Friday, October 31, 2008

Hardwood Flooring Installation - Getting Into It

Hardwood flooring installation and the finishing process can be a painstaking and meticulous project, but the rewards of a glowing and beautiful hardwood floor can well be worth the time and effort you have put into the task. If you think you have a sharp eye for detail and are ready to tackle the size of a hardwood flooring installation, you can feel confident about getting all the help you need either online or at a home improvement store near you.

The hardwood flooring installation process must follow the manufacturer’s instructions precisely. If you fail to do this, any guarantee that comes with the product may become null and void. Be sure you read and follow the directions that have been provided with your hardwood flooring purchase.

You may feel more comfortable hiring someone to do the hardwood flooring installation for you. There is no shame in this as your new floor is an expensive investment in the value of your home. The proper hardwood flooring installation procedures and techniques are key elements for getting the longest life from your new hardwood floor. You can easily find a hardwood flooring contractor in your area by searching the local yellow pages or asking for recommendations from a friend. Many times the store where you purchase your new floor will offer free hardwood flooring installation. If you find a deal like this, don’t pass it up. Take advantage of an offer that frees you from the worries that a hardwood flooring installation can cause you.

You can also do your research online. Online you will find a host of recommendations from experts and would-be-experts. If you are determined to do hardwood flooring installation on your own, the internet can be a virtual life saver. You can easily look up any problems you may encounter with hardwood flooring installation. This can be done simply and quickly even while you are in the process of hardwood flooring installation.

No matter if you choose to do it yourself, or hire a professional, you will never be sorry you chose hardwood flooring to grace the floors of your home. It can infuse your home with the warmth and glow reminiscent of days gone by and will be an investment that will add more than monetary value to your home.

For more information about Hardwood Flooring Installation?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.aboutflooring.net/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Arturo_Ronzon

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Make Your Hardwood Floor Dazzle

So you have my last article on how to buy the best hardwood floor article and bought the best hardwood floor. You have installed it and it looks beautiful. Does’nt it? I love the hardwood floor look and I am sure so do you. Now you got a new job at hand, how to keep your hardwood floors clean. Well I will take it a little further and give you tips on how to make it dazzle.

First remember that you have invested a lot and hardwood floors are a lifetime investment.
If you want to keep it for a long time then its very important that you keep it clean and scratch free.

1-- Place Protector pads on ALL furniture legs on wood floor

2-- Place walk off mats on areas, which are in constant use.

3—Sweeping, mopping is very useful and so is vacuum cleaning to remove that dirty dirt.

Periodic cleaning and following maintenance tips provided by the hardwood floor manufacturer is very helpful. Now-a-days we get a full instruction manual on how to clean the hardwood floors and maintain it so for a long time.

Also keep the hardwood floor scratch free. Scratches from cats nails are not so easily preventable.

Use of wood cleaners will help you a long way in keeping you floors shiny.

Floors should be swept regularly, and dust mops are recommended for dust.

Use of water is not recommended if the finish is already damaged

Hardwood floors need regular and careful cleaning with suggested wood cleaners to enhance their life and beauty. It will serve you a long way.


Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Kitchen Flooring - Hardwood

With its warmth and inviting tone, hardwood flooring creates a traditional feeling in any kitchen. Hardwood floors are known for their beauty and prestige and are sturdy surfaces that are easy to clean. One of the most popular types of hardwood floors is oak which is neutral in color and very durable. Other popular types of wood used for flooring are ash, cherry and walnut.

Hardwood floors come in two types: solid and engineered. Solid flooring is cut from single pieces of wood and worked into desired shapes. Solid hardwood floors come in strip flooring which are nailed to sub-flooring, plank flooring which has wider boards, and parquet flooring which comes in squares or geometric shapes to create different patterns.

Engineered flooring is created by laminating thin sheets of wood together in a crisscross pattern for strength. They are then topped with a veneer of hardwood to add strength. Engineered flooring holds up better than solid flooring when exposed to changes in moisture and humidity. This makes it a good choice for below-ground floors. Engineered hardwood floors come in strips and planks.

When purchasing hardwood floors for your kitchen, you want to make sure that it has already been finished. Pre-finished hardwood is your best bet for several reasons. First of all, pre-finished wood flooring is less prone to damage and easier to maintain than its unfinished counterpart. Secondly, it is more durable and will in most cases come with long-term manufacturer warranties. Lastly, pre-finished hardwood floors are offered in a wide variety of stain colors and can be easily re-stained to match future remodeling projects.


