Thursday, 11 December 2008

Engineered Wooden Flooring Vs Solid Wood Flooring

Engineered Wooden Flooring

Engineered floor boards come in a wide range of styles and designs, from rustic grains to tranquil floors with uniform patterning and everything in between! These boards can be laid on either a wood sub-floor or on cement. An uneven floor will be leveled prior to installation so that the floor is laid evenly. A special high quality foam underlay, with built in moist barrier, reduces creaking, movement and sound transmission.

So what is the advantage of engineered wooden Flooring?

-Relatively quick installation with minimal fuss, mess, smells or dust.

-Floor can be placed on most surfaces.

-Surface is pre-finished and needs no sanding or sealing once lay.

-Your new floor is usable straight away.

-Completely sealed surface eliminates smells, smoke and fumes from lower levels choice of lacquered or oiled finish

-Easily resurfaced and sealed

Solid wood flooring

Solid wood flooring comes in many varieties of wood, widths, thickness and colors to suit almost any requirement. Solid wood flooring is surface nailed onto joists or a quality sub-floor, but can also be glued onto a concrete or wood sub-floor with plenty of allowance for wood expansion. With the proper care and attention, your solid wood floor will last a lifetime.

The advantages of a solid wood floor are:

-Huge selection to choose from antique to modern

-Very flexible to create the exact look your require

-Random widths for extra character and individuality

-Un-finished boards can be treated on site to your color requirements

-Pre-finished boards easy and quick to fit and are usable straight away

-Easily refurbished and sealed

Floordealersoncall is a free service that enables you to fill out a flooring request form that then will be submitted to multiple local flooring companies. A representative will contact you with their best offer and possible recommendations. Get your Free Flooring Quote today.

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

Wednesday, 10 December 2008

The Garage Floor Covering and How it Can Help You

You've got a garage, but it looks old because of the floor. The concrete is damaged, there are many cracks and you don't really have to much time to repair it. That's why an easy way to solve this problem is to get yourself a garage floor covering. There are several types of covering like: epoxy garage floor covering, vinyl floor covering, roll over floor covering and so on.

Covering your garage floor can really save you a lot of time. That's because you gain a lot of advantages by having one, among which the most important are: The garage floor looks like new in an instant, it helps you keep the garage cleaner because the dirt or any other leftovers are much easier to clean. Gas or oil spills are also easy to clean away from the covering. The smell that the gas and oil could leave is also going away faster because you can clean the floor easier. By being able to clean the floor very easy, your garage will always be clean and you won't bring dirt into your home. So this is a good reason why a floor cover is a time saver.

Another very big advantage that the garage floor covering brings is that it prevents you from slipping on a dirty concrete floor. You won't have a slippery floor with a cover because it's very easy to clean and it goes away just like that. The cover also avoids moisture because of its thermal isolation, something very useful, because no one likes to have humidity in their garage.

The easiest type of garage floor covering would be roll over floor covering. That's because you only have to buy it and then cut it exactly the way you need it and you're done. You can use this type if you don't want to make things to complicated, but the other types of coverings might be better and last longer. Anyway it's your choice what type of cover you get. Any type of cover you will use will save you a lot of time and make your garage look better. So what are you waiting for? It's about time you improved your garage floor!

John Sheppard got himself a garage floor covering and has been using it ever since. Find out more info about the epoxy garage floor covering and the vinyl garage floor covering.

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

Tuesday, 9 December 2008

Garage Floor Treatments

A great way to upgrade your boring old garage floor is by applying one of many different garage floor treatment options available on the market. One such option is a solvent-based urethane that repels oil, vehicle fluids and tire tracks that can all stain a concrete floor. If your vehicle does happen to leak something, all you need to do is simply wipe it off the coated floor and you are done. This can all be done by yourself or you can hire a professional to do the job if you do not have the time or are not a do it yourself type person.

Your first step involved in applying a solvent-based urethane garage floor treatment is to clean the surface with a high-pressure washer to remove all dirt and stains. Scrub the floor with a good detergent and water solution by using a scouring machine if you have one. Otherwise, you will have to use some good old-fashioned hard work. Apply a muriatic acid solution, which will rough up the floor so that the floor coating will form a good bond with the concrete floor.

