Wooden furniture care helps to keep the furniture looking as good as possible for as long as possible. Sanding may help to keep wooden floorboards looking clean and new so it is certainly worth considering.
Getting wooden flooring in a house can bring so many different benefits, with the most visible benefit obviously being that it can look great in any room.
Many people decide to have either wooden floor boards or wooden laminate flooring in their homes. It could be that you have just got rid of your carpets after many years and realised that the floorboards are not too bad and with a bit of careful restoration they could be used for the room in the house. A lot of people didn’t think that the floor boards they had would look good but by cleaning them up and preparing them, you can either leave them like they are or you can treat them and even paint them.
Sanding Down Wooden Flooring
If you want to keep the floor boards in your house as part of the new look and they are in a bad condition, one thing that you need to do is to sand them down. It can be extremely hard work but by doing this it helps to smooth them down and it can even make them look better too.
The very thought of sanding the floor down can put people off, but it is better than spending lots of money on a contractor doing it for you. If you do not want to do it by hand then you can buy electronic sanders to help you with the task in hand. Whatever method you decide to use, at the end of it you should have nice flat and smooth looking wooden floor boards.
Wooden furniture care is always important and if you have just bought new floor boards or laminate then you will need to take care of them in order to keep them looking good for as long as possible. However something that you should take note of is the state of the floor boards beforehand. Sanding them first may not be a good idea, especially if they are seriously cracked and if they have too many splinters sticking out. If the floor boards are ok to be sanded then you can carry on with the task ahead.
If you are using a manual sander for the first time then make sure that you read the instructions beforehand and take the necessary health and safety precautions too.
Wood furniture care comes in many different forms whether it is looking after pre existing furniture or even new furniture. If you have new wooden furniture, clean it regularly and use the right products for it to avoid causing any damage in the long run.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Outdoor Flooring Materials – Ipe / Brazilian Walnut
Ipe Wood is known by many names: Ipe Brazil, Amapa, Cortex, Guayacan, Flor Amarillo, Greenheart, Madera Negra, Tahuari, Lapacho Negro. It has a number of trade names: Ironwood™, Pau Lope™ & Brazilian Walnut. These are commercial names given to Ipe lumber by large Brazilian exporters.
Trade Names for Ipe lumber, include not only Ipe wood, but also a number of other similar species like Cumaru (Dipterix odorata) and Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata). "Ipe lumber" can be used in somewhat of a more generic fashion, rather than a singular biological description. Ipe wood is often clustered with other woods that share similar characteristics.
Uses: Ipe is prized for quality furniture and decorative veneers, and because of its' strength and durability, is used in boardwalks, decking, porch floors, tool handles, turnery, industrial flooring, and textile mill items to name a few.
Description: Ipe Heartwood is typically reddish brown, sometimes with a greenish tinge, often with lighter or darker striping. Sapwood is much lighter white or yellow usually removed at the mill, although small strips along the edge can be present. Ipe hardwood has no distinctive odor or taste. Ipe wood products contain no added harmful chemicals, so it can be used near water without potential contamination.
Durability: Heartwood is very resistant to attack by decay fungi and termites, it has the durability and strength of teak, for a lot less money. The US Department of Agriculture and Forestry rates Ipé as "Very resistant to attack by decay, fungi and termites."
Fire Rating: a "Class A" fire rating, the same rating given to concrete & steel.
Preservatives: Finishes applied on an annual basis can be used to hold Ipe's original color. If it has been allowed to gray, Ipe can regain most of its’ original appearance with a treatment of Penofin.
For more information on Ipe/Brazilian Walnut decking tile, please visit www.OutdoorFloors.net, a leading distributor of outdoor flooring, decking materials, and pre-made modular patios.
Trade Names for Ipe lumber, include not only Ipe wood, but also a number of other similar species like Cumaru (Dipterix odorata) and Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata). "Ipe lumber" can be used in somewhat of a more generic fashion, rather than a singular biological description. Ipe wood is often clustered with other woods that share similar characteristics.
