Five Ways to Protect Your Hardwood Floors from UV Rays

Direct sunlight and hardwood floors can potentially face an ugly problem; fading. If you have ever moved a rug or piece of furniture after an extended period of time, you may have noticed the area that was being covered up is a different shade than the wood surrounding it. The loss of color in your hardwood floors is a result of the big three: UV rays, heat, and moisture.

Unfortunately, the problem doesn’t have a single solution. There are also some questions that arise. Why is it that your hardwood floor is two different colors? Better yet, what can be done to preserve the color of the beautiful natural wood? We have compiled the top five ways to protect your hardwood floors from the harmful UV rays.

What Causes Hardwood Floor Fading?

When hardwood floors are exposed to the sun over a period of time, they tend to fade, bleach, or darken—depending on the type of wood. What many people don’t realize is that hardwood floors are sensitive to sunlight. However, the type of wood is not the only factor in the discoloration of your floor; the finish on the floor also plays a factor in how the wood reacts to sunlight.

UV rays from the sun react with the finish and slowly turn your hardwood floors lighter or darker. Your hardwood floors react with the sunlight the same way our skin reacts to sun exposure. Exposure to sunlight causes many different reactions to various types of skin. UV rays cause some people to tan quickly, whereas others will burn. Sunblock work similarly to wood protection in that it helps keep UV rays and sunlight from direct exposure of your skin. It plays a huge part in helping to minimize the skin’s reaction to the sun and UV rays. However, like the finish on wood, sunblock doesn’t last forever and tends to break down and wear off over time.

Five Ways to Protect Your Hardwood Floors from UV Rays

As we stated before, dealing with the issue of fading and discoloration of your hardwood floors doesn’t have a single solution fix. However, it doesn’t have to be timely and costly either. There a few small things that you can do to help reduce the sunlight exposure your hardwood floors receive.

1.   Rearranging Furniture and Area Rugs

Now and then, walk around your home and move things around. Find the furniture and area rugs in your home that are in the direct path of the sunlight and rearrange them. Moving things around allows the sunlight to hit areas of your home that are shaded, which in turn gives it even sunlight year round. If there are pieces of furniture that you cannot move, at least try and remove area rugs—or avoid putting furniture in direct sunlight.

2.   Window Covering

Installing curtains and blinds are simple ways to prevent sunlight from hitting your floor. Keeping the windows shaded from the light keeps the sunlight and UV rays from shining down on your hardwood floors and fading them. It is a quick and easy defense against the harmful rays. If closing your blinds isn’t ideal, you can always angle the blinds to let sunlight in at an upwards fashion onto the walls and ceilings—opposed to directly onto your floors.

3.   Tint

Window tint can be costly, but highly rewarding in the fight against sunlight and UV rays. Tinting your windows helps cut down on the amount of sunlight and UV rays in your home without completely staying in the dark. Just like with car tint, there are different percentages of tint for your home. This gives you the options of allowing variable sunlight levels inside of your home.

4.   Awnings

An awning or overhang is a secondary covering that attaches to the exterior of the wall of your home. Awnings are a great way to help reduce the sun’s rays from coming through your window and deteriorating your hardwood floors. A typical awning is made up of canvas, cotton, or vinyl fabric. You also can see versions that are aluminum, iron, or steel too. Most likely you will see awnings on commercial buildings or restaurants because they are broad enough to cover a substantial area. Awnings also give you the options to have them retractable or stationary. Though they are not the most attractive, they do help keep your floors stay in their original state.

5.   Low Emissivity Glass

Low emissivity glass window coatings (Low-E), is a microscopically thin, transparent coating. This coating is thinner than human hair—which reflects long-wave infrared heat. It is a highly reflective material that shifts heat or light energy away by air movement or re-radiation. This isn’t something that you can just spray on your existing windows. This option is perfect for people who are looking to replace their old windows with the most up-to-date, go Green windows. These windows are ideal for reducing not only the amount of UV light that comes into your home but also helps you save on your energy bill as well. Though this is the costliest investment on this list, it works wonders on the protection of your hardwood floors.

Floors Already Faded?

