130 Cecil Malone Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850
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Welcome to Our Monthly Newsletter
This month's topics are:
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
- COVID-19 Quarantine Length
CERAMIC TILE & GROUT CLEANING
- Ceramic Tile Cleaning
- Ceramic Tile
- Grout
- Grout Sealing
MISCELLANEOUS
CONSIGNMENT RUGS FOR SALE REMINDER
MARCH REGULAR CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DISCOUNTS-RCAD
If there is a topic you would like us to cover in one of our upcoming newsletters, please call us at:
607-272-1566
or contact us
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REMINDER:
Don't forget to keep checking our website for our beautiful
We have even more new rugs hanging!
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COVID-19 QUARANTINE LENGTH
COVID-19 quarantine is the best way to prevent the unwitting spread of the virus. Why? Because the biggest problem with COVID-19 is that a person can be infected with the virus and not know it and that person can unknowingly infect others she or he may come into contact with. The idea is to stay away from others after possible exposure to COVID-19 until enough time has passed to be certain that you are not infected or infectious.
For a person who is infected and not aware of it, it becomes very important to also quarantine for a certain length of time not only after possible exposure but also before and after attending any gatherings of people, such as family dinners for holidays or reunions or any other gatherings, especially when people attending may come from many different locations.
HOW LONG TO QUARANTINE?
At this point in time, it is still unclear how long it is scientifically advisable to quarantine. Should it be 2 weeks, 10 days, or 7 days? Quarantining for 2 weeks was the original amount of time advised.
But why the debate?
The debate exists because it would be hard for some people to stay at home for 2 weeks and quarantines are very difficult to enforce.
Therefore, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its previous recommendations on this issue. Although the CDC still recommends a 2 week quarantine, it does suggest that 10 day and 7 day quarantines can be used in some circumstances.
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In This Issue
Consignment Rugs for Sale Reminder-We have added more rugs!
COVID-19 Quarantine Length
Ceramic Tile and Grout Cleaning
Ceramic Tile
Grout
Grout Sealing
Eugene Jacques Bullard
Regular Customer Appreciation Discounts
(RCAD)
Links to Our Services:
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ABC Oriental Rug & Carpet Cleaning Co. has been family-owned and operated in Ithaca and surrounding areas for 50 years!
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BHUTAN-COVID-19 SUCCESS STORY
Recently, there was a very interesting article from the 'Atlantic' about the efforts of the tiny and poor nation of Bhutan to fight the coronavirus pandemic which has resulted in only 1 death since the pandemic started! Other poor countries similar to Bhutan, such as Viet Nam, Rwanda, and Senegal have also seemed to combat the virus better than Europe and North America.
The reason may be, as the article suggests, that “we (Europe and North America) have neglected a public-health focus on prevention, which socially cohesive low-and middle-income countries (such as Bhutan) have no choice but to adopt, because a runaway epidemic would quickly overwhelm them.”
Besides an extensive testing program and other wide-ranging emergency methods to contain the virus, Bhutan also extended their mandatory COVID-19 quarantine from 14 to 21 days. This was a full week longer than that suggested by the World Health Organization. The Bhutan health officials believe that “a 14-day quarantine still leaves about an 11 percent chance that, after being released, a person could still be incubating the infection and eventually become contagious.”
The article can be accessed by clicking here.
THE ANSWER TO COVID-19 QUARANTINE LENGTH
Please continue reading here to find the answer.
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CERAMIC TILE CLEANING
If you have been waiting and wanting to have your ceramic tile and grout professionally cleaned, our month of March 2021 special is just for you!
In March only. all tile and grout cleaning in your home or office will be at the never before discounted price of 50%! If you also need your grout sealed, we are offering grout sealing at 25% off as well.
Ceramic tile cleaning, and especially grout cleaning, of your kitchen floors and walls may well be one of the most time-consuming, messiest, and most back-breaking jobs in your home.
