You can, but it may not be the best choice. Many professionals avoid working with oil-based paints because they are harder to clean up and take longer to dry. With water-based paints, smudges and spills can be wiped away easily with a damp cloth. Water-based paint can be applied over oil-or water-based urethane finishes. For best results with opaque paints, consider first applying a white primer.

Limewashes represent the best of both form and function. They're beautiful and breathable, making them the perfect choice for both historic and new buildings. Unlike typical modern paints, they don't trap water and they age beautifully--instead of getting shabby, they develop a lovely mellow patina over time.

If your hardwood floor's finish becomes dull and scratched you can restore the finish by a light screening and recoat of the urethane.

We recommend Tarkett Cleaner. It removes sticky food spills, rubber heel marks and other foreign substances. It is premixed, is non-solvent and has no offensive fumes. In addition, it is non-flammable and non-yellowing. And, it's easy to use. Thoroughly sweep or vacuum the floor. Then apply the cleaner to the area to be cleaned and rub with a soft cloth or dry mop. You might also use a shmop, a combination dust/sponge mop.

Urethane is one of the most popular finishes in use today. An easy way to determine if your floor has this type of finish is to apply a small amount of paint remover to the floor surface. If the finish bubbles up, it is most likely a urethane. You can also try scraping up a bit of the finish with a sharp blade (also in an area hidden from view.) If you can scrape up a clear material, the finish is likely urethane.

These are the most popular choice and involve applying a stain to achieve a particular color, followed by a top coat of polyurethane or varnish to give a protective coat. Surface finishes are durable, they resist moisture, and are easy to maintain. There are four options for the top coat, and each has its own benefits: OIL-BASED URETHANE is the most commonly used floor finish.

You may be able to renew a dull finish without completely refinishing the floor. Still, some hardwood floor manufacturers recommend that only professional refinishers tackle the job. If you decide to do it yourself, begin by sweeping with a good broom and then vacuuming the surface. Next, use a buffer with an abrasive pad and/or fine-grit sand paper until the finish feels smooth. Another option would be to use a rectangular oscillating sanding machine.

We recommend protective finish especially in areas that are subjected to high traffic or moisture. Water on the surface, without a protective layer, will discolor the appearance of the surface by leaving dark spots. Wait at least 4 hours before applying the Venetian Plaster Protective Topcoat product. This material can also be burnished like the plaster itself to deliver a high gloss.

Currently, there is no recycling outlet for oil-based paint. Residents can dry it out with kitty litter or sawdust and throw it away with their regular garbage.

No. Do not use any oil-based, polish, wax, ammoniated or abrasive cleaners on your laminate floor. These cause swelling, warping and joint-line separation.

The cream colored, curved- cornered pad is used with the Hardwood Floor Refinisher (do not mistake for our new Hardwood Floor Dusting Pad which is white and rectangular).

Yes, but you must make sure you clean it extremely well. It’s best if you just buy two sets of brushes, one for latex and one for oil-based paints. Natural bristles work well only with oil-based paints.

Yes! They can make a lovely light and lacy design. Some of the overall background quilting patterns look absolutely great painted on a wall either in tone on tone or in a coordinating color. Back to Top

Latex paint is a great choice for most instances, but there are still situations where a solvent-based paint may be preferable. To help decide which is best in your case, consider the following:

You may mix any of our urethane clears into the final coat of an ULTRA-GLO acrylic urethane paint job. Doing so is a quick and easy way to improve the gloss and long-term durability of the paint finish, without having to apply a full clearcoat. It should be noted that this is not as effective as applying a full clear coat. Kirker’s ULTRA-GLO acrylic urethane paint is completely compatible with all of our urethane clear products, so they will work together in any mix ratio.

Before using any throw rugs on your wood floor you should know the type of finish you have on the floor. All rugs should be non-staining, meaning the colored dyes will not bleed. Generally in the presence of moisture, some dyes used in rugs may bleed through onto your floor and discolor the wood floors surface. Also, be sure the rug does not have a rough backing material that may scratch the surface of the floor. Clean dirt and debris from under the rug regularly.

If this is a concrete slab on grade, check to ensure that the surface does not have a moisture problem prior to considering an opaque coating. Tape a 2-foot square plastic sheet to the floor (use duct tape and tape around the entire perimeter of the plastic sheet). Leave in place on the floor for one or two days. Then, check to see if moisture is present between the floor and the plastic. If moisture is present, painting should not be attempted.

Solid 3/4" Hardwood flooring cannot be installed below grade (below the soil line) or over concrete. When a solid product encounters moisture it reacts very negatively. Therefore, a laminate or engineered flooring must be used. Laminate flooring is constructed by fusing 4-plys of material together to form a product with unprecedented strength and durability. An engineered product is very similar with the exception that they usually have a real wood layer on top of the constructed core.

Hardwood flooring can be installed almost anywhere in your home. Solid wood, such as site-finished and pre finished flooring, can be installed on or above ground. It is not recommended to install hardwood flooring in moisture prone areas of your home, such as the wet areas of a bathroom.