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by timber_floors

The Solid Oak Wood Flooring – Attractive, Striking and Durable

Hardwood flooring is anything that is not new to the people as this type of flooring has been in use for centuries. Wood floors are available in wide ranges and all of them have their own beauty and characteristics. Each type is unique in its qualities and features and solid oak wood flooring is also one of the types of hardwood floors. Oak wood floors are considered as popular flooring options because when it comes to buy the flooring that is eye-catching as well as durable then many people go for the solid oak wood flooring. This flooring can surely make just the excellent choice as it is quite hard plus it also works well in the high traffic areas. However, let us tell you some important things that you need to know before you buy the oak wood floor.

Why to consider an engineered hardwood floor?

One may still have the striking hardwood warmth and beauty with the engineered flooring. The process of manufacturing that type of floor is that the manufacturers bond a number of layers of wood under high pressure.

The engineered flooring would offer you the warmth; appeal and charm of hardwood as it consists of several plies of wood bonded in a sequence to get the strong piece of floor.

There are lots of benefits that you can enjoy after installing the engineered oak flooring in your home. So let us discuss a few of them.

One of the main advantages for a man who buys the oak wood flooring is that it offers the consumers an affordable price and this makes it an ideal option for a person who is concerned about the price issue.

Straightforward installation is another merit of the oak wood flooring. You can find the planks in a number of sizes, which are interlocking and are very helpful in installing the floor.

When you prefer the high quality oak wood flooring that is of high quality then you may avail the benefit of solid and appealing look.

Another feature of the oak wood floor is that it offers stability and also shows resistance in different temperatures and humidity.

Besides lots of benefits the engineered solid oak wood flooring also has a few drawbacks as well. It can be easily spoiled by scratches that can harm its finishing, as such floorboards are plywood they do not have the real stability coupled with the hardiness of oak wood flooring.

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Quick Step Laminate Flooring

Copyright (c) 2008 Steven Magill

Laminate flooring is one of the most popular forms of flooring in the world. It is popular because it gives people a way in which they can have floors that look like hard wood, tile or even stone at a fraction of the cost that they would have to pay for floors that were actually made out of hard wood, tile or stone. Laminate flooring was invented in Sweden in the late 1970s but it wasn’t very long before it had become popular all over the world. One of the world’s most popular brands of laminate flooring is Quick Step laminate flooring.

Quick Step laminate flooring is made by the Quick Step Flooring, Inc. Company, which is headquartered in St. Louis Missouri. It is the United States division of a company called Unilin Group, which is headquartered in Belgium and was founded in 1960. This company is known for its wood-based panels, its laminate flooring, its roofing systems and its laminate panels. The company has facilities in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and, obviously, the United States. This company was the first company to introduce a patented technology called Uniclic. Uniclic offers people a method of floor installation that is glueless.

The Quick Step laminate flooring line includes flooring that is made to look like beech, oak and chestnut wood planks, tile squares and both the imitation wood and tile are available in a variety of colors.

The Quick Step official website offers users an interactive menu to help them find the dealer that is nearest to them in location. All users have to do is enter their zip code and then choose how wide of a radius in which to search. Quick step will then return the addresses and information of all of the quick step dealers within that radius.

All of the flooring made by Quick Step is direct pressure laminate flooring. This type of flooring is often considered to be better than the high-pressured laminate flooring because it is better balanced. Each of the different types of floors also comes with an installation instruction manual that can be downloaded as a .PDF format.

Quick Step makes more than laminate flooring; it also makes wall treatments, molding, tile skirting, adaptors and a variety of square noses. They also offer a small variety of cleaning kits for your laminate flooring even though, like most kinds of this type of flooring, Quick Step laminate flooring is very easy to keep clean.