Monday, October 27, 2008

Engineered Hardwood Flooring - The Basics

Engineered hardwood flooring is more popular these days than natural hardwood flooring. This is because the construction of engineered hardwood flooring gives it qualities that natural hardwood flooring does not have. This allows engineered hardwood flooring to be less expensive and more resistant to moisture.

There are several differences in the construction of natural hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring. Natural hardwood flooring is constructed entirely out of a piece of hardwood. The only hardwood used for engineered hardwood flooring is for the top layer. The possible types of hardwood that are used for engineered hardwood include oak, pine, ash, teak, and bamboo. The top layer allows engineered hardwood flooring to have the same visual beauty as natural hardwood flooring. There is a core layer that is glued to the bottom of the top layer. The core layer consists of layers of replenishable and affordable wood. These layers of wood might be medium-density or high-density fiberboard or plywood. The number of layers that are used for the core vary from one flooring manufacturer to another. Most flooring manufacturers will use three layers of wood in the core. However, there are several flooring manufacturers that are beginning to construct core layers that consist of five to seven layers of wood. They are adding more layers of wood to the core because the extra layers will make their engineered hardwood flooring more durable.

During extreme changes in the weather, natural hardwood flooring can expand and contract so much that it will buckle or warp. The core layer of an engineered hardwood floor gives it the ability to expand and contract without buckling or warping as natural hardwood flooring would. This means that engineered hardwood flooring is less affected by environmental conditions and can be installed in more areas than natural hardwood flooring. For example, unlike a natural hardwood floor, you can install an engineered hardwood floor in a humid or damp basement. An engineered hardwood floor can also be installed over radiant heating system without suffering any damage. If you install a natural hardwood floor over a radiant heating system, the natural hardwood floor could buckle, cup, or shrink.

Engineered hardwood flooring can be installed as a floating floor. This means that you can install an engineered hardwood floor on a surface without using glue or nails. A floating floor will allow you to have a floor that is free of gaps between the hardwood panels. But before you install the engineered hardwood floor, you have to place a vapor barrier between the surface and the floor. A tongue and groove locking system allows the engineered hardwood flooring to be installed as a floating floor. With this system, you can just click and lock the engineered hardwood planks together. This means that the engineered hardwood flooring can be installed very quickly. Also, if you are moving, you can easily take the hardwood planks apart and take it to your new home. This locking system also makes it pretty easy to replace any planks that are damaged.

The finish of engineered hardwood flooring is durable. An engineered hardwood floor will still look good even after years of heavy use. However, if it is necessary, engineered hardwood flooring can be refinished. But this is not a task that you should take on yourself. This is something that you should pay a professional to do. But each engineered hardwood floor can only be refinished a limited number of times before you destroy the top layer.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Flooring


The Next Generation Of Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood floors have made a come-back and are the new rage in home design. Hardwood floors are very easy to clean and maintain, and their shine provides a nice touch to a room. Hardwood floors can also now be bought cheaply and still manage to look like rich and add greatly to any room.

Hardwood floors are also now very easy to install, much easier, in fact, than carpet. Most hardware and home improvement stores offer crash courses in installing your new hardwood floors, and individual do-it-yourself packages for hardwood floors include easy to follow directions even for those who are not normally inclined to handiness with their hands.

When choosing the material for your hardwood store, look first at the quality of wood. There are four grades in hardwood floors when it comes to oak, which is the most popular material for hardwood flooring. The highest quality is clear, which is wood that has very few or no flaws. Select has a few flaws and is bright grained, and most pieces will match well. Common one includes both light and dark pieces, and a few marks, while common two allows for all sorts of quality discrepancies and is best used for a child’s playhouse or a doghouse. You should really pick one of the first two grades for a quality looking floor finish.

There are some drawbacks to hardwood flooring. Carpet provides nice cushioning, you can lie on a carpeted floor and watch TV quite comfortably. Hardwood flooring is unyielding and is not comfortable to lie down on or to fall upon. Hardwood flooring also does not provide the warmth that carpeting does. Lastly, hardwood flooring is easier to clean than carpet simply because material does not adhere to it the way dust and motes cling to the fabric of carpets. This is great for a broom, but unfortunate if your guests come into your house with no shoes. Any dust on the floor will cling to their socks, which can be pretty embarrassing. Hardwood flooring requires cleaning more often than carpet would.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=42047&ca=Home+Management

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Caring For Your Hardwood Floor

Hardwood floors make a beautiful, elegant addition to your home. They are lovely and lend a graceful ambience to any room. Unfortunately, many people don’t take care of their hardwood floors like they should. With some precautionary care, your hardwood floors will remain beautiful well into old age.

