Floor Ideas For Luxury Homes

Sometimes you have to choose the flooring for a home before the home is decorated: how to go about this. Choosing different kinds of flooring to go with your decor.

Usually, the color of the floors is chosen after the color of the walls is chosen. However, in many expensive houses, where beautiful custom designed flooring such as tile, marble and parquet is installed, the flooring material is an integral part of the original architectural design, frequently requiring that the color choice of these expensive materials be made early in the design process. There may be some room for flexibility; for example, elaborate mosaic floors are used in limited areas and wood floorings are in natural colors that blend with any color scheme. Natural wood floorings even from the lightest to the darkest can blend with most color schemes and because of their tone become almost neutral with a strong color scheme. Some may even consider this a negative feature of wood flooring, since flooring can be considered such a strong feature of a room, combining the appearance of strength with the ability to blend into the background.

This is what makes the choice of flooring one of the most difficult in decorating a house. This may also explain why rooms that are decorated in lighter colors work better with hardwood flooring than rooms decorated in darker colors. A well installed wood floor should never be covered with another material; wood floors are clean, easy to care for, a good value and can complement almost any decorating theme. Yet, its very unobtrusiveness usually requires some additional treatment to give it some drama and carry through a certain style. The best solution is a combination solution. that is. cover the flooring with a rug that reflects the decorating scheme of the room but. at the same time leaves enough of the beautiful natural feature of the wood flooring showing through. A few smaller rugs might achieve the same effect, depending on the size of the room and the placement of the furniture in the room. The main idea is to make sure that the colors and decorating theme of the room is carried throughout on the floors, walls and furniture. If the room is very large. or the decorating theme requires a more luxuriant feel to it, more of the wood floor area will have to be covered. Bare wood floors convey a minimalist feel, so a room that is decorated in a luxurious style would need more of the wood covered.

The design and colors of the rug or rugs must complement the scheme of the entire room, but once that requirement is met, a great deal of variety can be added to the design without ruining the overall result.

About the Author

Andrew Caxton is a freelance writer for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com . For additional information on floor coverings subjects visit his flooring ideas web site's section

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Hardwood Floor Refinishing - For The Faint Of Heart

Are your beautiful hardwood floors not so beautiful anymore? Maybe they just need a refinishing job. It can be a daunting task, but here are some ideas to make it a little easier.

If your hardwood floors are in dire need of refinishing, get a few estimates from professionals. You may be surprised at the figures. You'll want to sit down when they tell you it will cost you $1200 to have your living room redone. You could carpet over it for less, but doesn't carpeting over beautiful hardwood floors seem, well, wrong?

Contrary to what you may have heard, the finish doesn't take days and days to dry. It’s quite simple actually. Go to your favorite local home improvement store, Lowe’s, Menard’s, Home Depot or other. Rent a sander. You'll need a drum sander, a belt sander or both. They will explain to you how to use the machine and tell you what kind of sand paper to purchase. They will also tell you what kind of stain and finish to get. Make sure you also pick up some dust masks because you will have saw dust everywhere.

The sanders are very easy to use. They're a bit on the loud side. The key is to keep it moving at all times. Do not stop or you will get a divot in your wood. Think of it like a clothes iron. You need to keep it moving or you will burn your clothes. Same deal with the sander. It creates a lot of heat and you will burn or dent your floors if you hesitate in one place too long.

You will feel like a Zamboni driver smoothing out your surface. Word of caution, you do need to maintain control of the machine at all times. It is self propelled, like a lawn mower or a basset hound on a leash. When you power it up, hold on to the machine tightly. Don't be afraid of it and after a few passes, you'll start to even have fun.

First you need to remove the old finish, base coat, color, and top coat. You may opt to forgo the color (stain) and just use the nature color of the wood. You will still need to apply a finish to it.

There are basically two types of floor finishes: one is oil-based and the other is water-based polyurethane. Oil-based is available in a satin, semi-gloss or gloss finish. Satin works well on floors because it hides small flaws and lets the natural beauty of the wood show without a bright shine. Oil-based also produces a warm amber look that gives you the traditional glow of wood floors. Water-based polyurethane dries clear and resists yellowing. Water-based also dries quicker.

Make sure you let each coat thoroughly dry before applying the next; same as you would nail polish. Give your floor at least 24-36 hours before moving furniture back on it. It will continue to harden in the first couple of weeks.

Don't be overwhelmed. Instead of looking at refinishing your hardwood floors as a humungous job, look at it as giving your room a manicure, one step at a time. You'll also save yourself as much as $1,000 by doing it yourself.

Tag : floor,hardwood floor,floor refinishing,floor tiles,wood floor

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Basement Flooring – What Floor Works Best?

Choosing appropriate flooring is difficult enough without the problems that come with finding floors for a basement complicating things even further. The biggest issue in almost any basement is, of course, unwanted moisture. Moisture seeps in from below through the concrete and has the power to weaken the bond of the adhesive used for floors or tiles, to make hardwood floors buckle and warp and to make carpets acquire that elusive basement smell caused by mold growing below the soft veneer.

Before you go dreaming up designs and making plans for your basement, check to make sure that your floor is suitable for such installations. Take a sheet of impermeable material that is about 3’x3’ big, like a trash bag, for example, and lay it flat on the basement floor, sealing it with tape on all four sides to make sure that no air gets in. Do this in a couple corners and areas by walls as well as in the center of the room. Leave it there for at least a full 24 hours and then check under the bags to see if moisture has accumulated.

If it is damp under the bag, then you have a moisture problem that needs to be resolved before you proceed. Depending on the source and extent of moisture, there are solutions that range from the simple to the annoying. This is a whole separate beast covered in other articles.

So, let’s pretend like in this particular Choose Your Own Adventure novel you turned to the page that cheerily informed you that your basement is dry. Now you can begin to think of your different flooring options.

