Apr 4
If you want to increase the value of your house then try installing wood flooring. Wood floor is a more popular option than stone floors or slate floors. Wood has a depth and a warm feeling that will make your house feel cozy all year long.
You can find a large range of flooring in a variety of woods. You can choose the kind of wood you want to install in your home based on your taste and the look and feel of your home. Installing wood flooring can be a great asset to your home. Learning how to install wood flooring or hiring someone to do it for you is an investment you won’t regret. Wood flooring may not be right for a bathroom or kitchen because of the moisture levels.
Hardwood floors are a very classic choice in Flooring. You can choose from wide selection of hardwoods. Try oak, cherry, hickory, maple, walnut or bellawood. You can find these in a natural color or in a stained look. You should think about leaving the wood its own color because some woods have a lovely finish that does not need to be stained. Cherry and walnut are two such examples.
Looking into the options you have for a finish when you have finished choosing the material. You can also buy wood that has been finished already which will make your job a whole lot easier. Usually it is stained and comes with a clear coating on it. This can be more pricey, but often it is worth it for the time it will save you.
You can also put the flooring down and then finish it afterwards. You will have to do the sanding, staining, and put urethane on the floor. After each coat you will have to sand it. This can take a few days to complete this whole process. You more separate coats of urethane you use the better off your surface will be.
You might also want to try reclaimed flooring. This means that it does not have a smooth texture, but they are still very attractive and don’t look like any other finish. You will also not have to see scratches on them like you will in urethane flooring.
You can also choose other things besides hardwood floors. Laminate flooring is also a good option for you. You can get these to look like real hardwood floors, but they are generally cheaper. You can hardly tell the difference between hard wood floors and laminate flooring. You can also look into a wide selection of bamboo or Cork Flooring that can give your home a great look.
Caring for your wood floors will ensure that they last longer and you can practice different things to protect your flooring no matter what kind you are using. Whether it is hardwood, laminate, or any other type of flooring then you’ll use most of the same kind of techniques.
You’ll want to sweep and vacuum your floor on a regular basis to keep the dirty and dust down. You’ll also want to wipe off the floor too to get rid of marks.
Greg K. Hansward
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/learn-how-to-install-wood-flooring-130724.html
Feb 8
We currently have carpet on our stairs and second level. we would like to put in laminate in our upstairs. my husband says that our floor is slightly unlevel and that we would not be able to unless we have it leveled. any one know if that is the case? also what would anyone recommend for our stairs? can you put laminate on stairs? Under the carpet, the stairs are wood, but not a nice finished wood. keeping the current carpet on the stairs is not an option if we decide to go ahead with the laminate as it is old and worn. my husband is planning on installing the Flooring himself.
As everyone has said already, laminate on your second floor (level or not) is not a problem.
As for the stairs, sand and varnish/stain them.
Feb 1
I’m tearing it out, but I’d like to know which kind it was.
linoleum is stiff and thick and is black under the print. vinyl is usually white and much more flexible.
Jan 25
I need to get some Hardwood FlooFlooring and I really want to increase the property value of my home and don’t want to go with laminate flooring, please help if you know.
You get what you pay for. Using cheap products could cause more problems than spending the money for good products.
Jan 25
I just recently picked up a batch of Armstrong red oak Hardwood FlooFlooring for a fantastic deal - enough to cover the space in my entry way at the basement level of my townhouse. Unfortunately, I’ve heard it shouldn’t be done due to moisture issues. Is this so? I considered (to keep the moisture locked out) leaving the existing vinyl floor (it’s literally a part of the concrete floor it’s so well attached) and laying right over it. I’m aware there’s an adhesive I need, regardless. Can anybody offer up some suggestions? Thanks!
I m assuming its an engineered wood. Such as 3/8" ( +- a bit).Yes you need to glue this down.There are special urethane glues and special notched trowels that needs to be used..I m also assuming this isn t a engineered self locking wood, these you don t glue and the underlayment is used as a barrier.The glue on a engineered wood floor will partially help on a regular cement as long as there is no major moisture issue.
Full 3/4 T&G hardwood cannot be glued down in this manner.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar. GL
Jan 25
This is in the bathroom. Right now we are down to the bare wood planks. What should we use as a sub floor before installing the vinyl Flooring?
Most commonly called luan, ( 1/4" smooth on one side ply) Screws, ring shanked nails or you can rent a special stapler to put it down with. Use a special joint compound on the seams and any small imperfections in the wood. Dries an matter of minutes , 1/2 hr at the most. Most commonly used for this is called Ardex, but there are others on the market.
Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar..GL
Jan 24
Green homes are the trend these days. In a world where people are fast using up the earth’s natural resources and irreversibly so, green buildings have gained importance in the real estate industry. Green building techniques include the use of building materials that are renewable and locally available. Green homes protect the environment, control energy costs and may serve as affordable housing. Today more and more builders are focusing on building green homes as these structures are proving to be profitable investments.
Many people believe that building green homes is a social and environmental responsibility and should be promoted by not just governmental authorities, but also by builders, developers and real estate professionals. Green homes save money and maintenance and are healthier to live in.