Let’s say that you have already attempted to do everything we have stated on our list—what now? Unfortunately, there isn’t much that can be done once your hardwood floors have been discolored. If your floors are too far gone and too faded, you may have to refinish or remove your hardwood floors. However, if your floors aren’t too far gone and the fading isn’t too noticeable—we highly suggest that you take our advice from the list above and start protecting your hardwood floors today.

How Speedy Floor Removal Can Help

Speedy Floor Removal in North Central Florida is the most trusted source for floor removal and surface preparation services. If your floors are severely faded, and you have decided to remove your old flooring and install new flooring, make sure to call Speedy Floor Removal for our professional experience. We guarantee that our virtually dustless floor removal process ensures the proper and healthy removal of your old flooring. Before you install a new floor, make sure to contact Speedy Floor Removal for a free estimate!

Let us handle your dust. Contact Speedy Floor Removal today!

Are you tired of always cleaning your carpet? Are you considering trading in your carpet for something else? If you are ready to remove your old flooring and can’t decide between hardwood flooring and tile, this article is for you!

Flooring is the visual foundation of your home’s interior. Choosing the right type of flooring in your home contributes to the lighting, comfort levels, and tone of each room of your home. However, when many people decide they are sick of carpet, the next big question is what’s next? Speedy Floor Removal is here to help you remove your old floor, prep it for your new flooring, and give advice on which flooring you should choose for your home!

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood flooring not only adds to the aesthetic appeal of your home, but it can also add value to your home According to the National Wood Flooring Association, homes with wood floors sell faster and at higher prices than a home without hardwood floors. Hardwood flooring is a feature that is universally attractive and tends to always stay in style. However, homeowners need to be aware of the pros and cons associated with hardwood flooring during the decision-making process.

Pros:

• Easy Maintenance: Hardwood floors can stand the test of time with proper maintenance. Think about it, many homes that are over 100 years old still have their original flooring. Most wood floors just need sweeping or vacuuming to keep clean from dust, debris, and spills. They also only need occasional cleaning with a wood floor cleaner.
• Versatility: We already discussed the timeless style of hardwood floors, but they are also extremely versatile. If at any point in time you want to change up the look of a room, you can quickly throw an area rug down and have a whole new look to the room! Hardwood floors make it easy to decorate and make it easy to match any style.
• Variety: Hardwood flooring can also come in a wide selection of variations to match the look and feel of your home. There are many stains, woods, thickness levels, and patterns. There is even the option sometimes to mix and match.

Cons

• Cost: Buying new wood floors is a larger investment when compared to other types of flooring options. It is more expensive than installing tile or carpet.
• Wear: Hardwood floors can be functional even after many years. However, they will still wear and scratch over time. This means that you may have to refinish and fix areas in your wood floor after installation. If you have a lot of activity in your home, this may be a bigger drawback.
• Noise: Hardwood floors can be quite noisy when compared to carpet. Once the floors are installed, the wood begins to wear and settle immediately, especially in high-traffic homes. Keep in mind that hardwood floors don’t absorb noise as well as carpets do, making steps and movement in your home a little more noticeable.

Tile Floors

Whether you are currently building your dream home or have lived in the same house for years, there may come a time when new flooring is needed. Speedy Floor Removal is here to help you remove your current flooring to make way for new flooring.

Tile flooring is a very practical, economical, and fashionable option when choosing a new floor. Tile is still one of the most popular options when it comes to flooring. It has a diverse range of textures, shapes, colors, and materials that offer unlimited options that can satisfy any design style and budget. Just like hardwood flooring, tile floors have benefits and drawbacks.

Pros:

• Durability: Tile flooring is extremely tough—and tiles are often difficult to crack. A good quality tile can last for up to 20 years and even longer if prepared and maintained properly. If a single tile does end up with a crack in it, the process of replacing or fixing the tile is fairly simple, saving you money and stress!
• Lower Cost: Most flooring can cost anywhere between $4-$10 per square foot, but those numbers can vary to two different extremes. This makes tile flooring moderately more expensive than carpet, but it is less costly when compared to hardwood flooring. Also, depending on where the tile floor is installed, it can add long-term value to your home.
• Non-allergenic: Just like hardwood flooring, tile is a hard, solid surface that doesn’t attract dirt, dust, pollen, or other allergens. Unlike carpet, small debris stands out on the surface of tile floors, making it easier to spot and clean. Tile floor also helps to promote cleaner air in your home. With a tile floor, it makes it harder for irritating materials to make a home on your floor and in return, helps those that suffer from respiratory problems or asthma.

