filledandchilled

by timber_floors

Solid Wood Flooring in the Home

A solid wood floor can add warm tones and a stunning finish to any room. Constructed with pieces of solid wood they have tongue and groove sides so they can be easily connected together. Each piece has a different grain which combines to form a unique look whenever it is used. There is a huge variety of solid wood floors available with many types of wood species, colours and widths available at hardwood flooring suppliers.

The most popular option is oak wood flooring. Europe and America are both the main consumer and producer of this type of hardwood flooring. Oak is available in various types including red, white and European oak, each with their own hardness, grain and colour characteristics.

A cherry wood floor is another popular choice due to its striking grain markings and solid composition. Like other wood floors it is highly resistant to damage. Over time cherry wood flooring darkens from a pale pink colour to warm dark red tone

Exotic hardwoods can give a room a unique look are now readily available at major hardwood flooring suppliers. They can be found for sale alongside other classic real wood flooring such as maple, oak and ash. Real wood flooring can be purchased in pre-finished or unfinished styles. When laying unfinished wood flooring the product can be recoated many times to increase its life and make it last considerably longer than other flooring options.

When laying solid wood floors, begin with a flat, dry and solid sub floor such as concrete, wood or cork. Carpet is not suitable as a sub base and must be removed. Any deviations in level should be rectified with suitable floor filler. A plastic barrier to stop moisture is recommended for floors that are being installed on concrete or in damp areas. Harwood flooring should also be allowed time to acclimatise before it is set down by leaving it the room for several days. For a bathroom wood floor contact you local flooring supplier for suitable product support.

If you are using a wood floor sub base the solid wood floor should be installed at right angles to the original floorboards to aid strength and stability. An expansion area around the perimeter of the room is also recommended to allow for contractions and expansions throughout the winter and summer months. This expansion gap can be covered with skirting boards or a cover strip.

Solid wood floors are tough and hard wearing and by taking care of them their life can be prolonged. Keep gravel, dirt and grit at bay by using a doormat outside and inside the front door. Regular sweeping and vacuuming will take care of any dirt that does settle on the floor and will reduce scratches and everyday wear and tear. Avoid wearing stiletto heels on solid wood floors and if possible only wear indoor shoes or slippers on its surface.

Nothing comes close to the finish that can be achieved with a solid wood floor. By installing solid wood flooring the value of a home often increases and it can give a home the edge over similar property on the market. Solid wood floors are stain resistant and do not trap dust so are especially good for allergy sufferers. There is a wide range of tones, styles and prices on the market so whether you are looking for a cheap wood floor or the ultimate in hardwood flooring, you are sure to find the right match for your room.

by Mr.Thomas

Why Engineered Wood Flooring is Best

Wooden floors have been a common preference for many homeowners and interior designers over the years because it presents a warm, beautiful, and sophisticated look to any house that laminate and vinyl are unable to match. Nevertheless, wood flooring is now getting to be much more widely used for the reason that engineered wood flooring has created the choice both more effective and a lot less expensive so that it is an excellent option for every household. Entirely eco-friendly and with several finishes and colours available, engineered wood flooring is one of the top purchases that you could make for your home.

In brief, engineered wood flooring is flooring that are developed by layering solid wood and MDF together and then gluing and pushing the layers to produce a stable fit. Each of the layers is very carefully placed to make sure that a cross grain construction is produced which lends to its durability and good tolerance to water and dampness. This also helps prevent the wood flooring from warping over a period of time, which can be one of the major issues which home owners encounter with real wood floors. In fact, given the distinct characteristics of engineered wood flooring there’s been an influx in creative designs such as edging and radiator roses.

In addition there are a wide selection of widths and thickness to select from, though more often than not 3 and 5 ply flooring is bought with regards to engineered wood flooring. As stated before, its ability to deal with moisture which makes it the most appropriate flooring for many rooms where commonly you wouldn’t consider wood flooring to be a possibility such as cellars, and bath rooms. Mainly because as opposed to its solid wood counterpart, engineered wood is able to bear up to high volumes of traffic in addition to any differences (irrespective of exactly how dramatic) in temperature and moisture.

