October's Product of the Month - New Gym Grade Registers and Return Grilles

Large sized floor registers can be almost impossible to find. This task can become especially frustrating for those who have older homes where larger registers were more common. We are excited to carry a new product line of gym grade registers with 180 sizes - all with dampers to control air flow! We also have coordinating return air grilles in 195 sizes.

The Shoemaker 1560 Register and Shoemaker 1610 Return Air Grille are marketed as gym grade vents, but are perfect for use in your home, office, or commercial location. Made with an all steel construction in a honeycomb design, this floor vent even has a welded core and additional supports. These are ideal for heavy duty applications, but would be great in residential settings as well.

You can also choose the perfect finish for your floor register or return air grille. Choose from two Standard Colors: Soft White or Driftwood Tan. You can also select from one of the seven Designer Colors: Almond, Black Velvet, Bronze, Camaro Silver, Coffee Tan, Navajo White, or Vanilla. The designer colors are a painted finish. If you are looking for a plated finish please contact us for information and pricing.

Our gym grade vents are for use on your floor, wall, or ceiling. Ceiling and wall installation of larger grilles may need additional supports.You can order the air vents with or without screw holes to suit your needs. Use the Shoemaker registers and returns for both heating and cooling systems.

The Shoemaker 1560 register has an adjustable damper which will allow you to control your comfort level. The damper is recessed and can be adjusted using a screwdriver. This type of damper will not have any unsightly knobs or levers that could be a tripping hazard. The damper fins will run parallel with the width measurement unless otherwise specified. If you would like a specific damper configuration, please let us know.

Gym Grade Vent Notes

• Register available in sizes from 4" x 4" to 30" x 60"
• Return air grilles come in sizes from 4" x 4" to 36" x 60"
• Use on floor, wall, or ceiling
• Durable all steel construction
• Choice of 9 painted finishes (plated also available)
• Works with heating and cooling systems
• Register has recessed adjustable damper

These vents are made at the time they are ordered and can take 4-6 weeks to be manufactured before shipping out. Also, due to the special order nature of these vents, they are non-returnable and non-refundable.

You no longer have to struggle with oversized vents or vents in high traffic areas, as these Shoemaker Gym Grade Register and Return Air Grilles have solved those problems.

Take a look at our full line up at www.FloorRegisterResources.com to see all our options.

Hardwood Cleaner Resources - Site Updated

A while ago we announced on our Facebook page that we were going to be revamping one of our sites. Hardwood Cleaner Resources has offered cleaning products, repair items, and hardwood floor protection for many years. However, in a effort to expand on the products we offer to our customers, we have added cleaning and maintenance products for almost every surface! Check out some of our new categories below.

New Categories

• Carpet Cleaners
  We have a carpet cleaner to fit almost every need. We have cleaners specially designed for wool carpets and natural fibers, dry powder carpet cleaners, and a wide array of stain removers for carpets and fabrics. Save tons of money on replacement costs, by removing stains and salvaging carpets, upholstery, and clothes.
  
  
• 
  Ceramic Tile Cleaner
  Ceramic tile care can sometimes be a headache. With our wide variety of cleaner and maintenance products, caring for your ceramic tile will be a breeze. We have sealer, cleaner, and more. Find everything you need for ceramic tile maintenance here.
  
  
• 
  Grout Care
  Tired of dingy, gross, discolored grout? Try some of these great options. We can help you find the ideal product for removing grout, sealing it, cleaning grout, and removing haze after grout installation. It's never been easier!
  
  
• Linoleum and Vinyl Floor Care
  Vinyl and Linoleum flooring sometimes need special care. We have products specially formulated for linoleum and vinyl flooring. We'll help you take care of sheet vinyl, vinyl planks, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), Marmoleum, and more. Find the perfect products to strip vinyl flooring, polish it, and clean it for a beautiful vinyl floor.
  
  
•  
• Stone Care Products
  Caring for stone tile, whether it be on the floor, wall, or counter, can be a challenge. You can't just clean stone surfaces with anything. For the best maintenance and care you want to use products that were designed with stone care in mind. We have the perfect products for marble, granite, travertine, slate and more.
  