Cons:

• Hardness: Tile is a hard material, making it very easy to clean and maintain. However, this can also make it more difficult and uncomfortable to stand on for long periods of time. Though the hardness of the tile floors can be offset by putting down area rugs in certain places, it isn’t ideal for some homeowners.
• Weight: The weight of the tile can be a slight problem. Tile floors are heavy, which means that they cannot be installed everywhere. Most of the time tile flooring cannot be installed on upper stories. It is possible but can be more difficult to accomplish.
• Installation: Any type of floor installation can be difficult depending on many factors. But, tile floors prove to be the most difficult to install. Installation requires many tools, grouts, mortars, etc. This is a project that can be done by an amateur, but it is not recommended. Tile floor installation can be difficult, time-consuming, and prone to mistakes. This is best left to a professional.

What’s Next?

Choosing the right type of flooring is important and should be researched thoroughly before you make your final decision. It is also crucial that you choose the right contractor for the job. Different contractors have different levels of skill and expertise. Therefore, it’s important to do your research—call around, get multiple estimates, and don’t just choose solely based on price. Instead, choose a flooring contractor that makes you feel comfortable.

Before your new flooring is even installed, it’s imperative that your current flooring is properly removed and the surface underneath is prepared for the new floor. Floor removal and preparation are some of the most important steps in installing new tile or hardwood flooring. If done incorrectly, your new flooring will not be installed properly and can give you more problems in the future.

Proper Floor Removal and Surface Preparation with Speedy Floor Removal

Once you decide on which type of floor you want to install, make sure to properly remove your current floor and prep the area for your new floor. Removing your old floors can be taxing, making you devote both time and effort. Trying to remove your old floors without the help of professionals requires grueling and daunting work that is not recommended for DIYers.

Speedy Floor Removal wants to spare you the stress, aggravation, and the mess! Instead, trust us to expertly and thoroughly remove your flooring! We have the experience and know how to make your floor removal process easy and hassle-free. Once your old flooring is removed, we make sure the area is prepped and ready for easy installation. No matter which new floor you choose to install, we can remove your old carpet, tile, or hardwood flooring!

Contact Speedy Floor Removal in Your Area

Floor surface preparation is the first and most important step for the installation of any flooring. Without proper floor surface preparation, many problems can arise once you install your new flooring system. If you have ever seen uneven floors, peeling floors, or bubbling floors, it could be because the floor was not prepped properly. Every surface needs to be cleaned, open, and porous for proper floor installation.

Keep in mind that floor surface preparation is not just for residential homes, but also commercial and industrial floors as well. So, what is surface preparation? Read below to find out!

For more information about floor surface preparation contact Speedy Floor Removal

What Is Floor Surface Preparation?

Surface preparation is the demolition or breaking down of existing flooring and bonding between the concrete and the flooring. Whether it is residential, commercial, or industrial—the floors must be properly prepped for replacement or new floors to be installed. Following the demolition and removal of old flooring, the concrete slab must be prepped—with specific equipment—for installation. This process can be done a few different ways, but it is always with highly specialized machines that remove any elements left behind from old flooring system.

At Speedy Floor Removal, our machines can remove many elements left behind including:

• Adhesives
• Thinset
• Paint
• Sealer
• Epoxy
• And much more!

These specifically designed machines are used to remove existing flooring quickly, safely, and effectively. This normal process also guarantees a smooth and clean surface without damaging the concrete slab underneath. Using these state-of-the-art machines also lets us avoid using harsh chemicals that can cause health concerns for humans and the surrounding environment.

For visual examples of our floor removal process, click here!

Poorly Prepped Floor Surfaces: What’s the Risk?

