May 02

Home Remedies for Cleaning Ceramic Tile Grout

Effective home remedies for cleaning stained ceramic tile grout are easy to make and inexpensive. Home remedies are made from everyday household ingredients, do not produce toxic fumes and are gentle on the environment. If you are looking for a natural home remedy to clean ceramic tile grout give these a try.

Baking Soda

Baking soda makes one of the best home remedies for cleaning ceramic tile grout. Not only is it non-toxic, baking soda is non-abrasive and very inexpensive as well. To use baking soda to clean grout, mix 3 cups of baking soda with 1 cup of water, creating a paste. Spread the paste along the lines of the grout using an old toothbrush and lightly scrub. Allow the past to soak for 10 minutes and lightly scrub again. Rinse clean with water.  Read More »

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Feb 27

Differences between Water Based Asian Paints and Oil Based Paint-part 2

Previously Painted Surfaces
Before repainting a surface, you need to establish what kind of paint is on it. Remove a little of the old paint. If it is flexible with a plastic texture, it is likely latex; if it is brittle, then it is oil-based. Another way to tell is to apply heat to the surface. If it bubbles and melts, the paint is oil-based; if nothing happens then it is water-based. The general rule is that you cannot paint latex over oil because it won’t stick. However, there are now some latex asian paints that allow you to do just that.

Applications
Latex asian paints are now available for almost every application. Manufacturers are taking heed of the movement toward eco-friendly materials so that water-based asian paint, sealants and varnishes are as hard-wearing as their oil and solvent counterparts. But always check labels for suitability for purpose. There are still some instances, however, when oil-based paint is preferable. When creating a special finish, such as marbling, or where a very hard-wearing surface is required, oil-based paints are the best choice.

Safety
Latex asian paints are safer than oil-based, although basic precautions should always be taken when painting. Oil paint gives off fumes that can be dangerous, so ventilate the area when painting and while paint is drying. Oil-based paint also is flammable. Some old oil paint may contain lead, so take care when disposing of it. Contact your local waste management service for advice.

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Feb 27

Differences between Water Based Asian Paints and Oil Based Paint-part 1

Purchasing asian paints for your home may involves a choice between oil-based or water-based asian paints. Understanding the differences and the qualities of each type will help you decide which is preferable for your project. About 80 percent of asian paints that purchased for use on and in residential buildings is water-based, according to the Paint Quality Institute.

Water-Based Paint
Water-based asian paints, also called latex or acrylic, has developed significantly over the past few years. Formerly quite fragile and only suitable for walls, it now has many applications and can be used on wood and metal. It has a low odor and the color is less likely to fade over time. Read More »

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Feb 27

Recognizing, and Preventing, Tile Grout-Related Problems with Flexible Grout-part 3-Other grout woes

Though not as popular as grout cracking or discoloration/shading, low, powdery and rough tile grout are among the other problems that all too often develop in tile installations. Low grout joints are commonly caused by using too much water when washing excess flexible grout from the joint.

Powdery grout joints are frequently caused by poor curing because water evaporates from the flexible grout which, in turn, halts proper hydration. Other culprits include use of cleaning water that contains concentrated acids, and poor mixing with no slake time allowed. Porous and thereby highly absorptive tile can also suck the water out of the flexible grout mix to stop the hydration process. Read More »

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Feb 26

Recognizing, and Preventing, Tile Grout-Related Problems with Flexible Grout-part 2

Shall not the tile grout Been More Flexible — The problem with this tile installation, open joints where a cement-based grout was used at the juncture between the horizontal and vertical planes, might have been prevented had a mildew-resistant flexible grout been used instead.

Who Wants Powdery Tile? — This surface of this floor tile shows evidence of efflorescence caused by the water-borne migration of the salts in Portland cement-based setting materials. Read More »

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Feb 24

How to Tell If Asian Paints Were Oil-Based or Latex-Based – part 2

4. Dampen a rag with denatured alcohol, which is also referred to as methylated spirits. Denatured alcohol is a solvent that works well for a variety of cleaning purposes. It is available at paint stores, hardware stores and home supply stores.

5. Rub the painted surface with the damp rag for thirty seconds.

6. Inspect the rag for asian paints. If the rag has paint on it, then the old paint is latex asian paints. The surface will also feel tacky if the paint is latex. The old paint is oil-based paint if no paint comes off on the rag.
The same test can be also done with paint deglosser, often referred to as liquid sandpaper. Deglossers are available at paint stores.

7 . Repeat the test at least once for extra assurance.

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Feb 24

How to Tell If Asian Paints Were Oil-Based or Latex-Based – part 1

Knowing how to distinguish between latex (emulsion) and oil-based asian paints is a crucial step when the time comes to repaint or remodel an old home. Applying latex asian paints over a surface previously painted with oil-based paint won’t cause problems, but applying oil-based paint over a surface previously painted with latex asian paints can lead to serious problems such as peeling and cracking. A simple procedure may be used to tell if the old paint is based in latex or oil. Read More »

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Feb 23

Home Painting Tips: Oil-Based or Water-Based Asian Paints?-part 3

You should always use water-based asian paints for indoor surfaces. This is true even when covering up a surface previously painted with oil-based paint. The only exception to this rule would be if the surface beneath the oil-based paint is water-soluble, since the water used in latex paint can lead to a softening of the surface, which in turn could lead to peeling. Using multiple coats of oil-based paint can usually protect the surface, but before you go ahead and take the risk, first do a test in which you paint a small area with the water-based asian paints. Wait a couple of hours and if there is no peeling, you should be okay to go ahead with the full job.

When using water-based asian paints, also be sure to test for whether the chalk from the previous paint job has been removed. To do this, paint a smaller area of the surface just as in the test above, only this time use two coats. And instead of waiting a few hours, you’ll have to wait a couple of days. After two or three days use a paperclip to scratch a line through the paint, then stick some clear tape over the line and quickly remove it. Check the tape for paint specks. If more than a handful of paint specks are stuck to the tape, which means the paint isn’t bonding strongly. This means you’re going to need to do either one of two things. You’ll have to make sure you thoroughly clean off the chalked paint. Or you’ll need to switch to alkyd paint. Alkyd paints do a better job of covering up chalk.

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Feb 22

Home Painting Tips: Oil-Based or Water-Based Asian Paints?-part 2

On the other hand, if the exterior surface over which you plan to paint was previously painted with oil-based paint, you should go ahead and repaint with the same kind. The problem is that oil-based paints is more susceptible to the expanding and contracting that climate changes cause than water-based asian paints and therefore if you use a water-based asian paints to cover an oil-based paint you are running the risk of the undercoating peeling beneath your shiny new paint job. If you are planning to paint an exterior surface that hasn’t yet been painted, go with water-based asian paints. In this way the surface will be better able to breathe. In addition, the latex exterior water-based asian paints will adhere better during climate extremes.

Before you apply painting over an exterior surface that has already been painted, use a piece of sandpaper or a wire brush on it. This will roughen up the shiny gloss enough to allow the new coat to bond better to the surface. Also be sure to heartily clean under any eaves or in any other protected and hard to get to spots. The best method for this cleaning is to use a mixture of water and detergent. Why is this step necessary? Because these areas don’t get completely clean from rain water and if they surface isn’t completely clean, the paint will not bond

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