Category: Flooring


Making the Best Choice in Flooring Material

Filed Under: Flooring
Nov.18, 2009

Flooring is at the top of the list when it comes to adding value to a home. When it comes to making the best decision for choosing the right flooring for a room it can be difficult at times. However, if you apply a few basic rules you can find just the right style to meet your flooring desires. This article will help you in your next flooring decision.

So, How Much Traffic Does The Room Get?

When putting together your plans for a flooring remodeling project on a room you must ask how much traffic the room will have on a regular basis. If it is a highly walked on area then the flooring must of course be ore durable. Is cleaning the flooring of importance? Will it be susceptible to dings, scratches, and dropped items? Will the cost be more important that the look?

OK, once you have determined your most important aspects to the flooring you can move to the next step of making a good choice in flooring material. Ok, what is going to be the true investment in this flooring project? If it is an investment for along period of time then you will want to think about longer lasting materials. The biggest mistake is actually made when people put in an expensive carpet or flooring material and then up and try to recap the value immediately. If you feel that you might move in the next three to five years you may want to add this to the consideration of using a lesser expensive flooring material.

Now that you have most of your ducks in a row by knowing the traffic flow and the longevity of the home for your needs it is time for another phase in the deciding factor. Money is always a word that must be talked about when it comes to any home remodel or building a home. If money is of no problem then you will not need to worry. If money is tight you might be able to get some nice flooring and still stay within your budget.

Just Because It Cost More Does Not Mean It’s Better!

If wood flooring is on your list of possible choices you may try some of the other choices on the market like laminated wood flooring. If you are looking to install a flooring material in a room that will perhaps be lower on your lost of priorities then you may be able to get high end at a low end price. Most people look at cheaper material because they do not use any creativity in find the best flooring choices. You can often find overstock material that is priced at a fraction of the cost. This is extremely effective if you are not as worrying as much about the style.

The last question you must answer to make your flooring choices easier is who is going to do the labor? If it is you then you then you want to find out the best flooring material for a self install. Do you have the proper skills and tools for the job? Some times the tools needed to really do the job correctly will make the choice a little easier. Maybe it will be slightly more to have someone else install it after you consider the cost. If you plan to have a flooring contractor install the flooring material for you then make sure they will bid it on the right dimensions.

For more information on flooring try visiting http://flooring-solution.com, a website that specializes in providing helpful flooring tips, advice and resources to include Flooring and more.

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Ceramic Tile

Filed Under: Flooring
Nov.17, 2009

So, if you should choose to use ceramic tile in your home, what are some of the things you should look for? The following are five features to consider when shopping for your ceramic tile.

1. Finish. Ceramic tiles come in a number of finishes. You can get glazed or unglazed tiles. So, how do you know which is best for you? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of each. Glazed tile has the benefit of being more water resistant than unglazed. This is a great feature for someone with small children as they tend to spill often, and thus, water resistant flooring becomes a must. Also glazed ceramic tile is easier to clean than unglazed tile, which with children is also a plus. So, what are the cons? Well, for one, glazed ceramic tile tends to be more slippery when wet. This could be a hazard, but do not worry, this does not eliminate the pros of glazed tile from your options. What you can do, is use a glazed ceramic tile with a non-slip feature or material.

2. Size: Depending on where in your home you want the tile, and the look you are going for, will determine what size of ceramic tile is best for you. Ceramic tile come in a variety of sizes, from about 1/4″ square, to 12″ x 12″ squares and in some instances are even larger. The size is definatley a matter of choice, but for floors, a popular choice is 6″ x 6″ up to 12″ x 12″ sizes. Larger tiles work best for larger areas. For areas that may get more water, and thus become slippery, smaller tiles are a great choice as the greater number of grout lines help make the tile less slippery.

3. Shape: the shape of your ceramic tile is going to make a huge difference in how easy it is to lay, etc. So, shapes include square, rectangular, diamond, hexagon, octagon, triangular, round, and a variety of several of the previous options, or you can also have custom shapes made up for you, but this increases your costs. If you want to go for the custom look without the cost, then use more than one shape and even color of ceramic tile.