If you happen to have any areas of the floor that are cracked or broken then a garage floor treatment mixture of epoxy and sand is used to fill those areas before applying the protective coating. Apply the primer with a metal squeegee and roll it out with a 3/8 inch nap roller. Let it dry overnight. An interesting technique to give you a unique floor is to throw colored paint flakes to the wet surface of the floor after applying a base coat. You will have a unique floor that no one else will have. Let the paint and flakes dry overnight and then on the following day apply a sealer. Some sealers require one coat while others required two coats. If applying two coats you will need to wait a few hours before applying the second coat. When you are finished, you should be quite impressed with your work.

If you would prefer a garage floor treatment that is much simpler then perhaps laying industrial mats around the garage would be suffice for you. They come in many different sizes and cleaning is quite easily done with soap and water. You can remove the mats to clean them, or clean them right where they are it is up to you. They are quite durable and will last a long time as long as they are cleaned regularly. Using a strong chemical though is not a good idea because it will cause damage to the mats.

Most garages are a place to store the family vehicle however; some people use it as a spare room and not for storing a car. In this case, then your garage floor treatment would likely be more along the lines of vinyl or linoleum for durability and décor. Alternatively, you could choose the flooring to match whatever the garage is used for, such as carpet if it is a games room for example.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=236642&ca=Home+Management

Thursday, 4 December 2008

A Pergo Floor Will Last For Years

You should think about laying down Pergo flooring in your home if you want great flooring. It has a great tongue and groove system that will make sure your floor looks great and is installed easily and accurately. You can do it on your own or hire a pro to install your pergo floor. Installing flooring is something you can do on your own if you really want to or get your retailer to recommend a trusted professional.

You will need to determine just how much flooring you need before you buy anything. You can use a room sizing calculator to help you figure out how much you need to buy. If you want to lay the floor down on your own than you will need to just buy your Pergo floor and go with it. It is a complete system so everything you need will be including in your installation package. You will receive the following:


• Pergo Glue (Make sure to use this so the warranty will be honored)

• Installation Kit – This will ensure tight joints and has spaces and a tapping block

• Pull bar – This will make sure that you have a tight fit in hard to get to spots

• Under-layments – This will get rid of any issues with your sub-floor and give you great insulation

• Floor clamps – These can make the installation mush smoother and will make your floor even sturdier

• Pergo Sealant – This will make sure that the gaps are secured between the fllor and the wall to make sure that moisture stays out

• Pergo Putty – This will help to repair any damaged areas that might occur when you are laying the flooring

• Installation straps – These will help make the whole task simpler for you

You should realize before you lay down your Pergo floor that it is for use inside only. You must lay it down as a floating floor and there must be enough room around the sides. You can not attach it to the sub-floor.

You also need to keep in mind you local temperature and humidity, as well a the movement in your home and around other objects. The expansion distance is about ¼” normally and you need to realize this for proper installation especially in a doorway or corner.

Make sure that your Pergo products are allowed to acclimate in their sealed boxes before installation. 48 hours is usually enough, but 96 hours can be required when the temperature is very dry. The humidity should be around 30-90% where the carpets will be installed.

Pergo can be laid on or below grade. You should also make sure the Pergo plans are installed over the Pergo Underlayment Foam or Whisperwalk. If you install on top of concrete then the Pergo 6-mil polyethylene vapor barrier is necessary. Check out sub-floor info before you install.

Wednesday, 3 December 2008

The Benefits Of Using Wax On Your Floor

The use of floor wax on hardwood and non-carpet flooring protects the surface and keeps it beautiful. As with all cleaning products, you need to be aware of the overall impact on your home and select a brand that suits your needs and environmental concerns.

Wall-to-wall carpets are losing ground to hardwood and laminates when homeowners come to select a type of floor covering for their home. While the beauty wooden floor is cited by many as a key criterion, hardwood flooring also make it to the top of the list for those after an easy to maintain and easy to clean option: sweeping and the occasional application of floor wax seems far more attractive than household chores like vacuuming and regular steam cleaning.

