Wooden floors are elegant and classy in any place. Whether they are present in a commercial building or at home, they give the place a stunning appearance. To keep these wooden panels looking good, one would need to maintain and polish the floors regularly.

1. Remove all the furniture. Try to avoid scraping the furniture against the panels to prevent further damage. Stick fabric under the feet to protect the wood in the future.
2. Vacuum the floors to rid the wood of any loose debris and dust. You will find it easier to apply the polish if all residues have been removed.
3. It is good to know the type of material the floor is made of so that you know what products can be used. If your floor has perished polish or lacquer, you will need to strip it down to apply the new and stronger coat of the desired polish or wax to give the material a protective coating.
4. Avoid mopping a floor that has been waxed. Rather sweep and vacuum to clean it.
5. You will need to use the correct polish on the floor. If it has a polyurethane finish you would need to use a water based product for the best results.
6. It is crucial to read the instructions on the packaging. Products vary and some may have specific chemicals that need to be applied a certain way. In some cases, you will have to wash and sand down the floor before you apply the polish.
7. If you are trying a new product, test the chemical on a small section of the floors. Some products could discolour the wood and it is always important to test what the material can handle. Discolouration could occur immediately and further usage of this polish should be stopped.
8. The package usually tells you how to apply the polish. Most times, circular motions are the best way to get streak free finishes. You may either have to apply the polish to a cloth before application or you can apply the polish directly to the floor. Some products are not as strong when in initial contact with oxygen.
9. Overlap the circular strokes as this could also provide you with a smoother and more professional clean.
10. Work your way from the door, around the room and back to the door. Working in this direction will allow you to leave the room once done without having to walk over the wet polish.
11. Waxed floors will need thinner layers as the polish will take longer to dry. This application will have to be done over time as two to three coats will have to be applied.

Commercial businesses usually have a larger area to maintain, in these cases, you might need bulk packs of the polish which you could get at a wholesale supplier.

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When it comes to home improvement, almost all homeowners commonly experience difficulties with the floor since there are numerous options to choose from. However, not all floor finishes are suitable for homes since you need specific features. For instance, when improve flooring in kitchens, you need to make sure that it is slip-resistant. Not to mention, you also need to make sure that surface is easy to maintain. As a result, more and more homeowners are now opting for stone look floor finishes. These finishes are preferred by homeowners since it can provide them with wonderful benefits. Below are some of the following.

Affordable

One of the main benefits of using stone look floor products is its affordability. Surely, you may use different type of floor decorations such as granite and tiles. However, these items are quite expensive. Not to mention, homeowners need to spend in installation as well as fees when hiring specialists. Apart from that, maintaining tiles and granite is also expensive since you need to use special cleaning tools and chemicals to maintain its pristine appearance. By using stone look floor products, you can get rid of overhead expenses which can be used in other things that can make homes more appealing and safer.

Tough

The next benefit of using stone look products is its durability. This is possible since it is non-porous, which allows it to be more resistant to dirt, mold and grime. Plus, this floor product is made from the best materials to provide you with the best floor finish for a long period of time.

Wide selection of colors

Another benefit in using stone look floor products is it can easily complement the style of your existing home since it comes in a wide selection of colors. One of the issues homeowners encounter when improving homes is choosing the suitable color of floors. And, this task is quite stressful since some products have limited options. Fortunately, reliable stone look product providers can offer you with wonderful colors and styles.

Suitable for any concrete flooring

Finally, stone look floor finishes are suitable on any concrete flooring. These include kitchens, family rooms, garage as well as showrooms and cafes. Other than that, homeowners can also find other products that can make concrete finishes more appealing by looking for reliable providers.

These are only some of the best benefits that homeowners can obtain when using stone look floor finishes in their homes.

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There are hordes of flooring options in the market these days. Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular and if you have gone as far as choosing between the solid type of the engineered kind, then you are deep into picking the right kind of material for your wooden flooring. Solid vs. engineered wood flooring choices has been around for so long, ever-competing for homeowners' attention. Knowing the pros and cons for each one should help you get the biggest return for your investment.