The main floor coverings available are carpet, hardwood floor, engineered hardwood floor, laminate floor, ceramic and porcelain tile and cement.

In general, carpeting, hardwood floor and laminate floor are not recommended for basements. Variations in humidity, which are common in basements, warp hardwood and laminate floors and encourage mold growth in carpets. Even basements that are treated for moisture related problems can have seasonal trouble with moisture or during excessive rain. Exceptional events can have long-term effects that will leave the floor warped or ruined. If you insist on installing one of the above floors in your basement, take some precautions, like the installation of a vapor guard under the floor. A durable and high density polyethylene sheet with 3/8” tall dimples creates air space between the flooring and the cement slab, trapping any moisture and preventing it from traveling up to the surface of your newly installed floor.

Engineered floor is an excellent alternative to hardwood floor in the basement. Engineered floor is flooring constructed from three to five layers of different hardwood materials with either a hardwood or high density fiberboard core. Because of the layered construction, engineered floor has a higher resiliency to humidity changes that keeps it looking good even in finicky basements. Additionally, engineered floors are thinner, so you can add extra insulation and they have a real hardwood floor layer at the surface, so you can pick the look you want just as you would when sifting through solid hardwood floor.

Another option is laminate floor. Laminate floors are composed of a moisture resistant wood based core, a backing, and a resin based melamine or aluminum oxide decorative surface with a clear layer of aluminum oxide, like a finish on traditional hardwood floors, which strengthens the surface and protects against staining and scratching. Laminate floors are floating floors, meaning they are not attached directly to the sub floor, which makes installation directly on the concrete or putting a vapor guard down easier. Most laminates should be fine to use in basements but when looking at laminate check to make sure the manufacturer does not advise against it, as is the case with certain laminates. Make sure you do the moisture tests, because when laminates do buckle they are difficult to fix.

If you’ve determined that your basement is sufficiently dry and moisture tests have shown the floor to be consistently dry, you may also want to consider ceramic or porcelain tile. The tiles can be installed directly on the cement floor, a durable and good sub floor for tiling (or as a precaution, try installing 2 by 4 inch sleepers, cover with plastic and put in plywood to be used as the sub floor). Check for cracks, which are bad in general and should be fixed before any basement remodeling project ensues, but especially for ceramic tile, as cracks in the cement will actually fracture the tiles at the surface.

Finally, the easiest alternative to more traditional flooring options is painting or staining the cement sub floor that is present in most basements. You have a lot of flexibility with color schemes and any problems that may develop in the floor will remain visible, instead of festering under layers of padding and floors. It is easy to insulate the cold cement floor with a thick throw rug.

No matter which route you choose for your basement floor, below ground installations require that you be especially meticulous in preparing the sub floor for installation and making sure that the space as a whole is suitable for your uses. Get a professional to check your basement’s usability and to recommend a course of action for making it usable if it doesn’t seem to be at first. It may be worth the extra investment, as it would be a shame if your newly renovated basement began to creak, buckle and smell from the mold right after you finished it.

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Can You Wax Bamboo Floors?

All bamboo floors on the market come with a surface finish, with ceramic and aluminum-oxide being very popular for its scratch resistance and durability. As with hardwood floors, mixing surface finishes with wax finishes is not an option, but does it make it impossible to use wax on a bamboo floor?

The common answer would be, don't use wax if you can afford to maintain and recoat a surface finish. Another advice you will often hear is, never use wax on top of the surface finish. It's all valid, of course, but depending on the type of bamboo floor, you can actually use wax if you really must do so, but it's not as straightforward as you might have imagined.

It takes as much as sanding off the original finish and refinishing the floor with wax. It's the same procedure that is followed for wood floors. Keep in mind that once done, you are unlikely to be able to switch back to a surface finish ever again. The wax seeps into the bamboo and layers underneath, so even a thorough resand on a solid bamboo floor might not remove all the wax.

Another issue is that once you go the wax way, you will have to rewax and buff the floor regularly to keep it in top condition, just like with a wood floor. A factor that may deny you the chance to switch to a wax finish is the type of bamboo flooring. Sure, solid floors are always good candidates, but with the special chemicals and processes used in the making of some strand woven and engineered bamboo floors, you'd be better off asking the manufacturer for advice. I won't even mention the expensive hand scrapped floors who require completely specialized sanding and refinishing if you're to keep their original look.

When it comes to visual appearance, you will most likely notice a change, especially to a natural bamboo floor. Carbonized floors color may be less affected, but it depends on the level of carbonization and the wax brand you're going to use.

As you might have guessed it, once wax goes in contact with the floor, your warranty would be void and gone. Take serious consideration before taking such a decision and if there's any chance to avoid the use of wax, please do so.

Tag : floor,bamboo floor,hardwood floor,floor tiles

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

Commercial Concrete Floor Sealers

A commercial concrete floor sealer, also known as concrete floor finisher, is a resin-based, water emulsion sealing compound applied on concrete floors to protect them from corrosion and other harmful elements. It boasts a glossy hard finish and excellent adhesion properties. Commercial concrete floor sealers are most commonly used to seal the floors of commercial areas like offices, factories, and stores. The main purpose of a commercial concrete floor sealer is to deliver an economic, long lasting, and serviceable finish to commercial concrete floors.

Commercial concrete floor sealers shield the floors against dust and moisture damage. Additionally, they protect floors from the harmful effects of weak acids, salts and stains. Sealers comprising epoxies, linseed oil and various urethane based materials are used for commercial concrete floors. Commercial concrete sealers containing siloxane water repellent help to avoid spalling and the premature deterioration of floors. Likewise, for a chemical resistant surface, penetrating concrete sealers are an ideal option.

