Brick Flooring: Care and Maintenance

OUR HOUSE IS 20 YEARS PLUS OLD. THE BRICK FLOOR THAT IS IN THE KITCHEN AREA IS A BEAR!!! THE BUILDER USED TRUE BRICK NOT BRICK TILE. AND THEY SPACED THE BRICK OUT A BIT MORE THAN I WOULD HAVE.

I CANNOT SEEM TO KEEP IT CLEAN. I HAVE DONE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING. I AM NOW LOOKING AT SANDING THE BRICK JUST TO TRY TO GET IT CLEAN. ANY SUGGESTIONS?
JO at September 9, 2007 09:01 PM
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I don't have personal experience with brick flooring; brick pavers yes. Sealing brick pavers helps keep them soil resistant. I don't know if you can effectively sand your bricks to clean them or not, because I don't know what they are dirty with. If you have oily stains, they may be permanent.

If you can live with the level of "dirty" you presently have, clean them as best you can and then seal them with several coats of brick sealant.
The Flooring Lady at September 10, 2007 10:18 AM

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I am thinking about purchasing a house that has brick flooring. But the brick floor has two problems. One is that it seems to be sunken inward in a few areas. Generally the surface is not very even, but in two different rooms there are areas where it curves inward, these areas are perhaps 4'x2.5' or so. The agent says it is because the brick was built on a sand foundation and it does not represent structural issues for the house. Of course we would have it inspected, but even if it is not a structural issue we wonder what could be done about this and how expensive it would be to fix. Or would we just obscure it with furniture somehow. Is this a dealbreaker?

Secondly, in some places the brick has a nice glossy sheen, but in other places it looks as if covered by a dull grey dust. I read online that this could be cleaned and it may be "efflorescence," but we wonder how much of an issue this would be.

Thanks so much in advance. Otherwise we really like the home, but the sunken floor seems like a big issue. Your help is appreciated!

Secondly,
Douglas at October 29, 2007 08:53 PM
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I'd be surprised if the bricks were directly on the sand if this is in the house. My guess is the floor joists and subfloor aren't beefy enough for the brick flooring. Do get an inspection (they are a good idea for all sorts of reasons).

If my guess is correct you can fix it by adding braces and another layer of subfloor, or replacing the one that's there. That takes time and money to do that, but an inspection will tell you if you need to do it for structural reasons.

If you don't have to do it for structural reasons then it's your decision as to whether to disguise it, repair it or move on.

I'd like to hear what you learn from your inspection and what you decide to do.

The Flooring Lady at October 31, 2007 09:18 AM

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Thank you for the input!

We'll look at the house once more this week and if we still like it we'll go ahead with the inspection. I'll report back.

Would one solution be to cover the brick with a wood floor? Is there a way to make the wood flooring level atop the brick without damaging the original brick (in case someone wanted to revert to it later)? Would it be a travesty to cover a unique brick floor with wood (I know this is subjective)? It's a little dark in the area with the brick so it might really brighten up the place to use a light colored wood and that might be less expensive than redoing the brick.

Thanks again!!
Douglas at October 31, 2007 02:44 PM
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You could cover the brick, but that will only add to the weight that may already be too much for the subfloor, and it will add height to the floor which could cause problems with doors, cabinets and stubbed toes.

The wood will also eventually bow until it's touching the bricks, so you have that sagging problem again. And if the added weight is a problem, it could get worse faster. Yes a lighter wood will brighten the area, but at what expense?

If that area happens to be a single-story the addition of sun tubes in the room will brighten it nicely. But first, find out why the floor is sagging.

The Flooring Lady at October 31, 2007 04:11 PM

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I have a 45+ year old brick floor. It has some type of solid sealer/varinsh on it, will acetone be the right thing to get it back to its original state? Then what I use to seal it?
TJ at December 1, 2007 12:18 PM
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I'd be careful using acetone on your brick floor. One, it's harmful to you, and anyone else -- including pets -- in the house. It could also damage the brick. Instead, find a specially formulated brick stripping compound and follow the directions carefully.

There are a variety of specially formulated sealants for brick floors. You can choose between a film-forming sealant and a penetrating sealant. There are differing opinions about which is better, but the film-forming will be a better protection from stains.

You want to use either a water-based polyurethane that won't yellow, or an acrylic product. Be aware these products can darken the brick color and even add a sheen that's not there before hand. This type of sealant is harder to maintain in the long-run though, because it has to be either removed or abraded before a new coat is applied.
The Flooring Lady at December 1, 2007 11:52 PM

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Good morning! I have a brick floor, and it really needs to be stripped and resealed. I am having a VERY hard time finding someone who can do this for me. Can you point me in the right direction? We live in Michigan...near Lansing. Thank you!
Jennifer Simmons at January 11, 2008 08:00 AM
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I wish I knew someone in that area who could help you. But I don't. Maybe your plea for help will be seen by someone in the area, or someone moving to the area.

I'm going to run down the list of places you can look, just to make sure you've turned over every brick (play on words intended). Flooring stores that sell brick, floor installers who install brick, floor refinishers, builders who say they install brick floors. Commercial buildings that have stone/brick floors might have a maintenance crew or contractor who can moonlight on your floor project.

