Blog : Flooring Supply | Flooring Supply Shop Blog - Part 3Flooring Supplies

Easy solutions for hardwood floor repair problem

Hardwood floor is increasingly becoming one of the most preferred flooring choices amongst homeowners; as it greatly enhances the appearance of the house. Along with adding to the aesthetic appeal of the house, it also increases the value of the property. Hardwood flooring is durable as well as easy to maintain and install. Moreover, this versatile flooring option easily blends with any kind of décor, whether traditional or modern. However, just like other flooring options, hardwood flooring comes with its own set of assets & setbacks. Some of these problems can easily be rectified by homeowners themselves, while others may require professional assistance.

Many hardwood floor surfaces develop cracks or splits after few years which make it unpleasant to look at. This can easily be repaired with the help of angled nails, which secures the two pieces together. In order to hide the blemishes, you can cover it with some wood putty. The DIY enthusiasts can accomplishes this task easily within no time. Another common damage caused to the hardwood floors is the development of gaps between the wooden planks. This is mainly because of the nature of wood, which tends to expand in case it gets wet and shrinks when it dries. Over a period of time, this expansion and contraction causes gaps. Generally, this process is seasonal, where the change in weather and humidity causes the opening and closing of gaps. However, in case the gap is much and does not close on its own, you can take help of a professional who can tighten up the hardwood floor and solve this problem completely.

Moisture can also lead to another problem, sagging or warped hardwood floor, which needs to be addressed immediately. Another problem which may bother several homeowners is the cupped floors, also known as wash-boarding. The edges of the planks rise up across the width of the wooden strip, while there is a depression at the center. This is also caused due to moisture imbalance and the center of the board sinks down if the humidity is more on the bottom of the wooden strip than on top. All these problems require you to solve the humidity problem and balance its level to help the surface return back to normal.

In addition, many homeowners face the problem of buckling, which happens when the hardwood floorboard warps and lifts up from the subfloor beneath. There are several reasons which may cause this; hence it is advisable that one calls a professional for opinion so that the actual cause can be identified and appropriate measures can be taken to fix the problem.

Hardwood flooring may also experience minor problems such as scratching, staining or loose planks. In case of scratching or staining, you can easily find a solution in several touch-up kits that are readily available in the market. In case of major scratching, which can spoil the appearance of the floor; it would require refinishing. In case of loose planks the problem can be rectified by nailing it to the subfloor, which is quite easy.

Hence, these simple measures along with regular sweeping and cleaning helps in easy maintenance of the hardwood flooring.

Benefits of Sanding and Sealing your Hardwood Floor

wooden flooring

Homeowners are increasingly choosing wood as a flooring option for their home. Wooden flooring is not just durable but adds to the aesthetic appeal of the house. In addition, it is also a great insulator which keeps the house warm and comfortable. However, in order to maintain the attractive look of the wooden floor it requires to be ‘sanded and sealed’ from time to time.

Over a period of time, the wooden floors develop scratches, dents and cracks; which tarnish the visual appeal of the interiors. However, such an unpleasant scenario can be avoided by proper sanding and sealing.

Sanding is the process of removing the upper layer of the wooden floor with the help of an abrasive material. Prior to sanding the floor, it is advisable that the defective nails are tightened and cracks are sealed. Proper sanding ads shine to the wooden floor, bringing back its initial rich appearance. Sanding the wooden floor is performed with coarse sandpaper initially, followed by a finer one. The coarse sandpaper removes the gross crudeness and imperfections, leaving behind scratches, which can be removed with the help of finer sandpaper. For a smoother finish, one can use floor polisher or disk sander as well. Proper sanding removes the scratches and stains on the floor.

After the wooden floor has been sanded, it is coated with a layer of wooden floor seal. Sealing is an important process which protects and enhances the life of the wooden floor. It can be done by putting a protective layer of an appropriate sealant. It is advisable not to choose cheap and inferior quality seal as it requires frequent re-sands which results in greater expenses. Quality seal, on the other hand, protects the floor by offering a stain resistant layer which can last years through proper maintenance. The protective sealant layer offers stain resistance, prevents water seepage, protects from dirt particles as well as keeps mold and mildew at bay.