Uses: Ipe is prized for quality furniture and decorative veneers, and because of its' strength and durability, is used in boardwalks, decking, porch floors, tool handles, turnery, industrial flooring, and textile mill items to name a few.
Description: Ipe Heartwood is typically reddish brown, sometimes with a greenish tinge, often with lighter or darker striping. Sapwood is much lighter white or yellow usually removed at the mill, although small strips along the edge can be present. Ipe hardwood has no distinctive odor or taste. Ipe wood products contain no added harmful chemicals, so it can be used near water without potential contamination.
Durability: Heartwood is very resistant to attack by decay fungi and termites, it has the durability and strength of teak, for a lot less money. The US Department of Agriculture and Forestry rates Ipé as "Very resistant to attack by decay, fungi and termites."
Fire Rating: a "Class A" fire rating, the same rating given to concrete & steel.
Preservatives: Finishes applied on an annual basis can be used to hold Ipe's original color. If it has been allowed to gray, Ipe can regain most of its’ original appearance with a treatment of Penofin.
For more information on Ipe/Brazilian Walnut decking tile, please visit www.OutdoorFloors.net, a leading distributor of outdoor flooring, decking materials, and pre-made modular patios.
Kitchen Flooring Options
Currently, anything goes concerning kitchen floors. In the old days, there were basically two choices, tile and linoleum. Today, we see hardwood, linoleum, cork, laminate, and many different types and style of linoleum.
Let's start by looking at what does NOT work well for most people's kitchen floors.
Cork flooring is all the rage today, but it's not a very good choice for kitchen floors in most cases. Although its surface is treated, it is just too porous, and if you have kids or a dog rummaging through the kitchen on a regular basis, forget about it. It is not durable. In other parts of the home cork flooring is very popular and it's very easy to install. In most cases, snapping squares together is all that is involved.
Marble tiles are beautiful but still a better choice for bathrooms. Smooth / or polished marble is very brittle and not durable. Marble is a rock, but most people don't realize how brittle it is, and at up to $15 per square foot it's too expensive to replace if something happens. "Tumbled marble" looks great, but it's far too porous for the kitchen. As you could actually spill coffee and wine on polished marble, it's not a good idea for tumbled marble that does not clean up as well and can absorb stains. Breadcrumbs would find their way into every nook and cranny too.
Some types of hardwood; Be mindful of the seams between the hardwood planks. Wide seems and gaps will collect crumbs which may be cleaned via shop vac, but heaven forbid something sticky gets down in the cracks. If you are looking at hardwood for the kitchen, choose hardwood that goes together with the smallest seams possible.
What selections work best in the kitchen:
Laminate flooring used to get a bad rap, but it is highly improved today. Laminate, actually a "picture" of real wood, will fool quite a few people today, and the layman cannot distinguish between laminate and real hardwood. Laminate is absolutely our # 1 choice for large families and those with pets. Your kids can slop jelly bread on the floor, the dog can overturn it's dish, and your husband can drip paint all over the floor and most laminates will laugh it off. Before you turn you nose up at laminate, go out there and see what's available. You will be pleasantly surprised.
The old stand-by, tile. Most tiles are either ceramic or porcelain. "Porcelain" does not mean the tile looks like your smooth white toilet. It comes in all the shapes and sizes of any other tile. All you need to know is porcelain is much more durable that terra cotta or ceramic tile and will pass the bowling ball test. If you drop a bowling ball on ceramic tile, several will crack and need to be replaced, where porcelain will probably be just fine. You will find porcelain to be about 25% more expensive than most ceramic tiles though.
Tile cleans up very well with the exception of the grout lines. Grout lines are a stain and dirt magnet. Make sure you double seal your grout lines, and clean and reseal them every 2 or 3 years. Unlike your tile, your grout will eventually absorb stains. Clean grout lines will give the kitchen a very clean and polished feel while grungy grout can be a dark cloud over your kitchen.
