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Hard Surface Flooring | Flooring Supply Shop Blog - Part 7

Maintain Concrete Pavers and Brick

How To Seal & Maintain Concrete Interlocking Pavers & Brick

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The following information is based on product application reports and manufactures information and is provided in good faith to assist the consumer. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND PRODUCT LABELS COMPLETELY BEFORE USING. PRE-TEST IN AN INCONSPICUOUS AREA PRIOR TO APPLICATION TO DETERMINE IF THE DESIRED RESULTS ARE ACHIEVED.

Unsealed interlocking pavers & brick are subject to staining, fading, sand loss, and can sometimes develop weeds and mildew growth. With proper sealing and maintenance your pavers will be more likely to have a long lasting, beautiful and durable life and appearance. The sealer selection for Interlocking Pavers, brick and other types of sand set pavement material is generally based on the desired “finished” look and the degree of stain resistance required as well as the need for joint sand stabilization. Most paver installations will benefit from a sealer that has joint sand stabilizing properties. Use of Glaze ‘N Seal’s Paver Sealer & Joint Stabilizer will protect from stains, oil and fading as well as sand erosion.

Recommended Product Stain Resistance Finished Look Comment
Paver Sealer/Stabilizer Excellent Low-Medium Sheen Water-based – Film-forming

Surface Preparation

Newly manufactured concrete pavers should cure 14 days or more before sealing. Follow paver manufacturer’s recommendations. Prior to the application of Glaze ‘N Seal’s sealer products, surface must be thoroughly clean. Remove all dirt, oil, grease, paint, efflorescence and any previous sealers that may not be compatible with the new sealer. General cleaning may be done using Glaze ‘N Seal’s alkaline base Heavy Duty Cleaner. Mix the concentrated detergent according to label instruction depending on severity of surface soils. For Efflorescence stains or hard water deposits, use Glaze ‘N Seal’s mild acidic cleaner Efflorescence Remover. Note…(When acid has been used for any reason, surface must be neutralized). For neutralizing, we recommend Glaze ‘N Seal’s Neutralizing Rinse. Always read cleaning product instructions and cautions with any cleaner.

After tamping down joint sand and sweeping the sanded areas for new installations, be sure the sand is at least 1/8 inch below the surface of the pavers. Make sure all sand residue and fine powder is removed with broom & blower before application of any film forming sealers. Allow any moisture in or on the surface of the pavers to dry at least 24 hours. Allow 48 hours or more if temperatures are cool or a pressure washer has been used. For best results the sand should be dry to its full depth before sealing. It is always recommended to test the sealer of choice in a small area first. Always read product label and directions carefully before beginning to use any sealer products.

Seal

  • Apply Glaze ‘N Seal’s Paver Sealer & Joint Stabilizer to a clean dry surface using a compressed air hand pump garden-type sprayer. Apply a heavy saturating coat of sealer. Ensure that all joints are flooded to maximize sealer soaking into the dry sand. Immediately squeegee any excess product down into the sand joints using a large foam or rubber squeegee. Avoid puddling on the surface. An optional second thin coat may be applied to the surface of the pavers after two hours if desired to increase protection & gloss. Ideal surface temperatures should be above 55° and below 85°.
  • After final coat, allow sealer to dry 2 hrs before foot traffic. Limit heavy traffic. Keep vehicular traffic and moisture off for 72 hours while sealer cure

Maintenance & Other Sealer Options For Concrete Interlocking Pavers & Brick

Seal

  • Maintain your pavers with periodic cleaning of grease, dirt, loose soil and hard-water stains with Glaze N Seal’s (Heavy Duty Cleaner). For stubborn grease spots use Heavy Duty Cleaner in a more concentrated formulation. Rinse surface well with water.
  • Reapply maintenance coats of sealer as needed. All Glaze N Seal sealers are re-coatable. Make sure surface is clean and dry at time of reapplication.