The most important benefit of sanding and sealing, if done properly, is that it provides a whole new look to your floor. The refinishing results in visual magnificence making it look like a newly installed flooring. Due to this, more and more homeowners are resorting to sanding & sealing instead of installing a new floor, which can be time consuming as well as expensive.

Though it can be done by hand, most of the homeowners use electrical machines as these are easily available in various stores. However, before you choose to do this job on your own, you must realize that it requires patience and demands time, apart from money. You can always take professional help to perform this job if you don’t feel confident enough to do it yourself.

Sanding and sealing your wooden floor is highly essential and must not be overlooked. Not only does this process, enhance the visual appeal of the floor but also provides longevity to it. Therefore, if your wooden floor needs a facelift, then you must get it sanded and sealed either yourself or through a contractor.

Cypress and Hickory Unique Hardwood Flooring Trends

Amongst all the different flooring options available in the market, hardwood floors are undeniably the most elegant flooring option which adds an aesthetic look to the whole place. Moreover, the hardwood flooring can be installed anywhere, including kitchen, hallway, dining room and living room. These are increasingly being used in residential and commercial buildings. Amongst the different types of hardwood floors such oak, maple, pine, fir or birch; cypress and hickory are the most unique flooring trends of today.

Cypress has become quite popular among homeowners; it resembles knotty pine with better natural tone. These are available in delicate cream and soft brown shades, sometimes with hints of green. Over time, the natural darkening and aging of the wood occurs giving it an amber or honey-colored appearance. In addition, the knots and swirls gives it a more natural and unique appearance. The cypress hardwood flooring beautifully compliments the decor of the house, including any type of furniture or color of the interior. Harder than red oak flooring, cypress hardwood flooring is durable and can easily withstand heavy wear without any damage.

This hardwood flooring option has become the foremost choice of homeowners who want to give a warm and rustic country look to their dwelling. The rustic country look has gained popularity in remodeling old homes as well as in new construction in the past decade. The availability of Cypress hardwood flooring in a wide range of cream and brown tones with so many knots makes it the ideal flooring choice for this effect.

Moreover, the natural darker knots and striations in the cypress wood, makes it a good option for high traffic areas as the scratches and dents, if any, get camouflaged with the wood’s natural patterns. As a result, it easily hides abrasions and stains, unlike other glossier floors. Furthermore, cypress has also become a favorite choice of many hardwood flooring contractors, they find it easy to work with, since it is easy to sand and cut cypress wood.

Another popular choice is the hickory hardwood flooring which is available in a wide spectrum of colors. These are available in almost whites, to tan, and from soft brown to rich dark brown tones of the heart wood. Installing different shades together can produce quite vibrant, unique and dramatic looking hardwood flooring, which easily compliments any kind of decor. As a result, it prevents homeowners from worrying about fixtures and furniture clashing with the flooring. Next only to mesquite wood flooring, it is the second hardest domestic wood species used for hardwood flooring, and proves quite durable and cost-effective over other hardwood flooring such as oaks and maples. Similar to cypress hardwood flooring, hickory can also be used in any part of the house, such as the den, bedroom, living room or family room, giving the place a whole new look.

Hence in case you are building your new home or remodeling the old one and are looking for a good flooring option, choose the cypress or hickory hardwood flooring to give your place a royal and elegant appearance.

Finding the right flooring option for different rooms

Flooring is probably the most important part of a home since it can significantly affect the aesthetics of the house. Furthermore, flooring serves a number of practical uses as well; therefore it is important to carefully select the flooring for a room for maximum effectiveness. Different flooring types have their own pros and cons, and you should weigh these pros and cons according to your requirements before making the final decision.

Some of the different types of flooring options include laminate, hardwood, ceramic, stone and carpet. These flooring types generally differ on points such as their aesthetics, durability, ease of installation and cost. There is no fixed rule on which type of flooring should be installed in a particular room. Generally, a few specific features of a flooring type make it ideal for a particular room in the house.