I wouldn't do it either, but as a last effort you could do it yourself with time and elbow grease. I'll hope you can find someone to help.

The Flooring Lady at January 11, 2008 09:13 AM

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We will be building our house soon and looking into brick floor in the kitchen area. Can you tell me if there would be a specific kind to use for indoors and if anyone can direct me to who sells it.
meme at January 30, 2008 08:10 AM
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Brick pavers are typically the type of brick used inside. Your yellow pages, if you are in a metro area, will list the people who sell them. Your builder should also have leads on suppliers.

Make sure the subfloor is a 3/4" plywood/OSB and the joists are sturdy to support the weight.
The Flooring Lady at January 30, 2008 09:59 AM

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We've lived in our home for 11 years. The brick floors are in all the living areas of our home. The bricks -- by appearance and discussion with previous owner -- are full-size bricks installed when the house was built. Do they need to be treated differently than brick tile?

About 6 weeks ago, a number of white splotches appeared suddenly on the brick in the kitchen after mopping. What might cause this? How can I restore their appearance. Your help is appreciated!
Debbie S at February 10, 2008 11:34 AM
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I don't have experience with regular bricks used as flooring so can't really address how it should be treated in comparison to brick tile/brick pavers. I'm going to guess though that the finish of a regular brick isn't as smooth as a paver and probably not as impervious to water and spills.

I'm wondering if the white splotches are efflorescence, or mineral deposits from leaching out of the brick; usually that's associate with water issues. You can try to clean it with phosphoric acid, but be sure to clean it with a mild detergent after and then rinse with water.

The Flooring Lady at February 10, 2008 02:37 PM

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i have been in my home for 1 year. we put down brick pavers made out of concrete on top of a slab.after they were sealed we began to see water spots appear on the surface.we striped the sealer off and applied a water soluable sealer.it was not very effective,the bricks look dirty and the finish gums up when water gets on it.we were told that the slab has water in it and the only way for it to escape was through the bricks.we want someone to come and refinish the bricks.we live outside of new orleans and baton rouge louisiana.if you know anyone who could help please let me know. holly watson at March 12, 2008 09:24 AM Posted by: holly watson at March 12, 2008 09:24 AM As I read your story I too felt there was a water problem. You need to fix the water seeping into your flooring before you go any further with sealing your bricks.
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I don't know any Baton Rouge/New Orleans workers. Anyone else out there?

The Flooring Lady at March 12, 2008 10:22 PM

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I have brick pavers in my kitchen which have been sealed and waxed for over 25 years. A wet rug has now left a few of them whitish. What can I use to bring back the original brick color? CB

charles at May 26, 2008 09:10 AM
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How long ago did this happen? If it was just in the last couple days, I'd give it a while (about a week) to see if the white marks fade away as the 25 years of wax dries out thoroughly. If it doesn't go away, I'd try buffing it with a white pad. If that still doesn't work, I'd be afraid that the floor will need stripped, I don't think that you could just do the damaged area as spot-work stripping & refinishing considering it's been there for 25 years. You could try it, but don't be surprised if you're not pleased with the results. If you're planning on putting an area rug in the same location, then spot-fixing it just might work.

The Flooring Lady at May 26, 2008 09:28 PM

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My daughter has a large house with @ 3,000 sq. ft. of brick flooring. She would like to clean and refinish the surface but we don't know the right process or products to use. Can you help us????

Paul from Indiana

P Martin at June 9, 2008 06:48 AM
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There are a variety of specially formulated sealants for brick floors. You can choose between a film-forming sealant and a penetrating sealant. There are differing opinions about which is better, but the film-forming will be a better protection from stains.

You want to use either a water-based polyurethane that won't yellow, or an acrylic product. Be aware these products can darken the brick color and even add a sheen that's not there before hand. This type of sealant is harder to maintain in the long-run though, because it has to be either removed or abraded before a new coat is applied.

You're best bet would be to check your local hardware/building supply store and start checking out your options for stripping, resealing and possibly a good polish. Pay attention to the VOC ratings, as your daughter sure doesn't need something that's going to be off-gassing for a long period and endangering her health. There are some good low/no VOC products out there.

Just be sure that the products you buy are specifically formulated for brick flooring, follow the manufacturer's directions and don't be afraid to call them or visit their website for more in-depth information and answers to questions you might have.

Remember too, that chances are she'll be looking at applying a few coats of sealer and most likely at least a couple good coats of polish. Sanding the brick may also be in her future after stripping, some people do this if the sealer was worn away in areas and there's dirt that's very difficult to remove....... of course, I don't know what condition your daughter's floors are in.

Best of luck, and if you or your daughter have any more questions please feel free to drop back in!

The Flooring Lady at June 9, 2008 11:15 AM

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I just had a screened in porch built with a brick paver floor. These pavers are solid and the size and thickness of a brick. My problem is the mason jointed the floor as you would do on a brick wall. I have been told these is no way now to go back and have motar added so the floor is smooth. Do you have any ideas of how this can be fixed?

