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Reclaimed hardwood | Flooring Supply Shop Blog - Part 2

Easy solutions for hardwood floor repair problem

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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.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Benefits of Sanding and Sealing your Hardwood Floor

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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.

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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.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Cypress and Hickory Unique Hardwood Flooring Trends

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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.

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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.

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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.

Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Green Flooring Options for Your Home

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With the increased awareness about global warming, people are choosing Environmentally Friendly Product options in every aspect. More and more homeowners are opting for green flooring option for their house. There are many green flooring options available today, which offer homeowners a wide range of options to choose from. They can choose the one which best suits their budget and complements the interior of their home. Installing green flooring options is not only beneficial for the environment but also helps you earn tax benefits and rebates; thus helping in saving substantial amounts of money which offsets the overall installation cost of the green flooring at your home. In addition, you can also gain better financing for your new floor or home.

There are different types of green flooring options available in the market amongst which you can choose as per your budget and preference. Bamboo is a green flooring option which is increasingly gaining popularity amongst several homeowners. This beautifully imitates the look of wooden floor, and is an inexpensive option. It is a highly sustainable and rapidly renewing resource which matures in just three years. Bamboo is also highly resilient and durable which can easily withstand high foot traffic. Since it is moisture resistant, it can be used in any part of your house, including bathroom and kitchen.

Another popular green flooring option is the cork which is becoming a common flooring choice for many homeowners. It is very resilient, hypo-allergenic, inexpensive and easy to install. Since cork gets easily damaged, it cannot be used in areas with high foot traffic. Also, since cork is also not resistant to moisture, it should not be used in bathrooms or areas where risk of exposure to moisture is high. However, because of its cushioning quality it is a great option for kitchen, where it reduces the risk of breakage of crockery on falling. In addition, it offers insulation because of its heat-retaining qualities, which helps in keeping the house warm and saving on electricity bill during the winters. It also helps in reducing noise because of its sound-deadening qualities.

Linoleum is another great flooring option, which many homeowners confuse with vinyl. It is a green flooring option which is made from natural material like resin, wood & cork flour, linseed, jute as well as ecologically responsible pigments. An added advantage is that all the natural material is available in abundance. This natural flooring is soft and highly durable as well as easy to maintain and clean. Linoleum flooring is available in a wide range of vibrant colors which do not fade with time. Other benefits of using linoleum is that it is naturally fire resistant, anti -static, hypo-allergenic, biodegradable, and can be recycled as well.

There are some other green flooring options as well which include sustainable woods, wool carpets, sisal, jute and sea grass amongst many others. With a whole world of choices, you can select the right flooring option which, not only suits your budget, but blends well with your home’s decor.

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Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Eco friendly flooring options

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Using eco friendly products is not a luxury but an intelligent and helpful gesture to help save the planet. One of the most recent eco friendly products hitting the markets is flooring material. When building a new house everyone wants to settle for attractive floorings which are eye catching as well as affordable. The market is flooded with various eco friendly flooring options to suit all pockets and building green homes is profitable to the builder as well as affordable for the consumer.

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If you want to give your flooring a wood like effect then it is easily possible without cutting down trees. Bamboo is one such option which is growing in popularity as an eco friendly flooring product. Since it is a fast-growing grass and not a tree it can be re-harvested easily, is durable and moisture resistant. Cork flooring is another great option to give a wooden effect and is quite cheap. Another option gaining popularity is linoleum flooring which is a combination of wood flour, flax seed and sap. It is highly durable, can be recycled a number of times and has a long life span.

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Recycled glass tiles & recycled metal tiles are also great options for home flooring and are definitely eco friendly. People who can’t do without carpets have the option of using natural wool carpets which is 100% pure and not treated with chemicals and dyes that are harmful to the environment as well as the occupants. Natural wool is also quite long lasting and products which do not need to be replaced frequently are always eco friendly.

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Amongst all the eco friendly flooring options concrete flooring cannot be ruled out. Stone flooring is a perfect choice for many, since stones and tiles come in various attractive colors, are sturdy & durable, and easily replaceable or repairable. Moreover in kitchens and toilets where there can be a lot of water spillage, the most obvious choice would be stone flooring. People having dogs in the house can also opt for ceramic or glass tiles and stone flooring to prevent scratches and stains. Another great benefit of using stone flooring is that it absorbs heat during daytime and releases that heat after sunset, when it is required.

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Stones and tiles can easily be cleaned and polished with the help of EcoStone solutions which is a powerful stone and tile cleaner and helps to remove even the toughest of stains, grime and dirt and at the same time is environment friendly. There is also the EcoStone Solutions Kleen Stone Plus which comes with a handy sprayer and is very effective on all stone types, porcelain, clay products, granites etc. All EcoStone solutions are biodegradable, deodorize as they clean and are eco friendly & easy to use. Diamond stone polishing pads are also great for polishing stone, tiles. These are eco-friendly, reusable and easily washable. Since these products can be used on a daily basis, it becomes all the more easier to maintain eco friendly concrete floorings.

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Copyright © 2010 FlooringSupplyShop.com

Reclaimed hardwood | Flooring Supply Shop Blog - Part 2