You can buy Quick Step laminate flooring through a dealer or through the website and you can also learn a great deal about the different types of laminate flooring that Quick Step has available. No matter what kind of floor you want to have, Quick Step will help you make it happen. Their products are affordable (certainly more affordable than “real” hard wood floors), durable, easy to install and easy to keep clean. With Quick Step laminate floors you can redo all of the floors in your home in no time at all

by RobandSheila

What Is The Cost Of Laying Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring differs in price for the type of flooring that you decide to purchase but not so much in the cost of the installation. Factors that weigh on the prices of laminate flooring may include warranties, durability and many more.
The type of the laminate flooring that you decide to install in your home is ‘what will be the major factor of your price range’. Laminate flooring can be commonly found for as little as £4.99p per square meter up to anything around £18.00 per square meter. You might even pay more money if you wanted extra features. There are different types of laminate panels depending on the amount you expect to be ‘walking over’ the floors. Laminate flooring is much cheaper for a home than it is for a place of business. The main reason for this is because the flooring designed for homes is not as durable, as homes do not withstand the type of traffic that a department store does. If you are purchasing the flooring for a business there are several types of flooring you might select which will also depend on the amount of traffic that you expect to have. Businesses should expect to pay a much higher rate for laminate flooring than if installed in a home.
Another factor that will impact the price of your laminate flooring is if you are looking for a long warranty. You can also find laminate flooring that includes a lifetime warranty. When you decide on flooring that is guaranteed for life then you have to expect to pay more money for the panels. If you don’t care about the security of a warranty then you can pay a very small amount of money per square meter.
When you are considering laminate flooring, you are not only purchasing the panels for the floors, you also have to consider that you must purchase underlay for the panels, which is very important when it comes to fitting the flooring. Laminate flooring usually includes only the planks. It does not come in a package with the underlay and the panels.
When you are making a decision on laminate flooring and looking at the prices you must also consider the quality. You are saving a lot of money using laminate flooring than you would with most other types of flooring. Therefore, it should be worth it to choose quality laminate panels, as these will last a lot longer. They are easy to install and you don’t have to hire someone to install them for you. However, the quality, value, and a warranty should be considered.
The cost of laminate flooring can vary greatly. Your purchase and decision will depend on the amount of traffic that you expect and the durability of the panels needed for your flooring. You should also consider warranties and any other issues that you might have. Be sure to shop around for your flooring but don’t forget about quality when you consider the cost. It is important to remember; by spending out a little more in the first instance will save you money in the long run!  
Benefits of Engineered Flooring
Engineered flooring is a modern flooring material that imitates traditional hardwood floor boards. This looks exactly like its traditional counterpart but has many advantages over the traditional flooring system.
Engineered flooring is a composite material made up from several layers of medium or high density fibreboard or plywood with an upper layer of genuine hardwood. The core of this flooring (the fibreboard or plywood layers) are constructed by stacking the individual layers or ply’s in the opposite direction of each other this provides strength to the flooring but also eliminates expansion or contraction.
It is available in a wide variety of natural timbers such as the traditional red and white oaks, maple and ash and now exotic hardwoods from all over the world are being used. With the wide variety of different timbers available home owners will be able to find an engineered flooring product to suit their individual tastes or to compliment their decorating scheme.
The main benefits of engineered flooring include:
§ The ability to use engineered flooring in areas where traditional hardwood cannot be used such as damp areas or places where the floor would be exposed to radiant heat. When exposed to moisture or radiant heat traditional boards warp or cup; the core of the engineered flooring is constructed with the individual ply’s laid in opposite directions which ensures the flooring will not enlarge or shrink when exposed to changes in humidity.  
§ Most are fully finished (coated), this means that you do not have to sand and coat before use. When you install engineered flooring you can literally move the furniture back in and be using the room again in a matter of hours.  
§ It is generally easy to lay making it a perfect DIY project and saving you money on installation.  
§ Engineered flooring can be nailed, stapled or glued down or installed as a floating floor. A floating floor only requires that a moisture barrier, usually a foam underlay is placed on the existing floor and the engineered flooring is laid directly onto it – no sticking down is required. This allows the option that the floor can easily be removed and taken away if you move home etc, and also makes replacement of any damaged boards a relatively easy task.  
§ It looks exactly the same and offers the same rich warmth and ambiance to a room as traditional hardwood flooring, but is generally considerably cheaper than the traditional boards.  
§ Some are constructed with a thick upper layer or wear layer that can be sanded and refinished in the future to remove wear and renew the flooring.  
§ It is available in many different timber species, sizes, styles and grain patterns. There is an engineered flooring solution for every taste and decorating need.
