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Floors, Kitchen

Accident free kitchen floor

Tired of falling down the floor while walking around the kitchen and cooking? Or just even walking through to serve the food? Sick with the dullness of your floor tile? Is there something to remain dull any longer? Install hardwood floors! Decorating tile kitchen flooring when remodeling is no more than the only way to avoid those kinds of accident and also to have a new exciting look for your kitchen. Kitchen is part of a room used to prepare food as well as cooking, and occasionally as well for eating and engaging with guests, if the kitchen is big enough for a lot of people and intended to be used that manner. Even though the most important purpose of a kitchen is supposed to be for cooking or preparing food only, the kitchen can also be the core of other activities too, mainly within homes, depending on the size, furniture, and other things.

It can be an easier said than done decision when you are not clear in your mind of precisely what you need for your kitchen. Decorating kitchen flooring is a not easy thing to plan and accomplish. So before you begin for a redecoration of your kitchen area, you should always research first in what to do and what kinds of kitchen tiles exist. Then you will be able to budget your money for the upcoming transformation of your kitchen floor tiles.

Kitchen floors have to be sturdy as much as necessary to handle the abuse that it is given every single day. Durability is essential. It ought to be trouble-free to clean and preserve. There will be a lot of food spills so carpet for a floor covering is not an excellent pick for the kitchen. It is not just difficult to be a dirt free floor but it is as well not very sanitary. Contaminants can be trapped in the threads of the floor covering. Your choice for the kind of kitchen flooring ought to take into the description of your taste as well as sturdiness and preservation. In kitchen flooring, you should first choose what kind of material to use for your kitchen. You should choose a kitchen tile that’s made of Wood Tile or Cork Tile or French Roof Tile. These kinds of tile are not slippery so as to prevent accidents. You should not use the tiles that are slippery like the common bathroom tiles you usually see.

Next thing you need to do for decorating tile kitchen flooring is to check is the size of the tile you are planning to buy. You should also choose the size to know if your kitchen will look good depending on the size. The larger the tile, it will make the kitchen look bigger. It is not the only approach to set other than there is also less grout. Grout is a cover of plaster for finishing a ceiling, wall or floor tile. The larger tiles give the kitchen a cleaner appearance and can in fact make a small place give the impression of being larger in form.

Floors, Wood

Installing hardwood floors: Guides and Tips

Many homeowners choose unfinished hardwood as their flooring due to many reasons. Hardwood gives any floor a natural beauty and a classic look. Wood floors are also good investments since they can add value to your homes. That is why decisions like installing hardwood floors should not be taken for granted.

What makes hardwood floors (like Mohawk floors) different from other types of flooring is the fact that it is a beautiful natural product. It is considered to be one of the oldest flooring materials, making it comfortable and very durable. Hardwoods are also very versatile, giving homeowners a lot of possibilities for accessorizing and adding inserts into the wood floor. But its performance and appearance depends mainly on how it is installed and its finishing process. Installing wood floors can actually be done by any homeowner. All you need is the right material to use and of course, your wood floors.

Materials / Tools Needed:
o Hammer.
o Finish nails.
o Measuring tape.
o Masking tape.
o Hardwood flooring glue.
o Notched trowel.
o Hardwood floor strips.
o Tapping block.
o 1/4″ lauan plywood underlayment.
o Pneumatic stapler.
o Safety glasses.

Before installing or restoring hardwood floors, it is important to take note that they should not be installed in an area below the ground since these areas increase the risk of damaging the floors due to moisture. Another important thing to remember is that hardwood floors should only be installed on solid and sturdy surfaces. If you have checked the area, then you can now proceed with the installation. Follow these steps in installing hardwood floors:

1. Mark where the joists are using a pencil, chalk or any marker. These joists are the beams which serve as the supporter of the floor.

2. Hardwood has the tendency to expand during warm weather and contract in cold weather so it is better to stop the flooring at this point to give ample time to the change in the wood. Start measuring 3/8 inch from the baseboard and draw a line on it.

3. Looking at your starting point, find the longest wall that is straight as the starting point. Place one end of the board to the baseboard line. See to it that the hardwood plank is perpendicular to the joist of the floor. This will serve as the supporter of the flooring.

