CFI Quality Control & Maintenance Practices 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A homeowner wants to use a steam mop on their sealed hardwood floors. What should you advise?
- Steam mops are safe for all sealed hardwood floors
- Steam mops are acceptable if used on the lowest setting
- Steam mops should never be used on hardwood floors (Correct answer)
- Steam mops are fine as long as the floor is allowed to dry after
Correct answer: Steam mops should never be used on hardwood floors
Steam mops force hot moisture into wood and between boards, causing swelling, finish damage, and long-term structural damage to hardwood floors.
Question 2: What does a pH test on a concrete slab determine before resilient flooring installation?
- The compressive strength of the concrete
- Whether the concrete has excessive alkalinity that could affect adhesive bond (Correct answer)
- The moisture content of the slab
- The age of the concrete pour
Correct answer: Whether the concrete has excessive alkalinity that could affect adhesive bond
High pH (alkalinity) from moisture migrating through concrete can break down adhesive bonds over time, so pH testing identifies this risk before installation.
Question 3: During carpet maintenance, a client asks about the frequency of professional hot water extraction cleaning. What is the CRI recommendation for residential carpet?
- Every 6 months
- Every 12-18 months (Correct answer)
- Every 2-3 years
- Only when visibly soiled
Correct answer: Every 12-18 months
CRI recommends professional hot water extraction cleaning every 12-18 months under normal residential use to remove deep soil and maintain carpet appearance.
Question 4: What is the correct procedure when a tile installation shows efflorescence on the grout surface?
- Apply a second coat of grout over the affected area
- Clean with a diluted acid solution designed for efflorescence removal (Correct answer)
- Seal the grout immediately to lock in the deposits
- Replace the grout with a different color
Correct answer: Clean with a diluted acid solution designed for efflorescence removal
Efflorescence (salt deposits) can be removed with a diluted acid cleaner specifically formulated for this purpose, followed by thorough rinsing.
Question 5: A quality control inspection reveals that vinyl composition tile (VCT) has a wavy or rippled appearance after installation. What is the most likely cause?
- Tiles were installed without staggering the seams
- Adhesive was applied too wet or tiles were installed before adhesive reached proper tack (Correct answer)
- Room temperature was too high during installation
- Tiles were not acclimated to room temperature
Correct answer: Adhesive was applied too wet or tiles were installed before adhesive reached proper tack
Installing VCT before adhesive reaches the proper open-time tack allows tiles to shift and ripple; the adhesive must reach the right tack before tiles are placed.
Question 6: When inspecting engineered wood flooring for delamination, what is the most reliable field test?
- Visual inspection from a standing position
- Tapping the surface with a hard object and listening for a hollow sound (Correct answer)
- Measuring the thickness with calipers
- Checking the surface with a moisture meter
Correct answer: Tapping the surface with a hard object and listening for a hollow sound
Tapping the engineered floor surface and listening for a hollow or drum-like sound reveals areas where the layers have separated (delaminated) from each other.
Question 7: What is the correct method to address a squeaking hardwood floor caused by boards rubbing against each other?
- Inject liquid adhesive between the boards
- Drive screws from below through the subfloor into the face of the boards
- Apply powdered graphite or talcum powder in the seams (Correct answer)
- Sand the entire floor surface to reduce friction
Correct answer: Apply powdered graphite or talcum powder in the seams
Powdered graphite or talcum powder applied in the seams between squeaking boards acts as a dry lubricant to eliminate friction-caused squeaks without damaging the finish.
CFI Quality Control & Maintenance Practices 5
A homeowner wants to use a steam mop on their sealed hardwood floors.
What should you advise?