Sunlight

If your floor is exposed to sun during the day, invest in sheer curtains, drapes, or blinds that will limit sunlight as UV rays can damage hardwood floors over time.

Furniture

Furniture glides are a great investment for your hardwood floor. They are small coverings, usually made of felt or another soft material, that are placed under the feet of furniture to prevent scratches. To ensure that dust and grit don’t get imbedded, clean the glides regularly. When moving furniture, always lift it up. You should never slide furniture on a hardwood floor, even with glides. If the piece is too heavy to lift, place a cotton sock over the leg and slide it carefully.

Shoes

Avoid wearing any kind of heel when walking on a wood floor, and make sure this rule is enforced for your guests and family members as well. Hells can leave tiny dents that may go unnoticed until the light hits them and you notice your beautiful smooth floor is now a speckled design of small dents.
Area Rugs

Area rugs are not only a nice way to decorate a hardwood floor; they are also a great way to save it from stains and spills. Place area rugs in general area that might be more prone to stains, like entrances from outside, below the stove and kitchen counters, in the bathroom, etc.

Sweeping and Vacuuming

Sweep floors and vacuum them regularly. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment as beater bars can damage and dent a hardwood floor.

Water

Avoid mopping except with a special dust mop or other wood-safe cleaning agent. Be careful not to over clean your hardwood floor because too much cleaning will dull the finish.

Water is a hardwood floor’s greatest enemy, so avoid mopping with it at all. If you spill water or another liquid on your hardwood floor, blot it up immediately starting from the outside of the spill and working your way in.

Cleaning

Use a special dust mop or other cleaning agent that is wood-safe. Select your cleaner carefully and always read the label. If it doesn’t specifically say it is safe for hardwood floors, don’t use it. The right cleaner should match the finish on your hardwood floor.

Care for your hardwood floors as you would anything precious and valuable; treat them well by following the preventative measures above and your hardwood floors will stay safe, beautiful, and durable for years to come.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=35060&ca=Home+Management

Using A Hardwood Floor Sander

Refinishing your hardwood floors yourself can be time consuming and a bit scary at first but well worth it in the long run. It can cost a bundle to hire a professional to refinish your floors for you, but if you have the time, you can do it yourself. The most difficult part is learning to run the sander. Many people are afraid of ruining their floors, and you can really damage a floor if you do not take care in the sanding.

Sanding is fairly easy if you pay attention and the finish does not take as long to dry as you might have been led to believe. You can rent a sander from your local Home Depot or hardware supply store. You’ll need a drum sander, a belt sander or both. They will explain to you how to use the machine and tell you what kind of sand paper to purchase. They will also tell you what kind of stain and finish to get. Make sure you also pick up some dust masks because you will have saw dust everywhere.

The key to a good floor finish is the surface, so the most important thing when learning how to run the sander is getting a feel for the equipment. Sanders are not as hard to use as you think. They are loud and messy, but fairly easy to operate. Just keep the sander in motion at all times. Moving the sander in a constant motion will reduce the risk of damaging your floor. Equate it to using an iron on your clothes – if you stop in 1 spot too long you’ll burn a hole. The sander is similar since it creates a lot of heat, keeping it in 1 spot can burn or dent your floor.

The sander is a self propelling machine so it is easy to move, but you do need to keep in control of it at all times. Retain a firm grip on it when you power it up and you will get the hang of it after a few passes. You might even think it’s fun!

Once you have removed to old finish by sanding, of course, you will need to apply the new finish. First you will apply a stain (if you want a stain – some folks like to leave their floors natural) and then the finish to protect the floor. There are basically two types of floor finishes: one is oil-based and the other is water-based polyurethane. Furthermore, oil is broken down into a semi-gloss, gloss or satin. Satin is a good choice for a hardwood floor because it hides small flaws and lets the natural beauty of the wood show without a bright shine. An oil based finish will give your floor a warm amber glow. A water based finish will dry quicker and keep from yellowing.

Make sure you let each coat thoroughly dry before applying the next. Follow the manufacturers instructions on the finish before you occupy the room again. Usually you can move your furniture back in after about 24 hours.

