To clean dried paint from laminate floor, you need:

• Paint remover or cleaner with acetone
  
• Cloth
  
• Water
  
• Warm water
  
• Vacuum
  
• White paper towels or the disposable paper rags
  

How to Clean Dried Paint from Laminate Floor

• Make sure to clean the stained area by using a vacuum so that you are able to get rid of all the dirt that could scratch the laminate floor’s surface once you start with your cleaning task.
  
• Then, you need to know whether the paint that you use is water-based or oil-based because the ways to remove both types of paints are different. For water-based paints, you can use soap and warm water. As for oil-based paints, its manufacturer will suggest that you use paint thinner or mineral spirits or just follow the instructions on the products label.
  
• As per mentioned above, you can simply apply a cleaner along with acetone, use a nail polish remover, to a cloth or even using an ammonia-based window cleaner for water-based paints. After that, you need to use a one-sided sharp edge in order to lift up the edges of the splatters from the floor.
  
  • Make sure that you do it carefully as to not damage the floor. You should do this step until most of the paint has been successfully removed. Once done, you have to buff down the rest by using fine grade steel wool before you start to remove the dust immediately.
    
• As for the latex paint stain that drops on your laminate floor, just use a latex paint cleaner that you can spray on the affected area of the laminate floor. For your information, latex paint is much easier to be removed rather than other types of paint.
  
• Once you finished cleaning the stain, apply the stain cleaner on the affected area or stain before you start to leave it to set for at least two minutes.
  
• After that, you have to wipe up the affected stain and the cleaner on the laminate flooring using a cloth along with warm water. Try to apply some pressure in order to lift the paint stain. If you find that the stain is still there, you need to repeat the same process until it is gone.
  

Image Credit:

Flickr CC

How to Clean Dried Paint from Laminate Floor is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. How to Remove Dried Paint from Laminate Floor
2. How to Remove Stains of Dried Paint on Your Laminate Floor
3. How to Remove Dehydrated Paint Stains on your Laminate Floor

Moving a piano across your hardwood floors is not an easy task. This is because your piano is heavy in weight and also due to the awkwardness design of the piano. A piano is designed with casters on its legs and whenever you try to roll the piano across the hardwood floor on the casters alone, you will most probably scratch your hardwood floor or might even break the legs of your piano. It is recommended that you find a few friends for the extra help and move the piano the smart way so that you would not damage your hardwood floor or the piano. If you have the budget, you may also hire the services of moving the piano from professional movers.

What you need to do:

1. Piano dolly
   
2. Assistants
   

Hardwood Floors

Method:

1. The weight distribution of a piano is different depending on the type of piano such as the upright type piano or the grand type piano. You need to determine its weight distribution before deciding to move the piano. For example, the weight of an upright piano is centered between its two front legs unlike the grand piano where its weight is oddly distributed between the front and its elongated rear.
   
2. First step that you need to do is to lift the piano and move it away from any walls and set it back down to enable you and your assistants of having better access of the piano.
   
3. Before you start to move the piano you need to make sure that you secure its lid (ensure that the lid is lowered and locked), fall board and legs. As for a piano that has wheels, ensure that it can roll accordingly and easily. Remember not to drag the piano across your hardwood floor because it will damage your carpet or the hardwood floor or even causes the piano’s legs or its pedals to break off.
   
4. You need to place plywood or cardboard on your soft hardwood flooring in order to prevent the flooring from being damaged by your dolly wheels.
   
5. Then, you must place a piano dolly near the piano so that you do not have to travel far to place the piano on the dolly.
   
6. Once you have moved the piano a few inches, you should stop for a while to have a rest in between. If you do not have dollies, you can simply obtain it from rental companies and at least three dollies should be placed under the major support areas of your piano.
   
7. With an even weight distribution, you have to place the piano on the dolly gently and carefully. In order to lift an upright piano, you must lift one side of it (does not matter whether it is left or right) and slowly slide the dolly under the piano to enable the dolly’s edge to extend out beneath the keys. Once the dolly is centered in between the two of the piano’s front legs, you need to sit the piano down. As for a grand piano, you must tip its flat side onto the piano’s dolly and ensure that its front and also the rear are evenly distributed.
   