By applying a protective finish such as wax, you can easily seal and preserve the integrity of your wooden floor. Waxing will give the wood an attractive sheen, and if you use wax on a regular basis it will keep your hardwood, linoleum and other non-carpet flooring looking beautiful and in keeping with the rest of your home. As wax acts as a moisture repellent, it can even prevent warping from water and humidity. It also reduces the appearance of grooves, ridges and imperfections in hardwood and other floorings. Wax also gives the surface a beautifully glossy finish.

Wax protects your flooring by reducing the amount of abrasion and scratches it sustains: as the floor becomes more slippery when treated, it is therefore less likely to get damaged.

You will find that wax is mostly available in three forms: water-based, polymer and solvent-based. Like many homeowners you may be concerned about the adverse effect of chemicals such as formaldehyde on your home: manufacturers of floor wax are responding to this trend by becoming increasingly aware of the impact of their products, and it is good to know that environmentally safe floor wax is becoming more widely available.

To cater for both our health concerns and the limited amount of time that we have to devote to household chores each week, a type of “no-wax” flooring is becoming very popular. While it is true that some materials do not need waxing, they will still need to be cleaned regularly. Whether or not you use wax, most flooring will likely need to be touched-up every now and then to repair the minor damages caused by daily household activities.

Although waxing your floor protects it and makes it look beautiful, wax can sometimes build up and at times you may need to strip the flooring. As wax removers can contain irritating chemicals you should always give careful consideration to your choice of removing product.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=130663&ca=Home+Management

Wooden Floor Installation And Renovation

We specialise in floor sanding, wood floor restoration and wooden floor installation, we are not just an 'add on' service.Our dedicated team of experienced floor fitters carry out high quality wooden floor installation from sub floor preparation, installation and finishing.

Our wooden floor installation processes can replicate many classic floor or boarding construction styles.

We are now able to offer a total flooring solutions package being able to fit all types of commercial flooring including ceramic tiles, vinyl's and carpets as well as our wooden floor installation, floor sanding and sealing and court marking.

Whether you need a home improvement, house or flat refurbishment in London, new bathroom, a replacement kitchen, wooden floor installation or renovation, extension or loft conversion, internal or external complete refurbishment, then our name is for you!

Here are the main wooden floor types: Hardwood floors.

Hardwood flooring is available in both unfinished and pre-finished form. They are made up of geometrical patterns, composed of individual wooden slates held together by a mechanical fastening or adhesive. We sand and restore all wooden floors from floorboards to parquet floors, from a small domestic hall way to full size commercial sports halls, schools. We fit all wooden floors specialising in solid oak plank flooring / parquet flooring / re-claimed pine boards / new pine boards / block flooring / hardwood flooring / repairs / sanding in new floors / new to old.

Installing solid wood flooring. Before installing any wood floor you must first make sure the sub-floor is free of loose materials. Before you begin installing a floor, you should give careful consideration to the type of floor you want. Basically when it comes to how to install bamboo flooring, the installing procedure is pretty much the same as with conventional hardwood flooring. Make sure you read all installing instructions from the bamboo flooring manufacturer carefully, because humidity can backfire if it comes to any wooden floor installation.

Parquet flooring this has a very different look from typical hardwoods. All our floor fitters are experienced in all types of wood floor fitting such as: solid wood, laminate, engineered, reclaimed timber, pre finished, unfinished and all types of parquet. We can fit overlay, solid wood, engineered boards and the more specialized herringbone parquet blocks.

It is our particular expertise in Sanding and Refinishing floors, especially in the staining process, which gives us the edge to create individual and exquisite floors for you.

Our wooden floor installation processes can replicate many classic floor or boarding construction styles. Quality of subfloor installation Subfloor is one of the main elements of the wooden floor construction. A suitable floor installation construction should be used. For this reason, all wet construction works in the premises must be completed prior to installing wooden floor on heated or unheated subfloor. Additional factors influencing the use of heated wooden floor Use of wooden floor is influenced by the following additional factors: timber species; method of wood cutting; and wooden floor construction

By: Ovidiu Diaconu

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Tuesday, 2 December 2008

Garage Floor Repair Isn't Worth It

This is what most homeowners with neglected garage floors are thinking today. Floor stains are the biggest problems of every garage owner. Stubborn dirt may be cleaned with the use of a pressure washer. But what if oil, grease, and hard-sticking liquids seep into the garage floor? Then the headache starts. Unsightly marks on a perfect floor can't be ignored. When that happens, the quest to perform the best some garage floor repair officially starts.

