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 Here are a few maintenance & installation questions that we have been asked by our customers. We thought we would share them with you.

 
Q: How should I care for my tile & grout floor on a daily basis?
A: We recommend that only warm or hot water be used. Over time using detergents, bleach or other chemicals will discolor your grout. It may also eat away at the grout and cause it to loosen over time.
Q: How should I care for my stone flooring on a regular daily basis?
A: Never use any chemicals, detergents or bleach on stone. Stone is a natural product and can be very sensitive. We also recommend that only warm or hot water be used to clean stone.
Q: Why should I not use a soap to clean my floors?
A: Using mild soap to clean floors can be done. However usually there will be some kind of residue left on the floor from the soap & will attract more dirt and cause the floors to need cleaning more often than had just water been used.
Q: Can cleaning of carpets remove odors from areas that pets have expelled on? 
A: Occasionally we clean carpet that pets have expelled on, sometimes it’s just one accident and our cleaning and basic deodorizer will eliminate the problem entirely. Sometimes once or more pets have expelled repeatedly in one or more locations, causing a more sever situation. It’s nobody’s fault, sometimes we just lose the pet battle from time to time. In this case, urine will settle on the padding and crystallize. When we use our Heavy-Duty cleaning equipment, the heat and pressure will melt the crystallized urine and release odor and potentially, bacteria that our standard deodorizer will not defeat. On these occasions, we recommend a PET ENZYME that actually feeds on harmful odor causing bacteria! Talk to your tech about treatment.
Q: Did you know? 
A: That when your carpet is milled new, the factory will apply a product to protect the bare carpet fiber from wear. This product is more commonly referred to as Scotch guard of Teflon and is super important in keeping your carpet looking good and extending the life of the carpet. Over time with normal wear and tear vacuuming regularly and the occasional cleaning, this factory protectant wears away especially in heavy traveled pathways.
 Q: How important is Scotch Gaurd of Teflon?
A: It is very important to maintain your carpet by reapplying carpet protectant after each professional cleaning or after 18 months of normal wear and tear to prevent scratching and staining of carpet fibers resulting in worn looking "traffic lanes". This type of wear on bare fibers is often not reversible.
 
Installation always goes more smoothly these few tips are observed:
  • Install only after other remodeling is completed
  • Depending on the situation we prefer to schedule installation for after all materials have arrived (Note: Many hardwoods should be acclimated in the room in which they will be installed for 48 - 96 hours prior to installation )
  • Each type of flooring requires different sub-floor preparation that can include vapor barriers, padding or underlay, leveling compound, adding a rigid floor base, or other preparation. Our professional installer can provide specific recommendations for the type of flooring involved.
  • Large items (furniture, appliances, pianos, entertainment centers, computer equipment, toilets, gas stoves, etc.) require special discussions with the installer prior to installation day
  • It is the customers responsiblity for removing small breakables prior to installation
  • Remove closet floors items and bed linens
  • For your convience Absolute Surface Solutions will dispose of old flooring for a nominal fee which we always include in our estimates
  •  Installers are not responsible for replacing old, cracked quarter round or baseboard
  • All special requests for the installer should be made in advance
 
 
Cracked Tile: Common Causes & Misconceptions
 Cracked tile may be due to shrinkage of a concrete subfloor or deflection in a wood subfloor:
 
  • What is wrong with the tile?

    Oftentimes, a tile consumer with a cracking issue will blame the failure on the tile itself. While the tile is the part of the floor system in which the damage is evident, it is not necessarily the cause of the problem. In fact, if the tiles were tested for breaking strength and surpassed the 250 pounds-force specification for floor tiles then it is likely the tile is not the problem.

  • What might be the cause of the problem?

    Although it is impossible to speculate the exact cause of cracked or de-bonded tile without a proper inspection, there are some causes that occur most commonly. In an installation over a concrete subfloor, movement or cracking of the concrete can cause cracking in the tile surface. These are called reflective cracks. Concrete will continue to shrink long after it is first cast, and it is possible for the concrete to crack due to shrinkage while it is curing.

    When the concrete shrinks, it causes many shear and compressive forces on the thin-set, tile, and grout. If the shear force exceeds the strength of the bond, the tile may de-bond from the floor. This is also called tenting. Sometimes, when the bond is very strong between the tiles and thin-set, as the shear force finally exceeds the bond strength, the tiles’ de-bonding from the floor can make a very loud sound.

    Another possible cause for cracked tile is excessive deflection in an installation over wood. Excessive deflection in the substrate will cause compressive and tensile forces on the grout and tile. Typically, with excessive deflection, the grout will crack first. In more severe cases, the tile will also crack.
  • What can be done to prevent tiles’ cracking or de-bonding?

    When it comes to concrete, one simple, yet another important issue to consider is how long the concrete is allowed to cure before the tile is installed over it. The longer the concrete is allowed to cure, the better. If the concrete is allowed to cure for a long period of time, any cracks that form can be filled, and any curling (distortion of a slab into a curved shape around the edges) can be ground down. Many people suggest a minimum cure time of 28 days. Some thin-set manufacturers say 14 days may be sufficient, if premium latex-modified thin-set is used.

    Another option when installing tile over concrete is to use a crack isolation or anti-fracture membrane. The membrane bonds to the concrete subfloor, and the tile is installed with thin-set to the membrane’s surface. The anti-fracture membrane is used to reduce or prevent movement in the concrete from being directly transferred to the tile.

    Additionally, when installing over concrete, a lack or improper use of movement joints can cause problems. Movement joints are used to eliminate stresses that occur between the substrate and the tile. The 2008 TCA Handbook for Ceramic Tile Installation has guidelines for the use of movement joints. It is important to understand that all floor installations should have movement joints, and that the use of a crack isolation membrane does not replace or eliminate the need for movement joints. Lastly, when installing over a wood subfloor, it is important to have appropriate joist spacing to minimize deflection.