Different Types of Hardwood Flooring

Solid Wood Flooring

 

Image Source: http://www.luxuryflooringandfurnishings.co.uk/solid-wood-flooring/species.html

Solid wood flooring is precisely what the name indicates: a compacted piece of wood from top to bottom. The thickness of solid wood flooring can vary, but commonly ranges from ¾” to 5/16”. One of the many benefits of solid wood flooring is that it can be refinished and sandpapered many times. Solid wood flooring can be set up above or on grade. It is usually obtainable in narrow strips, wide planks, and parquet squares. 

Three main types of solid wood flooring are:
•    Strip flooring - This type of flooring is indicated by the thickness and width of the wood planks. Strip flooring has a set width, but the thickness may differ. Strip flooring ranges in thickness from 5/16 of an inch to 3/4 of an inch wide. It is available only in widths of 1 1/2 inches, 2 inches and 2 1/4 inches.
•    Plank flooring - Plank flooring only comes in two thicknesses, but not like strip flooring, the widths can be different. It is available only in thicknesses of 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch and a range of widths from 3 inches to 8 inches.
•    Parquet flooring - Parquet floors have a very unlike look from usual hardwoods. They are made up of geometrical patterns composed of individual wood slats held in place by mechanical fastening or an adhesive.

Many homeowners commonly choose the traditional, unfinished hardwood-strip flooring in either red oak or maple because it's affordable, nice-looking, and they can choose the stain color or by leaving it natural. However, unfinished wood have need of sanding, staining (if desired) and clear topcoat finish.

Engineered Wood Flooring

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Engineered-wood flooring was make known to North America in the mid-1980s and rapidly became the most well-known type of do-it-yourself wood floor. It is combination of three or more wood layers glued together into long planks that has top layer composed of a thin solid-wood veneer. This laminated construction generates a floor that's much more dimensionally stable than solid-wood flooring, so it's less likely to cup, split, shrink, or warp. There are more than two dozen wood species to choose from, including both softwood and hardwood.

The main reason why DIYers love engineered-wood flooring is that the planks snap together and "float" over a thin foam-rubber underlayment. There's no nailing or gluing required so the installation process is swift and neat. Plus, the planks can be laid directly over most existing floors, as long as the surface is hard, flat, and in good condition.

Engineered wood floors are real wood floors that are man-made using multiple layers of different wood veneers. The sub layers can be made of the same species or of different species. The grain of each layer runs in different directions, which makes it very steady. This means that the wood will expand and contract less than solid wood flooring during variations in humidity and temperature. The top layer of engineered wood flooring comprises of high-quality wood.

Detailed information at http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/interior-projects/how-to/a7913/which-kind-of-hardwood-flooring-should-you-choose/

Related Links:
http://www.wfca.org/Pages/Hardwood-Flooring-Types.aspx
http://woodfloors.org/types.aspx
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/home-diy/flooring/hardwood-floor2.htm

Tips on Installing Bamboo Flooring

Installation of bamboo floor is not much different from a standard hardwood floor installation. For house owners, the real reason for installing a bamboo floor is to save money. It can be set up in half the cost by doing it yourself. Installing a bamboo floor can be an easy weekend task.

Bamboo flooring is manufactured to be appealingly and fundamentally similar to the typical hardwood, but is known to be eco-friendly. Bamboo plants can be collected without replanting in less than five years, making bamboo floorboards easier to yield.

Because of the proficient manufacturing process, many bamboo floors are more reasonably priced than the standard hardwood floor equivalents. Aside from being visually alluring, bamboo flooring is also known for its strength, durability and resistance to humidity. It is comparatively hard and this creates a great choice for floors at home. Bamboo flooring is in fact durable than most other wood flooring and is considered to wear better. It can be installed over wood or concrete sub-floorings without professional help. It also save time and money.

Pre-installation Process
1. Choosing the Right Bamboo Flooring Type
2. Measuring the Area & Accustoming the Bamboo
3. Cleaning the Surface


Installation Process
1. The Underlayment
2. Installing the Bamboo Flooring

Detailed Story at http://www.flooring-professionals.com/product/bamboo-flooring/installation/

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http://www.calibamboo.com/bamboo-floor-installation-guide.html
http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/how-to-install-bamboo-flooring
http://www.bambooflooringcompany.com/bamboo-flooring-installation 

Budget Options for Eco-Friendly Kitchen Countertops

Image Source: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/green-remodeling/green-kitchen-countertops-3-eco-friendly-choices/

What’s green? Green kitchen countertops feature reprocessed or sustainable content, low-toxicity binders, eco-friendly industrial processes, or a combination. Local production is good, too, if you can arrange it, because transferring countertops is a big fuel-guzzler.