Don’t be overwhelmed. Just take it one step at a time and you’ll soon have a beautiful new hardwood floor.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=4023&ca=Home+Management

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Hardwood Floors vs. Laminate Floors

Hardwood floors have been used in houses and even in palaces for centuries. Laminate floors, however, are a modern invention that is around 30 years old. (Laminate floors consist of laminated blocks of various designs, including those that have the appearance of hardwood flooring.)

Hardwood floors come with their own benefits. They feel more real and they sound like wood (because they are real wood), giving the entire house a royal feel. A hardwood floor has a more natural feel than a laminate floor.

Laminate floors have a thick pad underneath, which makes it feel spongy and floating while hardwood floors provide a sturdier, firmer feel. Often the cost of putting up a hardwood floor and a laminate floor is almost the same. It is for this reason that hardwood floors are seeing another surge in popularity.

On the other hand, the popularity of laminate floors is rising everyday. This is because it looks and feels almost similar to hardwood floor. It is durable and easy to install. Hardwood floors are more difficult to install and expensive to repair if damaged. A laminate floor is much easier to maintain and clean than a hardwood floor. There are no limitations regarding where they can or cannot be laid.

Also, laminate floors are available in various designs and are very easy to fix on any type of floor. Besides, because of the special laminates and treatment given to them, they do not wear easily. They do not get damaged easily either. And even if they do get damaged, it is easy and cheaper to replace them than it is to replace hardwood floors.

When it comes to the life of both types of floors, however, it is hardwood floors that seem to last longer, as compared to laminate flooring. However there are many laminate floors available on the market today that also come with the same lifetime warranty.

However, if one has pets in the house that can cause scratches on the floor, hardwood floors are preferable.

Laminate Floors provides detailed information on Discount Laminate Floors, Hardwood Laminate Floors, How To Clean Laminate Floors, How To Install Laminate Floors and more. Laminate Floors is affiliated with How To Install Laminate Flooring.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jimmy_Sturo

Hardwood Flooring Facts to Take Note Of

It is now voguish to use hardwood as flooring material for your home. Hardwood flooring has been known since long to withstand the ravages of time while making the floor look elegant. For these and other reasons, hardwood flooring is considered as a best flooring options.

Reasons for choosing hardwood flooring

The hardwood flooring is stylish and pleasing to the eye. This is easy to maintain and can last for even a lifetime. The hardwood floors are not only durable but also easy to keep clean. A simple dusting or sweeping done on a daily basis is sufficient. The hardwood floors look fabulous even after years of being set up and exude a warm and natural feel. The best part of the hardwoods used for flooring purpose is that they match well with homes of all styles and representative of all periods- old or modern. These also come in a great variety of woods, patterns, stains and finishes. The hardwood flooring materials being hypo-allergenic are health friendly. Besides these being natural are environment friendly too.

Hardwood flooring offering comfort and value

Usage of hardwood as flooring material increases the value of a home. Homes with hardwood flooring in living rooms, dens, hallways and stairs where hardwood suits best are deemed to be of great worth.

The hardwood floors offer comfort that perhaps no other flooring can give and they offer good value for money. Though the initial investment in case of hardwood flooring may be higher in comparison to carpeting or vinyl it requires no replacement and has resale value. Thus the hardwood floors retain their value for long.

Purchasing hardwood flooring gainfully

The hardwood flooring can be purchased directly from the major manufacturers. Though wholesale purchasing will usually fetch the lowest prices there are some manufacturers who may be offering the products at lower than retail prices even if there is no bulk buying being done. You may look out for such offers if any is being made available.

Another way of saving money while purchasing hardwood flooring is choosing from among the laminate hardwood flooring available. The recent advancements made in the manufacture of laminate floors has made it all the more difficult to differentiate between laminate and hardwood. The laminate hardwood flooring comes for a cheaper price. Hence, with the laminate hardwood flooring at hand you can get to secure flooring material that has the hardwood looks while coming at wholesale prices of hardwood.

Tania Penwell is an author who provides tips and information on hardwood flooring for A1 Wood Flooring - your online guide to wood flooring.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tania_Penwell

Friday, October 24, 2008

Prefinished Hardwood Flooring - An Ideal Option For Your Home

If you have done your research, you have sifted through all the information that is available about flooring options for your home. You know that pre-finished hardwood flooring is an ideal option for those who want the warmth and beauty of natural wood, but don't want to lay out the high price of solid hardwood flooring.

