Make sure flooring work is on the level

Q: When our basement flooded, we had a contractor pull up the carpeting and install vinyl tiles. He prepared the concrete floor by scraping up the rug glue that remained, and used commercial adhesive to put down the new tiles.



A: I assume you paid the contractor for this job.

In its do-it-yourself vinyl tile installation instructions, Armstrong says it all: "Make sure the floor you're laying over is clean, dry and flat."

I've done laminate, vinyl, wood, and ceramic tile floors and the first thing I've done in each case is make sure the surface on which each is installed is level. Otherwise, you are going to have problems, and you are.





Solution: It is a do-over.


Q: Anything I put on my back deck gets mildew on it every year.

I clean it with ammonia and water, then put on a new coat of stain about every two to three years.

Just wondering if there is anything else to do.

A: You can try a sealant, but if your back deck is on the north side where the sun doesn't shine very much, regular maintenance is probably the only answer.

I've tried many things over the years, but periodic "de-greening" and sealing is usually the best answer.


Q: I have a fine dining room table with a dark stain and the standard, I assume, urethane protective finish.

By mistake we placed on the naked wood hot plates without an undercover protection. The result is a series of three white spots. My guess is that the urethane coating blistered and turned white.