A bathroom is a high moisture area that requires durable and water resistant flooring. It is for this reason that ceramic and stone are considered as ideal flooring options for the bathroom. Ceramic and stone are not only durable and water resistant, but are available in a wide range of colors and designs as well. Linoleum is another option that can offer similar durability and aesthetics as stone or ceramic, at a lower cost.

The kitchen area in the house is also affected by moisture, therefore ceramic or stone flooring can be installed in the kitchen as well. In case you are contemplating on installing hardwood flooring in the kitchen you should select a highly durable wood. Laminate flooring would be the ideal choice for you, if you want the look of a hardwood floor, with added durability. However, irrespective of the flooring option selected by you it is essential to ensure proper insulation for maximum durability.

Since your bedroom is your personal space, you should select a flooring option that would feel good under your feet. Plush carpet flooring would be ideal to make your bedroom more comfortable and cozy. In case you do not want to install ‘wall-to-wall’ carpeting, a carpet tile would be an ideal option. Carpet tiles will offer the same comfort as a wall-to-wall carpet, and offer ease of installation as well.

Basement is one area of the house that causes the most worry amongst homeowners regarding the flooring to install. One of the reasons for this stress is that since this area is not used on a daily basis, people refrain from spending a lot on its flooring. However, one of the cheapest and the most effective options for the basement is concrete. Not only is concrete staining easy to install, but is highly durable and moisture resistant as well.

Although there is a plethora of flooring options available in the market, specific features of some make them ideal for a particular room in the house. You should carefully consider these features, as well as your budget and requirements to ensure that you select the right flooring option for different rooms.

The increasing popularity of DIY projects in the current slowdown

Most people refrain from undertaking a DIY project since they neither have the expertise nor the tools to complete it in an effective manner. Further, the fear of expensive repairs and maintenance in the future in case the project goes wrong also deters a number of prospective DIY enthusiasts. However, the current economic slowdown has forced people to look at different ways to save money, and DIY projects instead of hiring a contractor as one such option.

Although there is no comparison between a DIY enthusiast and a professional contractor in terms of the experience and availability of resources, one factor that makes DIY project more attractive is the cost attached to it. What you would be charged by a professional contractor would be significantly higher as compared to what you would incur if you completed the job yourself. This financial motive is one of the biggest reasons why the current slowdown has resulted in an increased number of Do It yourself enthusiasts.

Although financial motive is important, the sense of achievement involved with completing a job is something that is characteristic of a DIY project. The fact that you get to call something your own is what attracts most people to completing a job themselves rather than hiring a professional contractor.

One of the most important benefits of hiring a professional contractor is the years of experience and the resources that they bring into a project. You can easily check on the references provided by contractors to know about the previous work done by them. Further, professionals have all the tools and equipments that would be required to complete a job. Although a DIY enthusiast cannot match up to the experience levels of a professional contractor, it has become very easy to get access to high grade tools and equipment in an affordable manner.

Be it tiling, carpentry, or a plumbing job; you would require a specialized set of tools to complete the task at hand. Without the right resources you would not be able to achieve the right finish; thereby resulting in future repairs and maintenance costs. However, you can easily find highly effective tools and resources such as the grout grabber, Pro Pan, Kirb perfect, tile sealers, Tuscan Leveling System and trowels on the internet. These resources will not only make your job much easier but will result in a much more defined and finished look to your renovation work.

Although the financial slowdown is what is forcing people towards Do It Yourself projects, it is not as easy as it sounds. A DIY work gone wrong can result in more repairs and maintenance expenditure than what a professional contractor would have charged. It is for this reason that you should properly analyze the job at hand and should be prepared with the right tools and equipment before starting your project. A properly completed DIY project will give you a sense of achievement and will save you on a lot of financial expenditure.

Tag: Flooring Supply

Easy solutions for hardwood floor repair problem

Benefits of Sanding and Sealing your Hardwood Floor

Cypress and Hickory Unique Hardwood Flooring Trends

Finding the right flooring option for different rooms

The increasing popularity of DIY projects in the current slowdown

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