Sunday 28 November 2010

Vinyl Floor Tiles - Perfect Choice For Flooring

It is among the best options to enhance the interior décor of your home. it has significant features that make it a top priority among interior designers. The beauty of your home depends partially on the type of floorings that you choose to install. So it is important to choose stylish, durable and affordable floorings to embellish your home.

Reasons Why Vinyl Floor Tiles are Preferred

There are endless benefits or advantages of using vinyl floor tiles in your home. Some of the most important benefits include:

Easy installation: It is very easy to install unlike the other flooring materials. Similar to stone flooring in appearance, it can be installed by anyone. Moreover, it can be easily cut into any shapes and designs which make it even more versatile and popular.

Highly resistant: It is known for their high resistance to pressure and traffic. It can be installed in kitchens and bathrooms too because it is stain resistant and does not react with acid or alkaline.

Durability: Long lasting and tensile are the two most important qualities attributed to these floor tiles. Most often we seldom tend to change our floorings so it is important to use long lasting floor tiles which can endure spills and pets too.

Easy to clean: It is quite easy to clean and maintain. As it does not absorb liquids or cause any sort of stains, it can be installed in kitchens too. It can be maintained cleanly by just mopping it with soap and water.

Innumerable designs and shapes: It is perhaps the only kind that can be cut into various shapes and designs to create beautiful floors.

Cost effective: Compared to ceramic tiles and other flooring options like wood, marble and granite, it is cheaper and an excellent alternative to expensive floor tiles. These tiles appear similar to ceramic and wooden floorings but are relatively cheaper in cost. Does not produce sound: Another notable advantage of these floor tiles is that it can suppress sounds and does not create echoes while walking.

Buying Vinyl Floor Tiles Online

An interesting variety of these tiles can be bought from manufacturers listed in the online directories. There are numerous online stores that offer a diverse range of designs of flooring tiles at different prices. You can easily choose type of flooring you require for your home.

It can actually be divided into two, mainly-the VCT or the Vinyl Composite Tile and the Solid Vinyl. The VCT contains fillers and additives whereas the Solid vinyl contains a pure form of vinyl without any additives.

With their infinite qualities, It is much in demand in the markets today. You can find endless designs, colors and shapes of these to amplify the beauty of your rooms. Though the branded floor tiles are quite expensive there are many other varieties which are equally superior in quality.

Saturday 20 November 2010

Tips to Replace Damaged Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile becomes the best choice for flooring as it gives a good look for houses. However, it would not be so good when it is damaged. Get it repaired immediately before it is getting worse. Or, you may repair it by yourself since it is not that difficult as people may think. Hence, we have some tips for you.

Firstly, you should go to a local flooring supply center. Or, you may visit a home improvement center to get a new tile to replace the old one which has already been damaged. To make it easier, you had better bring the sample of tile you want to buy from the damaged one in your house. Other things that you should buy are grout mix and adhesive.

When you have got home with new ceramic tile, you mat start repairing. Using an edge tool, like chisel or awl, remove the old plaster of the damaged tile. Keep a careful action so that you would not damage the surrounding tiles. Then you can break off the old tile with the awl and a hammer. Remove the old plaster and adhesive to clean the subsurface. Make it smooth so that the new tile can last longer on the floor.

Check the condition of the floor. Ensure that the area of the floor where you want to put the new tile is sound. Test the structure by knocking the tile. If you hear any creaks beneath the tile it means that the area of the floor is not good enough that it may make the tile difficult to stick firmly with the floor. You can fix the creaks by using extra screws or nails through the sheeting into the floor joists underneath.

Next thing you should do is to apply the adhesive to the back of the new tile. After that, you can apply the new tile into the areas. Make sure that you press it strongly and let it dry. When it gets dry you can plaster over the new tile. Wait for 15 minutes to let the plaster set. Clean the excess plaster by wiping it off with some sponge or cloth. Now the last thing you have to do is to wait for 24 hours until the tile dry.

See, it is not that difficult to repair damaged ceramic tile floor, is it? Now you had better do those tips and get comfortable floor.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucien_H_Lester

Saturday 13 November 2010

7 Eco-Flooring Facts You Need to Know

You can find many large home improvement stores slapping an eco-friendly sticker on a wide array of flooring products. Are these labels legit? Are these flooring options really eco-friendly? What is the best choice for your home? What the heck is eco-flooring anyway?

The following is 7 Things about eco-flooring you need to know before you buy.