First, the solid hardwood – this is often ¾ of an inch thick and has been milled from just one piece of wood. This hardwood's thickness means it can be sanded down then refinished many times throughout the furniture's life.

Since solid hardwood is made of just one piece of wood, it is probable that the changes in humidity levels can cause the wood to expand or contract. In the long run, this can also lead to warping. So you won't have to worry about this issue, make sure to put solid hardwood furniture inside rooms that are not exposed to the elements or humidity such as basements, bathrooms and kitchens.

Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, usually has three to five layers of wood that have been bonded together with the use of pressure and heat. This kind of wood tends to cost less than the solid hardwood type since the only layer that need to have a hundred-percent hardwood is the top one. The bottom layers are already engineered pieces. The more layers that an engineered hardwood has, then more times that it can be refinished.

Which to Pick?

Now that you know the pros and cons of solid and engineered wood flooring, it's time to make your choice. First, you always need to consider your location. Keep in mind that any surface that is located below ground level has greater risk of being exposed to moisture, hence, solid hardwood flooring is unsuitable.

Rooms that are located below the ground such as sunken living rooms or basements are better off with engineered hardwood flooring.

Next, you need to consider the function of the room. If you are certain that the room will be exposed to moisture such as in the case of a kitchen or a bathroom, then it is best to install engineered hardwood flooring.

The third thing that you need to think about is the kind of subfloor that you will install. Given a subfloor of plywood, then your option is a toss between solid wood and engineered wood, meaning, you can use whichever you prefer. With a concrete flooring, then the option has to be engineered wood floor.

Now that you know the factors involved in choosing between solid vs. engineered wood flooring, it is time to know why you should settle for wood and not any other kind of material –

• First, quality wooden floors can last for a very, very long time. Those who choose to cover a concrete flooring with carpets end up replacing their carpet every five years or so. This can be an expensive journey to take.
• Wood floors are a lot easier to clean than rugs or carpets. Just lightly vacuum or brush the wooden floors and they will already look great.
• Solid or engineered wood flooring are both hygienic. Compared to carpets, they are less likely to become home for parasites. If you have allergies, then having a wooden floor is better than having carpets installed.
• Unpleasant odors can also be dispelled since wood is hygienic.
• If you want to install under floor heating soon, then the best material to have is a wooden floor.

Sanding and sealing can make wood floors look new even after years of scratching, wearing and tearing.

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Floor finishes are very necessary to protect your floor from wear and tear and give them a shiny appearance. These would considerably enhance the durability of all kinds of floors.

Improve the Appearance of Your Floors with Suitable Finishes

Floor-finishes, with their thick and smooth film are meant to protect the floors from easy damage and scratches. They also help in preventing the floors from acquiring a dull look. Apart from providing slip resistant surfaces, quality floor finishes help to improve the appearance of your room interiors.

It has been found that certain types of finishes on floors are sensitive to microbial attacks and can diminish their luster. In order to prevent the growth of bacteria, finishes are now available with antimicrobial agents. You can also find products with deionized water that would contribute towards creating an environment friendly atmosphere. Polyurethane is among the popular surface finishes at present. These products are capable of protecting the floors from moisture, spills and mechanical wear.

Ideal Finishes to Protect Your Wood Floors

As wood floors create natural looking and welcoming interiors, a good percent of people prefer wooden floorings. But for maintaining the richness and beauty of the wood, special attention should be given. Deep scratches on these floors are usually very difficult to hide. Such issues can be easily solved using suitable wood floor finishes. They are not only suitable to polish the surfaces, but can protect the wood from easy damage caused by moisture, stains and grease.

Purchase Brand Name Products from Experienced Dealers

Amrep, Franklin Cleaning Technology and Reckitt Benckiser are the manufacturers producing popular brands of floor finishes. Their products are made available for the customers through different dealers. For purchasing such brand name products, it is important to find a dealer having extensive experience in the field.