4. Color: Color is the decorators favorite option, and when it comes to ceramic tiles you aren’t limited by your choices of colors, you can find ceramic tiles in just about any color you can think of, as well as the natural hues of slate, granite, marble, and other natural stone tiles. So, to choose the best color for you home, you should realize that while some of the brighter blues, and more vibrant colors may be very attractive to you as you shop, if you stay with the neutral colors, or natural tones, the ceramic tile will be easier to match to your other flooring in your home. Also, because ceramic tiles are pretty much one of the very most durable flooring types you can find, and you will not likely need to replace it for a number of lifetimes (although you may need to regrout occassionaly), staying neutral means staying up to date. Instead of colored tiles try colored accent rugs and other colored décor. Also it is best to choose your tile first and then match the color of carpeting, vinyl flooring or other materials to the tiles, rather than the other way around.

5. Grout: The grout you choose to cement your tiles in with is going to make a difference in how your tiles look. You can use colored grouts, neutral grouts, really fine, or really course grouts. For easiest cleaning, choose grout that is a neutral color, and stay away from white white unless you want to use a lot of bleach. A gray or tan grout will hide dirt better, and leave the focus on the tiles themselves not the material holding them together.

HomeBuildingRemodeling.com is your source for top quality home building, remodeling and home decorating information. For free articles delivered daily by email, visit HomeBuildingRemodeling.com and enter your name and email under the Free Home Building and Remodeling Updates section.

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Going Green With Bamboo Floors

Filed Under: Flooring
Nov.16, 2009

Bamboo is like a hardwood, but is not a wood at all. As a hollow-grass, it is considered a renewable resource because it grows rapidly, replenishing itself. Bamboo can reach maturity in 5-6 years, growing to 80 feet in height. Considered environmentally friendly, many people are taking a whole

new look at bamboo flooring.

Did you know that bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant on this planet. Some species of bamboo can grow as much as 1 meter per day.

For the environmentally conscious, bamboo is critical in emitting oxygen in to the atmosphere; generating more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees does. As the fastest growing canopy, bamboo lowers light intensity and protects against ultraviolet rays, while acting as an atmospheric and soil purifier. Simply put, bamboo is a plentiful natural resource and a viable alternative to deforestation of the world’s trees. Choose a bamboo floor and you are helping to curb the problem of global warming.

Bamboo a Practical Flooring

Bamboo floors have a similar hardness to any hardwood floor. When bamboo goes through the manufacturing process to become flooring, the bamboo becomes hard enough to be made into solid and engineered floor planks. You would consider installing bamboo flooring in any similar location that would be good for wood floors.

Just like wood, bamboo will scratch. So, look for bamboo flooring with a solid finish on it for durability.

And just like wood, bamboo flooring can be stained. Although many people leave their bamboo floors natural preferring the lighter blonde coloring that the naturally milled bamboo offers. Keep in mind, that just like woods all stain differently, so it’s also true with bamboo. So, expect some variation in your plank colorings.

Bamboo flooring comes in both a vertical and horizontal graining pattern. Check for samples to see which style you prefer … with the grain or cross-grain cuts. The grain patterns are very different from each other, so be sure you choose the bamboo cut that is right for you.

Installing your Bamboo Floor

Bamboo can be glued to concrete slabs, stapled to wood sub-floors, and floated over most existing floor coverings. Anything you can do with wood flooring, you can do with bamboo flooring. Bamboo floors are also available in floating floor styles as well.

Installing your bamboo floor is much the same processes as with conventional hardwood flooring. The type of bamboo flooring you pick will dictate the installation process. Want to learn more about the types of bamboo floors available, visit FastFloors.com.

Marifer Vergara writes about flooring products you can buy for the home including bamboo flooring and cork flooring for FastFloors.com.

