor Cleaner Residue

If you’re the type of person that likes to make do-it-yourself solutions to clean their house, you may be upset to learn that vinegar is not the best ingredient to use when cleaning wood floors. It can leave marks, as well as eat away at certain types of wood. So, although you could use vinegar to clean your wood floors, you should try to limit the amount you’re using, and how often.

When you’re cleaning hardwood floors, many people think that they’re cleaning the actual wood. You’re actually cleaning the protective layer on the hardwood floor. Vinegar is slightly acidic, so over time, it can break down the finish of your floor. This will leave your floor looking dull over time.

Windex on Wood

If your floors are always getting sticky, try using an ammonia-free glass cleaner on wood like Windex. Ammonia cleans up sticky stains and scuff marks. A lot of people stay away from ammonia because it has a strong chemical smell, so if you hate that smell, try diluting it.

Always make sure that you rinse the Windex on wood, or it will damage your floor over time. When cleaning with Windex on hardwood floors, all you have to do is spray sections and let it sit for two minutes. After it sits, wipe up the dirt. Then, go over the floor one more time with a clean damp cloth to remove the Windex.

Other Residue Removal Hacks

Before you clean your hardwood floors, always sweep or dust mop to get rid of dirt or debris. Don’t soak your floors with a lot of liquid; instead, spray a light mist. You can use a mop, but they leave a lot of water on hardwood floors, so use a microfiber mop instead.

Cloudy Wood Floors

In order to not get cloudy wood floors, prevention is always key. You should always keep maintenance up with the wood floor, as well as stay away from oil soap, wax or wood cleaners that will damage your floor. Also, if you like to use ammonia on your floor, don’t use it often. If you use ammonia every day, it can strip off the finish, as well as warp the wood floors.

 

Why are My Hardwood Floors Hazy?

The most common causes of a hazy or cloudy film on hardwood floors after cleaning are a buildup of floor cleaner, wax buildup, trapped moisture, and bad floor cleaners. All these can make wood floors appear to have a milky, white substance on top of the surface even after cleaning.

Identifying and understanding causes of white haze will help in taking an appropriate removal and restoration method to get it off the wood floor.

I have explained how these distort the shine of your wood floor and how to restore the look below.

Hardwood floors are supposed to have a beauty and luster that bring out the best in your living space. When floors get dull or cloudy, they can be difficult to fix. It’s possible, but without proper knowledge, your efforts to restore the look of your hardwood floors can make matters worse.

Identifying the root causes of cloudy or milky-looking hardwood floors can help get you to a proper solution without hours and hours of trial and error:

• Use of improper cleaners: With a market full of all kinds of wood cleaning products, picking the wrong cleaner gets easier and easier. The types of cleaners that were effective years ago might not have a good effect on modern wood floors. Products like oil soaps, paste wax and furniture polish should be avoided since they are notorious for leaving a hazy, sticky buildup on your floor.
• Frequently change or rinse cleaning pad: Rinse out microfiber cleaning pad thoroughly or change the pad completely between rooms to avoid dragging a dirty pad throughout the house instead of removing the grime off the floor.
• Clean kitchen floors last: Usually kitchen floors have the most dirt and grime buildup, so clean them last to avoid carrying that dirt to other floors in the home.
• Wax buildup: Floors that have a polyurethane finish do not need to be waxed. If waxing a floor that doesn’t need it, the wax will react negatively with the finish and create a cloudy look.
• Cleaner buildup: When cleaning hardwood floors, less is more. A small application of cleaner on a microfiber mop is all that’s needed to clean your floors. Hazy floors can occur when too much cleaner is used.
• issues: Water and hardwood floors don’t mix. While water can be used as part of the cleaning process, too much water on a hardwood floor can damage floors and alter its look. Avoid using a string or sponge mop to clean since they don’t do a good job of absorbing water once they’re fully soaked.
• Improper application of finish: If the finish is applied over a layer of stain, or previous coats of finish aren’t fully dried, the solvent vapors trapped beneath the finish can create this look.

 

How to Remove a Cloudy Haze on Hardwood Floors

Using the appropriate cleaner for your hardwood floors will prevent the buildup of cloudy or milky substances after cleaning. However, if you ready have the white stuff forming, you might want to explore some ways to fix the problem.

Here’s how to remove a cloudy buildup from your hardwood floors:

• Remove the carpet or the furniture or any item on the cloudy area
• Fill a bucket with luke-warm water
• Dip a microfiber cloth in the luke-warm water and wring to leave it just damp.
• Gently rub and wipe the area with the cloudy film with the damp cloth until it is gone.
• Pat the area dry with a clean cloth or Re-washable Microfiber Mop Pads.
• Allow some time to air dry before you return your area rug and furniture in place

 

Use of Mayonnaise

Use olive oil in mayonnaise to leach out water in cases where the cloudy haze is a result of blushing out.