This flooring is growing in popularity for many reasons and is being used in preference to solid wood due to its durability – the fact it will not warp or cup, even when laid in a basement or other high moisture area or when exposed to radiant heat. It is easy to lay and when installed looks exactly like traditional hardwood floors.
What Is The Best Way To Clean Laminate Flooring?
When you have laminate flooring it is important to know the proper ways to clean and maintain the floors. When you properly take care of your laminate flooring it will last for many years to come and you will be surprised how long it maintains the new and beautiful look.
Laminate flooring is very low maintenance and long-lasting. There are only a few simple things that you need to do to ensure your floors stay clean. You can dust mop and vacuum your laminate floors with a soft brush to remove dust, dirt, or grit. A damp cloth will not damage the laminate flooring panels. However, when you use anything damp on the laminate flooring, do not use too much water and be sure to dry the floor thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth. If you do have a spill on your laminate floors then you should immediately blot them up with a clean, dry cloth, sponge, or paper towels. Excess liquid tracked in by feet or spills should not remain on the flooring for long periods of time and be cleaned immediately.
To prevent damage to your laminate flooring while you are cleaning you should not use soap-based detergents, abrasive cleaners, or any other type of cleaners on laminate flooring. There is no need for it and chemical products will only damage the flooring. You also should not use steel wool or scratchy scouring pads when you are cleaning because you will damage the laminate panels. These panels do not need wax or polish as these products will also cause damage. You should also never steam clean laminate panels.
There are also other ways you can maintain your flooring to ensure a longer life, such as:
§ Placing a doormat outside so any sand and grit picked up is not bought inside.
§ Using only colourfast carpeting and pads on your floor surfaces.
§ If you wear high heels then you should avoid walking on the surface. High heels and other sharp objects are the biggest problems for scratching the laminate panels.
§ Furniture legs can also be damaging and you can avoid this by putting pads underneath the legs of furniture to avoid scratching.
§ When you move furniture you should also lift it entirely and never drag it across the surface of the floor.
§ The less you arrange the flooring in the home, the less you have to worry about scratching. However, you must rearrange the furniture occasionally because furniture will cause indentations if sitting in the same place for too long.
§ There is no reason to treat your floors with a sealant after you install them because the panels already have sealant on them. You don’t need to use lacquer or any type of refinishing product on your floors. These products will only cause damage.
§ When you clean and maintain your laminate flooring if you practice just a few simple things, then you can ensure a longer lifetime of your floors and they will maintain the beautiful look for many years.
Tips on Fitting Wooden Flooring
When you install wood flooring there are things that you should know prior to and during the installation to be sure that you have the best fitted floor possible.
§ To prepare your flooring you first must be sure that the sub-floor is dry, flat, and smooth. You should use an underlay or a barrier over the concrete first. If you have radiant heating in the flooring then you should be extremely careful and follow instructions per the radiant heating guides and by the flooring guide so nothing gets damaged. The flooring panels should be left in the room that they will be installed for over 48 hours so they can acclimatise to the temperatures of the room.  
§ When you lay laminate planks you will stagger them. The first row of flooring will be full sized planks. The second row will include 2/3 planks and the third row will include 1/3 planks. The joints of the planks should remain greater than 8″ from one another. You should also repeat the patterns of the wood grain every 20 planks.  
§ When you decide on the direction of your laminate floors you need to think about the incoming natural light from outside. The planks should run parallel to the light coming in from the windows or any glass doors that are in the room. In any installation, the starting wall that you begin the installation should be as long as possible.  
§ When you are installing your laminate flooring be sure that you have enough. You should expect to have at least 10% of the flooring go to waste. This is because when you cut the planks you might damage a few and some may already be damaged. Other pieces of planks may not be usable. So when you purchase your laminate flooring, don’t buy exactly enough to cover the floor or you will probably run out of planks.
§ It is recommended to leave a 10mm gap around each of the planks. This is called an expansion gap because wood expands from temperature changes and humidity. When wood is exposed to warmer temperatures, humidity increases, and other issues, then there must be room for the wood to expand or when the planks do push outward they will buckle.  
§ You should also remember that the first line that you lay is the most important. The first line is the longest and must be totally straight. If the first line that you lay is not straight then you should not continue. You should pull the line up and start over. Poor alignment can cause problems with residue getting caught in the grooves of the planks. Mouldings can be glued or nailed to the wall only and not to the floor.  
§ You can install laminate flooring on stairs but remember on stairs you must use regular wood glue and the mouldings should be nailed. Laminate flooring should not be installed in areas that are controlled like porches or patios. You should also never install laminate flooring over carpet. Be sure to remove carpeting prior to laying down the flooring.
You should follow these few simple steps when you are installing laminate flooring to ensure the best installation possible.