8. Once done, you must make sure and double check the piano’s weight distributions before you start to move the piano. To prevent the piano from falling, you must ensure that the piano does not teeter one way or another.
   
9. Make sure that you have cleared any items that could be in your way along the way to the new location that you want to move the piano.
   
10. After you reached to the new location, you have to roll the piano across the hardwood floor and sit it on the new location. This task can be done by one person and you need to coordinate this carefully in order to unload and position it.
    
11. Once it is in place, you need to test and tune the piano whether to do it immediately or in a week or two. This should be done just to make sure that the tune of the piano is maintained because there is a possibility of a climate change for different rooms that may result to different tunes.
    

Image Credit:

Flickr CC

Additional Reading:

The Art of Wood Finishing. A Condensed Manual for Furniture, Piano and Hardwood Finishers, Painters, Interior Decorators, Etc.

The Art of Wood Finishing. A Condensed Manual for Furniture, Piano and Hardwood

Moving a Piano Across Hardwood Floors is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. Cleaning laminate hardwood floors
2. Moving a Woodburning Stove
3. Refinishing a Hardwood Floor

You will need:

1. Broom or brush
2. Vacuum
3. Putty knife
4. Tile grout
5. Pick or awl
6. Scraper
7. Acrylic tile adhesive
8. Clean rag
9. Sponge

Baseboard

Steps:

1. First, take out the broken ceramic tile pieces before using an awl or ice pick to remove the perimeter grouting. During removal, the cured grout will normally chip easily into small pieces.
2. Clear the space of debris with a small broom or brush. Make sure that there is no grouting under the baseboard.
3. Use a putty knife or putty knife to clear the old tile adhesive or thin set mortar from the floor surface where the tile specifically was removed.
4. Follow that by using acrylic tile adhesive and you can apply them thinly to the back side of the replacement tile with a putty knife. Press the tile into the cleared tile space; make sure that the position of the tile’s surface is leveled with the adjacent tiles.
5. You can remove the excess tile adhesive that may squeeze from the beneath tile with a clean rag or damp sponge. Leave the tile to set off for at least 24 hours to give the acrylic adhesive a curing time to grout the tile.
6. Next, make a mix of the tile grout in an amount that you need. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and apply it to the grout joint around the new replaced tiles.
7. Firmly press the grout mixture into the joint space, and then use a damp sponge to clear any excess grouting mixture. It will take 48 hours or according to the manufacturer’s specifications to let the grout cure. Apply a grout sealer afterward if necessary and needed. And this is how you replace a broken tile that is located near the baseboard.

Image Credit:

Flickr CC

Additional Reading:

Architectural Trim: Ideas, Inspiration and Practical Advice for Adding Wainscoting, Mantels, Built-Ins, Baseboards, Cornices, Castings and Columns to your Home (Home Design Details)

Replacing a broken tile near the baseboard is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. Installing Ceramic Tile Countertops
2. Ceramic Floor Tile Installation
3. Adhering a Glass Tile

Adhere A Glass Tile

Glass tiles are known to be quite expensive; they are beautiful and a wonderful showcase if installed in the house. The ideal place to install glass tiles is either in the bathroom or in the kitchen or both. These are the places we tend to spend more time in. These are also the places that in most houses are given less importance. It is a modern style concept appliances and fixtures that provide a reflective essence which reverberates throughout a kitchen or bathroom remodeling. You will enjoy using glass tiles as these are mostly made from the modern recycling technology. The latter helps to transform discarded windshields, beer and beverage bottles into “green tiles.”

Moreover with the help of computers and laser-cutting technology, glass tiles are much better looking now in different designs. People have choices when it comes to glass tiles. Technology has also helped in making the glass tiles of today more durable. In other words, with the anti-slip coatings they are designed in, we won\’t have any worry on slipping down on them and breaking these glass tiles. Below you will find instructions on how to adhere a glass tile.