Engineered wood flooring is usually more favourable as a flooring option in many cases because it comes in pre-finished and finished styles, enabling the individual to easily install the floor in one step and it is instantly functional. In addition, since engineered wood floors are normally only about three-eighths to five-eighths of an inch thick, it makes it possible for them to be fitted on top of already present floor surfaces which makes installation a truly straightforward procedure. Therefore, rather than worrying about finishing, sanding, or removing the existing floor before an area is ready for use, engineered wood flooring could be installed in only one day.

As soon as it is the time to actually install engineered wood flooring into a house there is the selection between lengthier panels for installs that are ‘floating’ in style, or simply opt for the effortless tongue and groove boards, which can make it more realistic to think about installing the flooring without the need of any specialist assistance.

Lastly, there is a demand to take a close look at the veneer of the wood flooring that is being thought about considering that the thickness of the layers will denote how eye-catching the end product comes out to be.

The alternate options to engineered wood flooring are laminate and real wood. Each of which have their pros and cons.

Laminate floors appear to be similar in looks to real wood floors but are normally more cost effective and in some ways being more robust, and with distinctive finishes and beveling options available this kind of flooring can certainly still provide a real wood look at a portion of the cost . Because the laminate is not affixed to the sub floor, leveling is vital to ensuring a top quality finish. If the sub floor is bumpy the laminate floors may have a bouncy feel to it. Because some laminates simply click together without the need of adhesive it is quick to fit. Solid wood floors, as the name suggests, are a type of wood flooring that is solid wood all the way through. With its natural beauty as its principal focus, its drawback is that it might be susceptible to scrapes and dents though this isn’t essentially a serious problem in the long term due to the fact that real wood floors can be sanded down on many occasions.

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Quick Step Laminate Flooring – Choosing And Caring For Your Laminate Floor

One of the attractions behind laminate flooring is the fact that it is easy to care for and has a long life span, but there are many choices of flooring available so pickling the right one can be a tough decision, do you buy cheap and go for the budget bargains or do you pay a little more and get a quality product that will stand the test of time.

It’s also important to look for the best supplier possible. Here it’s important to consider that word-of-mouth reputation is very important even if you’re shopping for an on-line supplier, and that means that you need to be sure of the company that you’ve selected.

Get An Email Address and Phone Number

It’s great if you can ask friends or colleagues or even family members for references and you need to remember that the best flooring suppliers will also have complete customer service capabilities. That means when you’re dealing with an on-line retailer, you need to be sure to get both an email address and a telephone number so that you can contact the supplier whenever you’ve got any questions.

Quick Step Laminate Flooring

While the experts agree that quickstep laminate flooring is an excellent choice and is appropriate for almost any room in the house. It’s this versatility that makes it one of the most popular flooring products on the market, but like any other kind of flooring this particular brand also needs to be cared for to preserve its looks and finish for as long as possible, so there are three important steps that you should look at so that the your laminate flooring stays in the best shape for as long as it is down.

Get To Spills Quickly

First off, it’s important to remember that no matter what gets spilt on a laminate floor you should make every effort to clean it up as quickly as possible. Although this kind of floor is both tough and durable it will stain under extreme circumstances, and you want to be sure that you use a damp soft cloth and wipe spills quickly.

Protect High Footfall Areas

Whilst quick step flooring is hard wearing as a further safeguard, the experts recommend that you put down throw rugs in certain high traffic areas prone to high wear and tear and also where you might experience a little water spillage like kitchens are bathrooms.

Sweep Regularly

It’s also a good idea to sweep these floors on a regular basis and after fitting laminate flooring you want to be sure to use some kind of dust mop to ensure there’s no accumulation of dust or grit. Whilst dust and grit settles into the pile of regular carpet with laminate flooring it has nowhere to go so stays on the surface. Minute grit particles can cause micro abrasions which can dull the floors surface quite dramatically over time.

Follow these simple tips and your quick step flooring will give you years of enjoyment in any room of your home.

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by timber_floors

Make over your home for spring by laying solid oak flooring

Spring has almost arrived, meaning that it’s time to re-vamp your home. Now the winter weather has gone it’s the perfect time to think about laying solid oak flooring for a fresh new look.