Concrete is a very hardy and sturdy; however, it will deteriorate if not prepped and maintained properly. Some might wonder, “will anyone even see my concrete?” Though you may not see your concrete underneath your floor, that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be prepped and maintained properly. When replacing your floors, making sure that the concrete is clean, smooth, and not full of cracks is important. If concrete is not properly prepped and maintained before laying new flooring system, many problems can arise, including:

• Uneven surfaces
• Poor adherence
• Cracks
• Holes
• And more!

These side effects can be hazardous to the stability of people, equipment, and even furniture. If the surface prep is not done correctly, your new floor will deteriorate faster and can be a big waste of time and money!

Speedy Floor Removal is the leader in properly prepping floor surfaces in Florida. We guarantee that your concrete slab will look like new and be cleared of any elements for your new floor installation. We have skilled professionals with advanced technology to make sure your floors are spotless for your new flooring! For more information about floor surface preparation, please visit here!

More About Speedy Floor Removal

Speedy Floor Removal is North Central Florida’s most trusted source for floor removal and surface preparation services. Our team is staffed with highly skilled professionals and advanced technological equipment to make the floor removal process as fast and smooth as possible. Our virtually dustless floor removal process ensures a clean and safe process for your home or business. Before you install a new floor, make sure to contact Speedy Floor Removal for a free estimate about floor surface preparation!

For more information about floor surface preparation contact us today!

Are you a carpet hater? Do you often get sick and tired of obsessing about your clean carpet that you think getting rid of it might be the best solution? Don’t fret, keeping your carpet clean isn’t as challenging as you may think! You don’t have to figure out how your friends with two dogs and three kids keep a perfectly looking new carpet. We are here to give you a few simple tricks—not only to help your stress levels but also to help save you money and your carpet!

 Learn more about Speedy Floor Removal here.

Tips & Tricks for Cleaner Carpets

1. The No Shoe Rule

This should be a given, right? However, many times we start off having good intentions, but end up lapsing over time. Sometimes we think that our shoes really aren’t that dirty. Before you know it, people are walking around your nice, clean carpet with their dirty shoes. This rule can be tough to enforce, but your carpet can gain many benefits from having the no shoe rule. You will have cleaner carpets, less allergens and bacteria, and healthier feet! The no shoe rule works, your carpet will thank you!

2. Spot Cleaning

We can all get over enthusiastic with a drink when the Gators score a touchdown. So, having a home spot cleaning kit in hand is a good idea. It is also a good idea to have clean, cotton towels with a floor cleaning spray bottle to quickly deal with a mess. Most think that the spill itself is what damages the carpet. However, it is the spill that is left in the carpet that causes the real damage. If the spill is left to penetrate the carpet it can be really difficult to get the stain out and it also becomes a magnet to everything else that comes into contact with. Before you know it, you have a big, dark ugly stain. The best thing to do is as soon as a spill occurs, gently dab the spill and then go over it with some type of carpet cleaner.

3. Vacuum, Vacuum, Vacuum

A good rule to remember with vacuuming is to do it at least one to three times per week. The biggest problem with carpet is that it hides dust and dirt very well from the human eye. When dirt and/or dust collects on top of the carpet—if let go—will end up being walked on top of and smashed into the carpet fibers. This build up of dirt and dust is abrasive and can actually break down the carpet fibers which cause it to flatten out over time. This is why many times higher traffic areas looked more worn out than the rest of the areas. Again, we cannot stress enough the importance of vacuuming.

4. Professional Cleaning 

Taking all of the necessary steps to keeping our carpet clean can only do some much. If you really want your carpet to look like new, then we suggest hiring a carpet cleaning professional once or twice a year. These professionals have the proper equipment and training to give your carpet a deep clean. Carpet cleaning professionals can get your carpet to tip top condition in no time at all.

5. Place Walk-Off Mats 

Wherever your carpet sees the most traffic is where you should place a walk-off mat. Many times, these mats are placed in front of sofas, chairs, or entry/exit points. These mats are great for absorbing soil and moisture. Make sure to clean these walk-off mats regularly so they don’t trap dirt and/or moisture that can then be transferred to your carpet. Another great tip is to make sure to check the walk-off mats colorfastness. Colorfastness is the resistance of the materials color to fade or run. You don’t want your walk-off mats to bleed through onto the carpet below. You see this many times with black rubber mats.