Over time, dirt can collect in the pores of both the tile and grout, especially in hard-to-reach places. The accumulated dirt, grime, and grease can cause tiles to look dull and the grout to darken, as well as to produce a breeding ground for bacteria. Mopping or sponging the tile can also add to the problem because the dirty water can collect in the grout lines, hiding the dirt, especially on tile floors.
Ceramic tile cleaning of the floors and walls in the bathroom adds another dimension of nastiness. Excess humidity can produce mold, mildew, and bacteria. Wiping the tile and grout dry after each use can help to deter this growth, since mold, mildew, and bacteria need moisture in the environment to grow.
But who really has the time or takes the time to do this?
PROFESSIONAL TILE AND GROUT CLEANING AND SEALING
A professional tile and grout cleaning and sealing service such as ABC can thoroughly clean your ceramic tile and grout. The equipment used is much stronger and more effective than anything you would use in your own home. The combination of hot water extraction and a powerful vacuum system is safe for both the tile and grout and can penetrate deep into the pores and pull up that dirt, grime, and grease.
After a thorough cleaning, if the grout needs to be sealed, our technician comes prepared to perform this service. Our sealant will prevent permanent stains and make regular clean up and future professional cleanings more effective.
TIPS FOR CLEANING CERAMIC TILE AND GROUT
To continue reading about ceramic tile and grout cleaning, please click here.
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CERAMIC TILE
Ceramic tile is an extremely popular choice for the floors in our homes today. Whether remodeling or for new construction, hard surface flooring is almost universally chosen for the first floor while wall-to-wall carpet, if used at all, is usually reserved for the upper floors such as the bedrooms.
In this article, we go over some important guidelines about the types and sizes of the tile, installation concerns, durability, and, of course, cleaning and maintenance.
TYPES OF CERAMIC TILE
Glazed Ceramic Tile
The glass coating fired onto the surface of some ceramic tiles is referred to as the glaze. This protective layer makes the tile water and stain-proof.
Note: We are talking about floor, not wall tiles. Wall tiles are not as durable and are thinner than the floor tiles. They are not meant to be used under constant foot traffic.
Unglazed Ceramic Tile
This type of tile is for those people who prefer a more natural look. Unglazed tile floors will need to be periodically sealed to protect them from stains.
Terra Cotta
Terra Cotta is red clay bisque fired at a relatively low temperature. It exhibits a very natural appearance but the tile itself is fragile.
Porcelain
Porcelain is made of clay which is baked at very high temperatures resulting in an extremely strong and durable product. When compared to other tiles, it is harder to cut and shape.
One advantage of Porcelain tile is it has an absorption rate of less than .5% and thus can be installed in some exterior locations where frost and freezing would normally be a problem.
INSTALLATION
Installing tile flooring is not meant for the do-it-yourself homeowner! We would highly recommend hiring an experienced professional installer for this type of time-consuming and difficult job.
As might be expected, the first and most important step in the installation is the type and condition of the sub floor it is being installed on. It is extremely important that it be completely flat, smooth, and free of any defects to avoid the occurrence of any pockets of air forming under the tiles. These will make the tiles crack and chip over time. The sub floor must also be impervious to changes in size due to changes in temperature as well.
Concrete is one of the most common sub surfaces for installations. Be aware, there is a wait time of at least 28 days after fresh concrete is poured for moisture to completely dry out of the concrete mix before the tile floor can be properly installed.
SIZES
To learn more about types of ceramic tile, sizes, hardness, durability, cleaning, etc., please click here.
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GROUT
Grout? What is it really? It is the material that is applied to the spaces between tiles after the tile adhesive has fully cured during a tile installation.
The most common type of grout used to fill in the spaces between ceramic and other tile during installation is composed of graded aggregate, Portland cement, water dispersing agents, plasticizers, and color fast pigments. In more simple terms, it is the combination of cement, water, and colorant and is sometimes called cement-based or cementitious grout.