With floor finishes to protect your floors, you can easily bring more elegance and style to your room interiors.

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More and more people are converting existing space into a workout room, rather than paying for a fitness center membership. After all, if you work during the day, have to run kids to their practices and clubs, you probably do not feel like spending time traveling back and forth to the fitness center. Also, by having a workout space at home, you can exercise anytime you choose.

If you're looking at converting existing space into a workout room, flooring will be the main consideration. You can probably leave the walls and ceiling the same, but you need flooring that is durable, yet easy on the joints.

The best option for indoor workout space is interlocking rubber tiles. If you have not seen these, there are a lot of great options. You can choose one solid color, choose a checkered pattern with two colors, or you can choose a different color for each part of the room. You can design your floor anyway you like.

Why go with interlocking tiles? The main reason is it's shock absorbent. If you're planning on doing jumping jacks, floor exercises or running in place, your body will appreciate the extra cushioning of the floor. The tiles also have an excellent slip resistance quality which is very important for any workout area. Rubber will also absorb sound effectively. While you're working away on the treadmill or elliptical, your family will still be able to hear the TV in the next room.

These are also very durable. If you have heavy exercise equipment, it will not damage the floor. You can move equipment around and the floor will stay put. A rubber floor will easily last 15 years and depending on the quality, it could last as many as 30 years. If you tend to sweat a lot while working out, rubber tiles are easy to clean. Just grab a damp cloth and wipe it down.

Interlocking rubber tiles are easy to install. You and a buddy can easily install the floor in one weekend. If the existing floor is concrete, wooden or vinyl, you can place the rubber tiles on top of the existing floor. If the floor has a wall-to-wall carpet, you'll want to rip the carpet out, place a subflooring such as plywood, and then install the rubber tiles.

Rubber flooring is fairly inexpensive. If at some point you decide to use the room for something else, the rubber tiles can be used in a different area, such as your garage or laundry area.

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This is a very popular type of wood for hardwood flooring but it should be chosen with care. The reason is that not all oak hardwood flooring is created alike. You need to make sure that the oak wood will be appropriate for the room you are putting it in and that it will meet your aesthetic taste. When they are properly cared for and of high quality, they will last a long time. There are a number of types of oak that can be used in hardwood flooring. The two most popular oak woods are white oak and red oak. Oak can vary from a deep brown to an almost white color so you need to consider the shade of flooring that you want. Finishes are another thing to consider. The finishes can include a distracted finish to give the floor an antique look or it can be glossy to matte. When you visit a flooring store there will be samples of all types and finishes to help you make your decision as to which flooring you like.

Before making the final decision you need to decide if you want engineered or solid oak hardwood flooring. The difference between the two is that engineered oak flooring is made with veneer. It is then layered onto a base. Engineered flooring does not wear as well as the solid floor plus engineered floors contract and expand less. With solid oak flooring, it is made from plank or solid strips of wood. There is also a variety of floor widths to look at and consider including narrow strips to planks. You can also get it in parquet, which is flooring that made of several pieces of wood that fit together like a puzzle.

Check to see if the hardwood flooring has a warranty, what it covers, and how long it lasts. The longer warranties are often found with floors that are prefinished and the unfinished ones have a shorter warranty. Most homeowners will hire a company to put down their hardwood flooring so be sure to hire a reputable company. You should check to see if they offer any warranties or guarantees if something goes wrong on the job, which if it is their fault they will be responsible for taking care of the problem.

A very important issue with oak hardwood flooring is the installation method. If the homeowner decides to install the flooring themselves may find that they prefer a floating floor, which is a floor that will not have to be glued or failed to the subfloor of the room. Many professional installers may decide to nail, staple, or glue the oak hardwood flooring to the subfloor, which can be hard to do.