Gary at June 17, 2008 06:37 AM
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Hi Gary,
I'm not sure I understand your problem. Are you saying that the floor isn't level or that the bricks are uneven because there's no mortar in between the bricks? Are the bricks butted up right against each other? If you could help describe some more of how the floor was laid I'd be happy to try to help

The Flooring Lady at June 17, 2008 11:27 AM

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I live in an adobe home that was built in the 1980's, it has brick floors. I believe they are pavers, about 2" thick. I have no idea what they were sealed with, or if they were ever sealed. I've noticed they're looking dingy, and no matter how much I vacuum and mop I still come away with dirt and grime. I'm interested in really deep cleaning them...and getting on my hands and knees and scrubbing sounds really unappealing. Is there a way to steam clean them? Or would a Rug Doctor work, if I left out the chemicals? Any ideas? Thanks!
Kay

Kay at August 1, 2008 04:27 PM
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Well, if the pavers were indeed sealed at one time, they aren't any more. You could try StainSolver, which is a product like OxyClean, but better.

AquaMix has a good line of products as well, the clickable link will take you to their page of products that are formulated for bricks. There are other brands too, I'm sure you'll be able to find something once you read the product information and figure out just what you need. ;~)

By the way, I'm going on the assumption that you have pavers made of brick, not clay.

The Flooring Lady at August 1, 2008 09:40 PM

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Good Day,

We are buying a 1962 home...the front door entry way and kitchen has brick flooring. However, the brick colors are very different. The entry way brick is pretty dark and somewhat distressed while the kitchen brick is quite tan. We do not care for the kitchen brick color....is there any product that will darken the brick to match the beautiful entry way?

Thanks so much in advance!

rich

Rich at August 3, 2008 08:18 AM
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Take a look at the AquaMix products for brick. They do have some color enriching sealers that will darken brick, though I don't know how close it will be to the color in the entry way. I've heard of some people actually staining tiles & bricks with materials such as wood stain, craft stains, even transmission fluid. It's possible you might have to strip your floor too, though that might remove some of that old patina in your entrance way. You might want to play with some different products if you have a spot that's rather unobtrusive - is there a kitchen closet with the brick or even under your sink? Might be worth a shot.

The Flooring Lady at August 3, 2008 10:57 AM

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Hello I was curious if you had any advice on where to by brick pavers at. Thanks Lee

lee at August 12, 2008 07:54 PM
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Hi Lee,

I don't know where you are, so I really don't have any 'real' suggestions. Home Depot, Lowe's, True Value, other building supply stores can be a start. You can also look around on the internet (do a Google search) and type in your state and possibly nearest city in with the search. You'll run into paver manufacturer's sites too and can usually find out if they have dealers in your area. Good luck!

The Flooring Lady at August 12, 2008 11:19 PM

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We have a brick archway in the kitchen that has been painted numerous times. We have stripped off most of the paint and now we need to seal it. I have seen you recommend sealing, but I can't find what you recommend to seal with. Help!

Connie at August 19, 2008 06:20 AM
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There are products that are made specifically for sealing brick - you'd probably be able to find something at your local Lowe's, Home Depot, etc. AquaMix has a good line of products, I don't know if they're available where you are though.

The Flooring Lady at August 19, 2008 12:41 PM

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My husband and I are in the process of installing a brick floor in our kitchen. I would not recommend it to anyone! The process is tedious and labor-intensive. After grouting, we clean every brick by hand with a wet sponge. It takes several swipes to get the grout off the brick. Is there an easier way????

Jennifer at August 20, 2008 08:58 AM
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Sorry, there isn't an easier way. It's work - plain and simple. Not difficult, just tedious. Did you seal the brick before you laid it? It makes it easier to clean up the grout that gets on the brick.

The Flooring Lady at August 21, 2008 06:35 PM

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We are building a new house and had old brick floors installed in several of the rooms downstairs. Our problem is that the floors were sealed (with a breathable finish) before they were dry after cleaning. As a result they are milky and are becoming much rougher. I do not know how I will mop the floors they are so rough. I have old brick floors in our current home and they are smooth. Is there a sanding process that will help? At this point, what can I do?

Anne at August 29, 2008 08:14 AM
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Hello Anne,
You've certainly got a dilemma, I hope your bricks can be saved. It's going to take some work though. Brick is porous and sealing them before they were completely dry was a big mistake. You're going to have to try to deep-strip the sealer.

You'll need products like AquaMix SEALER & COATING REMOVER, which is a non-flammable, multi-purpose stripper formulated to stay wet longer which gives the product time to remove most sealers, epoxy grout haze, urethane coatings, synthetic finishes, adhesives, and paints. Also dissolves deep-set stains and removes heavy grease buildup. (Yes, I copied/pasted from their website! ).

You might also need something like their Eff-Ex if the stripper doesn't remove all of the efflorescence (that's why it's so rough).

If you can't find these products in your area, I think you can order from their website, or at least find something similar locally. Their link for the MSDS sheets is located at the bottom of their page.

Best of luck!

The Flooring Lady at August 29, 2008 10:51 PM

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We bought a 1953 ranch home that has brick floors. Apparently it wasn't laid over a backer board and some of the mortar has come out. We want to patch the mortar but don't know what modern product to use to match the dark gray color of the old mortar. Can you help?

Kim and Loretta in Tulsa.

