Stains are a part of our everyday lives, especially when we consider the different types of flooring options in our homes. You should know that all floors are at risk of getting stained, no matter how careful you are. With food and beverage spills, kids’ activities, pet messes, and foot traffic along with regular wear and tear, your flooring will take a beating. However, there is no reason for you to fret over these stains as long as you are aware of the many ways you can combat them. Here are some great ideas for removing stains from various flooring options.

Hardwood

• If you have children in your home, you have probably already had to face an instance where one of them has used a permanent marker on your floor. The best remedy for this is to apply a dab of toothpaste on the affected area. The stain can be gently rubbed out using a damp cloth for the best result.

• Another common problem of hardwood flooring is water stains. They can be easily characterized by a slightly smoky white coloured patch on the surface of the floor. The first thing to do in such a case is to cover the affected area with a non-abrasive and dry cloth. Next, use a hot iron and go back and forth over the area for 3-5 seconds at a time. Once you have done this, use denatured alcohol to dampen a cloth and gently rub the areas where the stain is still visible.

• You can soak a cotton cloth with hydrogen peroxide to treat general stains. All you need to do is place the cloth on the stains for about 2-5 minutes allowing time for the peroxide to get soaked into the wood. This can help bleach out any stain.

Vinyl

• Various stubborn marks and scuffs can be removed from vinyl flooring simply by wiping them with a cotton cloth using isopropyl alcohol.

• For stains that may result in discoloration such as fruit juice, wine or tomato juice, bleach is the best choice. Use a 1:4 bleach-to-water ratio to dilute the bleaching agent and soak a cloth in the solution before laying it over the stain. Allow it to sit in its position for an hour at least. Bleach may take a bit longer to work but is sure to get rid of any type of troublesome stain.

• A paste of oxalic acid powder with water can be made to treat rust stains on vinyl flooring. Use a damp cloth to rub the paste on the stain. Ensure that you wear rubber gloves before handling the solution as it is highly acidic and can cause harm to your bare skin. You should also make sure that the room is well-ventilated. Once you’re done, rinse the area well with water.

Stone and Tile

• Flooring professionals have been using muriatic acid for a long time to clean some of the toughest stains on tile and stone flooring since it works best. It’s a heavy duty cleaner so users must wear a respirator and rubber gloves while using it. Also, make sure the room is well ventilated. Use a 1:5 muriatic acid-to-water ratio and dilute the solution. Apply it to the stained area using a toothbrush. You must make sure that you have cleaned up all the solution once you’re done.

• Grout between tiles is very common. A mixture of shaving cream and lemon juice can be put into a spray bottle and sprayed on the grout. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes minimum. Using an old toothbrush, the grout can then be scrubbed.

• For gum stuck on a stone or tile flooring, try freezing it with an ice cube and gently scraping it away.

Stains of any kind of flooring can be any homeowner’s worst nightmare. These outlined tips are sure to cover a large variety of scenarios although it’s relatively easier to prevent stains from happening in the first place.

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The solution which is used for preparation of the floor of any house is known as screed. Screeding is considered to be one of the most essential steps in flooring, which plays an important role in ensuring the quality and durability of the flooring.

Different Types of Screed

The most popular kinds of screed that are available are sand cement screed and liquid screed. Screed is available in different varieties, some of which are mentioned below. Check them out:

• Sand Cement Flooring Solution

Sand cement flooring solution is considered to be the traditional way of preparing the floor before applying the final touches. In the traditional screed, sand and cement is mixed at a ratio of 3:5. This type has been used since ages for flooring because they are suitable for receiving any type of floor covering. In fact, fibers can be added in proper ratio into the mixture to eliminate the micro cracks and scratches from the surface.

• Sand and Cement along with chemicals

Chemicals can be added with the cement and sand screed to improve the screed property. Additives are often mixed with such screed to bring extra strength in the application and these help the liquid dry faster.

• Liquid Screed

Nowadays, everyone wants their house to look attractive with colourful or functional floors. This is where the importance of a screed comes into the picture. A screed which is laid well, helps in extending the light of the floor and increases its quality, whereas, a bad screed can adversely affect the quality of the floor and reviving the floor to good condition can drain your pocket. So, utmost care should be taken while choosing the perfect screed.