  
• 
  VCT Maintenance
  Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT) is a great flooring option. Let us help you take care of and extend the life of your VCT flooring. We have great options that can help you out. Buy your cleaner, polish, and sealer all in one place to save time and money.
  
  
  

Oldies, But Goodies

These categories are not new. They are categories that we have offered for many years. However, many new products have been added to offer a larger selection. Browse through these for similar options of great items we've always carried.

• 
  Floor Cleaning Supplies
  Many of the items in this category are tried and true items we've carried for a long time. We have added some new kits and mops so take a look! Find kits for many different surface types, re-usable mop heads, cleaning cloths, and more. Have the ideal supplies on hand to take care of your space.
  
• Floor Protection
  Floor care isn't just about cleaning your hardwood floors or tile floors. It's about making sure you don't damage your floors too. Floor protection is a crucial step in extending the life of your hard surface floors and carpets. Find felt furniture feet, furniture glides, and more to protect flooring.

• 
  Floor Repair Kits and More
  Sometimes our floors do get damaged or scratched. These products are ideal to help you take care of these things. Don't fret if you've got scratches or squeaks, try one of our great products. We have the perfect choice for your flooring need.
  
  
• Hardwood and Laminate Cleaner
  We've kept all your favorites, but we've also added some great new products. Find new options like Pallmann, Sommerset, Earthwerks, and more. Protect your flooring investment by providing ultimate care with our hardwood and laminate floor cleaner and care products.
  
  
  
  

Not all of our products are spotlighted here. For a full view take a look at www.Hardwood-Cleaner-Resources.com. We've got everything you need to care for your floors!

New Product Announcement - CCP Breatheable Floor Protection

CCP: Clean, Cover, Protect

 CCP protective floor covering is an ideal product for a variety of situations.Whether you need to use it at home to cover your floors during DIY projects or you need it for commercial uses on job sites, CCP temporary floor protection has got your surfaces covered.




CCP floor protection is an eco-friendly choice because it is made with recycled supplies, and is free of hazardous materials. You can feel comfortable using it around kids and pets. The reusable floor protection is made with a non woven fabric surface and plastic bottom allowing the protective floor covering to be both reusable and liquid resistant. This will save you money because you can use it over and over, all while protecting your surfaces from messes.


Try this great floor protection option on almost any surface. Use the protective floor covering on carpets, counters, tile, and even hardwood - both site finished and factory finished! CCP reusable floor protection is ideal for use in your home during projects, remodeling, parties, open houses, and more. It is also a perfect floor protection option for use by construction, painting, and contractor companies. Easily prevent costly damages and time consuming cleaning tasks by laying down this protective floor covering before you begin your project.

The CCP floor protection comes in 40" x 82' rolls, which will cover about 270 square feet. This reusable floor covering is virtually tear proof and has no adhesive. If you do not need it to breathe, it is recommended to tape down the sides to help keep it in place. If you need breathability do not tape the edges down. It is recommended to lay the CCP floor protection plastic (polymer) side down on hard surfaces and the non woven (fabric) side down on carpeted surfaces for best use, unless you have site finished floors. For site finished floors, the fabric side should be put directly onto the floor until it is completely cured.

CCP Floor Protection Main Points

- 40" x 82' rolls are easily applied
- Reusable, waterproof, breathable
- 2 different sides: non-woven and plastic
- Made with recyclable materials
- Tear resistant
- Use on almost any surface

 Order your CCP floor protection today to see how great it can work on your next project! Take a look at our full line up at Floor-Protection-Resources.com.

July's How To - How To Measure Floor Vents, Air Registers, and Returns

This month we'd like to talk about how to measure floor vents and air registers to ensure you order the right size.

As we discussed last time, the world of floor registers and air vents can be confusing with all the lingo involved. Then, trying to figure out what size you need can be difficult if you aren't familiar with the industry. These easy steps will hopefully make this process as pain free as possible.

Steps To Measure

• Do not measure your existing vent cover
  
  
  
  
  
• This step may vary depending on your current situation
  • If you are replacing an old register vent, remove that vent. Don't throw away the old air vent until you have found a new one.
  • If you are doing new construction and all you have is a hole, you're good to go.
  • If you have not yet cut your hole, please see our site for common size registers and return air grilles. Cutting odd sized holes will prove to be difficult to fit long term.
    