4. Using a hammer, nail one end of the board into the sub floor and the joist since a pneumatic stapler cannot reach this area anymore.

5. Just repeat the process of putting down the boards. Always see to it that the tongue and groove ends are fitted together. In attaching the flooring, use the pneumatic stapler.

Hardwood floors require some maintenance and actually do add beauty to your home. With its natural beauty, it can give any home a classical or traditional look. If you want this kind of ambiance in your homes, then consider hardwood floors in your houses as the best solution.

Floors

Mohawk: Flooring with durability

Like, unfinished hardwood floors, mohawk is one of the respected brands in flooring. It ranges from Mohawk carpets to rugs and now it introduces its new innovative creation called Mohawk Laminated Flooring. These new flooring features InstaClic which is glueless installation based upon preparatory technology. Here are some
reasons why you should have Mohawk Laminated Flooring in your home:

* With the glueless laminated flooring you can just slide and fit together the boards. This provides you fast-fitting and you can never get too tight in a spot

* May it be classic or contemporary, you will surely find a style, color and texture that will fit you. Wooden floors offers you a wide range of designs from real wood to stones or even tiles. You name it and Mohawk laminated flooring has it.

* Similar to linoleum floors, Mohawk will adapt in every room. Just simply follow the right way of installation and you’ll surely get the best results.

* When it comes to resistance, Mohawk is ready to face and wipe off high heels, cigarette ashes and even kiddy calamities and avoid water damage. It is also built with strong resistance from scuffs and scratches.

* Maintaining and keeping your Mohawk floorings is easy. A damp mop is all you need but there are also cleaners which can be purchased in supermarkets. Make sure that these cleaners you bought are recommended by your supplier. When it comes to stains a nail polish
remover will do its magic.

* Mohawk flooring is not sunlight sensitive which means you don’t have to worry about color fading due to sunlight.

* Mohawk flooring comes with padding which makes the floor more comfortable like in the kitchen and this will make your feet much comfortable and relaxed. It has also underlayment which diminishes the irritating hollow sound laminated floors produce.

Things to remember in keeping you laminate floorings:
– Keep your floor from dogs and cats or other animals that will damage your floors. Although Mohawk floors are durable but they can be scratched with untrimmed pet claws.

– Never drag furniture with laminate flooring instead place underlayment below the heavy object to be drag in order to protect your floors.

– It is also advised to use walk off mats in your doorways and felt pads under your all furniture legs.
– There are colored burn-in, filler sticks available for deep scratches, gouges and chips. These are used with special electric knives in order to repair these areas.

– If the damaged plank is severe you can do replacements without destroying the whole floor. Special tools, router bits and wood spines are used for plank replacements that make work easier.

So if you are looking for floorings that will fit your personality and style, this floor is for you!

Floors

Dealing with unfinished hardwood floors

Hardwood flooring is in the class through itself; not just a selection in flooring, but more similar to a custom. Hardwood floors make available the tribute of tradition.
Unfinished hardwood floor refers to flooring that needs sanding and finishing on place once setting up is done. This kind of unfinished hardwood floor is normally ¾ inches in thickness, tongue and ridged through end matching and on hand width ranges from 2 ¼ inches to 5 inches wide. Flat timber flooring is wider than 5 inches is on hand, but usually on a special order basis. Some times, hardwood floors are damaged by water.

Unfinished hardwood floor is usually a square edged item for consumption through a few exemptions. Board lengths on manmade flooring will range from 12 inches up to 78 inches on a random length basis. Elongated length flooring is on hand on a special order basis. This kind of flooring ought to be nailed or stapled over accepted plywood sub floor and should be fixed on or exceeding grade. There are 3 grades; the first grade of flooring is the clear part that refers to the most spotless grade of flooring, surrounding the smallest amount of color difference and no knots. Board lengths can differ from 12 inches to 78 inches but in general it has a longer standard length, normally approximately 3 inches long. It provides a cleaner, contemporary appearance for your interior. Additionally, fewer boards make installations fast and simple. You may use vacuum cleaners for hardwood floors.

