Remove Mold and Mildew from Vinyl Flooring

While vinyl flooring is affordable, sturdy, resilient, and durable, mildew can damage this type of flooring, causing unpleasant odors, and even damage to your home foundation if it is not kept in check. Therefore, cleaning your vinyl floors frequently is important.

As you clean your floor, make sure that your body does not come into contact with mold. Wear long pants, long sleeves, a face mask and goggles to protect your skin and lungs. It is also important that you select a cleaning agent that is non-toxic and safe for your skin. White vinegar is a good alternative to bleach or commercial cleaners to remove mold because it produces an environment that is too acidic for mold to survive. Another alternative is boric acid, although boric acid is toxic if swallowed. If you go with boric acid or vinegar, mix your cleaning solution with one part vinegar or boric acid to four parts water.

What You’ll Need:

• Broom
• Dust pan
• Garbage pail
• Bucket
• Strong bristle scrub brush
• Rubber gloves
• Small scrub brush or toothbrush
• Water
• Bleach or another oxygenated cleaner
• Paper or cloth towels
• Super absorbent cloth
• Clean scrub-brush
• Spray bottle filled with mildew stain remover
• Sponge mop
• Clean sponge

Step 1 – Clear the Floor

Remove furniture, carpet mats, and other such items from your floor. Sweep the floor and empty the contents from your dustpan into a garbage pail.

Step 2 – Mix Your Cleaning Solution

Fill your bucket with one part household cleaning detergent and five parts water. A good alternative to use is bleach. If you are not comfortable with bleach, you can also try a commercial oxygenated cleaner.

Step 3 – Start Scrubbing

Rub the floor vigorously with a strong-bristle scrub brush. Immerse the scrub brush several times into the solution and continue scrubbing. Use a small brush or a toothbrush to scrub mold that may be hiding in nooks, crannies, and corners.

Step 4 – Soak Up the Water

Use paper towels or cloth towels to soak up all of the excess water. Discard your paper towels or wash your towels in the washing machine. Be sure to wash them separately so that the bleach or cleaning solution does not come into contact with anything else.

Step 5 – Scrub Some More

Using a clean scrub brush, scrub the floor completely again, but this time use only clean water. Work in sections and wipe up the moisture with a super absorbent cloth or towel.

Step 6 – Allow Your Floor To Dry

Leave the floor exposed to the air to dry completely.

Step 7 – Spray with Mildew Stain Remover Or Bleach

Use a spray bottle to spray the floor with a mildew stain remover. Let it sit for two to three minutes to activate. Rub the floor with a sponge mop to spread the stain remover evenly. Let it dry.

Step 8 – Rinse Your Floor

Use clean water and a sponge to rinse off the mildew stain remover. Cover the floor section by section, until you have treated the entire floor.

Step 9 – Let Your Floor Dry

Allow your floor to dry completely before putting anything back on it.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Install Glue-down Vinyl Plank Flooring On a Wood Sub Floor

Vinyl plank flooring is one of the most versatile and beautiful floors that you could install in your home. With vinyl plank flooring, you get a very durable floor that does not have issues with water like some other floors do. You can get a realistic wood look or even a tile or natural stone look with this type of flooring. It is more affordable than the real thing and usually performs better. It is warmer under foot than other types of hard surface flooring and is easier to clean. Installing it on top of a wood subfloor is something that can be done with the proper knowledge. Here are the basics of how to install a vinyl plank floor on top of a wood subfloor.

What You’ll Need:

• Utility Knife
• Straight edge
• Tape measure
• Nail gun or hammer (optional)
• Nails (optional)
• 1/4″ Underlayment (optional)
• Proper adhesive
• Roller
• Trowel or paint roller (depending on adhesive)

Step 1 – Determine How Much You Need

The great thing about using planks instead of sheet vinyl is that it is very easy to figure out how much you need. Take the tape measure and measure the length and width of the areas that are to be covered. Break it down into rectangles and squares so that you can multiply it out. Multiply the length times the width of the areas and add them together. Then add 10% for overage.

