Natural Bamboo Flooring

Natural Bamboo Flooring

Natural bamboo flooring is all about yummy yellows, buttery whites and the lightest ambers. If you prefer a room that’s light and airy, then this floor was made for you. Natural bamboo flooring refers only to the “natural” color. Not that other bamboo floors aren’t natural—because they all are. In fact, all bamboo floors, including natural bamboo flooring, are fantastically eco-friendly. Bamboo is actually a grass, not a tree so it re-grows quickly and just about anywhere, reaching maturity in less than 5 years. Yet bamboo is harder than white oak.
Our natural bamboo flooring has the same creamy good looks as oak but wears even better and last even longer. That’s because all our bamboo is Yanchi. Yanchi stands for superior craftsmanship, higher milling standards and the most beautiful and best-quality natural bamboo flooring anywhere. And, of course, BuildDirect delivers unbeatable prices

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Wood Flooring from BuildDirect

Wood Flooring from BuildDirect

Today, the varieties of wood floors which have long been in use still enjoy justifiable popularity for residences and commercial spaces. This includes traditional solid hardwood wood floors made from oak, cherry, maple, ash and walnut among other species. But technology, innovation and imagination have expanded the choices in wood flooring to an even greater degree.

Even more recently, exotic species such as jatoba (AKA Brazilian Cherry), toona, taun and tigerwood have made a splash in the wood flooring industry, offering even more choices for look and durability. Reclaimed pine floors and cork flooring, with their unique looks and impressive durability have come forth as significantly attractive and environmentally-friendly wood flooring alternatives. Engineered hardwood flooring utilizes real hardwood, but also allows for greater resistance to expansion, moisture and temperature change due to a multi-ply design.

Laminate flooring is becoming more and more popular as a substitute for real wood flooring. We offer a wide range of discount laminate flooring that can mimic virtually any style of hardwood floor. In addition to the traditional patterns of laminate, we now have handscraped laminate floors, narrow plank beveled edge and high gloss laminates that are almost indistinguishable from real hardwood.

For a greener alternative, check out our selection on discount bamboo floors. Bamboo is a resource which can renew itself in only a few years and is as hard or harder than most wood floors, making it an ideal solution for the eco-conscious consumer. Traditional bamboo imparts a tropical feel to a room but for those looking for the look of traditional hardwood with the performance of bamboo, we also offer direct print bamboo flooring. Direct print features a special process which prints a pattern directly on the bamboo which exactly mimics the grain seen in wood flooring.

While we sell discount wood flooring, we will never sell cheap wood flooring. All of our products undergo rigorous quality testing before we offer them to you and they are constantly rechecked for quality to ensure you always get the best products while still paying below wholesale prices

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Cleaning and Maintenance of Hardwood Floors

Cleaning and Maintenance of Hardwood Floors

The beauty of hardwood floor finishes is that, even though there are finish specific guidelines to follow, there are several things to do for cleaning and maintenance that apply to all of them.

Place door mats by doors, requiring everyone who enters the home to either wipe their feet or remove their shoes. Dirt particles carried in on the shoes will scratch the surface of the finish, making the floor appear aged before its time. For high traffic areas, place non-staining rugs on the floor to protect its surface. Don’t forget to place mats around areas where water may be an issue, such as in front of the kitchen sink and dishwasher.

Use furniture protectors under all furniture legs to prevent the floor from getting scratched when furniture moves. This is especially important if there is sectional furniture in the home, known to move frequently.

Sweep the floors regularly, or use a vacuum without a beater bar to clean the dust, dirt, and other debris from the surface of the floor. Doing this daily will minimize the damage to the floor.

Wipe spills clean as they happen to avoid letting any excess moisture seep into the flooring. Do not allow standing water to remain on the floor

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About Hardwood Flooring

About Hardwood Flooring

Throughout history, hardwood flooring has set the standard for beauty, richness, and style in the most elegant homes. No other flooring offers the timeless quality of wood with the undeniable warmth and comfort that says “welcome home”.

Hardwood flooring is almost exclusively manufactured from wood harvested from deciduous tree species, trees that shed their leaves in winter. Woods used in flooring are chosen for how well they wear over time, measured in terms of hardness and dimensional stability, and for color and grain ranging from the palest shade of white oak to the crimson tones of padauk or the rich burgundy black of mahogany.

The huge variety of styles, colors, and species in both solid and engineered woods makes hardwood flooring an option for any décor. While location should be considered when choosing whether to put down a solid or engineered wood, there are so many choices available that you will be able to find a floor that fits your lifestyle, your location and your style.

Care and cleaning of today’s wood flooring is quick and easy. Tedious, back breaking paste wax is a thing of the distant past. The advanced finishes on today’s floors need little more than some sweeping or vacuuming to remove any grit, and damp mopping with a simple solution of white vinegar and water for further cleaning. Occasional use of a professional wood cleaning product made especially for your floor may also be recommended. Check the manufacturer’s instructions for details

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How to Install American Walnut Flooring

 

How to Install American Walnut Flooring

 

Do-it-yourself projects can save you a lot of money and be really rewarding too. Up near the top of that list is certainly successfully installing a hardwood floor – a very tricky job indeed.