6. Replace Your Carpet

If you take the necessary precautions stated above, you can get a long life out of your carpet. However, flooring life depends on many factors. A good rule of thumb to remember is that you can expect your carpet to last between 5-15 years. The more expensive the fibers, the longer the carpet will last. If you’re dealing with less expensive carpet, you could see wear and patchiness in as little as 3-5 years. Regardless, Speedy Floor Removal is here to remove your old carpet and prep for your new one quickly and affordably.

 Speedy Floor Removal

From the beginning, Speedy Floor Removal has focused on training and developing the team to provide them with everything they need to provide the best service possible. Speedy Floor Removal knows the best ways to perform a variety of procedures in your home. In the end, our ultimate goal is to help others by providing the best service possible. Our focus on training, quality service, and customer satisfaction is why we are #1 in Gainesville, FL.

Call or Request a Quote with Speedy Floor Removal today!

Unfortunately, floors aren’t made to last forever. And while floor cleaning can improve their looks and extend their lives, eventually floors have to be replaced. But how do you know when it’s time to replace your flooring?

Well, the timing depends on your floors. Tile, hardwood, and carpet, and the different types under each of those, come with different shelf lives. The exact time to replace your flooring hinges on several factors, but here are some ways to know when your flooring has seen better days.

Carpet

Carpet has a broad range of life expectancy. Lower quality carpets (like those in your college apartment) typically last one to five years, while the highest quality carpet averages 15 to 25 years. The longevity of your carpet also depends on how many people live with you, if you frequently entertain, if you’re prone to spills, etc.

Though a lot of factors determine how long your carpet will actually last, there are signs you can look for to know when it’s time to move forward.

Stains

This one is the most obvious, but as a reminder: if stains overtake your carpet (and your carpet isn’t in an area where more near-future spills are inevitable – like a playroom), it’s time to consider new carpeting.

Rips and Tears

Sometimes, your carpet will tell you if it needs replacing. It does this by easily ripping or tearing or by coming undone at the ends.

Odors

If something smells off even after you’ve cleaned, it might be your carpet. Sometimes bad smells get deeper than the carpet surface we can clean, and when that happens, it’s time to replace.

Hardwood

With proper care and maintenance, hardwood floors can easily last more than 25 years before even needing major TLC. These floors also have more options than carpet or tile because they can be refinished rather than replaced. If stains cover your floor and you have a few boards that never stop squeaking, you can probably still get by with refinishing. But sometimes, those incredible hardwoods reach the point of no return.

Extreme Movement

If more than a few of your boards squeak or your floor feels like it shifts more than normal, your floor is probably beyond repair. Their movement makes refinishing processes like sanding and finishing significantly more difficult and makes the results look lackluster.

Structural Issues

If your floor slopes, there’s probably an issue beyond refinishing. It most likely points to a structural issue, and to fix that, a large part (or all) of your floor must come up. Your entire house sits on your foundation, and even small issues can turn into something bigger. It’s a good idea to go ahead and at least have someone look at your foundation if your floors slope.

Tile

Tile floors have an incredibly long life expectancy – if they’re taken care of. Ceramic tile can easily last 75 to 100 years, while natural stone (like marble or granite) can last well over 100.  Tile has the advantage of allowing you to replace a tile or a section if a major stain or break occurs, but that’s assuming someone still makes the tile you need. If your tile has gone out of production, you may have to replace the entire floor.

Whether you’re looking at a single tile, a small section, or an entire floor, here are some things that may indicate it’s time to make a replacement.

Cracks and Chips

A number of things could cause your tile to crack. Common causes include sharp blows (dropping even a heavy pot or pan), heavy loads (like your washer, dryer, or fridge), and more. If only one or two tiles have mild cracks, you can choose not to replace, but if a section cracks for no apparent reason, the foundation could be to blame, and it’s a good idea to have it replaced.

