Concrete, it's practical, sturdy and has been used in the construction of buildings since the early Roman times. However, without a decorative or protective coating most concrete patios, driveways, walkways and garage floors are unattractive. In fact, more than likely, they're stained, drab, dull, possibly even ugly.

Today many homeowners and do-it-yourselfers are discovering, through the use of Top Secret Coatings concrete coatings, those gray, cold outdoor slabs can take on a unique, stylish look that not only reflects homeowners particular tastes but are non skid, add color and texture to a new or older home.

A porch or patio can be one of the most useful exterior areas of your home if covered with an attractive concrete coating, cleared of all excess junk and with a little thought given to landscaping the area. Unfortunately these spaces are all too often covered with bland concrete which as well as looking rather dull and dreary, may have developed cracks or become stained with moss, grease, oil etc over time. Restoring such areas to a place you would be proud to use for entertaining, outdoor dining or just relaxing may seem like a mighty big job. If the concrete is badly cracked and the surface uneven, generally there is no other choice than to rip it up and re-lay it. Here are a few thoughts to consider before moving forward with your plans to apply concrete coatings.

1. If your floor is inside the house, do a little checking before you decide to coat your floor. Is the concrete damp? Is there any ponding water? (If so, then you have a larger problem than an ugly floor!) Let the concrete dry thoroughly before painting (this may take a while during the wet seasons!)

2. Thoroughly clean the concrete with TS 695 Rynolite Etching Cleaner. If there is any grease on the floor you will want to remove it before painting or the paint may not adhere. To remove grease, put down cat litter to absorb the majority of oil, then scrub again with TS 695 Rynolite Etching Cleaner. Rinse well and wait until the floor is thoroughly dry.

3. Sand off any loose or peeling paint or other residue with a sander or 80 grit sandpaper. Vacuum or sweep up the residue. Then go over the floor with a tack cloth (a sticky cheesecloth available at any hardware or home improvement store).

4. Use a paintable cement filler to repair any cracks and holes and allow it to dry completely before moving forward.

5. Now to begin the painting process. You will want to brush the edges and roll the rest of the floor surface. Let each coat dry between 12 and 24 hours before recoating. Repeat the process with the second or third coats as directed.

Now you have applied Top Secret quality concrete coats that are beautiful, colorful and durable!

Forests are disappearing at a rate of almost 1 million acres each week. This staggering speed of deforestation is forcing many world lumber companies and governments to rethink their manufacturing policies and business practices. A 70-75 foot tree that is cut for lumber can take up to 65 years to replace. Bamboo, on the other hand, is considered the world's fastest growing plant and can be replaced in less than three months. Some species of bamboo can grow 3 feet per day.

There is a high consumer demand for green products that are environmentally friendly, durable, affordable and attractive. When given the choice of using high quality, ecologically friendly building materials over traditional products, consumers are overwhelmingly choosing products of a sustainable and environmentally conscious variety.

In general, the public is becoming more and more aware of the rapid decrease and reduction of hardwood forests and the threat that deforestation can pose to a delicate ecosystem. Bamboo flooring is a great choice for those who wish to not contribute to destruction of such an integral part of our global ecology. It is termite, rot and moisture resistant and functions as a top-notch flooring material.

There are many types of bamboo flooring available for to suit each homeowner's unique style. Distressed bamboo floors have an antique look. Strand woven bamboo has a hybrid grain between wood and bamboo and is extra resistant. Laminate bamboo flooring is ideal for rooms with varying humidity, like a basement.

A bamboo field can produce up to 30% more oxygen than a hardwood forest of similar size, while removing toxins from the soil and preventing erosion. It also helps reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Because bamboo is a type of grass, it can regenerate itself without replanting after harvesting. Since it is the fastest growing plant on earth, bamboo is quickly becoming a popular source for efficient and sustainable building materials.

Bamboo has a wide root system, making it a natural water control blockade. It reduces rain runoff, thereby preventing erosion. Bamboo can store water within its shots and, because of its nitrogen consumption, can prevent water pollution. Often times, bamboo will be grown near wastewater from livestock farms and sewage treatment facilities because of its cleaning and detoxifying properties.