A new hardwood floor, such as the stylish American walnut flooring, can totally transform the atmosphere of a room.

A job will be more difficult depending on the condition of the floor and the types of flooring used. The types of flooring you’ll likely be using will be solid wood strips and planks, wood parquet, pre-finished engineered-wood flooring and faux wood floors made of laminates.

Every type has its advantages and disadvantages: solid wood-strip and plank flooring is arguably the most difficult to install, largely because installation requires sanding and finishing.

It is essential that new American walnut flooring should only be installed on a clean, dry, smooth, level, structurally sound flooring base. It’s also vital to allow the flooring material to adjust to the room’s humidity before installation.

To cut the flooring to the size you require use a power saw that has a fence, like a job saw and a table saw.

When fastening your American walnut flooring to the subfloor, you can use one of two methods: face nailing and blind nailing. Both can be completed using finishing nails and a hammer, but it is much faster and easier to use a power nailer for face nailing. If you’re going for blind nailing then you should use a pneumatic flooring nailer.

Getting the first rows of flooring correct is the most important step, so for this choose very straight boards. From there, you should cut one starter board for each row and these should vary in length by at least 6 inches so that the end joints will be staggered by at least 6 inches from row to row.

Once you’ve finished the first row of flooring, you should then start working inwards to the centre of the room. Fit a board for the second row so that its groove locks tightly with the tongue of the first row. You should use a tapping block to protect the tongue and allow the boards to secure tightly against the first row for gluing. From there you can just continue to lay rows of boards as you see fit across the rest of the floor, ensuring that they fit compactly against one another and are securely fitted in place to a tough solvent

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Expected Problems to Face When Removing Hardwood Flooring

Expected Problems to Face When Removing Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is a beautiful addition to any home; however, sometimes it may become necessary to remove it for various reasons. Perhaps carpet is more up your alley, or bamboo flooring because of the durability. Whatever the reason may be, removing hardwood flooring can be easy if done correctly. However, it should be noted even with the best of intentions, unexpected problems may arise. Making sure to take time to do the job correctly is the key!

One step in removing hardwood flooring is to determine if it is old growth wood or not. Old growth wood is typically, Douglas Fir, Oak and Maple. These types of wood have a higher density and fewer defects than new wood that you will find today. Often the old growth wood comes in lengths of 12 ft. or more, which you won’t find at a local Lowe’s or Home Depot. When choosing to remove old growth wood, make sure you are 100% sure that is what you want to! This type of flooring is coveted by house hunters and enthusiasts alike.

The first step in hardwood floor removal, is of course to pry up the flooring. A good idea is to pry up the first few boards to give yourself room to work. Be sure to be patient and give yourself adequate time to work on this project. One popular method of doing this is to use a circular saw. This tool can make a plunge cut along the length of the board and the result will be a board that is relatively easy to pry out. Having good tools for this project is key to not having a nightmare later.

The next step is a relatively simple one, and it is the act of prying up the boards in a neat and orderly fashion. While using a pry bar, you want to gently lift the boards up and out in the direction of the nail. This is in order to avoid breaking away from the groove. After that you simply want to work your way down the length of the board with the pry bar, little by little, instead of trying to remove it in one fell swoop.

Finally comes the final step of the process, which is a form of clean up. This is where you simply want to pull any remaining nails from the salvaged wood using large locking pliers. After that has been completed you simply want to make sure you have removed all nail stubs and debris. After some simple steps and a little patience you should be able to put down that new flooring in no time!

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Solid Wood Floors

Solid Wood Floors

The elegance of a hardwood floor adds character to any room in a home or work place. The natural characteristics of wood adds a dimension to the room that many try to duplicate but because each floor is of natures own making it is unique and as such never replicated. Solid wood floors are as the description suggests a piece of flooring cut from a single piece of wood and usually has a tongue and groove on all four sides of the board they will be either unfinished allowing you to apply your own finish or pre-finished with a lacquer or oil. Solid wood floors can either be fully glued to the floor or nailed down with a porta-nailer which drives a nail through the groove at an angle into a wooden sub floor or batten. Solid wood floors can be sanded and resealed numerous times over the years, so you can keep the appearance of your floor looking immaculate. Solid wood floors can last up to a hundred years or more
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Engineered Flooring

Engineered Flooring

Engineered Hardwood Flooring is a product made up of a core
of hardwood, plywood or HDF and a top layer of hardwood veneer that is glued on the top surface of the core and is available in almost any hardwood species. The product has the natural characteristics of the selected wood species as opposed to a photographic layer. The “engineered” product has been designed to provide greater stability, particularly where moisture or heat pose problems for solid hardwood floors. In addition to the top hardwood veneer, engineered wood flooring typically has three ormore core layers. Of course, there is greater stability with more layers. The core layers may beplywood, high-density fibreboard, or hardwood. The hardwood veneer, or top layer of hardwood, can typically be 0.6mm to 4.5mm or more in thickness. A quality hardwood veneer will provide many years of wear. Most engineered wood floors are floating and each plank is simply glued together via a tongue and grooved system or has a locking click system, therefore it is not fastened to the sub-floor, making the product very easy to install