When it comes in selecting a countertop for your kitchen remodel, there are plenty of nice-looking options that making a decision can be hard. One way to narrow it down is to factor eco-friendliness into the equation.

Not sure where to start? Let’s break down some of the best eco-friendly countertop options existing on the market today, ranging from ultra-luxurious to basic and budget-friendly. Once you decide which material you love for kitchen countertops, you can use this convenient cost calculator to help you stay on budget.

Source:http://www.motherearthnews.com/green-homes/4-ecofriendly-countertop-options-for-every-budget-zbcz1506.aspx

Hard Wood Flooring Cleaning Tips

Image Source: https://superiorhardwood.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/green-cleaning-tips-for-your-hardwood-floor/

The Basic Care

Speed up the cleaning procedure by first dusting the floor with a mop that has been treated with a dusting agent to pick up dust, dirt, and pet hair that might scrape the floor surface. Vacuum or sweep your floor regularly with a soft-bristled attachment or broom, especially in high-traffic areas. This prevents persistent dirt and particle buildup that can scratch the wood’s surface. For weekly or biweekly cleaning, vacuum with a floor-brush attachment on a vacuum cleaner or an electric broom. Do not use a vacuum with a beater bar add-on, which can scratch a wood floor's finish. For quick dusting, use disposable electrostatic cloths, available at grocery and discount stores. Use protective window coverings to block fade-causing UV rays and extreme heat from direct sunlight. Most wood types will slowly age when not covered, so it’s a good idea to rearrange rugs and furniture occasionally to help it age evenly.

Preventing Damage Tips

Keep pets’ paws clean and nails trimmed.Pets can smell the scent in substances that cause scraping and blemishes.

Use a humidifier during heating periods to help reduce wood contraction and humidity between 35% and 55%.

Use ice to harden hard substances like wax or chewing gum, and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper or a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the surface and wipe the area clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

More story at http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/best-tips-for-cleaning-hardwood-floors-199663

Watch the video at http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/cleaning/more-techniques/clean-hardwood-floors

Related Helpful Links:
http://www.bhg.com/homekeeping/house-cleaning/surface/how-to-clean-hardwood-floors/
http://www.bruce.com/cleaning-hardwood-flooring.html
http://www.rd.com/home/cleaning-organizing/7-tips-for-cleaning-hardwood-floors/ http://www.lowes.com/projects/repair-and-maintain/caring-for-hardwood-floors/project http://www.wikihow.com/Clean-Hardwood-Floors
https://www.pinesol.com/cleaning-surfaces/how-to-clean-hardwood-floors/

Countertop Buying Guide

Image Source:http://sdflooringcenteranddesign.com/countertops/tile/

First thing in mind

The pricing comes first then find out the pros and cons of the materials you're bearing in mind particularly since some materials are close in price and special sales might control you. 

Think big

Small samples make it hard to imagine what the material will look like in your kitchen. Play with online design tools, but understand the materials up close and take home large samples, even if you have to pay for them. And whatever you're allowing for ask about the warranty.

What about the sink?

A top-mounted sink can be used with any countertop material and is released in after the counter is installed.

Ways to save

 Look for sales and think through when mixing materials and using the more expensive material on prominent areas such as an island and a less expensive material on the perimeter. 

Be precise

Have the designer take final measurements, making accuracy his obligation.

For the full article read this link:http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/countertops/buying-guide.htm

Reasons Why Wood is Excellent for Flooring

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Wood is one of the most valued flooring material in the home building and buying market. Valued for its outstanding good looks and warmth, wood is highly flexible and maintainable.

Splendor, comfort, toughness and value are among the various reasons why hard wood flooring is a excellent selection for your home.

Hardwood floors develop more beautiful as they age, however they can dull over time. A hard wood floor can be sandpapered and refinished many times over its life (up to 10 times depending on the board thickness) to bring back its original look and shine  adding to its value. At the end of its use as flooring, the wood can be re-purposed into other wood products, from furniture to fuel.

 Image Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/home-661120-choice-woodfloors.html

In short,
1. Natural wood floors are among the most energy-efficient to produce and proficient to use,  made of by-products from manufacturing. For example, tree bark is shredded into covering, and sawdust becomes fuel used to operate furnaces or provides bedding for horses, cattle and other animals.
2. Sustainably managed forests certainly provide filtration and storage for our water supply, and they don’t need irrigation, aiding with crucial water preservation.
3. Hardwood flooring and laminates don’t gather dust or allergens like certain other materials, and the floors are simple to clean and maintain, decreasing allergens even more.

Full story at http://www.ocregister.com/articles/home-661120-choice-woodfloors.html

Why Bamboo Flooring is Eco Friendly?