  1. Eco-flooring is good for your home and your health, not just the earth. The days of picking out a chemically filled carpet, tile, or treated hardwood floor are getting passé, and fast. Sure those options remain. But, many people agree; Eco-flooring isn't just the newest thing, in many respects, it's the greatest. Innovations in manufacturing, design, and materials have led to a more unique blend of choices that look great and are also eco-friendly.
  2. Eco-flooring is a phenomenal value. Thanks to these looks, features, and new innovations, one could argue that in just a few years, eco-friendly flooring might be the preferred choice in the majority of homes. With sustainability and the environment becoming not just hot political topics, but an important part of the decision-making process for millions of people, eco-flooring products are not going away. Due to rising competition in this fast growing market, prices are not as out of control as you might expect.
  3. Look before you leap. Don't be fooled by pretty pictures in the catalogue, or even seeing a single plank at Lowe's or Home Depot. Remember, the tech gods created photo editing software for a good reason, to cover flaws, drawbacks, and the truth. Even that single plank at the lumber store doesn't take into consideration what a completed floor will look like. Take some time to go on home improvement websites. Ask the salesperson, "What can I expect this floor to look like in 3, 5, 10 years?" Or, I have dogs, cats, and pet pigs...can this floor handle pets?" The answer to those questions should impact your overall decision.
  4. Don't forget maintenance! Imagine how nice it will be to finally own a green floor. Then imagine how you'll feel a year later when you're, once again, getting ready to maintain it. A good floor should be seen and not constantly serviced. Here's some things to look out for... Cork flooring is known for its sensitivity to light. It can also be permanently damaged by heavy objects. So, if you have dogs, cats, or are the type of person who moves around their furniture a lot, be wary. That's just one example. Bamboo flooring, while renowned for being eco-friendly offers a pretty mundane look. Also, because bamboo usually isn't allowed to mature fully before it's made into flooring; don't be surprised if it ends up cracking or not holding up well after a few years of use. Search for complaints, reviews, and problems of both bamboo and cork flooring to learn more about the drawbacks before you fall for the pretty pictures or buy strictly because of the eco-flooring label. If you find that you can live with and/or deal with the cons and want to strictly consider the pros of these flooring options, then you will have made an educated decision worth sticking by...which leads to...
  5. Search for the Good and most definitely, the Bad. You can't ignore facts. While bamboo, cork, and hardwood flooring are renewable resources, they have their drawbacks. These drawbacks can sometimes outweigh the fact that they might be eco-friendly. For instance, bamboo might be cheap and readily available, but the great percentage of bamboo has been made with formaldehyde filled glues. If you're not familiar with this poison, governments across the world caution against its use due to scientific studies that link its use to various cancers that affect the respiratory system. As already discussed cork has maintenance issues, but nothing compared to bamboo. As for regular hardwood flooring, while the look is varied and natural, hardwood has been known to cup, crown, and have limited install options. These factors can make people turn away from them, but if you read on, you'll find out that there is hardwood flooring that doesn't have these problems.
  6. Don't underestimate hardwood. People who make up their minds about hardwood flooring are looking in the past. There is a huge international push for sustainable practice that produce hardwood flooring that is truly eco-friendly. There is flooring that has come from managed forests as well as innovative eco-flooring like Staybull Flooring that uses reclaimed strips of hardwood. These strips are then, using formaldehyde free glues and a proven green floor finish, made to produce a green floor that is actually stronger than hardwood, bamboo, and definitely cork. Miraculously, these floors also resist cupping, cracking, and warping. This brand of eco-flooring is basically manufactured like bamboo, but without the bad chemicals, and offers greater variety of looks to match your unique taste. As you can see, with innovations like that, you can't overlook hardwood when it comes to eco-friendly flooring.
  7. Never settle. Don't ever let anyone or any sales person pressure or guilt you into buy any one brand or type of eco-flooring option. It's your home. While not belittling the environmental aspect of this sector of the flooring industry, it's still YOUR money. And, YOU are the only one who has to live with your new floor. Let's face it, you don't want to buy a floor you'll end up regretting. Sure, you'll always be able to tell guests and neighbors that your floor is environmentally friendly. But, deep inside, if you hate your floor because it doesn't fit your lifestyle, then what good is it really?

When it comes to may eco-flooring options, the more research you do, the better you will feel about the choice you make.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Noah_Jordan

Sunday 7 November 2010

Install a New Tile Floor Over Your Old One

One of the biggest objections many homeowners have about installing a new tile floor in their homes is the mess that tearing out the old floors cause. If the thought of ripping up your old floor is giving you nightmares and is what is preventing you from installing a new tile floor, a new Italian tile-Kerlite-may be the solution you have been seeking. Kerlite is a very thin tile created to install over the top of the old tile floor.

Numerous Benefits

This revolutionary tile brings several benefits to the table when considering installing a new tile floor. Since it omits the need to rip out your old floor, it alleviates your home from turning into a construction zone as far as the dusty mess that ripping up an old floor can bring. Because the tile is installed over your old floor, it also makes installing the new floor faster and easier, which means less down time or off limits areas in your home. It can also save you the cost of having to have your tile installers tear out and remove the old tile and the debris.

In addition, the thinness of the tile does not have an adverse effect on the height of your floor. The tile was intentionally created to be thin, yet durable, so that when it is installed over old tile, there is not a noticeable difference when looking at or walking on the floor. Finally, the cost for installing this tile runs about the same as any other tile, so there is no added cost for installing the new floor on top of the old one.

One Drawback

The only aspect of the tile that may cause you to pause is the price. Each tile is more expensive than traditional tile, but the money you save on tear out, and the hassle and mess you avoid may be worth the added expense. It may also be worth finally being able to walk on the new floor of your dreams.

Versatile Flooring Inc. brings over 30 years of combined experience in providing quality floor installation and kitchen and bathroom remodeling to South Florida. We are dedicated to providing skilled work and superior customer service to each client we have the privilege of serving. Your house is your home and we enjoy creating floors, kitchens and bathrooms you're proud to share with your friends and family.

Versatile Flooring Inc. is the exclusive installation company for National Ceramics.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carlos_Regueira