    
• Once you are looking at your hole, you will want to measure both the width and the height of the hole
  
  • For floor registers, the smallest measurement is usually first, whether it is the height or width.
  • For ceiling and wall registers and return air grilles, the width is usually listed first and the height second. This will make a difference if you are looking for a 12 x 24 or a 24 x 12 return air grille.
    
    
    
    
    
• When you have your measurements, you can usually round up or down to the nearest whole number
  • Example: If your hole measures 3 7/8 x 9 7/8 , you should be able to use a 4 x 10 floor register depending on the style. You could also use a 4 x10 floor register if your hole measured 4 1/4 x 10 1/2. Most vent faceplates are large enough to support the register and cover the entire hole.

Once you have mastered how to measure floor vents and air registers, you can start to pick out your vents.On our register and vent product pages, you will see a dimensions section that lists the actual damper measurements, the overall faceplate measurements, and the drop in depth. This can help you determine whether or not an air vent will work for you.

Additional Tips For How To Measure Floor Vents

• Unfamiliar with a tape measure?
  • Here's a breakdown of all those little lines. This style only goes to 1/16", but some will have even more lines and will break down to 1/32".
    
    
    
• Ordering multiple registers for your entire home or business?
• Be sure to measure all of the register holes. Frequently when customers are ordering registers for the whole home, they measure a few and assume the others will be the same size. All too often they have to exchange a few for different sizes because they don't fit. Save yourself time and money by measuring all holes thoroughly and correctly throughout your entire home.
  
  
• Do I ever need to measure the existing vent?
  • There are times when the outside measurements of your air vent may come into play. If you are measuring for a baseboard vent we will still need the measurement of the actual hole, but if you are trying to fit it between two pieces of trim without cutting or filling in, additional measurements may be helpful.
  • Also if you are trying to cover paint lines, flooring mistakes, or old screw holes, faceplate measurements may be helpful.

Measuring for register and vents does not have to be difficult. Follow the above steps and you should know how to measure floor vents and what size vent you need in no time.

Still not sure what size you need? Give us a call and we would be happy to help you. We are available Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm CST.

If you already know how to measure floor vents and what size you need, head on over to www.FloorRegisterResources.com to find the perfect vent for your space.

June's FAQ - Air Vent Lingo

Register, Diffuser, Vent, Return Air Grille, Supply...

What Does It All Mean?

Shopping for air vents for your home can be like entering an unknown world and trying to learn a new language. There are so many terms to learn and things to know. This post was created to help you weave your way through the world of air vents.

Supply VS Return

A supply is the vent that pushes air out into your home from your HVAC system. These usually have dampers on them to control air flow, but not always.

A return is an air vent that pulls the air out of your room and sends it back to your HVAC system to be heated or cooled. Return air vents also helps circulate air in your home to prevent moisture build up, pressure changes, and more. Return air vents do not have dampers because you wouldn’t want to close them. These types of vents are also called return air grilles.

What Is A Damper?

A damper is a device that opens and closes a register or diffuser to control the air flow. There are two basic kinds that we deal with most often: a plate damper and a multi-shutter damper. Sometimes you don't necessarily need a damper on a supply if you don't need or want to control the air flow. In this case you can order a return air vent to cover the hole.

Register Or Diffuser?

The word register and diffuser are often used interchangeably for a vent that pushes air out into a room and has a damper. For the technical person, there is a slight difference in that a register pushes the air out into the room in a non-spreading pattern, and diffuser push air out in a spreading pattern.

What Type Of Register Do You Need?

Floor Air Vent

You can find floor registers and returns all throughout some homes. These air vents generally do not have screw holes and usually will just drop into a hole in your floor for easy installation.

Ceiling And Wall Air Vent

Sometimes homes will not have any floor vents, and the HVAC system will solely rely on ceiling or wall air vents. These usually do have screw holes to attach to the ceiling or wall. Also return vents generally do not have anything that sticks into the hole, they will have flat backing. This can vary depending on manufacturer. The ceiling and wall registers will usually have a damper. Plate dampers are not for use on ceiling registers.