Kim Jones at September 6, 2008 04:54 PM
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Hi Kim & Loretta,

It shouldn't matter what kind of grout you use, but might need to buy it in a couple colors so that you can custom mix the color. I find that sand grouts are easier to use for this.

The Flooring Lady at September 7, 2008 11:38 AM

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What product/brand name of the film forming finishes would you suggest using on the brick floor and where would I find this to purchase. I have had a brick floor for 20 years and no one can seem to tell me how to finish this. I would like it to have a gloss finish so that I can easily mop and does not yellow.

Barbara at September 8, 2008 10:52 AM

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I have been using Quick Shine on brick floors for a long time to give them a beautiful shine. My problem is that the last time I used the Quick Shine, I got distracted after squirking a long stream on the brick floor. When I mopped the floor, I was left with discoloration on the brick where the Quick Shine was squirked. I tried using hot water, didn't work. I tried using more Quick Shine, didn't work. When the floor dried, I am left with lines of spots that look like the brick was bleached. Help!!!!

Is there anything I can do to get these wax spots up? If these are spots!!! If the Quick Shine did "bleach" the bricks, what can I do?

Marilyn at September 16, 2008 09:34 PM
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Hi Marilyn,
I've never used their products, so I can't tell you what to do, they don't even post MSDS sheets on their website to see what their products are made of and if there's anything to be cautious of (as far as chemicals are concerned). Their website is http://www.hollowayhouse.net

The Flooring Lady at September 16, 2008 09:43 PM

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my brick floors previously had a water base polyurethane finish but were flooded during Katrina. Since then I have stripped them and sealed them with a high gloss sealer. I then put a product on top which was supposed to give a higher glaze but it has problems. It lets the dirt get into it so that it can only be cleaned by stripping again. I want to use polyurethane again but was told not to use it on brick floors.
Can you advise me? I was happy with my previous polyurethane but it gave off an extreme but that was while the house was under construction and I don't think we could live in it while it cured. It was used for industrial purposes. Can you suggest something by brand name?

Nick at October 1, 2008 02:53 PM
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Hi Nick,
Sure can........ check out AquaMix products - the link takes you to their page of products that are formulated just for brick.

Good luck!

The Flooring Lady at October 2, 2008 06:03 AM

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I am looking for a sealer for indoor bricks set in sand that will liock in the sand and have a mat finish

Barbara at November 1, 2008 02:52 PM
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Hi Barbara,
I haven't run into this situation before, so I'm not sure. I would suggest getting a hold of the good folks at AquaMix -- they have a toll free number posted on their website and see if their sealers would work for this sort of an application. I'll bet you're going to be advised to use grout by either removing the sand first (shop-vac), or over the sand. Their are grouts that will give a sandy appearanc3e, by the way.

The Flooring Lady at November 2, 2008 01:56 PM

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I tried AquaMix on my brick floors, it didn't seal well. At least not to my stanadards. Then I put Euclid a concrete sealer down and my great dane just wore it off. Then I applied a polyurethane oil based sealer over it. It blistered in places and now my brick floors looks like it has leporasy. Any suggestions.

Donna at December 9, 2008 12:53 PM
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Hi Donna,
It sounds like your initial problem was most likely not using enough coats of the AquaMix. Brick is very porous and sometimes takes 4 or 5 coats to seal well. Chances are, both the AquaMix & Euclid were water based sealers and when you put on an oil-based poly that got you into trouble. You cant use water & oil based products together - they don't react with each other well. Your only hope at this point is to strip the floor and start over.

The Flooring Lady at December 13, 2008 09:41 PM

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I have brick flooring in my foyer, kitchen and bathrooms. I don't think they were sealed very well, now my puppy has picked at a piece and I now have a hole about the size of a nickel, how can this be repaired without damaging the floor further? and does a floor steamer work well on brick for sanatizing with dogs in the house?

Denice at December 15, 2008 12:03 PM
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I don't think that a steamer on the "raw" bricks/stone is going to be a very good idea.
I use a vinegar/water mixture to clean my floors, roughly about 1 part vinegar to 15 parts water, but I think a 1:10 ratio would be better for the
sanitizing issue. Enviro-One or something along that line would be good too.

Fixing the 'spot' is another issue. Maybe some red sanded caulk would be good. I don't know how well that would seal though.

Maybe disguising it with red color/paint/stain before sealing
it is the way to go. If it's in a corner or at the edge of
the room it could be disguised, but life being what it is,
the hole is probably right in the middle of the room and
neither furniture nor rug will be able to hide it. I do hope that's not the case. Hopefully some of these ideas have helped.

The Flooring Lady at December 16, 2008 08:41 AM

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I have brick floors in my kitchen and I can't get them cleaned. I have dogs, kids, they are so dirty looking. We have them professionally cleaned and sealed in June of 07, but they are so hard to clean. They are very rough and tear up any mop I try to use! Any advice???

Kim Barfield at December 20, 2008 12:44 PM
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Hi Kim,

What do you use to clean your floors and maintain them? Do you think that it needs to be re-sealed? Does water still bead in the high-traffic areas? If it's still sealed properly it should. A microfiber mop might work better for cleaning than a sponge mop. I only use a weak vinegar & water solution for cleaning floors (1 part vinegar to 15 parts water or more). The biggest thing is to keep the rinse water as clean as possible so that you're not just depositing dirt back onto your floor.

