SandFree.com

Shihadeh - Since 1932 has been providing all of the floors.

Wood:

Since the 70s, we have furnished new wood floors, renovated old wood floors, and sanded wood floors.  Because all of our customers complained about dust and odor, we developed the SandFree process.  (www.SandFree.com) which is now franchised into 20 states. 

SandFree is a 5 phase, chemical process with abrasion which prepares an existing floor to receive a URETHANE finish. The first 3 phases prepare the existing finish on a floor to receive a coat of urethane without sanding. The fourth phase is a bonding coat that provides a surface for the urethane to bond to. The fifth phase is the application of the same urethane Brunswick uses on their bowling alleys. The fact that we use water-based products that have almost no odor, makes the process extremely attractive for people who don’t want to lose the use of their property for a period of 3-5 days.

It was used on the 95,000 sf of 100 year old maple at the Oxford Mills Project (www.SandFree.com/commercial projects).  Please watch the movie to understand how valuable SandFree was for the developer.  To preserve the integrity of the job, we took up 5,000 feet of  100 year old maple  from one building, We used a high lift end loader to move it another building where it was installed and refinished.  Conservatively we saved the developer more than $250,000.

Tile:

We've been installing tile for a decade.  Recently we did a very difficult job at The Sporting Club at the Bellevue.  We removed all of the existing tile.  We rebuilt the concrete and metal sub-structure that deteriorated over 20 years of use.  We created stainless steel supports which were then treated and attached to the existing concrete.  We covered the metal supports with thinset to create a base for the new tile.  We cut the concrete to gain access to the 32 jets that had previously been encased by concrete! Previously access was only available from the 7th floor ceiling.  We created stainless steel inserts with panels.  We covered these panels with thinset and ceramic tile.  We created finger holes so the maintenance staff could lift the plate up to get to any problematic jets.  The Sporting Club had tried for 8 years to find someone who would do the job.  We were the first and we successfully completed the project.

Rubber Floors:

We've done a lot with rubber but the most unusual project occurred at Villanova University.  In one of their new dorms, we recreated the Villanova Seal, - 14 colors of rubber.  We made a template of the seal, cut the rubber, and then installed this in the center of the entry.

Carpet:

Carpet and carpet tile is not an issue.  At Oxford Mills, we installed 10,000 yards of a carpet tile that required no glue.  This was important because the subfloor was so bad, it was impossible to draw down the carpet tile with glue.  We've had decades of experience with carpet and carpet tile.

Porcelain/Marble/Granite:

Not only can we furnish and install these products - we can maintain them also. Our SandFree process has been used at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia to recolor the black, exterior granite.  We adjusted the process so that there is no problem with slippage, even in the rain.

Concrete:

The Pulitzer Foundation of Art came from St. Louis, MO to see the SandFree process and then hired us to send men to St. Louis, MO to recolor and refinish their concrete.  Pictures are available.