Sealing the commercial concrete floor not only protects it from everyday wear but also enhances the color of the acid stained floor. Usually, concrete floor sealers are easy to apply and quick-drying. A brush, roller or commercial spray equipment can be used for applying the sealer. A recommended first step in the application of sealers is to clean the floor with some cleaning solution. Commercial concrete floor sealers can also be used on old floors, which are affected by white stains and adhesion problems.

Concrete floor sealers like Chem-calk® 950 polyurethane sealant with tear and abrasion features are suitable for sealing concrete floors in mall areas. In the case of steel-troweled commercial concrete floors, concrete sealers with silicates and surface active agents can be applied. Some of the recent additions in the commercial concrete floor sealer market are sealers colored with quality pigments, sealers with waterproofing coating, and fiber-reinforced concrete sealers with great adherence and mechanical features.

Concrete Sealer provides detailed information on Concrete Sealer, Concrete Floor Sealer, Concrete Driveway Sealer, Stamped Concrete Sealer and more. Concrete Sealer is affiliated with Concrete Sealers.

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What Type of Flooring Would Be Perfect For Your Home?

There are many choices when it comes to flooring for your home. You can choose from carpeting, rugs, hardwood floors, laminate, and tile. The style you pick depends largely on your personality and the room it will go in as there are advantages and disadvantages to each.

Carpeting is a great, traditional flooring choice for any home. It's great because it can have a lot of your personality. There's different styles, like shag, and it comes in any color under the sun. Carpet is also soft and inviting, making it wonderful in a bedroom or living room. Carpet, however, can be very difficult to clean and maintain. You'll need to vacuum often and shampoo the carpet when it becomes dirty. Too bad a stain and it may have to be replaced. Carpet obviously is a bad choice for kitchens and bathrooms where water damage and spills will destroy it.

Hardwood floors are all-around a great choice for homes. They're durable, easy to clean and easy to install. They look wonderful in any room. The main disadvantage of hardwood floors can be the price, although it's usually worth it considering the long-lasting quality.

Rugs are a nice way to accent the floors in your home and can be laid down over hardwood, tile or carpet beautifully. Rugs at plenty of personality and can accent a room, adding charm, warmth or sophistication. Rugs also help to cover up damage on the floor underneath, such as stains. They're also fairly affordable.

Laminate floors are becoming very popular and can be ordered to look just like authentic hardwood floors or tile. Laminate floors are affordable, very easy to lay down and can give the look of a more expensive floor. They're also very easy to maintain. The downside of laminate floors is they don't last very long.

Tile floors, lastly, are great in bathrooms because they won't be damaged by water and are easy to mop up.

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The Best Laminate Flooring for a Bathroom

The best laminate flooring is the kind of floor that not only stands up to spills and splashes, but also continues to look great with a minimal amount of upkeep. Laminate is renowned for its durability and lasting style - making it one of the most popular choices of flooring for any room in the home. But you may not give much thought to the bathroom - arguably the "most popular" room in the house! Here's how laminate "stacks up".

Incredibly Resistant to Scratches, Dents and Fading

Laminate floors are highly resistant to things that would damage or degrade cheaper floors - like scratches, dents, scuffs and fading. The mimics the look of more expensive floors, such as hardwood, stone and tile - and comes in a variety of colors, patterns and designs so you can create the perfect look for your bathroom that fits in with your color scheme and style. Laminate lets you express your creativity like few other types of flooring can.

Easy to Maintain and Care For

Unlike traditional hardwood floors, the best laminate flooring never needs to be re-sanded or refinished. There's no need to wax or polish them either. Just regular floor care is all that's needed to maintain your floors and keep them looking clean and neat. Because laminate "floats" over your existing floor, it can be installed over nearly any type of sub-floor, including plywood, vinyl flooring and concrete to name a few. You do want to be certain that the area is level, however, to ensure your new laminate floors won't bend or bow.

Do it Yourself Installation

Depending on the type of laminate you buy, you may be able to install it yourself. The best laminate flooring features a simple tongue and groove installation feature that lets each piece lock together - sort of like a puzzle. There's no special glue or installation needed - just snap and click the pieces together. You can also buy trims and moldings to make your laminate floors look like authentic hardwood. Some of these trims are actually made with hardwood and are designed to accentuate your floors with a more realistic look.

Get a New floor in as Little as a Day!

Laminate floor makes for a great do it yourself project that requires no glue, staples or nails. It's a floor that not only looks good in your bathroom , but its beauty can also be the perfect fit for your living room, den, dining room, bedroom and more. Laminate floors feel right at home in nearly any space - giving you the freedom you want to create nearly any look imaginable while adding aesthetic space and easy care maintenance throughout your home.

To learn more about the benefits of laminate, ask a flooring retailer near you or browse their laminate selection to be inspired by different ideas and even bold, fresh new patterns. It can be an exciting time to imagine the possibilities with this versatile and remarkably sturdy type of flooring.

Bamboo Flooring Pros and Cons - The Advantages and Disadvantages

Due to its charming appeal bamboo flooring is rapidly becoming popular. Bamboo flooring looks more attractive due to the presence of marks created at the nodes of the bamboos which have a bit darker color than other parts. Though bamboo flooring can be a great choice for many people, it always pays to study the advantages and disadvantages associated with them before you go for one.

Points in favor of bamboo flooring:

Tough and long lasting : Even though bamboo is not solid due to the hole inside, it is quite sturdy and tough. Compared to other hardwoods bamboo is tougher. It does not wear out easily and scratches and holes are not easily created on bamboos.

Damp proof : Bamboo does not absorb moistures and spills can not damage it easily. As such for the floors of kitchens and bathrooms it is preferred to other hardwoods.

Nature friendly : Use of bamboos is quite preferable from the point of view of nature friendliness. The trees from which we obtain hardwoods take almost 50 to 100 years to mature while a mature bamboo can be obtained within 5 to 7 years. Moreover bamboos can be grown to get regular supply of it thereby saving a lot of trees in the nature from being cut.