What you need:

1. Follow glass tile manufacturer\’s instructions.
   
2. Thin set
   
3. Glass tiles
   
4. Gloves
   
5. Sponge
   
6. Rag
   

Method:

1. First of all you must read the instructions of the glass tile manufacturer and follow its requirements accordingly. Then you need to mix a thin set that will help you in attaching your glass tile, but with only a thin layer. Make sure not to set the thin set too thickly or unevenly because it may be seen through the glass.
   
2. Next, you have to cover the tile back using a thin coat from the thin set along with the trowel ensuring that it is not heavy in one area and not too thin in the other. The back of it needs to be covered thoroughly with a smooth layer. If the glass tile you are using is thick, you just need to apply a thin layer to the surface of your wall in order to adhere the glass tile. Always ensure that you wear gloves for protection from the thin set that you are using.
   
3. Then, attach the tile to the area and put on an equal amount of pressure to its four corners but do not push it too deeply causing the thin set to ooze out of the side of your tile. In order for the tile to be secured, you have to make sure that the thin set is dry thoroughly.
   
4. After that, you need to mix the grout and then apply it along the tiles, plus also ensure that you push the grout into gaps found in between the tiles. Once done, use a damp sponge to wipe off any excess grout.
   
5. The grout must be dried thoroughly and finally, you can do some polishing of the glass tile by using a damp rag.
   

Image Credit:

Flickr CC

Additional Reading:

Tiles Gone Wild: New Directions In Mixed Media Mosaics

Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Ceramic Tile, Third Edition: Includes Stone, Porcelain, Glass Tile & More (Black & Decker Complete Guide)

Adhering a Glass Tile is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. Laying Patio Tile
2. Replacing a broken tile near the baseboard
3. Ceramic Floor Tile Installation

Parquet flooring has been used for more than hundred years now as it is a very popular type of flooring used in houses, condominiums and also apartments. There are many reasons why one should remove the parquet floor tiles. One of the most common reasons is when the parquet floor tiles have been damaged. If the entire tile is damaged, then it is better to make a row of large holes across the block against the grain with either a drill or a brace and bit. Drill completely through the damaged block, but do not drill the sub-floor under it. Split the block and pry up the pieces with a sharp chisel and a hammer.

How to remove your parquet floor tiles? Removing your floor parquet with a different floor covering can be a challenging task, but it can be done easily if you have the right tools and know your way around. Below are some of the basic steps that need to be done in the process to help you remove parquet floor tiles.

What you need:

1. Chisel
   
2. Hammer Scraper with long handle
   
3. Grinder Glue and adhesive remover
   
4. Construction plastic
   
5. Knee pads
   
6. Safety glasses
   
7. Gloves Adhesive remover
   
8. Edger
   
9. Broom
   
10. Hairdryer
    

Method:

1. Firstly, remove all furnishings out of the room where you want to remove the parquet and cover the door with plastic in order to confine dust and dirt.
   
2. Start to remove the parquet normally near the doorway by using the hammer or chisel. You need to hold the chisel at a low angle to the parquet and do a simple tap on the chisel with the hammer and this will pry and pop the parquet tiles up. Sometimes, the parquet will splinter and come off the sub floor in small pieces; therefore it is advisable that you wear safety glasses for your eye protection.
   
3. You can also use the long handled scraper to help remove the parquet by sliding it carefully under the parquet; pry upward by pushing down the scraper\’s handle after it is already partially under the parquet. Remember to wear hand gloves in order to protect your hands from blisters.
   
4. Once the loosening is finished and the parquet blocks have been removed, you will find bitumen residue or glue remaining on the floor. If your flooring underneath the parquet is made of concrete, you need to use a grinder in order to remove the bitumen remains.
   
5. Finally, you need to sweep up and get rid off all the dirt and debris left on your floor. Also look out for any nails, screws or other projections found on the floor\’s surface. In order to apply a new carpet pad or new flooring adhesive, you must ensure that the floor is not wet and it is dry thoroughly.
   

There you have it. By now, you must successfully remove your parquet floor tiles.