We are putting hardwood in both categories because some will work in the kitchen. 3/4 inch hardwood, or engineered hardwood can work just fine in the kitchen if the seams are very tight and you don't mind a few inevitable scratches and nicks. The final word on hardwood is its "hardness." Most hardwoods are compared and ranked against "oak" or "red oak" as a measure of hardness. Make sure you buy a hardwood that is no softer than oak if you have an active family. For example, dog scratches will plague all but the hardest of hardwoods.
Finally, let's look at linoleum flooring. OK, a top New York City interior designer still will not be caught dead using laminate, and it gets a bad rap. However, like laminate "hardwood" flooring, it is very much improved. Unlike laminate, linoleum won't fool too many people, often designed to look like ceramic tile, but noting beat's it in terms of cleanup and durability. If you are putting your money into a granite countertop and new appliances, a linoleum floor is just fine, and will last for many years with minimal effort. As the cheapest option, it will be there for you if your budget is squeezed.
Let's start by looking at what does NOT work well for most people's kitchen floors.
Cork flooring is all the rage today, but it's not a very good choice for kitchen floors in most cases. Although its surface is treated, it is just too porous, and if you have kids or a dog rummaging through the kitchen on a regular basis, forget about it. It is not durable. In other parts of the home cork flooring is very popular and it's very easy to install. In most cases, snapping squares together is all that is involved.
Marble tiles are beautiful but still a better choice for bathrooms. Smooth / or polished marble is very brittle and not durable. Marble is a rock, but most people don't realize how brittle it is, and at up to $15 per square foot it's too expensive to replace if something happens. "Tumbled marble" looks great, but it's far too porous for the kitchen. As you could actually spill coffee and wine on polished marble, it's not a good idea for tumbled marble that does not clean up as well and can absorb stains. Breadcrumbs would find their way into every nook and cranny too.
Some types of hardwood; Be mindful of the seams between the hardwood planks. Wide seems and gaps will collect crumbs which may be cleaned via shop vac, but heaven forbid something sticky gets down in the cracks. If you are looking at hardwood for the kitchen, choose hardwood that goes together with the smallest seams possible.
What selections work best in the kitchen:
Laminate flooring used to get a bad rap, but it is highly improved today. Laminate, actually a "picture" of real wood, will fool quite a few people today, and the layman cannot distinguish between laminate and real hardwood. Laminate is absolutely our # 1 choice for large families and those with pets. Your kids can slop jelly bread on the floor, the dog can overturn it's dish, and your husband can drip paint all over the floor and most laminates will laugh it off. Before you turn you nose up at laminate, go out there and see what's available. You will be pleasantly surprised.
The old stand-by, tile. Most tiles are either ceramic or porcelain. "Porcelain" does not mean the tile looks like your smooth white toilet. It comes in all the shapes and sizes of any other tile. All you need to know is porcelain is much more durable that terra cotta or ceramic tile and will pass the bowling ball test. If you drop a bowling ball on ceramic tile, several will crack and need to be replaced, where porcelain will probably be just fine. You will find porcelain to be about 25% more expensive than most ceramic tiles though.
Tile cleans up very well with the exception of the grout lines. Grout lines are a stain and dirt magnet. Make sure you double seal your grout lines, and clean and reseal them every 2 or 3 years. Unlike your tile, your grout will eventually absorb stains. Clean grout lines will give the kitchen a very clean and polished feel while grungy grout can be a dark cloud over your kitchen.
We are putting hardwood in both categories because some will work in the kitchen. 3/4 inch hardwood, or engineered hardwood can work just fine in the kitchen if the seams are very tight and you don't mind a few inevitable scratches and nicks. The final word on hardwood is its "hardness." Most hardwoods are compared and ranked against "oak" or "red oak" as a measure of hardness. Make sure you buy a hardwood that is no softer than oak if you have an active family. For example, dog scratches will plague all but the hardest of hardwoods.