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Bamboo is an eco-friendly, very much renewable source of material. As a grass, bamboo develops much quicker than wood.  The Moso Bamboo is the principal type used for the manufacturing of flooring and plywood. Moso bamboo can grow up to 47 inches in 24 hours and 78½ feet high within 40 to 50 days. The material’s usual qualities of durability and structural firmness ensure that it’s dependability in a selection of applications. With many different options from which to choose, bamboo flooring is an option that is hard to be refuse.

Bamboo is considered an eco-friendly option
Actually bamboo is technically a grass. Therefore, it grows in three to five years, earlier than usual timber. Horticulturists also consider that the harvesting bamboo can in fact help improve growing conditions – much as carefully engineered, careful timber harvesting supports a forest grow. By taking out old bamboo, more sunlight is allowed to reach the younger plants, helping stimulate and cultivate the shoots.

Bamboo has indirect environmental benefits
When you set up a hardwood floor, you don’t need to clean your floors as robustly or as frequently as you might if you install carpeting. You can clean a bamboo floor with just a dry mop or broom; whereas you might need a more dramatic and possibly environmentally costly cleaning treatment if you go for carpeting.

Bamboo can last for 30 years or longer
Subject on the construction job and care provided and homeowners does not need to switch or refinish floors as often as they might. Any time you can avoid doing major construction, you can save on environmental expenses that includes labor, machinery, pollution, debris created, etc.

Full Story at http://www.treehugger.com/green-architecture/bamboo-flooring-is-it-really-treehugger-green.html


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http://flooring.about.com/od/green-flooring/a/Is-Bamboo-Flooring-Really-Eco-Friendly.htm
http://life.gaiam.com/article/how-eco-friendly-bamboo
http://www.isustainableearth.com/green-products/eight-serious-benefits-of-bamboo-flooring 

How to Choose the Right Flooring for your Home

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When choosing a Flooring for the home are about as plenty like countertop options. There's somewhat to match everyone's taste and purpose.

To choose the correct material you'll need to think through a few things ahead of time, such as how the room is normally used along with your family's lifestyle. Also think about your importance and whether you prefer ease of maintenance over aesthetics.

Choosing the right floor relies on your making a wants and needs valuation. The "wants" part of the equation is usually easier since you've most likely seen some materials that really pleasing to you. However don't sacrifice the "needs" analysis because the useful considerations are important determinants in making the right decision.

Each kind of surface comes with its own individual advantages and disadvantages. Consider the following points and questions to help narrow your focus. You may already have a defined idea of the type of surface you want, but not all materials are appropriate for every application.

Which room or rooms are you considering?
Consider your family status and lifestyle -- do you have children, elderly or disabled family members? Do you have any pets?
Does anyone in the home suffer from asthma or respiratory allergies or have sensitivities to chemicals that aggravate these conditions?
How much care and maintenance are you willing to put into the floor?
How important to you is your floor from a style and aesthetics perspective? Do you want a high-end expensive surface or will a more economical choice do?
Get out and test drive your short list of choices.

Detailed information at Choosing The Right Flooring

The Benefits of Hard Wood Floors

Whether it's a residential interior, or a commercial installation, hard wood floors enhance an air of class, as well as fundamental strength. Hardwood floors are said to impart a sense of permanence to an interior and remain to be the most widely held flooring choice for those who value tradition the most.

But then there are reasons, beyond the traditional values, which make hard wood floors an applied and decorative preference. Here are the main benefits: Straight-forward installation for those with experience, Easy to clean, High quality look, Strength and durability, A Good investment….

More benefits of hardwood floors:

Variety: Hard wood floors compromise maximum choices in appearance. There are many colors, styles, stains and species available. An addition is a choice in the available finish that is pre-finished and unfinished hard wood floors. No matter how different and unique your needs are, there is always an option for you with hard wood floors.

Better sound quality: A properly installed hardwood floor never gives you hollow sounds or vibrations.

Low maintenance: Hard wood floors and the floor finish are easy to keep and maintain.

Healthy indoor air quality: These floors are in good physical shape choice for interior environments. It has no fibers, filling lines or embossing that can trap dust, pollen, particles, animal dander and allergens that takes place with carpets. They are the best choice of flooring with allergy sufferers and improve air quality.

Ageless quality: When other floors will begin to look tired and worn out, the hard wood floors will still look beautiful. And hardwood floors become more valued as time goes by. Also keep in mind that unlike carpeting and vinyl, hard wood floors can be refinished rather than replaced when the finish has worn out.

Detailed information about Main Benefits of Hard Wood Floors at http://www.builddirect.com/Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-Articles/Main_Benefits_of_Hard_Wood_Floors.aspx