Flooring is an important part of interior design. In a factory set up where flooring is subject to a lot of wear and tear, choice of the correct flooring is crucial, since it is a part of the initial investment and is often spread across a large area. One of the most widely used flooring options for this niche is epoxy flooring. This choice revolves around the facts that epoxy flooring is highly durable, requires minimum maintenance and is environmentally friendly. It is hence, the recommended flooring option for both residential buildings and industries. The epoxy floor coatings are usually applied over concrete floors to provide best binding results and aesthetically attractive surfaces.

The term epoxy refers to a form of catalysed plastic. It is basically a resin and is typically a compound of bis phenol-A and a polyamine. Epoxy resin was invented in the 1930s by a Swiss scientist, Dr. Pierre Castam. Generally the polyamines are used to harden the surface or the floor. A catalytic reaction occurs when the resin and hardener come in contact with each other. They bind to each other and create a chemical crosslink that is high in strength. This binding technology is the reason why epoxies can be recoated in a short period of time.

There are three main types of epoxy for flooring. They are 100% solid epoxy, solvent-based and water-based epoxies. Of these three, 100% solids epoxy is the best choice as it performs the best. Water and solvent based epoxies are considered user friendly, but this type of epoxies are not as durable and cannot be applied as a thick coating like the 100% solids ones. The solid epoxies capably meet all the stringent requirements that are to be complied when designing an industrial floor. It offers strong adhesion, excellent chemical resistance and toughness. Further, epoxy floors in general are abrasion resistant, waterproof, heat resistant, and resistant to the action of corrosives like acids and alkalis. They are non-toxic when dry and hence, can be used safely even in residential projects and children play areas.

The practical application on a floor surface takes the following steps. The compounds are mixed in a proper ratio and are applied to the floor to a minimum depth of 2 mm. Usually, an epoxy flooring requires at least seven coats to finally create a glossy and finished surface. It includes a base coat, one or two epoxy coats, a broadcast coat of coloured sand or flakes and a top coat.

The main advantage of epoxy flooring is the ease of maintenance. Concrete floors need appropriate protection and an epoxy floor is the best choice to offer protection against abrasion, chemical attack and thermal shock, which are commonly experienced in an industrial set up. With the advent of technology, further innovations are expected and it is only a matter of time before epoxy flooring solutions find wide application in the residential segment as well.

Ceramic tiles are great for both interior and exterior surfacing. Size, density and finish are the three attributes that are most important when deciding on which type will work best for you. The size depends on the room; larger tiles can visually expand the appearance of a room by having a cleaner finish and less grout lines. Denser materials are more durable and better suited for areas that may get wet. The finish determines the texture, and how slick or abrasive the surface will be. When purchasing tiles, it is important to understand that wall and floor tiles are not interchangeable; you may be able to find matching variations, but floor tiles are denser and usually have a textured surface to make them more slip resistant.

Ceramic tiles are available either glazed or unglazed. The kind you choose depends primarily on where the tiles are destined to go.

Glazed

Glazed ceramics come in high-gloss, semi-gloss and matte finishes. A glossy finish protects the tiles from moisture and stains, and works well in kitchens. However, the gloss also makes glazed tiles more slick than those that are unglazed, and is more easily scratched. Texture and matte finishes offer more friction for walking and hide imperfections or stains.

Unglazed

Unglazed tiles are denser and more slip resistant than glazed, and they work well in outdoor settings. For protection against stains and moisture, unglazed tiles should be sealed. Some tiles are manufactured specifically for the outdoors. These tiles have very little water absorption, and weather defects and scratches are kept to a minimum. They are typically given textured finish for safety, as precipitation, sprinklers, or splashes from a nearby pool can cause outside areas to become slippery.

Natural finishes have also become increasingly popular. While stone flooring can be expensive, tile stone replicas are more affordable and easier to take care off. Tile can be made to look like a variety of material such as marble, sandstone, even hardwood.

The are many ways to give your floors a unique appearance using ceramic tile. Different colors and finish styles can give your tiles a special look, and you can take your creativity even further by having the tiles placed in a decorative pattern, such as a checkerboard or diagonal effect.

Ceramic tiles are a highly versatile flooring option, making them a perfect addition to your home. Understanding what you are looking to get out of your ceramic floor and where it will be located will help you decide which type of tile will work best for you.