It’s that time again when the days are starting to get lighter, daffodils are poking their heads above ground and the first sign of blossom is starting to appear on the trees.  Not only does this signal that it’s time to leave your big winter coat and heavy boots at home, it also means that it’s time to brighten up and lighten up your home too. You can change the whole look and feel of your home simply by introducing some new textures, colours and accessories.

Here are our top tips for making over your home in time for Spring!

Evaluate your home’s floors; tatty carpets and shaggy rugs might look homely and feel warm underfoot during the winter months but summer calls for a sleeker, more modern look. Solid oak floor or hardwood flooring can really help to streamline your home, making the space feel far more spacious and uncluttered. Lightly coloured oak flooring is a perfect choice for the summer months.
Take down any heavy drapes and curtains and replace them with light coloured curtains. Make sure that these are lined however if you want to keep the early morning sunshine out. Light wooden or bamboo blinds also make a contemporary alternative to curtains.
The bright summer sunshine will show up any stains on your walls, so thoroughly clean any stains. Any which won’t budge consider painting over with a sea blue, or a peachy tone. Add some cushions in a complimentary tone to bring out the colour of your freshly painted wall.  Dark furniture can also look dingy in the summer months; you can strip the colour using some sandpaper to lighten the colour, or you could paint it a lighter colour all together.

If you are interested in solid oak flooring or hardwood flooring please visit http://www.easystepflooring.co.uk

About us: Easy Step Flooring is a privately owned company based in Heathrow specialising in solid oak wood flooring. Due to our vast national and international logistics network, we consider our huge range of wooden flooring range to be second to none. We supply flooring to the trade and retail business. We strive to work with reputable mills from around the world to ensure that our products come from sustainable sources.

Luckeep Woodfloor Product Preview. Where to buy wholesale hardwood floors.

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Quick step laminate flooring from floors24.com

Transform the look of your kitchen; quick step laminate flooring is the solution.

Affordable, easy to fit quick step laminate flooring could give your kitchen the wow factor that it lacks at the moment.  The cupboards and worktops might look stunning but your existing flooring could be letting the side down. What can you do?  Fit quick step laminate flooring and inject new life into a tired room. Packs of Balterio laminate flooring and quick step laminate flooring can be delivered to your home and there are tons of designs to choose. Oak effect, cherry wood, ash and rosewood are just some of the stunning designs that could be making a bold style statement in your home. Low in maintenance and high in the style stakes, quick step laminate flooring makes perfect sense in kitchen areas, along with the other rooms of your property.

Beautiful bathroom and boutique bedroom themes

Any room can look amazing once quick step laminate flooring has been fitted. Styles and colour options can be chosen that will blend in with any theme. Update your bathroom and the quickstep laminate flooring can help to enhance the style of the room. Imagine how fantastic the bathroom will look once the new suite and quickstep laminate flooring has been fitted. The same can be said of the bedroom area once Balterio laminate flooring is laid into position. Update the interior of your property using quickstep laminate flooring and breathe new life into your interior design.

How easy is quick step laminate flooring to fit?

Very easy! The system is designed to make home installation a simple process. Advice on how to install quick step laminate flooring is provided by flooring suppliers and if you look online you can find installation videos that walk you through each step of the project. Once your new quick step laminate flooring is fitted it looks totally natural. Even on close inspection quick step laminate flooring and Balterio laminate flooring looks just like real wood. Treat your home to quick step laminate flooring and the results of your hard work are instantly rewarded.

by Andrew|W

Laminate Flooring – Things You Need to Know

INTRODUCTION TO LAMINATE FLOORING

Laminate flooring is a great alternative to hardwood when you want the warmth and beauty of wood flooring without the installation and maintenance hassles. This attractive flooring solution is available in a wide range of prices, colours and grains. It’s also more scratch and dent resistant than hardwood flooring, which makes it the perfect choice for homes with active children or pets. Laminate flooring is the one of the most versatile, durable and well-constructed types of flooring on the market today.