• Calcium Sulphite Screed

Adding calcium sulphate with sand and water also makes a screed that has unique properties. Though it takes longer time to dry, but the application process is easy and effective.

How to Take Proper Protection of the Application?

The flooring screed works on electric power and so it is very much essential to ensure that no electrical fault takes place. Health and safety of the workplace should be conserved at the very beginning. The depth of the floor prevents the under floor heating to take place, so a specific floor depth should always be maintained. Also, it requires proper observation to ensure the building is water-tight or not. Proper measurement and crack control are two other factors that need good attention.

Among other protection measures taken by the contractor, the below mentioned two should be appropriately taken care off:

• Allowing sufficient time to the floor to dry up properly

• Mixing of sand and cement screed at proper proportion

The screeds may experience wearing or cracks and can only be subsided if the floor cover is fitted on time. So, to ensure durability and quality of the floor, selection of the proper screed is indispensable. And the professional companies know it well how to choose the perfect one for your floor.

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When it comes to outdoor events, flooring is always an issue especially when transporting heavy set-up equipment. Thankfully, portable flooring such as bog mats can be rented. These mats can easily transform rough grounds into smooth surfaces that make transport of equipment a whole lot easier and safer. Since outdoor events usually require a lot of heavy equipment and tools used for audio-video programs and stage set-up, it is very important that you establish a heavy-duty flooring that will keep them safe and durable all throughout the event.

Aside bog mats, heavy duty temporary roadway which support light vehicle access is also used in preparing outdoor locations for a concert or any outdoor event or program. These are necessary for organising traffic especially since a lot of outdoor venues don’t have paved paths for vehicles. Setting up these temporary roadways clearly distinguishes where cars are supposed to go for a smooth flow of traffic.

Another advantage to these flooring solutions is they are able to protect the natural makeup of the venue, ensuring that everything can look like it used to prior to the event. Plus, they are perfect for instant parking spaces which is perfect as well for those with visitors who bring their cars with them and those whose event locations are very far from the main highway.

So many other types of portable flooring apart from the two aforementioned figure in the preparation of open locations for concerts. Exhibition flooring is commonly used for artists’ tents. It comes in unique designs and colours to make spaces visually appealing which is a requirement divas always have. There is a special type that is a particularly popular choice of exhibition flooring used for artists’ tents as it provides superior ergonomic qualities with proven anti-fatigue capabilities.

Another type of portable flooring that is often used for concerts is offered by the most reliable companies or providers offering such products. This is a highly durable yet lightweight flooring option. It is a reliable decking solution for areas with heavy foot traffic, and where equipment is constantly moved around. Flooring is just one component to prepare for an outdoor concert, but it can make a huge impact on the final outcome of the event. It truly is a good thing that there are companies that can provide a variety of portable flooring options that can boost the success of such events. And using bog mats, which they usually offer, is just a smart option for people planning for outdoor events.

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You may be weighing up the right flooring choice for you and your family and are wondering why so many people are choosing to go for laminate flooring over carpets, hard wood or vinyl, well there are many advantages of this type of flooring and this article aims to set out a number of these.

1 – Stains

Stains are a constant hassle for those with carpets or vinyl flooring and have to be treated straight away to ensure there is no staining. This can be especially challenging trying to get red wine out of a carpet, and whilst you search frantically for the stain removal spray with a laminate floor it is simple as wiping it up from the floor as it is stain and water resistant.

As well as being easy to clean up any spillages laminate flooring can easily be kept in good condition as it is easy to keep any rooms with it in clean and tidy and unlike carpet is fade resistant.

2 – Scratches

Laminate floors are also tougher and longer lasting than their competitors and are less likely to be damaged by dents or scratches. In contrast carpets are a lot more prone to damage and can be torn up at the corners by pets, be tricky to clean or hoover and can fade if exposed to sunlight meaning your carpets can quickly lose their vitality. There are many examples of laminate flooring scratch resistance on YouTube that clearly demonstrate this.

3. Longevity

Laminate flooring also trumps hard wood flooring as its longevity and durability mean that it is a more practical surface than hard wood. Solid wood flooring can also fade from exposure to sunlight and is unsuitable for areas with high moisture or humidity levels such as bathrooms or cellars.

