A New Look For Old Floors

Q I am concerned with the wooden laminate flooring in my son’s room at my new home. Since he tends to move things around a lot, will it scratch?

Asha Khosla, Gurgaon

A Wooden laminate flooring, no matter how good the brand is at best scratch-resistant. It is most certainly not scratch-proof, so you need to protect it from your movable furniture. In the case of a child’s room, all furniture legs must have felt protectors on them. As these wear off fast, keep replacing them regularly. Also minimize the dust entering the room by using mats at the entrances to rooms, a double layer of curtains perhaps and well fitted doors and windows.

In the long run though, you will find that there are chips on your floor. This is a good time to establish contact with the authorised dealer or manufacturer of the flooring in your home. Find out about long-term maintenance. A good manufacturer should be able to offer putty for repairs and replacement boards well into the future.

Q I have had ceramic tiles on my home floors for a while now. We are adding an extension to the house and will get ceramic tile flooring installed there too. I have noticed two distinct problems in my old flooring – cracking of tiles and a kind of wearing off of the material between the tiles. Can I prevent these in the new installation?

Pankaj, Mumbai

A The first problem is essentially a quality issue, not only of the tiles you are buying but more of the workmanship involved in laying it. The slope of the base layer needs to be even and the preparation of the base layer is of paramount importance. Get a skilled person to lay your tiles. Ask your architect, interior designer or if necessary the tile dealer to recommend one. Also, don’t move things in immediately; the floor needs to cure after the tiles are laid. This is usually done after the tiles are fixed to the base layer and before the spaces between them are filled with grout.

It is somewhat easier to resolve your problem of grout erosion. Grout is porous and sealing it will simplify maintenance and cleaning. Shortly after installation, when the tile has been cleaned and dried, grout joints should be treated with a sealer.

Q I run a small nursing home in Lucknow. The flooring is made of what they call terrazzo and is a few decades old. Though it is mostly easy to maintain, is there a correct way of cleaning and maintaining it?

Dr. Shukla, Lucknow

A The first thing to remember is that there are no miracle cleaners and quick-fix solutions for a terrazzo floor. Harsh, strong cleaning agents and all-purpose solutions are a no-no. Terrazzo floors need to be cleaned with a neutral cleaning solution with a pH factor between 7 and 10. Soaps are a able. A neutral detergent is the best cleaning agent.

Swab the floor daily using this and a disinfectant. Once a week, the floor in a nursing home will need to be washed. The trick here is to keep the surface wet for several minutes to allow the cleaning agent to act upon stubborn grease, fat and oil particles and layers. The solution must not dry on the surface, but must be washed away and the floor then rinsed with fresh water. This is a simple and long lasting maintenance routine.

Q I am responsible for the upkeep of the interiors of the computer section I head. I will be grateful for tips on getting a longer life out of a wall-to-wall carpet as  I face problems in maintaining it.

Ambika Saxena, Delhi

A The most important thing to remember is to keep the carpet clean. Place rugs and foot mats on walk off areas where the flooring changes from other types to carpeting.

Vacuuming is the next vital carpet care step. Make sure no combs or teeth are used and a basic beater bar or brush is adequate. If this is difficult, opt for getting it cleaned with a brush with hard but not sharp bristles. Even so, vacuuming is essential at least once a week.

Carpets tend to wear off in high traffic areas or under furniture. This is inevitable. If you can, move the furniture around periodically for slightly longer life of the carpet. The second common problem is of pile crushing, again near furniture, walls and high use areas. This can be sorted out if you brush your carpet periodically.

Stains can be removed by first applying the cleaning solution appropriate to the type of stain. This is usually detergent solution, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, ammonia or talcum powder for grease. After soaking the carpet’s surface with the cleaner using a plain white towel, blot it repeatedly with plain white paper towels or white damp cloth towels. A rubbing since it will spoil the texture. Then scoop or scrape out the stain from the outside edge to the centre using a blunt spoon. A detergent-ammonia-vinegar-water routine is the safest and can be used for most stains.

Source: Realty Plus, June 2005