Can be cleaned easily : Bamboo floors can be kept clean without much effort just by sweeping daily and using a mop once in a week.

Arguments against bamboo flooring : Floating of bamboo floors sometimes turns out to be almost impossible as such before installation of bamboo flooring the restrictions associated with it must be studied.

Some people have witnessed that bamboo floors break down quite easily than other hardwood floor. Before you go for bamboo flooring you must consider its pros and cons so that you can make a well thought out decision.

However, the people who use bamboo floors have generally found that bamboo hardwood floors can be kept cleaned easily, can be installed easily and are eye-catching and tougher than other hardwood flooring materials. Bamboo floors are being preferred by more and more people as they last quite longer than other hardwood floors. The number of people opting for bamboo hardwood flooring is rising day by day and this trend is expected to continue in future.

Tag : floor,bamboo flooring,flooring,floor tiles,hardwood floor,bamboo hardwood

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Make Your Old Tile Floor Look New Again

If you have tile floors that are dated, you can paint them instead of tearing them up for cheap interior decorating. There are several ways that you can paint your tile floors inexpensively and quickly, using a variety of different paints. Before you put any paint on the tile floor, you need to prime the tiles first with primer paint. Primer paint will allow the paint to adhere to the tile.

If you have dark, dingy tiles, painting them is the inexpensive solution that will allow you to give your entire room a new look. After you have painted the tile floors, you can throw down an area rug or area rugs to even give it more color and pizzazz. You should make sure that you either use an enamel paint to paint the tile floors or use a gloss overcoat to enable you to keep the floors clean and the paint on the tile.

Here's some information to help you in choosing the paint - latex and enamel paints are two kinds of paint used for tile floors. Latex is less dangerous and is water soluble, while enamel paint is more toxic and has to be cleansed with a paint thinner or alcohol because of its fumes content. This kind takes longer to chip off, thus lasts longer. Latex paint should be covered with a gloss overcoat for protection and for long lasting quality. Using a gloss enamel paint can finish the job faster.

There is an option for painting other than with a brush - spray paint. This is faster and more efficient. With the aid of an enamel spray, you will have easy control on the surface, even the hard to reach ones, and you will have a more even paint application. Spray paint dries up quicker too, so no need to wait it out for hours. Just make sure that you have ventilation to let the air out. Even if this paint dries fast, give it ample time before putting down the area rugs.

If you want to change tile floors in the bathroom or the kitchen and want to make use of area rugs as well, choose those that have a secure hold by selecting heavy materials. This is to prevent slipping accidents, especially in the bathroom. There are rug guards used for securing rugs to the floor so it can't be moved about. This is a good preventive measure notably if you have kids at home.

Another alternative to rug guards are area rugs that are rubber backed. This kind sticks on well to the floor and is especially useful in the bathroom when water can make the floor extra slick. Protection is better than cure. Let's bear that in mind.

Condo Flooring Options

The floor may be the one thing you use most in your condo. Unless you can fly, your floor is in constant use when you are home. Given the large amount of use it gets, it is worth spending some time thinking about your floor, whether you are buying or selling, or just thinking of ways to improve your condo. The four types of flooring we will discuss are carpet, hardwood, laminate and tile.

Carpet - There are few homes that do not have any carpet in them; it remains one of the most popular floor coverings available today. Available in a huge variety of colors, quality and styles, many people have carpet in areas like living rooms and bedrooms. Carpet is cozy and exudes a feeling of warmth. At the same time, it may not be the best option in high-traffic areas like doorways, as it will become worn and dirty. And in places like kitchens and bathrooms, carpet gets dirty, and sometimes ruined, rather quickly.

Hardwood - While hardwood is one of the most expensive of the floor-covering options, it probably is the most desirable. If you are selling your condo, replacing the flooring with hardwood is a great way to catch the eye of potential buyers. One of the best aspects of hardwood floors is their durability. Though it is a large initial investment, hardwood can last for decades. It also is easy to clean and maintain. If something spills, simply sweep or soak it up. Hardwood also is available in a variety of colors. It naturally reflects light and lends a more open feeling to your condo, and choosing a light color can actually make your space appear larger. Some people have nothing but hardwood hardwood floors and put down area rugs in places like bedrooms and living rooms.

Laminate - Laminate flooring is designed to look and function like hardwood, but at a cheaper price. It is a good option for people who do not want carpet, but cannot afford hardwood floors. It does not last as long as hardwood, but most laminate floors have a longer useful life than carpet. Like hardwood floors, laminate floors can make a room seem larger.

Tile - For many people, tile occupies a small flooring niche. This floor type is a good option in bathrooms because it is not sensitive to moisture and water. Many people also like tile in their kitchens because it is easy to clean up spills. And tile is especially popular in high-traffic spots like doorways. One of the main drawbacks of tile, especially in cooler climates, is that it does not retain heat well. But if you really want tile, and you have a healthy budget, you can always have heating elements installed underneath it.

A Sneak Peak at 2011 Hardwood Flooring Trends

As 2010 winds down, homeowners are allocating budget for home decorating in the upcoming calendar year, and that means expects are already giving their two cents on trends to look out for.

Many experts in home docor say that paint will play a big role in home decorating, with the biggest change happening in how we define a "neutral" color palette. Previously, light browns and beige hues were thought to be the only neutral colors on the color wheel. Now decorators say that colors like mint green, light lavender, light yellow, and even peach are making their way into the "neutral zone."

You can find the mint greens and light lavenders anywhere from kitchen walls to living room furniture. The key is to pair these light colors with a darker, more traditional hardwood floor.

Oak hardwood floors will continue to be all the rage because they are seen as timeless and can be molded to work with a variety of design schemes. Homeowners can install an oak hardwood floor and five years down the road, redecorate their homes without needed to touch the wood.

