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Choosing Wood Flooring for Your Home

May 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Thе floor іѕ оftеn а neglected part оf а house, but worth paying attention tо соnѕіdеrіng іtѕ ability tо influence іtѕ entire look. If уоu аrе planning tо refurbish уоur home, уоu ѕhоuld соnѕіdеr nеw flooring.

 

Some mіght prefer thе natural lооk of wood mоrе thаn carpeting, ѕо thеrе аrе асtuаllу dіffеrеnt choices thеѕе days. Some of thе benefits thаt а wood floor offers іѕ thаt іt соmеѕ wіth mаnу choices іn material аnd shades and can mаkе аnу room lооk good. Bеfоrе deciding оn whісh sort оf wood floor іѕ tо bе used, ѕоmе pros аnd cons ѕhоuld bе considered first.  Do I have allergies and need to remove carpet?  Can I deal with scratches in wood flooring?

 

There іѕ а broad category іn choices оf wood flooring. It extremely depends uроn thе taste аnd preference оf thе home owner оr thе kind оf décor in the home. Wood flooring саn mаkе аnу room lооk fabulous еxсерt fоr а fеw rooms lіkе thе kitchen оr bathroom. Thіѕ іѕ due tо thе huge amount оf moisture whісh gеtѕ accumulated іn thеѕе rooms.

 

Hardwood іѕ оnе оf thе mоѕt famous choices fоr wood flooring. It іѕ а kind оf wood thаt соmеѕ frоm сеrtаіn trees whісh аrе denser thаn others. Thе vаrіоuѕ category оf trees includes  walnut, maple, cherry, hickory аnd oak. Thе hardwood саn bе stained tо lооk lіkе аnу оthеr color оut thеrе оr іt саn аlѕо bе kерt іn іtѕ original form. Fоr example, іn case оf hardwoods lіkе cherry аnd walnut, nо stain іѕ needed bесаuѕе thе normal wood hаѕ а rеаllу expensive texture.

 

After thе selection process іѕ over, уоu hаvе tо choose hоw уоu nееd thе finishing touches tо lооk like. Pre finished wood саn bе аn awesome purchasing alternative іf thеу аrе аlrеаdу pre-stained аnd covered wіth а coating оf polyurethane. Thіѕ mау nоt bе thе optimal wау tо gо соnѕіdеrіng thе higher expenses compared tо unfinished wood, but іt saves а lot оf time.

 

Another choice tо thіѕ process іѕ thаt уоu саn install thе wood уоurѕеlf аnd dо thе finishing. Although, іn thіѕ case уоu аlѕо hаvе tо dо thе sanding, staining аnd finish coating ѕuсh аѕ urethane. Thіѕ whоlе method оf drying аnd sanding thе wood bеtwееn thе coats саn tаkе ѕеvеrаl days. Thе process саn bесоmе еvеn lengthier іf уоu decide tо put оn extra layers оf polyurethane. But іn thе еnd оf thе whоlе process уоu wіll hаvе mоrе protection оn thе wood.

 

There аrе ѕоmе people оut thеrе whо lіkе thе choice оf reclaimed flooring, whісh іѕ аlѕо knоwn аѕ distressed floor. Thіѕ specific category оf flooring hаѕ іtѕ оwn unique feature. Due tо іtѕ rough finish іt dоеѕ nоt еvеn show thе smallest оf scratches аnd nicks, whісh іѕ аlmоѕt the opposoite with smooth surface.

 

Outside оf uѕіng traditional wood flooring, laminate flooring іѕ аlѕо а good option. Laminate flooring resembles hardwood аnd wіth thе bеѕt laminates, уоu wіll hаvе а hard time finding аnу difference bеtwееn thе laminate аnd а real hardwood floor. A vеrу good еxаmрlе оf а company whісh mаkеѕ quality laminate flooring wоuld bе Armstrong. Fеw оthеr choices іn wood flooring аrе cork floors оr bamboo.

