Friday, January 30, 2009

Staining Hardwood Floors

Between hardwood floors and furniture pieces, the latter tend to be changed much more often. If you've had hardwood floors for a while, you know firsthand the design or aesthetic problems that come up whenever you change your furniture pieces. At one time, your furniture and hardwood floor matched visually. However, when you put in new furniture without really thinking about the color of your hardwood floor, that's when compatibility issues arise.

There is really no need to take out the entire hardwood floor just so it would match new furniture. Doing so is time-consuming and can get rather expensive, particularly if you tend to change or add new furniture pieces often. Staining is the better option. It's less costly to staining hardwood floors than to install completely new hardwood flooring.

Staining is actually one aspect of the hardwood refinishing process. To effectively stain hardwood floors, it should be done between buffing the floor and applying the finish. Staining is usually done not with the intention of changing the color of floors, but with the intention of enforcing their color. In this regard, staining hardwood floors is useful for bringing back a floor's color, which tends to gradually faded over time.

How stains penetrate depends on the type of woods. For instance, staining is much more effective on floors made from open-grained woods like ash, oak, pecan or walnut because stain colors for hardwood flooring of these types tend to penetrate deeper. Hardwood floors made from closed-grain woods like birch or maple tend to not stain as well. Thus, before you start a hardwood floor staining project, make sure you know the wood type of your floor so you can choose the right stain to use.

The right stain is based on the type of wood your floor is made of as well as what you want the floor to look like after the hardwood floor staining process. Do you just want to improve your floor's current color? If so, choose from among the many pigmented penetration sealer stains. These stains won't obscure your floor's natural wood grain. Are you looking to change the color of your hardwood floor? Then go with any of the oil-based pigmented stains available. These stains are known to accentuate the floor's grain patter. However, be aware that oil-based pigmented stains, if applied in excess, tend to shorten the life of wood.

Make sure that the floor is clean and clear before applying stain. It's a good idea to spend more time thoroughly cleaning the floor if you have just sanded and buffed it. Otherwise, you'll end up with different stain colors for hardwood flooring boards in one floor area. Instead of the boards absorbing the stain, the debris in and on the floor will absorb the stain.

When you're ready to stain your hardwood floors, you'll need the following materials: wood stain, clean rags and knee pads. Once you have all the materials you need, follow this 5-step process of staining hardwood floors:

1. Thoroughly clean the hardwood floor.

2. Ensure that the room you'll be working in is well-ventilated. Open up windows or turn on your vents. Stains emit harmful fumes.

3. Wear your knee pads when you stain your hardwood floor. It would be better to wear work clothes during staining. Wear long sleeve, pants and gloves to prevent the stain from coming in contact with your skin.

4. Apply stain on your hardwood floor section by section. After staining each section, wipe off excess stain with a clean rag. This speeds up the drying process.

5. When you have stained the entire floor area, let the stain dry overnight. The drying process may take longer if you applied too much stain, if the room has poor ventilation or if the temperature is too low.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=223944&ca=Home+Management

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Hardwood Flooring On A Budget

Hardwood flooring looks great and adds a very nice charm to a home. It can be quite costly, though, which is why many people decide to avoid putting it in their homes. There are, however, ways to get a hardwood floor without having to break your budget.

Cheap hardwood flooring is not as bad as one may think. It has the same great look, but just costs less. There are a few different options in cheap hardwood flooring.

Sometimes discontinued hardwood flooring is available at discounted pricing, making it a great cheap hardwood flooring option. The biggest problem with using discontinued hardwood flooring is that it can sometimes be hard to find enough to completely do an area.

There are also cheap brands of hardwood flooring. The best places to find cheap hardwood flooring is online through a search.

There are also alternate hardwood flooring that is not exactly wood, but laminate. It can be made to have the exact same look as hardwood, but at a fraction of the cost.

When it comes to hardwood flooring it is not only the actual cost of the floor materials you need to be concerned with. Installation is another issue that can be quite costly.

Installing the flooring yourself is the cheapest way to go. You should either talk to the salesperson about installation or do some research to learn how to properly install your hardwood floor yourself.

Once you get your cheap hardwood flooring and install it maintaining it is up to you. In order to get the longest life from your new hardwood floor you have to take care of it. Keep it clean and keep the finish looking great. You should be able to enjoy your cheap hardwood flooring just as you would if you have paid full price.