As for the color of floors, stick to a color like Bruce Hardwood's Saddle Summit or Bruce's Vintage Brown Liberty. For dark oak flooring, go for Mullican's Oak Dark Chocolate, which works exceptionally well with not just light colors, but also bright coral or red-colored walls.

Bright colors are another trend for 2011. With the economy still suffering, people are relying on youthful, bright colors to cheer up their homes, and their moods. Experts say intense turquoise and vivid greens can play up a dull and dreary looking room. The key is to keep it simple and use neutral colors to balance these bright hues out. White furniture and curtains would certainly do the trick.

When it comes to the hardwood finishes of the season, let the design of the room dictate the direction you're going in. If you are thinking modern, then a satiny finish will be perfect. If you want to go classic or vintage, then you should look into handscraped.

Tag : floor,hardwood flooring,floor tiles,floor lamps

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Rubber Floor Mats Or Carpet Floor Mats?

Regardless if you have just recently purchased a new car or are looking to spruce up your old vehicle, adding floor mats can make all the difference. Whether you are purchasing floor mats from a car dealership or a automotive shop, the options are usually large and may be confusing. Generally, there are two main categories of floor mats: rubber floor mats and carper floor mats. When making a decision between the two materials, the choice is generally one of desired look and specific needs.

Rubber floor mats are the better choice for vehicles that do a great deal of hauling materials or people. Look to include rubber floor mats in truck beds or in the rear of vehicles and in trunks. In addition to being much easier to clean than their carpet cousins, rubber floor mats may offer a bit of skid protection, so that items you are hauling are not catapulted from one end of your vehicle to another. Also, if you live in an area of the country that experiences particular messy weather or have a great deal of mud around your home or place of business, you may want to consider rubber floor mats specifically for the clean up potential.

Carpet floors mats are generally designated for cars, although there is no one reason why carpet must be included in cars and vice versa. Generally, carpet floor mats are though to look better, and are often purchased directly from the dealership in a color that matches the interior carpeting of the vehicle. If you purchase carpet floor mats from an automotive store or an outside source other than a dealership, you may have potential problems in matching the color of the floor mat to the color of your interior. In this instance, consider using a coordinating color that will hide stains and clean up easily while looking nice with the interior of your car.

Although carpet floor mats are usually purchased for vehicles designed for transportation instead of hauling purposes, many individuals find them inappropriate. Especially if you have small children or pets, carpet floor mats can become easily dirty and stained with muddy feet or spills. For this reason, consider mats that are topped with a stain protective coating so that spills and liquids puddle on the surface instead of soaking through the mat. Although floor mats are generally the line of protection for the carpet underneath, very few individuals ever let this carpet show and they often look for clear protective vinyl or rubber mats to protect their floor mats. Keep in mind that any floor mat should be secured to the floor to prevent slipping upon entering or exiting the vehicle, especially if the mat is located under the driver’s seat.

Consider using rubber floor mats for their customization options, since many individuals want to create a look especially for their car. These customizations can be anything from a name or nickname emblazoned on the floor mat to a cartoon character or a favorite sports athlete’s number. With the booming customization business involving vehicles of all makes, shapes, and sizes, it is not surprising the customized floor mats have also become a trendy extra for vehicles.

In the end, the choice of rubber or carpet floor mats is completely up to you. Consider first your purposes of the vehicle and then your budget to determine which type of mat will best meet your needs. If budget is a main concern in your choice, turn to the World Wide Web, where you can often find great prices on popular styles and brands of floor mats.

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Update Your Home With Flooring Wholesale

Nothing completes the home quite like beautiful flooring. It brings the home together and can offer more flexibility in terms of decorating or expanding a room. If you're interested in updating your home with hardwood floors or carpeting, purchasing wholesale may be an option for you. By shopping for flooring wholesale, you reap the benefits of quality flooring selections at lower prices. Shopping online offers the greatest selection, which means you can choose between a variety of flooring options, as well as the color, style and level of quality.

At first glance, shopping for flooring wholesale may seem to be the most economical option for your home. While this is often the case, there are also other costs to factor in that will drive up the total price of your project. For example, prices don't include shipping and handling, which can sometimes cost almost as much as the flooring itself. Also, when purchasing wholesale flooring, you may be sent the floor selection in bulk, which means you'll have to do the work yourself. Saving on the cost of labor from an outside company certainly has its advantages, but you'll need to know how to do the labor on your own.

With laminate flooring, doing the work yourself is a viable option. Most styles of laminate use a snap-and-lock installation process that involves snapping the pieces together. Others use an adhesive that is moistened and then sticks the boards together. Purchasing laminate flooring wholesale is a great way to save on the cost of flooring, while being able to install the wooden boards yourself. Although solid wood is a bit trickier to install, some selections can be installed on their own as well.

With carpeting, the installation process is more difficult and includes lots of cutting and precise fittings underneath the base boards. Carpeting can also be difficult to ship, as the weight is very heavy and can drive up the total cost of your flooring project. Fortunately, buying carpet flooring wholesale comes at an extreme value, which means you can get your materials for a modest cost. If you don't know how to install carpeting, consider hiring a contractor on an individual. This will be less expensive than going through a carpet company and also give a private contractor work.

To shop for wholesale flooring, the internet is your best tool. By searching online, you can compare prices and shipping costs, finding the best value for your money. Be sure to keep quality in mind, as manufacturing companies are vague on the quality of their flooring selections. For example, laminate comes in many styles and the thicker the boards, the better class it is. It will be more durable, resistant to scratches and nicks, and also have a wood-like sound when walking on it. Cheaper selections will be thin and have a hollow sound, one of the staples of traditional laminate floors.

With carpeting, there are two construction types: Cut pile and loop pile. With cut pile, the carpeting has a smooth and even look to it and is available in a wide selection of colors. Higher end carpets will hide footprints and vacuum marks, as well as be thick and feature longer pieces of carpet. If possible, request a sample from the wholesale company to determine the quality level. Peel back the carpeting to see how hard it is to get to the backing, as this will determine its density.

