Tag: floor

Home Maintenance

What Are Your Floor Options?

Laura

You have to put a lot of time and effort into choosing the right flooring so you can have a home you are proud of. With all the floor options available, different people are going to choose different flooring materials based on what their needs are in their home. Some people prefer hardwood floors, which can look more formal, while others like carpeting, which creates a more relaxes environment. For high traffic areas, a lot of people choose stone flooring or tile flooring because of how durable these materials are.
If you have kids or pets in your home, then you will want a durable and easy to clean type of flooring. Carpet is great for adding a warm and comfortable feeling to your home but is not a good choice if you have kids and pets. With kids and pets, you are better off with laminate or tile floor options. Carpet is comfortable but it also traps dirt and dampness, as well as requires a lot of maintenance to keep it clean. If you don’t clean and vacuum carpets regularly, it will start to look really bad. It can also smell bad if you don’t take care of it like you should. If you have the time to clean your carpet, then carpet may be one of the floor options for you.
If you do choose one of the carpet floor options, you should look for a deep pile carpet because it will be less likely to stain or become damaged by dampness. Carpet makes your home much more comfortable than hardwood, which can feel rough and be cold on your feet. However, hardwood is one of the flooring options that adds class and elegance to your home. You do not have as much choice of materials and styles with hardwoods as you do with carpet but you can get hardwood in a variety of woods from polished hardwood flooring to rustic hardwood flooring.
Hardwood flooring can be easily damaged by moisture although some hardwood floor options are better than others at stopping this damage. You want to be careful not to spill any liquids or let moisture get on your hardwood floors. If you do not protect your hardwood flooring from moisture, the wood can warp and buckle and will need to be replaced. You have to clean your hardwood floors frequently but do not need any special chemicals or a lot of water. If you have carpet, you may want to hire a professional to clean it for you.…

Home Contractors

Benefits of Floor Tiles

Laura

Are you looking for an alternative to carpets or wooden flooring in your home or office? If so it is worth taking a look at floor tiles. Many people are now looking to buy floor tiles for their home instead of conventional flooring options such as carpet, as floor tiles are often much more durable and can make a wonderful change to the interior design of any room in your home instantly.
Not only will floor tiles give your room an instant re-vamp, but they are often more affordable to lay than other flooring methods, and very simple to lay also. In terms of appearance, when you choose a tiled floor the list of options is almost endless. This is because there are so many different styles, colours, patterns and sizes of available for you to choose from, therefore whether you are looking for something unique to make your home stand out, or just want something stylish you are sure to find it easily.
There are many reasons why homeowners, and those updating properties, are choosing to tile the floors in their home. Some of which include the fact that they are extremely durable. The reason for this is they are often made from hard-wearing materials such as ceramic or even luxury materials such as marble. These materials do not scratch as easily as other material can such as wood, and do not stain like carpet would if something was split onto it.
Floor tiles are also very comfortable. This is actually a common misconception, as many assume that tiles are too hard; however they are brilliant for ensuring your floor is level, and actually provide a relieving sense of sturdiness.
When you choose floor tiles, you will also find they are waterproof. This is a very convenient quality, as your tiles will not become damaged or marked when water hits them, unlike other flooring types such as carpet, which can become damaged when wet.
As floor tiles are waterproof it also makes them very easy to clean, which is another benefit of using floor tiles. You can quickly clean your floor tiles, either using a sweeping brush to get rid of dust or debris, or you can even choose to use a conventional vacuum cleaner for an even quicker clean. To further clean your tiles you can quickly mop your floor with warm water and floor detergent for an instant glisten.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why tiling a floor is becoming a popular option for those who want a different flooring option to wood or carpets. They not only come in many different styles and colours, but they are easy to clean and can often cost less to lay than traditional flooring options.…