Traditional hardwood forest lumber such as maple, birch and oak take almost 50 years to be renovated. That, in turn, causes less oxygen to be produced, less greenhouse gases to be consumed, and more erosion and runoff in the cleared land. Instead of depleting our natural resources and contributing to a failing ecosystem, choose bamboo. It is the logical and environmentally friendly choice for flooring in a modern home.

Exotic species are the latest trend in hardwood flooring. Exotic full and engineered hardwood flooring has become more affordable in recent years, and, as a result, the consumer looking to do something different to the interior of his or her home goes for it. Brazilian cherry and tigerwood are two of the more common species, as both offer a palette of colors not typically found in domestic species. Brazilian cherry, for example, has a deep red patina, while the contrasting grain of tigerwood is unusual. BR111 has become one of the more well-known manufacturers of exotic hardwood flooring, as their product line focuses exclusively on exotic species.

Exotic hardwood flooring is more often than not from South America, although Australian and African species can be found, as well. Exotic hardwoods are known to be stronger than oak, one of the more common domestic species, and come in solid and engineered varieties. The latter aspect is particularly important. Not all homes can add exotic hardwoods, and manufacturers like BR111 offer nearly all species in engineered and solid options. Engineered hardwood allows the homeowner to add wood flooring over a radiating heat source or over concrete.

What are typical species of exotic hardwood flooring? The selection of BR111 includes various South American species. Amendoim is the most popular and, in addition to Brazilian Cherry and tigerwood, Brazilian walnut, Santos mahogany, angico, Brazilian oak, Brazilian teak, macchiato pecan, and Brazilian hickory are all possibilities. Flooring by BR111 comes in finished and unfinished options for engineered and solid hardwood.

Deciding on which type of BR111 flooring is best for your home comes down to both practicality and tastes. On the practical front, are you replacing an entire or part of a floor? For the former, pre-finished hardwood allows you to get the job done quicker. Additionally, if your home has a radiating heat source, going with an engineered exotic hardwood will make your flooring last longer.

Even if you're working out at home or going to the local gym, you need to ensure your safety. This is the reason why commercial gym flooring came into existence. There are quite a lot of effects when it comes to the usage of rubber flooring in commercial health clubs as well as gyms.

If you actually look at the kind of activity that is taken up in any of these places, there are quite a lot of chances that the floor would be damaged. People might drop the weights on the floor and if the flooring is not protected, it'll soon be damaged.

Apart from that, when people work out a lot, they tend to perspire and this might actually cause stains on the floor. Now if you imagine any gym without commercial gym flooring made out of recycled rubber floor tiles, you will understand how quickly it can be damaged.

Rubber gym flooring will absorb the shock and even if people drop the weights, it will protect the ground benefit. Apart from that, even if people perspire, the drops will not fall on the ground and this way, stains can be minimized. So if you're actually working out at home, you can go for rubber flooring rolls to give adequate protection to your cost floor.

There are quite a lot of advantages for commercial gym flooring. Any gym is a place of hectic activity and the floor should be able to face that. Apart from that, people are prone to high risk of injury and the flooring should be suitable in order to eliminate this particular risk.

Otherwise if a person falls down due to the hectic activity done in the sports area; if the ground is quite hard, then it might lead to serious injury. This is the reason why the flooring should be of a material which can absorb shock and is soft enough to protect the person who falls down.

This is the reason why experts would recommend recycled rubber flooring when it comes to places of hectic activity and sports activities. Apart from a myriad number of advantages, this kind of flooring is quite affordable and also adds a lot of beauty to the place.

So if you can actually go for the best option in both color as well as design, you add to the look and feel of the whole place and at the same time you're ensuring the safety of the people who are actually spending their time there . Not only that, usage of recyclable rubber would definitely help a lot when it comes to being eco-friendly and saving energy.

It is the duty of each and every citizen to be aware of various environmental issues and this is the reason why many people recommend the usage of recycled rubber as a material. So when it comes to commercial gym flooring, rubber would be the ideal material.

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 distracted flooring, the distinct lines of parquet flooring, there's engineered wood flooring and strip floors as well as mosaic panels and end grain wood block floors.

Aged & troubled flooring

Aged wood flooring or distracted 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 disturbed flooring is also a very practical choice for both homes and commercial properties because it keeps looking good for longer. The rugged, worn, lived in appearance will not show the scratches and marks caused by everyday usage. They are also a popular choice because they never require sanding unlike other types of wood floors.