4 – Durability

The durability of laminate flooring makes it a great choice especially for family homes where it is hard to keep areas clean while the kids are wreaking havoc. They can come in covered in mud and the floor can be easily cleaned, they can get paint on the floor and it can be easily removed and your pet can walk through your rooms with dirty paws and the evidence is easily washed away.

Due to the durability of the product even the busiest household can have flooring that will stay looking as good as new for longer and will give you a surface you can be proud of when inviting over friends or family.

5 – Value for Money

In a time of economic uncertainty for many families laminate flooring also provides value for money and has a longer lifespan than a hard wood floor or carpet, both of which may need replacing a number of times, while the laminate floor holds up well to the test of time.

So if you want a durable flooring solution that can be kept in tip-top condition in a busy and well trodden house, standing up well to stains and easy to clean, then this type of flooring is the best choice for your home.

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For certain rooms in the home, finding a flooring option that is both stylish and waterproof can be a daunting task. But not when it comes to luxury vinyl! Generally waterproof; vinyl flooring comes in a wide variety of designs and colors and is easy to maintain! It is also a quieter and warmer than other hard surfaces, making it perfect for even the most heavily trafficked areas of the home.

Waterproof Flooring Styles

Technology continues to improve the visual design and feel of vinyl, while remaining as easy to maintain as ever. The latest looks in luxury vinyl like classic stone and slate have an incredibly natural look and feel and have come a long way over the years. It is the perfect option for waterproof flooring that does not sacrifice on style.

And, vinyl plank offers homeowners a realistic wood look while also providing the many benefits of water resistance. Luxury vinyl's moisture resistance is perfect for homes with kids and pets alike and its elastic material also protects against dents and scratches. Floating vinyl and plank styles lock together to create a waterproof seal without the need for adhesives!

Tile is another great water resistant option that could fit into the design of any kitchen, dining and lower level rooms. Tile has a stunning natural beauty and is one of the most durable floors to own.

All of these options provide homeowners with an incredible array of stylish choices that have certainly come a long way from mom's kitchen linoleum.

Waterproof Luxury Vinyl for the Home

Waterproof luxury vinyl offers style that will impress guests while its waterproof attributes deal with the messes of daily life. Rooms in the home that could benefit most from waterproof flooring include that, of course, include water! Bathrooms, bathrooms and laundry rooms are some of the best candidates for this style of flooring. And, new stylish options mean homeowners will not have to sacrifice style for function in these places. Even the kitchen, one of the busiest rooms in the home, can now enjoy the beauty of wood as well as water resistance with new luxury vinyl options.

Finished basements are another great area that could benefit from waterproof vinyl. Stylish man cave complete with a wet bar? With waterproof luxury vinyl, it is now possible to find a stylish and durable flooring option to match.

Gone are the days of drab water resistant flooring. For any room requiring waterproof durability and incredible style, consider the natural look and comfortable feel of luxury vinyl!

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Timber furniture, such as beds, is now enjoying great popularity due to its lovely artistic designs. In fact, bed frames and other furniture that make the most of the wood's natural quality and shades are being complimented because of its contemporary designs and clean lines. Furniture such as dining tables, bed frames, book shelves are taking homes and buildings by storm. But first let us talk about a little fact about timber – its uses and types. Timber, which is another name for wood or lumber while still standing in the form of trees or cut down and turned into flat boards for construction was the term used by people since at least the seventh century, while lumber is a comparatively recent word, dating to the settlement of America in the 1600s. Timbers have been an important structural component in ship building. Before it is cut down, the forester must assess it first to identify its value and whether or not the selected timber is safe to harvest. Today, the industry of timber around the world is vast, providing source for a wide variety of products such as paper to particleboard.

Hardwood and softwood are main types of timber and these terms do not refer to how solid the wood is. Trees with wide leaves are being classified as hardwoods while trees that are cone bearing are considered soft woods. While hardwoods can end more stress and are used for outdoor construction, softwoods are better for furniture and other interior items, which means that the type of project you have, will decide on the type of wood you will be using.