If Considering Other Glaze ‘N Seal Sealers For Concrete Interlocking Pavers & Brick, See Options Recommended From Chart Below

Finished Look Stain Resistance Recommended Product Comment
“Wet Look” Excellent-S, O, W “Wet Look Lacquer” Solvent-based – Film-forming
Low-Medium Sheen Excellent-S, O, W Multi-Purpose Sealer* Solvent-based – Film-forming
“Natural Look” Excellent-S, O, W Stone Sealant Impregnator Water-based – Penetrating
“Natural Look” Excellent-W Natural Look Penetrating Sealer* Water-based – Penetrating

Stain Resistance: Stain (S ) Oil (O) Water (W)

*Economical water repellant. If a natural look with oil resistance is needed, use Stone Sealant Impregnator.

  • If a deeper wet look appearance is desired, Glaze ‘N Seal’s “Wet Look” Lacquer can be applied to an unsealed surface, When applying film-forming sealers as “Wet Look” Lacquer or Multi Purpose sealer, use 2-3 thin even coats. Minimize foaming. A solvent resistant spray applicator is recommend when applying “Wet Look” Lacquer“.
  • Glaze N Seal’s Natural Look Penetrating Sealer may be used to provide a long lasting water protection that looks natural on the paver surface. Glaze ’N Seal’s Stone Sealant Impregnator will provide premium stain, oil and water protection that looks natural on the surface. When using penetrating-type sealers Stone Sealant Impregnator or Natural Look Penetrating Sealer, apply one liberal coat using a sprayer or roller. Do not allow excess Natural Look Penetrating Sealer to dry on the surface. Wipe up excess sealer before it dries. After 10-24 hrs check repellent by dropping water droplets on surface to check for water bead. If need apply second coat.

More information on how to clean Seal and maintenance your hard surface

Floating Floor the Preferred Choice

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Flooring can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your house, provided it is appropriately installed. Right installation of the flooring is as important as choosing the right flooring material. Nowadays, people are increasingly opting for floating floor. Floating floor, a misnomer, is actually a floor installation method, which is wrongly confused by many as a type of flooring material. In floating floor, the flooring material generally consists of planks, which are installed without being glued, stapled, or nailed to the subfloor. Instead, of being fastened to the subfloor, the planks are joined to one another; allowing the floor to ‘float’ over the surface underneath.

Homeowners can choose amongst the different types of floating floors; such as the ‘glue together’, which is an older version of floating floor. The glue together floating floor is assembled with the help of appropriate adhesive and pressure applied on the planks, to bind it together. Another version of floating floor is the ‘click together’, which is also referred to as ‘enter click’ or ‘tongue and groove’. In this, the edges of the planks are so designed that these easily click together, when combined and tapped on the edge toward one another. This does not require the use of any adhesive, making installation hassle-free and time-saving. The latest as well as the fastest floating floor option is the ‘lock and fold’ system, which requires neither tapping of the planks nor sticking them with glue. In this type of floating system, the planks are attached with the help of a special milled interlocking system.

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The rising popularity of the floating floor is due to the various benefits it offers. The biggest advantage of choosing floating floor is that it is convenient and hassle-free, which saves both effort and time. This installation method is so easy that the flooring of the room can be completed in just a few hours; irrespective of whether the installer is amateur or experienced. In addition, the floating floor is available in a wide range of material, such as hardwood, linoleum, bamboo, cork and plastic laminate. Depending upon their preferences and budget, homeowners can choose amongst any of the available options.

Floating floor is an ideal choice for areas with high humidity or moisture problem. Most of the flooring options are affected by fluctuations in moisture and humidity. Wooden planks, for example, tend to contract when humidity is low and expand when humidity is high; thereby causing gaps and buckling, respectively. In contrast, since the floating floor is not fastened to the underlying surface, it contracts and expands as one complete unit without giving rise to gaps or buckling. Besides, spacers are left alongside the walls to allow for expansion.

