If you plan to invest a sizable sum of money and purchase Hardwood flooring you definitely need to know some basics about the specifics.

It will pay off in the long run if you do your homework first.

In the quest to finding the right flooring for your home, understanding things like the characteristics , traits and quirks of hardwood flooring before you shell out some cash or charge card you need to know this about “finish in place” hardwood.

Nature’s rich beauty is abundant when displayed through the character of a “Finish in Place” hardwood floor.

In addition to various wood species and finishes, these hardwood planks are also available in different widths that make a prestigious addition to any home.

Finish in Place, or unfinished hardwood, is installed in the home and then sanded. Then stain and 2 to 3 coats of polyurethane finish are then applied.

Urethane finish, brushed or mopped on, is also known as a “floor finish” not a “furniture finish”.

Expect a lot of dust when finishing.

Since your floor is being finished in your home, you need to know that your floor will not be “dust free”. It’s  impossible to create a “dustless” environment.

Some dust will fall onto the freshly applied topcoat of the polyurethane finish. You may also see sanding marks, small bubbles and brush marks.

Finish in Place floors may be screened and re-coated to rejuvenate the finish and revitalize the floor’s natural beauty.

The diverse possibilities of hardwoods.

Each species of wood has its own unique characteristics. Color is determined by what part of the tree the wood originally comes from. Heartwood, the oldest, densest, innermost section of the log, is often darker and richer in color than sapwood, which lies closest to the bark. The color difference may be so pronounced that heartwood and sapwood from the same species are marketed under separate names.

The grain pattern is determined by the species and how the wood is cut.

Natural variations in the color and grain are normal and to be expected. Similar to natural stone, these variations create the beautiful and unique look of a wood floor. They make your floor close to be being a unique one-of-a-kind beauty.

Wood moves naturally.

Wood floors will expand and contract due to moisture and temperature changes, causing hairline cracks, slight height variations or both.

Hardwood does not expand or contract equally in all directions. This is not considered a defect but a natural result of nature.

In dry climates, you may want to consider purchasing and using a whole house humidifier to help minimize the shrinkage of the wood and hairline cracking.

Facts about subfloors.

No sub floors are perfectly level. When walking on your hardwood floor you may hear hollow sounds where your sub-floor surface has dips and ridges.

This does not affect the integrity or installation of the hardwood.  Hollow sounds are normal and are not considered a product or installation defect.

All hardwood floors will fade, darken or change shades over time. Exposure to sunlight will greatly increase this process.

Window treatments are recommended as well as rotating area rugs and furniture regularly to allow floors to age evenly from UV exposure.

Pre-finished hardwood flooring

• Pre-finished hardwood flooring is a work of natural art, the classiness of a pre-finished hardwood floor adds beauty and value to your home. Its  easy care and durability is suitable to almost any lifstyle
• Each species of wood has its own unique characteristics and the conditions of nature that the wood matured in make each floor unique and individual.
• Pre-finished hardwood floors are sanded, screened and stained in highly efficient directly at the manufacturing plants.
• Several coats of urethane are sprayed on the boards and then they are UV dried for a very durable finish.
• Pre-finished floors may be sanded and recoated to bring new life to the finish and the floor’s natural beauty.

Do you know the entire cost of ownership of pre-finished hardwood flooring?

The “cost per square foot” of your hardwood floor is just one factor of the entire project cost. To ensure there are no surprises, and the hardwood you select fits within your overall project budget, be sure to think through and calculate the total cost of your hardwood floor covering project.

You are likely to incur additional expenses such as Furniture removal/replacement and Demolition/disposal of your old flooring, subfloor preparation, delivery charges, Hardwood installation charges, materials required for the installation and financing charges.

Although carpet and hardwood have been at the forefront of the flooring world for decades, tile is quickly becoming a mainstay in homes, apartments, and office buildings all over the world. While carpet is associated with comfort and hardwood is linked to elegance, neither flooring option matches the overall versatility of tile. In addition to being easy to maintain and clean, tile has connections to both beauty and safety.