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Bamboo Flooring

Filed Under: Flooring
Aug.26, 2009

Bamboo Flooring – The Benefits

The popularity of Bamboo flooring is growing world wide because of its attractive appearance, environmental friendliness and affordable price. We offer here, a few ideas on why you should consider Bamboo flooring when seeking a new floor for your house and some installation pointers.

Environmentally Friendly

Bamboo is a naturally occurring type of woody perennial evergreen plant in the true grass family, consisting of about 1,000 species. They occur from Northeast Asia, throughout East Asia West to the Himalayas, and South to Northern Australia. They also occur in sub-Saharan Africa, and in the Americas from the Southeast of the USA to Chile. Most, however are exported from South-East Asia where it is treated against insects and to increase its strength and durability.
Bamboo is a renewable resource since it regenerates itself after it has been harvested and reaches maturity in about 4 – 5 years. Some can grow to 130ft tall and a foot in diameter, some can grow as much as a foot per day. This makes it preferable to regular trees which take many, many years to reach a useful size.

Be in Style with Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo flooring comes in lots of colors, but some of the most popular choices are those which duplicate the warmth and look of wood. It gives the appearance of something far more expensive but, because it is so available and regrows so quickly, it has become a very affordable and easy to maintain alternative. You should be able to get an excellent warranty with your Bamboo flooring, somewhere in the order of 15 to 20 years. Like so many things, you get what you pay for, higher quality costs more, so if you want to get a floor that lasts then look for the best deals on quality Bamboo flooring.

Helpful Tips

An investment in quality flooring for your home, means that you are increasing the value of your home and, importantly, reducing the possibility of having to spend even more money in repairs and maintenance in the years to come. It is false economy to choose a cheap product and to have to replace it in a few years. So spending some time in choosing the best Bamboo flooring that your budget will allow will give you peace of mind. Starting your search online is probably one of the best ways to begin but be aware of any freight or shipping costs that you may incur, plus the fact that you are not able to actually see the flooring that you are buying until it arrives at your door. Bamboo flooring is going to be the flooring of the future because of its looks, reasonable cost and of course its environmentally friendliness, which will help our future generations to live cleanly and safely.

Author: Brian McQuirk Webmaster and owner of http://www.yourfloorings.com

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Types of Wood Flooring and Finishes

Filed Under: Flooring
Aug.25, 2009

Installing wood flooring not only increases the value of your home, but it also adds to the beauty and warmth of any home. Contrary to a slate or stone flooring, wood flooring creates a warm and inviting feeling to your home. There are a variety of choices available in hard woods and other types. The wood you choose should depend on your décor and personal preference. Wood flooring is appropriate for almost every room, excluding the kitchen and bathroom due to the moisture in these rooms. Learn how to install wood flooring from a professional if you prefer to install it yourself. It is important to install it correctly to ensure it is long lasting. Otherwise, it would be best to hire a professional skilled in flooring.

Hardwood is one of the most popular choices in wood flooring and there are several types of hardwoods from which to choose. Oak, cherry, hickory, maple and walnut are some of the more common hardwoods installed, and are all able to be stained to a variety of different shades and tones. However, some hardwoods such as walnut and cherry have such a beautiful, rich tone in their natural state that you might consider leaving them in their natural color rather than staining the wood.

Once you have chosen the type of wood to install, you must consider your finishing options. Pre-finished wood is already stained and protected with a clear coating and is a good option when time is limited. It is generally more expensive, but as mentioned, it can save a significant amount of time. Another option is to finish the wood after the floor is installed. You must sand, stain and urethane the floor and the floor must be sanded after each coat. The more coats of urethane applied, the better protected the surface will be. This finishing method takes several days to complete, as suspected since the floors must dry between coats. You can also choose a distressed or reclaimed flooring finish. The floors do not have a smooth texture, but they are beautiful and have a unique finish. A benefit is that this flooring will hide scratches much better than urethane floors.