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As floating floor is generally available as planks, homeowners only need to replace the damaged ones, rather than change the whole flooring. As a result, homeowners tend to save significant amount of money. Additionally, it is less expensive than most of the other flooring choices.

Owing to all these benefits, floating floor has become a preferred choice of more and more homeowners.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Cheetah Pads Free Training Class

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Simply buy one set of 17″ or 20″ Cheetah Pads and we will spend 8 hours teaching you how to MAXIMIZE RESULTS AND PRODUCTIVITY by utilizing the fastest, most innovative, eco-friendly stone restoration system on the planet!

Get all the tips first hand from the inventor and mad-scientist himself, Dana Kothrade! Learn how to save time, save money, and go green! No boring power-points and lengthy classroom lectures!

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Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Try Cheetah Pads:

1. Cheetah Pads can reduce your labor costs by as much as 70%

2. Lower your material cost by up to 75% using Cheetah pads and water only! No expensive diamond disks or crystallizers ever needed!

3. 100% eco-friendly! With the Cheetah Pads you never have to worry about using any harsh chemicals around children, pets, and even yourself!

4. Achieve results better than factory finish in half the time!

5. Cheetah Pads make stone restoration easier than ever before. If you can count to 4 you can polish a floor!

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Diamond Pads That Perform Stone Restoration in Half The Time

  • Very easy To Use
  • Up to 70% reduction in labor
  • As much as 75% lower cost
  • Work well on any floor buffer, orbital or planetary machine
  • No heavy duty equipment required
  • Extremely fast cutting
  • No chemicals used, only water
  • No acidic components
  • Extreme concentration of micro abrasives
  • Works incredibly well on ALL Marbles, Travertine, Limestone, Terrazzo and Polished Concrete
  • Chemical free Diamond pads are an Eco Friendly way to achieve a dull hone on Travertine, Marble, or Limestone Floors, countertops or walls.
  • Use on floors walls or countertops with little to no lippage (uneven tiles).
  • Pads remove wear and provide a variety of appearance levels from dull hone (no shine) to highly polished.
  • Safe on all stones and tile, will not damage any stone
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Eco Friendly Stone Polishing Pads Video’s

Waterproof Flooring Safe and Hassle-free

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Choosing the right flooring for your home is an important decision which needs to be made wisely. You need to select a practical and affordable flooring option, which suits your requirements as well as budget. Moreover, different areas of the house require different types of flooring. For example, if you are planning to install flooring in your bathroom, patio or by the pool side; then the material chosen must be waterproof.

If the flooring in these parts of your home is not water resistant, it can lead to quite a few problems. One of the biggest concerns is that the floor becomes slippery, which can lead to accidents. It can also result in water logging, seepage, mold growth and other such problems, which can be dangerous and unhygienic, and may also adversely affect the look of the place. In order to avoid such inconveniences, you should consider installing waterproof flooring in areas with high exposure to water or moisture.

There are numerous waterproof flooring options available in the market. Linoleum, which is a ‘green’ flooring option, is quite popular with homeowners for its water resistant properties. This waterproof flooring option is available in a wide range of designs, colors and thicknesses. In addition, this easy to install flooring is also easy to maintain; you only have to wipe it with a damp cloth to remove different kind of stains.

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Another waterproof flooring option that more and more homeowners are opting for is tiles. These are available in different sizes, colors, patterns, and designs; which suit diverse requirements of different homeowners. Further, the tiles are available in various kinds, such as porcelain tiles that are appreciated for their precise measurement. You can even choose natural tiles, which add to the aesthetic appeal by rendering a natural look to the room. Another great option is the ceramic tiles, which are available in assortment of colors, designs, and sizes. You can choose different colored tiles to create unique patterns that enhance the look of your home.

Vinyl, another waterproof flooring option, is durable, tough and affordable. The versatile material beautifully imitates the look of various expensive flooring options like wood and ceramic tiles, without having to deal with their drawbacks. Though it is water resistant, some vinyl floors can however become slippery. Hence, make sure that the vinyl you select is slip resistant, along with being water resistant. Furthermore, you have the option to select either single or roll flooring; where the latter proves a better option as it leaves less gaps and seams for water penetration.