Parquet flooring

Parquet wooden floors are a very popular choice and one of the reasons for this is that a floor floor can be laid in so many different ways, with so many different patterns. The patterns available are Herringbone, Double Herringbone, Single Basket Weave, Treble Basket Weave and Chevron. You can also opt for parquet panels, parquet borders, parquet motifs and parquet floor medallions.

Engineered wood flooring

Engineered floors can be installed which either floating on underlay, are secretly naived to existing wood sub floors or fully glued to the concrete or timber sub floor. Engineered floors are very good if you need to reduce the noise level in a room and they work well with under floor heating systems. Engineered wood floors are available in a wide range of sizes from 14mm 3 strip floors to 20mm structural engineered wide planks. Strip Floors

There is wide choice of solid tongue and grooved strip flooring available which is available in European Oak, French Oak, American Black Walnut, Wenge, Distressed Oak, Reclaimed Pine and Merbau. Strip wood floors, like engineered wood flooring, can be secret nailed to timber sub floors or glued to concrete sub floors but unlike engineered wood floors, they are not recommended for use with under floor heating systems. Strip floors are very easy to maintain and can be sanded many times to refresh them look making them great value for money.

Mosaic Panels Mosaic Panels, also known as finger parquet, is an old style of flooring used a lot in the 1960's and is available in European Oak, Mahogany, Teak and Merbau. If fitting mosaic panels to a wood or concrete base, an epoxy glue should be used but if the panels have a felt backing then a spirit based adhesive should be used. End grain wood block floors

End grain wood block flooring is available in a number of wood species including European Larch, European Oak, European Smoked Oak, Pine and Spruce. The wood is cut across the growth rings to produce a very different look to that achieved using the more usual strip flooring. It is extremely hard wearing and so is ideal for areas that experience a lot of foot traffic.

Wood floor repairs

From time to time your wooden floor will need repairing, either to remove scratches or stains or even to correct a floor that was poorly laid in the first place. Scratches can be sanded away using fine to medium sand paper but it is recommended that any stained floorboards will be replaced because, depending how deeply the stain has entered the wood, you may have to sand quite hard to get the stain out and this could mean that section of flooring will not look the same as the rest.

If you are sufficient enough to inherit an original wood floor or are looking to restore a floor you covered years ago with carpet, you may need to carry out some repairs. This may involve replacing sections of the old wood floor with new wood. Should you need to do this, it is advisable to source wood that, as closely as possible, matches the original wood, in color and type.

Once the repairs have been carried out, the floor should be machine sanded to a fine finish and any gaps filled. With this done you can set about staining the floor to your chosen color. Sometimes, stains in your flooring will only become noticeable after the floor is machine sanded or even after applying the new chosen finish. If this happens, you may choose to replace that section or leave it because it adds character to your floor.

Original parquet floors were glued and pinned using copper headed pins. Over the years, these eroded leaving staining around each fixing. Unfortunately these stains can not be removed, but it must be said, they form part of the floors character. When installing new patio flooring, stainless steel headless pins are used to prevent this problem from occurring in the future.

Why is it important to hire a professional?

With the ever increasing number of DIY shows on television, a lot of people are trying to restore their own wood floors only to find it's not as easy as it looks on telly. Professional wooden floor restoration companies will have invested in the right machinery for the job and also in the right training.

Having no experience and using machines which are not forgiving can cause extreme damage to your wood floor and can reduce its life by as much as 50% so it is important to employ a company whose employees are fully trained and qualified in wood floor restoration. This will ensure that the smallest amount of wood is removed during the sanding process and will therefore extend the life of your floor.

Hiring a professional to do the job will leave you with the perfect finish and may even end up saving you money, after all it would be a lot more expensive to attempt the job yourself, hire the machines, buy the sand paper and finishing materials, only to then have to hire in the professionals to redo the job afterward because you are unhappy with the finish.

What should a person look for when choosing a flooring supplier?

When looking for a company to supply and fit your flooring, you should look for a company that can prove the quality of their work. Ask to see examples of their work or at least pictures of it and ask them to produce genuine testimonials.

Ask to see proof of their qualifications. Properly qualified UK flooring contractors will have passed City & Guilds NVQ Level 2 in floor coverage and should have passed there health & safety test and hold a valid CSCS card for commercial works.