A closer look at the benefits of tile installation will show homeowners and commercial property managers alike why this unique floor covering is more popular today than ever before.

• From a financial standpoint, tile is noticeably less expensive than hardwood, and although carpet is usually cheaper than tile, the maintenance and replacement fees linked to carpet make it pricier than tile in the long run.

• Tile is perhaps the easiest flooring material to maintain. The fibers of carpet invariably will collect allergens and other harsh toxins that can be hazardous to the health of the entire family. Hardwood, on the other hand, has a tendency of changing colors and warping when exposed to liquids and humid climates.

• Furthermore, tile is fully resistant to water damage, making it the perfect choice for kitchens and bathrooms.

• Spilling wine or any other colored liquids on carpet will often force homeowners to replace the flooring altogether. If the same liquid is spilled on tile, a mop and a few towels will leave the floor shining brightly.

• Most tiles installed today are covered with a thin no-slip layer than will prevent dangerous slip-and-fall accidents.

• Tiles are available in virtually every size, color, shape, and design. No matter how unique the interior design of a home is, there is a tile that can match and enhance the overall appearance of the house.

Anyone considering replacing their current flooring with tile should consult with a tile installation specialist to learn more about how tile can improve the look and value of their home.

By Nancy Davies

For most of us at home our carpets are our pride and joy. They’re one of the first things somebody sees when entering our home. No wonder that we want them to be clean and neat at all times.

However we often realize that finding a good carpet cleaning service is quite challenging. When we know there is a guest coming soon, we rush to have a good cleaning done. This is when we quickly call various services and ask for prices and how fast can they do the job. And this is where most of us fail and get a bad job done to our carpets.

Looking for cheap carpet cleaning proves to be often times the wrong way to go about. We’re saving money in one place only to realize later on that we have to spend more on buying a new piece or needing a better cleaning service as the previous one failed us.

There is a fierce competition out there between the various cleaners out there and most of them are undercutting on price so they get most customers. However this means that they get a rush job done quite badly, since they are not getting paid enough.

So when you want to hire a carpet cleaning crew, don’t go for the cheapest one, but go for the one which has the best reviews all around. Ask your friends, ask your neighbours, ask your relatives and get references from them. If somebody had good experiences with these services, they’ll be quick to tell you, so you will be safe in the knowledge that you get a good service for a decent price, and you won’t get a rush-rush job that will destroy your floor covering in the process.

If you ask me, however, I’ve found the best solution last year and never looked back. Instead of employing any of these services (that cost a mini fortune, let’s be honest), I bought my own little McCulloch steam cleaner and I’m using that to clean all my floor coverings. Not only that but I can also clean with it upholstery, window coverings and even garments. And while initially there was an upfront investment when I bought it, I don’t have to keep paying every time I need my carpets cleaned. All I need to do is take out my steam cleaner and do the job in a jiffy.

If you are thinking of protecting your garage floor with garage floor coverings then you are making a good decision. These products help protect against harmful substances such as road salt, chemicals and oil and gas. These types of things are exposed to your concrete on a regular basis, so you need something effective and durable.

Garage floor coverings are not just for the do it yourself mechanic. They are for anyone who has a garage. They keep the flooring looking great and you never know when you might sell your home, so it is also a good selling feature. There are all sorts of products on the market to keep it looking nice and clean.

Garage floor coverings can consist of floor tiles that are not quite the same as in house tiles. This specific type of tiles does not need to be glued to the concrete. They are put together end to end and the seams are sealed with a construction adhesive. Another type of floor treatment consists of a large mat that is rolled out over the entire floor or a specific portion of it. Two of the main types of tile include a PVC tile and a rubber tile. PVC interlocks very easily and is stain resistant.

If your desire is to have garage floor coverings that are only for the automobiles tires then there are specific mats available for this. Many people apply an epoxy as a floor treatment but the application is not an easy process, if not done properly, it will require several coats.