The most confusing aspect of choosing pre-finished hardwood flooring is deciding the right thickness for your individual needs. Most pre-finished hardwood flooring is from ¼” to 9/16”. The usual choice of thickness is usually 3/8” to ½”. Depending upon the brand and manufacturer, your choice should hinge upon how many times you want to refinish your pre-finished hardwood flooring.

The pre-finished hardwood flooring is priced cheaper than traditional hardwood flooring because they have a thinner wear layer. Some pre-finished hardwood flooring can’t be completely refinished. Minor scratches and scuff marks add character and charm to hardwood flooring and some may become even more beautiful with age and some may not.

If you are a perfection seeker, you may need to have your hardwood flooring finished every five years or so. If you think this might be you, then you should choose a product that has the thickest layer of wear. If you choose the right professional and have installed your pre-finished hardwood flooring over a flat subfloor, you should be able to refinish your pre-finished hardwood flooring two or three times. If you notice a significant color change after refinishing, you may not be able to refinish again.

When you choose pre-finished hardwood flooring, you can be assured that the product you have chosen has superior stability over conventional hardwood flooring because of the way they are made. You can even use pre-finished hardwood flooring if you have a floor radiant heat system.

You will love the fantastic look of pre-finished hardwood flooring and you will love the price as well. You may be the only one who realizes that your flooring isn’t solid hardwood flooring. If you shop online, you are sure to find pre-finished hardwood flooring that will meet not only your budget, but your taste and style as well.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Why Hardwood Flooring is a Good Investment

Hardwood flooring has a timeless air of quality

Hardwood floors have decorated some of the most exclusive mansions and estates in history and still exude a feeling of permanence and classic quality compared to manufactured floors.

Hardwood floors are natural

Hardwood floors bring the natural outdoors inside, and do not contain man-made chemicals in the wood itself. Homeowners with exclusive design tastes will tend to gravitate towards the quality and natural feel of hardwood floors - there is just something about the feel and look of them that cannot be duplicated in a factory.

Hardwood flooring adds value to your home

Installing solid hardwood flooring in your home is a true investment that will retain its value. In many cases, installing hardwood floors with generate a return on investment that exceeds the initial cost of installation.

Real hardwood colors will never go out of style

There is a timeless quality about the natural color of hardwoods that will ensure your house never becomes outdated because of its flooring. Recent advancements in laminate flooring have allowed consumers to pick from a multitude of design styles and colors - unfortunately some of these may become outdated and fall out of favor.

Hardwood flooring sounds better

If you've ever walked over a floating laminate flooring system you'll hear a muffled echo sound, which is one of the few downsides of laminate floor systems. With proper installation of solid hardwood floors, you will not have this distracting hollow noise. Hollow sounds and vibrations are not an issue with hardwood floors - and this is actually one of the "good feelings" people can literally sense with real hardwood floors.

To read more of the benefits and advantages of hardwood flooring visit:
http://www.laminateflooringzone.com/hardwood-flooring.htm

S.A. Smith is a freelance writer, contributor, and editor of the Laminate Flooring Zone resource site,and can be reached at http://www.laminateflooringzone.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=S.A._Smith

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Installing Hardwood Flooring - The Easiest Way

You have chosen hardwood flooring because it is beautiful and sturdy. Hardwood floors can be a wonderful addition to just about any room of your home. The life of a hardwood floor depends not only on the quality of the wood you have chosen, but also the proper hardwood flooring installing process.

It has taken a lot of years of experimenting and experience to describe in the simplest terms the easiest way of installing hardwood flooring. It can be quite an intimidating task if you are not familiar with the various kinds of hardwood floors and the techniques to finish your floors with a look that even professionals would envy. Installing hardwood flooring doesn’t have to be difficult if you do your homework and read the manufacturer’s instructions that come with the floor you have decided to install.

When you are installing hardwood flooring, you will need to prepare for the type of floor you intend to lay it over. Installing hardwood flooring over different surfaces requires different procedures. So whether you have a concrete floor or a sub floor, be sure you read up on the proper preparations you will need to do before you begin installing hardwood flooring.

Before beginning installing hardwood flooring, be sure you are familiar with all the terms and tools you will need in order to do the job from start to finish. You will also need to let the new hardwood flooring adapt to its new environment before installing hardwood flooring, so be sure you include time for this in your installation process.