Check out the equipment they plan to use and ask what measures they put in place to minimize dust, the last thing you want is to be cleaning the house for weeks after they've gone.

Confirm that they offer a free no-observation survey and quotation.

Bamboo flooring is unlike any other material when it comes to covering a floor. Many homeowners are just now discovering why bamboo is becoming such a popular choice in new home construction as well as older homes. But is bamboo flooring a better choice than cork flooring? That all depends upon what characteristics the homeowner is looking for in a new floor.

Is the homeowner looking for a softer feel from the floor. If so, cork flooring is a terrific choice. Cork is a very soft material and has a nice sponge like effect when walking or standing on it. Cork also has a nice bounce back effect when something is dropped on it such as kids toys. However, because cork is a softer material than bamboo, it is easily scratched. When compared to cork, bamboo flooring is a much harder surface. It has most of the same properties as hardwood floors.

Another property that makes cork a terrific flooring choice is its capability to provide very good sound insulation. This makes cork an excellent choice for upstairs rooms in two story homes as well as specialized rooms such as home gyms and kids play rooms. Again, bamboo flooring has the same properties as hardwood floors and as such can be very noisy. Bamboo floors will often need to have sound insulation installed to reduce the noise level throughout the house.

There are some disadvantages to cork flooring when compared to bamboo wood flooring. The first disadvantage is that cork needs to be sealed to provide waterproofing and protection from dirt. Cork flooring makes a terrific floor choice for a bathroom or kitchen but it must be sealed to prevent any leakage from spills or cleaning. Another disadvantage of cork flooring is the limited number of patterns or colors. Many types of resilient flooring have numerous designs and colors to choose from but cork is limited in this aspect. Learn more about cork flooring by clicking on the link at http://www.wood-flooring-depot.com/cork_flooring.html.

When compared to bamboo floors, cork can be an excellent alternative for many homeowners. Bamboo flooring is much more popular and has some terrific properties that make it one of the floors of choice in new homes. However, cork flooring also has many great qualities as a flooring choice. There may be the need to use both types of flooring within the home depending on the needs and use of each room.

I once hear someone say that wood flooring is the key to a woman's heart but a thorn in the side of a man. Perhaps you've never heard this saying, but it can be true that a woman simply looks at the beauty – and the man realizes the upkeep. This article will look at a couple of things you might consider before choosing wood flooring for your next home project.

The Good and the Bad

There certainly are pros and cons to any type of flooring surface that you may choose whether or not you're building a home or remodeling. I happened to be very good friends with someone who installs and repairs wood flooring and he has often told me that it can be a very stressful job.

Laminate Flooring May Be the Way to Go

One thing that you might consider is some sort of a laminate surface because this can be a little bit less costly, yet still have the durability and beauty that you are after. The other real benefit to possibly choosing laminate is that this is something that you can put together yourself with some good plans.

If you do install laminate wood flooring in your home on your own – you will want to follow the instructions very carefully. Most manufacturers have detailed instructions on how to install and care for their flooring surfaces. Then you can just replace a small section. Although real wood flooring can be repaired by small sections – It can get much more expensive.

Before starting a flooring project, it is usually helpful to learn about the different types and their benefits. There are a number of options to consider, including carpets, ceramic hardwood, and vinyl. Each option comes with its unique costs, so it’s up to the homeowner to choose the ideal type that fits into their budget and meets their interests. Some people may also consider having different floors for each room in their house.

1. Carpets

Carpeting is warm and soft and helps in soundproofing a room. It is an ideal option for bedrooms and other places with little foot traffic. The advantage of carpets is that they are easy to install and can adapt to uneven areas and old subfloors. They are also easier to match to the existing layout and theme of a home. The only problem is that they tend to build up dirt and dust, but they still make an ideal option for people who prefer a touch of comfort within their spaces.

2. Vinyl

Vinyl is another popular choice, and it is much more affordable than other options. With proper maintenance, it can last up to 10 to 20 years. Some people prefer vinyl because of its noise-cancelling property, and it can be installed in the laundry room or bathroom to add warmth. This flooring option also comes in a variety of styles, offering homeowners unlimited options for designing a personalized space that reflects their style.