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bruce laminate flooring

bruce laminate flooring

Bruce Laminate flooring takes technology to new levels by duplicating the beauty and warmth of natural wood and stone in this new collection of affordable laminate flooring from Bruce.
As tough as it is beautiful, Bruce laminate flooring brings the luxury of global hardwoods, hand-sculpted exotic visuals and natural stone to any room in your home.
Welcome to a world of durable beauty that exists to enhance your lifestyle, not limit it.
Bruce Laminate Flooring. It belongs in your home.
Bruce Laminate Flooring features:
•    Hi-Definition Print Technology™ is used to create extremely realistic patterns.
•    The Bruce Lock Installation method features a unique tongue-and-groove profile that allows for easy laminate flooring installation of boards by just locking edges into place and requiring no glue.
•    G3™ Wear Layer protects against wear, stains and fading. Hi-Definition Print Technology™ is used to create extremely laminate flooring realistic patterns.
A Magnum HDF Core with thermo-fused backing that forms a moisture barrier. There’s no need to worry about spills soaking in or moisture wicking up from the subfloor. You can now buy and install laminate flooring the same day!
 
the bruce laminate flooring product range
Bruce GardenStone Collection
Bruce American Home Collection
Bruce Heritage Heights Collection
Bruce Reserve Collection

The Bruce laminate flooring range is currently available in the US, Canada, and the UK

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the advantages of installing laminate flooring

the advantages of installing laminate flooring

                                  

                                    There are three main laminate flooring benefits : cost, ease of installation, and durability.

Probably the greatest laminate flooring benefit is its ability to add a smart and sophisticated look to a room, with the cost being considerably less than what it would be if real wood flooring was used. The other main benefit of laminate flooring is the natural look of a genuine wood floor that most good quality laminate flooring products have.

A furtherlaminate flooring benefit is the installation can be relatively simple if a few guide lines are followed, see our laminate flooring installation section. A considerable number of laminate flooring manufacture’s now supply glueless laminate flooring systems which simply slot together, making these systems ideal for both the DIY market are professional contractors.

The durability of laminate flooring is another benefit that is far superior to real wood flooring. Laminate flooring is approximately fifteen times stronger than hardwood flooring, and most come with a 10 or 15 year warranty. This is a considerable benefit over real wood flooring.

Apart from the three main benefits shown above, laminate flooring also has other smaller benefits that can get overlooked :

Unlike real wood flooring, laminate flooring has a high UV resistance which blocks the harmful rays of the sun and protects the design from fading. This benefit can save alot of future maintenance that would be requied to keep a real wood floor looking as good as laminate flooring.

Due to the visual design's of laminate flooring being simply an image printed onto paper (see laminate flooring makeup), the various design options are endless and provide further laminate flooring benefits.

Laminate floor boards tend to be wider than real wood floor boards, which reduces installation time for laminate flooring. This laminate flooring benefit could be a significant one, if the area that the laminate flooring is being installed into was high traffic area.

With the glueless systems of laminate flooring, there is no excess glue to clear up, and the floor can be used immediately after installation, again, another great benefit of laminate flooring if its a high traffic area..

Most laminate flooring brands come with either a 10 or 15 year warranty. Real wood floors cannot normally offer this benefit.

Other laminate flooring benefits include its low maintenance, requiring just a quick wipe over with a brush. Any spills can simply be cleaned up using a mop or sponge

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dupont laminate flooring an overview of dupont laminate flooring

dupont laminate flooring

an overview of dupont laminate flooring

           Exclusive InterPlank Design™ design creates virtually seamless joints, with a natural look of a genuine wood floor.

    MicroBevel™ technology adds depth and realism to Dupont laminate flooring.

    Real Touch® design creates realistic textures.

    Joint Guard® Glueless System prolongs the life of Dupont laminate flooring.

    Pre-installed foam underlayment on Dupont laminate flooring for comfort and noise reduction.

The Dupont laminate flooring range is available exclusively from the Home Depot chain of stores in the US. There is a "Store Finder" section for locating your nearest branch.
        Dupont laminate flooring
the dupont laminate flooring product range

Home Depot In Stock Design Choices :

Dupont Real Touch Elite Red Oak

Dupont Real Touch Elite Walnut Block

Dupont Real Touch Elite Cherry Block

Dupont Real Touch Elite Antique Oak

Dupont Real Touch Elite Maple Block

Dupont Real Touch Elite Sand Hickory

Dupont Real Touch Elite Amber Random Slate

Dupont Real Touch Elite Tavas Travertine

Other design choices are becoming available through Home Depot as special design choices, and further designs will be available at Expo Design Center's.

A full range of accessories is available to compliment the Dupont laminate flooring products

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Shaw laminate flooring an overview of shaw laminate flooring

Shaw laminate flooringan overview of shaw laminate flooring

Shaw...Where Great Floors Begin.

Shaw creates great floors for the places where we live, work, learn, and gather. Most importantly, Shaw creates great flooring for the places we call home. That's a privilege Shaw take seriously.