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HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR: Hardwood Flooring Installation

Hardwood flooring, sure many home renovations include new flooring. Are you interested in having hardwood installed in your raised level, addition or complete home renovation? Let's talk

New Construction & Your Hardwood Installation

Many home improvement contractor's are now installing hardwood flooring on their jobs. This is certainly true when it comes to building your new raised level on your home. In almost all of new raised level packages, hardwood flooring installations seems to be almost mandatory with the homeowners. A common wood of choice homeowners choose is usually a new # 1 red oak or select grade on the entire upstairs less the bathrooms and laundry areas. Your contractor will then treat the flooring with polyurethane and a final buff coat and within 3 days the flooring is ready to walk on. Remember, that was the new top floor or even a new addition area. Everything is new so it a simple procedure for the install. Let's go to the first floor and talk about your hardwood flooring installation in the existing renovated area.

Home Improvement Contractor: Hardwood & Your Home Renovation

Many complete home renovations include both a new raised level in addition to a completely revised first floor plan with a first floor extension. The existing first floor usually always has the original hardwood flooring. Your home improvement contractor will remove several walls during the home renovation. Your Home Improvement Contractor will then be left with a decision. How will he be able to repair and install hardwood on the first floor. Remember, the original walls were removed. On the floor will be 4 1/2 "wide gaps from where the walls used to lie. If a twenty foot wall was removed then there would be a 20 'x 4 1/2" gap in the floor. There are 2 choices. The first is to remove ALL the hardwood flooring through the first floor. Then reinstall the new. If you are not worried about the budget and or the numbers work out, then this option is fine. The second choice is to feather the old hardwood in with the new hardwood flooring. Your Home Improvement Contractor will use a staggering or weaving process. He will remove the nearest pieces and fill with new hardwood accordingly. When ready, he will sand the entire floor as well as the weaved areas all together. When completed, your first floor will look absolutely brand new. The positive here is that you were able to salvage the existing hardwood so saving you a good deal of money.

If you are interested in installing hardwood flooring in your renovation project, ask your Home Improvement Contractor for his opinions.

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With the myriad of flooring types available, shoppers tend to lean toward those that are most popular at the time. Unfortunately, this practice can cause a consumer to miss out on some great flooring options.

One of these hidden gems is cork flooring. Imagine a floor covering that is attractive, comfortable, environmentally friendly, durable and affordable. When most people think of cork, they think of a wine bottle or a cork board, and due to this lack of consumer awareness, this product is commonly overlooked. In order to appreciate this material, you really need to understand its unique characteristics.

Origin

Cork is actually the bark of the cork oak tree found in the Mediterranean. Portugal is the largest supplier with over 30% of the world's cork trees and 70% of the world's cork production. Every nine years the bark is harvested by hand with the average tree yielding about 4,000 corks.

The bark is honeycomb in nature, containing 90% air that can be compressed to 40% and then quickly returning to its original shape. This feature creates a natural shock absorber.

Benefits

Due to its air like composition, walking on cork is like walking on air. Its comfortable walking surface is perfect for kitchens where you are standing for lengthy periods of time.

Cork has a natural beauty with a rich, varying grain, similar to wood. It also comes in many different patterns and tile sizes from various manufacturers.

The same feature that makes the floor comfortable creates a natural noise reducer. It's extremely quiet to walk on and reduces the impact if an object is dropped on its surface. It's insulating effect make cork a great choice in a bathroom over radiant floor heating or even installed over cold concrete floors.

Cork is an environmentally friendly product in many ways. Since the bark from the tree grows back nine years after harvest, it's a reusable and sustainable product. It also contains suberin, a substance that is resistant to insects, mold and protects cork from rotting when exposed to moisture. Suberin is naturally fire resistant and cork does not release any toxic gases when it burns.

The durability of cork makes it a perfect choice for virtually any room in the house, including those high traffic areas. It has been successfully used in churches and other public buildings since 1898.

Disadvantages

Due to its resilience, heavy furniture can dent the flooring, so it's important to use castors or furniture pads under table legs. Just as with wood, an excess of water can damage the finish. It should not be used where you have problems with moisture or flooding.

Costs

The cost of cork flooring compares to high-end laminate or hardwood and runs approximately $ 4 to 6 $ per square foot.