Baseboard Air Vent

Then there are baseboard air vents which sit on the floor against the wall. There are 2 main types: triangular and rectangular. Both of these styles come in a register or return air grille form. A baseboard air vent can be in several spots where the floor meets the wall. The first two options will need a triangular baseboard vent, the last option can use a rectangular baseboard air vent.

Rectangular air vents have a larger turnback than wall vents. They stick out from the wall about 3/4” - 1” depending on manufacturer.

Triangular baseboard vents have a wider base than the top portion. These triangular baseboard vents are used for when holes are in the floor but butted up against the wall, or for holes that are both on the wall and floor.

Still confused? Call us for live help. Monday through Friday from 8am - 5pm CST, we're here to help you. You can also fill out our contact us form for help.

Also, stay tuned for next month's post about measuring your vents correctly!

To see these options and more, take a look at www.FloorRegisterResources.com.

What confused you most when trying to buy air vents for your business or home?

May's Product of the Month - 3 Mil Hard Surface Protection

It's getting to be that time of year again. Spring is coming (hopefully) and the mud puddles are here. People come over and they track mud all over your clean flooring. Then you have to spend time cleaning and maintaining your hard surface floors. Well, I say, "No More!"

Use hard surface protection next time you have guests, repair people, or even muddy paws coming through. It will save you time in cleaning and potential damage to your floors. Protective floor covering film is not just great for when guests come over, but is ideal in many situations.

Use Hard Surface Protection During

- Painting
- Graduation parties
- Open houses
- Bridal and baby showers
- Birthday parties
- Remodeling
- Repair work
- Potty training puppies
- During craft projects (cover your whole table!)


3 mil protective floor covering film is not only great for many situations but also great for many types of surfaces. You can use hard surface protection in your kitchen, bathroom, living room, and more.

 

Use Protective Floor Covering Film On

- Factory Finished Hardwood
- Tile
- Vinyl
- VCT
- Laminate
- Tubs
- Countertops




Note: 3 mil hard surface protection is not for use on site finished floors. If you need a protective floor covering for site finished floors please look at Floorotex, Tuf-Guard, or Builder Board. These can be used for site-finished floors that are absolutely dry (fully cured).

3 mil hard surface protection can be left down for 45 days. If there are extreme conditions such as heat, moisture, heavy foot traffic, you may need to replace the protective floor covering sooner. Once you are done with the hard surface protection film, all you have to do is pull up the protective floor covering and throw it away!


Installation of hard surface protection is just as easy. You just put the roll of protective floor covering down and roll it out. Similar to our carpet protection we blogged about May 2013, the hard surface protection rolls are either reverse or regular wound. To make installation of protective floor covering film even easier we have installation accessories like our hand roller or stand up roller to save you time.


We have a variety of sizes of hard surface protection to fit any need. See the table below for our options.Take a look at our visual that explains the difference between regular and reverse wound styles.

Size	Sq Ft Coverage	Wound Style
24" x 50'	100	Regular
24" x 200'	400	Reverse
36" x 500'	1500	Reverse

For additional information, please see our FAQ page.

Place your order protective floor covering today and see what a difference it can make during your next event or project.

Tell us: How would you use hard surface protection film?

See our full line of floor protection products at www.Floor-Protection-Resources.com

April's Product of the Month - Flush Mount Floor Registers

Flush mount floor registers can be a game changer when it comes to floor registers. Imagine you finally
install the wood floors of your dreams just to have them marred by unsightly floor registers. Worry no more! We have wood vent covers that install along with your flooring for a flush and seamless look.

Flush mount floor registers are a great option and come in many varieties of unfinished wood. The wood vent covers are unfinished so they can be finished along with your floor or to match your flooring. We have two varieties of flush mount floor registers: standard and high output.

Standard Flush Mount Floor Registers

These wood vent covers have fins that are spaced the standard amount apart. The standard flush mount floor registers come only in Red Oak. These wood vent covers are 3/4" thick and come with a steel damper to control air flow.

Flush mount floor registers are unique in that they must be installed along with new flooring. They have a tongue and groove interlocking system that allows for a seamless install. It is not recommended to retro fit flush mount wood vent covers. See the sizes we carry below.