HOW TO CHOOSE LAMINATE FLOORING

Laminates warranty range from 10 years to lifetime. Entry level laminates come with a 10 to 15 years warranty but they are designed for light traffic areas. Used in a high traffic area, they will begin to show wear and tear usually within 3 to 5 years. Remember that choosing the right laminate flooring is not as easy as it seems, but by doing that, you will save money in the long run. Just think of things like the amount of time you are planning on staying in that house or the amount of traffic, because there is no point in buying really expensive laminate flooring with extended warranty if you know that you are moving sometime in the near future. Also consider buying laminates with Paraffin wax impregnated joints, as this wax acts as a water repellent and prevents water from penetrating down to the core.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Laminate Flooring is made up of six layers, and comes in varying sizes of either planks or squares with a tongue and groove interlocking system. The surface layer of laminate is the melamine wearlayer, which is a tough clear melamine layer with aluminum oxide particles. When fused together with heat and direct to the core the wearlayer becomes an incredibly hard, durable finish. The resin-filled wearlayer is so dense it becomes extremely difficult to stain, scratch, or burn. The second layer is the Print Layer, which is the decorative layer giving the flooring its appearance of real hardwood or tile. The third layer is a clear thin plastic sheet that floats freely above the substrate before the laminate floor is floated. Melamine is a plastic-type resin used throughout the construction process to add durability and stability to the laminated planks. The thickest layer is the core, consists usually of high-density fiber board (HDF), particle board to add resistance and form the tongue and groove locking system. Melamine plastic resins are used to improve moisture resistance of the core by some manufacturers. A thing you should consider when buying laminate flooring for bathrooms or kitchens is it’s core. A thicker core is more stable, less vulnerable and sounds more like the real hardwood floor when walked on. Quality laminate cores are treated with water repellent chemicals. The melamine plastic backing is used to add more structural stability and moisture protection to the planks.

INSTALLATION

As glueless locking mechanisms has been introduced to the market, laminate flooring has become the perfect choice for households because it has a quicker installation, it’s easier to repair and it can be installed by people without experience or specialized tools. This will save you a considerable amount of money. Installing laminate floors eliminates the need to nail or glue your floor in place. It is also a very attractive, low cost and long lasting flooring option. With an easy to clean surface, impact and dent resistance, laminate flooring can be installed over many different types of subfloors and on all grade levels, making it a versatile flooring choice. Installing laminate floors can be used in any room in the house and in most commercial areas as long as they are flat and in solid condition. Installing laminate floors can be done over concrete, wood, ceramic tile and even your existing linoleum floor. Even though laminate floors can be installed in any room in the house, they should not be installed in garages or on outside porches. The biggest reason for this is moisture. Moisture and laminate floors do not mix. On a scale from one to ten, installing laminate flooring requires a skill level of about a four. The most challenging part of the installation process will be clearing your schedule for a couple of hours. The easy to follow instructions and simplified interlocking clicking system mean that most do-it-yourselfers will be able to install an entire floor in one afternoon. A laminated floor that is properly installed, protected and maintained will go a long way to help your laminated floor last as long as your home.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF LAMINATE FLOORING

Laminate Flooring is available in one of 2 types, planks and tiles. Flooring planks can be interlocking or tongue and groove where flooring tiles have tongue and groove edges. There are many different manufactures of laminate flooring and as the laminate flooring producers continue to expand colors, styles and increase quality, the growth of laminate flooring industry will continue.

REASONS TO CHOOSE LAMINATE:

A laminated floor is tough and durable.

A laminated floor is chemical resistant and harsh household chemicals and cleaning agents will not harm your laminate flooring surface.

A laminated floor can resist dropped cigarettes for a time without burning the floor.

A laminated floor will keep its color or design for years. The surface will not fade even when exposed to direct sunlight.

A laminated floor is hypoallergenic, it doesn’t contain any hazardous PCB’s, dioxins, plasticizers or chlorines. It repels dust, dustmites and other allergy causing particles.

A laminated floor is stain resistant and can be easily cleaned. Cleaning up a spill on a laminated floor is as simple as wiping up the mess. Also, scuff marks can be easily cleaned off a laminated floor.

Installing a laminated floor is quick and easy. It can be floated over your existing K-3/lino, wood, concrete, tile or even low grade commercial carpet saving value time and expense. There is no need to wait, you can walk on your floor immediately after installation is complete.