I'm hoping that the person you hired to clean and seal your floor did a really good job so that this wouldn't have to be done again for a few years. I'm guessing that this isn't the case though and he wants yearly repeat business. Next time you might want to consider doing it yourself, even though it's a big job. At least you'll be able to control how much product is used (in other words, more coats of sealer so it lasts longer!). You might want to look at AquaMix to familiarize yourself with the different types of products available on the market for taking care of brick floors.

The Flooring Lady at December 23, 2008 11:45 AM

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I am fixing up my newly purchased home and it has an older brick floor in 1/2 of the house. The floors appear to have a whitish "patina'd" look to them from calcifications in the water (I assume) and it doesn't come off. I don't have a lot of time and money to fix them, I was wondering if I could just paint over the floors with a heavy oil based paint? I think that might dress them up quite a bit. Is that a good idea? Thanks.

Terri at January 2, 2009 08:59 PM
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Hi Terri -
If you paint the floors then you'll have a heckuva time stripping the paint if you should ever decide to do so. Personally, I would clean and seal the brick.

The calcifications are actually within the brick, not the water, but is caused from water and is called efflorescence. AquaMix has a good line of products for brick flooring, including products for removing efflorescence and products for deep cleaning (if you so choose) and sealing. There are similar products from other companies as well.

The Flooring Lady at January 4, 2009 02:15 PM

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We just moved into a 20 year old home that has a lot of brick flooring. I love the look, but feel it could use a bit of restoration. I have no idea who to call or what to use. There are areas of discoloration also--that looks like it has a whiteish hue to it. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks so much!

Jennifer

Jennifer Ruthruff at January 19, 2009 06:36 PM
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Hi Jennifer, Please read the post above yours.

The Flooring Lady at January 24, 2009 11:33 AM

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Hi,
We want to put in a brick floor, but my husband doesn't want to put grout in between the bricks, is this ok to do? Also what is the best product to use to make the bricks stick to the floor.
Thank you, Andrea

Andrea Heintz at February 1, 2009 03:07 PM
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Hi Andrea,
You really should use something in between the bricks, otherwise you'll have all your dirt getting in between them as the bricks won't fit together tightly enough to prevent that problem. As to your question of what to use to make the bricks stick to the floor, I have my own question: What kind of floor are you putting this on? Is it a concrete pad? If not, you need to be sure that your floor joists can support the extra weight. What is on the floor now? Are you going to remove the old flooring? You'd most likely want to use a medium-set mortar, but maybe not. I could really use some more info. Also - are they full size bricks or something that's only a couple inches thick or less?

The Flooring Lady at February 1, 2009 05:58 PM

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READ TIL THE END! I've notice a lot of people saying that brick floors are hard to keep clean. I have a brick floored sun room, & two dogs who love being in there because they can see everything going on outside. I use a bleach water mixture when it starts to look dirty, & a vinegar water mixture to minimize odor. i use a bushbroom to scrub the bricks & a wet/dry shop vac to suck up the dirty water. It seems like a lot of trouble, but it's the most effective way I've found to clean it!

Ashley at February 16, 2009 02:55 PM
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Good for you Ashley! Is your brick flooring sealed? If not, does the bleach seem to fade the brick over time? Just curious.

The Flooring Lady at February 19, 2009 09:42 AM

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I have a brick floor that in places the grout has a chalky appearance. The floor had a clear coat put down when it was new, is there a product to strip the brick then a product to apply that will stain the brick and grout to match?

merle johnson at March 26, 2009 03:40 PM
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Hi Merle,
Go to www.aquamix.com and look over the products they have. The site does a really good job on letting the consumer know what to use when/where/why.

I doubt you'll find one product to stain the brick and grout the same color. Stain is transparent and since the beginning color of your brick and grout are different, so will the results be different too. What color is the grout now? Many people opt for a charcoal grey or black finish on the grout. Hopefully the chalky appearance on the grout isn't efflorescence - if it is you'll need to address that issue as well. There's not any chance of moisture coming thru from beneath the grout/brick is there?

The Flooring Lady at March 27, 2009 07:59 PM

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Hi, my name is amanda and we had someone come in and install brick flooring in how kitchen. however, they never finished. they came in and layed the brick then covered the brick with sand so as to keep the brick in place. after which, they never came back to finish. Now we are stuck with brick flooring that is incomplete and we don't know what to do from here. what do I need to do to complete this brick flooring.

amanda arrellin at March 27, 2009 10:15 AM
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Hi Amanda,

Just out of curiosity, why didn't the installers finish the job? I hope they weren't paid in full. Anyhoo, you're going to need to seal the brick, then grout the brick, clean off the excess grout, then seal the whole floor. Pay a visit to www.aquamix.com to look over their products for brick flooring. The site does an excellent job of describing what each product does, why that product is used, etc. The biggest thing will be to make sure you get all of the grout residue off before you seal the whole floor or else you'll have a horrible smudgy looking result and have to strip and reseal. Make sure that between each step you allow enough time to dry completely. Whatever products you use, just make sure that it is formulated for use on brick flooring.