The second grade of flooring is the select and better part that refers to flooring that has further color difference and can include some small pin knots. It as well permits for some sticker soil. Board lengths can differ from 12 inches to 78 inches but in general having a medium standard length of 2.5 inches long. Shady and dramatic flooring makes a statement in any living space. The last grade of flooring can be referred to as the first grade of flooring or the second grade of flooring ordinary and in general describing flooring through a total range of color which consists of mineral streaks, sticker stain, and solid knots of differing size. Board lengths can differ from 12 inches to 78 inches but having a shorter standard length, normally in the region of 2 inches in length.

Wooden floor is an ordinary thing that is the staple of the hardwood floor production ever since the turn of the last century. The red and white oak or palisander rosa being is the most ordinary domestic specie with the 3 grades of flooring and a variety of each cut. Whether its strip is1 ½ inches or 2 ¼ inches x ¾ inches in thickness through random lengths or hardwood floor includes the fresher engineered are the most frequently used for each and every job finishing, staining, and the custom wood floor systems.

Floors, Wood

Solutions 101: Hardwood floor water damage

No matter how careful and how hard you try to keep your hardwood floor clean and dry all the time, exposing it to water and moisture is just inevitable. High levels of moisture and water spills can cause significant damage to hardwood floor if not properly dealt with. Here are some ideas and tips on how you can restore and fix hardwood floor water damage.

When wood is exposed to heat, water and humidity, the wood expands due to the increase in its moisture content. The wood becomes wider which often results to cupping or buckling. But keep in mind, there is no problem that can’t be solved. A lot of various techniques can be applied to repair warm hardwood floor water damage. The most basic step is to effectively dry and restore the hardwood flooring. Immediate action is important so as to avoid prolonged exposure of the wood to moisture. Different drying methods can be done depending on the size of the wet and damaged area. Small water spills can be dried using soft towels. Air drying and using dehumidifier are solutions too. Increase air circulation by opening windows and doors or by using fans while a dehumidifier can be used to remove moisture from the air resulting to faster drying out. Never use heaters for drying the wet area for it may cause permanent damage on the wood.

If the hardwood or linoluem floor has cupped already due to the moisture imbalance on the bottom side of the wood planks, the only way to bring it back to normal is to balance the humidity in the area. After the top and bottom side of the floor has stabilized, a professional can sand and flatten the hardwood floor to re-finish it. You can also do it on your own provided that you have the know-how. This goes the same for buckled hardwood floor where boards are already lifted up from the subfloor in which they are attached to. A hardwood floor installer can help you in reattaching the wood planks to the subfloor. Another hardwood floor water damage which is very common is the occurrence of mold and mildew stains. Badly infected floor boards have to be replaced already. If it can still be helped, scrub the floor using mild alkali like washing soda and mix four to six tablespoons of it with a gallon of water. After scrubbing, rinse it with clear water and let the floor dry thoroughly.

Now, if the mold has already grown under the paint of the hardwood floor, remove the finish and then scrub the wood using an abrasive cleaner. After that, use a solution of trisodium phosphate, a cup of chlorine bleach in a gallon of water. The wood needs to be sanded after all spots have been removed. Rinse it with clear water, allow it to dry and apply a wood preservative. Do all these before repainting the hardwood floor. For unpainted wood surfaces, warm soapy water can be used then dry it using an absorbent cloth afterwards. Once you have seen any minor problem on the floor, it is important that you find a way to fix it right away so it won’t lead to bigger hardwood floor water damage.

accesories, Cleaning

Vacuum cleaner for hardwood floor: choosing a good partner in hardwood floor maintenance

You have a beautiful, clean, and well-polished hardwood floor and you want it to stay that way for a long time. A good vacuum cleaner for hardwood floor is something that can help you with that task. The questions are: what qualities make a vacuum cleaner good for your hardwood floor and how to pick the right one?