A laminated floor comes in many different designs and colors.

A laminated floor is easy to care for.
 

If you are interested in Toronto Laminate Flooring, please visit Contractors Toronto – Toronto-Contractors.ca: Home Improvement and Renovations

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by zingersb

Renovate Your Home With Discount Flooring

One of the most important aspects for any house is the flooring. Not only is the flooring going to bring a certain atmosphere and feeling of decor to the room as a whole, but  even started to bring in another aspect which is warmth. Some of the discount carpet or discount flooring products found online are rubberized on the bottom or insulated, that is a really great option in homes, particularly houses that have wood floors or have floors that oftentimes become cold in the winter months.

Discount flooring comes in a range of materials like vinyl, carpet, ceramic tile, hardwood, laminate, natural stone, cork, etc. But, they also come in an array of sizes and colors as well which is a nice fit for any home as now you could fit it in with your sense of style. It does not matter if you’re Art Deco or a traditionalist; you’re bound to find a discount flooring style to suit all your requirements! The really nice thing about looking for discount carpet and discount flooring on-line is that many of these stores will offer cheap carpets.

This has nothing to do with their quality and everything to do with the carpet cost itself. While other stores might sell you flooring for a much more expensive price, these discount flooring stores purchased their products wholesale from another organization, that is very beneficial to you because now they would be able to afford to sell it to you for a lot lower cost than you would anticipate! Cheap carpets are a great idea to look into especially if you have to set a budget for your carpet or if you have a lot of space that requires discount flooring. One of my favourite materials by far is the wood flooring. I consider this brings friendliness and luxury into a home, plus, they are extremely effortless to clean – a lot more than a carpet.

Certainly few people would purchase some different discount flooring products for their house if they are doing a whole renovation. Possibly a carpet for living and dining room, ceramic for the kitchen, wood for the hallway and stairway, etc. It actually depends on you and what kind of style you would desire to form with your home as a whole. You could end up having a lot of enjoyment with this!

Take your time, look at some of the stores on-line that provide discount carpet or discount flooring and most importantly, inquire if they have any samples available! This will offer you a good possibility to see and feel what goods they offer and if it would be a good fit for your house.

by bug138

Tips to Protect Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is the type of flooring which is getting preference in areas like schoolhouses, theatres, gymnasiums etc. This type of flooring can remain attractive as new with little bit of care.

Hardwood flooring complements any kind of furniture as well as décor. So, it have been widely using in residential and commercial areas as well. Basic tips in the direction of preventing hardwood flooring are:

Prevention against Dirt and Grit

Dirt and grit are regarded as enemies for hardwood flooring. It affects look of floor by hampering its polishes. Dirt and grit acts as sand paper and causes dents and scratches over the smooth floor. The process of wiping and cleaning can help in this regard but it is more effective to use doormats at the door to not allow dirt and grit inside with one’s shoes.

Save from water spill

Spilling of water or other liquid also affects hardwood floor. The reason is that liquid remains on floor for longer times which in return warp the floor. So, liquid should be wiped as soon it spills over the floor.

Dragging of furniture

Most of furniture comes with sharp edges and dragging those harms the floor a lot. Dragging of furniture should be avoided so as to keep floor free of dents or scratches. The step of using proper pads to furniture legs is also helpful in this regard.

Use of quality cleaners

Use of neutral pH cleaners can help one to avoid any problem on floors. Quality cleaners do not react with floor material and keeps it to look natural.  Maintenance and cleaning of floor is important but one needs to avoid the usage of soaps to maintain the naturalness of floors.

Protect from UV rays

Direct and continuous exposure to sunrays also affects the floor badly. Using curtains is the best way to protect floor from long harmful UV effects. Thus, all these tips are effective to maintain the beauty of hardwood flooring at homes, workplaces or other related areas.

by timber_floors

Hardwood Flooring : Differences Between Solid & Engineered Hardwood

Solid Hardwood

Milled from one piece of wood, solid wood floorboards are generally three-quarters of an inch (3/4″) thick. Solid hardwood can be installed above or on grade, but you don’t want to install this type of wood below grade, since moisture makes it expand and contract. Remember: if even part of the area you’re finishing is underground (like a walk-out basement) it is considered below grade. Hardwood flooring is not suited to install below grade level or in other areas where it may be exposed to moisture.

