Natural Stone - Tile - Flooring

Refinishing Hardwood Floor: A How to Guide

Rick — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:34:05 +0000

If you are planning to get started refinishing hardwood floor, there are a few things that you are going to want to be aware of, to ensure that you get the best results.

Hardwood floor installation and maintenance does not have to be difficult, but here are a few tips that you will want to keep in mind.

How to Refinish Your Hardwood Floor

If you are interested in refinishing hardwood floor, first and foremost you need to realize that refinishing hardwood floors is something that takes a lot of time and patience. This is not a job that you can rush, and so you are going to need to be aware of this and willing to take on the task.

First you are going to need to gather together the materials you are going to need for the job of refinishing hardwood floor. This would include such things as wide brooms, heavy and light sandpaper, gloves, rollers with long handles, floor wax or polyurethane finish, brushes, dust masks, wood stain, rags, floor sanders and edgers, and shop vacuums.

Anything else that you can think of you will want to get together as well, and ensure that you have everything you need for refinishing hardwood floor ready to go so that you don’t get halfway through the job only to realize that you are missing an important tool.

All you need to do now is to get started on actually refinishing hardwood floor. You will need to check the floor for nails and other protrusions, so that the floor will be completely evened out in the end. Get a floor sander and buff down the existing floors, and then you need to stain the floor.

There are various different colors of wood floor stain available these days, and you may even end up deciding that you would prefer to leave the floor natural in tone, in which case you simply need to apply a finish.

Finishing the floor is quite easy, and all you need to do is stir the container of polyurethane finish, making sure that you mix it properly, as shaking it will create air bubbles that will stay in the final finish and throw the whole look off. You want to apply the polyurethane with a brush or roller, and make sure that you are stroking evenly back and forth, never in straight lines because this may end up showing up, leaving a streaky effect.

Learning the Benefits of Wood Flooring

Rick — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:22:06 +0000

One of the most major decisions in redecorating a home is choosing which type of flooring to go with. There are numerous options, each with their own pros and cons, and you are going to want to learn a bit more about each before you will be able to best determine which is going to be most suitable for you and your home.

This is not a decision that you should rush, and you really want to take your time and make sure that you are positive on your decision. This is your home and you want to choose the right flooring, and of course you don’t want to waste money.

If you want to redecorate your home and are thinking of using refinishing hardwood floor, first and foremost you should know that you are making a great decision. There are many advantages offered by wood flooring, and which will be discussed in detail for you here.

Longevity

One of the greatest benefits of wood flooring involves its longevity. Wood flooring was built to last, and so you know that it will be able to withstand heavy traffic and make it through the years, looking great all the while.

Wood flooring is more than just aesthetically appealing, it is going to be able to be extremely durable for you and this is something that is very reassuring when you are redecorating your home.

Price

Although there are certainly other types of flooring that are less expensive, the price of wood flooring is certainly not bad, and definitely not for the benefits you are getting in return. There are many other types of flooring that are much more expensive, and wood types of flooring are the most appealing in other ways, in particular in terms of looks so they are favored.

Warmth

Wooden flooring definitely adds a lot of warmth to a home. It is much more pleasant to walk on than laminate and also brings a cozy look to any home. Wood is an excellent insulator, so it will probably even end up saving you a great deal of money, especially during the wintertime.

Easy to Clean

Another benefit that most homeowners appreciate about the hardwood flooring is that it is so easy to clean. With just a regular sweeping and mopping you will be able to keep your hardwood flooring looking great, so they are much easier to maintain than most other flooring types are.

Using The Right Type Of Tile Floor Cleaner

Rick — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:09:13 +0000

When it comes to cleaning your tile floors, you certainly want to be careful so that you do not harm the tiles and so you do not cause harm to yourself by slipping and falling on the tiles. Tile floor cleaner is the only thing that should be used on your tile floors since it is specifically made to be used on such surfaces. This is the only way to make sure that your floors get as clean as they could possibly be without bringing in chemicals that do not belong on your floor.

Whether your floor of concern is the kitchen floor, the bathroom floor, or it is the garage flooring that you are concerned about, you must always use the right cleaners. Tile floor cleaner is usually universal and can be used in any room that has a tile floor. Of course, if you shop around long enough you may find things that are more specifically geared to certain rooms but you do not have to go to that expense. A typical tile floor cleaner will do the trick just as well.