Tables seating, drawers, bed frames, book cases, desks, coffee tables and entertainment units are just some of the great objects you could create out of timber. Hardwood such as mahogany, walnut, oak, maple, cherry, rosewood and teak are generally used for wooden cabinets, wall framing and flooring, bowling alleys, doors, handles and other solid furniture while softwood such as pine, hemlock, fir, redwood, spruce and cedar are usually used for frames, windows, plywood, veneer, general millwork and interior trim, posts and paneling. They are all distinct from each other and you can decide the one that best matches your requirements. New and exciting range of locally handcrafted wood furniture is now available on the market with excellent quality and competitive prices. Other suppliers use exotic timbers depending on the availability.

If you have decided to buy a piece of timber furniture, another thing that you have to consider is how to take good care of your new purchase. Below are just some of the practical tips you need to follow that will prolong the years of service of the furniture piece you acquire:

• Use a clean, soft cloth in removing dust and dirt and never pull or slide your timber furniture across the surface in order to avoid scratches.

• Mild soap and water solution is recommended to clean up spills and ensure that affected surface is totally dry. The use of strong detergents and other cleaners is totally not an option. Products that have natural ingredients are best suggested.

Remember, buying this beautifully handcrafted timber furniture is one the best investments you can make when furnishing your home some are considered to be – timeless!

Depending on the kind of work which the bathroom needs, the essentials of the remodeling project will vary. Bathroom remodeling can vary from making minor changes to beautify the bathroom to overhauling the bathroom and making it completely new. The bathroom is among the area of ​​the house which people wish to keep clean and sparkling at all times. Here, irrespective of whether the bathroom remodeling project is small or large, certain things must be kept under consideration before the work begins. By having a clear idea of ​​your needs, you will be able to achieve the results you desire. Not only is the bathroom a place which must be kept clean, it should be comfortable and relaxing. Cleanliness and comfort can be achieved by keeping the bathroom clean and sanitary along with getting the bathroom remodeled, so that it contains fixtures and fittings which match your standard and adhere to your taste.

Before undertaking a contract for bathroom remodeling, the following aspects must be kept under consideration so that any kind of mishaps can be avoided in the future. The very first thing you need to do is make it clear to the contractor about the kinds of materials you wish to make use while remodeling your bathroom. Provide a list of things which you wish to be fixed in the bathroom, the size which you deem appropriate and other concerns which you may have. By doing so, the contractor will be able to get a better idea of ​​what you wish to achieve from your bathroom remodeling project.

Before the contractor begins working on your bathroom remodeling project, provide him with a detailed house plan. This will give the contractor an idea of ​​the electric cables which run through your house, where the water pipes are located and any other technical details. By having knowledge regarding these issues, power cut offs and damage of water pipes would be avoided. Next, you need to have a certain budget allocated to your bathroom remodeling project. This is the only way in which you will be able to avoid over expenditure. Make sure the amount you set cover covers the cost of materials, labor and any other kind of contingencies.

Make sure while one bathroom in your house is undergoing bathroom remodeling, there is another for the members of the house to make use of. Since bathroom remodeling is likely to take a while depending on the amount of work you are getting done, you will need an alternative bathroom which everyone can use before the work is completed. Once all these aspects have been taken into consideration, speak to your contractor about the major issues relating to bathroom remodeling. Set a target for when you would like the bathroom remodeling project to be completed. By doing so, the contractor will ensure that everything goes smoothly and you will also be able to keep a track of the progress made.

Since a bathroom is fitted with water pipes, these might need to be shut off in order to avoid the spilling of water. If these are connected to the entire house's supply of water, you will need to find alternative ways of getting water to all the rooms in the house. Make sure that the materials being used for the floor of the bathroom suit the way in which the bathroom is being remodeled. Everything must be done in a systematic manner and should balance and enhance the other elements. Also, keep in mind that the flooring would have had to be heated for the winter months. Remodeling the bathroom can bring about the much-needed change needed to give your bathroom a better look and feel. However before embarking upon remodeling project, make sure that you have taken out the time to carefully plan the remodeling project and have the money to carry it out to its end.