Here is the procedure for using olive oil in mayonnaise.

• Take the mayonnaise and spread it on the cloudy deposits.
• Leave it overnight to seep in and replace the water in the cloudy area.
• Wipe off the mayonnaise in the morning with a dry cloth.

Use of Steam Cleaner

Steam cleaning remains one of the best of removing stain and stubborn dirt and grime on the hardwood floors when uses appropriately. Steam cleaning is capable of getting rid of white haze out of the hardwood floor. It has an added advantage of sanitizing the floor by killing 99% of household germs an even get rid of bug menace on your floor.

Always pick the best steam mop for hardwood floors to avoid floor damage as well as get effective results. Another main benefit is steam uses water but not harsh chemicals thus leaves your floor safe for pets and kids.

However, only use a steam cleaner machine on sealed floors. Take precautions to avoid over steaming one area, failure to which it will damage and leave white spots on your hardwood floor.

 

Tips & Tricks to Polish Hardwood Floors

When it comes to polishing hardwood floors, it’s best to approach the job with a gentle hand. There’s no need to aggressively work the polish into your floors. Let the polish do all the work when applying.

• Get your floor ready. Remove furniture, dry mop and clean with Bona PowerPlus Hardwood Floor Cleaner.
• Measure your room and know your square footage. One 32oz bottle of Polish covers 500 sq. ft. You will use one full bottle of Polish for every 500 sq ft.
• Do not shake the bottle of polish—gently rock it back and forth for 30 seconds to 1 minute to assure a consistent sheen level.
• Spread a nice even layer of polish across the floor so it can self-level.
• Let the applicator pad do the work—just guide the puddle of polish back and forth with the wood grain… only fingertip pressure on your mop.
• Work in small sections on the floor, making sure you don’t trap yourself in a corner!
• Only Polish floors every 2-4 months, or longer depending on the traffic in your home.

Seamless Epoxy Flooring Provides Durability and Aesthetics

Homeowners have several options to explore when it comes to flooring, but some are better than others. For those looking for long-lasting floors that are visually appealing, seamless epoxy floors can make for a great option. To better understand the benefits of such flooring, it’s good to learn a bit more about what makes it so special.

Those who have kids are sure to appreciate how enduring an epoxy floor is. Further proof of this is the fact that epoxy is used in industrial buildings. Even better is the fact that the material is watertight, which allows it to last even longer. In terms of maintenance, seamless epoxy floors are among the most sanitary and skid-proof, and they aren’t prone to collecting dust, which gives homeowners one less task to worry about.

One of the best things about epoxy is that there’s no need to tear up old flooring before putting it down. It can be applied as a coating to a home’s current floors or any new floors being put down in the future. Once the material is applied, floors are sure to look new for several years to come. Something else to consider with an epoxy floor is that it’s easily adaptable in terms of color. Besides selecting a color from a regular color scheme, homeowners are free to add a clear coat or specks of color for subtle visual interest.

 

Epoxy floor coating

Is a flooring surface made up of multiple layers of epoxy applied to the floor to a depth of less than two millimetres. Epoxy is made up of resins and hardeners. The resin and hardener are mixed together to chemically react. This forms a rigid plastic material that is strong, resistant to degradation, and which bonds extremely well to its substrate.

Epoxy floors are incredibly strong and can be used in the most demanding industrial environments as well as provide a beautiful addition to a regular trafficked floor. High grade epoxy resin is used to upgrade surfaces, obtain coloured effects, protect floors against corrosion, and achieve a water tight effect. All of these qualities provide longer durability of surfaces.

 

Epoxy guards against oil and contaminants

Which ensures fewer pollution from soil and dust can be brought into the home or company. Epoxy offers a moisture resistant layer and is waterproof. When elected to build an epoxy base, levels of radon gas are minimized. With several customization choices and light reflectivity, epoxy offers a special and sturdy flooring product.

Every single project on the floor is special. Coating strategies add value to the floor by having it shinier, more durable, and better covered. Applicants are dedicated to offering personalized floor covering and design solutions for increasing flooring need.

Attractive epoxy floors can render every environment attractive and bring value to the framework under which the floors are being built. Epoxy can preserve and prolong concrete life when poured on the previous concrete flooring. Epoxy floors are easy to disinfect, and are highly bacteria-resistant

 

Epoxy could breathe new life into old floors.

