Carpet Should Be Dry When Clean
Steamatic of Columbus has been part of the Flooring & More Carpet One family for 36 years. During that time, you really get to know a few things about cleaning carpet, rugs, upholstery and drapery. First a few fun points to note:
- “steam” cleaning uses hot water, typically around 195 degrees F, to break down dirt and grease…most greases and oil begin to break down at 140 degrees
- the water in a “hot water extraction” system is simply the “carrier” to loosen the grease and dirt from the fiber and then carry that dirt with it as it is extracted (vacuumed) out of the carpet
- if water is left behind in your carpet, you can bet dirt is, too
- most carpet manufacturer’s recommend prefessional cleaning at least once a year (your family composition and lifestyle may dictate more or less frequesnt cleaning)
Depending on the humidity (let’s face it, we live in the South where humidity is a fact of life!), your carpet should be dry or close to dry when the cleaning is finished. That’s not to say immediately after the cleaning wand passes over the carpet, but if you have four rooms being cleaned, we find that the first room is fairly dry by the time we start the fourth room. This is important because it means that the water AND dirt have been removed from your carpet. Additionally, the potential for mold or mildew from any remaining dampness or the tendancy for wet carpet to attract more dirt is being approriately managed.
To see more of what Steamatic can do for you, we have attached a short video:
Steamatic of Columbus – Carpet-Dirty Shoes
Call Steamatic for a free quote at 706-324-2224.
Have a question concerning your next carpet or flooring project? Click to email direct.
Custom Tile Showers
 New custom walk in shower designed to fit the available space. |
 Tile floor with inlaid design leading to the custom shower. |
Many of our customers have known and used us for their carpet needs for almost half a century. Over those years, Flooring & More Carpet One has worked hard to offer total flooring solutions and to keep up with the latest in industry and technology trends. One such trend about which we are very excited is the Schluter family of products. I have written before about the need to properly prepare the sub-floor (we call it “prep”) before installing your new floor. The same is true for tile, especially in showers where exposure to water is almost constant.
The Schluter Shower System uses integrated products to create a “sealed” system. First, the Kerdi Drain is installed with the Schluter prefabricated foam tray or a traditional sloped mortar bed. The Kerdi Drain creates a simple and secure connection to the Kerdi waterproofing membrane via the drain’s unique integrated bonding flange. Unlike traditional assemblies using shower pan liners, Kerdi is a bonded waterproofing membrane that allows direct application of tile with thin set mortar. This unique bonding with the mortar bed or tray, the Kerdi Drain and the backer board creates a fully waterproof and vapor-tight enclosure.
Kerdi Drain unit in a mortar setting bed. The orange Kerdi membrane can be seen on the walls.
Kerdi waterproofing membrane on the rear and side walls and ceiling. Note the "smiley face". Never assume hardworking tile mechanics don't have a sense of humor!
The resulting Schluter based assembly provides superior moisture management because it does not allow moisture to penetrate into the mortar bed or solid backer board, thereby allowing the assembly to dry completely between uses. The Schluter Shower System eliminates leaks, reduces the potential for efflorescence and mold growth.
Something else that many people don’t realize is that custom showers can be easier to afford than they think. Consider one of those pre-fabricated “walk in” tubs that we see advertised on TV. These can run $12,000 to $16,000 or more. A custom tile shower not only has a much more attractive appearance but it can easily be made to be handicap accessible, all for less than $10,000 in many cases. Because these showers are customer projects, it is difficult to offer pricing without first assessing the size of the shower, materials desired, existing structures and related elements, but kitchen and bathroom re-models typically provide the greatest return to the value of your home. So a shower upgrade is really more of an investment than an expense.
Kerdi waterproofing membrane now installed on the floor mortar bed and bonded to the Kerdi Drain to complete the "sealing" of the system.
You owe it to yourself to check on the possibilty of a custom shower and when you do, please consider the Schluter system. It is a fantastic way to upgrade your bath to enjoy now while preserving your new investment for the long run. You can get more information on Schluter at www.Schluter.com or right here with us at our Store at 4848 River Road.
Tile installation well underway. You can see the Kerdi membrane still visible as wall tiles are being installed over it.
Radiant floor heat, seen here in front of the sink area and leading to the shower, is an option our customers really enjoy. This is a decision that must be made up front because the heating system is built into the tile floor.
Have a question concerning your next carpet or flooring project? Click to email direct.
Sand Belongs in the Yard, Not on Your Floors!
Cooper and Cason taking a break from their version of "King of the Hill!"
I recently bought a load of sand to spread around our yard (and three weekends later, I’m still spreading it!). We have three dogs at our house who immediately discovered the sand pile in the driveway. What started out as a five foot high pile on Wednesday when it was delivered was down to three feet tall by Saturday when I started moving it to the yard. You can see why the pile flattened out so quickly:
Cooper and Chloe on the sand pile. Guess which one likes posing for the camera?
As the dogs played in the sand (and yes, they’re inside dogs, too), it became obvious that we were in for some additional cleaning of our floors. Sand and dirt come in your house every time you (or your dog) come in from outside. What a lot of folks don’t realize is that sand (just a smaller piece of gravel) is a very hard substance with numerous cutting edges. When you walk on sand on your floor, it is like walking with sandpaper on the floor, simply minus the paper. With wood floors, this leads to scratches. In carpet, the appearance doesn’t change so quickly but the sand gets down into the fiber and the back and forth motion of walking across your carpet causes the sand grains to cut at the base of the carpet fiber, thereby shortening its life.
What can you do? Simple: clean the floor! Our philosophy has always been to enjoy your home and your floors. Don’t be afraid to use and enjoy them, but do be prepared to clean as you go. My wife, Barbara, and I debate between sweeping and vacuuming on hard surfaces such as wood and tile. I like to vacuum because I believe it gets up more of the grit like sand. If you vacuum like I do, be sure to turn the beater bar OFF to avoid scratches on hard surfaces. Of course, on carpet, turn the beater bar ON to get the proper agitation of the carpet so that the vacuum can lift out the dirt. And once a year or so, be sure to engage the services of a professional carpet cleaner like Steamatic (706-324-2224 or www.SteamaticOfColumbus.com) to thoroughly clean your carpet and preserve your manufacturer’s warranty.
Have a question concerning your next carpet or flooring project? Click to email direct.
