Home and Garden Improvement

Archive for the ‘Flooring’ Category

The right kitchen flooring can not only make your life easier, but it has the ability to set the mood for the entire room. The three main factors to consider when deciding on the type of flooring for your kitchen are durability, use, and style. We’ll start by taking a closer look at some of the most popular choices in kitchen flooring.

Hardwood Flooring

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. Read the rest of this entry »

You’re remodeling the bathroom and have dreams of adding some spa like comforts. A garden tub with pulsating jets, luxurious tile and comfortable fixtures come to mind. And maybe even a heated floor. Lots of people are considering radiant-heated floors because of that extra level of spa-like comfort. Before you make a decision about a heated floor, you should know some of the pros and cons of these types of heating systems. Here’s a brief run down on the main types of systems and the pros and cons for using this type of heating system. Of course, your local HVAC professional will have more detailed information.

Heating Floor Systems: Which to Choose?

There are two main types of radiant-heated floors. The first is electric, which provides heat through electrically heated coils. The second is hydronic, which provides heat through water-filled tubes. The tubes can be heated in a variety of ways using solar power, oil, gas or kerosene. Not sure which to choose? Ask your local HVAC professional for their advice. Read the rest of this entry »

Wood floor repair – Beautiful solid wood flooring can look wonderful, creating a real sense of style and individuality and a modern, contemporary feel within any home. There are many different types of real wood flooring, each with a look that is entirely its own. Aged or distressed flooring, the distinctive lines of parquet flooring, there’s engineered wood flooring and strip floors as well as mosaic panels and end grain wood block floors.

Aged & distressed flooring

Aged wood flooring or distressed flooring presents a stylish, lived in look. It looks, for all the world, as if your flooring has been laid for years and adds a certain authenticity to your home. Aged and distressed flooring is also a very practical choice for both homes and commercial properties because it keeps looking good for longer. The rugged, show the scratches will not worn, lived in appearance and marks caused by everyday usage. They are also a popular choice because they never require sanding unlike other types of wood floors. Read the rest of this entry »

Vinyl is easily one of the most versatile types of flooring. It is extremely durable and can look like anything, from stone to wood and other natural materials. While vinyl floors are easy to care for, there are some general rules you should follow to keep your vinyl floor clean and vibrant throughout its life in your house.

Sweep or Vacuum

Dust, grit, sand, and any other abrasive materials can scratch vinyl, even with the protective surface layer. Sweep or vacuum your vinyl floor regularly. Vacuums have trouble suctioning to vinyl at times, so you might be better off using a broom. Placing mats at all the outside entrance areas can greatly reduce the amount of dirt and grit on your vinyl floor. Read the rest of this entry »

Even if you undertook the task of building your own deck, you understand the large investment (both monetary and in time) that went into the project. Decks add beauty and value to a home, and are often the family’s favorite place on lovely afternoons. In order to protect that investment, deck waterproofing is nearly as important as making sure your basement is dry and safe from water damage.

After the completion of your deck, either you or the contracted builder should seal the wood with a water-resistant coating. Water-resistant sealants are painted on the wood, covering the entire deck. This coating helps to protect the wood from absorbing excess water. Not only does this seal the deck but also provides wonderful preservation of the deck’s beauty. Read the rest of this entry »

Solid hardwood floors look great. They have a tough chunky look that spells quality and long life. And they will last long and look magnificent throughout if you take the effort to look after them. It’s not difficult, and the right kind of care will add years to your beautiful hardwood floor.

1. The worst enemies of your hardwood floor are grit, sand and dirt. These three act like sandpaper grinding, scraping and dulling the shiny surface until it becomes ugly. Use small mats near outside doors to prevent the dirt getting further into your house.

2. Water allowed to stand on any part of your hardwood floor can cause warping and discoloration. Be sure to wipe up any spills promptly. Read the rest of this entry »

There is nothing quite as luxurious as having wool carpeting in your home. Although is a definite luxury, wool carpeting is also a lasting value. A wool carpet will cost more at the time of installation, but over the years a resilient wool carpet will prove itself to be a lasting value far superior to other types of carpeting. No man made fiber rug can come close to wool superior rich look and feel.

Wool is a prized natural fiber that has many attributes that lends itself to quality carpet making. Wool is non allergenic, which can be a very important consideration to some who may deal with allergies or children with asthma. It does not promote the growth of dust mites or bacteria and has no harmful emissions as do man made carpet fibers. It is naturally soil resistant. Wool is naturally flame retardant. The fibers of wool have a natural superior long term appearance retention which is why wool carpets don’t age as quickly as man made fiber carpets. The wool fibers don’t crush or break down under use as man made carpet fibers do. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re like most people, you don’t give your home’s gutter system much thought. And that’s unfortunate because it’s crucial to maintaining your home’s integrity and value. The system serves no purpose until it rains, but when it does, a properly installed gutter system is the only way to ensure that the rain water won’t collect on the roof or worse, run down alongside the walls of your home.

When rainwater is uncontrolled, it can get in between the vinyl siding, wood or other material that covers your home and protects it from the elements. Water running uncontrolled down the side of a house can also get behind window frames and other openings and cause further damage that’s often expensive to repair.

In much the same way as it directs a bowling ball down the end of the lane a gutter system along the perimeter of your roof carries water away from your home. Water that is allowed to flow towards the home’s foundation rather than away will slowly erode the foundation, which over time can impair its structural integrity. It can also cause a considerable amount of erosion. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

Cedar wood generally gives good look to the deck furniture. This gives an added attraction to Chairs and Tables and provides a natural feel. Deck Furniture made up of Cedar Wood looks elegant and sophisticated. Deck furniture using Cedar Wood requires less care through out its life. Cedar Wood has natural strength and durability. The weight strength ratio of Cedar Wood Deck Furniture is high. However, it is also light and is portable. Cedar, in a real sense is wonderful material for use in a number of building products, including decking lumber. Cedar is also softwood. Cedar deck is not only attractive with rustic beauty but has many natural elements that gives built in resistance. The Cedar oil provides the in-built insect resistance for Cedar. Cedar wood is resistant to all sorts of insects inclusive of but not limited to termites, fleas etc…

Red Cedar is mostly the preferred choice for deck furniture as it is reliable and more flexible and permeates with high resistance. Cedar decking is also corrosion free. Cedar Deck Furniture also has the advantage of easy workability to do any modification on the design. Other benefits like heat insulation, sound absorption give an added value to Cedar. Cedar wood is rich in color and this makes it ideal for use in deck furniture. Read the rest of this entry »