For the do it yourselfer that uses their garage as workshop or the person that has a separate workshop, keeping the floor clean from spills is a necessary task to prevent accidents and to prevent the floor from deteriorating rapidly. This is why these coverings as so important.
You can look for garage floor coverings for your workshop or garage in several places. Try your local big box home center or your local mom and pop hardware store to support local businesses. You can also do a search on the internet, as there are many reputable dealers online as well.

All types of garage floor coverings will improve the appearance of your garage, increase its durability and add to the value of your home. A garage floor takes a lot of abuse, quickly becoming an unsightly and smelly mess that can be dangerous to work on. With so many products currently available, anyone can change their garage from an eyesore to a luxury car showroom overnight, while adding years to the life of the original cement by protecting the floor from wear and tear. There are three methods to covering the floor surface: epoxy paint, garage floor mats and garage floor tiles. All three can be installed easily and inexpensively and are simple to maintain.

Epoxy floor paint is used to seal porous cement floors from mold and cracking damage caused by garage spills and ground moisture. It is a must for long-term durability. Used alone it will improve the appearance of your floor, and make cleaning up fast, but painted cement is a hard and slippery surface ill-suited for standing and walking upon. A non-professional can apply epoxy paint, which costs from $2.50-$5 a square foot, but the preparation, mixing and painting is time consuming and difficult. Applied by a professional, the labor costs from $5-$15 and hour on top of supplies. Using additional coverings over a sealed floor will lengthen its life even more.

Garage floor mats are economical, improve the look of the floor and are quick and easy to install. Costing less than $2 a square foot on average, they are the fastest of all three options to put down. They can be purchased online, as a roll or a complete mat, and installation is as simple as cutting them to fit the garage as needed, and then unrolling. They create a seamless look in a smaller garage or can be used only under the car in a larger garage. Manufactured with raised patterns to reduce slipping, they are not a good solution for use on unsealed cement floors, as the ground moisture seeping upwards through the pores of the concrete will be trapped under the non-porous polyvinyl of the mat, causing mold and bacteria to flourish and eroding the floor over time.

Finally, garage floor tiles are an excellent option for a custom look. There are more styles and colors available than epoxy paint or floor mats, and the tiles themselves interlock for easy installation. They are more expensive and only slightly more difficult to install than floor mats, and range in price from $3 – $6 per square foot. The tiles come in wood, rubber or polyvinyl. Wooden garage floor tiles have a plastic interlocking system underneath them and provide a cushioned surface for standing, but they are noisier to walk or drive on than polyvinyl or rubber tiles. Rubber and polyvinyl garage floor tiles usually interlock themselves, without a plastic frame underneath, and are durable, withstanding up to 50,000 lbs of pressure. They absorb sound, do not damage easily, and maintain their good looks for years. All three types of garage floor tiles are porous enough to allow liquid to drain through them without allowing small pieces of hardware to fall through, making them an excellent choice for flooring if you regularly hose down your garage floor.

PR Log (Press Release) – Jan 14, 2010 – Wool piles carpets were the first plush pile carpets introduced to the market over 50 years ago. They were made of pencil point styling and were staple or spun fibers. Wool fibers were mainly soft in solid colors and generally are still preferred this way. The cost of beautiful wool carpets can range from $55 a square yard to over $100 a square yard. You might say they were the fiber of the rich and famous when broadloom carpet was introduced. Broadloom carpet? It simply means that they are made in widths greater than 27 inches.

Nylon piled plush carpets came into being in the 60′s and the rest is history. Now everyone can have beautiful nylon plush carpet in 12 & even 15 wide widths. Plush fibers are mainly made of gorgeous staple and spun piles. This type of yarn gives even lower priced plush styles a crisp and pencil point definition. That means when you look at the carpet you can see each fiber that comes out of the backing of the carpet. Plush pile fiber comes in different face weights. They range from 25 ounces to 60 and 70 ounce fabrics.