Kitchen Remodel

Laminate Floor Cleaning & Maintenance

Laura

Laminate flooring has emerged as an extremely popular alternative to traditional wood flooring. When you take into consideration the beauty of these floors, cheaper cost, and its ease of installation, it is easy to see why.
Laminate flooring is pretty easy to maintain. The most important weapon in your arsenal is a trusty broom or vacuum (with beater bar turned off!). This is true for any floor surface in your home. Side note: If you ever hire a professional cleaner (carpet, tile & grout, etc.) always ask what their first step is. If they don’t vacuum or sweep first, then you need to immediately look for a more “Professional” cleaner. Once you have gotten all the excess “dry soil” off your floor, then basically all you need to do is a quick mopping. I highly recommend a microfiber mop, as they are perfect for these floors.
For weekly maintenance you can just use water. Make sure you ring out the mop as much as possible, as you want to avoid too much moisture. The pad should just be damp. You should also avoid vinegar on your laminate floors. I see a lot of people on the internet that recommend this as a budget cleaner, however, vinegar is an acid. If you repeatedly expose your floor to acid it can potentially damage the aluminum oxide coating of the laminate, thus dulling your floor. If your floor requires more cleaning power than a damp pad, then there are cleaners available that were engineered specifically for that.
Avoid waxes and polishes as well. Again, there are other products available that will restore your shine without any of the adverse effects. Finally, there may be no better defense for your flooring than a strategically placed mat or mats. This can make a huge difference, especially if your laminate floor is by an outside entry point.
Perhaps a bigger problem for laminate floors are scratches from pets or furniture. The reason scratches give laminate floor owners such a headache is that a laminate floor is actually a picture of wood placed on melamine which is placed on a particle board and coated with aluminum oxide. The aluminum oxide coating – which is the top surface (wear layer), is very thin. Unlike wood, laminate cannot be sanded down and refinished. Therefore if you get scratches your options are limited. At this point you basically have 3 ways to go. You can replace the entire floor, buy a special repair kit and try to fill in the scratches by hand, or buy a laminate cleaning product that can hide those scratches. Obviously this will also depend on the severity and frequency of those scratches, but needless to say replacement is the “if nothing else works” option.
Laminate flooring does require some special attention and care, but all in all, it is a very easy to maintain flooring option. They are designed to last up to 20 years, and with the proper care and maintenance, there is no …

Basement Remodeling

What Floor Covering Is Right for You?

Laura

There are many options when choosing floor coverings with the number of different products and materials increasing all the time. Have you ever thought about cork, sea grass, poured resins or engineered woods? Perhaps you should. If you’re looking for a new floor covering for your home or workplace and you find yourself in a quandary here are ten options to help you decide:
Solid Wood. A classic choice as wood is a hardwearing and practical material yet looks and feels high-end too. One of the best qualities about wood is that it can stand up to kids and pets and needs to be refinished only every few years. Wood, in general is more expensive to install than carpet yet the value is much higher because it will never need to be replaced. Choose narrow boards if you want a narrow room to appear wider where as wide boards help provide balance for a large rooms. For a more rustic feel choose wood with knots and colour variations. Dark woods and finishes have proved very popular in the past but over of the last few years blonde woods appear to be in vogue.
Carpet. Often regarded as the cheapest option in floor coverings. Carpet is appropriate in many settings, especially in low-traffic areas like bedrooms. One of the main advantages carpet provides is sound insulation. It also helps with energy conservation and it doesn’t necessarily require a level surface for installation. Although there’s a certain “yuck” factor in carpets as they are only cleaned rarely, they trap allergens and dust and need to be vacuumed regularly. When choosing carpets look for a loop or twist pile of 80 percent wool/20 percent nylon blend for the best look and durability. Current trends suggest more and more people are using for carpet in stairways and halls are opting for striped patterns.
Porcelain tiles. More hard wearing than their ceramic counterparts, Porcelain tiles are virtually maintenance free. Porcelain is more expensive than ceramic and usually requires installation by a professional since they need to be properly bedded and spaced, as they can expand and contract. Current trends are metallic finishes, modern weaves and wood effects.
Bamboo. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly floor choice, bamboo is the way to go, since it can be harvested every three to five years, unlike the 15 to 25 years for most wood. It wears well and comes in many colour choices. The current trend is glossy, almost black bamboo especially in rooms with an East Asian feel.
Cork. If you’re looking for a floor with anti-slip properties then you can’t do better than cork. Cork can help impede falls and is a natural fire retardant. It is also an excellent choice for those looking for sound and energy insulation but who don’t want to go the carpet route. Pale shades, greys, dark browns and metallics are gaining favour over the traditional light brown.
Laminate floors. More popular a few years ago than they are now, probably …