Maintenance

Cork floors are extremely easy to maintain with regular sweeping or vacuuming. Damp mop the floor monthly with a mild detergent and very little water and avoid using abrasive or ammonia-based cleaning products.

The flooring requires up to five coats of urethane sealer, which will last several years. A dulling floor can be refreshed with another coat.

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Wood flooring is one of the most attractive options for the home. Even though it is more expensive than other forms of flooring, such as linoleum and carpet, it does have plenty of benefits that can overcome the extra cost. Here are six of the positive reasons to use wood flooring:

1) Long-lasting – one of the major reasons to install wood flooring is its ability to last. With minimal care and attention, this type of flooring has the potential to last for decades. The lifespan of other flooring can be much less. For instance, carpet may need to be replaced at five-year intervals because of the everyday wear and tear that leads to holes, stains and general shabbiness.

2) Easy to clean – the wood flooring is easy to clean with a regular light vacuum or simple brush. This is certain to benefit in homes with pets because the dirt and mud walked in from outside by cats and dogs is that much easier to clean up.

3) Very hygienic surface – wood is a very safe and hygienic surface that will not harbor dirt and parasites. Also, it is relatively easy to clean spills or unpleasant odors from pets. Alternative flooring surfaces like carpet is well-known to trap dust, fleas and dust mites, which can have a negative impact on allergy sufferers. In addition, tile and stone floors are just as hygienic as wood, but they don’t have the same feel and warmth offered by the wooden surface.

4) Under floor heating – the solid nature of wood flooring makes it a practical option to have under floor heating installed in the home. This type of heating is very efficient and removes the need to have heating units on show throughout the home.

5) Easy to repair – if the wood flooring ever starts to look tired and worn from everyday use, it is possible to renovate with a simple do-it-yourself sanding and sealing project. A high-quality job has the potential to completely return the flooring back to new. Also, this is a lot more cost efficient than having to replace with new, which is likely to be the standard practice with carpets.

6) Timeless appeal – the appeal of wood flooring has lasted for centuries and continues be just as popular now. Other flooring options like tile patterns, linoleum and carpet can have a style that is certain to lose its appeal over a period of time.

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Using rubberized mats and rubber rolling roller rolls for the home can be a good idea for areas where soft and grippy surfaces are needed. These mats can also add a layer of safety against falls or bumps-all while providing good insulation, too. They are easy to handle and manipulate to fit any size and shape floor, making them a versatile floor option for any room.

Rubber flooring rolls come in a variety of forms which can be suitable to particular applications. They usually come in tiles that can interlock with each other, or big sheets or rolls that come in long pieces ideal for covering large areas. Installed properly, they may never need additional adhesives to lay them down, making them easy to apply or replace. Rubber flooring can also act as a moisture barrier making them ideal material for basement and garage floors or in areas where water may be an issue.

Rubber mats come in a wide variety of colors, thicknesses and textures and can be used in different areas of the home. They are easiest to install in square shaped rooms as they come in set size tiles which lend itself better to flat angled walls. Most rubber floor tiles have interlocking edges that help keep them locked together once laid down and will often not require adhesives to keep them down the floor.

In general, thick and heavy rubber tiles are best suited for exterior applications as they are more hardwearing and can better resist impact and pressure. Textured rubber tiles are great for garages and driveways where the added grip is desirable. High texture patterns are also great for helping with water runoff and preventing puddles from forming.

Aside from use as a soft padding for areas like kid playrooms, rubber flooring can also work great for kitchen and utility areas in the home. Thanks to rubber flooring's ability to resist staining and spills-as well as the fact that they are easy to maintain-they are fast becoming popular for many residential uses. Rubber flooring rolls that mimic wood planking have also become widly available and are finding more and more uses in the home because they are extremely durable and require very little maintenance.

They offer rubber items in variety of forms like rubber mats, rubber sheets, rubber rolls and many more. All these products are useful for a variety of applications such as gyms, basements, offices, warehouses, trailers, garage and other areas.

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