Diamond Grinding: Natural Stone Floor Full Restoration

October 17, 2011 By

A short video on how diamond grinding is used to handle “lippage” on natural stone floors, and why it is a vital initial step as part of the restoration and finishing actions.

Lippage is the unevenness of a natural stone floor and adjacent tiles. Removing the lippage as part of scratch and finish maintenance will save time in future restorations, as once it’s done properly, the full restoration can continue to restore the gloss and clarity in the floor.

For more information on natural stone floor restoration and polishing, call IMS DFW at (214) 351-9390
Filed Under: Green Stone Restoration and Carpet Cleaning Tagged With: ,

Carpet Cleaning Companies Expecting High Demand

September 20, 2011 By

rain and carpet cleaning dallas

Autumn rain will increase carpet cleaning needs in Dallas

Carpet cleaning in Dallas will likely be booming after a long hot, dry summer.

As WJTV in Mississippi reported, carpet cleaning companies in that area have seen a spike in business due to recent heavy rains. Water extraction, flood damage and carpet treatments have increased with wet weather in the region.

Vince Vavrunek, owner of a carpet cleaning company in Mississippi, says he “expects to see a ten to 20-percent increase in business” because of recent rains.

In Texas, showers have been few and far between. But with autumn approaching, rain is likely to follow, and the dry conditions will be a double-edged sword in that now flooding becomes a risk. Not to mention just the mud, mess and soggy conditions with any rain will make carpet care a nightmare.

IMS DFW recommends exacting procedures when cleaning carpets, and our company was in fact founded on cutting-edge carpet cleaning technology. We continue to innovate and lead the field in our technical expertise and ability to handle what others can not.

To have your carpets cleaned professionally, contact IMS DFW at (214) 351-9390.
Filed Under: IMS Corner: Stone Floors, Carpets and Helpful Tips

Top Reasons to Choose Concrete Floors

August 31, 2011 By

before_after_concrete_cleaning_ims_dallas

IMS DFW excels at concrete polishing and restoration, as shown here.

Concrete has taken off as the flooring material of choice in the past decade. In the past, simple concrete slabs were quickly overlain with carpet, tile or wood in order to create a beautiful and easy to maintain floor. Now, many are ripping up those excess layers and exposing the concrete slab below. There are many advantages to getting back to basics by having a concrete floor installed in your home or commercial space.

  1. Strength and durability. Concrete is one of the most durable building materials, making its use widespread in both residential and commercial spaces. Made of pulverized limestone mixed with water, when cement dries it is as hard as a rock. Decorative concrete floors for interior use are sealed with a special epoxy resin, making the cement floors waterproof. This keeps them from absorbing liquids and becoming discolored or stained.
  2. Economical price. Concrete is popular not just for its strength and durability, but also for its affordable price tag. Compared to other types of flooring, such as wood and tile, cement is far less expensive and much more practical. Wood floors scratch, and tile floors chip, and both these choices are more expensive to buy and install than cement. Since cement floors do not have to be regularly maintained or replaced, they are especially economical in the long run.
  3. Flexible design concepts. Cement floors can look simple or elegant, depending on the way in which it is applied. Stain can be applied to concrete floors then sealed. Decorative overlays can be created in designs ranging from natural stone and tile to faux wood. Concrete floors can bring depth to a room when polished to a high shine.
  4. Easy to maintain. Since cement floors are less prone to chipping and scratching, they require less maintenance. They can be cleaned with a dry mop using a weak solution of water and mild soap. When cement floors begin to dull, IMS Texas, a professional cement restoration specialist, can be called into to use a special polisher on the floors.
  5. Eco-friendly choice. Cement floors have been gaining in popularity as an eco-friendly flooring choice for homes and offices. Cement has a light carbon foot print, since it does not necessitate toxic chemicals or processes to produce. It is also durable, so it does not have to be replaced as often. Finally, its cooling properties make it a good choice for homes in warmer climates as it naturally keeps the home cooler, keeping energy cots down.
  6. Serviceable by concrete floor specialists. A concrete floor restoration and maintenance specialist, such as IMS Texas, is trained in the art of keeping concrete floors looking their best. Concrete restoration specialists can restore concrete floors that have begun to dull, or have chipped or cracked due to structural settling. The use of special concrete floor polishers can bring out an incredible shine in concrete floors, making them look brand new.
IMS DFW has been polishing and restoring concrete floors, using the same advanced technology effective techniques employed by its natural stone division. The result is a stunning concrete floor. Call (214) 351-9390 today.
Filed Under: Concrete Polishing and Repair Tagged With: , , ,