VCT tile is widely known as vinyl composite tile. This type of flooring or wall material can be seen more commonly in buildings, hospitals, schools and other big facilities. This is different from the average vinyl tile because the composition of vinyl composite tile has higher levels of vinyl fillers.

This makes VCT a little less durable and resistant to dents and impact damage compared to solid vinyl, but the cost of composite vinyl is definitely more affordable. With the durability and affordability of VCT, it is no wonder that interior designers and contractors recommend this type of flooring material for high traffic areas.

Although vinyl composite tiles, sometimes called vinyl composition tiles, are popular for industrial and commercial applications, these can also be used for homes. In order for you to better understand and appreciate the beauty and practicality of VCT, you might as well get to know its composition. Basically, a vinyl composite tile contains mainly inorganic fillers and polyvinyl esters. The reason why VCT is less flexible or elastic than common vinyl tile is due to organic fillers, which can also boost dimensional stability.

Furthermore, fillers are also helpful in making VCT more resistant to flame and smoke compared to other vinyl products. The types of organic fillers that you can find in VCT include talc, clay and also limestone (calcium carbonate). One thing that you might find interesting is that polyvinyl esters used to make VCTs are also created the same way as PVC pipes. Moreover, polyvinyl esters are composed of ethylene from crude oil and chlorine from NaCL, otherwise known as common salt.

Apart from its stability and strength, vinyl composite tile is a flooring material of choice because it is truly affordable. In fact, you can find vinyl composite tiles for as low as $2 per square foot. Compared to other types of flooring products, VCT is really a great deal.

Lastly, VCT is available in various colors, styles and designs. If you want textured tiles, you can also find those. In fact, if your subflooring has bumps and depressions, using a textured VCT tile can help mask the imperfections on the surface of the subflooring.

There are VCTs that look very much like wood, granite, marble and other conventional types of materials. This means that you really do not have to buy traditional and more expensive flooring materials just to get the look and theme that you plan for your home.

Three weeks ago I found myself knee deep in the mess that is my only bathroom at home. I stood there covered in sweat and dust with my third smashed and swelling finger wondering what on earth had possessed me to think about how to install ceramic floor tiles. After flooding the bathroom, breaking the toilet base, smashing three fingers and now having to go to the neighbors to use the toilet I realized that I should have indeed, hired a professional before thinking I could learn how to install ceramic floor tiles.

The project seemed so easy at the time simply remove the old tiles, pick some new ones, mud the floor, lay some new tiles and grout around them. I even had a book on how to install ceramic floor tiles. Simple prep work and you are on your way to being a professional at how to install ceramic floor tiles. No one mentioned how difficult it was to learn how to install ceramic floor tile. I had no reason to think so after all there were only a few steps:

1. Remove old tile – this step ended up taking two of the three weeks instead of the approximate two days the book stated. None of the tiles were removed in one piece. Instead each one had to broken multiple times and pried up with a crow bar not a putty knife. I wasn’t even successful at removing them much less installing them.

2. Prepare the subfloor – unfortunately for me the subfloor came up one chunk at a time with the broken tile. There is no preparing subflooring when it is broken. The floor has to be replaced. All of it. Entirely. This was another setback to my unsuccessful project on how to install ceramic floor tiles. It also created additional steps. Ten of them. All necessary in completing the travesty that left me wondering how to install them successfully. The author of the how to install ceramic floor tiles book LIED!

3. Find the center of the room hold the chalk line there, chalk a line from the center to the wall – this is supposed to give you a straight line to begin laying the tile. Supposed to. But first the person holding the line must place it in the center of the wall in order for installing ceramic floor tiles to be a straight project. Good thing I like wavy lines. Tell me again how to install ceramic floor tiles it still won’t work.

4. Start at your center point and lay tiles out to the wall – someone forgot the page that tells you what to do if you don’t have enough room left at the edge for a full tile. That requires a special saw and water. Must be a special instruction section in my how to install ceramic floor tiles book. It also requires someone who knows how to operate the saw and can cut a straight line. Obviously that person is not me. Did I mention if you are wondering how to install the tiles you should hire a professional? Once again this step added seven more steps.