In choosing a vacuum cleaner for hardwood kitchen floor, style has to be the last thing you should consider. The first things you should look into are the head of the vacuum cleaner and its suitability on your hardwood for linoleum floor. The main purpose of this equipment is to help you maintain the quality and ensure the longevity of your hardwood floor. For that to be possible, the vacuum cleaner ought to be nonabrasive to floor finish. There has to be no turning bristles, rotating brushes or buffing head as well as sharp edges which can scratch the floor surface. Brushes are more suited to cleaning carpeted and ceramic areas. Those being said, choose a versatile vacuum cleaner model that has the ability to lift the brush when not required.

Vacuum cleaners nowadays have wet and dry modes. Be careful in buying a vacuum cleaner for hardwood floor that has automatic water flushing or application as these may cause discoloration and bumps on the floor boards. Pick a vacuum cleaner with strong suction capabilities so that when you intend to use the wet mode, you can be sure that your floor is as dry as it was. The suction power also counts when it comes to picking up animal hair. Which one now, cord or Cordless vacuum cleaner? This mostly concerns convenience of use. Cordless vacuum cleaners are most of the time battery-operated and are rechargeable. This will sound as a better option if you don’t want to deal with electric wirings while vacuuming around.

In doing any household chore, you want it to be as less strenuous as possible. You need to look for a vacuum cleaner that will not put much strain on your back. This is where the height and weight of the model come important. Upright models are preferable so that you need not to lower your back while vacuuming. Weight should also be considered especially if you are using it on areas which require you to lift the equipment like on the stairs or any elevated part that has hardwood floor. 10 to 15 pounds is the ideal weight for vacuum cleaners. A good vacuum cleaner for hardwood floor is the key to preserving its beauty. Keeping your floor away from spills, stains, scratches and damages in any way should not be as tedious as it sounds. If you have the right tool, it can be done with no sweat.

Floors, Kitchen

Great kitchen flooring choices

One of the biggest challenges in kitchen planning is the kitchen flooring. A lot of facets should be considered. The floor should be comfortable enough, however, it should also be able to resist stains and the damage brought about by walking. The proper kitchen flooring should be maintained but at the same time it should also meet the demands of a fast-paced kitchen. Accidents in the kitchen are also unavoidable, and this has a staring effect on the kitchen floor. To avoid such consequences from occurring, it is beneficial that right form the start the right kind of flooring is installed.

The largely familiar type of flooring is wood. This is very traditional flooring but if often results to high maintenance costs. Wood can acquire water causing it to crack and warp. Moisture can also cause a wood floor to cup or coronate, thus, resulting in uneven surfaces. One way to address this problem is by defining the sand bow section or by ripping the whole floor and building it again. Both of these options are not favorable and would cost a lot of money. A more reliable kitchen flooring option is pottery slate tiles. This type of flooring cannot take up moisture, so the problem of warping of cracking up is not a concern. Also, since these materials re rigid, they also do not undergo an increase or decrease in size.

An extensive array of slate and ceramic or linoleum floorings in various colors is offered in the market. They are also make ideal floor surfaces as they are slip resistant, unlike wood floors which can become slippery upon absorption of moisture. To further boost the anti-slip ability of a slate kitchen surface, make sure you are using one with a low gloss or destination point. Another good option for kitchen floors is laminate flooring. Laminate flooring enables you have to the wood floor effect nut without the need for constant maintenance. It is also very affordable, simple to install, and has a high-resistance to moisture, stains, and other damages. Laminate flooring is also designed to handle high pressure and excessive walking.

Vinyl flooring is a viable option too. It also very affordable and it’s even good to look at. A very busy kitchen floor can make good use of vinyl flooring as it very durable and moisture-resistant. Vinyl flooring is a very popular because like laminate flooring, it can be installed in the likeness of a stone, marble or wood floor. This floor type also does not require high maintenance- little dusting and mopping would do. If you are going a natural look, without compromising the durability, stone tile flooring is a good option. Stone flooring tiles are very unique that each tile piece would have the same exact color and texture. They come in all forms form elegant, to rustic and even contemporary. Though this cost some money, it still one of the floorings that is proven to last for a long time. There are a lot of kitchen floorings to choose from. In picking out the beast flooring in your kitchen it should be within your budget and it should serve your kitchen’s purpose the most.

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