Image Credit:

Flickr

Additional Reading:

Black & Decker The Complete Guide to Flooring, with DVD, 3rd Edition: Updated with new Products & Techniques (Black & Decker Complete Guide)

Removing Parquet Floor Tile is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. Parquet Floor Repair
2. Parquet Floor Installation
3. Cleaning a Parquet Floor

Hardwood floor can be a beautiful addition to your house. Although, the maintenance for hardwood floor is complicated, they still can be easily damaged if you do not follow the proper cleaning method. It\’s a big mistake to use a bucket of water and a mop on a laminate hardwood floors as the process can result in warping the floor. Warping is the usual problem that occurs to hardwood flooring if you leave water sitting on top of the laminate wood floor for a long period without proper drying. If your hardwood floor is old, then refinishing it might be the best idea.

In order to refinish a hardwood floor, it definitely takes a lot of time. More so, one needs patience. More important, the proper tools and techniques are needed. You have to do the refinishing of the floor because whenever hardwood floor starts to look worn out, it just needs a little refinishing which provides it with a more shining look. Although, there is a lot of work to be done, it is well worth the effort and investment taken to complete this task.

What you need:

1. Wide brooms
   
2. Heavy and light sandpaper
   
3. Gloves
   
4. Rollers with long handle
   
5. Floor wax or polyurethane finish
   
6. Brushes
   
7. Dust masks
   
8. Wood stain
   
9. A dozen or so rags
   
10. Floor sanders and edger
    
11. Shop vacuums
    

Method:

1. Before sanding the floor, you need to remove all the rugs and furniture from the room. You must check the floor for any nails, carpet staples or tacks because all of these materials could rip your sandpaper and ruining the sheet.
   
2. Use the newer orbital sanders designed for floor refinishing which is much easier to control. Purchase a piece of good sandpaper ranging from 36, 60, 80 or 100 grits and clip it into the sander.
   
3. When doing the sanding, you need to run it according to the direction of the wood grain. Try to keep the machine in motion and use several long strokes to even it out.
   
4. Once finished, go over the floor again using much a much lighter piece of grain sandpaper to get more beautiful smooth floors and use sequentially grits starting from 36 to 60 to 80 to 100.
   
5. Use a broom or vacuum to clear off any dirt or dust from the floor before you start to apply stain on the floor.
   
6. You can apply a first coat of stain onto the floor by using a brush especially for heavier or darker coats. For a lighter stain, you can use rags to work in the staining process. Leave it to dry thoroughly before you start to apply the finish.
   
7. Next, apply polyurethane with a brush or roller and in order to avoid marks in the finish, use smooth and even strokes along with the grain. Leave the finish to dry off for at least 3 hours.
   
8. Finally, add its second coat and allow it to dry overnight or up to 3 days before you can start moving back all the furniture or rugs back on to the floor.
   

Image Credit:

Flickr

Additional Reading:

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood Floor Refinishing Company

Refinishing a Hardwood Floor is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. Polishing a Hardwood Floor
2. Hardwood Floor Maintenance
3. Hardwood Floor Repair

Clean a Parquet Floor

Parquet floors have grown immensely popular over the years from being merely a piece of carpet to a piece of luxury. A parquet floor is a wooden floor that is basically made from many pieces of wood put together. Parquet floors can be installed in rooms as small as a bathroom, or as big as a ballroom.

When it comes to the types of parquet flooring, there are many types to choose from. Based on quality and price, parquet floors are also chosen based designs. Parquet floors are made from different types of wood so each and every design is different. In countries such as the Middle East and India, parquet floors are considered a high class of luxury and are well-taken care of. In these countries as well, parquet floors design can be found used on several items such as furniture and decorative items in the house.

In every household nowadays, parquet is among the most popular materials being used as flooring and it also comes with a variety of colors and styles. Besides that, parquet is also a durable material and can last longer. Cleaning your parquet floor is easy to do with the right tools and if you know your way around. Parquet floors have to be cleaned with lots of patience and if you can find a little help, you will definitely finish earlier. Here are the ways on how you can properly clean your parquet floor.

What you need:

1. Vacuum
   
2. Mop
   
3. Clean cloth
   
4. Non toxic cleaner
   
5. Floor polish/acrylic wax
   
6. Broom or Swiffer sweeper
   

Method:

1. Always perform regular sweeping or vacuum your parquet floor to avoid the built-up of dust. After you have removed the dirt, use a clean damp mop to mop the floor. Remember not to use aggressive detergents which include chlorine based liquids or even vinegar solution for cleaning parquet floor.
   