Step 2 – Order the Material

Once you know how much you need, visit the flooring store of your choice. A flooring specialty store is going to be your best bet as they know what they are talking about when it comes to floors. Choose the style that you want and be prepared to order it. You also need to determine what type of adhesive you need. Some types of vinyl require a multipurpose adhesive. Most of the newer vinyl planks require a pressure sensitive adhesive. Just make sure that you order the right type for your floor.

Step 3 – Prepare the Subfloor

Assess the condition of the wood. If the subfloor is perfectly smooth plywood, then you could install the vinyl directly to it. If it is uneven or wood slats, you will need to apply 1/4″ underlayment to the top. Simply nail the sheets of underlayment to the wood sub floor and make sure everything is covered.

Step 4 – Spread the Adhesive

Spread the adhesive out on the floor for a small area. If you are using a pressure sensitive adhesive, you will be able to roll it on gently with a paint roller. If it is a thicker glue, you may have to trowel it on.

Step 5 – Install the Planks

Take the planks out of the boxes and place one of them into the adhesive. Press it down firmly into the glue. Take another plank and press it up tightly against the first. Continue doing this until the floor is covered. When you get to a wall, you will have to cut the plank with the knife to make it fit. Once you have the planks in place, you should roll them with a roller and remove any excess adhesive.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

How to Cut Vinyl Plank Flooring around Floor Heat Vents

Installing vinyl plank flooring is a great way to save money while keeping the look and feel of a traditional wood floor. These vinyl planks can be fitted by homeowners, and there are many kits available which are designed to allow you to slot the boards together without requiring too much cutting, trimming, or sawing. One area where a little conversion might be necessary is when you are fitting vinyl plank flooring around a heat vent in the floor. However, this is not a difficult job, and can be done in a matter of hours if you follow a few simple steps to get the job done.

What You’ll Need:

• Screwdriver
• Tape measure
• Pencil and ruler
• Jigsaw saw or similar
• Sandpaper

Step 1 – Remove the Vent Cover

The first thing that you should do is remove the cover from your floor heating vent. The cover should be held on to the floor by several screws, so use your screwdriver to loosen each of these, and then remove them by lifting them out of the hole connecting them to the cover. You should eventually be able to lift the cover completely off. Put it and the screws to one side, as these will have to be replaced later.

Step 2 – Install up to the Vent

Once the cover is removed, lay your vinyl planks down until you reach the edge of the vent opening. Keep the boards as straight as you can, and lay all around the vent, including any boards which can be added after the vent. Next, take your tape measure, and make a note of the length of the opening. Lay the board parallel to where it would be, and mark where the vent should go using your pencil and ruler.

Step 3 – Cut the Board

Draw the cutting line all the way around the board and then take it to your jigsaw. If your vent is not in the middle of the board, make sure that you know which length of the board will have to be kept after the cutting. Using the jigsaw, cut along the line you have marked on the board, and then return to the vent. Sand the edge of the board down, so that the side facing the vent is smooth. Fit the board into place, and then proceed with the fitting. If the vent takes up more than one board space, you will need to cut as many as are required to make the vent. If there is space on the other side of the vent for another piece of the cut board, repeat the measuring as above, and cut to the required size.

Step 4 – Finish

Once you have completed your installation of the boards, take your floor heat vent cover and screw it back into position. The plank boards may mean that you need to replace the screws with slightly longer ones, but this should not be too difficult. Remember that the vent needs to fit back into the space you’ve cut out. However, if you leave room for that, the floorboards can slightly overlap the opening in the floor if necessary.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

How to Refinish Engineered Wood Floors

Engineered wood floors look like hardwood flooring but are actually plywood with a wood veneer and other materials. The engineering process makes the floor sturdier than a natural wood floor and a little harder to refinish. The following gives you some ideas about how to refinish this type of flooring.

What You’ll Need:

• Floor fan
• Hammer
• Orbital Floor Sander
• Buffer
• Soap and Water
• Bucket
• Mop
• Glossy stain

Step 1 – Get Started

Make sure the room is well ventilated when you are using the stain. Open a window and bring in a floor fan. Put on a respirator mask, safety goggles and gloves for extra safety. Then, remove any trim around the edges of the hardwood floor. If you see any nail heads on the surface of the floor you will need to hammer them down so the floor is nice and smooth.