Cementitious grout comes in both premixed and powered forms. Powdered grout has to be mixed with water before use, while premixed grout comes in tubs and is convenient for small jobs.
Older cement-based grout was brittle and prone to cracking. It also dried irregularly, leaving colors inconsistent. Today's grouts contain polymer additives, which ensure color quality and increased flexibility, allowing for joint (space) widths of up to 1 1/4 inches.
WHY DO WE NEED TO USE GROUT?
Hard tile for flooring, as well as the tile in wall and countertop installation, is placed into an adhesive backing such as mortar or mastic with gaps between each tile. This is to prevent the cracking that could occur if and when the materials expand or contract against one another during temperature shifts.
These gaps could allow moisture and germs to penetrate down into the mortar and down to the sub material. Grout is used to seal the gaps between the tiles because it allows for the expansion and contraction of floor tile over time and prevents moisture and germ penetration.
Grout creates a floor, wall or countertop which is stronger, prevents the edges of the tiles from chipping and cracking, keeps out water, and gives the entire area a finished look with tiles that are perfectly aligned.
In certain situations such as in a shower floor construction of 1”x1” or 2”x2” mosaic tiles are used, the grout every inch or two provides a good amount of slip resistance as well.
BASIC TYPES OF COMMON GROUT
To learn more about grout, please click here.
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GROUT SEALING
DOES YOUR GROUT NEED SEALING OR RE-SEALING?
Have you scheduled a tile and grout cleaning job or done it yourself and wondered if you need grout sealing as well?
It is relatively simple to find the answer to your question. Simply sprinkle a few drops of water at several places around your tile. If areas of your grout soak in the water immediately, your grout should be sealed or re-sealed.
WHAT IS GROUT?
Grout is used to fill the seams between tiles. Most grout is called 'sanded grout' because the grout contains sand, which is a good and inexpensive material to use. Unfortunately though, sand is porous and therefore grout is porous. It is this porosity that makes it necessary to seal the grout after the majority of tile applications, as well as re-seal the grout when needed.
After grout has been applied and has dried, but has not yet been sealed, it will absorb water and any other liquid, as well as dirt, mildew, and other contaminants through its microscopic pores that act like a sponge. Obviously, this is not a good situation for a shower wall or bathroom floor but can be a problem in any area where tile has been laid and grout has not been sealed or the seal has worn off.
Please note: There is a type of grout which is epoxy-based called epoxy grout or pre-sealed grout. This type of grout does not need sealing because it actually sheds water. It is relatively expensive and difficult to mix so is not used as much as sanded grout.
WHY WASN'T MY GROUT SEALED BY MY CONTRACTOR?
The usual answer to this is--If a sanded grout was used and it was not sealed, it may be the fault of the contractor. To seal the grout in a new installation means returning at another time because the grout must be completely dried after installation. This can take as much as 30 days. Many contractors do not want to, or may not have room in their schedule to return to the site to do this.
WHY DOES MY GROUT NEED SEALING IF IT WAS ORIGINALLY SEALED BY A CONTRACTOR?
To find the answer to this question and for more information on grout sealing, please click here.
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GREAT NEWS!
GOT QUESTIONS?
NOW YOU CAN TEXT US at
607-272-1566
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EUGENE JACQUES BULLARD
Eugene Jacques Bullard. Extraordinary human. Extraordinary life. He excelled as a jockey, a boxer, a soldier, a pilot, a drummer and jazz musician, a nightclub proprietor, a single parent with 2 daughters, a spy, a longshoreman, a salesman, an elevator operator, a holder of medals for bravery, and much, much more. Here is his story…
BIRTH
Eugene Jacques Bullard was born on October 9, 1895, in Georgia to a father who was a former slave from Haiti and a mother who was a full- blooded Creek Indian. Young Eugene learned early about Southern bigotry. His father barely escaped a lynching and had to go into hiding.