Common Customer Questions – Post Restoration Maintenance

August 24, 2011 By

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No matter which IMS division you need, we ensure that your questions are answered before, during and after our services

At IMS we usually get a variety of questions from customers, and we make sure they are fully answered before, during and after our service. Here, Account Representative Liz Harrington talks about what she is most often asked after IMS restores a natural stone floor or cleans a carpet:

One of the most common question is, “How do I maintain my floor once IMS has done their service?” A really great thing about IMS is that we actually give you a list within your proposal of all the different ways you should maintain your floor, whether you need to add interior mats to your building, whether you need to add exterior mats to your building, how the janitorial service needs to maintain your floor on a daily basis, what chemicals they should use, what chemicals they should not use, how the floor should be swept, etc. You know, we really want to make sure that when we are finished our customers are educated on how they need to maintain the finish of the floor.

And if our bid includes work on carpet we also include information on how to maintain you carpet on a day to day basis. For example, a janitorial company may use a backpack vacuum and that may not be the most effective vacuum to use on your carpet, so we give education and suggestions on what kind of vacuum you should be using for your specific situation.

We don’t want to clean your carpet or restore your floor only to have it damaged, dirty or in need of attention again just a few months down the road.

Call IMS Dallas at (214) 351-9390 for natural stone restoration, carpet cleaning, concrete polishing or any of your interior maintenance needs.
Filed Under: IMS Corner: Stone Floors, Carpets and Helpful Tips Tagged With: , , ,

Keeping Your Concrete Floors Looking Their Best

August 22, 2011 By

ims dallas concrete floor polishing

This IMS Dallas concrete floor polishing job restored the floor to a beautiful shine.

Have you had the experience lately of walking into a room and being impressed with the elegance and beauty of its concrete floors? Owners will tell you, they love concrete floors because they look good pretty much all of the time. It’s true, keeping your concrete floors looking their best doesn’t require a lot of work. These floors are known for their durability and low maintenance, which is part of the reason why they have become so popular today. Knowing what to do, and not to do to your concrete floors, makes maintaining them easier. It only takes a little bit of effort to keep concrete floors looking their absolute best.

  1. Dry and damp mop. Sweeping once a day should be followed by a dry round of dry mopping at least once a week. A dry mop uses static electricity to pick up lingering dust and hair that brooms miss. When damp mopping, only use a mild soap, preferably one recommended by the manufacturer.
  2. Only scrub concrete floors with a soft brush. If there is a tough, hard-to-remove stain on your concrete floors, you should scrub them only with a soft, non-metallic brush. Stiff bristle, metallic brushes or abrasive cleaners can damage the top layer of epoxy if it has it, causing the floor to have a dull finish as well as making it susceptible to water damage.
  3. Keep it clean. Whenever spills do occur, you should always clean them up immediately. The longer a substance stays on concrete, the longer it has to permeate though, causing possible damage such as staining. While the top layer will protect the floors to a certain degree, liquids that are acidic or darkly tinted may have lasting effects.
  4. Be gentle. While concrete floors are tough, you should still be as gentle with them as possible. Avoid dragging heavy furniture across your concrete floors, and be careful not to drop heavy objects. Clean them with a mild cleanser, and keep any abrasive or acidic substances away from them. Treating your concrete floors with care will keep your maintenance low.

Know a good concrete restoration and maintenance specialist. IMS Dallas has been restoring and polishing concrete floors back to a remarkable shine all around the Dallas and Fort Worth area. Having your concrete floors regularly polished by a will keep them looking shiny and new. IMS can also provide invaluable service in the case of flooding. It is important to address any issues that arise with your concrete floors as soon as possible to prevent the damage from becoming worse.

