Allure flooring is the easiest floor you will ever install.  However, that doesn’t mean you won’t ever run into any issues (though we try hard to make it that way!) Here are some of the most common Allure flooring issues we hear from our customers and how you can solve them: 1. How do I clean my Allure floor? We recommend you use a quality vinyl floor cleaner (with NO wax or polish) or mild soap and water with a damp sponge mop. Be sure not to wax, seal or use any wood care product on the floor as these can leave a film that traps dirt. Allure is sensitive to heat, so remember not to use any steam mop. The steam will heat the adhesive and cause seam separation or damage the wear layer. Also note that steam cleaning is not covered under warranty. You can also use an industrial rotary cleaning machine as long as it does not exceed 300 RPM’s and uses a white or red pad only. 2. My floor has scuff marks and scratches. What can I do to remove them? You can try using a quality vinyl floor cleaner and a scotch brite pad (follow the directions on the bottle).

If it is a surface scratch, use the green side of a scotch bright pad and the Allure Single Step and VERY GENTLY work into the affected areas. This will help hide the scratch, not remove it! If the scratch has penetrated the top layer, then the plank will have to be replaced. But, we only recommend using the Allure Single Step a couple of times a year because it will build up on the flooring and create a residue that attracts dirt. If you do have a buildup caused by some clears, we recommend “New Beginnings”, which is a floor stripper (it won’t hurt the floor and will get it back to its original state). It can be purchased at The Home Depot. 3.  How do I transition my Allure floor to another type of flooring? Home Depot now sells (via special order only) a new program of matching T-moldings (72”), Multi-Purpose Reducer (72”) and Quarter Round (94”). The products are made by a 3rd party company, Zamma, and are sold exclusively to Home Depot. Home Depot stores can find the information and pricing on their  “My Apron”.

Or call Zamma’s customer service dept. at 540-672-5200. 4.  Are there special instructions when installing resilient flooring in a bathroom? We recommend using a silicone caulk around the base of the toilet and in front of the tub/shower to seal the expansion area.Ways To Set Up A Dorm Room To cut around an existing toilet, use the slip sheet that comes in between the planks inside the carton to use as a template for the cut on each plank. Wedding Guest Dress HoustonTrace onto the desired plank and cut with a pair of sharp shears or snips instead of a utility knife.Hide Ac Unit Inside For a new toilet installation, the wax ring (called a Johnny Ring) should still work as long as the threaded bolt on the wax ring is long enough.

5. My Allure flooring has an odor.  How do I get rid of it? Some people are more sensitive to odors than others. Many customers have reported never noticing an odor. Others have reported a “slight odor”.   Allure flooring in its solid state does not “off gas”.  It is a safe product. If you experience and odor after installing the floor, we recommend opening windows and ventilating the room as much as possible for 3 days. 6. What can I use to fill small spaces (gaps) between tiles? Custom Building Products makes a seam filler for the wood looking planks and they also make “Simple Grout” which can be used for the tile looks (color match as best as possible). Rub it into the gap with your finger and wipe away excess with mineral spirits. All products are sold in the Home Depot stores. 7. What products can be used for moisture barriers? We recommend 6 mil poly moisture vapor barrier, TrafficMaster Basement Proofer (available by special order only) or RedGard®. 

When installing Allure flooring in a basement, you must use a basement proofer or a 6 mil poly moisture barrier.  If you are using a Tramex Moisture Meter and the level is 0%-2%, no moisture barrier is required.  But if it is 2%-5%, a moisture barrier is required.  Anything over 5% and we do not recommend installing Allure flooring.We have discovered there are some people who would prefer to get their spring cleaning done as quickly and easily as possible. This seems to be the case for most people we’ve talked to. It turns out that Dana White is among those who’d rather get the job done with as little fuss and elbow grease as possible. Our first clue was the name of her blog: A Slob Comes Clean. We asked her for her spring cleaning tips, knowing they would have particular resonance with those among us who don’t necessarily cherish their time spent cleaning. If you’d rather start enjoying your freshly cleaned house as quickly as possible, these spring cleaning tips are for you.