Give it a New Coat of Color

A can of paint is a simple and inexpensive way to refresh your home. This is probably not news to you, but it is important to pay attention to the details when painting to get maximum value out of it. Firstly, try to select a neutral color that makes your home looks bright and clean. Good colors include light grey, beige, and shades of white. Stay away from extreme colors like bright red, bright yellow, or dark purple. If you can, pay for a professional painter, as they will be able to do a neat job and can help with removing hardware from walls, as well as patching up large holes or cracks. If you decide to tackle the job yourself, do purchase the right equipment and seek the advice of your local DIY or paint store to make sure you apply the paint correctly and don’t make a mess of your house instead.

Reface the Kitchen

Kitchen renovations can be extremely costly, time-consuming and difficult. However, if you wish to give your kitchen a new look without investing too much time, effort, and cash, consider simply refacing the kitchen. This is a great option if your kitchen cabinets are in generally good condition, but are looking dated or have worn-out surfaces. The simplest option is to re-paint or re-stain the cabinet doors, and change the counter-tops, sink and stove if required. If your cabinet doors are badly damaged, you may opt to change all the doors entirely. A good carpenter or kitchen refacing specialist will be able to help you on this, and they can paint or apply laminates or veneers to the exposed parts of your kitchen cabinets to match the new doors.

Refinish the Floors

If your floors are starting to show their age, a simple refinishing may help to restore them to their former glory, and you. For hardwood floors, have them sanded down, re-stained and sealed. It is highly recommended to hire a professional to due this, firstly for health and safety reasons. Wood dust is carcinogenic, and you don’t want to be inhaling it due to improper equipment or poor sanding technique. Secondly, sanding machines may be difficult to operate if you do not have the proper training. Pressing down too hard on the machine may cause your floors to become uneven. Furthermore, hardwood floors can only be sanded down a limited number of times before they get too thin to be further sanded, so you it’s not something that you can try and try again if you fail to get it right the first time. If you have marble or tiled floors, consult a professional to see if you can have them polished. It may be possible to grind down the topmost layer of the flooring to remove stains, small chips or hairline cracks.

Re-grout the Bathroom

Grey, moldy grout between the bathroom tiles is one of the biggest turnoffs in a space where you’re supposed to get yourself clean and feeling fresh. If your bathroom grout is in relatively good condition with no cracks or holes but perhaps looking a bit dirty, you can try cleaning it with bleach first to see if you can get a good enough result. This is the least expensive method as all you require is bleach (oxygen bleach is a more environmentally- and health-friendly alternative to chlorine) and a brush. If that doesn’t do anything for the grout, or if your grout is full of gaps, you should try re-grouting. Although this may sound daunting, it is actually not too difficult to do this yourself with the right tools. First, get yourself an inexpensive power grinder such as a Dremel-type grout remover. This will make your job much easier when you are removing old grout, compared to using hand tools like a grout saw. Next, re-grout using a grout float to push the new grout into the spaces between the tiles. Finally, wipe the excess grout from the surface of tiles with a damp sponge.

Spring Clean and Get Organised

When you have lived in a house for many years, it is typical to suffer from a build-up of clutter (unless you are super-neat and organised, in which case, well done to you!). It is amazing what simple but thorough deep-cleaning and organising can do for your home. First, identify all the things you no longer use, and are not likely to use within the next 12 months. Either throw or recycle it, or find someone to take it off your hands if it is in good condition (donating to charities, garage sales, eBay or Craigslist are some good options). Next, decide on a “home” for each object in the house. This means no toys lying on the floor, or books and magazines strewn on the dining table. Everything has to have its own storage area. If you don’t have enough storage space, consider adding some wall shelves, storage bins, or drawer and cabinet organisers to help you utilise existing storage spaces more effectively. Finally, now that everything is neatly put away, deep clean your house, going through areas that are not usually cleaned, for example the top of the fridge, door frames, inaccessibly high windows, behind large furniture pieces, and so on. While it can be time-consuming to purge your house of years of accumulated dirt, the results will definitely be worth it.

Ten Good Reasons to Remodel Your RV:

1.Remodeling is the most economical way to get a true upgrade. As opposed to trading in your RV, remodeling enables you to add the features you need and the look you’ve always wanted at a mere fraction of the cost of a new RV.

2.Remodeling is the process of customizing and decorating an RV to suit your specific lifestyle as well as your personal tastes. There’s no other way to accomplish this task.