Contact IMS Dallas for your concrete polishing and restoration. Call (214) 351-9390.
Filed Under: Concrete Polishing and Repair Tagged With: , ,

Removing Red Wine From Carpet

August 17, 2011 By

IMS carpet cleaning before and after

Using hydrogen peroxide, this nasty spill came right out

Jason Johonnesson, IMS co-owner, provides an effective household hint for removing spills on carpets:

A helpful little home tip, a piece of advice you can use for your home: One of the biggest problems that homeowners face is grape juice or red wine spills. Pretty common and most people seldom ever remove the stain and that’s because they will attempt a variety of cleaners and throw one thing on it after another. They wind up setting the spot and making it a stain. There’s a difference between a spot and a stain.

But, if you use the right product on it first then you will see pretty instant results. Here you see my youngest son Dalton removing a red wine spill. You can see pretty clearly the before and the after, and he was able to achieve that with a simple household product, hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide will instantly, or within just a few minutes, virtually make it disappear like magic. It’s a chemical reaction, rather than working as a detergent where it’s an actual chemical reaction, and it just makes it disappear. So it’s a matter of applying hydrogen peroxide and absorbing it with a clean cotton towel.

If your carpet is stained and refuses to come clean, call IMS DFW for professional carpet cleaning at (214) 351-9390.
Filed Under: IMS Corner: Stone Floors, Carpets and Helpful Tips Tagged With:

Concrete Flooring Advantages

August 15, 2011 By

concrete polishing ims inc

The gloss and shine of this IMS polished concrete contrasts with the dull concrete surrounding the work area

Concrete has taken off as the flooring material of choice in the past decade. In the past, simple concrete slabs were quickly overlain with carpet, tile or wood in order to create a beautiful and easy to maintain floor. Now, many are ripping up those excess layers and exposing the concrete slab below. There are many advantages to getting back to basics by having a concrete floor installed in your home or commercial space.

  1. Strength and durability. Concrete is one of the most durable building materials, making its use widespread in both residential and commercial spaces. Made of pulverized limestone mixed with water, when cement dries it is as hard as a rock. Decorative concrete floors for interior use are sealed with a special epoxy resin, making the cement floors waterproof. This keeps them from absorbing liquids and becoming discolored or stained.
  2. Economical price. Concrete is popular not just for its strength and durability, but also for its affordable price tag. Compared to other types of flooring, such as wood and tile, cement is far less expensive and much more practical. Wood floors scratch, and tile floors chip, and both these choices are more expensive to buy and install than cement. Since cement floors do not have to be regularly maintained or replaced, they are especially economical in the long run.
  3. Flexible design concepts. Cement floors can look simple or elegant, depending on the way in which it is applied. Stain can be applied to concrete floors then sealed. Decorative overlays can be created in designs ranging from natural stone and tile to faux wood. Concrete floors can bring depth to a room when polished to a high shine.
  4. Easy to maintain. Since cement floors are less prone to chipping and scratching, they require less maintenance. They can be cleaned with a dry mop using a weak solution of water and mild soap. When cement floors begin to dull, IMS Texas, a professional cement restoration specialist, can be called into to use a special polisher on the floors.
  5. Eco-friendly choice. Cement floors have been gaining in popularity as an eco-friendly flooring choice for homes and offices. Cement has a light carbon foot print, since it does not necessitate toxic chemicals or processes to produce. It is also durable, so it does not have to be replaced as often. Finally, its cooling properties make it a good choice for homes in warmer climates as it naturally keeps the home cooler, keeping energy cots down.
  6. Serviceable by concrete floor specialists. A concrete floor restoration and maintenance specialist, such as IMS Texas, is trained in the art of keeping concrete floors looking their best. Concrete restoration specialists can restore concrete floors that have begun to dull, or have chipped or cracked due to structural settling. The use of special concrete floor polishers can bring out an incredible shine in concrete floors, making them look brand new.
Concrete and concrete polishing are specialties of IMS DFW. Call (214) 351-9390.
Filed Under: Concrete Polishing and Repair Tagged With: ,

IMS Dallas: We Won’t Sell You What You Don’t Need

August 10, 2011 By

ims dallas honesty in business

IMS will tell you if you need other help first, which will save you from spending too much on our services

IMS co-owner Jason Johonnesson gives an example of when IMS Dallas told a client they DIDN’T need their services:

There are a lot of situations out there that facility managers and engineers face that really don’t have a solution. There are a lot of water damage issues, efflorescence, things like that. It’s quite common. Just about every building has this kind of damage of one type or another. There are people out there that will say they can fix it when in truth it is a structural issue and not an issue that a restorator can fix. Quite often an engineer or a building manager, they don’t want to hear that. They don’t want to hear that a restorator can’t fix it, but as restorators we can treat one of six sides of the stone. There are six sides to every stone and we can only fix one of them. We know what a restorator’s limits are. If we cross the line and you have a structural issue we’re going to tell you that.