Home Maintenance

Walnut Hardwood Floor – A Real Natural Beauty

Laura

There is nothing that can beat the beauty of the American Black walnut hardwood flooring. Walnut trees are vastly grown throughout northern parts of the US and Canada. The most beautiful feature of this kind of wood is the color contrast, as the outside of the wood has an almost white color and the inside of the wood a contrast of dark chocolate brown with a tint of purple. Although manufacturers of Walnut hardwood floors have tried their best to create designs and contracts that will really meet the most standards, still it may be a very good idea for you to have a look at the real picture to make sure you like what you are getting.
An American black walnut hardwood floor should be used with care, because although most hardwood tends to be able to withstand hardships, this wood is much softer than most common woods making it prone to scratches and dents, so you will have to be very careful with the maintenance of this floor if you are too fussy about these things. Prefinished American Black walnut hardwood floors will normally be finished with a satin finish to make them more durable.
Walnut has proven to be a very stable choice for your floors. This kind of wood does not mind too much heat, however, it may not be very comfortable with too much humidity, and however, this is a common case with most hardwood floors.
Working with walnut is very easy and a great experience because the wood is not too hard. Therefore, if you are planning on renovating other parts of your house besides your floor then, walnut wood may be the best option, especially for places like stairs and railings.
Therefore, perhaps, the best wood for your unfinished flooring project may actually be the walnut hardwood. As you don’t really have to worry too much about the finish that you are going to get and cutting and sawing the wood is easier than with harder wood like Maple.
However, the biggest advantage of American Black Walnut Hardwood flooring may be that you don’t really need to match this floor with any other color or tint as the natural beauty is enough in itself. You can just apply a finish touch of a clear coat and you can repeat this treatment whenever you feel the need. Your hardwood floor will always look nice and it will definitely remain with you for many years to come.…

Home Repair

Install Hardwood Floor The Easy Way

Laura

Discover The secret You Need To Install Hardwood Floor The Easy Way
If you are looking to install hardwood floor, you have many options. You may be looking to remodel your house or maybe you are planning new construction. Regardless, adding a new floor will make your home look great and add equity.
Natural woods of oak, pecan or maple are very fashionable in today’s homes. Tongue and groove is a great form of hardwood that could be used in areas of your home where a hardwood surface is needed.
You have so many options when it comes to flooring surfaces, you can do the work yourself or you may want to hire a hardwood floor installation team. If you want to do it yourself these tips will be of great help to you. This is how you install hardwood floor:
Once you get the hardwood planks delivered, allow them to sit in your house for at least seventy two hours. This allows the wood to adjust to the humidity. Next make sure that the sub flooring is even. After you have the sub flooring all squared up, find the center of the room. Start at the wall and measure outward. Mark the center with a chalk line.
Next you will want to strike a parallel chalk line. This one should be 1/4″ from the wall where you measured. You will run your first floor planks along this. This method will allow you to have room for humidity expansion with out having to try and re-adjust everything.
Allow the chalk line to guide your work. When you nail the flooring down keep the nails in close to the wall. This will allow you to adjust a shoe base after you are done. Just keep nailing down the planks. The tongue of one will fit into the groove on the next and so on. A�Now you know the secret used to installing a wonderful floor.
If the floor is unfinished your final step would be to sand it, and add the protective coat. After you are done with this step you will want to add your shoe base, molding or baseboard.…