Besides hardwood flooring, you can also choose laminate flooring which resemble hardwood but are less expensive. A good quality laminate often resembles hardwood so closely that it is difficult to tell that it is not real hardwood. Armstrong flooring, for example, make quality laminates.

Regardless of the type of wood flooring you install, the care is the same. Proper care will ensure your flooring lasts. Be sure to sweep or vacuum the floor regularly. Dirt will wear away the surface and leave scratches on the floor, which are easily noticeable on the urethane floors. It is a good idea to use mats at the door entrances. Also, use a dry mop when mopping is needed. Too much water can damage the floor, such as warping to the surface, molding or damage to the backing due to water trapped under the floor.

The author Eric Slarkowski is very excited about things related to floor installation. You can find his work on wood flooring at different sources for wood flooring tips.

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Why Choose Resilient Flooring?

Filed Under: Flooring
Aug.24, 2009

How do you choose the flooring for your home? Does it have to be comfortable under your feet, durable, cost effective, easy to install and with aesthetic appeal? Resilient flooring has most of these characteristics. Resilient flooring is effective and cost efficient for both residential and commercial applications including stores, schools and health care facilities. Resilient flooring is also becoming popular with modern laboratories, computer rooms, dormitories, spas, restaurants and libraries because of its performance, wide range of available designs and a myriad of colors to choose from.

For residential application, resilient flooring is more often installed in entryways, kitchens, bathrooms and in areas where heavy traffic is often expected. More and more apartments are also using resilient flooring, which replaces old carpets. This is increasingly becoming popular especially for people with known allergies to dust and mites because this doesn’t trap dust like carpets. Resilient flooring is also easy to clean and maintain.

All synthetic and resin based floor coverings are considered resilient flooring. Linoleum, cork, rubber, vinyl tiles and sheet floorings are all resilient floorings. However, linoleum is no longer as popular as it used to be in the past and is rarely used today.

Resilient flooring is very practical for families with small children. This is because of its flexibility, resistance to water and stain and it is very easy to maintain. Its soft property helps muffle noise and is comfortable to the feet and legs. Additionally this type of flooring offers a higher chance of survival for a dropped glass, because of its “bounce back” property.

Resilient flooring is also considered one of the least expensive types of flooring materials available in the market today. It is also the easiest and quickest type of flooring to install. Although it is cheaper to install resilient flooring compared with other flooring materials, it doesn’t mean your design is compromised with the low price tag. Forget the old look linoleum floors found in your mother’s house. New resilient floorings are already available in a wide variety of colors and designs, which range from simple geometric and graphic designs to sheets that mimic other types of floors. You can commonly find resilient flooring designs that imitate wood, marble, brick or ceramic tile. Creating your own design with resilient flooring is easy because each sheet is easy to cut, making design coordination with your existing flooring a breeze.

Designers suggest that you choose small design patterns for smaller rooms and large design patterns for larger rooms. It is important to choose designs that coordinate with the design elements of the room. Be aware that light colored floors require frequent cleaning. Be careful in choosing the color and pattern of your floor. It is often a mistake to choose a pattern from a small sample. Pattern from a small sample may look beautiful but the pattern repeat can become overwhelming once on the floor.

Finally, you will love resilient flooring because it will give you the opportunity to be creative. This will allow you to create a unique floor pattern that is distinctively your own style and taste. The next time you visit your favorite home building store, look for resilient flooring. You might just find something nice for your flooring project.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Flooring.

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How to Purchase the Perfect Carpet

Filed Under: Flooring
Aug.08, 2009

You’re ready, willing and able to purchase a brand new carpet today. You decide to go out shopping but are stressed out by all the different types of carpet fibers, colors and weave patterns. Here is an easy way to shop for carpet. You’ll save money and get the carpet of your dreams.

In my line of business people always ask me, “what is the best type of carpet to buy?”. While in their homes the answer is easy because I know exactly what they are looking for. I know their needs. But for you, the complete stranger, I may need to dig a little deeper. How much traffic will the carpet receive. What is your budget? Will you be eating in the rooms where the carpet will be? Do you wear shoes in the home? All of these questions will ultimately lead you to the perfect carpet for your home.