I can give one example of a building in downtown Dallas regarding flamed granite. Flamed granite is a textured surface and a lot of people don’t realize it but it is very susceptible to moisture damage. It’s pretty easy with flamed granite to get moisture between those crystals, and flamed granite is notorious for developing water rings and when moisture gets inside it turns many shades darker than it should. A lot of people don’t quite realize that’s what they’re looking at, but it is so very common, especially in areas where you have fountains. Almost invariably you can see darkening around the fountain where moisture is migrating its way through.

Several years ago we had a potential customer who had not used us before but was familiar with our reputation. They had me come out to evaluate their flamed granite floor. And the first thing I said was, “Well, you have a lot of water damage.” Her initial reaction was, “I know! The janitorial company, they use too much moisture. They mop it too heavy every night and every morning I come in and I lift the mat by the front door and there’s water underneath it. They’re mopping it too quickly and they are throwing it right back down without letting it dry.” I quickly said, “I don’t think that’s the case.” Of course in her mind that made perfect sense. That’s what’s going on, of course it is.

I explained to her, “No, it’s not possible to have this much moisture in the stone from mops alone, They would have to virtually flood the floor every night. The effects like this they only occur from long term migration and it’s migrating under the stone, not on top of it. This moisture is not introduced from the surface. It migrates from all of the setting materials underneath the stone and what I did was I took out my moisture meter and I showed her the pattern where the leak was actually coming from. So you could almost draw a map on paper with my moisture meter because the light turns red where it’s wet. It can read moisture pretty deeply. Now it was a totally clearer picture to her, so I explained to her that this is not being caused by the janitorial company, first of all. Second of all, we cannot restore this or make it look right until you have some structural work done. You need to have this fountain fixed first because it has pretty major leak and we just showed the general area where the leak was coming from.

So she took my advice and she called someone to fix the fountain first. Rather than throwing a lot of money at us thinking that this is something that we could fix, we quickly got to the real problem, and we do this almost every day. We got to the real problem. She got the people to come out and fix it over a period of six months and the granite naturally dried, that’s how long it takes whenever moisture is that deep, it’s beneath the stone and the setting material. Then we were able to do just a very simple clean and seal whereas before she was looking at some pretty major restorative work. There’s one example of where our brutal honesty didn’t quite make sense to the customer at first, but with just a little bit of effort and a little bit of education she was able to see that we were being honest with her and not pulling her leg. We led her in the right direction of getting her stone fixed.

IMS Inc. is dedicated to helping it’s clients floors look their best, even if it means NOT being paid as much for it. Contact IMS to help your natural stone floors look great again. Call (214) 351-9390.
Filed Under: IMS Corner: Stone Floors, Carpets and Helpful Tips Tagged With: , ,

Common Causes of Flooding in Buildings

August 3, 2011 By

causes of flooding ims dallas

It's not raining much in Texas now, but when it does, flooding often follows.

In Texas, residents are all too familiar with the famous five letter word: F-L-O-O-D. Flood waters are common during the rainy season from December to April, but can happen all year round as well. Many people avoid building in a flood zone, but many take the risk in order to take advantage of inexpensive, or well located, real estate. If you have a building or home in Texas, you should be aware of where flood waters come from so you can minimize the risk of damage from them.