For those who choose installing hardwood flooring themselves, when the job is done, you can take great pride in your accomplishment. With large chain home improvement stores just around the corner, you can go and speak with trained professionals who can give you expert advice on installing hardwood flooring yourself.

You can do all the research you will need for installing hardwood flooring on the internet too. There are various websites that you can visit that can give you plenty of information about installing hardwood flooring. Help is just a click away.

Common Times to Refinish Your Hardwood Floors

The four most common reasons to refinish the hardwood floors in your home:

1. Preparing to sell your home: often times refinished hardwood floors can give a home that’s being prepared to go on the market a refreshed look. In today’s real estate market, refinishing your hardwood floors may give you a needed advantage over the other homes that are for sale in your neighborhood.

2. Spruce up a home you just purchased: prior to moving in all of your belongings, refinishing your hardwood floors can be easily done in an empty house. Living in a home that is being worked on can be a pain so it’s a good idea to accomplish as much as possible while the home is empty.

3. Your hardwood floors haven’t been refinished in 7-10 years: homeowners often procrastinate the refinishing of their hardwood floors. If you occupy the home, moving furniture and getting ready for a company to refinish your hardwood floors can be a chore. Their are many benefits that you can read about on Voyageur Flooring’s website.

4. Removing of carpet: if you live in an older home and have rooms that have old carpet, there’s a good chance that hardwood flooring lies beneath your old carpet. Removing the old carpet is a great time to refinish your hardwood floors. Belongings and other objects have already been removed from the room and the hardwood floor probably will have dirt, scuff marks, tack marks from the carpet and other left over remnants from the carpet that need to be cleaned - this is a perfect chance to refinish your hardwood floors.

Go to Voyageur Flooring’s website to read more about caring for your hardwood floors…

http://www.VoyageurFlooring.com

Jake Witham, Owner of Voyageur Flooring


What You Need To Know About Hardwood Floors

Installing hardwood floors is one of the best things you can do for your home. There is something about hardwood floors that simply make a house feel homey. While the feelings that hardwood floors seem to add to a home are rather difficult to describe, I'm sure that if you've ever been in a home with these types of floors that you understand exactly what I'm talking about.

These wonderful floors are also a great idea when it comes to design and décor. These floors go a long way towards making a house feel like a home. If you are in the market for a new house, you may want to seriously consider those homes that already have hardwood floors, as they will be more valuable over time than those homes without them. Keep in mind that hardwood floors do in fact add value to a home that is on the market and will gain a lot of interest on the part of potential buyers. Hardwood floors are in fact a major selling point when it comes to the homes of today.

Another thing to keep in mind about hardwood floors is the fact that there is a huge selection of woods from which you may choose the one that is best for your home. This means you can choose many woods that will not only match the design of your room but also any color scheme that you are hoping to achieve as well. You should not have to compromise on the look you are hoping to achieve in order to have hardwood floors in your home.

You will find that your home is served for many years by good quality hardwoods that are well maintained and properly cared for. These floors will create a great setting for a warm and cozy home, which is preferred by many who want their home to be an inviting place for friends and family to visit. In fact, wood is appropriate for all kinds of décor and design plans, the biggest question almost always lies in what colors you will go with for your flooring.

Yet another great advantage to hardwood floors is the ease with which you can clean them. In fact, the last few years have brought great advances in the technology of floor cleaning. This means that there are new products on the market, which make the prospect of floor cleaning much less painful than they have been at any other time in the past. In addition to the wonderful cleaning products in today's market there is the fact that wood seems to collect less dust and dirt than other flooring materials. You should also notice that keeping hardwood floors clean is much easier than carpet and you won't have to worry with the allergens that are known to collect in your carpeting if you aren't diligent with steam cleaning and daily vacuuming.

If you happen to be in the market for new flooring there are a few bits of information that may help you make the final decision about the floors you will ultimately choose. First of all, you should find out how much the floors you are considering will cost. You should also find out if there are any special maintenance requirements or issues. Expensive maintenance requirements can add a huge expense once the floors have been installed and you should be aware of those before making your final decision. There is one thing I can tell you that is a near certainty: if you have quality hardwood floors installed in your home you will have floors that should remain beautiful and durable for quite a long time.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=129245&ca=Home+Management

Hardwood Floor Installation Guide

Installing a hardwood floor makes it secure. There are various methods to install a hardwood floor ranging from floating, staple down, and nail down to glue down.

First place to get the installation instructions is provided in the users manual provided by the manufacturer you purchased the hardwood floor from.
Read the manual carefully and make the best plan.