The sun shining through my windows in the spring makes me suddenly see things that need to be cleaned. Even though I successfully ignore those grimy places all winter, Spring Cleaning Fever takes over, and I just can’t ignore them any longer. If you’re catching the fever too, use these cleaning tips and tricks to help you clean smarter, not harder!Scrubbing bathrooms and dusting ceiling fans can be kind of disgusting. If cleaning certain long-ignored spots in your home gives you the shivers, get prepared. Stock up on reusable latex gloves and protective masks. Heck, you might even want to pick up a pair of safety goggles. You’ll be able to break through that mental block. I get two pairs of gloves, so I can use different ones in the kitchen and bathrooms. After I give my toilet a thorough cleaning, I pour a small amount of Pine-Sol Lemon Fresh All Purpose Cleaner (use your favorite scented cleaning product) in the bottom of the toilet brush holder. This keeps the bathroom smelling clean, and it means a quick scrub of the toilet has a little more power.

I also love the HDX Deluxe Bowl and Rim Brush with Caddy that hides the brush. I have a confession. Sometimes soap scum builds up on my glass shower door. Sometimes, it builds to the point where a squirt of shower cleaner doesn’t help much. An old plastic gift card scrapes that soap scum right off! No chemicals are needed, and I get to re-use one of those pieces of plastic that have been cluttering up my purse. (Just be sure to check the balance first!) Spring cleaning means moving furniture so I can get to the spots I usually ignore. I’m so glad I invested in furniture movers like reusable Everbilt Movealls & Protectalls to make it easy. They let me do what I need to do without hurting my back or damaging our floors. I have no idea how some of the stains on my laminate countertops happen, but they do. If marks don’t come off while wiping the counter with a soapy dishrag, I use baking soda to remove them. Just sprinkle some baking soda directly onto the stain and use a wet microfiber cloth to scrub it off.

To get mineral build-up off my shower-head, I use a rubber band to secure a plastic bag filled with cleaning vinegar right onto the shower-head itself. I let it soak as long as needed and then I can clean it easily with a soft-bristled brush. Vacuums that can clean hardwood floors are wonderful, but they can’t always get to the very edges where dust bunnies seem to migrate. I use an angle broom to thoroughly sweep the outside edges of the room (and brush the dust off of baseboards) toward the center of the room. Once I’ve detailed those edges, vacuuming the center of the room is a breeze! It rarely occurs to me to dust or clean flat surfaces that are higher than my head. When I do climb up to see the tops of my kitchen cabinets and my fridge, I’m usually horrified! Kitchen dust is different from dust in other parts of the house and usually requires more scrubbing than dusting. This year, after I cleaned those high surfaces, I covered them with paper towels so next time I’ll only need to remove the dusty paper towel and replace it with a clean one.

When I open curtains wide to enjoy the beautiful sunshine, I generally find a few window sills covered in dirt and cobwebs. I use a handheld vacuum (or my vacuum cleaner’s attachments) to remove the loose dirt first. Once that is gone, I use Pledge Multi-Surface Everyday Cleaner to do the detailed dusting and shining. (If you spray heavy dirt, it turns to mud. I used to dread washing my shower curtain because I thought I’d have to find a place to let it air dry. Then one day, it hit me: the perfect place for my shower curtain to dry is in its home! I just re-hang the freshly washed shower curtain in my bathroom and let it dry there. This eliminates an extra step and helps ensure that the bathroom will be ready for the next person who needs to take a shower. If you’re concerned about the ventilation in your bathroom, just set up a fan to keep the air moving until the curtain has dried. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to be scary. I like to view it as a chance to use renewed cleaning energy (that’s sometimes hard to find!) to help me tackle details which make a huge difference in my home.