Building a green home is not complicated as one would think. The National Association of Home Builders has listed guidelines for building green homes that are very useful for home builders. The guidelines include an easy-to-use checklist that builders can follow during the construction process. With local home building associations creating regionally appropriate green building programs, the concept of ‘green homes’ is taking off among home builders.
Some people believe that building green homes involves a lot of money, at least more than conventional homes do. On the contrary, experienced green home builders say that building a green home is not as expensive as it is hyped to be. Custom builders can build green properties at the same costs it takes to build conventional homes because green building materials are now readily available and cost efficient. Green products such as user-friendly insulation, chemically neutral paints and Flooring, natural landscaping products, compact fluorescent bulbs, solar roof panels, etc. are all readily available. Because most green products are energy efficient, installing them helps the home owner save a lot of money that otherwise would go toward footing a home’s utility bills.
Environmental consultant David Johnson in his book “Building Green in a Black and White World” provides extensive survey information on home buyers’ preference of green homes. One national survey puts the percentage of the market that is open to and interested in green buildings at a whopping 50%. This is proof enough for the growing popularity and demand for green homes. Builders can join their local green building programs to take advantage of this growing market segment. Home buyers can opt for green homes, which are energy efficient, environmentally friendly, durable and cost efficient.
Rakesh Lall
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/why-buy-a-green-home-or-condo-85120.html
Jan 22
Hello, I am going to install Hardwood FlooFlooring into my home, I was wondering if anyone knew of the best place to get dark hardwood flooring?
Hi yes! I can help you with that with so much great deals of best quality purchase of dark hard wood flooring ifloor.com offer you the easiest way of shopping your future home floors.
Jan 17
Being a homeowner you know a lot of hard work goes into making the kitchen and bathroom the best they can be. Often when you are in search for a Flooring material for these areas which combines strength and durability with timeless good looks, it’s very hard to beat all the virtues of ceramic tile. Often when a single tile on your kitchen or bathroom wall breaks it makes the whole room look completely unsightly.
Large Variety:
Tile products are easily available in unbelievably large options of colors, patterns and textures. The fact alone can be overwhelming when trying to choose the perfect tile to suit your needs. But very often which seems to confuse consumers more than design choices is the difference between the types of tile.
Each and every type of tile is made from a different composition, and that is what determines the tile’s body color, texture and density. Generally there are three basic types of tile: Ceramic Tile, Porcelain Tile and Glass Tile. Among the three, ceramic and porcelain are the ones that confuse consumers most.
Ceramic Tile Installation Methods:
There is various different installation methods used to install ceramic tile. A successful installation of ceramic tiles depends on the proper use of quality installation materials or more commonly referred to as setting materials. Selection of the correct setting materials is as important as your tile selection.
Thin set is most commonly used while installing floor tile over a concrete or similar surface. It is a form of cement or bonding mortar. Thin set is usually sold in 50 pound bags and is relatively inexpensive.
Grout is another method which is a setting material that you will use with any ceramic tile installation. It is the cement that will fill the joints in between the tiles. There are generally two main types of grout, non-sanded and sanded.
Organic Adhesive which is also referred to as glue, organic adhesive is used to install ceramic tile on walls, counter tops, etc.
Latex bonding chemicals are just another way of installation which is primarily mixed in with the thin set to increase the bond strength.
Sealers can also be used for installation must which can be used with tiles that are not glazed such as Mexican and terra-cotta tiles. The installation process for these types of tiles can be quite complex.
Ceramic floor tiles maybe cold to stand on, but are durable, water-resistant and resistant to stains and spillages. They are available in numerous colors, patterns and shapes and are generally made of natural clay, decorated on one side with colored glaze. The surfaces of floor tiles are normally glazed (although floor tiles are not as highly polished as wall tiles), matt or have an unglazed finish.
Unglazed tiles once laid must be sealed with the proper proprietary sealant. The stronger floor tiles come in larger sizes and are thicker and darker on their underside. They are vitrified, that is, fired at a higher temperature so that the particles fuse together. This leads to the tiles being almost unbreakable when laid.
Cutting Ceramic Floor Tiles:
It is always wise decision to buy a few extra tiles, in case a tile cracks or breaks while cutting it to fit, or to keep as a convenient spare in case of accidental damage in the future. The method of laying tiles on a floor is similar to the method for laying them on a wall.
However to cut floor tiles, floor tile cutter with angled jaws or a floor tile cutting tool is required due to their thickness. Use a wooden stick to mark the length of tiles along its length and later it can be used as a tile gauge. It should be kept in mind to allow spacing for grouting.
Laying Ceramic Floor Tiles:
A waterproof, floor tile adhesive should be used which allows slight flexibility when set. Use a layer of adhesive on the back part of the tile and press into the desired position. It is very important to lay the first tile correctly, because its position will determine the position the other tiles.
A batten nailed to the floor can give a straight edge to guide the positioning of the tiles. Plastic spacers or thick card can also be used to regulate the distance between the tiles. These areas will be grouted when the floor tiling is complete and therefore must be equally spaced for neat, accurate results.
Cleaning Ceramic Floor Tiles:
Ceramic tiles do not require polish as they come with a natural glaze or matt finish. Sweep should be preferred rather than vacuum, as the end of some vacuums can scratch the surface.
Allan Wilson
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/try-ceramic-tiles-for-your-new-floor-covering-95264.html
