The basics of floor restoration
Article by David Robertson
There are many types of indoor flooring including natural slate and stone, hardwood, fabricated ceramics and different types of vinyl which are all available in a variety of designs, finishes and colours. The choice of floor may well depend on purely aesthetic reasons and the area it is to be located. A choice may also be made on the basis of cost durability and on the possibility of ease of maintenance which can be very important in some cases. Some types of floor are clearly not suitable (such as hardwood flooring in a kitchen) for certain locations but one factor that is common in all floors is there propensity to deteriorate over time if not correctly maintained and looked after.
There are certain tips for looking after any floor type and they usually revolve around protecting the floor with the use of a sealant and then continuing the protection with regular sweeping and vacuuming (to remove grit which can cause surface scratching), mopping, taking care with heavy objects and periodic re-sealing. In the real world however regular maintenance is often overlooked.
Maybe there isn’t enough time in the day, maybe the floor ‘looks’ clean or maybe due to some unforeseen factor – it is forgotten and that is where the physical aspect can deteriorate.It may well be the case that, over time, you notice a gradual dulling of the floor’s surface, an uneven appearance developing or a build up of surface staining or marking. There are various possible explanations or factors involved, but there general explanations is that lack of general cleaning has led to a surface build up of grime and bacteria. By the time the mark becomes visible layer upon layer may have built up to form a mark that cannot easily be shifted by regular cleaning methods.
It may be the case that, for example with a hard wood floor, a sealant has been scratched or worn over time and this has exposed the floor’s surface – and a spillage has actually stained the surface of the floor. Different types of floors experience different types of problems and if you have any doubts as to why your floor looks unsatisfactory – you would be advised to consult a floor restoration company which will be able to advise you. It helps to know what has previously been applied to the floor.
Floor restoration is the act of returning your floor to its original state and there are various ways of doing this. For example with a ceramic floor, a floor restoration company may take advantage of modern techniques and technology combined with the effective capture of slurry and waste to get the floor looking pristine. In the case of hardwood, it will depend on the state of the sealant. If the wood itself has been stained – sanding the floor’s surface followed by polishing and re-sealing will be the only way to return it to its original state. In any case a floor restoration specialist will be able to advise.
About the Author
I am a hard-floor cleaning consultant. I primarily work with stone and slate, hard-wood, ceramic and various types of Vinyl floors. I specialize in the cleaning and maintenance of these floors
Website: http://www.001streamline.co.uk