Tenting

Depending on the joints, adhesives, and other things used in the installation process, your tiles may “tent” – actually come up – a little or even a lot. Unfortunately, if this happens (and it can happen just weeks after installation), you need to replace or redo your tiles.

Loose Tile

Sometimes, tiles come loose. It could be from bad adhesive or grout, or it could be a sign of more serious structural issues. Loose tiles pose a danger to people walking over them, so you should replace at least one tile as quickly as possible. If it’s more than one tile, you should have your foundation checked.

Summary

Unfortunately, floors aren’t meant to last forever. Whether they’re carpet, hardwood, tile, or something else (like laminate), you could replace your floors because of their looks, their smells, or their deeper issues. If something happens with your floors that could point to foundation problems, make sure to get it checked. Otherwise, whether or not to replace your flooring is really up to you.

It usually doesn’t take long before spots start appearing on your carpets. Whether you have pets, children, or you yourself have a spill, accidents do happen—and unfortunately it happens quite frequently on your flooring.

There are many stains that are hard to get out—including wine, wax, grease, and soda. Below, the floor removal experts at Speedy Floor Removal has outlined five secrets to keep your floors clean and lasting longer.

Secret 1: Blot, Don’t Rub

If there is a spill on your carpets, it’s almost second nature to rub your towel in a circle to get the stain out. This method actually rubs the stain deeper into the carpets rather than bringing it to the service. Instead of rubbing your towel in a circular motion, try blotting the stain. This will help absorb the stain into the towel instead of pushing it deeper—which makes it nearly impossible to remove.

Secret 2: Treat Your Carpets Like Clothing

If you spill grease on your favorite blouse, how would you treat it? Mothers for ages swear by sprinkling powder over the grease stain or by using grease-cutting dish detergent. Treat your carpets like you would your clothing by using the best method to get out those tough stains. Some ways to get tough stains out include: 

• Grease – Dish Detergent
• Pen/Ink – Rubbing Alcohol or Hair Spray
• Wine – Dish Detergent and Hydrogen Peroxide
• Grass – Diluted White Vinegar
• Gum – Freeze the Gum, Then Remove

For more tips on how to remove tough stains, click here.

Secret 3: Vacuum Frequently

Experts suggest vacuuming should be done twice a week to maintain a clean home. However, if you have pets or children, vacuuming more frequently may be needed to keep your home clean—especially in those high traffic areas. Vacuuming your carpets can remove dust, dander, dirt, and more—which could help your carpets lasting longer and can keep carpets from smelling.

Secret 4: Hire a Professional Carpet Cleaner

Would you wear the same pair of socks for six months without washing them? Chances are, you probably wouldn’t wear socks for several days in a row let alone six months. Your carpets should be treated similarly. While carpets do not need to be cleaned daily, you should give them a good scrub every six months to wash out dirt, grime, and dander that is missed with regular vacuuming.

Secret 5: Invest in Rugs

When you walk through your home, you are bringing in millions of microscopic pieces of dirt—which end up trapped in carpet fibers. Rugs help reduce the amount of dirt by trapping dust and dirt as soon as you walk through the door. We recommend a straw-like rug for the outside of your home and a softer rug for inside of the home. You could also place rugs in high traffic areas to help catch even more dirt. To clean rugs, simply take outside and shake, vacuum, or wash with soap and water.

Carpets Which Can’t Be Saved

Let’s face it, when pets and children run and play through your home, it takes a toll on your flooring—sometimes, it just can’t be saved. That’s where Speedy Floor Removal comes in. We are Florida’s floor removal experts who can provide dust-free carpet removal services throughout the North Central Florida are. If you’re carpets are done for and are ready to be replaced, call Speedy Floor Removal for dustless floor removal.

Simply reading about dust inhalation makes you want to sneeze, doesn’t it?

That reaction should come as no surprise, especially to those who are asthmatic or suffer from extreme allergies. It isn’t something that should be taken lightly. Breathing in dust can create lasting health issues for a number of different reasons. In this blog, we’ll highlight 3 dangers of dust inhalation and list preventative measures you can take to limit potential health problems caused by dust, especially when it comes to home renovation projects.