5. Choose the layout of the tile – I still haven’t made it to this step yet. I am somewhere in the middle of the seven step tile cutting process. At this point I don’t care about the layout. I haven’t even begun and I still don’t know how to install ceramic floor tiles. All I want is to use my own bathroom again so that the neighbor’s dog will stop staring at me longingly while I use theirs.

And so here I am. Not installing ceramic floor tile but wondering why I ever thought I could. For those who make a profession of showing others how to install ceramic floor tiles, I praise you. For those of you considering if you know how to install ceramic floor tiles, I warn you. I still don’t know how to install ceramic floor tiles.

Epoxy flooring is a perfect solution for those who are looking for a floor that is not only durable, but also good looking and easy in maintenance. Let us take a closer look at it and understand more about its benefits and maintenance.

What is Epoxy:
Epoxy is the result of a chemical reaction between a resin (in this case epoxide) and a hardener (in this case polyamine). It is like a stiff plastic like material which is strong, resistant and well bonded. When this compound is applied over a floor, the floors look attractive, bright and sophisticated. Epoxy flooring increases the life of a floor due to its strength. There is no need to replace floors; a coat of epoxy can do the work and make the floors look new.

Benefits of Epoxy:
Epoxy flooring gives you the benefit of not re-doing the floor again and again. Due to the application of a chemical layer, it repels dust, water, chemicals, dirt and stains. Even if you spill some viscous liquid that is a chemical agent, you will be able to get rid of the liquid in a jiffy. It will not affect the look of the floor nor will it corrode the surface. This helps the floor to last longer. The floors do not chip off from the corners and there are no scratches. This makes the floor look cleaner and neater. Wooden floors or carpet floors often get stained and the look of the room is marred. But epoxy makes sure that floors remain intact for long period of time. This chemical treatment on the floors is beneficial especially if there are chemical treatments going on or if the floors have a heavy footfall on them.

Maintenance:
Just because epoxy flooring repels dirt and stains does not mean we should not pay attention towards its cleanliness. There are at times some stains that can be seen on these floors. But these stains can be easily removed.

Wear rubber gloves while you are at the job. Use a blade to gently scrape off the stain and move the blade along a horizontal line. This process, if followed carefully will not leave traces on the surface. Use a sponge sander to remove the stain completely. Collect the debris with a dry piece of cloth. Then with another piece of cloth gently rub the affected area. The cloth needs to be soft so that you do not end up scratching the surface again. Apply a layer of epoxy on the area where there was the stain. Try and get the same color of epoxy layer so that it matches with the rest of the floor. If the affected area is a small proportion, you do not need to worry with the exact shade of color. However, if the area affected is significant large, color mismatch will be evident.

It is quite annoying to walk on chipped and damaged floors. Epoxy flooring provides a complete solution to these problems. The chemical layer not only makes the floor look good but also increases the longevity of the floors in turn reducing the maintenance cost.

Homes see traffic in the most expansive variety of ways. There is people traffic that covers the carpet and rooms. Homes get use and require extensive and regular maintenance. Because of the nature of a home environment, there are portions of the house that get used on a regular basis. Because of this regular use, these portions of the home see wear and tear that requires eventual maintenance. Some of the most vulnerable portions of a house are those of doors and windows. Aside from furniture, however, the most highly trafficked areas of a home are those of the floors. People very literally track their feet across this surface daily and this surface requires maintenance.

If the floors of your home or business are suffering from the wear and tear of this type of continual use, then you may be in the market for a floor refinishing service. The traffic of feet across problem areas can change the color of the floor and its general texture. Because of the appearance of beat up floors, you may be looking for someone to make this surface look as if it were new again. If you are in the market for such a service, there are professional teams who can meet your desire. Finding the right professionals who can provide reliable and quality service does not have to be the most difficult task in the world. Keeping some key aspects of the procedures in mind help you make a good decision.

Your flooring needs are paramount when hiring a professional to do a floor refinishing. Make sure you have a good awareness of your personal needs as a client and reasonable ideas about what you desire and expect from the service. Being able to communicate with the professional providing this assistance will allow you to reach as closely as possible to your desired results. Make sure you pick a professional who has the experience and expertise to get the job done right. If you have a hardwood floor, the process of giving it a new service is very important. You should not take chances with inferior service providers. Be sure of the professionalism of the service provider you choose and make sure that they give your floors the proper care to maintain their beauty and strength.

