Category Archives: Flooring

Bamboo flooring has been receiving an increasing amount of buzz in the past year.  This has to do for many reasons.   Bamboo flooring is an environmentally sustainable flooring option that is reasonably priced, durable, and can look beautiful.  Read on, and we will go in depth into the pros and cons of bamboo flooring, and tips on how to find cheap bamboo flooring.

First of all, let´s take a quick look at bamboo.  This is a material that has been used for centuries in many parts of the world, but is only now starting to see widespread use throughout North America.  It can be used for basic needs such as tools, but we… Continue Reading…

A loft is the space in the upper story, attic, or basement of a building directly under the roof. Its uses include everything from storage to living space. Loft apartments are large adaptable open spaces created or transformed for residential use, generally improved upon industrial buildings. Industrial buildings developed into condominiums instead of apartments are loft condominiums, and either kind is a warehouse-to-loft conversion or loft-style if it is directly above a business on the street level. The main difference between a loft and a traditional apartment or condominium is the open floor plan layout. Lofts have very few walls, if any at all, compared to the compartmentalization via walls in traditional constructions. The next difference is that of construction strength. Initially, loft spaces are not suitable for anything more than light storage of boxes and household goods. If one is converting this area… Continue Reading…

Today’s modular homes span the residential housing market from affordable single-family homes up to high-end luxury homes all with a myriad of available modular home floor plans or the buyer’s own design. Modular built housing construction has been growing at above a ten percent rate over recent years. Do modular homes provide the lowest cost per square foot when building or remodeling? Should you consider a modular construction for a starter home, for room addition(s), for a step-up to a larger home, for a vacation home, or for downsizing and retirement? What are the advantages? What is a modular home?

If you plan to build your own “stick-built” home, be prepared to spend 5-6 months and 30 hours per week overseeing and choosing contractor(s). A modular home can save most of this effort and provide substantial savings. Some confusion exists between modular… Continue Reading…

Over time, hardwood floors can lose their good looks as the finish gets worn. Fortunately, refinishing hardwood floors is something that can be done as a do-it-yourself project. By refinishing the floor yourself, you can bring back its original shine and make it look like new without having to spend a lot of money for a refinishing service.

To refinish a hardwood floor, you will first need to prepare the surface. Of course, all furniture, rugs, and other removable items first need to be removed. Then the floor will need to be checked for hazards like nails, carpet staples, and anything else that would harm sanding equipment. If nails are sticking up, hammer them down beneath the surface. If there are carpet staples, these will need to be pulled out. Pull out or hammer down any other such unsandable protrusions you… Continue Reading…

Home and business improvement is seldom inexpensive. Flooring is no different from any other part of that equation. There are many cheap flooring options available that can help lighten this load and lower the costs of replacing old floors. The buyer is always cautioned about extremely low prices. Rock bottom prices can often mean rock bottom quality. With careful consideration, however, one can really find great deals that will go a long way towards making sure that improvement projects are well within one’s budget.

A do it yourself approach may be acceptable to some consumers. This sort of an operation may very well drop the cost of a flooring project. This sort of a solution is most viable as an option for those who have a background in some sort of construction work. Linoleum tiles are often the choice of such projects, and they can run… Continue Reading…

Hard wood floors are a beautiful addition to any home, but they can require a lot of cleaning. Keeping your wood floors clean does not have to be a difficult task, however it may take a bit of time each week to keep them thoroughly clean. This guide will help you clean and care for your wood floors.

Sweep

Wood floors should be swept as often as possible. It’s important to use a soft bristled broom when sleeping hard wood floors. Stiff or hard bristles could scratch the floor.

Vacuum

A couple times a week you may want to vacuum your wood floor. This will pick up the dirt and dust that sweeping alone cannot remove. Do not run a vacuum across your wood floor as this can cause bad scratches. You should use a brush attachment and vacuum the floor gently. Make sure… Continue Reading…

Home flooring options come in many variations which are subject to differences in price, durability, and look. One of the most beautiful and classic types of flooring is wide plank flooring. This type of flooring is one of the most cost effective alternatives to hardwood flooring. Wide plank flooring is synonymous with old America and brings about a rustic, antique look that one cannot obtain with using other flooring types.

Wide plank floors get their name from the actual width of the planks used to lay down the flooring. In earlier times, wide plank wood flooring was the norm because the earth had an abundance of trees large enough to mill these planks and due to the fact that installation was easier because there were fewer planks to lie down. Additionally, this ease in installation led to a lesser cost for installation.… Continue Reading…

Advances made in design and material durability have resulted in a wider variety of laminate flooring than ever previously available. Affordabe laminate flooring can be purchased in a number of ways, from many sources, though the quality of laminate will vary greatly depending on the brand and intended purpose. Laminate floors are available to cover any of the floors in a structure, often mimicking wood or other natural surfaces. Replicas of tile and natural wood surfaces are appealing to the designer seeking a sophisticated look at a lower cost than the natural product. Purchasing cheap laminate flooring can cut the costs of a remodel or renovation significantly as long as the product is of a quality that will not need replaced in a short amount of time.