2. If there are any liquid spills, immediately mop it away as it can seep through the floor. Just apply a non toxic cleaner or no-rinse cleaning product when cleaning the floor which is suitable and safe for parquet floors.
   
3. Use a spirit based solution to remove dark spots that you find on the parquet floor and do it with caution because it is highly flammable. You can also use white vinegar to the affected area and leave it at least for three to four minutes before continuing cleaning it using a soft dry cloth.
   
4. Occasionally use a floor polish that is designed specifically for parquets in order to make it shine again just like a new floor. Then, apply a water-based acrylic wax onto the floor and let it dry thoroughly.
   
5. In order to reduce dust seeping through your parquet, place colorfast rugs or mats at all of your door entrances so that the mat will help collect all the dust and debris. You must also vacuum and shake the mat frequently to maintain the cleanliness of your floors.
   

Additional Reading:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2074556_clean-parquet-floor.html

http://www.woodyoulike.co.uk/Guides/guide-clean-parquet.html

http://www.articlealley.com/article_68240_27.html

http://home-flooring.suite101.com/article.cfm/parquet_floor_maintenance

http://www.howtocleanstuff.net/floors-and-carpet/floors/how-to-clean-wood-parquet-flooring/

Image Credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rgarciasuarez74/4679446811/

Cleaning a Parquet Floor is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. Removing Parquet Floor Tile
2. Parquet Floor Installation
3. Parquet Floor Repair

Repair a Laminate Floor

Although laminate flooring gives your home flooring a decorative and trendy looks, sometimes when it comes to regular wear the floor may eventually get damaged. If you are concerned about your budget and prefer not to call a handyman or carpenter to repair your damaged laminate floor, there is no need to be worried. Repairing your laminate flooring by yourself can be done if you know the suitable method and the right tools. Here are some methods on how to repair your laminate flooring.

You will need:

1. Wax crayons
   
2. Clean cloth
   
3. Putty
   
4. Putty knife
   
5. Spacer
   
6. Warm water
   
7. Nail polish removers
   
8. Scrapper
   

Steps:

1. For repairing minor scratches, use wax crayons. These specially made crayons are made for this purpose and you can purchase them in most hardware and flooring stores. Choose the right color for your laminate flooring to conceal the minor scratches.
   
2. Clean the dust from the scratched area to obtain a smooth surface before applying wax crayons. Then, put the wax crayon on the scratches and you can see that the abrasion will disappear. Use a clean dry cloth to clean the crayons that are spread outside of the scratching.
   
3. For repairing deep scratches, use putty to solve this problem. First, clean the area that needs to be repaired from any dust. Then, fill in the damaged portion with a generous amount of putty.
   
4. Use a putty knife to even out and to smooth the area covered with the putty. Take a moist clean cloth and wipe out the extra dough of putty and then rub off the excess water with a soft dry cloth. Leave the area to dry for at least one hour or more to make sure that the putty is hardened.
   
5. For repairing peaks of laminate flooring, you need to reduce the tension of the panels. This will help them to expand without raising the level of the floor. Repair the peaks by using spacers that are present in between the wall of your room and the laminate flooring. Take out a panel that is closest to the wall if there are no spacers. Then, cut around half an inch from the width side of the panel. After that, put it back into its place.
   
6. The best option to reduce damages to your laminate flooring is by cleaning up any liquid immediately if you have spilling problems caused by molten candle wax and paints. Or, you can also use warm water to clean them. Don\’t forget to scrap off any wax and gums carefully.
   

Additional Reading:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-repair-laminate-flooring.html

Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leehaywood/4209340450/

Fixing a Damaged Laminate Floor is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. Easy Methods for Repairing a Laminate Floor
2. Laminate Floor Repair
3. Cleaning a wood laminate floor

Wood Laminate Floor

Keeping your wood laminate flooring is not hard and with a few tools and basic steps, you won\’t feel stressful when cleaning them. Cleaning your laminate flooring in the right way will ensure they will stay attractive and durable for years. You will need to be extra cautious not to scratch the floor with the rough edges of brooms and mops. Here are the steps on how you can clean your laminate flooring at your home.