Finally, let's look at linoleum flooring. OK, a top New York City interior designer still will not be caught dead using laminate, and it gets a bad rap. However, like laminate "hardwood" flooring, it is very much improved. Unlike laminate, linoleum won't fool too many people, often designed to look like ceramic tile, but noting beat's it in terms of cleanup and durability. If you are putting your money into a granite countertop and new appliances, a linoleum floor is just fine, and will last for many years with minimal effort. As the cheapest option, it will be there for you if your budget is squeezed.
Fit Your Own Laminate Flooring Step By Step
Installation preparations : 1.1 - Acclimatisation of the panels; Before starting the installation the flooring has to be brought into the room where it will be installed or in a room with the same climate condition. The acclimatisation will be carried out as following: in sealed unopened boxes for a time period of at least 24 hours flat laying with at least 50 cm distance to the walls at a room temperature of at least 18°C at a floor surface temperature of a minimum of 15°C at a relative humidity between 40% and 65%
1.2 - Installation direction; flooring looks its best when the flooring panels are installed parallel to the light coming in through the windows. The only required installation direction is if you install flooring over hardwood flooring boards. In this case you have to install the flooring at a 90 degree angle to the existing hardwood flooring boards or apply a hardboard or plywood sub floor.
1.3 Planning the first row; After determining the best layout of the flooring and the starting wall, measure the width of the room and divide it by the width of the flooring panels to determine the number of rows and the width of the last row. If the last row is determined to be less than 60mm wide, it should be adjusted by cutting the first row lengthwise.
1.4 Planning of expansion gaps; Since laminate flooring is made of organic materials, it is subject to certain movement behaviours (shrinkage/expansion) due to changes in climate conditions. It is necessary to leave gaps of 10mm for the expansion in all parts of the structure i.e. walls, doorframes, stairs, around pipes.
1.5 Planning of transition mouldings; through the shrinkage and expansion behaviour of the flooring you have to install transition mouldings in the following areas: at all door throughways at all passageways single room length and/or with more than 10 m (33 ft)
The Installation Process:
Check all panels for possible damages/defects. Ensure you understand the difference between the tongue and the groove on the panel. Begin installing the first row from the left-hand corner of the room with both tongue sides of the panels pointing towards the wall. Place spacers between the edge of the flooring panels and the wall to provide the correct space for expansion.
Connect the second panel to the first by indirectly tapped using a hammer and push block, thereby joining the boards’ headers. Mark the last panel in the first row to the required length (place tongue to tongue) and cut. Start the second row with the off cut from the last panel of the first row. Always make sure the off cut is at least 500 mm long, if not then cut another piece which is greater than 500mm long. Start all subsequent rows with the off cut piece from the previous row. Connect the second row to the first by placing the interlocking end of the new panel at an angle to the previously installed panel and then lower it into a horizontal position to lock then indirectly tapped using a hammer and push block, thereby joining the boards’ headers.
Attention! A floor is considered level if the deviation height is less than 2mm over a distance of 2.5 linear metres. Deviations above this level must be levelled out before laying the underlay.
Expansion gaps and expected movement with laminate floors It’s imperative all floors must have an expansion gap of 10mm around the entire perimeter of the floor and all fixed points within the area of installation. Without this precaution the floor will move and have nowhere too go. This can cause extreme levels of pressure pushing upward and outwards, thus lifting the flooring.
1.2 - Installation direction; flooring looks its best when the flooring panels are installed parallel to the light coming in through the windows. The only required installation direction is if you install flooring over hardwood flooring boards. In this case you have to install the flooring at a 90 degree angle to the existing hardwood flooring boards or apply a hardboard or plywood sub floor.
1.3 Planning the first row; After determining the best layout of the flooring and the starting wall, measure the width of the room and divide it by the width of the flooring panels to determine the number of rows and the width of the last row. If the last row is determined to be less than 60mm wide, it should be adjusted by cutting the first row lengthwise.
1.4 Planning of expansion gaps; Since laminate flooring is made of organic materials, it is subject to certain movement behaviours (shrinkage/expansion) due to changes in climate conditions. It is necessary to leave gaps of 10mm for the expansion in all parts of the structure i.e. walls, doorframes, stairs, around pipes.