Shaw, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is headquartered in Dalton, Georgia. Shaw produces and sells carpet, rugs, ceramic, hardwood, and laminate flooring for residential and commercial applications throughout the world. To be exact, Shaw manufacture more than 700 million square yards of floor covering every year--enough to wrap a 6-foot wide path around the earth's equator 7 times.
The Shaw laminate flooring range is currently only available in the US and Canada. By visiting the Shaw website you are able to search for your nearest authorised retailer.
        Shaw laminate flooring
the residential Shaw laminate flooring product range

Shaw Costa Rica

Shaw Salvador

Shaw Versalock

Shaw Polynesia

Shaw HighPoint

Shaw Crestview

Shaw Cumberland

Shaw Rustic Expressions

Shaw South Pacific

Shaw Natural Splendor II

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laminate flooring v's wood flooring

laminate flooring v's wood flooring

 

There are many advantages of laminate flooring over wood flooring. Can you really tell the difference between a laminate floor and a real wood floor?
When you look at a laminate floor you will see the pattern repeat itself such as the knots, grain, etc., whereas on a real wood floor these marks would be totally random. The frequency of the pattern that is printed onto laminate flooring can be repeated every 3rd or 4th board, but in some cases all of the boards can be identical in appearance. The other sign of a real wood floor is the fact that they dent more easily and generally don’t stand up to heavy traffic, unlike laminate flooring. Have a look at laminate flooring ratings for further information on traffic durability.
If you don’t mind paying the extra, and prefer the character of real wood that develops with time, then a real wood floor is probably your best choice. A real wood floor generally costs 20% to 25% more than an identical floor that is laid using laminate flooring. However due to the public’s perception of a real wood floor, this initial extra money will probably be recouped on the increased resale value of your home.
The term “laminate flooring” refer’s to the European type of laminate flooring, which many people in America refer to as “Pergo” flooring. Pergo was one of the first to introduce laminate flooring into the US and is simply a brand name.
When talking about real wood floors, this can either mean "solid" or "engineered" wood flooring. Before the introduction of the European type of laminate flooring into the American market, the engineered type of wood flooring was referred to as laminate flooring by a lot of the flooring dealers in the US. A solid wood floor is normally 18mm thick, and once installed can then have the final finish applied afterwards. Pre-finished solid floor boards can also be installed, with just a final amount of finishing required at the end.
In the American market it is the engineered type of flooring that is most commonly confused with the European type of laminate flooring. With engineered flooring the boards are made up from various layers called “ply’s”. The top layer, called the “wearing layer”, is approximately 3mm thick and is commonly made from oak, cherry, or maple. Engineered flooring tends to be more stable than solid wood flooring in a lot of situations, and a significant cost saving can also be gained over solid floor boards. Engineered flooring can be free floating, glued down or stapled, and refinished just the same as a solid floor. For a detailed description of the construction of laminate flooring, take a look at our laminate flooring makeup page.
Laminate flooring is a highly durable product, but if it gets scratched or worn, then it cannot be refinished unlike real wood flooring. Real wood floors can simply be sanded down and re-finished like new. However, if you would like a floor that withstands heavy-traffic from normal family life, and is easy to install and care for, then laminate flooring is an ideal solution.
The choice between laminate flooring and real wood flooring can depend on a few different situations and the following may help in making your decision:
    The location of the property and its current style can determine your choice. Does the current value of your property warrant the expense of good quality real wood flooring ?
    If you are looking to increase the resale value of your property, then you need to consider the investment value of your new floor, and the amount by which it may increase the value of your property.
    Do you plan on staying in your current property for a while to make full use of a new floor, or are you looking to sell the property in the near future.
    If you have set a budget, then get the best product for your money. It may be better to install good quality laminate flooring than to choose cheaper quality real wood flooring.
    The durability of laminate flooring is better than real wood flooring. What sort of traffic and abuse will the new floor have to deal with ?
    Laminate flooring is available in water resistant and waterproof ranges and can therefore be installed into kitchens and bathrooms. Real wood flooring would be a lot more unstable in this kind of environment because of the humidity levels.
    Laminate flooring usually comes with a 10 to 15 year warranty against staining and fading from the sunlight.
    Most laminate flooring can withstand household accidents such as cigarette burns, spilling bleach, etc.
    Laminate flooring is resistant to scratches and furniture marks, and it is also 15 times stronger than a hardwood floor.
    A laminate floor doesn’t need resanding or refinishing unlike a real wood floor. However this can be to its disadvantage over a period of a few years as the laminate flooring would eventually need replacing, whereas the real wood flooring could be sanded down and refinished like new once again

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the smaller items that give a professional finish to your laminate flooring

the smaller items that give a professional finish to your laminate flooring

For laminate flooring to be installed successfully, there are a few laminate flooring accessories that will be required. There are also other accessories that are not necessities, but turn a do-it-yourself installation into a more professional finish.
All of the laminate flooring manufacturer's produce their own laminate flooring accessories and it is best to keep to one brand of laminate flooring and accessories, rather than shopping around for the best prices, and then mixing-and-matching.
Using one brand of laminate flooring ensures that all of the flooring and accessories matches in both colour and pattern.

laminate flooring underlay

       There are various types of laminate flooring underlay available. The type to choose will depend on the sub-floor that the laminate flooring is being installed onto, and any enviromental considerations such as noise transmission, etc.

    Damp Proof Membrane - used to provide a moisture barrier when installing laminate flooring over concrete/mineral based, or heated sub-floors.