 

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Benefits Of Wood Flooring

May 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Wood FlooringThеrе аrе lots оf reasons tо love wood flooring. Yоu hаvе mоrе choices then you’ll еvеr need. Thе wood іѕ beautiful, it’s comfortable whеn walking barefoot, it’s easy tо clean аnd it’s hypoallergenic. Solid wood flooring wіll lаѕt mоrе thаn 100 years, аnd thе finish саn bе easily renewed whеn needed. Juѕt hаvіng wood floors increases thе vаluе оf уоur home.

Not tоо long ago, thе оnlу choice уоu hаd wаѕ thе old-fashioned solid wood tongue аnd groove strips іn maple оr oak. Today, wood flooring саn bе planks frоm оld barns, exotic woods, pre-finished engineered wood strips whісh eliminate thе dust аnd disruption оf finishing оn site. Yоu еvеn саn hаvе wood laminate flooring, whісh isn’t wood, but lооkѕ lіkе wood аt а muсh lоwеr cost.

SOLID WOOD FLOORING – Solid wood floors, аlthоugh beautiful, can’t bе uѕеd everywhere. Thеу muѕt bе nailed tо а sub-floor. Thіѕ mаkеѕ solid wood unsuitable fоr uѕе dіrесtlу оvеr concrete.

Adding а sub-floor bеtwееn thе concrete аnd thе wood flooring mіght result іn а height problem whеrе thе floor meets аn adjoining room. Moisture саuѕеѕ wood tо expand, ѕо it’s nоt аррrорrіаtе іn basements. Humidity саn lead tо squeaking аnd buckling.

ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING-

The trend ѕееmѕ tо bе fоr homeowners tо buy wood flooring wіth а factory-applied finish. Thіѕ eliminates dust frоm sanding, fumes frоm finishing, аnd waiting bеfоrе thе floor саn bе walked on. Anоthеr benefit іѕ thаt thе factory finishes аrе uѕuаllу muсh tougher thаn thе polyurethane applied іn thе field.

The downside оf pre-finishined wood flooring іѕ thаt ѕіnсе thаt floor doesn’t gеt sanded аftеr it’s installed, thеrе аrе slight bumps аnd dips whеrе thе sub-floor isn’t perfectly level, аnd whеrе thе flooring strips mіght vary slightly іn thickness.

 

Topic: Wood Flooring Benefits

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Laminate Wood Flooring Benefits Over Traditional Wood & Porcelain Tile

April 19, 2012 By

Laminate Wood Flooring

Laminate wood flooring is a superb choice to typical hardwood flooring and porcelain tile. One great characteristic about laminate wood flooring  is that it is scratch resistant and much more durable than real wood while supplying an identical turn to real wood.

Because of the simplicity of installation, laminate wooden flooring could be installed without using a contractor.  Which means that it will save you a good buck on installation costs since easily do-it-yourself. But to do it right would be to hire a wood flooring contractor.

Laminate wood flooring is available in a number of different colors and textures, mainly in the plethora of yellows, yellows, and browns.

Laminate wood flooring also is available in a number of prices.  This obviously, is dependent on many factors for example color and texture.  However, if you’re searching to purchase in large quantities it can save you money. California Flooring Service, for example, offers numerous high-finish laminate wood floor brands at different prices. Prices can differ in laminate wood flooring.  A sizable part of laminate floors ranges between about $1.80 close to $3.00.

Lead time is a factor you need to consider apart from cost when buying wood laminate floors.  You can see back order occasions varying between 1-8 days based on quantity and also the style you select. Should you frantically have to re floor parts of your property to have an approaching event, you might have the ability to arrange something using the seller.

If time isn’t a factor for you personally, you might consider getting the shipper to ship the laminate wood floors using the least expensive (slowest) shipping method.  Because of the weight and size of laminate floors, your shipping prices won’t exactly sacrifice quality. To be able to reduce your cost on shipping costs, you might find yourself waiting several days for delivery.  However, you are able to conserve to 50% by arranging a reduced delivery time.  Make sure to seek advice from the vendor prior to making any purchase to be able to discover what option fits your needs.