It is able to be put on existing floors along with brand-new ones. The finish is a wonderful technique to makes sure commercial or shop floors will certainly look their best and also the finish will certainly last for many years. Epoxy will certainly secure floorings with a plastic-like finish.

It can be found in a range of colors and styles. An easy, solid color epoxy flooring is best for industrial companies. This color could be selected from a standard color combination. There is likewise the alternative of including color flakes as well as a clear coat, giving floorings a display room look. Materials made use of to earn epoxy floorings are more powerful compared to concrete.

Covering made use of in smooth floorings is UV resistant against rain and sunshine, created to beam for several years. Epoxy finish is very simple to clean and also it does not grab dust. The installation is simple as well as fast. It can be made use of in any place where floor covering is needed and also supplies an ideal finish.

 

Tips for Maintaining Epoxy Flooring

I mop the epoxy flooring two or three times each year. Occasionally, I vacuum up debris with the shop vac, but everything else is just spot cleaning. It’s not much work to have a floor that is visually attractive and welcomes guests. Compare that to most other garages that have stains, concrete wear, dusting and other issues. You get the picture.

Whether you have professional epoxy coatings for your garage, basement, porch, sunroom or pole barn, the maintenance and usage tips are usually the same

For minor spills or vehicle drippings, simply wipe them up with a paper towel or other soft cloth.

Routine maintenance cleaning is best achieved with either a soft bristle broom or a blue commercial dust mop (available at any home improvement store).

For heavy cleaning of a soiled epoxy floor, sweep away any loose debris and then mop floor with a hard foam mop, hot water and clear ammonia. Four to five ounces of ammonia per gallon of water is all that is needed to adequately remove soiling

Some winter road “pre-treatment” compounds leave a hazy film on epoxy floor coatings after cleaning. This can normally be removed with hot water and a deck brush (found at most hardware stores). Continuous rinsing may be required to keep the compounds from drying onto new areas of the floor.

Carpet Buying Guide

Set the Expectation

Before you shop for new carpet, create a set of expectations for yourself to ease the buying process.

When do you need it? In-stock and Special Order carpets are available depending on your time frame.

How long do you want the carpet to last? Different fibers offer different performance with foot traffic in the home. If you’re making a short-term investment, polyester fiber will sustain you. If you need something long-lasting, explore nylon.

What’s your budget? A smart carpet budget accounts for all three pieces of the carpet puzzle: carpet, pad and installation.

Fiber

It’s the carpet material itself. Single fibers are spun together to create two-, three- or four-ply yarn, which is then attached to a woven backing.

Pile

Pile refers to the height of the fiber and is also referred to as face or nap.

Density

It’s the measure of how closely packed the strands of fiber are to one another. The higher the density, the stronger the carpet.

Weight

Weight is measured in ounces per square yard. Face weight refers to the amount of fiber on the surface of the carpet, while total weight includes the backing and latex as well. High face weight is a good indication of quality. When using weight to compare carpets, make sure you’re comparing similar materials, like nylon to nylon, not nylon to polyester.

 

How to buy the best carpet

Whether you’re carpeting a new room or replacing some worn or daggy carpet you’ve had way too long, it’s probably time to get an update on what’s out there. Buying the wrong carpet can be an expensive mistake, so roll up and read on as we lay on piles of useful information.

Material matters

No one fibre is best for everyone – the best carpet choice for you depends on where it will be, who’ll be using it, how much traffic it will get, and the size of your budget.

Wool carpet

Just like your favourite jumper, wool carpet is warm, luxurious and durable. It’s also generally more expensive than other fibres. Wool is good for living areas where appearance is important. It’s naturally stain resistant in that it resists liquid-based spills and releases dirt easily, but you’ll want to clean up spills quickly. Cheaper wool carpets are likely to pill.

Nylon carpet

Nylon is a tough and durable man-made fibre. It’s very popular for carpets – it’s cheaper than wool and some even look as good but with added stain resistance. Nylon carpet will hold its colour against cleaning and sunlight, and it’s ideal for use in high-traffic areas for families with children or pets.

Polypropylene carpet

Polypropylene is a synthetic fibre, popular because it’s inexpensive, water resistant and durable. It’s often used for rental properties, garages or playrooms. However it looks and feels cheap – because it is.

 

How to choose Carpeting

Does the thought of choosing new carpeting for your home from make your head spin? Are there just too many decisions to make? With so many styles, colors, and fibers to choose from, it can be overwhelming.