    Foam Underlay - supplied as a roll, evens out minor irregularities in the sub-floor, reduces impact sound. A damp proof membrane is also requiredif the sub-floor is concrete, etc.

    Combi Foam Underlay - supplied as a roll, includes foam underlay and a damp proof membrane in one product.

    Board Underlay - supplied in board format, premium underlay system, higher performance for walking comfort, drumsound reduction, and thermal insulation. Evens out minor irregularities in the sub-floor. A damp proof membrane is alos required if the sub-floor is concrete, etc.

    Sound + DPM Underlay - supplied as a roll, combines a damp proof membrane with enhanced sound proofing qualities. Ideal for upstairs rooms.
          Typical laminate flooring underlay

          laminate flooring trims and skirtings

       
Numerious shapes and sizes to choose from depending on the installation requirement.
    Scotia Bead - used to cover the expansion gap left around the edge of the laminate flooring upto the existing skirting boards.

    End Moulding - used in situations where beading is not suitable, against patio doors etc.

    T-Moulding - used between two laminate flooring sections to create an expansion joint in large floor area's. Also used as a transition bar between laminate flooring and another floorcovering of the same height.

    Decorative Skirting - when there is no existing skirting boards (or they are being replaced), the perimeter gap aorund the laminate flooring can be covered with decorative skirting boards that match the laminate flooring. Various sizes are available.

    Skirting Installation Kit - fix these special clips to the wall where the decorative skirting is being installed, and then simply push the skirting onto them. Provides a secure way of fixing the skirting without any visable signs of fixing.

          Typical laminate flooring scotia trim

             

laminate flooring transition bars

         
These accessories are used where the laminate flooring meets another type of flooring or surface, i.e. in a doorway or open plan room.
    Carpet Transition - used between laminate flooring and carpet. Various colours available to match the laminate flooring.

    Hard Surface Transition - used between laminate flooring and ceramic tiles or vinyl flooring. Various colours available to match the laminate flooring.

    T-Moulding - see above under Trims And Skirtings.

          Typical laminate flooring carpet transition bar

             

laminate flooring pipe collars

          
When installing laminate flooring around pipes it is important to leave an expansion gap.
    Pipe Collars - covers the expansion gap around pipes. Various colours available to match the laminate flooring.
          Typical laminate flooring pipe collar

           laminate flooring stair profiles

         
When installing laminate flooring in halls and landings, it is sometimes required to laminate the staircase as well.
    Stair Nose Moulding - used on the leading edge of the step to hide the two edges of laminate flooring. Available in a various colours.

          Typical laminate flooring stair nose moulding

           laminate flooring sealants and repair kits

         
Sealants are used where an expansion gap is required but it is not possible to fix a moulding over it. Repairs kits are suitable for small scratches etc. but for more serious damage, the only solution may be to replace the damaged board.

    Sealant - this is normally an acrylic based product which allows a certain amount of movement. Various colours are available to match the laminate flooring.

    Repair Kit - select the type nearest to your requirements, dark, light, etc.. They usually come with a few colours that enable mixing together as desired to provide the best shade suited the the area of the damaged board. Most include a spatula, the repair paste, and a couple of bottles of pigment.

          Typical laminate flooring sealant

Typical laminate flooring repair kit

             

laminate flooring floor protectors

          
It is preferable to use floor protectors on all furniture, etc. to prevent scratching of the laminate flooring.
    Felt Pads - these are self-adhesive and simple stick on the feet/base of all furniture.

    Castor Cups - for furniture with wheels, use rubber based castor cups and simply place the wheel of the furniture in it. Available in colours and styles to match your laminate flooring.

          Typical laminate flooring felt pad furniture protectors

Typical laminate flooring castor cup furniture protectors

Using the above items will ensure your laminate flooring will not only look good when it is installed, but also last for many years to come.

When someone tries a do-it-yourself installation and then wonders why it dosn't quite have that professional looking finish, quite often it can just be the finishing items that make the difference.

Take the time to select the correct accessories, and your finished laminate flooring will look twice as impressive

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the background to laminate flooring

the background to laminate flooring

Laminate flooring was originally conceived by a Swedish company called Pergo AB, which was originally a division of Perstorp AB, founded approximately 120 years ago.

In 1923 Perstorp developed a process for producing decorative laminates for tabletops, an area in which they quickly dominated.

The company thought of the idea for laminate flooring in 1977, and the first laminate flooring was launched in Sweden in 1984. Pergo then expanded its laminate flooring operations throughout Europe in the late 1980's through to the early 1990's.

In January 1994 Pergo laminate flooring was introduced into 107 stores on the East Coast and Midwest of America. By the summer of that year it had proved an overwhelming success and had gone nationwide into 850 stores. In 1995 Pergo laminate flooring was introduced into the Asia / Pacific region, and in 2000 the company name was officially changed from Perstorp Flooring to Pergo, Inc.

During all of this time, other manufacturers saw the success of laminate flooring and soon started producing their own versions. The end result is a market full of so many products and variations, that knowing where to start and what to look for in laminate flooring can be overwhelming for many people. Once you have viewed the information in our Laminate Flooring Guides on the left of the screen, you should have gained enough knowledge to start making informed decisions about your new laminate flooring.

