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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