Engineered Wood Flooring

Engineered wood floors constructed of multiple layers of cross grain that are bonded together.The upper layer is made of a real wood selected from various species. The lower layers are made of different types of wood and it could be natural wood or man-made wood like plywood. The grains in each successive layer have a different orientation making the wood more stable and less prone to warping. Stability is the biggest advantage of an engineered hardwood over the solid wood floor, thus it could be installed Below, On or Above Ground Level.

Engineered hardwood same as solid wood is available in pre-finished or unfinished, and can be find in all known species used in hardwood flooring industries along with many different finishes such as urethane finish or Oil Finish.
Engineered wood floor depends on its construction and dimensions can be direct glue-down, nail, staple or floated.

Poor constructed engineered wood floors use substandard glues that may contain volatile organic compounds. These cheap wood floors will emit VOC’s for years. Engineered wood made from cheap glues or made with poor quality base layers is likely to unravel in the blink of an eye. It is also better to visit a physical store and get a first hand idea of the appearance and finish of a floor instead of relying on online pictures.

One of the most important fact we all need to consider while purchasing our new wood floor is that the plant has been taken, harvested, possessed, transported, sold or exported legally in any foreign country or the U.S. “Lacey Act” banning commerce in illegally sourced plants and their wood products. The following are “Lacey Act” plant violation:

Theft of plants Taking plants from an officially protected area, such as park or reserve, Taking plants without, or contrary to, the required authorization Failure to pay appropriate royalties, taxes or fees associated with the plant’s harvest, transport or commerce Laws governing export or trans-shipment such as a log-export ban.

Find More Hardwood Flooring Articles

by Casey at the Bat

Laminate Wood Flooring – Creating Elegance in Any Room

Laminate flooring is an outstanding alternative for any room. It installs easily and is able to stand up to serious traffic. Today, manufacturers are able to imitate the look of real wood.

At first glimpse you might believe you were looking at hardwood flooring. What you are actually looking at is a very thin piece of wood. This wood is glued to high density backing board. Higher quality laminate flooring, such as DuPont laminate flooring will also have a foam padding secured to the flooring planks which will assist in soundproofing and provide a more genuine feel to the floor when walking on it.

With most laminate wood flooring today, no glue is needed. Most companies tha manufacture this flooring have their own special locking technology. Simply snap them together and you are all set. Taking a few simple steps before buying your flooring will save you frustration down the road. Examine the area you plan to install the flooring. Visualizing the traffic flow will help you verify the appropriate product for your room. It will stand up to your kids and pets for years to come.

Laminate flooring also resists staining, fading and moisture. Many manufacturers offer warranties on their flooring for up to 25 years.

Are you putting off installing laminate wood flooring for the reason that you do not want to deal with ripping up your existing flooring? No problem, laminate can be installed directly over wood, tile or vinyl due to its “floating” feature. Floating just means it does not connect to any sub floor.

Over the course of your home ownership, you can anticipate to refinish hardwood 3-4 times. Vinyl and carpet at least twice, if not more. With laminate, it can last you right through all your home ownership years.

You will be amazed at all the assorted types and styles available on the market today. Plus, many manufacturers make all the moldings, end caps and transition strips for your laminate wood flooring.

If you are susceptible to allergies, laminate floors offer a cleaner setting when you compare to carpets. Dust, pet dander and other allergens stay on the surface instead of getting trapped in the fibers of carpeting.

The bottom line is this on laminate flooring, it is very resilient and inexpensive. In general the cost is much lower than any other product on the market. Depending on the magnitude of your project, you can install it in a weekend.

When cutting laminate wood flooring to size, be sure to leave at least a 3/8-inch gap between the wood and the edge of the wall. Create a perfectly fitting wood floor with tips from a licensed remodeling contractor in this free video on home improvements. Expert: Tim Gipson Bio: Tim Gipson is a home repair specialist and remodeling contractor in Nashville, Tenn. Filmmaker: Tim Brown

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