  1. Rain. The typical rainy season for Texas is the winter months between December and April. Every year is different, however, and some years receive more rain than others. Rains can continue into the summer, though June is typically the latest month that sees substantial rainfall. Prepare for the rainy season by inspecting buildings at the end of the dry season and applying waterproofing grout, filler, and installing seals around windows and exterior doors.
  2. Snow Melt. Even when the rains stop, waters are prone to flash flooding due to snow melt occurring in higher regions. The Trinity River in Dallas, for example, is fed by the Red River, a tributary of the Mississippi river. The Red River is fed in turn by snow melt from the Rocky Mountains to the east. The Mississippi river is also fed by snow melt from higher elevations. During years in which heavy snow falls during the winter, summer months can see rapid rises in river levels as snows melt and waters flow.
  3. Insufficient Green Space. In large, spread out cities, such as the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, flooding can rapidly occur due to a lack of green space. Water from rains is funneled into drainage ditches by roads, and often times the ditches simply become too full and overflow. When green spaces, such as artificial wetlands, are created in between buildings water is allowed to soak into the soil, reducing the chances of flooding.
  4. Sewer Pipe Failure. Flooding in homes and commercial buildings isn’t always caused by Mother Nature. With age or intense use, sewer pipes can become unstable and break open. A busted sewer line can coat your floors with damaging fluids. Floods caused by busted sewer pipes can be especially damaging due to the nature of the flood waters.
  5. Water Line Failure. Water lines can also bust in homes and buildings, causing damage to walls, furniture and floors. Water lines are under pressure, so leaks from water lines can be very damaging if the water is not cut off immediately.

Anytime water enters your home, it is important to take immediate action in order to minimize damage to your property. Everything must be thoroughly dried as quickly as possible to avoid mold from forming. Have the number of a local interior maintenance specialist company so you can get someone out right away to control the damage to your home from flood waters.

For assistance with flood restoration and water damage restoration in Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving or any part of the metroplex, call IMS Dallas at (214) 351-9390.
Filed Under: IMS Inc. Flood Restoration and Water Damage Tagged With: , ,

Types of Damage to Concrete Floors

July 28, 2011 By

concrete floor cleaning ims dallas

Keeping your concrete floor looking its best is IMS Inc.'s specialty

While concrete floors are known for their strength and durability, they can become damaged, both from natural disasters as well as simple human error. When damage occurs to your concrete floors, a concrete restoration specialist can be called in to assess and correct the damage. By acting quickly, damage can be minimized and further damage can be avoided. Knowing what can damage concrete floors can help you to prevent it from occurring as well as how to handle damage if it does occur.

  1. Cracks from a settling foundation. As buildings age they begin to settle. This is due in part to fluctuations between hot and cold, that swell and shrink buildings each year, and simply from gravity itself. Over time this can lead to cracks in your cement floors. This kind of damage can range from mild to severe, depending on how strong the settling effects of the building are. The depth of the cracks will determine how it is best filled and fixed. A concrete restoration specialist will be able to make cracks disappear so your concrete floors are smooth once more.
  2. Chipping and scratching from impacts. While concrete floors are resilient, they can become scratched or chipped. Small chips and cracks can become larger due to weathering effects, especially if the concrete floor is outside. It is important to repair small chips and cracks as soon as they occur. Small cracks let water and other liquids soak into the concrete, which can cause discoloration as well as further weathering, leading to larger cracks over time.
  3. Wearing off of epoxy layer over time. Interior concrete floors have a top layer of epoxy added to make them shiny as well as waterproof. This epoxy layer can become scratched more easily than the concrete can. Once scratched, it can allow water and other liquids to seep in and stain the concrete below. If you notice places where the epoxy has become scratched in your own concrete floors, having a concrete restoration specialist fix the problem will prevent further, and more expensive, damage from occurring.
  4. Damage from acidic cleaning products. Concrete breaks down when it comes into contact with acid based cleaning products. These are products such as mold removers and tile cleaners. Acid based products can break down or remove the outer epoxy layer of the concrete floor and break down the concrete below it. If this happens, IMS Inc. can use its natural stone floor restoration techniques to safely and naturally restore your concrete floor’s surface.
  5. Water damage. While concrete can withstand the pressures of water, over time water can begin to break down concrete floors as well as discolor and stain them. Outdoor concrete floors that are exposed to the elements are more prone to water damage but interior floors can also be damaged by water. This is typically minimized by the waterproof epoxy layer that interior floors are coated with, but if this layer becomes damaged, water will be able to seep in. Flooding, from both natural and man made sources, can cause severe damage to concrete floors and when this occurs, it is important to call a concrete restoration specialist.
IMS Dallas uses the same advanced technology and natural methods to restore and polish concrete floors as it does on its renowned natural stone floor projects. Call (214) 351-9390 for more information.
Filed Under: Concrete Polishing and Repair
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