Walk into any carpet dealer and you will most likely be faced with four types of carpet. Nylon dominates 80% of the residential market followed by olefin and polyester. Wool is very rarely found and only represents about 1% of the residential market. Some characteristics of wool include it being very absorbent. It can hold as much as ten times it weight in water and hold up to 30% of it’s weight in water without feeling wet to the hand. Wool is burn resistant. It is by far the most beautiful and posh of the carpet fibers but is very difficult to clean long term without distortion of the fibers. Red dyes in particular are very difficult to clean from wool carpet.

Olefin is found more in commercial spaces. It’s very economical. Some challenges that you may face with olefin include a very low heat threshold. Simply dragging something heavy over the carpet may produce enough heat to permanently burn the olefin and leave a drag mark. Olefin doesn’t dissolve in bleach although the color might. It’s strong but do not expect long lasting beauty from it.

Polyester is manufactured to look like nylon and is quickly grabbing more and more market value in carpet retail. If you are looking for a beautiful carpet and do not mind a short carpet life, polyester may be the way to go.

Nylon is by far the most popular and in my personal opinion best carpet available. It’s colorfast and has excellent memory. As long as it’s vacuumed properly, it will automatically spring back to it’s original shape once being stepped on. It doesn’t mat very easily. 4th and 5th generation nylon include carpet protection to help shield spills and dirt. Make sure your carpet salesman gives you nylon and not olefin. For the untrained eyes it may be challenging the tell the difference. The way to be sure you are getting what you paid for simply take a small strand of carpet filaments and put them into a glass of water. If they sink you have nylon. If they float you have olefin.

So if you are a landlord buying carpet for a tenant or the home owner, but nylon. If you are a tenant only living in an area for a short period of time, buy polyester. If you never walk on your carpets, never eat or drink in the carpeted room, and can afford it buy wool. If the carpet is for a high traffic commercial area definitely buy olefin. Regardless what you decide to own be sure to vacuum as much as possible and have a professional carpet cleaner steam clean the carpets every six to twelve months. This will maximize the life of your new carpet and really compliment the beauty of the carpeted room.

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Understanding Your Hardwood Flooring Selection

Filed Under: Flooring
Aug.05, 2009

As your old floor has become harder to clean, matted, and simply ready to give up, there is a practical alternative to restoring life back into the room. Hardwood floors add a certain type of warmth and style to any room that other floors can only try to imitate. But as you make the decision to install your hardwood floor, you must first understand how and why some types will last longer, are easier to install, and why it is a fitting choice for you.

Fortunately, hardwood floors are better produced with quality finishes and more advanced construction today than ever before because the consumer demand for them has increased.

There are three types of hardwood flooring: solid hardwood, engineered, and long-strip hardwood. Because solid hardwood is moisture-sensitive, it is not used directly over a concrete slab, but rather nailed down. There are many finishes that are available to recoat your beautiful solid hardwood floor over and over again which adds to their attractiveness for their long life span. Remember, some solid hardwood floors over 100 years old are still in thriving condition.

Engineered hardwood flooring is manufactured with sheets of wood laminated together after being stacked on top of each other to form one flexible strip of wood. Because engineered hardwood uses a cross-ply construction, it does not shrink and expand with humidity like solid hardwood does. Engineered floors of most types can be nailed down, glued, floated, stapled, and installed over concrete.

Longstrip plank floors have similarities to the engineered floors in that there are several wood strips glued together. One plank of longstrip is bigger and wider than the other types to give the appearance of multiple rows wide and several planks long. This type of floor is available in a wide variety of wood species and if damaged is easy to replace.

Understanding the hardwood flooring options will help you be a smarter shopper when it comes to the exciting time of replacing, remodeling, or adding value to your home.

Big Bobs Flooring (http://www.mybigbobs.com/) is a flooring outlet. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

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