Due to its European success, laminate flooring is the fastest growing choice for flooring in America. Its low cost, durability, visual looks, and ease of installation, make it a great solution for those consumers wanting the looks of a real wood floor, but require a cheaper alternative or simply one of the other many laminate flooring benefits.

As previously mentioned, laminate flooring is available in numerous variations and styles. The most common theme for laminate flooring is to create the impression of real wood flooring, but laminate flooring is also available to create an impression of tiles or stone.

Originally laminate flooring had to be glued together and then left for 24 hours before the floor could be walked on. Many manufacturers now produce their own "glueless" laminate flooring that simply clicks together. This cuts the installation time by a hugh amount, and also allows the laminate flooring to be walked on immediately. Glueless system's are also simply to install, and great for the do-it-yourself market. Have a look at our installing laminate flooring section for more details

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the background to laminate flooring

the background to laminate flooring

Laminate flooring was originally conceived by a Swedish company called Pergo AB, which was originally a division of Perstorp AB, founded approximately 120 years ago.

In 1923 Perstorp developed a process for producing decorative laminates for tabletops, an area in which they quickly dominated.

The company thought of the idea for laminate flooring in 1977, and the first laminate flooring was launched in Sweden in 1984. Pergo then expanded its laminate flooring operations throughout Europe in the late 1980's through to the early 1990's

In January 1994 Pergo laminate flooring was introduced into 107 stores on the East Coast and Midwest of America. By the summer of that year it had proved an overwhelming success and had gone nationwide into 850 stores. In 1995 Pergo laminate flooring was introduced into the Asia / Pacific region, and in 2000 the company name was officially changed from Perstorp Flooring to Pergo, Inc. During all of this time, other manufacturers saw the success of laminate flooring and soon started producing their own versions. The end result is a market full of so many products and variations, that knowing where to start and what to look for in laminate flooring can be overwhelming for many people. Once you have viewed the information in our Laminate Flooring Guides on the left of the screen, you should have gained enough knowledge to start making informed decisions about your new laminate flooring. Due to its European success, laminate flooring is the fastest growing choice for flooring in America. Its low cost, durability, visual looks, and ease of installation, make it a great solution for those consumers wanting the looks of a real wood floor, but require a cheaper alternative or simply one of the other many laminate flooring benefits As previously mentioned, laminate flooring is available in numerous variations and styles. The most common theme for laminate flooring is to create the impression of real wood flooring, but laminate flooring is also available to create an impression of tiles or stone. Originally laminate flooring had to be glued together and then left for 24 hours before the floor could be walked on. Many manufacturers now produce their own "glueless" laminate flooring that simply clicks together. This cuts the installation time by a hugh amount, and also allows the laminate flooring to be walked on immediately. Glueless system's are also simply to install, and great for the do-it-yourself market. Have a look at our installing laminate flooring section for more details. sourse:.

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How To Prepare A Wood Subfloor

How To Prepare A Wood Subfloor

Individual boards or plywood panels make wood subfloors. Before it is covered with resilient flooring, both these have to undergo similar preparations. You have to ensure that the surface is clean with each of these floors before you apply any floor sealer. Before laying the resilient flooring on the wood subfloor ensure that the subfloor is well suspended and well cross-ventilated from underneath to avoid the ill-effect of moisture.

It is a simple process to prepare a plywood subfloor for new resilient flooring. Ensure that the panels are securely attached with annular ring nails or cement-coated nails and that the nailheads flush with the surface, if the subfloor is new. Use a wood putty for filling up of small indentations and gaps larger than the thickness of a dime between panels ; you have to allow for thorough dryness of the putty before sanding smooth.

While removing an old flooring and installing a new one make sure that every bit of felt backing, grout or any other material that is sticking to the subfloor is totally removed. Use a wide bladed putty knife to scrape loose these materials. For removing stubborn particles of felt backing, a solvent may be needed.

The old adhesive shouild be softened by heating it with a piece of iron. Better if the area is covered with a piece of paper first to prevent the adhesive from sticking to the heated iron piece. If the old floor is difficult to remove then lay a new underlayment of plywood or untempered hard board which is at least 1/4 - inch thick and cover the old floor. The level of adjoining floors should be considered before you select a new underlayment.

While preparing a wood board subfloor it should be covered with 1/4-inch underlayment grade plywood on hard board that is untempered and because most wood board subfloors, are , if not impossible, extremely difficult to smoothen and level enough for a covering of resilient floor. The subfloor must be checked thoroughly and if necessary repairs should be made before you begin the task. The loose boards in the subfloor must be renailed to make it as level as possible.

You might have to replace those boards that are bowed or badly cupped. You can smooth sand the boards that are not so misshapen. The plywood and the hard board underlayment will cover the minor indentations in the subfloor and they need not be repaired. Regardless of the fact that whether you are installing a plywood or hard board underlayment it should be installed in 4 by 4 or 4 by 8 foot sheets whichever can be handled easily. While installing the panels these three points must be borne in mind :

1. To avoid having four corners meet, stagger the joints between the panels ;

2. A gap of a dime thickness should be left between panels to allow the material to expand; and

3. Between walls and panels or baseboards a clearance of 1/8-inch should be allowed.

Fasten the panels down with 3-penny ring shank or 4 - penny cement-coated nails spaced 3 inches apart along the edges and 6 inches apart across the face of each panel. Always start nailing in the center of each panel and work out toward the edges.