The Flooring Lady at March 27, 2009 08:11 PM

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Pleasehelp>>i have a brick floor in sun room. it
wasa concrete porch and the bricks were put over
this. the brick were sealed? but now they are
getting the white eff. and also damp areas are
appearing when an item is put on floor..don't
think plastic was put under porch,,is there any
way we cn seal brick now..i want to keep floor?

bev cotton at March 27, 2009 02:38 PM

Hi Bev,

I don't think sealer is going to help much at this point if the moisture is coming from underneath. In order to fix the problem once and for all, you'd literally have to remove the brick and put plastic or vapor barrier paint or glue down then put the brick back down. I know, not what you wanted me to say, but I think you already knew the answer. :~(

The Flooring Lady at March 27, 2009 08:04 PM

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I have a brick floor in my kitchen and the shine has been lost. What is the best process/product to use to wax/polish the brick?

Richard Wistrand at April 8, 2009 06:27 AM
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Hi Richard,

Bringing back the shine to your brick could be dependent on different things. Is it still sealed at all - especially in the dullest places? Easiest way to tell is if water will still bead on it. If not, you need to re-seal. You can seal on top of what's already been used - IF you know what kind of product has been used (water base sealer or not). If you're not sure, you can try a small amount of the sealer of your choice (see www.aquamix.com for good products). You might also want to just go ahead and strip your floor and start from scratch with sealing/finishing. Again, the website I mentioned has very good quality products and the website does a great job of listing their different products for brick, why/when they should be used, etc.

The Flooring Lady at April 13, 2009 11:35 PM

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looking for dog friendly options.... does urine permeate through brick?

mary at April 10, 2009 06:43 PM
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Hi Mary,
If the brick is untreated, dog urine will soak into the brick. Even if it's treated, the acidity of the urine may ruin the finish. No matter what kind of flooring you have it's a good idea to have a few coats of sealer and clean up doggie messes as soon as possible.

The Flooring Lady at April 13, 2009 11:38 PM

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Hi: I want to brick my front porch floor which is currently just concrete slab. Can I just lay the brick over the slab with grout just like laying tile? I want to use the thicker regular brick, not pavers, because I want the extra height on the floor....is it OK to use regular brick and not pavers? What prep would I need for the concrete slab and what kind of finish would be needed for the finished product and is this a good idea or not?

Carol at April 18, 2009 02:53 PM

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We have brick pavers that had a rug on top on them. Under the rug was a non slip rug pad that is now stuck to the brick floors. Any suggestions on how to get this pad off of the floor?

Colleen at April 19, 2009 07:51 PM
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Hi Colleen,

I'd suggest hot water and a scraper and/or scrub brush first. This may not get it all. I know I've heard of people using such things as nail polish remover (ugh!) to remove it - it can work, but will also strip any finish. I'm guessing you'll at least need to strip the area and refinish that area - hopefully you won't need to do this to the whole floor. Oh - and don't use area rugs that have a rubber backing.

The Flooring Lady at April 20, 2009 12:50 PM

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Was brick used as interior floor in houses built in the late 17th century? If not brick, what else would be in a hallway, besides wood?

Cynthia at May 4, 2009 01:15 PM
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Hi Cynthia,

Yes, brick was used, as well as slate, flagstone, porcelain (for the rich people!), ceramic tiles..........

To get a better idea, take a peek at old buildings in Europe - I'll bet you can do a google search and find some.

What kind of a look are you going for? Something old English cottage style?

The Flooring Lady at May 4, 2009 01:22 PM

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I bought a house3 years ago and now in the process of pulling up the carpet in it. I have beautiful hardwoods in most rooms. In the kitchen and den I have "broken brick looking" floors. I like it but I'm wondering what to call this type of flooring and how to maintain it. Any help would be good. Thank you.

Velma at May 5, 2009 12:30 PM
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Hi Velma,

Can you give me a little bit of a description as to what your "broken brick looking" flooring looks like? Do you mean that it looks like old bricks that have experienced a lot of life with chips and such 'missing' from them? Any idea if it's actually made of brick? If so, it's still considered brick flooring. Is the flooring sealed? If not, it should be. As far as cleaning goes, once it's sealed you should only need to use a vinegar/water solution(1 part vinegar to 15 parts water or more) and use a microfiber mop. I always have a second one on hand that is clean & dry to kind of buff the floor with to get it really dry and avoid any streaking or smudging that can happen. A clean, dry microfiber cloth will do just as well too.

The Flooring Lady at May 7, 2009 08:28 PM

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Thanks for your response. The best description that I can give is that the floor has a mosaic type pattern. The surface is almost flat and appears like one placed pieces down to create a pattern of various shapes and sizes but the material is from brick material. There is between the pieces. This house was built in 1963 and the den and kitchen has this flooring. Carpet was placed on top of this in the den and vinyl tile was placed on top of it in the kitchen. I don't know how to tell if the floor is sealed but once I removed the carpet and swept away the dust and debrie, I damp mopped the floor just to pick up any remaining dust. In some spots, there appears to be a slight shine.