Step 2 – Sand the Floor

Use an orbital floor sander. These type of sanders can be found at your local tool rental place. Use sandpaper which has about a 60 grit. The corners of the room are the place to start your sanding. Use the sander with short strokes and in the direction that the floor boards were originally laid. Replace the sandpaper when the grit of the sandpaper becomes smooth. You will see that the shine will fade and the color of the floor disappears as you begin to see the bare wood of the floor.

Once you have done this you will need to go back over the floor areas that have stain still on them. Try to sand down to the bare wood for the best adhesion.

Step 3 – Clean and Stain the Floor

Clean the floor of all the dust and debris with a vacuum and then a mop. Dry thoroughly. Use rubber gloves when you are ready to start the staining. Begin at a wall and stain the floor in one section at a time. Apply the stain on the floor in the direction of the grain of the wood.

You should give the stain at least up to two minutes to soak into the wood. When the time is up, wipe the excess stain off with paper towels. Once you have finished staining the entire floor you should let it dry for at least 24 hours.

Step 4 – Apply Floor Gloss and Buff

Once the stain has dried you are ready to apply the floor gloss. Once you have mixed the floor gloss well you can brush it on very gently. You don’t want any bubbles to form while you are doing this. Let this gloss dry another 24 hours.

Now that the gloss is dry you will want to buff the entire area to make the gloss look a little duller and on the milky side. Use 220-grit sandpaper, fold it in thirds and buff the entire area. Once you have buffed the floor you will then clean the floor of all the dust and then apply another coat of the gloss. Wait another 24 hours.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

How to Refinish Engineered Wood Floors

Engineered wood floors look like hardwood flooring but are actually plywood with a wood veneer and other materials. The engineering process makes the floor sturdier than a natural wood floor and a little harder to refinish. The following gives you some ideas about how to refinish this type of flooring.

What You’ll Need:

• Floor fan
• Hammer
• Orbital Floor Sander
• Buffer
• Soap and Water
• Bucket
• Mop
• Glossy stain

Step 1 – Get Started

Make sure the room is well ventilated when you are using the stain. Open a window and bring in a floor fan. Put on a respirator mask, safety goggles and gloves for extra safety. Then, remove any trim around the edges of the hardwood floor. If you see any nail heads on the surface of the floor you will need to hammer them down so the floor is nice and smooth.

Step 2 – Sand the Floor

Use an orbital floor sander. These type of sanders can be found at your local tool rental place. Use sandpaper which has about a 60 grit. The corners of the room are the place to start your sanding. Use the sander with short strokes and in the direction that the floor boards were originally laid. Replace the sandpaper when the grit of the sandpaper becomes smooth. You will see that the shine will fade and the color of the floor disappears as you begin to see the bare wood of the floor.

Once you have done this you will need to go back over the floor areas that have stain still on them. Try to sand down to the bare wood for the best adhesion.

Step 3 – Clean and Stain the Floor

Clean the floor of all the dust and debris with a vacuum and then a mop. Dry thoroughly. Use rubber gloves when you are ready to start the staining. Begin at a wall and stain the floor in one section at a time. Apply the stain on the floor in the direction of the grain of the wood.

You should give the stain at least up to two minutes to soak into the wood. When the time is up, wipe the excess stain off with paper towels. Once you have finished staining the entire floor you should let it dry for at least 24 hours.

Step 4 – Apply Floor Gloss and Buff

Once the stain has dried you are ready to apply the floor gloss. Once you have mixed the floor gloss well you can brush it on very gently. You don’t want any bubbles to form while you are doing this. Let this gloss dry another 24 hours.

Now that the gloss is dry you will want to buff the entire area to make the gloss look a little duller and on the milky side. Use 220-grit sandpaper, fold it in thirds and buff the entire area. Once you have buffed the floor you will then clean the floor of all the dust and then apply another coat of the gloss. Wait another 24 hours.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com