Other Ways To Clean Your Tile Floors

You do not have to use tile floor cleaner every single time you want to clean things up a bit. A little warm water and a very mild soap is a good way to do a quick clean of your floor. This is also a very cost effective way to keep your floors looking their finest and keeping them in good condition. Tile floor cleaner can be used every time if you want but that is completely up to you and what you personal thoughts and desires are. Try a little bit of everything until you find what works best for you and your floor.

Also, there are a lot of dust mops on the market that would also work well as a tile floor cleaner every once in a while. By taking your time cleaning your floors and by using different things throughout time, you will be making sure that you have the cleanest floor that you could possibly have. Tile floor cleaner can be made or found at your local big name department stores. It is also generally pretty reasonable in price so do not be afraid of getting ripped off. Just get started putting your cleaning supplies together and you will soon be on your way to having the cleanest room possible.

Laminate Flooring Easily Renews Look Of Any Room

Rick — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:26:54 +0000

To get the look and feel of hardwood flooring many homeowners are turning to laminate flooring for it aesthetic appeal, ease of installation and ease of care. The manufacture of laminate flooring has progressed significantly over the past few years making it available in many styles, colors and of a variety of materials. With the wide selection of grain styles available it can be installed in virtually any room of the house without a lot of required preparation work.

The easy installation techniques is possibly one of the most attractive points of laminate flooring and with a few hand tools and a little understanding of how to use them, the average floor can be in place within a day. Unlike some other types of flooring, most installations require no gluing, when using a floating floor, and once laminate flooring is in place can be used immediately. Simply sweeping off the dust and wiping off any left over fingerprints and the floor is ready to add warmth and appeal to the room.

The quality of laminate flooring is also all over the chart with prices running from the cheapest, for rooms that might be seldom used to high quality for rooms that face a lot of traffic, use and possibly abuse. Laminate materials are also made from a variety of materials and the type of material helps determine its price as well as its durability.

Picking The Floor That Is Right For Your Room

The type and design of laminate flooring chosen can be found to fit into the décor. From light to dark wood patterns to some of the newest and brightest colors, a design can be found to meet just about anyone's needs. One of the best parts is that no matter what type of laminate flooring is chosen, the methods of installing laminate flooring are all the same.

The cost of laminate flooring is also considerably less than traditional wood flooring, which makes it affordable for nearly every budget. It comes in a selection of durability, mainly determined by the type of materials, the bonding glue used between the individual layers making up the laminate flooring as well as the number of layers. The outer layer, which is the visible portion of the floor is laminated onto the top layer of the substructure and is coated with a durable finish to prevent scratching and denting with use. How long the top finish lasts is determined by the quality of the protective coating on the laminate flooring.

Learning About Hardwood Flooring

Rick — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:49:49 +0000

There is much to learn about hardwood flooring, especially if you are planning to have it installed in your home. You don’t even need a professional to get the job done for you, you can do it all yourself, but there are a few steps that you are going to need to follow in order to ensure that the job gets done right. Subfloor The subfloor is the first thing that you are going to need to be concerned with when it comes to installing hardwood flooring. You want to cover the subfloor with a layer of 15-pound asphalt felt and overlap the seams by about 3 inches. Make sure that you tack this down with a staple gun, so that the wood flooring will have an even base. Now you need to measure the room’s width at two or more points in order to establish an accurate centerline. The best idea, if you want the best results with your hardwood flooring, is to measure twice, or even three times, to ensure that you have the most accurate measurements. The next step in the process of installing your hardwood flooring is to indicate the edge of the first row of flooring. This will help you keep track and ensure that the boards are going in straight. You want to choose the longest boards or widest planks for the first row, and then near the wall you want to drill pilot holes for 1 ½-inch finishing nails. Next you want to put the nails in, and start installing the second row of hardwood flooring, and then continue on after this. Remember that end joints in two adjacent rows should never be closer than 6 inches. Also, the larger area you are working with the more difficult the process is going to be, and so you may want to ask one of your friends or family members to join in with you and help you do the work. One of the most important tips to remember is that if you can see that your new floor is going to be causing a change of level to a hallway or adjoining room because it is lower or higher than the adjoining floor, you are going to want to make a change to this. The last thing you want is to have someone walking through your home end up tripping or losing step because of the change of level on the floor.

How to Install a Hardwood Floor

Rick — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:32:06 +0000

Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular types of flooring out there today, and for good reason. If you want to install your own hardwood flooring, there are a few steps that you are going to need to follow.

Of course, you can choose the easy route and have your floor professionally installed, but if you want to take on the task and save yourself some money, here are the basic instructions that you will need to follow.