Velma at May 8, 2009 04:05 PM
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Ok, that helps some. What you really want to know (I think!) is for starters, is it sealed? It sounds like much of the sealer is going to be gone, since there are only 'some' areas that have a slight shine. What I would do is strip the floor so you can re-seal it and start out fresh. Since the floor is composed of brick, I would still refer to it as a brick floor. It sounds really interesting and unique - lucky you!

Be sure to use products that are made specifically for brick flooring. You can find a good range of quality products at aquamix.com - they're site does a very good job of giving the consumer which products to use as well as when and why. They also have a very helpful staff to answer questions. I'm not saying that you have to use their products, or even that you should - there are others out there. Aquamix does the best job (in my opinion) of educating a consumer and also has MSDS sheets so you can see what is in the products. They also re-brand their products for some of the big-box retailers, but I don't remember what the re-brand is called. They can help you with that too.

I know for sure you'll need a stripper and a sealer. There are also deep cleaning products if you need them. You'll have to figure out if you want a glossy, satin or flat finish. ;o)

The Flooring Lady at May 11, 2009 10:35 AM

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Thank you. I wanted to let you know that today I went to Home Depot and described my flooring to a gentleman there. He told me that what the builder did was pour mortar on top of my concrete slab and place those brick pieces throughout to make it smooth. He believes that the flooring is actually tiles that some flooring places sell in broken pieces for people who want this effect. He too also said that I should strip the floor and seal it. He suggested a matte type finish if I didn't want a hi-gloss (which I don't). At the end, he told me that this type of flooring was called cracked mosaic terrazzo. Anyway, I like it and will take some pictures today. Thank you for everything.

Velma at May 11, 2009 04:14 PM
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Cool - and thanks for the info! ;~)

The Flooring Lady at May 14, 2009 09:04 PM

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Hi i have old floor brick in my kitchen which were attempting to make good by removing dark concrete in between & liming in between the bricks instead, which looks so much better, however whilst using the lime it covers the bricks with a film of white lime which is so hard to get off even after several washes, what would you suggest to remove the lime film? (the bricks have been sealed with linseed oil initially),also what would be best to seal after? we have been advised either traffic wax or bourne seal? the traffic wax seams hard work as apparently it needs constant rewaxing?

emma at May 21, 2009 02:54 PM
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Hi Emma,
I would recommend products from www.aquamix.com. Their products are wonderfully user friendly and they have products made specifically for brick flooring. They have a product too, that will help to clean off the excess grout as well. Good luck!

The Flooring Lady at May 25, 2009 11:49 AM

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Hi Emma,
See the post above, I would think it's carried at HD. I do know also that the aquamix line is also called something else (referred to as re-branding), but I can't remember the name. The aquamix website has their toll-free number listed and the customer care line people are always friendly and helpful - I'm know they'll be able to tell you the name and which of the big-box stores carries which items. Good luck!

The Flooring Lady at May 25, 2009 11:52 AM

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Help!
I have a large garden room that is enclosed - Although the house was built in 1887 - the brick is not that old. I have no idea when it was laid or how it was sealed, but now the red brick is cloudy and gritty and dull. I have arranged for a man to strip and clean the bricks with a machine and vinegar and water - he suggested a sealant called Okan (spelling?) When we tried a test strip I couldn't see much difference. The local brick company - an hour and a half drive from here recommends a water based sealant called"Plaza". Could you recommend something that would give a medium shine to the brick and a more pulled together finish without a plastic-like appearance? I don't have time o drive 3 hours to pick up the "Plaza" before the workman arrives on Saturday. P.S. We do have a Home Depot here.
Thank you so much!

diana Lanier at May 21, 2009 06:31 PM

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The home we have just purchased has brick floors in the dinning room as well as the kitchen,from what im told this area used to be the outside inclosed porch and was ade into the rooms we now have.My question is how I should go about putting a new floor in.The brick floor is very uneven and looks bad,I would like to have a tile floor but I have no idea what to do to make the floor even.Please Help

victoria at June 19, 2009 12:11 PM
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The brick would have been laid on top of concrete, and you could remove the brick and start fresh with the concrete as your base.

Is the brick level? If so, you could lay 2x4's on 16" centers and then lay 3/4" plywood on top of that and then lay the flooring of your choice.

If the brick is not level, then we're talking a whole other ballgame. I would suggest consulting a contractor in that case.

The Flooring Lady at June 20, 2009 03:50 PM

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We have nice smooth brick tile through the kitchen, family room, bathrooms, halls and as a walkway around a rugstyle carpet in the formal living room. It is this formal living room which I have a question. If we pull up the carpet could a rustic style wood floor be put in place of the carpet with the brick walkway around the wood floor? Have you ever seen this done? It is a very outsidish type room looking out onto the patio and pool.

nancy at June 25, 2009 01:30 PM

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Hi Nancy,

I think a wood floor would be a nice complement to the brick tile.

The Flooring Lady at June 26, 2009 09:32 AM

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We just moved into a lovely home with brick floors. Prior to moving we had seen another home with brick floors, and the floors were very shiny and beautiful - like polyurethane on a wood floor. Our current floors are not that way. Do you know what kind of sealant or cover we could put on that would make them shine like that - and maybe seal and even them out a bit?

thank you

Steve at June 27, 2009 09:41 AM
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Hi Steve, Please see my reply to Emma above.