Sources:
ezinearticles.com/?Tarkett-Vinyl-Flooring-For-The-Budget-Conscious-Renovator&id=607244
www.articlesalley.com/article.detail.php/33136/201/Home_Improvement/Home/27/Cheap_Hardwood_Flooring_-_Perfect_Cho

ice_For_The_Budget_Conscious

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=175407&ca=Home+Management

The Beauty Of Bruce Hardwood Floors

Bruce Hardwood Flooring can be just the thing that the floors in your home need to help make your home more inviting and welcoming. This company offers you many options for your floors that will meet anyone's budget to give you and your home the perfect look. They make many different styles and designs of floors for homes that will allow you to have the flooring that you have been dreaming of, no matter what you have been imagining. From fat hardwood inspired planks to more thin hardwood planks, whatever you can imagine, you can find in Bruce Hardwood Flooring's offerings.

Bruce Hardwood Flooring is just one small part of the Bruce Flooring Company that gives you all of the different hardwood flooring choices for your home. The hardwood floors that are offered by Bruce come in many different price ranges, as well as styles to help give you a high quality floor for your home, no matter what your budget is. The mission statement of Bruce Hardwood Flooring succinctly describes their dedication to customer satisfaction with, "Warmth, Beauty and Individuality." From their website that offers homeowners design tools to invaluable advice, you will find that Bruce Hardwood Flooring is a company that you can count on for your hardwood floors.

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you will be happy to know that Bruce Hardwood Flooring offers you flooring options that you can install yourself. Installation is made easy by the advice on the Bruce Flooring website or you can find a professional installer on the website, whichever you prefer. They have certified installers listed on their website that they trust for installing their high quality floors. A simple search on their website will net you many different options for your floor installation and your flooring options.

No matter what room that you are considering using the Bruce Hardwood Flooring in, you will be happy with the change that it can make in your home. Bathrooms are not a good choice for hardwood flooring, as this room is especially moist and this can decrease the durability of the hardwood flooring planks, no matter how fat or skinny they are. Bruce does offer you helpful hints on making sure that your hardwood floors will last through years of normal wear and tear, but the excess moisture in the bathroom can decrease the durability of your floors, causing them to warp and cup, which will be unsightly and unsafe.

Bruce Flooring Company offers several different maintenance products that will give you the proper tools to clean and take care of your hardwood floors. By visiting the Bruce website, you will find the retailers that carry the products that they recommend for their flooring. One thing that you will definitely want to keep in mind is that abrasive cleaners and excess water can damage your hardwood floors, decreasing their durability and beauty. You should use these products to help increase the beauty and life of your floors to help increase the value of your investment and satisfaction level.

Peter Mason is writing primarily for http://www.insidewoodworking.com, a website on rigid cordless drill, rigid jointer and different subjects. From his documents such as http://www.insidewoodworking.com/ridgidtools/rigidpowertools.html, he confirmed his deep knowledge on issues associated to rigid tools.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_S._Mason

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Installing Hardwood Flooring – Tips To Make Your Job Go Smoother

Installing hardwood flooring can take place in several ways depending on the type of hardwood flooring that you have. If you have solid hardwood, you have to look at the type of wood you have. You can have parquet flooring, which usually comes in tiles of 6 inches by 6 inches or strips or planks that can be as much as 3 inches wide. If you have laminate wood flooring then you have to look at a different method of installing hardwood flooring.

Whether you choose laminate flooring or solid hardwood flooring, the directions for installing both of them are printed on the inside of the packaging. If you have previously installed hardwood floors and now you want to install glueless laminate flooring, you do need to read the directions for installing laminate flooring. When you are installing hardwood flooring made of solid wood, you have to open the packages and let the wood become acclimatized to the humidity and temperature of your home. With laminate flooring, you have to do the exact opposite. You should not take this flooring out of the package until you are ready to start installing.

Successful installation of hardwood or laminate flooring depends upon careful planning. Even if you are installing hardwood flooring over an existing concrete or vinyl floor, you do have to sweep and vacuum the floor to remove all the dust and dirt. If you are not sure of exactly how much laminate flooring you will need, the directions for installing laminate flooring also include directions for measuring the room to calculate the amount of flooring that you need. When you intend to install glueless laminate flooring, you can also bring your measurements into your local flooring store and have the experts do the calculations for you.

If you are wondering how to install glueless laminate flooring and be able to keep it on the floor, each of the planks lock together with the tongue and groove design. When installing hardwood flooring like this, you cannot glue, nail or staple it in any way. When you start installing always consider the way the light shines into the room. Begin laying the planks toward the light and in a hallway always install glueless laminate flooring lengthwise.

The directions for installing laminate flooring will tell you that you lay the first plank with the grooves against the wall. Place spacers where they are needed when installing hardwood flooring between the wall and the plank to maintain ½ inch extension gap. You will have to mark and cut the planks as you are installing the flooring because they are of random lengths. Always begin in a corner when installing hardwood flooring and the first board in the row should be a full plank.