As previously mentioned, training, experience and knowledge are great attributes for a potential flooring refinisher to have. If they meet these prerequisites then you should feel comfortable assuming they will provide top-notch services. Some of the details of the procedure are as follows. When the process begins, the preparations include sanding and buffing the surfaces, covering all furniture, and closing off some rooms. You as a client may need to be out of the home or at least in a sealed off portion of the residence. Most providers use a polyurethane finisher for their work. This coat is water-based and so it is non-toxic and does not threaten the health of you, your children or your pets.

Another advantage of this type of floor refinishing service is the process is not that time consuming. A water-based product dries quickly so it allows the application of several coats quickly. The non-toxic nature of the treatments makes sure that no harmful fumes are filling your home or the lungs of your loved ones. You may even be interested in getting the floors stained a certain color. Some providers offer this service and are sure to match the exact color you are looking for. Keeping these key aspects in mind when making your decision can allow you to chose the perfect professional for the job.

When selecting the right construction material for your bathroom floor, you are faced with the same considerations as when selecting flooring materials for other areas in the house. Is your roofing durable? Will it withstand the kids’ activities? Does it feel good under bare feet? Here are some of the top flooring options from the worst to best.

No. 7: Carpet. A carpet can be a bad choice for bathroom floors. Just like water and oil, carpet and moisture are not the best of friends either. If you still insist on having carpet in your bathroom, make sure to take a look at pointers and tips from professional carpet installers.

No. 6: Solid hardwood. It may not be the best choice but it is slightly a better option compared to carpet flooring. Solid hardwood looks nice and feels warm under bare feet. But the major disadvantage for this kind of flooring is that moisture destroys the hardwood. If you still want solid hardwood bathroom flooring, make sure the tiles are perfectly installed without gaps to make no room for moisture to thrive in. For this bathroom remodeling project, it would be advisable that you hire the services of a professional installer to help you save money in the long run.

No. 5: Laminate Flooring. In general, laminate flooring is a viable choice for bathrooms. This kind of flooring is a better choice compared to solid hardwood. Laminate flooring is generally a resin impregnated paper that is placed atop wood chip base. The laminate plank’s surface is actually a picture of whatever it is supposed to be imitating- can be slate, marble, oak or cherry. On its uppermost surface is the part that manufacturers tag as the ‘wear layer’. This is a clear layer of melamine and is proven to be very strong. The seams are usually glued together so it is hard for moisture to work its way down the tiles. Laminate is also easy to clean but make sure you keep it away from too much moisture or it will expand and bubble.

No. 4: Engineered Wood. This type has a plywood base that holds up pretty good against moisture. It also looks great since its topmost layer is made up of real wood. If you choose the wood floor look in your bath, engineered wood is a great option.

No. 3: Stone. You don’t have to deal with moisture problems if you choose limestone, granite, marble and other stone flooring options. Stone does not make it to the top list because it can get slippery especially when wet. Stone floors will get a huge budget allocation of any bathroom remodeling project.

No. 2: Tile or Sheet Vinyl. Vinyl is perhaps the most popular option for bathroom floors. it features easy flooring installation and is available in a wide variety of styles, colors and designs.

No. 1: Ceramic Tile. Just like stone, ceramic tiles offer that solid and textured feeling. It is also waterproof and can be fairly expensive. And just like your wood floors, it looks pretty nice. There are different types of ceramic tiles and you should exactly get the type of flooring you want. Like stone, it can be cold and slippery. But texturing will help solve this problem. Go for smaller tiles for enhanced safety.

If you've priced hardwood flooring and feel you'll never be able to afford the elegant floors that you want for your home, now's the time to take heart. There may be a way that you can reconcile your dreams with your budget, and that's by looking for discount hardwood flooring. Although there are some really cheap wood flooring materials on the market, those are not what we're looking here. We're talking about real, solid hardwoods at great prices. This is flooring you can use anywhere in your home where it can be nailed or stapled to the existing floor or laid over a concrete floor. You'll be able to give all the rooms in your home an awesome new look without resorting to cheaper laminates or breaking your bank account.