Loop pile carpets on the other hand, loop together the strands of carpet, giving it a unique look. Berber is an example of a loop pile carpet and this type of flooring is strong and durable, a great choice for high traffic areas. While loop pile carpets aren't available in as many color selections, there's still a broad natural color palette to choose from.

When you've determined the right flooring wholesale company to work with, you can order your flooring selection in bulk quantities. You'll need the square footage of the entire room and remember to overestimate, as wholesale flooring can be discontinued at any time and isn't available in small "extra" quantities. Most companies will have a minimum square footage you can purchase. If you're lucky and have a wholesale retailer in your area, check with the company to see if you can pick up the flooring to save on shipping costs.

Overall, buying wholesale flooring is an excellent choice for updating the home without spending a lot of money. This option is especially helpful for do-it-yourself homeowners on a budget.

Tag : flooring,home,wholesale

The Benefits of Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring is gaining much popularity all around the world since it is cheap, elegant and environment friendly. Let's now look at some points to think about why one should consider using bamboo flooring for his home and what is it that you need to look for while installing it.

You find bamboo which is a kind of grass in most of the areas of Southeast Asia from where it is exported for converting it into flooring. Before it turns out into a material for flooring, it is treated thoroughly so that you can remove all the bugs and insects which might have been in it and also to strengthen the bamboo and make it more durable.

In a period of four to five years, a bamboo grows to maturity and not only this, once harvested it regenerates itself. This is very unlike to other trees that need so many years before they can gives us enough material that can made use for any purpose.

Bamboo flooring can be found in different colors of your choice however many of the well-known colors would be the ones that are close to wood so that we can give the same effect of coziness and warmth. Bamboo flooring is very cheap since it is available very easily and it the re-growth rate is also fast and hence can be afforded by anyone. But, one should get a minimum warranty for 15-20 years on the bamboo flooring since it is much durable and can be maintained easily.

Not only that the amount to be spent on bamboo flooring is less, it also has different qualities and types available. You get for what you pay and therefore don't scrimp on the floors if you wish to have them last for a least of 20 years. Look around and research for best deals on the best quality of available bamboo flooring in the market.

Helpful Tips

When you invest for your home specially for your floors, it is necessary to take all the required measures to make sure you get the right product and hence you need not deals with replacing the floors or repairing it which would cost you both money and time. Performing a little research would take you a long way and give a long term peace of mind at the end.

Searching online would be the best place to start with your research. However, if you buy online, make sure that you don't end up paying a lot for shipping charges. You might also be not able to see things actually or feel the quality and color of the bamboo till the point it comes to your door. Bamboo flooring would be the future in terms of budget, looks and very importantly making sure you have a safe and clean environment for many generations to come. So, the bamboo decorating ideas outlined here for your home or office should be very welcome as well as trendy.

Tag : floor,bamboo flooring,hardwood floor,floor installation

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

Choosing A Linoleum Floor For Your Home

Nothing can make over your home faster than new flooring. It can breath new life into an old looking living room or kitchen. There are many different types of flooring available on the market today, vinyl, laminate, wood, and linoleum to name a few.

Linoleum is considered by those in the flooring trade to be a resilient type of flooring. A linoleum floor is durable and, with proper care can last up to 40 years, which is longer than vinyl flooring. Regular cleaning of all of your floors will help prolong their life and preserve them. Linoleum flooring can be easily cleaned by damp mopping with clear water and a mild cleaner. Newer linoleums have surface protection applied by the manufacturer which help make them water and stain resistant.

Linoleum floors are almost limitless in design and color choices and linoleum is better suited for areas that will be getting moderately wet than is laminate flooring. Linoleum flooring is perfect for use in a kitchen. Linoleum can be ideal in a foyer area or laundry room as mud and water are easily cleaned up. While many use ceramic and natural stone floors in entry ways and kitchens, they are harder to upkeep than linoleum.

Linoleum can tear. It is therefore imperative that you use all caution when moving any kitchen appliance on a linoleum floor. Lay a piece of plywood down on the floor and carefully slide the appliance onto the plywood. Make sure that when you move the appliance it is resting evenly on the plywood. You don't want to make any impressions onto the floor beneath.

Linoleum is thin and must be laid carefully. The sub flooring beneath the linoleum must be free of any bumps or irregularities or nail heads. These irregularities will come through a linoleum floor.

If you are thinking of replacement flooring check with family and friends to see if they have had any experience with a particular type of flooring or installer. Do your homework. Expect anyone who sells flooring to be knowledgeable, if they aren't, go elsewhere. The best way to get the perfect flooring for any room in your home is for you to do your homework first.

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Five Tips To Help Choose The Proper Hardwood Floor

Ageless beauty, durability, and ease of installation and maintenance make hardwood floors the perfect choice for remodeling your home floors.

There are a multitude of choices when it comes to floor replacements. Hardwood and laminate floors come in an overwhelming variety of shades, sizes and installation methods. Here are some pointers to help you make a decision.

First and foremost, always set a budget for your project. With the wide variety of designs and materials available, spending beyond your budget is very easily done.

1.Style and color should be your first criteria for the area in which you are updating. Is this an elegant area, like a living room, or is this the family room where the kids and pets might be present? You might want a laminate substitute in the family room, and luscious cherry finished rosewood in the living area.

2.Selecting the shades of the room is important as well. The setting of the design will dictate what shades you will use. A dark shade for the entertainment area to help hide dirt and keep the light level down for the big screen TV might be what you’re looking for.

3.Don’t try to put hardwood flooring in the powder room or bathroom. A laminate substitute can be used, but it must be impervious to moisture.

4.Proper installation of the floor must be your highest priority. Even if you’re a great “do-it-yourselfer”, hardwood floor installation requires professional tools and knowledge of angle cutting that most home owners don’t have. If you decide to try it, be sure to do the research first. Take a look at the angles and corners that might be required to cut.