Risks of Dust Inhalation

Can Trigger Asthma Symptoms

Dust allergies usually cause itchiness in the throat, watery eyes, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Breathing in dust can cause these symptoms to worsen and lead to inflammation in the nose and throat.

If you’re working in a dusty environment, it is important that you wear a disposable respirator in order to avoid dust inhalation. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, exposure to dust while on the job, or “occupational asthma” affects an estimated 15% of Americans.

Dust Contains Bacteria And Fungi

Did you know that the average American household contains up to 7,000 types of dust-related bacteria and 2,000 species of fungi? Your carpet alone can contain up to 200,000 bacteria per square inch. That’s a lot of germs!

The best way to limit germs from multiplying (leading to hazardous dust inhalation) is to keep your carpets dry, vacuumed regularly and steam cleaned 1-2 times yearly. If your carpet is older than 10 years, it might be time to remove your old carpet to make way for new, healthy carpet that won’t aggravate your allergies.

Exposure to Chemicals

When you see dust in your home, you probably don’t stop to think about what it is made of. While most dust is made up of tiny waste particles, there can be dangerous chemicals lurking in dust which can cause serious health issues.

Dust particles created from the removal of flooring, tile and more can contain chemicals known as crystalline silica. According to the United States Department of Labor, “Silica dust is hazardous when very small (respirable) particles are inhaled. These respirable dust particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause disabling and sometimes fatal lung diseases, including silicosis and lung cancer, as well as kidney disease.”

Materials which create crystalline silica dust include:

• Quartz
• Stone
• Rock
• Sand
• Brick
• And many other materials found in your flooring!

Home Renovation Projects Stir Up Dust

Choosing to take on remodeling projects yourself will require more energy and increase your chances of dust inhalation. Without proper equipment and technology designed to capture the smallest dust particles, you can wind up feeling the effects of dust inhalation from particles circling in your air. Removing your floor by yourself is time consuming, stressful, and worse for your health.

Take the Stress Out of Floor Removal with Speedy

As you can see, there are many dangers of dust inhalation. If you are removing tile, hardwood, or carpet flooring, it is almost impossible to have a dustless floor removal unless you have the proper equipment. Luckily, if you are in North and Central Florida, you have Speedy Floor Removal to count on. Our floor removal experts use state of the art equipment in homes and commercial properties to capture dust particles so you can breathe easier and healthier!

Ready to remove your floor the stress and dust-free way? Contact us in your service area to receive a free project estimate.

Linoleum flooring can be a cost-efficient option for families looking for a flooring change.

It’s versatile, fitting any room of your house. You can find linoleum flooring in a large number of patterns and colors. Pick out a type of linoleum that already matches your decorating to keep some extra money in your pocket in the end.

Once it’s installed, linoleum can be taken care of without much work. Here’s all you need to know about cleaning and maintaining your linoleum flooring:

Sweep or Vacuum Floor First

If you’re going to use a liquid product on the linoleum flooring, which is the best way to clean it, then you need to make sure that all dirt is off the floor. If not, the dirt already on the floor just gets spread out, and the floor doesn’t have the smooth, clean feeling that you’re looking for in the end.

Do this by vacuuming or sweeping the entire portion of the floor that you plan to clean.

Pick A Floor Cleaning Product

There are many products available to use as the cleaning solution for your floors. Go to your local store and search the cleaning aisle, but multiple companies produce a cleaning agent specifically for linoleum flooring.

However, pick one that you’re comfortable with and do some research before making that final decision. It should be a product or brand that you are comfortable with and willing to use on your floors.

Polish Your Linoleum Flooring

The cleaner you purchase will have instructions for how to create the solution needed to clean your floors, but it often involves mixing it with water. The water generally needs to be warm for cleaning product to mix better.

Once the solution is created, use a mop to spread it over the floor. Allow it to dry with as little foot traffic as possible, and your linoleum flooring will be clean and ready to show off!

If you’re ready for a change in your flooring, contact Speedy Floor Removal to experience our dust-free process that keeps your home clean while the floor is removed. Contact us at 352-415-2832 or send us a message from our website. We also offer free estimates and would love to provide one for you.