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What is So Good About Amtico Flooring

Amtico flooring is just about the most hardwearing and practical alternative to real wood.

Have a look at the comprehensive selection of Amtico flooring in the latest natural wood designs. These range from the softest colours such as white maple, to the mid toned classic oaks, and on to the darkest colour in our range Wenge Wood. All Amtico woods are genuine British made commercial grade {not the Asian made Spacia} and are available in ‘tick’ finish in the 114mm x 915mm standard size. They are all available from stock for next day delivery so you can avoid the frustrating long delivery times quoted by supposed Amtico stockists. You can even check out our real time stockholding online so that you cab book your installer in advance.

Choosing Amtico flooring means you don’t’ have to worry about long tem maintenance- your floor will never need sanding or re-finishing. The tough abrasion resistant surface will repel stains and moisture making it an ideal choice for wet areas such as bathrooms and shower rooms, and heavy wear areas such as hallways and entrance lobbies.

Amtico wood authentically replicates the natural product and it’s true characteristics. The Stripwood is highly variable in grain, shade and decoration. Please consider this in your product selection, as our online images only display a small section of the material.

Installing Amtico wood flooring can be undertaken by any reasonably competent DIYer with little in the way of equipment. If you are installing onto an existing wood floorboard, chipboard, or MDF sub-floor, it is always good practice to install a new plywood base first. Not only will this ensure long term wear, it will prevent undulations showing through your new flooring. If your sub-floor is reasonably flat, 6mm exterior grade moisture resistant plywood is adequate. This should be fixed at 15-20cm centers with screw nails.

If your sub-floor is old and extremely uneven, a heavier grade plywood 9mm or 12mm should be used. However before installing this, level off any hollows with a latex screed compound. Otherwise the plywood will never be completely flat.

After installing the plywood, spend as much time as possible filling any gaps in the joints, and knocking down nails flat. Then take down any high spots with a medium grade sand paper. Time taken on preparing the sub-floor will produce huge dividends when you have installed you new Amtico, so do not be tempted to cut any corners.

Depending on how flat and smooth you have managed to make the plywood base, it may be necessary to apply a further leveler such as Ardex Feather Finish which can be applied thinly without the risk of delaminating.

If you are installing over a solid floor e.g. concrete, asphalt, quarry tiles, stone flags etc. it is imperative that your do a thorough check of the moisture content of the sub-floor. Even a slight amount of moisture in a sub-floor will cause Amtico flooring to start lifting within a very short period of time. Your investment will then be wasted, as the floor will be beyond repair. Check first for the presence of a dpm, which should be visible on your outside, walls maybe the first or second line of brick or stone. If there is nothing evident, and your house was build before 1960, then it is safe to assume that there is no damp proof membrane in the sub-floor.

Your only option then is to apply a surface dpm to the sub-floor. These are a 2-part epoxy resin coating. These are easy to apply, but can take up to 48 hours to cure. The most widely used product is ES3000 made by Treetabond.