Standard Wood Vent Covers Main Points

- Flush mount floor registers are unfinished red oak
- Standard fin spacing
- Made in the USA
- Install at same time as flooring
- Flat metal damper

Register Size (Hole Size)	Overall Dimensions of Frame	Overall Dimensions of Insert
2 1/4 x 12	4 5/8 x 14 3/8	2 7/8 x 12 5/8
4 x 10	6 3/4 x 12 1/4	4 7/8 x 10 3/8
4 x 12	6 3/4 x 14	4 7/8 x 12 5/8
4 x 14	6 3/4 x 16	4 3/8 x 14 3/8
6 x 10	9 x 12 3/4	6 3/4 x 10 1/2
6 x 12	9 x 14 3/4	6 3/4 x 12 1/2

Be sure to order based on the size of the hole in your floor.

High Output Flush Wood Vent Covers

Our high output flush mount floor registers come in 5 wood types to fit your needs. You can choose from Red Oak, White Oak, Maple, American Cherry, or Brazilian Cherry. These wood vent covers allow for 30% more air flow than standard flush mount vents because the fin spacing is larger. The stocked high output flush mount floor registers come with a steel damper to help control your airflow.

These wood vent covers are 3/4" thick, but can be custom ordered at 1/2 inch or 5/8 inch thick*. We can also get some custom sizes that may not be listed*. High output flush mount floor registers must be installed at the same time as your flooring. These unique wood vent covers have a tongue and groove interlocking system. See sizes of vents below.

*Please call for pricing and availability on these vents, custom vents do not always come with a damper.

High Output Flush Mount Floor Register Notes

- Wood vent covers come with sliding metal damper
- Larger fin spacing for 30% more air flow
- Made in America
- Made to be installed with flooring
- Come unfinished for you to stain

Wood Type	Register Size (Hole Size)	Overall Dimensions of Frame	Overall Dimensions of Insert
Red Oak	2 x 10	5 x 12 1/2	3 3/4 x 11 3/16
Red Oak, White Oak, Maple	2 x 12	5 x 14 1/2	3 3/4 x 13 3/16
Red Oak	2 x 14	5 x 16 1/2	3 3/4 x 15 3/16
Red Oak, White Oak, Maple, American Cherry, Brazilian Cherry	4 x 10	6 3/4 x 12 1/2	5 1/2 x 13 3/16
Red Oak, White Oak, Maple, American Cherry, Brazilian Cherry	4 x 12	6 3/4 x 14 1/2	5 1/2 x 13 3/16
Red Oak, White Oak, Maple	4 x 14	6 3/4 x 16 1/2	5 1/2 x 15 3/16
Red Oak	6 x 10	9 x 13	7 3/4 x 11 3/4
Red Oak	6 x 12	9 x 15	7 3/4 x 13 3/4
Red Oak	6 x 14	9 x 17	7 3/4 x 15 3/4

You will want to order based off the size of the hole in your floor.

Don’t let unattractive registers ruin your flooring investment. Flush mount floor registers provide you with the comfort and control of a floor register that will seamlessly blend with your flooring.

Looking for something to go with you flooring you’ve already installed? Check out our unfinished drop in wood vent covers to match your flooring.

Order your flush mount floor registers today to improve the look of your new floors!

Be sure to look at www.FloorRegisterResources.com for the full line up of options we have to offer.

February Before and After Photos - Motsenbocker's Lift Off

Here's the blanket
after I first made it.

In December 2013 and January 2014 we blogged about Motsenbocker’s Lift Off stain removal products and the amazing results you can receive. After thinking about it we realized that pictures speak louder than words. So we decided to prove it.

I picked up my 2 month old daughter from daycare to find that the blanket I had made her had several small ink spots and one large dollar coin sized ink spot. It turned out that while making Valentine’s one of the kids had dropped a marker on her blanket and no one realized for a while. The marker stains were all over the satin edge binding on her blanket and I wasn’t sure I could get it out. We have all learned that just because a marker is for children does not mean it is washable.