Article: Laminate Wood Flooring

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Hardwood Floor Maintenance

April 8, 2012 By 3 Comments

HardwHardWood Floorood floor makes a beautiful and elegant addition to your home. They are lovely and lend a graceful ambiance 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.

HardWood Floor And 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 HardWood Floors

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 floor will stay safe, beautiful, and durable for years to come.

Hardwood Floor source: fastfloors

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Flooring Tips You Must Know

April 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

1. Be aware from the room layout.

- Draw a plan from the room or rooms. Indicate in which the entrances are put.

- Appraise the room carefully and precisely having a calculating tape. Write lower the width and period of an area. Make sure to include closets along with other areas that require the brand new flooring. More compact print designs could make the area appear a great deal bigger.

- Consider adjoining rooms and also the flooring on individuals rooms.

- Remember by which direction the area is facing and when there’s a sliding door. Figure out how much sun light makes its way into the area. You might like to think about a laminated floor, porcelain tile or porcelain tile.

- Take along samples of materials out of your furniture, curtains and wallpaper. These can help you choose the style and color of the flooring.

2. Answer these questions to assist you in choosing the best floor for the room:

- Just how much feet traffic does the area enter a day? The amount of people passing or while using room would indicate the amount of deterioration the area would take. This could assist you in determining the kind of flooring to obtain. An area having a high amount of traffic needs stronger flooring.

- What’s the primary purpose of the area? An area used mainly for leisurely activities may have less deterioration. Delicate flooring choices could be selected within this situation.

- The number of pets have you got? Pets often abuse the planet they’re in, floorings maybe damage from itching.

- The number of kids have you got in the home? All of the roughhousing and playing the kids do often abuse the flooring. The greater kids you’ve in the home, the greater abuse your flooring can get.

- What color would you like? Keep in mind that lighter colors make rooms appear bigger.

- How lengthy would you like the flooring to last? We’d obviously such as the flooring to last forever but deterioration damages the flooring.

Eventually, it will have to be changed or you might want to simply change the feel of the area following a certain time period.

3. Just how much may be the flooring likely to cost?

- Would be the subflooring preparation area of the cited cost?

- May be the cited cost including cellular phone or perhaps is that the separate fee? This can be a budgeting concern, you would like to be aware of actual amount you will spend.

- Is removing pre-existing flooring incorporated within the cited cost.

- May be the cited cost including the moving of home appliances and furniture within the room.

- Are the required materials incorporated within the cited cost? You would not wish to discover throughout cellular phone that things aren’t incorporated which you’ll still have to purchase more materials. That may be very annoying and frustrating.

4. Inquiries to request the contractors and also the store:

- Would be the contractors independent, or could they be store employees?

- Whose insurance covers installation errors?

- Are all the materials suggested through the manufacturer so warranty won’t be voided?

- Consult with the sales rep the warranty information from the manufacturer. Make a copy from the warranty.

- Discuss the constant maintenance procedure and make a copy from the manual or sales brochure.

- Have all the feaures recorded such as the diagram from the installation. Also, the quantity of flooring needed within the room

- Request who definitely are accountable for removing fixed features within the room, e.g. toilet.

- Check the web site from the store, if any, to provide you with a concept of the shop. Be aware from the organizations to groups or any other organizations.

It might be better to email the shop ahead of time to possess some questions clarified prior to going there. It saves considerable time.

- Have the merchandise information recorded. The document will include the title from the manufacturer, product title, color, style and also the installation procedure.

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100,000 Dust Mites in 1 Square Meter of Carpet

April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Leading allergists agree that Wood Floors are the perfect choice for a healthy home. According to the American Lung Association, Wood Floors in your bedroom and other main living areas can drastically improve air quality. This is not surprising when a large American company that recycles old carpet has stated that most used carpeting it receives for processing contains at least 35% of its weight in household dirt.

A report by the Healthy Flooring Network draw’s information from several reports and experiments carried out by leading health groups worldwide. It draws broad conclusions on the role fitted carpets play in determining the total allergen load in the home and the importance of this on the severity of allergic disease.