1.5 Planning of transition mouldings; through the shrinkage and expansion behaviour of the flooring you have to install transition mouldings in the following areas: at all door throughways at all passageways single room length and/or with more than 10 m (33 ft)
The Installation Process:
Check all panels for possible damages/defects. Ensure you understand the difference between the tongue and the groove on the panel. Begin installing the first row from the left-hand corner of the room with both tongue sides of the panels pointing towards the wall. Place spacers between the edge of the flooring panels and the wall to provide the correct space for expansion.
Connect the second panel to the first by indirectly tapped using a hammer and push block, thereby joining the boards’ headers. Mark the last panel in the first row to the required length (place tongue to tongue) and cut. Start the second row with the off cut from the last panel of the first row. Always make sure the off cut is at least 500 mm long, if not then cut another piece which is greater than 500mm long. Start all subsequent rows with the off cut piece from the previous row. Connect the second row to the first by placing the interlocking end of the new panel at an angle to the previously installed panel and then lower it into a horizontal position to lock then indirectly tapped using a hammer and push block, thereby joining the boards’ headers.
Attention! A floor is considered level if the deviation height is less than 2mm over a distance of 2.5 linear metres. Deviations above this level must be levelled out before laying the underlay.
Expansion gaps and expected movement with laminate floors It’s imperative all floors must have an expansion gap of 10mm around the entire perimeter of the floor and all fixed points within the area of installation. Without this precaution the floor will move and have nowhere too go. This can cause extreme levels of pressure pushing upward and outwards, thus lifting the flooring.
Where To Buy Flooring?
Do you know where to buy flooring without the headache and the annoying, pushy salesman?
The challenge to figure out where to buy flooring can be very stressful and time consuming. Have you looked all over the internet and Google to compare pricing, quality and service? You can purchase almost any flooring right from the comfort of your home without driving all over town having to deal with sales people that sometimes try to sell you something totally different than you are looking for. This article will explain the advantages of buying flooring online and where to buy flooring online.
If you already know what you want, great. If you have any questions or not sure exactly what you want you can talk to a consultant by calling the 800 phone number on the website. You can then order through their website without giving a person your credit card number. The dilemma on where to buy flooring can be quick and simple. These top flooring sites have free shipping and great discounts on some products.
I know how hard it is to chose the perfect flooring for your home, as I have sold flooring for 4 years and have had to decide on what flooring I would install in my own house. I have also had 15 year of experience installing flooring to go along with selling for a total of 19 years in the flooring industry. Some things to consider when choosing your new floors, one that looks good and has style, durability, how easy it is to clean and adds comfort to your home.
Flooring is one of the most expensive investments you have in your home so make sure you take your time and know exactly what style you want for each room once you know where to buy flooring.
Do you know what takes the most abuse in the home or business? Flooring of course, one of the most underrated things we buy! Therefore, you want to find low priced, quality flooring. We bring in pebbles, dust, soil, grease and on and on... Most of us have pets, kids and dirty welcome mat's full of little rocks outside the front and back door. If people would keep these clean daily it would help tremendously on keeping out the dust and dirt.
If you are looking for a clean environment hard surfaces is the best choice compared to carpet which collect germs from spills and stains. Think about it for a second, we walk out on the grass, sidewalk, etc... collecting dog do do and all that, lol. Then we walk right into our homes carrying all these germs and smearing them into the carpet where it is harder to get out.
Floor types: - Laminate Flooring - Hardwood Floors - Cork Flooring - Bamboo - Carpet - Sheet Vinyl - Vinyl Tile - Ceramic Tile - Rubber Flooring
If you are still trying to figure out where to buy flooring and you are annoyed with the driving from store to store and all the confusion just look online. This process could take you 15 - 45 minutes or whatever . The benefits are saving time and gas money, plus you can compare prices very easily right here, right now.