3.Tasteful and competent remodeling adds value to an RV. This added value ultimately results in a higher selling price. Remodeled RVs also tend to sell faster because interested buyers don’t want to miss out on an irreplaceable item.

4.Remodeled RVs tend to be of a higher quality than those that that haven’t. Remodeling, when done properly, is a successful collusion of creativity, quality materials, and workmanship. While some companies claim to accomplish this feat at the factory, it’s hard to compete with a proud owner that has all the time in the world.

5.The primary difference between a $175,000 RV and a $375,000 RV is the interior. Shrewd owners use skillful interior remodeling and selective upgrades to create a luxury RV at a fraction of the cost of a new high-end model.

6.Remodeling is extremely enjoyable as well as rewarding. Whether you’re changing the style, or adding new features, remodeling projects are often filled with excitement and anticipation of a new living space.

7.Even though high-end RVs cost considerably more than a typical home, many lack even the most basic amenities including dishwashers, garbage disposals, book shelves, desks, and Internet access.

8.Remodeled RVs have significantly more storage space than new models. RV manufacturers don’t have the time to install closet organizers, drawer dividers, rotating shelves, and pull-out cabinet inserts.

9.Even though there are more than two million full-time RVers, there’s no such thing as a special model for full-timers. The qualities that make a good full-timing RV have to be implemented by its owners.

10.A huge number of people routinely remodel their RVs. The five most commonly performed remodeling projects are:

a. Replacing or upgrading the flooring

b. Reupholstering the furniture

c. Upgrading the window treatments

d. Painting or wallpapering the walls

e. Replacing the dinette with a table and set of chairs

When it comes time to replace your boat’s carpet, the most common question consumers have is “What is the difference between marine grade boat carpeting and the outdoor carpeting offered at local carpet and hardware stores?”

Though there are many similarities, and the look or feel is very similar, there are many key features which make these two carpet styles very different. These specific features are the determining factors of how long your new carpeting lasts. Not only will marine grade carpeting last longer, but it will also maintain its look and feel under the harsh marine elements for years to come.

Marine Grade Boat Carpet Features:

• Rubber Backed
• Ravel Resistant
• Fade/UV Resistant
• Stain Resistant
• Mold/Mildew Resistant
• Rot Resistant
• Weather-proof
• Polypropylene Yarn
• Non-Flammable
• 3 Year Warranty
• Porous Backing for Quick Drying

Though some of these features may also be found in standard outdoor carpet, you will notice one major difference. The one key factor which makes these two styles of carpet so different is the carpet’s rubber backing. Marine grade boat carpet has a true rubber backing which the polypropylene UV resistant yarn is directly woven into. This enables the carpet to be breathable, making it resistant to moisture which causes mold, mildew, and rot overtime. Due to constant exposure of your boat’s carpet to the harsh marine environment, the above features are crucial to look for when searching for replacement carpeting for your boat. Many carpeting suppliers and stores will endorse their outdoor carpet for replacement on boats, but the fact of the matter is when boat manufacturers are installing carpeting, they always use marine grade carpeting.

There are many reasons why you shouldn’t use the outdoor carpeting you find a local carpet and hardware stores. What you will find with almost all outdoor carpeting is that it has an indoor carpet backing with rubber applied to it. This primary backing is a woven or non-woven fabric in which the yarn is inserted by tufting needles. After the yarn is inserted, a secondary backing that consists of another fabric is laminated onto the primary backing to increase its dimensional stability. Due to these organic and fibrous backings, it is almost certain that deterioration will happen quickly with any marine application. Not only will these backings deteriorate, but the threading will disassemble from the rubber applied to its backing. With the carpet having multiple backings it creates breathability issues, resulting in excess moisture underneath the carpet causing sever mold and mildew damage. In most cases not only will the carpet disassemble, but it will also cause future issues with the wood flooring and decking of the boat. Overall outdoor carpet may be a cheaper and more convenient solution, but in the long run it may turn into a much more costly project.

When the time comes to replace your boat’s carpet, make sure you look for the recommended replacement marine grade carpet, manufactured to handle the harsh marine environments and abuse. Not only will it look better and last longer, but it will protect your investment.