It’s recommended to use a 50 ounce face weight plush pile carpet for a family of 4. Remember density, face weight gauge and pile height make up the carpet fiber. Carpet construction, carpet fibers, carpet dye method, carpet styles, and even carpet color selection, all play an integral part in carpet performance. Carpet offers more than simply softness under foot. Carpet absorbs sound, reduces heating and cooling costs by improving R-value, and offers lower maintenance costs when compared to other flooring systems.

In the 1980′s continuous filament was introduced in plush piled carpet. Continuous filament nylon [CFN] an extremely resilient fiber not to mention the wonderful wear when a carpet is constructed of CFN. The look is a little more casual in this type of construction but the benefits are awesome. Again Shaw has introduced Anso Green fiber that has no mat warranty and is even guaranteed on stairs and steps

What should I ask about when selecting a great quality carpet? Carpet construction, carpet fibers, carpet dye method, carpet styles, and even carpet color selection, all play an integral part in carpet performance. What about wholesale prices? Brandon, Judy and I have been in business since 1973 and operate a mobile showroom now which brings carpet samples directly to your door, this greatly reduces overhead cost and gives you the advantage of seeing, touching and color coordinating in the comfort of your home. We even measure your room/s for free [usually extra by carpet stores] we’re down to earth folks too:) Our son Brandon graduated with top honors as a certified floor installer [CFI] and works with a pro crew which allows us to offer even lower carpet prices.

Shaw, Mohawk and Beaulieu Industries are the primary big 3 makers. They make plush carpets of nylon, wool and polyester fibers. Shaw makes plush with R2X stain resistance and also Anso Nylon fiber. Mohawk has Wear Dated and Beaulieu has Stainmaster fiber. Shaw and Mohawk also manufacture using Stainmaster. All three of the above mills also extrude their own nylon fiber and tuft them into beautiful plush carpets.

Home-Based Carpet will bring plush carpet to your home where you can try it where you use it. You can count on us for helping you make the correct choice for Visit our all inclusive carpet web site at………http://www.Home-BasedCarpet.com

Call us today at 513-373-8540 to see beautiful plush carpet

Carpeting Or Hardwood Flooring – Both Are Beautiful But The Flooring Info Page Can Help You Find The Flooring That Is Best For Your Home Or Office

Thinking about a new hardwood floor or carpeting for your home or office?  Today there are more choices for floor materials than ever before and trying to select the right flooring for your home can depend on your budget, your decor, the makeup of your family and other personal considerations. Likewise, there are many considerations to weigh when selecting flooring for your office or commercial property. The Flooring Info Page will provide you information on many types of flooring materials, including hardwood floors, laminate floors, vinyl tile and resilient flooring, ceramic tile, and carpet.  This great web site  will also give you information about many brands available so you can more knowledgeable when you talk to a flooring contractor, or a flooring supplier for a do-it-yourself project.  To help you make good choices and become a better flooring shopper, visit the Flooring Info Page at http://www.clcweb.com/floors .

Hardwood Floors

There are two basic types of hardwood floors, solid wood floors and engineered wood floors.  Both are very beautiful and durable, but each has some limitations. Solid hardwood floors are usually installed during the initial construction of a home or commercial building, and the types of solid hardwood available are much fewer than the engineered variety. They also have to be nailed down during installation, making sub-flooring a requirement if your base floor is concrete.  If you like exotic hardwood floors, you may want to look into the engineered hardwood. The Flooring Info Page takes a look at the different types of hardwoods, how they are installed and some of the great choices out there to make your home more beautiful.

Carpeting

The selection of carpet color and texture is a very personal choice. Carpet comes in almost every color, pattern, and texture you can imagine. You will want to select a color that unites your decorative elements and creates the atmosphere you desire. Ever-popular beige carpet can make a room look spacious; but for a bolder statement, look for a common color in your furniture and draperies. Choose a carpet with a similar hue. Environmental colors, like blues, deep greens, rosy quartz, and stony neutrals are becoming increasingly popular.  The Flooring Info Page has the information you need before you visit the carpet dealer.    

To help you make good choices and become a better flooring shopper, visit the Flooring Info Page at http://www.clcweb.com/floors .