The challenge to figure out where to buy flooring can be very stressful and time consuming. Have you looked all over the internet and Google to compare pricing, quality and service? You can purchase almost any flooring right from the comfort of your home without driving all over town having to deal with sales people that sometimes try to sell you something totally different than you are looking for. This article will explain the advantages of buying flooring online and where to buy flooring online.
If you already know what you want, great. If you have any questions or not sure exactly what you want you can talk to a consultant by calling the 800 phone number on the website. You can then order through their website without giving a person your credit card number. The dilemma on where to buy flooring can be quick and simple. These top flooring sites have free shipping and great discounts on some products.
I know how hard it is to chose the perfect flooring for your home, as I have sold flooring for 4 years and have had to decide on what flooring I would install in my own house. I have also had 15 year of experience installing flooring to go along with selling for a total of 19 years in the flooring industry. Some things to consider when choosing your new floors, one that looks good and has style, durability, how easy it is to clean and adds comfort to your home.
Flooring is one of the most expensive investments you have in your home so make sure you take your time and know exactly what style you want for each room once you know where to buy flooring.
Do you know what takes the most abuse in the home or business? Flooring of course, one of the most underrated things we buy! Therefore, you want to find low priced, quality flooring. We bring in pebbles, dust, soil, grease and on and on... Most of us have pets, kids and dirty welcome mat's full of little rocks outside the front and back door. If people would keep these clean daily it would help tremendously on keeping out the dust and dirt.
If you are looking for a clean environment hard surfaces is the best choice compared to carpet which collect germs from spills and stains. Think about it for a second, we walk out on the grass, sidewalk, etc... collecting dog do do and all that, lol. Then we walk right into our homes carrying all these germs and smearing them into the carpet where it is harder to get out.
Floor types: - Laminate Flooring - Hardwood Floors - Cork Flooring - Bamboo - Carpet - Sheet Vinyl - Vinyl Tile - Ceramic Tile - Rubber Flooring
If you are still trying to figure out where to buy flooring and you are annoyed with the driving from store to store and all the confusion just look online. This process could take you 15 - 45 minutes or whatever . The benefits are saving time and gas money, plus you can compare prices very easily right here, right now.
Various Choices in Flooring, Carpeting and Rugs
People often spend much on their home's interior design and furniture but neglect to pay attention to their flooring, carpeting and rugs. You should be aware, however, that your flooring, carpeting and rugs have a huge impact on the total look of each room in your home. It can completely ruin the effect you want to achieve or it can greatly enhance your space. You should, therefore, make sure that you have the appropriate flooring, carpeting and rugs for each of your rooms. It is best to consult the experts in these things because you will find such a wide variety of choices to decide on.
Where else can you find the experts but in a very reputable supplier of flooring, carpeting and rugs such as Carpet One Floor & Home? Their sales personnel have been trained intensively and extensively to become highly knowledgeable and to be able to provide clients with the appropriate choices in flooring, carpeting and rugs based on the needs and preferences they express. These experts even know what additional questions to ask to elicit other choice factors which you may not have thought of before.
Flooring comes in hardwood, tile, vinyl and laminate.
Harwood flooring can be of solid hardwood or engineered hardwood. Solid hardwood can be bought in strips or flanks. Engineered hardwood flooring, on the other hand, is made of three to five layers of hardwood bound with laminate. Engineered hardwood is more stable and more moisture resistant than solid hardwood. If installed and sealed properly, both solid and engineered hardwood flooring are stain resistant and do not absorb spills. They only have to be mopped and vacuumed for maintenance.
Tile flooring can be availed of in natural stone, ceramic, glass and metal.
Natural stone tiles can be made of limestone, marble, slate or granite. The softest among these is limestone which is usually used for decorative purposes only. Marble is also not very strong and is suggested for areas with minimal human traffic. Slate is found to be more durable and is slip resistant even in areas that are often wet, such as poolsides and patios. Granite is considered the most durable and dense. It can, therefore, take on high traffic. It also resists moisture and bacteria.