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You can also opt for cork flooring, which is appreciated for its resilience and flexibility. This natural, biodegradable as well as recyclable material is hypoallergenic as well as anti-static. Further, you can also select floating laminate flooring, which is not attached to the underlying surface, rather floats over it; thereby leaving no room for water to seep through.

With so many waterproof flooring options available, it can become daunting for homeowners to select the right one. Hence, while selection keep certain things, like durability, cost, and maintenance into consideration. Choose the flooring that meets your requirements, without making a dent in your pocket.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

PEI Scale Ceramic and Porcelain

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Sometimes it becomes very difficult to choose among the different types of tiles one can use at home, offices and other places. PEI Scale was established with the view to resolve these kinds of confusions and help people make a wise decision. The ratings, undoubtedly, prove beneficial for the consumers to decide as to which type of tile goes well with which kind of floor or wall surface.

Porcelain Enamel Institute, an organization concerned with the betterment of the porcelain industry since 1930, set up the PEI Scale to provide certain common and universally accepted yardsticks. These give appraisal of different types of tiles and their use, thereby, acting as a valuable guide for the consumers. The PEI Ratings are popularly resorted to while deciding upon which variety of tile is best suitable to meet their requirements. It gives a clear picture of the hardness of specific varieties of tiles and help in zeroing down to a particular type. Although ratings are given for both ceramics and porcelain tiles, people tend to focus more on the former at the expense of ignoring the latter which are equally important. However, it is advisable to pay attention to both while determining the right type of tile if one wants to get value for money.

The PEI Scale works by bringing to fore the resistance and endurance level of an enameled surface which gives a fairly clear idea about the kind of foot traffic it can survive as well as how durable it is. Once assigned, these are extremely helpful in taking decisions regarding their suitability in a given context of use. PEI Scale divides the various types of tiles under five different categories which are decided keeping numerous factors in mind.

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If on one hand tiles falling under class 0 are deemed unfit for flooring purposes; then on the other hand, there is class 1 that implies that the tiles categorized under them are suitable to be used for commercial and residential walls. Additionally, the tiles under class 1 are shown to be tolerant towards bare foot traffic. Similarly, class 2 can bear the burden of what has been called soft soled traffic and can comfortably be used for bath and wall floor, making them ideal for use in homes.

Class 3 tiles stands out from those mentioned so far as these find favor with both light commercial floors and all types of residential floors. Class 4 tiles are in a different league altogether as these are considered competent for catering to light industrial, institutional, and medium commercial areas. Tiles falling under the class 5 have been declared to be highly durable and resistant to extra heavy traffic. Furthermore, these are also hailed as chemically more resistant and tolerant towards dirt that is inimical to its quality.

Although PEI Scale can prove to be a useful aid in taking the crucial decision regarding the right type of tiles a person should purchase one must not bank on them exclusively. One must take into consideration other important factors like bond strength, glaze, hardness, shape, and dimension and water absorption, while taking a final decision.

Group I: Suitable only for residential bathrooms.
Group II: Suitable for general residential areas, except for kitchens, hallways or other heavy traffic areas.
Group III: Suitable for all residential and light commercial applications like offices and reception areas
Group IV: Suitable for any residential and moderate commercial applications.
Group V: Suitable for all residential and all commercial applications.

CLASS 0: Tiles technically unsuitable for floors.
CLASS 1: Residential and commercial wall and bare foot traffic.
CLASS 2: Wall and residential bath floor, and soft soled traffic.
CLASS 3: All residential floors and light commercial floors.
CLASS 4: Medium commercial, light industrial and institutional, moderate soiling.
CLASS 5: Extra heavy traffic, abrasive dirt, chemically more resistant.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Hard Surface Flooring | Flooring Supply Shop Blog - Part 7