Eugene's father had told him tales of a faraway land called France where ‘white people treated colored people as human beings.’ These tales inspired him. He began to hold fast to a dream of leaving the US south and getting, somehow, to France.
YOUTH
Bullard left his home permanently in 1906 after his mother died. He was only 11 years old! He wandered through the South for the next 6 years, living for a time with gypsies. He learned the art of horsemanship and worked as a jockey. Eventually, after traveling and working, he made his way to the Port of Norfolk, Virginia where he was able to stow away on a ship bound for Scotland. He would not see America again for thirty years!
In Glasgow, he got work as a lookout for gambling operators and was able to save enough money to get to England where he would be one country closer to his goal. In Liverpool, he engaged in hard labor, developing his muscles so he could turn to boxing.
BOXING
Eugene Jacques Bullard became part of a whole expat community of black boxers who had fled to Europe to find opportunities denied to them in the US. Some of these men were the finest fighters in history.
He began boxing regularly as a welterweight, which earned him enough money to get him to Paris for a bout. He won that bout and then dropped out of boxing. He had at last found his way home to France which, in his heart, was his adopted country.
SOLDIER
French Foreign Legion
In 1914, World War I had begun. Bullard felt that fighting for France was an honor. He joined the French Foreign Legion, training to fight in the 3rd Marching Division. The soldiers in the French Foreign Legion came from all walks of life, from all over the world, and were often running from various situations.
The 1820s and 30s were a turbulent time in France and Paris became the home of revolutionaries, refugees, criminals, and other undesirables. The French Foreign Legion originated as a way for Paris to rid itself of these most dangerous inhabitants. Rather than imprison or expel them, the French government instead pushed them into a special military unit created exclusively for foreigners. This unit was sent off to fight France’s colonial wars. If the men survived five years of fighting, they could return as French citizens.
Because of the rough nature of the recruits, strong discipline was required to keep them in line. Thus, the Legion soon earned a reputation for brutality in punishment as well as recklessness in battle. For the French military, these men could be sent into the most dangerous situations since they were considered to be ‘disposable.’
Battle of Somme
Eugene Jacques Bullard was sent to the front to the Battle of the Somme, fought by the armies of the British Empire and the French Third Republic against the German Empire. Some of the worst losses of World War I were experienced in this battle. Bullard’s 3rd Marching Division was disbanded after Somme.
170th Cavalry
Following a short respite, Bullard joined the 170th Cavalry. This group of individuals were known as ‘the Black Swallows.’ Folklore associated the swallow with misfortune. Bullard, who was known as ‘the Black Sparrow,’ also became known as ‘the Black Swallow of Death.’
Battle of Verdun
The 170th Cavalry was sent straight to Verdun with Eugene Bullard ranking as a Corporal. This would become one of the longest and worst battles in the history of the human race. Bullard led a machine-gun crew on the front line, fighting through a shrapnel would to the face until he was finally sidelined by a near fatal wound to his thigh. For his valor at Verdun, Bullard was decorated with the Croix de Guerre, one of France’s highest military honors.
FIGHTER PILOT
Bullard is best known as the first African-American fighter pilot, though he never flew for the United States.
You can find out all about Eugene Jacques Bullard and his amazing life accomplishments by clicking here.
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REGULAR CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DISCOUNTS POSTCARD (see below)
FOR MARCH:
25% off Grout Sealing
50% off Ceramic Tile and Grout Cleaning!
The Postcard must be presented to receive a discount.
If you did not receive your postcard, please call or text our office at 607-272-1566.
If you have not yet used the coupons you earned in 2020, now is time to share them with your friends and family members.
The RCAD discounts cannot be used with any other discounts.
STAY SAFE & STAY HEALTHY!
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THE 2021 RCAD POSTCARD and
SPECIAL DISCOUNTS
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130 Cecil Malone Drive
Ithaca, NY 14850
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