Ceramic tiles can be glazed, unglazed or in mosaic form, and is also durable. Glass and metal tiles, however, are only best used as accents.
Vinyl flooring can be availed of in no-wax, urethane and enhanced urethane variants, and can be bought as tiles or as sheets. The oldest variant is no-wax vinyl. It is not very durable, though. Urethane vinyl resists stains and scuffs better and requires low maintenance. Enhanced urethane vinyl is the newest variant and is most resistant not only to scuffs and stains but also moisture and harsh household chemicals. Enhanced urethane vinyl can be used even in bathrooms and only needs sweeping or mopping for maintenance. It comes in various designs, some of which look like hardwood or natural stone flooring.
Laminate flooring can also look like hardwood, natural stone or tile but is more durable and, ironically, more affordable. It is resistant to moisture, scratches, stains and fading.
On top of your flooring, you can choose to add carpets such as broadloom carpets and wool berbers, or rugs. Carpeting may also be layered with rugs. You can choose from among Oriental rugs, runner rugs, area rugs and round rugs.
With the expert help of the sales personnel from Carpet One Floor & Home, you can surely make the right choice in flooring, carpeting and rugs. They also supply solid warranties that will protect your purchase. Furthermore, your purchase will include both delivery and impeccable installation services. All you need to do is enjoy your new flooring, carpeting and rugs.
Where else can you find the experts but in a very reputable supplier of flooring, carpeting and rugs such as Carpet One Floor & Home? Their sales personnel have been trained intensively and extensively to become highly knowledgeable and to be able to provide clients with the appropriate choices in flooring, carpeting and rugs based on the needs and preferences they express. These experts even know what additional questions to ask to elicit other choice factors which you may not have thought of before.
Flooring comes in hardwood, tile, vinyl and laminate.
Harwood flooring can be of solid hardwood or engineered hardwood. Solid hardwood can be bought in strips or flanks. Engineered hardwood flooring, on the other hand, is made of three to five layers of hardwood bound with laminate. Engineered hardwood is more stable and more moisture resistant than solid hardwood. If installed and sealed properly, both solid and engineered hardwood flooring are stain resistant and do not absorb spills. They only have to be mopped and vacuumed for maintenance.
Tile flooring can be availed of in natural stone, ceramic, glass and metal.
Natural stone tiles can be made of limestone, marble, slate or granite. The softest among these is limestone which is usually used for decorative purposes only. Marble is also not very strong and is suggested for areas with minimal human traffic. Slate is found to be more durable and is slip resistant even in areas that are often wet, such as poolsides and patios. Granite is considered the most durable and dense. It can, therefore, take on high traffic. It also resists moisture and bacteria.
Ceramic tiles can be glazed, unglazed or in mosaic form, and is also durable. Glass and metal tiles, however, are only best used as accents.
Vinyl flooring can be availed of in no-wax, urethane and enhanced urethane variants, and can be bought as tiles or as sheets. The oldest variant is no-wax vinyl. It is not very durable, though. Urethane vinyl resists stains and scuffs better and requires low maintenance. Enhanced urethane vinyl is the newest variant and is most resistant not only to scuffs and stains but also moisture and harsh household chemicals. Enhanced urethane vinyl can be used even in bathrooms and only needs sweeping or mopping for maintenance. It comes in various designs, some of which look like hardwood or natural stone flooring.
Laminate flooring can also look like hardwood, natural stone or tile but is more durable and, ironically, more affordable. It is resistant to moisture, scratches, stains and fading.
On top of your flooring, you can choose to add carpets such as broadloom carpets and wool berbers, or rugs. Carpeting may also be layered with rugs. You can choose from among Oriental rugs, runner rugs, area rugs and round rugs.
With the expert help of the sales personnel from Carpet One Floor & Home, you can surely make the right choice in flooring, carpeting and rugs. They also supply solid warranties that will protect your purchase. Furthermore, your purchase will include both delivery and impeccable installation services. All you need to do is enjoy your new flooring, carpeting and rugs.