To find out more about Wood Flooring visit Peter's Website Wood Flooring Explained and find out about Hardwood Flooring and more, including Exotic Hardwood Floors, Wood Laminate Flooring, Refinishing Hardwood Floors and Bruce Hardwood Flooring.

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

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

A Dummies Guide on Hardwood Floors

First and foremost, hard wood kinds of floors are of incredibly rich quality and can be used anyplace you want them to be, right in your house or in a business building which is yours.

When installed in right settings and occasions, the right type of hardwood floors can save the day, specially when there are youth in the apartment.

Numerous individuals have suffered ailments because of poisons from synthetic materials. Due to such dangers, the hardwood kinds of floors ought to be regarded by all house owners.

There are several hardwood floor grades to select from; while some hardwood kinds of floors have got just few or no blemishes, there are those grades which have a natural wood look. Engineered wood's bottom layers are created of high-density fiber board or in certain cases, plywood which has been molded together and this adds more and more to their lastingness.

You won't have to bump into a lot of the troubles which one may perhaps face with a hardwood floor when you utilize laminate flooring, mostly the difficulty of price. A main distinction between hardwood kind of floors and laminate kind of floors is the thick pad under the latter which gives the person stepping on it a floating feeling, while the former feels stout and firm beneath.

The best way to get a good floating sort of hardwood floor is by inserting the planks together in an exact mode, on account of the fact that once this is not done correctly, the floor will end up having complications.

To crown up, there are corporations offering people hardwood kinds of floor products on the World Wide Web; you don't have to waste time and energy moving from place to place when you can get all the helpful information you need, as well as price quotes online.

Ras Reed offers interesting articles about Refinishing Pre-finished Hardwood Floors, and Wood Floor Installation on the site --> http://www.hardwood-floors-guide.com

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

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Custom Hardwood Floors

Building your own home is a rewarding experience. It may be hard on the pocket and demanding on your time, but the joy and pride that come with it is worth all the hard work. A big part of building or rebuilding a home is the design of a floor. A favorite choice of material is hardwood.

Hardwood floors are already available in templates at all do-it-yourself or construction retailers. Customized hardwood floors are also available. And with easy installment procedures, all one needs is some research. A wise move is to complement the design of the house with that of the hardwood. This way the floor won't awkwardly stand out. Hardwood, in contrast to tile, granite, marble or flooring of the like, usually sets a classic or vintage look and it will go along well with most furniture.

Choosing the Right Kind

Another thing to look after is the size of planks for the flooring. Shorter strips of hardwood, for example, are good for smaller rooms. Although customization is limited only by one's imagination, it is still best to go with safe and dependable conventions.

Squares on the floor spell a hint of control and masculinity while circles and round shapes bring continuity and perfection. Long horizontal lines make eyes sleepy and are good for bedrooms and lounges. Living rooms and dining rooms are commonly have vertical floorings, relative to the position of the table. They are usually the centerpieces of the house. Hardwoods with light colors are chosen to compliment a chandelier or the lighting. Consistency in flooring is also important, and most modern homes don?t change the flooring according to room function. What is important for customizing hardwood floors is to ultimately provide a definitive look that will enhance the interior of the house.

Hardwood Floors provides detailed information on Hardwood Floors, Engineered Hardwood Floors, Solid Hardwood Floors, Long-strip Hardwood Floors and more. Hardwood Floors is affiliated with Install Hardwood Flooring.

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

Friday, January 9, 2009

Advantages of Do It Yourself Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is very durable. It looks great and can be repeatedly varnished and stained. It looks good in new or old houses and ages well. Installing hardwood flooring can raise the value of your house by thousands of dollars, even if you only have 100 feet or so of hardwood flooring in your home. You can choose from many types of woods, varying in hardness, character and looks. If you like, you can add wood inlays, stains, varnishes or wood patterns. You can make your hardwood floor exactly as you want it and if you can install it yourself, you are going to save a lot of money on builders and contractors.

It is very easy these days to install a hardwood floor yourself, even if you are inexperienced, because of the way the pieces are designed. You can save a lot of money on contractors and professional fitters. The wood comes in interlocking pieces. You have to snap these together to create a floating floor. That is all there is to it. It is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, only on a larger scale.

Before you invest in the hardwood, it is wise to think about other associated costs. You might need to buy some basic equipment to help you install the floor. Remember that a hardwood floor which is not varnished properly or level can lower the value of your house, so be sure you know what you are doing before you begin. If you have any doubts, a professional contractor might be a good idea and will be time saving. A professional contractor will charge several thousand dollars for his work and you might have to wait before the work begins.