Wholesale prices are available to nearly every consumer. As a result of the slumping economy and growing Continue Reading…

All floors need to be maintained well to keep the beauty they came with when they were first installed. Cleaning vinyl flooring is important to preserve quality. Maintaining your floor will prevent an unwanted expense later in time and protect the time and the monetary investment already put into it.

Vinyl flooring lasts for a long period of time and is very durable but just like floors and other assets in your home they need to be cleaned regularly. A simple step like cleaning will extend the life of the flooring.

What Should Be Done to Keep Vinyl Flooring in Perfect Condition?

• After the installation of new flooring, do not walk on the area for the first 24 hour period. The temperature in the room should be approximately 68 degrees for 48 hours after the vinyl installation process and the… Continue Reading…

Placing ceramic tile flooring within a room around your home can turn a dull environment into a room filled with style and sophistication. The key to doing this is choosing the right ceramic tile flooring, making the right preparations and making sure that the tiles are laid correctly.

Preparing Your Floors When Installing Ceramic Tile Flooring

Laying a ceramic tile floor requires some planning and preparations prior to installation. You will want to make sure that your floors are level, clean and squeak free to give you the best final results. The couple of hours that are needed in preparing your floors for the installation of a ceramic tile floor can save you a great deal of time and money in the end.

Step 1. You will need to make sure that all of the old flooring is removed. If… Continue Reading…

Engineered wood floors, laminate wood floors, snap-in wood floors, whatever name the manufacturer chooses to use, these floors have exploded in popularity. The boards are comprised of a type of press board, covered with a thin veneer of real wood. This two-ply construction allows the boards to breathe a bit, expanding and contracting with minimal exposure to humidity. They are easy to install, requiring few tools. The laminates come in a variety of woods, tones, and shapes. Once installed, they are a durable, beautiful, affordable addition to any home.

With proper cleaning and maintenance, engineered wood floors will last many years. Follow these easy steps to keep the floor looking and functioning well.

Spills

Clean spills as soon as they occur. Just like hardwood floors, engineered wood floors are not designed for prolonged exposure to moisture. Additionally, some liquids… Continue Reading…

Wood floors are versatile, long-lasting and easy to care for, as long as you know what you’re doing. There are different types of wood floors, each with specific cleaning methods. If you install a new wood floor, you will have instructions from the floor’s manufacturer to guide you. But what if you move into a new home with existing wood floors and don’t have any instructions?

There are two basic types of hardwood floors: surface-sealed and penetrating-seal or oil-treated floors. Most new wood floors are surface sealed, while older wood floors are usually penetrating-sealed.

One way to tell which type you have is to swipe your finger across a section of floor. If your finger doesn’t leave a smudge, the finish is surface sealed. If your finger does smudge the floor, the floor has been treated with an oil finish, penetrating seal, lacquer, shellac or varnish… Continue Reading…

Installing vinyl flooring is one of those projects that most homeowners feel comfortable doing themselves. Before you begin, the base floor needs to be smooth and clean. This might mean sanding it down first if it is wood, either by hand or with a floor sander. Check for evenness in the subfloor by using a straight edge across the baseboards and corners of the room. Use a flashlight to check the straightedge against the floor and the baseboards. If high spots are found, you will need to sand or trim them down. If trimming is needed, use a small saw and a ruler, being careful to only cut away the exact amount needed. For very small pieces of flooring, a putty knife or flathead screwdriver can be used to trim the excess away. Check the subfloor for nails, and remove them if any are found.… Continue Reading…

There are many ways to remove chewing gum from household carpets. These are some of the most common ways that will help you remove the gum without causing any damage and in most cases will conceal a stain if at all possible.

First and foremost try an ice cube. Rubbing an ice cube onto the affected area will cause the chewing gum to harden and cause it to break apart into pieces allowing you to remove it more easily. It will also leave the least residue if any. This is by far the cleanest way possible to remove most chewing gum from a carpet or a fabric type surface.

Second you can try peanut butter preferably the creamy kind but any will work. Peanut butter has oils in it that will cause the gum to become less sticky. In most cases you can take a teaspoon of peanut… Continue Reading…

Laying a hardwood floor is a combination of art, science and hard work, but the beautiful outcome of a job well done can justify the amount of effort involved. As in many home improvement projects, proper preparation is fundamental to getting a result that looks good and that stands up over time.

PREPARATION

Before starting to lay a hardwood floor, both the room and the flooring need attention.

For the flooring, preparation is simple. Since hardwood is a natural material that responds to its environment, it needs to be acclimated to conditions in the room where it will be installed. The flooring should be stored in the room where it will be laid for three to four days prior to installation. If it arrived in boxes, they should be opened. Some situations require a longer wait because of the presence of materials like fresh… Continue Reading…