The Importance of Flooring in Design
Flooring forms the base of any interior scheme and with the many choices available it can be easy to get carried away and forget about the practical aspects that need to be taken into consideration. By their very nature floors are subject to the most use and therefore need to be able to stand up to knocks, spills and furniture not to mention human and animal traffic. Purchasing a cheap floor may save you money initially but it will not last long, looking worn and tatty before its time. Flooring really needs to be viewed as an investment and there are a number of options available to suit all levels of budget. The first thing to decide upon is whether to go for hard or soft flooring.
Tiles are a type of hard flooring and are available in a wide range of natural and man-made materials. Ceramic tiles, mosaics, slate and marble are just some of the choices available and each come with their own pros and cons. The main advantage of tiles is that they are extremely hard wearing and if well maintained will last a very long time. As they are waterproof they are well suited to areas such as bathrooms and utility rooms and being easy to clean are also ideal for kitchens. However, tiles can be cold underfoot and can be slippery when wet so are not suited where older people or children are present. If they have an intricate pattern they can be difficult to fit as well as being expensive and semi-permanent. They are also noisy and require other softer surfaces to reduce the amount of echo in a room.
Wooden floors are also classed as hard flooring but being softer than tiles they are also warmer underfoot. With the huge range of natural tones available they can help create a warm and homely feeling and although they can be noisy, if ‘sprung’ it can help to reduce noise and add bounce to the floor. The downside of wooden floors is that they are usually manufactured from softwoods and therefore can dent easily especially by the heels of shoes. Wooden floors are therefore best suited to rooms that do not receive heavy wear such as bedrooms.
Carpets are classed as soft flooring and by their very nature create a sense of warmth and comfort. They can feel luxurious underfoot and are good for hiding stains and dirt. Heavily patterned carpets however, can make a room seem smaller and will date easily. Plain carpets on the other can make a room seem larger by creating a sense of space. As well as being warm, carpets also help to reduce noise whilst providing insulation by guarding against heat loss through the floor.
In addition to the above there are many other types of flooring available such as natural flooring including jute and seagrass as well as concrete flooring. The key is to understanding what function the room or area that the flooring is to be laid on will be used for and selecting the appropriate finish for that purpose. Once you have decided on that you should always choose the best quality that you can afford.
Tiles are a type of hard flooring and are available in a wide range of natural and man-made materials. Ceramic tiles, mosaics, slate and marble are just some of the choices available and each come with their own pros and cons. The main advantage of tiles is that they are extremely hard wearing and if well maintained will last a very long time. As they are waterproof they are well suited to areas such as bathrooms and utility rooms and being easy to clean are also ideal for kitchens. However, tiles can be cold underfoot and can be slippery when wet so are not suited where older people or children are present. If they have an intricate pattern they can be difficult to fit as well as being expensive and semi-permanent. They are also noisy and require other softer surfaces to reduce the amount of echo in a room.
Wooden floors are also classed as hard flooring but being softer than tiles they are also warmer underfoot. With the huge range of natural tones available they can help create a warm and homely feeling and although they can be noisy, if ‘sprung’ it can help to reduce noise and add bounce to the floor. The downside of wooden floors is that they are usually manufactured from softwoods and therefore can dent easily especially by the heels of shoes. Wooden floors are therefore best suited to rooms that do not receive heavy wear such as bedrooms.
Carpets are classed as soft flooring and by their very nature create a sense of warmth and comfort. They can feel luxurious underfoot and are good for hiding stains and dirt. Heavily patterned carpets however, can make a room seem smaller and will date easily. Plain carpets on the other can make a room seem larger by creating a sense of space. As well as being warm, carpets also help to reduce noise whilst providing insulation by guarding against heat loss through the floor.
In addition to the above there are many other types of flooring available such as natural flooring including jute and seagrass as well as concrete flooring. The key is to understanding what function the room or area that the flooring is to be laid on will be used for and selecting the appropriate finish for that purpose. Once you have decided on that you should always choose the best quality that you can afford.
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