Before - Large Ink Stain
on Fabric

Once we got home, I took out the blanket to assess the damage. The photo is of the largest spot on the blanket. I treated the ink stains with Motsenbocker’s Lift Off 3 for Pen, Marker, and Ink Stains. I wasn’t sure what type of marker this was, but figured Lift Off 3 was my best bet for removing the ink stain from the fabric.


I put a few drops on the smallest spot to see if it was effective and with a little scrubbing and some rinsing the marker stain was gone. I then decided to tackle the big ink stain on the fabric. This was a little more challenging because the ink was heavily saturated, but again with a lot of dabbing with paper towels, scrubbing, and rinsing I got it all out.

After - No more ink stains!

The picture shows the blanket while it was still wet from rinsing; it hadn’t gone through the wash yet. I was impressed by the results and thrilled that her blanket wasn’t ruined. I never realized that removing ink stains from fabric could be so easy. As a new parent, I’m sure that this will not be my last run in with ink stains. However, now that I have Lift Off 3 in my stain remover arsenal, I’m confident that I can remove stains from fabric and other surfaces.

Share your challenging stain story with us! We’d love to hear how Lift Off or any of our stain removers have helped you!

Take a full look at our full line of stain removers at www.Hardwood-Cleaner-Resources.com!

January’s Product of the Month - Motsenbocker’s Lift Off Paint Remover - Part 2

Happy New Year to all! In continuation of last month’s blog, we are happy to bring you part 2 of the Motsenbocker’s Lift Off blog post.

In December 2013 we focused on Motsenbocker’s 1, 2, and 3. These 3 products are superb stain removers for a variety of stains. However, Motsenbocker’s offers Lift Off products to remove paint. Not all paint removers are created equal, that’s why Motsenbocker’s created 2 paint removers to handle your problems. This month we will focus on Lift Off 4 and 5.

Lift Off 4

Lift Off 4 was created to remove oil based paint, stains, lacquers, varnishes, and spray paint with ease.

Try Lift Off 4 Acrylic, Enamel, and Spray Paint Remover to tackle graffiti, old and new paint splatters, and other oil based paint spots. You can use it on spots caused from primers, sealers, semi-gloss, and high-gloss oil based paints.

Easily remove paint from soft, hard, and porous surfaces. You can also remove graffiti from vehicles, concrete, street signs, utility boxes, stucco and more! No more scrubbing for hours or paint over, just use Lift Off 4 Graffiti Remover.

Using Lift Off 4

 

	Hard and Soft Surfaces (Street Signs/Plexiglass/ Cars)	Porous Surfaces (Concrete/Brick)	Washable
General Cleaning Method	Spray area thoroughly and wipe clean	Spray area and wait 3 minutes. Use brush to loosen dried paint. Hose off or use pressure washer.	Clean using towel or brush
Additional General Instructions	Repeat if necessary	High pressure washer systems can help with high-poracity surfaces.	Rinse with warm water and then launder as recommended.

 Lift Off 5

Lift Off 5 has a formula developed to take care of latex based paint, enamels, lacquer, linseed oil, sealers, stains, and aerosols.

Use Lift Off 5 Latex Paint Remover on low, semi, and high gloss paints. Whether you’ve got drips, overspray, splatter, or just general clean up, Lift Off 5 can tackle latex based paint problems. It’s great for use around the house when doing home improvement projects, or even by professionals.
 
Use on both washables and non-washable, including carpet, spray equipment, brushes, tools, fabric, metal, hard surfaces, brick, and more.  Be cautious when using on concrete. Don’t use on latex painted walls, non-colorfast materials or woodwork.

Using Lift Off 5

	Non-Washables & Upholstery	Carpets	Washable	Hard Surfaces
General Cleaning Method	Clean using towel or brush	Clean using towel or brush	Clean using towel or brush	Wipe with clean towel or rinse
Additional General Instructions	Use hair dryer on medium heat to dry up spot if necessary.	Place clean white towel over the spot and place heavy over it to absorb residue and dampness.	Rinse with warm water and then launder as recommended.	Use plastic scrapper to aid removal from hard surfaces.

Whether you are a homeowner or a professional Lift Off Paint Removers are great to have on hand. Don’t let a little paint ruin your surface, easily take care of it in no time with Lift Off!

Place your order for Lift Off today and save your carpet, clothes, and other surfaces from paint spots.