House Improvements

Laminate Floor

Laura

A laminate floor offers more options than any other type of flooring. It’s often seen as the best choice for flooring needs, regardless of price, mainly because of its superior selection and the ease of installing laminate flooring. You can be sure that laminate floor will give you the look you want for your home, and probably at a considerably lower cost than what it emulates. With options like walnut, cherry, beech, maple, merbau, and oak laminate flooring, there’s sure to be something you’ll want. Laminate wood floors are a lot more durable than the so called real thing, and are very easy to clean as laminate floor cleaner can be found nearly anywhere and is not terribly expensive.
Introduced to the US market around ten years ago, laminate floor is still fairly new to us. Even so, it has already become one of the most popular types of floor in the US today. Durability, low prices, and ease of installation are among the reasons that laminate floors are so popular. Homeowners throughout the country have purchased billions of square feet of laminate, and even more has been sold worldwide. Wood laminate floor is often placed in new homes in many new subdivisions, but it can also be used as a replacement floor in older homes to modernize their interiors.
Flooring manufacturers have picked up on the wood laminate floor trend quite quickly, and are already producing laminated planks and tiles in a dizzying array of textures, styles, and colors. Installation formats also vary, including click lock, glue down, and floating, just to name a few. With there being so many options as far as installation formats, pretty much anyone can install their own laminate floor, should they so choose.
The companies Armstrong and Pergo have become household names through their laminate floors. Lots of other manufacturers are also making names for themselves by bringing to market surprisingly high quality discount laminate flooring and finishes that would delight any customer.
Armstrong likes to tout their SwiftLock laminate flooring which, like Quick Step laminate flooring, is marketed on ease of installation. Both companies seem to be betting on lots of people peforming their own laminate floor installation. Pergo is quite proud of their walnut laminate flooring, though their maple laminate flooring is also quite popular.
Because of the myriad of choices available to them, buyers often become confused when trying to pick the correct laminate floor for their needs. AC Ratings and various groove and tongue systems make decisions even harder. As laminate floors have not been around for all that long, the options will surely expand and become even more confusing as time goes by. No matter how complicated it gets, though, there will always be someone willing to attempt their own laminate flooring installation.
Wood laminate flooring is available both from the Internet and from your local hardware store. It would be wise to check around so you can see just how affordable it can be, and the hardware …

Remodeling

Floor Damage Creates Financial Problems For Homeowner

Laura

If you’re a homeowner who has a wood floor in their home, I’ve got a story that you definitely need to read. It’s about a family who didn’t listen to my advice and ended up with one of the largest home repair bills that I ever seen. All of this could have been avoided but it wasn’t.
It was probably around 20 years ago, when I was giving an estimate to a homeowner for room addition and I noticed that a small area of their wood floor was damaged and buckling. I told them that this was a sign of moisture and that it should be fixed as soon as possible, even before you build the room addition.
After I gave the homeowner a price for the room addition, he decided not to do it, but I reminded him about the wood floor damage and he told me that he didn’t have the money right now, but would call me when he did. I hear things like this on a regular basis and realize that some things aren’t a priority to some people. Obviously this wasn’t a priority to this man and he wasn’t planning on making any home repairs at this time.
The homeowner said that he didn’t have the money at this time, but you need to think about, what it will cost in the future. The home damage repair bill was just under $10,000 it could have been fixed for under $1000 at the time I gave him an estimate on his room addition.
This homeowner chose to wait until his daughter fell through the damaged wood floor and got stuck. The young girl was fine, but the parents weren’t. They now had medical expenses added on to their home repair bill.
Stuff like this happens every day and it happens to a lot of people every day. If you don’t want to become part of the statistics and you’re not interested in spending a lot of money, you should make any home repairs you can as soon as possible. Especially the ones that create safety problems for your family like floor damage.…