Bob meets up with Fred Giuggio in the former barn where the crew is installing QuickStep wood laminateflooring. QuickStep is a glueless flooring. It's engineered using an 8-millimeter board. The boards just click together on all four sides. It has a 25-year stain, fade, wear, and moisture warranty and comes in 25 different colors including the "bianco" selected for the barn/studio. The crew puts the QuickStep Unisound 1/16 sound attenuating floating pad on top of the concrete slab and lays the QuickStep on top of that. It's quick and easy to install and since its uses no glue, post-installation cleanup is a breeze. During installation spacers are placed around the perimeter allowing 1/4-inch for expansion. Boards are staggered to prevent joints from lining up. A board is locked in on one side, positioned as close as possible to the next board, locked in and then tapped from the end to secure the mechanism. If a board is damaged it can be easily removed and replaced. The product has a vapor barrier on top with removable tape on the edges. The installers peel away the tape and stick the edges together so that they butts rather than overlap creating a uniform vapor barrier throughout the space. The product can be cut with a crosscut saw for installation around columns, etc. It cleans up with a damp or dry mop.
Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. Even if you re diligent about cleaning year-round, when winter s over there s always another reason to roll up your sleeves. But you can make spring cleaning less of an onerous chore if you use the right tools. Here are some suggestions. Get a year s worth of grime and mildew off your deck and your home s exterior in a few hours by using a pressure washer and an oxygen-based bleach solution or natural cleanser. For windows, a solution of white vinegar and water is as good a cleaner as any, and old newspapers make great lint-free window wipes. Finish the outside with some rain protectant made for car windshields and lengthen the time between cleanings. There s nothing better than a long-handled ostrich feather duster for getting rid of cobwebs and dusting those trim details up high that you never think about. A damp cloth with a little vegetable oil will work on wood surfaces. Microfiber dustcloths work on any surface, especially electronics. For cleaning lampshades and popcorn ceilings, use a lint roller. Rubber gloves will rub pet hair off the upholstery. And white cotton gloves, one wet and one dry, can help you clean the chandelier. Mop hard floors with a good self-wringing string head mop; save the sponge mop or disposable cleaning pad type for lighter everyday jobs or laminatefloors. If you have wall-to-wall carpet, a steam cleaner s a great tool to have. While it might not seem like a cleaning tool, using a timer will keep you from burning out or getting sidetracked as you work. And a rolling cart to store and haul your tools will lighten your load during spring cleaning and beyond. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008
Bob looks at the Toto one-piece, 1.6 gallon toilet that will be installed in the lavatory. Unlike other toilets, the Toto model hides all obvious workings within a sleek exterior. Installation is simple, with the special flange that is provided by Toto to reconfigure the traditional drain setup. The one-piece flange is set directly on the wax ring then pressed down to form the seal. It is then bolted to the floor and given bolts to receive the toilet that is simply dropped on top. The flange bolts fit into the toilet casing and the toilet is bolted to the floor to hold it securely in place. The interior flange changes where the toilet bowl drains, making the low-flow flush more powerful. The low-consumption tank adds to the sleek, low profile design of the toilet.