Installing Hardwood Flooring

The first step to installing hardwood flooring is to create a base for the flooring. New wood flooring should be laid on a clean, smooth base, to ensure that there will be no movement after you have set the floor. Before installing the hardwood you should also stack it indoors for a few days, in order to give the wood a few days to adjust to your home’s humidity level.

The next step in installing hardwood flooring is to mark the positions of the joists along a wall for reference, and then cover up the subfloor with a layer of 150-pound asphalt felt in order to provide some moisture protection and also to minimize the noise of the floor. This is important if you don’t want to have squeaks when people are walking on the floor.

Remember that during installation you will find it very helpful to lay out several rows of boards at once before you start setting them down, and ensure that you stagger them so that none of the end joints are closer than 6 inches to an end joint in the next row.

The most common mistake that people make when they are installing hardwood flooring is that they rush the job and it ends up showing.

Another tip is that if your new floor is going to be causing a change of level to a hallway or adjoining room, then you will need to install a reducer strip for a smooth transition. Also the floor can be butted against the edges or ends of grooves, and face-nail the reducer strip at the edge of the floor, then set the nailheads below the surface and fill with wood putty.

These tips will all come in very handy if you are installing hardwood flooring, and make sure that it turns out well. You don’t need a professional to get the job done right, but you will need to follow these few simple steps.

There Are Hundreds Of Ideas For Kitchen Flooring

Rick — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:35:06 +0000

As you are start to remodel your kitchen, begin with the kitchen flooring. The flooring in any kitchen can make or break your design. You can always pick out the latest appliances, countertops and cabinets to design the latest and brightest of kitchens, but never forget the kitchen flooring. Choosing the wrong style, product and color can make or break your entire kitchen design.

Begin With The Floor

Always begin your new kitchen remodel with the kitchen flooring. You can build on your kitchen design from the bottom up. Do you want a tile floor? How about a hardwood or a wood laminate floor? Have you thought about bamboo flooring or perhaps a laminate on your floor? Have you ever considered cork kitchen flooring? After deciding on the product for your flooring, you must then decide on the style of the product and color. A kitchen is always well traveled. People are in kitchens all day long now. Even single people tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen because there is no one else there to cook for them. Make your kitchen flooring warm and welcoming. If you are spending a lot of time in the kitchen, you will need for it to be inviting and comfortable. After your kitchen flooring decision is finalized then you can decide on your new cabinets, appliances and colors.

Are You Green

If you are interested in “green” design, then consider having cork kitchen flooring. Cork flooring is made from all raw materials, is very easy to install, is very attractive and is extremely durable. It is very comfortable for the feet and easy on the back. It is an extremely popular flooring material, but one that should not be used as commercial kitchen flooring. There are companies that specialize in commercial flooring and the EPA codes and regulations. Cork kitchen flooring comes in many attractive and updated colors and is so easy to install that most home owners install this flooring themselves. This flooring is slip resistant and its joints are non-adhesive joints. For families that have allergy or respiratory problems this kitchen flooring is one of the best “green” flooring products.

Whatever floor design you choose, remember to choose what you like. There are many affordable kitchen flooring products on the market today and they are very consumer friendly. Be sure and check out several different flooring products and bring a piece or two home and see how they look in your kitchen area. Look at the products in the daylight and nighttime before you make any final decision.

Protecting Your Garage with Garage Floor Tile

Rick — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:24:48 +0000

If you are a homeowner, with a garage, you are aware of the difficulties in protecting your garage floor from damage, stains, and engine oils. Your home is largest investment that most people have and a home will build you equity, if you care for and maintain your home. Most homes, when the builder is finished, have a bare concrete garage floor, without any form of garage flooring, or protection for your garage floor. There are many choices in protecting your garage floor, garage floor paint, garage floor coating, garage floor mats and garage floor tile.

Garage floor tile is not unlike kitchen flooring tiles that people recognize and feel comfortable with. Many homes use the individually placed tiles to cover floors in many areas. Using garage floor tile is not new or revolutionary, but many of the new products are. It used to be that if you wanted to put garage floor tile down you were restricted to a couple of patterns and colors, all which hark back to grade school days when the floors were covered with the same materials. Today, there are several manufacturers and many different looks, colors, patterns, materials and designs available in garage floor tile. Like the choices that have been available for kitchen flooring for years, you now have real choices to match your own style. No longer does your garage floor have to be gray or tan.