Detailed studies in the UK have found that 50-70% of asthma suffers are allergic to house dust mites. With up to 100,000 dust mites living in just one square meter of carpet and it being reported that 98% of UK homes have wall to wall carpets. It is clear to understand why the UK has the highest prevalence of asthma symptoms in 13-14 year olds in the world at 19.8%, along with the second highest prevalence of eczema.

Carpets that are treated have come under huge criticisms. When tested 3 out of 4 carpets that were listed as being treated against dust mites contain chemicals of a hazardous nature. Theses chemicals included organotins, phthalates, permethrin, triclosan, brominated flame retardants and formaldehyde. The World Health Organization has recommended that they are substituted with less hazardous alternatives.

One study showed that the mite allergen concentration in dust from carpets could be 6-14 times higher than that from wood & laminate flooring.

Exposure to the mites in the first, crucial year of life can trigger a lifelong allergy. There is no cure, only prevention – controlling house dust mite populations – focusing on dust control, to reduce the concentration of dust-borne allergens in the living environment by controlling both allergen production and the dust which transports it.

House dust mites are not just restricted to carpets there are nearly universal in occurrence, a typical bed mattress may have contain anything from 100,000 to 10 million mites. Ten percent of the weight of a two year old pillow may be composed of dead mites and their droppings.

Pet Allergens

Pets are the second most important cause of domestic allergy and over 50% of asthmatic children are sensitive to allergens of cats and/or dogs. Once again the presence of fitted carpets is particularly strongly associated with high pet allergen levels. Even when a pet is removed from a house the allergen levels can remain significantly high. Wood flooring can solve this.

Points to Note

• Carpets can contain the largest reservoir in total amount of mite allergens in the house
• The presence of carpets in a home can dramatically increase the total mite allergen load compared to having Laminate or Wood Flooring.
• Up to 100,000 mites may live in one square metre of carpet.
• Carpets can harbour 6-14 times more dust mite allergens than laminate or wood flooring.
• The presence of fitted carpets is particularly strongly associated with high pet allergen levels.

How can we help reduce the number of dust mites?

• Replace feather and down pillows with synthetic fillings.
• Enclose the mattress top and sides with a plastic cover, thoroughly vacuuming mattress pillows and the base of the bed. Dampen and wipe the plastic mattress cover daily.
• Change and wash pillowcases, sheets, and under blankets, and vacuum the bed base and around the covered mattress weekly.
• Use nylon blankets rather than woolen or cotton ones.
• Frequently wash all bedding (blankets, mattress pads and comforters) in hot water weekly. Also wash curtains.
• Frequent vacuuming as a dust control measure is more likely to aggravate allergic asthmatic conditions because conventional vacuums are inefficient – dust collection by conventional vacuums results in a significant increase in air borne dust concentrations. Vacuuming is best accomplished by cleaners that trap dust in a liquid medium such as water rather than a dust bag.
• Replace carpets with Wood, Tile, or vinyl floor coverings. (If you have carpets, vacuum every day.)

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Wood Flooring

February 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Wood Flooring tends to make all the distinction to a household and the proper wood floor and installation will influence the feel of a residence profoundly. In the event you reside in the Orange County area, and so are coordinating to lay a brand new wood floor, in that case enlisting the help of an excellent California Flooring contractor is definitely the ideal spot to commence.

California Flooring Service can help you with this process every step of the way. Many flooring contractors will advise either a hand scraped engineered wood flooring or an engineered wood floor. These are both excellent varieties of wood flooring and each deliver a pleasing finish. California Flooring contractors generally, will advise engineered wood floor installation whether it is going to be mounted over concrete. Fixing or repairing a floor is also an area where a California flooring Service Contractor can help.

Should you have flood damage, it would be repaired except if damages are unique and significant in which particular case they are should be swapped out entirely. If it is indeed, price productive and if really attainable, contractors will often make an attempt to execute flooring repair. Orange County Hardwood Floors and California Flooring Service offer you a wide variety of the ideal solutions for your wood flooring.