You will need:

1. Broom
   
2. Mop
   
3. Wood Laminate Cleaner
   
4. Dust Mop
   

Steps:

1. The easiest way to clean your wood laminate flooring is by sweeping it with a broom. It is still possible for the floor to get scratched by a sharp object such as small pebble even though these styles of floor are very durable.
   
2. Avoid using any mop with metal edges as it can leave marks on a laminate floor. You can use plain plastic or bristled broom and use them with a light sweeps to avoid rocks or stones from scratching the floor surface. Remove any dirt and debris from the floor before continuing onto the next step.
   
3. You can use disposable dusting cloth on the end of a long plastic stick to change the regular mop. Most of this product can be purchased at your hardware store. You can also find the non-disposable versions that use soft and reusable cloths too. They are perfect for cleaning up any tiny bits of dirt and dust that still remains on your floor even after you have swept it. Dust the floor carefully and then switch to a new cloth.
   
4. To clean your wood laminate flooring thoroughly, use a special wood laminate floor cleaners that can be purchased in flooring retail stores and home improvement stores. You can also find these products via online. Make sure to choose only safe cleansers that are marked as safe for wood laminate flooring. If not, you might end up with a soapy cleaner that will leave behind a streaky residue or film on your floor. Spray lightly on the entire floor or places that need to be cleaned and mop to dry.
   
5. When using your mop or dust mop to clean the moisture of the cleaner on the floor, the best way is by applying soft pressure so that you won\’t leave scratches across your flooring. Buff your floor as you clean it with mopping it up gently.
   

Additional Reading:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/88491/how_to_clean_wood_laminate_floors_pg2.html?cat=6

Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djenan/507558901/

Treating Wood Laminate Floor is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. Cleaning a wood laminate floor
2. Treating Laminate Floors
3. Installing Wood Laminate Floor

Laminate flooring is the most popular choice among house owners in recent years. With just a few tools and even without experience, laminate flooring is easy to install. This flooring comes with many patterns, colors and variety to suit your preferences; in addition the laminate flooring is durable and no fuss maintenance. Wood grain and stone tile are the typical variety of laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is also relatively inexpensive making it as an affordable choice compared to the hardwood flooring. The “easy care” feature of laminate flooring is the best aspect of it, so it is a simple matter to care for your laminate floor. Here are some easy steps on how to care for them.

You will need:

1. Floor cleaner
   
2. Broom
   
3. Mop
   

Steps:

1. First, look out for sharp edges. Even if the laminate floor is very durable, it still can be scratched by sharp edges. Use the self-stick pads to cover the feet of your tables and chairs. These pads will help your chairs and tables to slide easily over the floor without scratching the surface. You can find them in most of hardware stores and home improvement stores. They also comes in many variety of sizes and can be cut to fit the size of your tables and chairs legs.
   
2. Make sure you clean up the mess of beverages spill or water on your laminate flooring. When the liquid sits on the floor for a long time period, it will seep into cracks. Eventually, your laminate flooring will absorb this liquid and causes warp and swelling problem. So, whenever you notice there are liquid spills on your laminate flooring, dry the surface as soon possible with a mop.
   
3. Use a soft broom such as soft plastic broom or a string mop to remove dirt and debris from your floor. These types of brooms can prevent any scratches on your laminate flooring compared to hard brooms such as corn brooms.
   
4. You will need a special laminate floor cleaner when it is time for you to clean your laminate flooring thoroughly. The reason is that the surface of laminate flooring is different from tiles or hardwood flooring. You can purchase it at most stores or hardware stores selling laminate flooring. To use the cleaner, simply spray a light mist over the floor surface and then use a mop or a terry cloth rag to clean your laminate floor.
   

Additional Reading:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2110896_care-laminate-floor.html

Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iluvrhinestones/458221915/

Treating Laminate Floors is a post from: DIY Guides

Related posts:

1. Treating Wood Laminate Floor
2. Caring for laminate floors
3. Cleaning laminate hardwood floors