Tuesday 14 April 2009

Applying Concrete Stains - How to Organize a Flooring Redesign

Applying stains to an existing flooring can be a breeze, or it can be an uphill battle. It all depends on how you organize the staining process. For example, if you just bought a house, you want to be sure that you apply the stains and sealer before everything else. Make sure the process is completed before the furnishing gets in. Otherwise, you will find it more difficult to redesign the flooring.

But most homeowners want to apply the chemicals in their existing homes. So how should they go about organizing the stain application process? Here are some quick tips.

1) Storage concerns.

In the house, there is existing furniture, which gets in the way when staining the flooring. So this needs to be addressed immediately. In most instances, it is almost impossible to move all the furniture out of the house. Fortunately, there is a work around solution. Simply plan your work carefully, and you never have to move all the furniture out. One way to solve this problem, is to work on one room at a time. Move the furnishing into the adjacent room, and complete the work for one room first. Let the stains and sealer dry completely, then move the furnishing back in. Now, it's time to work on the other room.

This process is a little slower, as you have to let the flooring dry completely before you can work on another room. But it helps to break the work down, making it easier to focus on one room, and then on another. You may even end up with much better results than you initially expect.

The other alternative, is to find a temporary storage space (e.g. a garage, backyard, or a neighbor's house) and store all the furniture there for a day or two.

2) Drying time.

If you use quick drying stains, you only need a couple of days to apply the stains and sealer. Don't buy traditional stains that require more than 24 hours to dry. That will set you back by another 2 to 3 days. If you are renting storage space, you may end up having to pay more.

3) Having the right tools.

You will need some clean rags or paint brushes to apply the stains. For the sealer, all you may need is a spraying tool. The tools you need depends on the type of products you buy. So speak with your product vendor to make sure that you have the right tools. Paper towels often come in useful if you want to wipe off excess substances. Newspapers can help protect the work area.

4) The right amount of stains and sealer.

Ensure that you have adequate amount of stains and sealer to save yourself from having to revisit the stores again.

5) Monitor the progress.

As you let the stains dry, monitor the progress. Apply another coat if the first coat appears patchy.


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