Evening star., 1938-01-15


wv the ground they should be
surfaced with a water-re-
sistant and alkali-resistant material
made with an asphalt base.
That sounds pretty dogmatic. we
know. but We have been investigating
the whole question Of floors in base
ment recreation rooms. from the point
Of view of both durability and good
looks, and We have to be dogmatic
about this special problem. We have
come to the conclusion you can't sacri-
flee durability for good looks in the
basement--if, indeed. you can do it
anyWhere--and you don't have to do
so, either.
Handsome as linoleum and its re-
lated floor coverings are. they should
not make the descent below grade
This we are assured by the maker of
one of the largest lines of floor COW
er.ngs, including both linoleum and
rubber tile as we'll as asphalt tile. Any
publication which warns the consumer
against the use Of these matrials for
below-grade surfaces is doing him q
favor" said an of1icial Of the firm.
Confine yourself to kitchens, bath
rooms nurseries and other living
rooms on the first, second or third
floors Of your house when you would
linoleumize your floors. Is his advice.
Pick asphalt for below grade.
You will find that asphaltic material
won't react disastrously to condensa-
ton and humidity above it nor mois-
ture beneath it. 1t will wear well, be
easy to clean and not get slippery when
wet-but, most of all, it will give bet
ter than it gets in the battle with
moisture.
Until quite recently the asphalt tile
made by this manufacturer was laid
with an asphalt sheet between tile
and concrete. But the sheeting Is
being withdrawn from the general
market because of the possible margin
OF error in laying it--error which
could destroy the purpose for which
it was manufactured. An asphalt tile
which is alkali-resistant of itself and
80 can be laid directly against the
concrete is taking the place Of the
protective understanding
The new tiles, with the extra. re-
slstance, are already available in ~
colors. II you are thinking Of put
ting them over old concrete floors be
sure to prime the floors first. either
by brush or trowel. let it dry and
then cement the tiles over the dry
primed surface. using 4 special cement
in an even coat. 1t takes about 80
minutes for the cement to set SUI
hciently to receive the tiles.
The tile can be laid over q wood
floor. too. but lining felt must be
laid and securely bonded to the wood
with linoleum paste. and all seams
must be butted. The asphalt tile
then is laid with an emulsion instead
Of cement; 1t takes from half an
hour to one and one-half hours for
the emulsion to set before you lay
the tile.
WHILE we are on this subject Of
moisture We might as well men,
ton new paint-new to us, anyway
which Is particularly good over
damp surfaces. such as green plaster
or concrete In the drying-out stage,
and can be used for almost any in
terror surface. This paint. Of the
interior casein-li -lithopone family, comes
IN paste form and Is Of such porous
nature that moisture in the surface
OF the wall can evaporate without
affecting the paint MIN.
But this isn't all of its claims to
fame. It Is excellent for use over
various types of acoustical boards
and acoustical plaster. BY not SEAL