PR Log (Press Release) – Feb 15, 2010 – When it comes to choosing the right oak wood flooring for your home or office space, there are many important aspects to consider. One of these is the type of finishing effect for your floor. There are a wide range of finishes available, each one giving the oak wood a unique look and feel. Here are the different finishing options available from Oak Floors Online:

1. Lacquered Finish
This process involves treating the oak with a UV lacquer, which sits on the surface of the board and gives it a smooth, glossy appearance. 7 coats of UV lacquer is applied to the surface of the oak after sanding, along with an Anti-Scratch coating for further protection.

2. Brushed and Natural Oiled Finish
A brushed and oiled finish allows the natural beauty of the oak board’s grain to shine through. To achieve this, the surface of the oak is brushed to remove softer fibres from the grain, leaving the board slightly textured. Then a natural oil is applied to the surface to enhance the beautiful grain feature of natural oak without darkening the shade of the wood. One advantage of this finish option is that scratches are not as visible as with a smooth surface, and those that are can be easily repaired by sanding the affected area and applying another coat of oil. Another is the fact that by adding another coat of Waxoil to the surface you can achieve the ‘best of both worlds’; a factory quality finish in the colour that you want.

3. Double Brushed and Dark Oiled
Although this process can be more expensive and time-consuming than the standard brushed and oiled finish, the results make it a worthwhile investment. Using slightly darker oil greatly enhances the oak’s natural features and gives an authentic, ‘antique’ look to the wood. This finish is particularly popular with areas that see a high volume of foot traffic, such as bars and restaurants, as scratches are not as visible as they are on some other finishes.

4. Unfinished
This is a very popular finish as the board can be installed, and then finished however the owner sees fit. The wood can be painted, oiled or lacquered to create a tailor-made appearance specifically for you. This allows you to choose whatever finish you desire, whether it is to match something within the room already or simply to create your own little bit of uniqueness.

Whichever type of oak floor finish you choose, it is important that you buy from the right supplier. Oak Floors Online specialises in top quality oak flooring and prides itself on over-delivering when it comes to customer service and quality of product. A recent survey revealed that 96% of their customers would recommend Oak Floors Online to their family and friends.

What’s more, Oak Floors Online are the only retailers in the UK to offer a lifetime quality guarantee on all of their oak floors. This means that, should you experience any problems with your floor at any point, and those problems are proven to relate to a fault within the structure or quality of the product itself, Oak Floors Online will replace the entire floor, no questions asked.

For more information about Oak Floors Online, or to browse their range of oak wood flooring, visit the Oak Floors Online website at http://www.oakfloorsonline.co.uk/.

Problem with traditional flooring options

a. Tiles – Moisture seeps in from below through the concrete and has the power to weaken the bond of the adhesive used for tiles

b. Hardwood or Laminate – warp and buckle due to moisture. Possibility of damaging in case the basement gets flooded

c. Carpet – Acquire that elusive smell caused by mold growing below the soft veneer

d. Painting – May delaminate or come off due to the presence of moisture

The easiest alternative to more traditional flooring options is stained concrete flooring. You have a lot of flexibility with color schemes and designs.

Benefits of Concrete floors in basements -

a. Unlimited color and design options: Stained concrete flooring has a unique beauty that’s bought to life by different finishing and coloring techniques. There is no predetermined color palette to limit designs.

b. Longevity – Few floor covering products have the longevity of concrete. Carpet, tile and wood floors eventually need replacement, which uses up resources and creates disposal problems.

c. Stained concrete flooring is a great alternative to carpeting for people who are allergic to animal dander and dust mites. Concrete does not support the growth of toxic mold.

Stained concrete flooring consists of application of a reactive stain (acid stain) over the existing concrete surface. The stain reacts with the lime in the concrete thereby developing a natural, organic and variegated earth tone colors. If the existing substrate is covered with glue, paint or cure & seal, a thin layer of concrete called ‘micro-topping’ is applied and subsequently it is stained. After the staining process is completed, the floor is sealed with an epoxy and polyurethane sealer.

http://www.duraamen.com