5.Be sure the area, on which you will be installing your new floor on top of, is smooth and even. You will want to select an underlayment that will provide cushioning, soundproofing and additional insulation for your new floor.

http://www.woodfloorsworld.com

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There are many ways to finish a wood floor, of course, but varathane wood floor finishing has been one of the most consistently popular and sought after ways to finish or refinish any kind of wood flooring.


One of the best things about varathane wood floor finishing is how easy this great finishing product is to install. The easy three step process takes only a matter of hours, but it can provide many years of beauty and trouble free performance from all brands of hardwood flooring.


No precleaning or sanding is necessary to use varathane wood floor finishing, and in fact the patented formula used by varathane actually does the job of a good sandpaper, without any of the hassle or the mess of actual sanding. In fact, the varathane process helps to eliminate common contaminents on the floor that may otherwise prevent the adhesion of the finishing product.


In addition to eliminating the need to sand the current hardwood floor, varathane wood floor finishing also provides a special chemical formula which helps to provide a receptive surface to allow the finish to be applied in a straightforward and effective manner.


The varathane wood floor finishing process also includes an excellent system for rebuilding damaged hardwood floors and helping them shine their best. The unique catalyzing formula used by varathane helps to permanently lock the original formula with a clear and beautiful finish that is also very hard and very durable.


There are a number of important advantages to be had by users of the wood floor finishing programs using varathane. For instance, the product will not alter the original color of the floor, it requires no sanding and no need to wear a dust mask, it requires no specialized equipment or tools and it features a low odor, eliminating the need for additional ventilation. When you use a varathane wood finishing product, the room is ready within 24 hours, and the process can be completed even by those with no hardwood floor refinishing experience.

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Posted on April 1, 2006 by Alphonso Sirtle.. | Posted under Home Improvement

The beauty and power of varathane wood floor finishing

There are many ways to finish a wood floor, of course, but varathane wood floor finishing has been one of the most consistently popular and sought after ways to finish or refinish any kind of wood flooring.


One of the best things about varathane wood floor finishing is how easy this great finishing product is to install. The easy three step process takes only a matter of hours, but it can provide many years of beauty and trouble free performance from all brands of hardwood flooring.


No precleaning or sanding is necessary to use varathane wood floor finishing, and in fact the patented formula used by varathane actually does the job of a good sandpaper, without any of the hassle or the mess of actual sanding. In fact, the varathane process helps to eliminate common contaminents on the floor that may otherwise prevent the adhesion of the finishing product.


In addition to eliminating the need to sand the current hardwood floor, varathane wood floor finishing also provides a special chemical formula which helps to provide a receptive surface to allow the finish to be applied in a straightforward and effective manner.


The varathane wood floor finishing process also includes an excellent system for rebuilding damaged hardwood floors and helping them shine their best. The unique catalyzing formula used by varathane helps to permanently lock the original formula with a clear and beautiful finish that is also very hard and very durable.


There are a number of important advantages to be had by users of the wood floor finishing programs using varathane. For instance, the product will not alter the original color of the floor, it requires no sanding and no need to wear a dust mask, it requires no specialized equipment or tools and it features a low odor, eliminating the need for additional ventilation. When you use a varathane wood finishing product, the room is ready within 24 hours, and the process can be completed even by those with no hardwood floor refinishing experience.


About The Author:
Alphonso has been working in the home remodeling industry for last 5 years. Take advantage of his experience and written material on flooring ideas at his website at http://www.improve-home.com

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How Cork Flooring Is Made

Manufactured with little environmental impact and no waste products, cork flooring is valued as much for its eco-friendliness as for its durability, comfort, sound absorption and beauty.

Cork is made from the bark of the cork oak tree, which is grown primarily in coastal regions of the western Mediterranean. The millions of tiny air pockets designed in a honeycomb pattern inside the bark create cork flooring's exceptional ability to absorb sound and provide a durable yet cushiony surface. Strict regulations govern the harvesting of bark from cork oak trees. A tree must be at least 25 years old to be harvested, and may have its bark removed only once every 9 to 11 years using a centuries old method of making small cuts in the bark then pulling off large pieces by hand. Because the trees have the ability to regenerate their bark, cork oak forests are valued and protected rather than clear cut, as many hardwood flooring sources are. A single mature cork oak tree can supply up to 450 pounds of cork per harvest for centuries.

After the bark is hand-stripped, the slabs are stacked and left exposed to nature's elements. The chemical changes caused by sun, wind and rain improve the cork's quality. Slabs may be left exposed from several days to six months or longer. Once cured, the slabs are cleaned, boiled and dried. The rough outer surface is stripped off to make the cork easier to process into different forms. The highest quality cork is used to make bottle stoppers, which are punched from the best sections of the slabs. The remaining scraps are ground into granules of various sizes, leaving no waste. The granules are mixed with a non-toxic resin to bind them together, molded into blocks under high pressure and baked. Color variations develop based on the size of the granules and how long the blocks are baked. As the blocks bake, the natural sugars in the cork caramelize, so a longer baking time yields darker cork.

Cork flooring planks and tiles are cut from the baked sheets. Custom colors can be created by painting or staining unfinished cork prior to the application of an acrylic finish. Unique mosaic cork floors can be pieced together using tiles with different naturally developed or stained colors. Floating cork floors are made of four layers of cork: the underlayment, a stabilizing layer adhered to fiberboard for structure, a third layer to maximize sound absorption and comfort, and a top layer for color. The top layer is sealed for added protection and durability.

Tag : floor,floor,flooring

All About Heart Pine Flooring

Although "Heart Pine flooring" is a description that's used widely to describe a floor that's generally associated with antique & reclaimed wood, a good deal of misunderstanding prevails. While flooring of Antique Heart Pine has been a revered choice of builders for centuries, few people understand the diversity in the classifications of pine and descriptions can be confusing when purchasing Heart Pine Flooring today.