Garage Flooring Protection

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Cheap Area Rugs

Cheap Area Rugs

Chances are, if you’re looking for cheap area rugs, you’re looking for quality cheap rugs that will last for a few years. There are some very affordable area rugs out there that will last you a long time, but you have to know what to buy and how to take care of what you buy.

The first thing you need to consider when buying affordable area rugs is where you are going to put them. If they are going in a damp area like a bathroom, then you have to buy a rug that does well with dampness. The same goes for rugs that you place in a child’s room. It should be easy to clean and durable. Don’t try pastel colors in a child’s room either. They show dirt and just about anything else a child can get from a table to a floor,

Braided rugs can be inexpensive, but to have them last twice as long, make sure that they are finished on both sides. When one side wears out, you can flip it over and you’ve got a braid new looking

Always put rug pads under rugs to keep them from sliding and wrinkling. You will also protect the floor from scratches and protect the fibers of the rug from wearing out too quickly.

Also read all the material that you get with the rug. This will help you know how to care for the rug and give you important information about the company’s return policy, and other guarantees.

For really good deals, go online and check retailer sites. They usually provide losts of choices and great discounts. Many have regular sales and warehouse prices and include free shipping and rug pads.

Area Rugs provides detailed information on Area Rugs, Discount Area Rugs, Cheap Area Rugs, Contemporary Area Rugs and more. Area Rugs is affiliated with Contemporary Wool Rugs

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Neutral Colors: Area Rugs Perfect for your Home Decor

Neutral Colors: Area Rugs Perfect for your Home Decor

 

Especially if you plan to decorate your house or apartment in a more luxurious fashion later on, a neutral area rug is the very best choice for you. If you want your home to look great and not cost you too much to decorate, you will want to consider area rugs because they are not only pleasing to the eye, but also practical for your home, protecting the carpet underneath.

The details may be small, like wall prints hanging, candles etc. but if you purchase a neutral area rug you do not have to worry about the area rug matching the sofa, whether or not it will fit the season, or stew over what kind of designs to choose from. And a neutral colored area rug such as a beige, off-white, or black area rug etc., you will not have to worry about your area rug being a part of your overall décor laid out to suit the season. Your area rug will be long lasting if you purchase a good one.

Some people do have the money to purchase expensive area rugs, and even switch their area rugs around to suit the seasonal colors. But if you are waiting for the means with which you can do some of this elegant kind of decorating and re-decorating, neutral colors for all your larger pieces of furniture and other home essentials, with more decorative, seasonal items that are not too costly you may be able to show off that luxurious look even in a smaller home or apartment. Items such as tablecloths, centerpieces etc. can display fine decorative details that meld together for a great overall look. Your neutral colored area rug will be a very important part of this kind of arrangement.

You can find area rugs will suit your personal style, even if they are more plain than decorative. If your area rug ties into the rest of you décor your area rug will look like the perfect area rug for the room.

An area rug does not have to “go with” a certain motif, unless it happens to clash with the motif, you can make an area rug blend in well.

You will want to make sure, just as you would with regular carpeting, that your area rug is vacuumed regularly and cleaned when necessary. This way your rug will last longer, until you can afford that fancy oriental rug you have had your eye on, or perhaps that beautiful rug with an elegant design you would love to decorate your entire living room, dining room, bedroom, or any other room with.

Sometimes, when an area rug is especially beautiful, the whole rest of the room décor is designed around the rug. Making the rug the center of attention, the main accent of the overall look of the room.

But if you are not quite there yet, in the meantime an neutral area rug is a good choice. It may not be the center of attention, but it will not distract from the ambiance or specific look you are going for.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on home decor please visit Area Rugs

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Evaluating Harmonics Laminate Flooring

 

Evaluating Harmonics Laminate Flooring

 

Among many manufacturers, the Harmonics brand of laminate flooring is worth considering for those who are looking for a floor cover that’s easy to install and maintain. Many homeowners want to have a floor covering that looks as good as real wood or stone but costs only half the price.

Since its first appearance on the market, Harmonics laminate flooring has steadily grown in popularity. This is primarily due to the ease of installing the laminates and of caring for the flooring as well.

Laminate flooring has four layers - the base and top layers are coated with a synthetic moisture-repelling sealant. One middle layer accounts for the stability of the laminate. The other middle layer is a photograph of hardwood, tile, or stone surface - this creates a faux-material effect on the laminate.

Harmonics laminate flooring does not only offer unique and beautiful designs; they are durable and last much longer than most other kinds of flooring available today. The laminates can be purchased in a wide variety of patterns and colors.

Harmonics has also made it simple for customers to install the flooring by themselves. Laminate flooring can be directly installed over the original floor. If you have carpets though, you need to take them out before starting to lay out the new flooring. However, if you are not sure about installing your new laminate flooring, you can hire a flooring contractor to install the laminate for you.

You can browse the Internet to search for online stores that sell Harmonics laminate flooring. Many websites allow you to compare prices with other brands of laminate floors. However, if you want to know the real look and feel of the material, it’s best to visit your local floor covering supplier. You can ask for advice from them, or get a sample of different laminate flooring brands. This will help you compare the different brands with each other before you decide to purchase.