Once you have a dry clean solid sub-floor, a leveling screed should be laid. Always follow the screed manufacturers instructions with regard to the use of priming or bonding agents. Remember that if the screed de-bonds from the sub-floor, your new Amtico floor will also fail. The screed should be rubbed down as smooth as possible before installing your Amtico flooring. Any trowel marks, high or low spots will soon become evident once you have a new shiny floor over the screed. Therefore more time and effort spent on the preparations will be rewarded with a superior final floor finish.

The Amtico flooring in Stripwood should always be installed using the approved Amtico adhesives For wet areas the Amtico ‘Universal’ adhesive should always be used. Amtico flooring can be laid onto underfloor heating, provided that Amtico HT (high temperature) adhesive is used. For all other areas the standard Amtico SF (solvent free) adhesive can be used without problems.

As with all flooring, Amtico flooring will benefit from regular maintenance. The Amtico floor dressing will give enhanced protection from moisture and abrasion. The Amtico Cleaner will effectively clean your floor without stripping off the Dressing. However, when the time comes to renew the dressing, Amtico Dressing Remover is a powerful and aggressive stripper, which makes light work of removing heavy build-ups of old layers of floor dressing. Guidance on maintenance is available from the Amtico flooring web-site

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by Ted Ingraham

Oak Laminate Flooring – A Better Choice Than Real Hardwood?

While most people find that Oak hardwood floors are visually stunning, they are not ideal for all homeowners. Oak laminate flooring can be a better choice for many homeowners because it is easier to install, not as expensive, and is usually more durable than your typical wood flooring.

Many homeowners opt for oak laminate because it provides the rich color that attracts a lot of people to hardwoods in the first place. Oak laminate floors allow consumers to create the same rich and warm feel in their home that hard woods do. You’ll generally find that there are many different colors and styles that oak laminates come in, ranging from natural oak colors, honey oak colors, and an almost deep cherry look. Most homeowners will discover that they love oak laminate flooring because it will instantly add some warmth, color, and texture to every room that it is installed in.

- Oak Laminate Flooring Manufacturers
There are many oak laminate flooring manufacturers, but we’ll give just a few examples here. Three well-known brands are Quick Step, Westhollow and BHK. It’s important to remember that these three brands as well as others usually have many different oak laminate offerings, so you’ll want to consider all of your options before you settle on just one.

- Quick Step Laminate Flooring
Quick Step is growing in popularity because they are generally quite affordable, offer all of the current styles, and are often very easy to install on your own. Quick Step offers some beautiful choices, like Natural Oak, with a starting price of about .00 a square foot. In addition to Natural Oak is a stunning option known as Dark Oak. As the name suggests, this has deep rich tone to it. Quick Step floors are very easy to use and can be used throughout the whole house or in specific rooms as you see fit.

- Westhollow Laminate Floors
Westhollow offers a large selection of striking oak laminate flooring. One of the most well known from Westhollow is from their Heritage Collection. “Cathedral French Oak” is one of the more common choices and is generally very affordable with prices starting right around .30 a square foot. This particular option is a beautiful floor and is great in any area of the home including the entry way, a staircase, as well as the dining room and living areas. Westhollow offers another beautiful oak laminate floor called “Barn Milled Oak”. This is also from the Heritage Collection and is similarly priced to their aforementioned product.

- BHK Laminate Floorings
BHK’s laminate Oak floorings are visually stunning. Their “Select Oak” option is very popular as it has what could be described as a traditional oak look and color. While the floor is very beautiful and expensive looking, it usually retails for about .30 and up, which I am sure you will agree is quite reasonable. Another beautiful BHK selection is Natural Oak, which will give a very warm and homey feel to any living space.

Choosing oak laminate flooring for your home is a great choice because it will allow you to add style and warmth to your home, but without the high cost that is usually associated with real Oak. Oak laminate floors work well in all areas of the home, including high traffic areas. It will allow you to infuse your home with style without worrying how they will wear over time.

Used ‘Quick-Step’ laminate flooring, ‘Harvest Oak’ colour
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