So what exactly is it and what's the difference between Antique Heart Pine, "New" HeartPine and regular pine?

Read to find out:

Where Does Heart Pine Come From?

First of all, all wood species contain "heartwood," not just pine, but that's where most misunderstanding begins.

It is the innermost of 4 layers in the cross section of a tree:

The first layer is Bark, the 2nd is the Cambium (typically a thin green layer under the bark), the 3rd is the Sapwood, or growing section within the tree which is most susceptible to decay, and the 4th most inner layer is the "heartwood," which is actually no longer a living tree component though more resistant to decay, and usually much darker in color .

But all "heartwood" is not equal, especially when we're talking about "Pine" heartwood. And With prices ranging from $4 - $15 per sq. ft. for Antique Reclaimed, you'd best be sure you know what you are getting.

Just know that just because pine comes from an old building or is dragged from a river, that doesn't make it "HeartPine." But what is referred to as "HeartPine" does not have to be reclaimed or centuries old either. Many pines have local names and many wood dealers will use the pine name that they feel will sell their product. You may hear it called Southern Yellow Pine, Antique Yellow Pine, or just Heart Pine. It can be the "heartwood" of any of a number of pines and should be more appropriately called "New" Heart Pine.

The pine wood which is most prized, what we refer to here as Antique Heart Pine, once called "The King's Pine" when this country was still owned by England, is specifically the Long-leaf pine which grew in the southeast, was notoriously slow-growing, and the 300-500 yr old trees were for the most part eliminated by overharvesting by 1910. Some 2nd & 3rd generation growth stands can still be cut today, but there's just not much heart to go after, as the trees haven't had the time to grow very large. The virgin stands of heart pine are gone forever and the wood from them can be recovered only from old buildings, factories and homes built over 100 years ago that are now being deconstructed.

Advantages

Whether more beautiful or more practical is a challenging question to ask. It's also one of the most durable wood floors available, rivaled only by red oak, and a floor whose tight grain patterns and deep hued coloration grows richer in color as it ages and continues to add beauty and value to homes graced with this very special reclaimed wood. It's also a "green" building material, there are often stories associated with it, and its quality, strength and stability has been sought after by craftsmen for generations.

Disadvantages

When you're paying $4 - $15/sq. ft., it's certainly a disadvantage if there's any uncertainty about the product you're actually paying for. Particularly when choosing higher quality Antique Heart Pine Floor, you'll want to be certain your supplier is as knowledgeable as he'd like you to think that he is.

Heart Pine Flooring in Homes

For over 200 years, heartpine has been used as a durable, long lasting building material in homes and buildings. The longleaf pine was the virgin growth tree of choice along the lower elevations from Maryland to Texas. Slaves with pit saws, and with water powered sawmills in later years, helped early Americans utilize this termite and rot resistant building material in their homes.

Longleaf pine was an extremely important part of the Industrial Revolution. Because of their tremendous strength, timbers could span 25 feet distances and hold up thick heart pine floors that supported the buildings machines. Today, most of those factories and mills are in poor shape, if they are still standing at all. They are now being torn down, but in many cases the heart pine can be reclaimed and reused for beautiful flooring, stair parts, doors, cabinets, and millwork in fine homes being built and renovated today.

Heart pine flooring is best acquired from a lumber mill whose focus is antique lumber. If you prefer vintage wood flooring or antique wood flooring, a lumber mill that specializes in reclaimed lumber and sustainable wood flooring options would be your best bet. Whole Log Lumber specializes in both. This lumber mill/wood floor manufacturer has been providing quality heart pine flooring, antique wood flooring, and vintage lumber supplies, to deserving homes across the nation since 1984

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

Bathroom Flooring: Making Choices in Flooring

Picking out flooring for your home is always a bit tricky. There are so many different factors to take into consideration when looking into what is right for your home. It is also important to realize that each room needs to be considered separately when making flooring decisions. It is important that each factor be taken into consideration and ranked by importance then a determination can be made on what flooring is right for your home.

For instance, if you're budget is the most important consideration than hardwood throughout your home is obviously not really a viable option. The same is true for safety. If you need assistance from a walker to move about your home it is not wise to think about flooring option have a large gradation between them. An example of this is linoleum to shag carpet the threshold would create a sizable difference making it hard to maneuver a walker. It is best if you have special issues to take them into consideration BEFORE the new flooring is in place.

Another thing I like to remind people is to gauge the amount of traffic that will be on any given floor. Bathroom flooring and kitchen floors remain the most highly used areas within households. It is important to use materials that can withstand the wear and tear of your household traffic while maintaining the original look and feel. Laminate squares might be okay for a house without a lot of traffic but in a house that maintains a constant flow they the squares will begin to separate overtime.

Special conditions may also exist in certain rooms. For Instance, it is important that kitchen and bathroom flooring are moisture resistant. Getting out of the tub onto a carpeted floor is going to create mold and mildew underneath the carpet surface sooner rather than later. My parents have always had a carpeted kitchen and dining room. It is always in need of a cleaning especially with six grandkids and a grandmother that loves to make cookies with sprinkles.

It is important that the flooring type fit all of the conditions the room and home owners present. Remember that just because one floor works in a certain room for one homeowner it might not be the right product for you. Different households create different situations. It is important to look into your needs before spending money on flooring.

Flooring options are so wide and very in material, style, color, durability and cost. Determining the needs of your family before you install flooring materials will help save you money in the long run. Really looking at your needs might make you realize that it is worthwhile to save up for a more durable, but more expensive option like hardwood. Or it might make you realize that you really need to create unity throughout your home and are ready to do that using a different variety of materials within the same color family. Flooring is one area that can really make or break a home's feel so make sure you choose something that is consistent with your homes look and feel.