Blog Archive | November 2009

Select the wood that suits the décor of your room

Like wooden furniture, wood flooring is also known for its timeless beauty and it also helps in enhancing the look of your home. Wooden floors also increase the value of your home, as it is said that houses with wooden floors sell faster and for more money. With the latest technology, there are various stains, finishes, styles and designs available.

Wooden floors are known for versatility and if they are properly maintained then they will last for a very long time.

Different types of wood

Ash floors – It features grains which are similar to oak wood but they are lighter in colour. The colour varies from pale beige to dark brown colour. Ash floors are perfect if you want to create a classic look without darkening the room.

Beech floors – The colour of beech wood is a blend of pale beige and reddish brown. It offers a unique look with remarkable grains.

Cherry and Walnut floors – Cherry is a highly desirable wood which varies in colour from brown to reddish brown. After some time the colour becomes the rich shade of mahogany. Walnut has the shadings of beige to brown with a bit of purple.

Maple and Oak floors – Maple is one of the hardest woods and it is appreciated for its appearance and grains. The maple floors ranges from creamy white to tones of brown. Oak floors have pronounced grains which makes it the most popular of them all. The colour of oak floors varies from pale beige to brown with a bit of red.

Thus, these different types of wood can change the appearance of your home and ultimately it depends on you to choose the one which matches your tastes.

Know how to choose and maintain your hardwood flooring

Hardwood flooring is the perfect look you could give your home. It will surely give a graceful and stylish appearance to the interiors. There are a lot of options in the hardwood flooring category.

Choosing the right hardwood flooring:

Picking the perfect hardwood floor may be a tough task. But it is an important one to ensure the house looks neat and pretty. There are different colour shades available for the floor. They are distributed in two categories; light and dark shades. The durability of the flooring is also very important.

Take care of the hardwood flooring:

Water and moisture are two things the wood needs to be protected from. To protect the main flooring, you could cover it with alternate flooring.

Tips to maintain the flooring:

• Use an attachment with a soft broom to sweep the floor.

• Vacuuming would also be great.

• Dry mops should be used on the surface.

• Regular cleaning and care helps reduce the chances of damaging the floor.

• You can opt to hire a cleaning service too.

Remember to keep the hardwood flooring uncovered. Expose it as much as possible. It only adds to the beauty and decor of your home.

Excellent hardwood flooring installation tips

Hardwood flooring installation has become a common feature in many classy homes. Home based magazines also showcase a number of installation tips. There are a wide range of companies who deal with hardwood floor installations. Competition is always ignited between different companies. They are striving really hard to bring to you the real beauty of hardwood flooring.

Aluminium oxide is used to protect hardwood flooring. It is the secret to the durability provided by hardwood floors. Due to the use of aluminium oxide, the flooring becomes scratch proof and does not fade so easily. Laminated floors give you a lot of options with regards to the colours and shades. They are resistant to moisture. These kinds of floors can be fitted on any kind of floor. Hardwood flooring can be installed irrespective of the type of flooring.

You will need to remove the carpet from the floor before installation of the flooring. Vinyl based allure flooring is also another good option. Light oak, cherry and hickory are good choices for the wood style effect. Cost is not an issue as it is very affordable. It will take just a few hours to install the floor. Due to its water resistant quality, it can be fitted in bathrooms and kitchens as well.

Vinyl hardwood flooring is soundless. You can barely hear your own footsteps. No expensive tools are needed to install the vinyl hardwood floors. You can have elegant wooden flooring fitted without having to pay high maintenance cost. Just a vacuum and damp mop will do the needful.

Wooden floors require regular maintenance

Apart from being warm and beautiful, wooden flooring is also extremely durable and very easy to maintain and care for. However, if you want it to last for many years, then you need to make sure to take proper care of these floors.

Maintenance of wooden floors is categorised into two stages:

Preventive maintenance

Preventive maintenance involves small actions that will protect the floor from expansion, scratches and marks. This is the same for solid wood floors, engineered floors, etc.

Steps to follow:

• Place mats or rugs at the entrance of the room and fit plastic glides under the legs of sofa, chairs and tables.

• Do not place porous flower pots on the floors.

• If some spills do occur then you need to wipe them up with a clean cloth immediately.

Regular maintenance

You need to know the difference between a lacquered and waxed finish for your floor. If you have lacquered floors then you have to clean them regularly with a damp cloth and soft natural soap. Use parquet cleaner or parquet polish to remove marks from the floors. If you have waxed floors then you should use a vacuum cleaner to clean them, and you can also treat with floor cleaner if the floor gets too greasy or waxed.

Therefore, after the installation process, you need to take care of your wooden floors to ensure that they remain beautiful for longer.

Carpets vs. hardwood flooring: which should I choose?

Making a decision about which flooring to choose for your home can be a difficult one, and you will always wonder whether it would be better to opt for carpets instead of hardwood flooring. There are a number of considerations you need to bear in mind regarding both of these flooring materials. Therefore, the benefits and disadvantages of each, listed below, should help you to make up your mind.