Ernest Jarquio is a dedicated family man hopelessly addicted to do-it-yourself projects. For more information, visit his website, where he discusses various subjects such as Harmonics laminate flooring, discounted laminate flooring and Balterio laminate flooring. Read various articles on the different aspects of hardwood, bamboo, laminate, tile and vinyl flooring

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Garage Floor Treatment

Garage Floor Treatment

A great way to upgrade your boring old garage floor is by applying one of many different garage floor treatment options available on the market. One such option is a solvent-based urethane that repels oil, vehicle fluids and tire tracks that can all stain a concrete floor. If your vehicle does happen to leak something, all you need to do is simply wipe it off the coated floor and you are done. This can all be done by yourself or you can hire a professional to do the job if you do not have the time or are not a do it yourself type person.

Your first step involved in applying a solvent-based urethane garage floor treatment is to clean the surface with a high-pressure washer to remove all dirt and stains. Scrub the floor with a good detergent and water solution by using a scouring machine if you have one. Otherwise, you will have to use some good old-fashioned hard work. Apply a muriatic acid solution, which will rough up the floor so that the floor coating will form a good bond with the concrete floor.

If you happen to have any areas of the floor that are cracked or broken then a garage floor treatment mixture of epoxy and sand is used to fill those areas before applying the protective coating. Apply the primer with a metal squeegee and roll it out with a 3/8 inch nap roller. Let it dry overnight. An interesting technique to give you a unique floor is to throw colored paint flakes to the wet surface of the floor after applying a base coat. You will have a unique floor that no one else will have. Let the paint and flakes dry overnight and then on the following day apply a sealer. Some sealers require one coat while others required two coats. If applying two coats you will need to wait a few hours before applying the second coat. When you are finished, you should be quite impressed with your work.

If you would prefer one that is much simpler then perhaps laying industrial mats around the garage would be suffice for you. They come in many different sizes and cleaning is quite easily done with soap and water. You can remove the mats to clean them, or clean them right where they are it is up to you. They are quite durable and will last a long time as long as they are cleaned regularly. Using a strong chemical though is not a good idea because it will cause damage to the mats

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Most garages are a place to store the family vehicle however; some people use it as a spare room and not for storing a car. In this case, then your garage floor treatment would likely be more along the lines of vinyl or linoleum for durability and décor. Alternatively, you could choose the flooring to match whatever the garage is used for, such as carpet if it is a games room for example.

Your garage floor should be protected and we provide several different methods to protect any concrete floor area whether using a garage floor sealer or any type of garage floor treatment

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Because instead of laminated hardwood

Because instead of laminated hardwood

 

Consumers have ered that there are many advantages to laminate flooring flooring installed in their homes instead of traditional wood. To begin, laminate flooring is anywhere from three to seven layers of materials make it very tough. One of the layers of the laminate floor controls the appearance of the soil. E 'with photographs of the soil as something that authentic look Hardwood with wood grain, color and even knots

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As laminate technology is based on photographic images, designs can be used more than many hardwoods are present, solid. Even when you use a standard image of wood, like a grain of oak, the two become something very different. There are two boards made from solid hardwood is exactly the same from the natural grain and imperfections in the wood, but laminate models are repeated again and again. Rather than a disadvantage in > Laminate flooring, this is actually an advantage when you need laminate floor to replace a damaged table in your own will be much easier to find a new game that only your land.

One of the most interesting features of laminate flooring is hardwoods that are comparable purchased about 25 percent less. What this means for you as a consumer you feel at home the look that can be achieved without the high cost.

> Laminate without glue, and made with tongue and groove construction, so that flooring is much easier to install than hardwood and save the cost of a professional installer. Laminate flooring is called floating floor for this reason. Without glue, nails or plans to install makes it a simple task to do alone, and you will be able to get the job done quickly. Without confusion the use of glue, cleaning is a breeze.After installation, you can live your ground, who immediately began to wait for the glue to dry on a beat certainly wooden floor.

Another reason is that it installs faster than hardwood to laminate flooring laminate plank is because they are slightly wider than the boards hard. This means that you need to cut fewer boards and install, which means that you can process in a much shorter time to have done.

It will be awesome as the durationlaminate floors. It was designed plans are about fifteen times as strong as the best natural wood. Because of its strength, is much harder to damage a laminate floor and will stand up to heavy traffic much better than wood does. Many laminate flooring products hardwood have fifteen or ten year warranty, which is much longer than the guarantees offered. This shows that manufacturersLaminates have more confidence in the durability of their products, and you can too. This is good because they can not be rolled polished and finished to renew their beauty and hardwoods.

Another great quality of laminate flooring is that they are ultraviolet (UV) blocking the sun and prevent this fading of the color of the soil. Floors lack this quality, which is another reason why they need a lot more maintenance than is laminates do.One does not need to polish a laminate floor with fade, even if you could, but you must speak with an account on the hardwood.

Enjoy the ease with which you can keep your laminate flooring. Designed so that no trapped dirt, care, day by day is only part of the course to clean the floor with a brush or dust. Spills can easily with a sponge or paper towel, clean and not damage the floor. Much more caution is requiredto keep hardwood floors looking their best

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