In reality, the garage is the most neglected part of a house. A lot of people may not admit it, but most of the garages found in American homes don't have floor coverings for easy maintenance. Many of the garage floors in homes are made of concrete. And those are the worse candidates for repairs.

Concrete is considered a porous material. Because it tends to absorb liquids spilled on it, oils and acid would merely stay below the concrete's surface. And that's when they are very hard to take off.

Garage floor repair can be performed in several ways. But if what you have is a bare garage floor made of concrete, start the repair by adding a protective cover to it. And you'll actually improve the look of your garage in the process. You can use tiles, paints, and mats to repair and protect your garage.

Then again, it is not right to merely hide the flaws of the garage floor using these coverings. Before applying paint to the floor, be certain that there are no chips or cracks on the concrete. If there are, use the garage floor repair consisting of do-it-yourself cement repair kits that you can buy from hardware stores. Use it even if you had chosen to use tiles or mats to cover your garage floor.

If you see your garage as a storage place or a warehouse instead of being a legitimate part of your property, you should alter that view fast. Make your garage attractive, durable, and functional. The moment your choice of protective covers is installed on your garage, you never have to worry about costly and time-consuming garage floor repair anytime in the future.

By: Jackie Rush

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Monday, 1 December 2008

How Many Type Of Floor Material And How To Use Them.

We can divide type of floor materials into 5-6 types, each of them has advantages and disadvantages, and this is very difficult for you about how to choose the most suitable one for your house

1. Carpet

Carpet is the materials that very popular, due to it is, easy to install, has many colours and patterns, make your room looks comfortable and luxurious and not too expensive. However, carpet is the material that difficult to clean, maintain and has short life time. If you are the person who loves to change your room atmosphere often, carpet maybe a good choice for you.

2. Wooden floor

Wood is the original material for making floor that people familiar with for long time ago. In the past, we can see almost every house use wooden floor. Today, wooden floor become rare and also become the thing that people dream about to have. Because wood is the material that very expensive than any other flooring material. The way that we use wooden floor from the past is also changed, in the past we just put the wooden board on the crossbeam, but today, we generally put wooden board on the cement floor. Even though wooden floor is very expensive, they still be a good investment if you can afford it because wooden floor not only give the great look, but also very good feeling when you step on it.

3. Parquet floor

Parquet is what we call small pieces of wood installed piece by piece on the cement floor. The parquet piece can be connected both by using glue and locking reed of each piece. Parquet floor is generally cheaper than wooden board floor. When install the parquet, make sure that cement floor is completely dry and coated with anti-leak solution. Quality of the glue use to stick also important, choose only high quality and water-proof. After install, leave it for about one or two days before polish the floor and in order to let piece of wood firmly stick together and do not put the piece of wood too close, which will make the wood crack or curve later after install.

4. Glazed tile

Glazed tile is also popular at present time, because it is very convenient to install and long lasting as well as has many patterns and colours. Install glazed tile on cement floor need lower skill labor work than install Parquet or wood. To install glazed tile, the cement floor doesn’t have to completely dry, but still need to be anti-leak solution coated. Be careful if you use pattern glazed tile for your house, because every tile has its own pattern and you can not remove it if you install in wrong order or mismatch the pattern. The other problem of using pattern glazed tile is difficult to find spared tiles for the same pattern that you currently use, so when you first buy the tile, you should buy some spare ones in case of replacement.

5. Marble and Granite

It is no doubt that marble and granite is the most luxurious and durable materials among any material But due to its price, which much higher then others, so they are not quite popular. However, now the price of some type of marble and granite are lower to close to the price of other materials. The most important thing is you should not install marble in the area that facing sunlight, this will make it become pensive.