Why Use Garage Floor Tile

There are many reasons to use garage floor tile to protect your floor. The first reason, is to absorb damage. During the lifetime of your home you will drop sharp and heavy objects on the garage floor, and it can be damage with dings, holes and other problems. Garage floor tile protect the concrete floor from damage, and absorbs the nicks, cuts, dings, dents and other holes that can often cost a great deal to fix.

The second reason to use garage floor tile is to beautify your home. Everyone has their own style and colors which appeal to them. We all seek to have beautiful surroundings but we often disagree on what constitutes beauty. While it may seem strange to think about beauty in connection with your garage floor, that is exactly what all the new choices in garage floor tile can provide, beauty. Be happy and comfortable while you protect your investment in your home. Buyers don’t like to see patch marks on concrete, it makes them wonder if they are missing bigger problems.

The third reason to use garage floor tile is to protect yourself, from injury. Garage floor tile provides easy clean-up and maintenance of your garage floor, making it less likely for you to slip and fall from spilled messes and drips from your car. If it is easier for you to clean your garage floor tile, there will be less chance of having slippery messes hang around to trip you up. Instead of hard, on your knees scrubbing of the concrete floor, easy wipe-up of garage floor tile makes cleaning up the messes, which are inevitable, quick and easy. The garage floor tile does not stain as easily as the concrete floor, so you maintain the new, beautiful look of your home longer.

Adding Some New Bathroom Floor Tile To Your Home

Rick — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 21:34:39 +0000

If you are looking for a way to give a fresh new look to your bathroom, the best way to go about it is to add some new bathroom floor tile to your home. This will help change the entire look of your bathroom along with helping top make it look a little more updated. When you pick out the different colors you want to use, be careful to also pick out a nice floor tile pattern that will be pleasant to look at for a long time. You would not want to go too crazy with the designs as that would bring down the resell value of your home if you ever needed to sell it in a pinch.

Bathroom floor tile will come in so many colors, designs, styles, and sizes that you may end up finding that it is hard to pick just one design. This is way so many home improvement stores will allow you to take or purchase little bathroom floor tile samples for you to take home and think about. Having those samples on hand is an excellent way to see how they would actually look if you installed them into your bathroom. Just because it is pretty does not mean that it would work with your particular space.

Other Ways To Buy Tile

If you are on a tight budget but still want to pick up some new bathroom floor tile, there are some excellent options for you. Besides the obvious choice of the local home improvement stores, there are other places that you could find good deals on floor tile. There are a lot off discount centers around that sell discontinued patterns and styles at a fraction of the cost of buying it somewhere else. Depending upon the amount of space that you have to cover, you could possibly save a couple hundred dollars.

If you just have a small space that needs some bathroom floor tile, then there is always the option of shopping through the newspaper or want ads. A lot of times people will buy too much bathroom floor tile and instead of returning it to the store, they will simply put and ad in the paper or on the Internet. This is an excellent way to get some extremely cheap bathroom floor tile for your bathroom at home. Now it is time to start shopping and see what kind of deals you can find for your project.

Using Vinyl Floor Tile In Your Home

Rick — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:55:51 +0000

When it comes to needing to replace or refinish a floor on a budget, there is nothing better then vinyl floor tile. The reason for this is because the cost of the kitchen or bathroom floor tile is incredibly cheap in comparison to other types of tiles that can be found. If you are in a pinch and do not have a lot of money to spare at the moment, vinyl floor tile can certainly save the day and look good doing it as well.

While not everyone would agree that vinyl floor tile is the solution for the permanent needs of a floor, it is something that can help you get through rough times until you can afford something better. Also, if you have children or animals in the house that can quickly destroy your home, vinyl floor tile may be the perfect solution to make sure that you are not wasting money on something that they will just destroy. Also, another great thing to consider is that the installation and the removal of this type of tile is extremely easy to do on your own.

Installing Tile On Your Own

One of the things that attract so many people to vinyl floor tile is how easy it is to install. Just simply peel the back paper off and stick it to the floor in the desired location. It is as simple as that and it takes hardly any time at all to put down an entire floor. Of course you will have to take your time when installing vinyl floor tile where you have to place cut pieces but even that is not all that hard. Simply measure out the size of the piece that you need, draw the lines on the back of the floor tile piece and then cut it with a knife.

This is something that is generally done without the need of hiring a professional to install the vinyl floor tile. But, if you are simply not capable to do the installation yourself, no matter how simply it may seem, there are always contractors that would be able to do the job for you. The great thing about this is that installing vinyl floor tile is a one day job in most cases so the labor costs should not be that bad at all. So go ahead and get started picking out the vinyl floor tile that you would like to have installed in your home.