The Flooring Lady at June 29, 2009 04:19 PM

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We have a sun room that has been enclosed, so the brick flooring is real bricks. The morter between the bricks has, in places, started to wear out, or come missing. In addition to that, there was a carpet pad that had been glued to the bricks - we put some floor stipper on the glue and then used a wire brush to remove the residue. Now I'm wondering how to get the floor to a solid state. If I add morter, should I remove what's there? Do I need to reseal the entire surface after fixing the morter? Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Steve at July 24, 2009 09:36 PM
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Steve,

It's hard to assess the situation without seeing the floor. I would suggest you contact a professional that can help you determine the best course of action.

The Flooring Lady at July 27, 2009 07:58 AM

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I have a garage that does not have a finished floor. I was wondering if there are any drawbacks to putting in a brick floor instead of a concrete one. I feel that I would be able to tackle this a little easier as a one man job.

any thoughts?

SWoolery at July 31, 2009 11:07 AM
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SWoolery,

The only concern that some have is the cracks and crevices which can be hard to clean. Most solve this with an acrylic coating as it doesn't yellow. I would consult with several professionals as to the benefits or concerns a brick floor may pose.

The Flooring Lady at July 31, 2009 01:55 PM

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My wife and I are looking for a used brick looking vinyl or laminate type floor for our kitchen. We have a "country farm house" style home.

Something like Earthscapes or naturcor or any high quality vinal or laminat flooring that looks like used brick. Any suggestions?

Mark at August 4, 2009 12:35 PM
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Hi Mark, I would suggest contacting one of your local home improvement or flooring stores and taking a look at the vinyl that they offer.

The Flooring Lady at August 4, 2009 12:41 PM

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Mark, this may be for you. It's not red enough for me. Hope this all comes out.

http://www.fastfloors.com/catalog/productline.asp?productlineid=11370&productid=208364

PRODUCT INFO
Manufacturer: Armstrong
Series: Commission Plus
SKU No.: 80670
Color/Item: Village Path Colonial Red
Retail Price: $8.37 S/FT
Our Price! $3.60 S/FT $32.40 S/YD
Sale Price! $3.31 S/FT* Expires 9/30/2009
Enter Square Feet Needed :
- or -
Enter S/YD Needed :
ORDER SAMPLES
No Samples Currently Available
PRODUCT DETAILS
Coverage: 9 S/FT
S/YD: 1 per S/YD
Thickness: 0.08 Inch (2 MM)
Width: 12 LFT
Weight: 4.4 lbs.
Composition: Vinyl
Design: Sheet
Finish: Urethane
SurfaceType: Low Gloss
Warranty*: N/A
Instructions: Click Here
Install Type: Glue Down

swanangels at September 30, 2009 11:47 AM

=======================================

I have been trying to find RED BRICK PATTERN OR STONE PATTERN LINOLEUM, VINYL, ETC. FOR YEARS, AND CANNOT FIND IT ANYWHERE. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME?

swanangels@yahoo.com at September 30, 2009 11:24 AM
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Hi. I do not know of a supplier. I would suggest calling a local home center, and if they do not have one available, they may be able to point you to someone who does.

Also, many home centers can order products and have catalogs you can go through and pick, even if the item is not in stock.

The Flooring Lady at October 2, 2009 09:47 AM

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Swanangels,

Thanks for sharing that information with Mark!

Something to keep in mind is that unlike linoleum, vinyl is a petrochemical product that off gasses.

The Flooring Lady at October 2, 2009 09:48 AM

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have you guys tried portstone.com? it has a salvaged brick pattern:)

Shelby at October 12, 2009 09:20 PM

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I just bought a home that has a brick floor in the family room. This is real brick, not the thin indoor type, but the same brick that is on our outdoor patio. The previous owners have put some layers of wax on it, only in the areas where they did not have furniture. I'm not sure what kind of wax they used, but I would like to completely strip it and re-seal and wax the whole thing. I have 3 cats and would like to protect it from any pet stains/ odors.

Any suggestions as to how I can strip off the old wax and what particular products/brands would be good to re-seal and wax it?

Linda at October 17, 2009 06:53 PM
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Linda,

Without knowing what is on the brick, it is really hard to say what to use to remove it. I would start by testing a small area, and see if vinegar and removes it, and if not, move up to a mild cleaner, then ammonia. You could also try asking a brick mason in your area to offer suggestions on both these questions. I would consider using the water-based Diamond Coat Varathane Polyurethane when recovering the floor.

The Flooring Lady at October 21, 2009 10:00 AM

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We're purchasing a 1986-built reproductdion Williamsburg colonial home with brick floors in the kitchen, breakfast area, laundry room and mud room. The floor is beautiful, clean, etc. but very uneven. Is there any way to smooth it down so it looks and, most importantly, feels like it's been walked on for two hundred years?

Kathy at November 7, 2009 07:07 PM
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Most regular bricks (at least now) have a "face" on them. Just trying to sand them down or something similar to make them even may not produce results you would like.

You may be able to remove the bricks that are unlevel, and reset them to make them even.

Another idea would be to contact a brick mason in your area and ask their suggestion.

The Flooring Lady at November 12, 2009 12:22 PM