Nearly everyone is capable of installing their own hardwood flooring because of how the do-it-yourself installation method has evolved and become far simpler. Many suppliers of hardwood floors know that their customers are not professional flooring fitters so they are usually willing to help or advise you.

It is possible to buy hardwood flooring in a kit that makes your task of fitting it seem even easier still. You can buy ‘pre-finished’ wooden flooring kits if you do not want to varnish the wood yourself. This means that you do not have to seal or finish the floor either before or after installing it. You can get floating floors which snap together like a jigsaw puzzle. If you have never fitting a hardwood floor before but want to give it a go, one of these easy kits is recommended.

Rob Buenaventura has worked in the home improvement industry for several years. Learn more about hardwood floor refinishing, flooring choices and other home remodeling ideas at HomeImprovementTouch.com

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

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

All About Hardwoods and Hardwood Furniture

If you enjoy and appreciate fine wood furniture then you must also learn to appreciate the differences in the various hardwood varieties that go into making fine wood furniture. Just as the word "hard is used to describe hardwood so to is the word "soft" to describe soft woods which is woods such as pine that is used in home construction.

The basic difference between the two types of wood is, you guessed it, one type is hard and one type is soft. There are so many types of hardwood that are used in making wood furniture that it would be impossible to mention them all in this article but some of the more common hard woods are covered.

Walnut is a dark brown tightly grained hardwood that is commonly used in cabinetry and musical instruments. It comes in many variations and one of the rarest and most beautiful is "walnut burl" that is harvested off of the lower end of stumps and is most commonly used in the making of fine gun stocks.

Oak is another common hardwood that you can often times find being used in flooring and furniture. It is known for its light white to tan color and consistent grain that makes it so responsive to staining or coloring. Beech is another hardwood that is similar to oak in its coloring and hardness. It is also grown in the U.S. as is oak and it too responds well to staining.

Beech however, does have a slightly different grain appearance that is slightly speckled when compared to oak, which is made up of fine strand like grain. There are so many hardwoods that come from places all over the planet including Africa and Asia. Ebony is a dark black hardwood that is grown in Africa that is used on guitar necks.

Written by Brena Talmet. Find the latest information on a New York Furniture Dealer

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

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Prefinished Hardwood Flooring – Many Different Color and Finish Selections

Prefinished hardwood flooring has undergone many changes since hardwood flooring became the fashionable alternative for floors of a home. At one time, when you purchased hardwood, you bought the wood unfinished. This meant that when you installed it, you then had to stain the flooring and give it a protective coat and a shine. Today, you can still buy unfinished hardwood, but with the many types of prefinished wood, you can save yourself a lot of work by buying prefinished hardwood flooring.

Each prefinished hardwood flooring manufacturer has various color selections available along with different sizes of boards and finishes. The thickness of boards for prefinished wood floors can range from ¼ inch thick to ¾ inch thick. The top layer of the prefinished hardwood is the most important because it is the part that has to endure the wear and tear. The thicker the layer is, the more times you can refinish the wood floors in the future. The various widths you can choose from in prefinished wood flooring are a matter of personal taste. When you visit a flooring store, you can experiment by laying the boards of different widths of hardwood side by side to see what effect it would create.

The side edges of the prefinished hardwood flooring boards are also an important factor to consider. You can choose micro bevel, also called eased edge, bevelled and square edged hardwood boards. Each one of these achieves a different effect in the prefinished wood flooring that you have. The types of finished for prefinished wood floors also vary according to manufacturer, but these are applied in a factory under ideal settings. Usually hardwood floors have seven coats of finish on them when you buy the packages of prefinished hardwood.

The newest finish on the market for prefinished hardwood flooring contains aluminum oxide, but there are also acrylic, urethane or UV cured among the finishes. There are also several levels of sheen – gloss, semi-gloss and mat. The number of coats on the prefinished wood floors will determine the level of shine that you have. Even though unfinished hardwood flooring is still popular, prefinished wood flooring makes up more than half of the sales for wood floors. This is because it allows people to remodel their homes with less time. All you have to do is install the flooring without having to worry about stains, coatings, fumes or drying time.

The ease of installation with prefinished hardwood floors makes them very popular with building contractors. Engineered wood flooring is also an increasingly popular item when people want the look of hardwood floors without the expensive price tag. These to come in different colors, but you will not get the same variety in the types of hardwood that you can have for your floors. When you choose prefinished hardwood floors, you can choose from many types of wood, each with its own advantages and unique qualities.

To find out more about Wood Flooring visit Peter's Website Wood Flooring Explained and find out about Prefinished Hardwood Flooring and more, including Exotic Hardwood Floors, Wood Laminate Flooring, Refinishing Hardwood Floors and Bruce Hardwood Flooring.

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