Choosing a Flooring Store with a Great Reputation

Yes, having carpeting installed in your home can be fun and In the long run, new carpeting it’s an excellent investment. By doing a bit of comparison shopping, some research, and choosing a carpet retailer with a good reputation, you’ll discover which carpet will fit your needs, is the highest quality you can afford and will look beautiful in your home. You’ll be able to make your purchase with complete confidence

Why Carpet?

Wood, vinyl, and tile flooring are currently trendy; however, they can also be cold, hard, and noisy. A luxurious and cozy feeling under your feet can only be accomplished with carpet. A softer landing on carpeting can reduce the risk of injury during a fall and offer a safer and more comfortable surface for kids to play on. With its overall warmth, sound absorption, and comfort, there’s simply no substitute!

Carpeting 101

This article offers some basic information regarding carpet styles, types of fibers, how to recognize quality, deciding on a color and pattern, and more, to help you with your purchase. And don’t forget about choosing the correct padding underneath! What is the best carpet if you have children or pets? When selecting a floor covering, what should you keep in mind? What’s better – synthetic fibers or natural ones? What’s the difference between textured, Berber, loop, and cut pile? What are the benefits of each type of carpet?

Carpet Buying Tips

With so many designs, colors, and materials available, it can be challenging to make the best choice for your home’s flooring. Be aware that some colors and fibers may require more frequent cleaning and vacuuming that won’t fit into your busy work/life schedule. Others may be too expensive, and some may even affect your health with added chemicals. Choose the wrong carpet, and it may wear out too fast, the colors may fade, or quickly become stained even with your best efforts to keep it clean. With the following tips in mind, you can protect your investment and choose the best carpeting for your home and lifestyle.

 

How to Choose the Best Carpet for a Modern Home

When most people think of a modern floor covering, they usually think of tiles, real wood or vinyl. Carpet is very much a traditionalist’s choice these days, but it can deliver a contemporary aesthetic every bit as impressive as its alternatives.

Carpets look and feel warm, and they simply scream comfort. Let’s face it: who doesn’t like to walk barefooted across a warm, sumptuous carpet? Carpets are great insulators, and they provide a welcome alternative to the couch when you need to stretch

Consider Durability

One of the reasons so many people choose hard flooring is that it tends to be more durable and easier to clean than carpet. While that’s true in most cases, some fibers are more robust and low-maintenance than others.

Nylon

Nylon is durable, water-resistant and very easy to clean. It also delivers a degree of protection from permanent staining. This manmade material is soft to the touch, but it doesn’t deliver the same level of luxury you’ll get from a wool carpet. However, a short-pile carpet made with nylon can work well in a contemporary space with a minimalist aesthetic.

Polyester

Polyester is even softer than nylon, but that doesn’t always bode well for durability. Polyester carpets don’t look great in traditional rooms, but they actually work well in modern spaces with neutral decor.

 

How to Choose the Best Type of Carpet for Your Home

when you are building or remodeling your home, your flooring choices can easily become overwhelming. You have to consider things like allergies, pets, your family and which rooms get the most traffic. As you browse, how do you know which material or style of carpet is right? This guide covers several factors you should consider to help you make the best choice.

What Are Piles?

Piles describe how manufacturers use the fibers to make the carpet. The yarn is usually looped or cut to a certain length and twisted to stay in place.

Low Pile Carpet

The height affects the wear, appearance and feel of the material. A short pile carpet has yarn cut to 0.25” or less.

Plush Carpet

The plush style is trimmed off so that yarn ends poke up. Saxony plush, one of the most popular varieties, has short tufts that are densely packed to look like a thick carpet. It doesn’t tend to wear as well as loops.

Textured Carpet

Textured carpet features strands of varying lengths to create a feeling of depth and variety. Since it is fairly durable and trackless, it’s useful for areas that see more traffic.

Benefits Of Epoxy Flooring

Whether you need to refurbish outdated flooring or seal your concrete surface, epoxy floor coating can transform your space while fortifying your flooring. This floor coating is surprisingly useful for preserving concrete surfaces and protecting against harsh impacts — all while showcasing a glossy finish. Coating the floor of an auto shop, room or garage has many benefits. Epoxy floor coating is resilient and seals your floor, bringing safety and beauty to any well-trafficked area. If your floor is uncoated and has been left open to damage, epoxy can shield your floor from any further damage and bring a level of professional refinement it may be lacking.

What Is Epoxy Floor Coating?

Epoxy floor coating is made of epoxide resin, polyamine hardener and other additives. When not used as a floor coating, it is often used as an adhesive. As it is mixed, it forms a chemical reaction that gives your floor distinct qualities. One of the most important qualities that this chemical reaction produces is new stability and endurance in the surface. This process seals and cures the surface it is applied to, forming a firm bond. Check out the advantages of epoxy floor coatings to determine if this is the right choice for your space.