Floating is the easiest method for floor installation.

The first step in installing a hardwood floor is laying out an accurate reference line.

There are a number of tools you can use to simplify the process.

· Pneumatic Floor Stapler (rented)

· Air Compressor

· Power Miter Saw

· Pneumatic Finish Nailer

· Drill and Bits

· Table Saw (or Circular Saw)

· Basic Carpentry Tools

These tools are sure to simplify the entire process of hardwood floor installation process.
Some resources for your hardwood floor installation ease.

www.woodfloorsonline.com/techtalk/installfin.html

www.hammerzone.com/archives/

flooring/hardwood/wh_oak1/stapled.htm

www.nofma.org/installation.htm

doityourself.com/woodfloors/index.shtml

home.howstuffworks.com/hardwood-floor6.htm

Make sure you check these resources and hardwood floor installation is a cake-walk.
Also make sure you learn all about the hardwood floor cleaning tips.Installing is only half the job done,you have to constantly clean the floor and keep it scratch free. Use the tips I gave in the other article to learn more about how to make your hardwood floor dazzle.

Visit our site http://www.deluxehardwoodfloors.com to learn all about hardwood floors. From where to buy, how to install, and how to keep it clean.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Abdul_Martin

Engineered Hardwood Flooring - Designed to Provide Great Flooring Stability

Have you ever wondered what engineered hardwood flooring is? It is flooring that is made up of a core of hardwood, plywood or HDF that has a top layer of hardwood veneer that is glued to the surface of the core. You can find engineered hardwood flooring in just about any species of hardwood. The end product has the natural characteristics of the hardwood you selected instead of just a photographic layer. This engineered product has been designed to provide the flooring with greater stability, especially in areas of moisture or heat that would pose a problem for conventional solid hardwood flooring.

The difference between a laminate flooring, solid hardwood flooring and engineered hardwood flooring is this: a laminate core floor is usually made of High Density Fiber or HDF. The top layer is a photographic layer that mimics the appearance of the product it is replicating. This can be wood, vinyl, or tile for example. This product is usually about 3/8 inch thick and has a tongue and groove locking system that doesn’t use glue. This enables you to install and reinstall the flooring several times if you wish. A laminate is the least expensive of flooring options.

Solid hardwood is the natural wood species throughout the whole flooring. This too usually comes with a tongue and groove installation. A solid hardwood floor has good sanding and refinishing capabilities. It tends to be more expensive, and solid hardwood flooring has limitations to where it can be installed due to moisture or heat issues.

Engineered hardwood flooring usually has three or more core layers. The more layers you have, the greater the stability you can expect. The core layers of engineered hardwood flooring can be made of plywood, high density fiberboard or hardwood. The best part of engineered hardwood flooring is that is does not destroy the natural warmth and beauty of a traditional solid hardwood floor. The top layer is the same genuine hardwood you would have in solid hardwood flooring.

You can add the warmth and grace of more expensive solid hardwood flooring at a fraction of the cost when you decide to use engineered hardwood flooring. With all the money you save, you may want to think about remodeling the rest of your home.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Hardwood Flooring - A Primer

Of all flooring materials, hardwood flooring is perhaps the most practical one available for use in your home. Hardwood flooring is a classic and timeless floor solution that has proven itself over centuries as a durable and beautiful natural flooring option. Natural flooring is a highly popular choice for many homeowners and it never goes out of style.

Today's hardwood flooring is much easier to maintain, more durable and come in a wider selection of hardwood species than ever before. Although many homeowners have pets, hardwood flooring is not designed for the abuse a dog or cat can cause on a floor. Installing new flooring is a very popular home improvement project.

Your hardwood flooring should be taken into consideration as a prime investment in your home. Hardwood flooring is one of the most stunning additions you can integrate into your home, as it is a great addition to any home or apartment condo. It is a great investment that that will last for generations in your home without going out of style.

Keeping up with your hardwood flooring is pretty easy. But the real story of hardwood flooring is its natural beauty and longevity. Hardwood flooring is durable and timeless. The range of hardwood flooring is large and there is no right or wrong choice. The flooring is generally sanded and finished after all trim and cabinetry is installed and finished.

Although expensive, hardwood flooring is elegant and beautiful, yet durable enough to last for a lifetime of wear and tear in the average home. Whatever your choice of flooring in hardwood, you can't go wrong with the great addition of flooring any room of your home. Take a look at hardwood flooring, not only for its appeal, but also as a solid investment in the value of your home.