Why should I buy a carpet?

Benefits:

- Carpets are generally warm and soft to the touch.

- They are reasonably affordable.

Disadvantages:

- Carpets are made from plastics, fibers and some chemicals. Accumulated dust and mold could cause allergies or health problems.

- Even though they cost less to purchase, many carpets will have to be replaced within 5 to 10 years.

Why should I buy hardwood flooring?

Benefits:

- Hardwood floors can last almost 100 years. They are very durable and with proper care and maintenance, they can last even longer.

- They are better for your family’s health than other flooring options.. They can be cleaned easily and do not hold on to dust particles and allergy-causing germs.

- The natural resources used to make hardwood floors are generally sustainable.

Disadvantages:

- You need to be careful with pets in your house, as they could leave scratch marks on the flooring.

- Hardwood floors do cost a little more than carpets but are generally worth the investment.

After considering all of these points, most people generally consider hardwood floors to be the most cost-effective, practical, and most attractive option.

The charms of wooden flooring

Wooden flooring is one of the most popular kinds of flooring available nowadays. It is also a good investment as your floors will last for a long time whilst also increasing the resale value of your home. Wooden flooring can give your house a warm and inviting look, and can also make it look traditional and rustic. Nowadays, you can choose from a variety of wooden floorings featuring many unique patterns.

Hardwood floors

Hardwood flooring, much like its name, is made from 100% natural wood. It is made using inch thick pieces of solid wood procured from a natural tree source. Various kinds of wood are used to make hardwood flooring; Oak and Maple being the most popular because they are good to look at and are also quite durable. Solid hardwood flooring is an excellent option for your flooring requirements, as it will make your room look extremely elegant and sophisticated.

Engineered wood flooring

Engineered wood flooring on the other hand is made from plywood that has been glued together. This type of wooden flooring could be effective in certain places but it generally lacks the appeal of solid hardwood flooring.

Wooden flooring is the best way to make your home warm and inviting, and has the added advantage of being well within your budget limitations.

Take preventive measures to protect your wood floor

Wood flooring has been popular for a long time now, and its beauty and elegance is the reason why so many people opt for it. On the other hand, once you have a natural or laminated floor in your home, it is essential that you take care of it and clean it properly.

The following is some basic advice that should help you look after your floor:

Tips for cleaning your wood floor

- Never use water on your wood floor and if spilled, it should be wiped off immediately to avoid damage.

- There are a wide variety of products available for wood floor cleaning. You just need to pay attention to what is written on the label. Never use wax products on this kind of flooring as it can spoil the urethane coating. Instead, you should use a polisher to improve the finish of the floor, but make sure the mop you use is made of a soft material.

Preventative measures

- Use carpet rugs around sinks and high traffic areas, and make sure to vacuum these rugs regularly so that dirt does not collect under it.

- Dents can be caused due to high heels, so don’t wear them in the house.

- Keep the nails of your pet trimmed; it will help to reduce the amount of scratches.

- Never slide furniture across your wood floors. Instead, place a carpet rug beneath the legs of the furniture before moving.

- Finally, keep the floor clear of debris and clutter.

Keep the beauty of your wood floors intact by taking the time to clean and maintain them properly.

Hardwood flooring offers a classy look to your home

If you are planning to renovate your home and create a brand new look, you must try hardwood flooring. Using hardwood flooring will definitely offer an elegant, unique and attractive look to your home. The interior decoration and interior designing market today is filled with a number of options for hardwood flooring. Thus, with the availability of numerous options of hardwood flooring, you can easily choose one which suits your taste and budget.

Depending on the décor of your room, you can choose from light or dark shades. Besides the feel, look and budget, the durability of hardwood floors also play a vital role when selecting your flooring. So, by keeping the above things in mind, you can easily select the best hardwood floor to offer a fresh look to your home.

No matter what brand you choose, you need to take special care and attention in order to maintain the beauty of hardwood floors. Wood needs to be protected, particularly from moisture. Covering the hardwood floors with sub flooring is an ideal option as it can greatly help to protect the flooring from being damaged.

Therefore, by taking appropriate care of your hardwood floor, you can cherish and enjoy your new hardwood flooring to bring a classy look to your home.

Enhance the interior of your room with floor sanding

When planning to renovate your home flooring, opting for a sand floor finishing is a good option. A sand flooring finish will not only offer a fresh look to your home interior, but also enhance the overall appeal of the room. The installation and the quality of the sand flooring finish are some of the major points to consider in ensuring your flooring is durable and long lasting.

If you want to get the best results from sand flooring, you must opt for professional flooring services. This way you can make sure that your floor remodelling needs are handled by professionals so as to get the expected results. If you have hardwood flooring installed in your home, you will surely need to refinish or sand it.

While the hardwood floor sanding can be done at home, it is always recommended to go for professional floor sanding services. The professional floor sanding experts have the much needed skills and experience to do the floor sanding job appropriately, and so you can be sure to get the desired results. This will ensure the floor enhances the look of your home.