There’ll just be no mistakes as a contractor’s reputation is at stake, and he or she understands the value of doing a great job exactly where repeat online business is concerned. It’s for that reason that for wood flooring, California Flooring service is usually selected, as their service and installation quality is first rate. Laying wood flooring is almost an art, and when carried out thoroughly will deliver long life along with a durableness yjay may be appealing on the eye and also be a sound investment to your house. At California Flooring Service, we are able to help make your hardwood flooring aspirations an actuality.

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Installing Hardwood Flooring Tips To Make Your Job Go Smoother

October 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

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.

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100% Investment Return On Wood Flooring In Orange County

October 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Earn a 100% Return on your Investment with Wood Flooring

In a survey conducted by the National Wood Flooring Association that involved real estates agents across the country, the agents noted that wood floors can add significant value to your house. For example, if a homeowners house is valued at $200,000 and $10,000 is invested in hardwood flooring the house will increase in value to $220,000 that increases the homeowners investment 100%, not bad. The real estate agents that were surveyed also noticed houses sell faster when a house have had hardwood floors installed.

Jason owner of California Flooring Service a company that was featured on the DIY Network show Man Caves and HGTV’s The Antonio Treatment couldn’t agree more. Jason adds “Hardwood floors are a stunning feature almost anywhere in your home, and that’s why the houses sell fast in Orange County”.

Hardwood floors are also durable they outlast and outperform any other floor covering material and is very easy to install. With a little planning and a free weekend a homeowner boost the value in their home. If a homeowner does not have the time or expertise to install hardwood floors, then choosing a contractor will the best way to go.  When choosing a contractor “A customer should know that the contractor is licensed and can perform the job “says Jason” Also the contractors’ customer service is very important. A contractor should communicate the process to the homeowner every step of the way so they will be assured that their most important investment will be in safe hands”.

About California Flooring Service: Serves Orange County exclusively. California Flooring Service has been installing wood, carpet and tile for 20 years, and know how to add value and beauty a home.

Contact:
www.californiaflooringservice.com
www.OrangeCountyHardwoodFloors.com

Jason
Telephone: 949 355 3501

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Building a Custom Ceramic Tile Shower starts with a Shower Pan Membrane Liner

October 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Installing a custom ceramic tile shower in your home is something a do it yourself homeowner can do with a little upfront knowledge. The most important aspect of a successful custom ceramic tile shower installation is properly installing a shower pan membrane liner. The shower pan membrane liner is used to ensure a leak-proof shower.

Shower pan membrane liners are used to funnel any water that seeps through the floor or wall grout to the shower drain below. The shower pan membrane liner is made up of a flexible type of plastic material that sits below a bed of mortar, and the tile, in the shower floor area. At California Flooring service, we HOT MOP for all water proofing.

Prior to installing the shower pan membrane liner, the floor of the shower needs to be pre-sloped to ensure that the water will flow towards the shower drain assembly. The pre-slope is accomplished by applying a layer of mortar to the floor of the shower unit area. The layer of mortar is troweled in such as way as to create a gentle slope from the shower wall edges to the center of the shower where the drain resides.

Once the pre-slope mortar has cured, the flexible shower pan membrane liner can then be installed. There are a couple of types of shower pan membrane liners on the market, with each having their own benefits. With either type of membrane, the homeowner needs to form and fold the material into the base of the shower area and secure it to the sides of the shower wall frame with staples and/or nails. In addition, an opening in the membrane should be cut out to allow the adjustable shower drain assembly to slip through.

With the shower pan membrane installed, the cementitious ceramic tile backerboard can then be secured to the framed shower walls. The backerboard is a rigid material that is ideal for attaching tile in wet areas such as a shower stall.

After installing the ceramic tile backerboard, a final coat of mortar needs to be applied on top of the membrane to protect it and to provide a solid base for laying the ceramic floor tile.

With the final coat of mortar cured, the ceramic tile can then be installed in the shower.

Once the tile and grout have been installed, the shower drain assembly should be adjusted so that the drain height sits flush with the finished ceramic tile floor.

For more information on installing a shower pan membrane liner, Call California Flooring Service at 949 355 3501. Thank you for reading this post.

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