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What Is The Best Hardwood Floor?

What is the best and surefire way to make the look, resilience and value of your home the perfect one? Yes, hardwood floors are the best means to achieve this. Hardwood floors are beautiful to look, hardwearing to use and environment-friendly to give your home a longer and stable life.

Wood is our natural source that has the quality of being strong, recyclable and renewable. The hardwood floors do not want you to replace them or to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars to add a value to your home. The hardwood floors present to you an incredible collection of artistic floorings. From the class of wood to its finish, to the complete design of floor plan, the hardwood floors can suit well to almost any taste and situation.

It is your job to select the best hardwood flooring to suite your needs the best. Here are all sorts of hardwood floors in the market. The hardwood floors are made to suit both the casual and formal environments of your home. Even at offices, their feel is like being at home. All the modern or traditional furniture pieces compliment the decor of hardwood floors with eclectic and modest designs.

It is not difficult to find the best hardwood floor. You can find them in several designs, such as, rock, classic, country, hip hop, or jazz. The state of the art technology available these days can be coupled with almost countless choices of finishes, stains, styles and designs. This makes the hardwood floors one of the best versatile and practical alternatives available today. Their everlasting beauty is durable. You can better call them a fine glass of wine that would be better with age.

The Hardwood Grades

Clear grade of hardwood flooring is to indicate that it is free of defects. Nevertheless, there can be some minor flaws. The clear category tends to be extremely reliable with less knots and mineral streaking. This range is the most expensive in hardwood floors.

The select grade in hardwood is near to the clear grade. It may contain the natural features such as color variations and knots. The common grades have best marking than the clear or select grades. They are chosen the most due to their natural features. The character that they provide to your room is unique. They are the least expensive usually.

What to Look for to Select the Best Hardwood Floor?

Nature is the best inspiration for designing the hardwood floors. The profusion of natural species offers a whole excess of wood grain arrangements. Each wood grain arrangement has a unique, matching and scrupulous décor. The oak plank hardwood flooring has abundant ring knots and patterns. They are the best floors that suit well to rustic and traditional decors.

The artistic look and appeal of hardwood plank floor is also prejudiced to a great extent by streaking of mineral. The knots have the variation of shade and color. The best hardwood floor for your living room can be the one with an added high gloss finish to the hardwood floor. It has the entire look to make the floor look elegant enough for the formal room. The hardwood floors containing walnut, maple and birch wood have a minimum graining.

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About Hardwood Floors

One of the greatest things you can do for your home is to get hardwood floors, there is something about hardwood floors that makes a house, a feeling that is unique to hardwood floors and if you ever visited a house that had these kind of floors I am almost sure you know what I mean.

Hardwood floors are a great design idea, one of the most significant home improvement tricks in the business and a wonderful way of making a house feel a whole lot like a home. For those of you in the market for a new house this is one thing that you should look for, and if you can not find a house that already has hardwood floors you should think about getting them right away. On the other hand any house that has quality hardwood floors would enjoy a significant increase to its value and the level of interests from the potential buyers, it has been proven that hardwood floors are one of the major house selling features in this market.

The other great thing about hardwood floors is that there is a huge selection of hardwood in the market, this means that you can choose the exact color you want for each room or for the whole house, there is no need to compromise on the looks of the hardwood floors simply because there is such a verity of color and textures that almost anyone can find what is best for him or her house.

A good quality hardwood flooring will serve a house for many years, it creates a perfect setting for a nice and warm house, the hardwood is certainly for those who like to build their house as a warm and friendly place, wood furniture and warm colored walls will make a house with hardwood floors look right at any time and for any propose, the only question is on what shade of wood will the home owner go.

The advantages of having a hardwood floor is that it is relatively easy to clean and that in the last few years there have been a lot of cleaning products that have been developed exclusively for cleaning hardwood, it is also true that natural wood will collect less dirt and dust than other materials so the mere fact of having hardwood will keep the house a little cleaner, and making your life a little easier if you have kids and you worry about the air quality in your house and dust levels in the kids rooms.

For those in the market for a new hardwood flooring there are a few basic questions they will need to think about, the costs are an important part of hardwood floors and the whole design that comes with them is also an issue and maintenance is not such a big deal. Only one thing is sure, if you get quality hardwood floors you will enjoy a unique feature and in a very short time you will not understand how you could have lived in a space that had no wood floors.

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