3. Ceramic

This floor type is both inexpensive and waterproof, and this is why it makes a practical choice for bathrooms and kitchens. It is also an ideal fit for dining rooms as it can withstand accidents and spills. Ceramic tiles come in different textures, colors, styles, and shapes to allow for limitless interior designing. Some options, such as mosaic tiles, come in plastic mesh sheets to allow for an easy installation. It is advisable to choose the right texture for different rooms, as some options are very slippery for rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom.

4. Hardwood

Hardwood flooring never goes out of style, and it is a popular choice because of its durability and low maintenance. A homeowner has the option to install engineered planks or real wood strips depending on their budget. Engineered planks are usually moisture-resistant and boast exceptional stain and finish. These planks are ideal for the kitchen because they have a layer of plywood underneath real wood to withstand temperature changes and humidity. Hardwood is perfect for any room and comes in different sizes, finishes, and stains to meet different decor needs.

These are the top popular flooring options, but there are also other available choices such as laminate, concrete, linoleum, and other subtypes. A homeowner’s choice depends on their budget and the style they envision. Some people may opt for a choice that will attract potential homebuyers should they consider a home sale in the future. Whatever a person’s choice, it is wise to work with a professional contractor to ensure the whole project is executed professionally.

When it comes to flooring, there are a lot of options to choose from. Which flooring you pick will depend on where the flooring will go and what your personal tastes are. You can choose wood flooring, bamboo flooring, carpet, ceramic tile, linoleum, and even cement. And within those categories are a lot of variations in terms of material used and color.

So, how do you choose the flooring that is right for you? Here is some basic information concerning some of your options.

Linoleum Flooring

Linoleum is a mixture of ingredients made to form a durable flooring option. Linoleum mixtures sometimes include ingredients such as cork and other natural materials. They can also include synthetic ingredients. There is such diversity in linoleum flooring patterns and designs that this is a great option for the creative decorator.

Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood makes a beautiful and natural option when it comes to flooring. You can purchase solid hardwood floors or engineered hardwood flooring, which consist of multiple layers of wood that are bonded together. Woods that are used include maple, oak, ash, and cherry. Hardwood flooring requires special care. However, the enhanced beauty makes the extra work worth it.

Carpeting

Carpeting is one of the more popular types of flooring for rooms other than the kitchen and bathrooms. Carpets can be thick and plush or short haired and durable. They can not only be beautiful, but you can choose them in colors and styles that match your décor. The only downside is that cleaning stains and spills can be a little tricky.

Other Types of Flooring

There are other types of flooring between these. Laminate flooring is an alternative to hardwood floors. So is bamboo flooring. Bamboo has the added benefit of being more environmentally friendly. Bamboo does not die when you cut it back. By arming yourself with the right information, you are sure to choose the flooring that is right for you.

Not just food for pandas or the stuff of cheap picnic mats, bamboo is now being processed with modern techniques into beautiful "hardwood" flooring that beats standard wood floors in durability, hardness, and dimensional stability.

An added bonus to these beautiful floors is the knowledge that bamboo, unlike wood, grows quickly and abundantly, reaching maturity in five years or less. Red oak and maple, by comparison, can take decades to mature and then have to be replanted. Clear-cutting of forests also has a negative environmental impact and threats to the planet's biodiversity.

After harvesting, cutting, processing, and finishing, bamboo flooring installation is not much different from standard hardwood floor installation. The important steps in installation occurs before placing in the bamboo floor. First, make sure you buy from a reputable manufacturer who is willing to back up their product with a warranty.

The next step in bamboo flooring installation is making sure the subfloor is dry, clean, and level. Dirty subfloors will not bond well with the adhesive, and subfloors that are not dry will eventually cause rot. If not level, the bamboo flooring will squeak when walked on. If you are competent in home repair and good with your hands, you may be able to complete the bamboo flooring installation on your own. In some cases, with certain types of bamboo flooring, a professional will be needed.

Bamboo flooring may be glued down using a moisture barrier flooring adhesive. After applying the adhesive to the subfloor with a trowel, the bamboo flooring planks should be immediately placed. You may also install bamboo flooring using a nail gun over plywood or particleboard. Once starter rows are secure, subsequent planks should be nailed directly above the tongue at a 45-degree angle to face.

After installing the bamboo flooring, you will care for it in a similar way to hardwood floors; frequent dusting / sweeping, occasional mopping, and use of wood cleaners. With regular care, bamboo flooring will add a stylish, beautiful component to your home for many years to come.