Some discount floors have sliced ​​wood veneer which will give you the same designs and colors that you can get with solid hardwoods. The veneer on these floors is applied to solid hardwood backings to give the floor durability. You will also be able to find laminate floors designed to look like hardwoods that will last just as long as solid hardwoods do, because they are also made using hardwood backings. Since hardwoods are known for expanding and contracting well in heat and cold, this makes the discount floors suitable for use in all climates.

Even though discount flooring is less expensive to buy, it is still manufactured to exacting standards. For example, all cheap hardwood flooring is precision-spaced to allow for flexibility in the planks. This is done by taking an aluminum tube and stamping it onto each piece of laminate flooring precisely 1.5 mm apart.

Discount hardwoods come in both pre-finished and unfinished woods. Although many people prefer pre-finished flooring, because they do not want the big job of finishing it, others prefer to finish their floors their own way and opt for the unfinished type. There are many wood choices in discount flooring as well as a variety of different stains so that you can have the floor that will perfectly accent the decor in your home. While you will not have a choice of pre-finished or unfinished with laminate flooring, you will still be able to choose from many different colors.

In this world of increasing costs, decreasing spending power, and the threat of foreclosures, homeowners everywhere are looking for bargains in materials to renovate their homes. Discount hardwood floors and laminates are becoming popular options since they look great for less cost. Laminate flooring is made by putting a piece of fiberboard between two pieces of melamine. It will give you the look of hardwoods at a fraction of the cost. You will also be able to find discount hardwoods that have been embossed in the factory to give them a texture like the grain of real wood. Your floors will look gorgeous, and no one will ever know that you got them at a discount.

With some simple measuring and calculating, you can determine how much tile you need for your flooring project. If you are shopping for tile, this will help you get a handle on much the materials will cost you. If you are hiring an installer to do the project for you, you can provide the room measurements as well, to obtain an installation price quote-although the installer typically comes out to take their own measurements.

Supplies:

Paper

Pen or Pencil

Measuring Tape

Calculator (optional)

Step 1

Measure the length of the room or the floor area where you are tiling.

Step 2

Measure the width of the room or the floor area where you are tiling.

Step 3

Multiply the length of the floor by the width of the floor to determine the square footage of the room. For example, if the room is 12 feet wide by 12 feet long, then you would multiply 12 by 12 to get 144 square feet.

Step 4

Add 15% to the square footage. You should also add 15% to the amount of tile you need in order to accommodate for cuts, waste and breaks during installation. In addition, you want to have extra tile after the project is finished in case you have future problems such as cracks or broken tiles. Also, the tile may go out of the stock, so if you do not have extra tile, you may not be able to replace the broken or cracked tiles.

Step 5

Calculate how many boxes of tile you need. Divide the square footage of the room by the total square footage of tile in the box. For example, if the box has 10 square feet of tile, then you would need 15 boxes of tile.

Tips

A good rule of thumb: If you do not have at least one box of tiles left when your floor is in then buy one additional box to keep in storage.

If you are installing a diagonal or diamond pattern, then you should buy at least 20% in extra tile than if you are laying a square or straight tile floor pattern.

When it comes to cleaning laminate flooring, you should have a regular routine in place. By doing this you will ensure that your flooring will remain as good as the day when it was first installed.

The first thing that you need to do when cleaning your flooring is to vacuum it on a regular basis. It is important that when vacuuming your floor you raise the beater bar off the floor otherwise you could actually cause the floor to become scratched.

Once you have vacuumed the floor the next stage is to wipe the surface of the floor down using a damp (not wet) mop. Ideally you should use a specialist laminate floor cleaning fluid or just a mixture of warm water with a small amount of detergent.

This particular cleaning routine should be carried out once or twice a week. The rest of the time during the week you can use a large dust mop to help keep dirt and grit at bay. Plus you should also immediately clear up any spills that appear on the floor otherwise it may stain. To remove the spill take a paper towel and blot up the spillage then get a damp cloth and use this to remove any residue. Also if you allow the spill to remain it could in fact damage the floor by making the area where the spill occurred to fade.

Before you start cleaning your laminate flooring it is important that you read the recommendations provided by the manufacturer. As long as you care for your laminate flooring correctly then it will look good and last for years to come.