 

Here are the major benefits of installing epoxy coating in your building:

1. Durability: Concrete floors coated in epoxy last longer and resist considerable wear, thus saving you money and allowing you to manage other business concerns.
2. Strength: Once the epoxy has been converted to a solid polymer, it becomes incredibly strong and prevents chemical breakdown.
3. Saves time: Epoxy flooring is usually quickly and easily installed, which means less time shutting down production for installation.
4. Low maintenance cleaning: Once concrete has the epoxy coating, it is no longer porous since sealed and is therefore easier to clean.
5. Aesthetic: Coatings are usually available in an array of colors and patterns to fit your specific style.
6. Chemically resistant: Epoxy coatings can survive continued exposure to potent chemicals, which is perfect for warehouses or plants that may be exposed to such materials.
7. Safety: These coatings are also resistant to slippage, temperature, extreme impact and even fire, maintaining both the safety of your employees and your building.
8. Brightness: Typically, a high gloss option for coatings can be provided, which improves lighting in your facility to a significant degree due to reflection.
9. Lowers vehicle maintenance: Choosing an epoxy coating can also reduce wear on vehicles in your facility because it is more forgiving on machinery.
10. Helps the environment: Lastly, epoxy coatings are a green option for your business because of the reduction in material usage. It is a great alternative to adding on a completely new floor or replacing vehicles due to damage.

 

Cons of Epoxy Floor Coatings

Epoxy Can Be A Hassle to Apply

Epoxy floor coating doesn’t require a lot of intensive labor to install it, but the trade-off is the necessity for specific conditions of the surrounding environment during install. First, the existing floor that the epoxy will be applied to needs to be thoroughly cleaned to remove any oil, dirt, or other residues, and the floor needs to be smoothed out as much as possible. Any defects in the floor will affect the epoxy coating. Next, the pitch and hardener have to be mixed correctly or the solution won’t cure properly. Finally, if the environment is too moist, the epoxy won’t adhere correctly. This is a problem that is especially concerning for applications such as storm cellars, which may never be dried out enough for the epoxy to adhere. The good news is our team of specialists have mastered the art of concrete coating installations.

Dropping Heavy Objects May Cause Epoxy to Chip

Despite its durability under most circumstances, epoxy is vulnerable to chipping. Repeated stress from sudden contact with heavy objects is the most prevalent cause of chipping. As a result, epoxy isn’t the best choice for an environment where the floor will sustain frequent abuse from heavy objects.

Epoxy Has A High Level of VOCs

Although epoxy is perfectly safe when it’s dry, while it’s still wet it can emit fumes containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). To avoid inhaling the potentially harmful fumes, appropriate protection such as a mask and gloves should be used during the installation process.

Exposure to UV Rays Can Cause Epoxy to Yellow

Lastly, using an epoxy coating isn’t appropriate in a location that’s frequently exposed to direct sunlight. UV rays cause epoxy to turn yellow over time, which alters the color of the flooring if it receives too much sunlight.

 

Cleaning Epoxy Floors

For a long-lasting epoxy floor, follow the recommended cleaning procedures. Using rough brushes or pads will abrade the surface and remove the coatings/sealers. The cleaner you keep your floors, the longer they will last because dirt, sand, and other particles will not be worn over the surface (in essence, like sandpaper). Despite the durability of epoxy floors, it is still possible for continuous use on the surface to cause damage. If your epoxy floor begins to show damage due to abuse, it is important to repair the issue so that the damage does not spread. A reputable flooring company will provide you with a warranty. Recoating and retexturing as needed will keep the floor in good condition and prevent the base system from being worn down.

 

Epoxy Floor Coating Preparation

An epoxy coating requires a clean and slightly porous surface to adhere properly. Epoxy may not bond to sealed or polished concrete. The concrete also must be fully cured. Before apply epoxy floor coating, it is important to patch and repair all major cracks and chips in the concrete surface and to remove all grease.

If the concrete is old, test the surface for previous layers of epoxy or other products that might have been applied over the years. To test for sealant, pour a small amount of water onto the floor. It should soak in. If the water beads on the surface rather than soaking in, it likely has been sealed and may not be suitable for an epoxy coating.

Before applying an epoxy coating, make sure that the temperature is suitable, and follow all manufacturer’s recommendations. Unfavorable temperatures can cause the epoxy to bubble and peel. Epoxy is a two-part liquid that you mix before application. Once the product is mixed, you have a limited time to apply the epoxy coating before it starts to harden.