FAQ’s For Solid and Engineered Wood Flooring
FAQ's For Solid and Engineered Wood Flooring
What is Solid Wood Flooring?
Solid wood is exactly as it sounds, one piece of wood from top to bottom.
What is the difference between Laminate and Real Wood Floors?
Real Wood floors will age and mature with your property, this means that they will mark and dent more easily than a laminate would but this is part of the character of real wood floors and should not be viewed as a fault of the product. The shade of the wood surface will change with exposure to sunlight. Dependant on the species, it will either lighten or darken with age. The shade variation will only go on to a certain level and then cease. Any unexposed surface areas will eventually catch up with the colour differences once exposed.
Depending on the type of Real Wood floor (solid v's engineered) it can sanded and re lacquered a number of times to prolong the life of the floor.
What is the difference between Solid Wood Flooring and Engineered Wood Flooring?
Each type of flooring has its specific use and choosing one over the other is dictated by your lifestyle and needs. Solid wood should be in a moisture-controlled environment. Solid wood (strip or plank effect) should be nailed down only and requires a wood sub floor. Solid wood can be glued to a variety of sub floor materials.
Engineered wood flooring consists of a multi-plied, cross-stacked backing with a real wood veneer (top layer of a selected species). Engineered wood flooring can be used on grade, above and below grade.
Engineered wood flooring is more dimensionally stable so it can be installed in areas where solid wood is not compatible due to moisture. Engineered wood (strip or plank effect) can be glued down over various sub floor. Some engineered woods (strip and plank ) can be nailed down which require a wood sub floor. Engineered woods can also be layed as a floating floor where the tongue and groove are glued together, but the floor is not anchored to the sub floor.
What is a "Floating Floor"?
Floating flooring is a flooring system laid down over a layer of underlay. So while the individual planks are glued together, the individual planks are not nailed or glued into the permanent floor. Instead, the planks form a system that "floats" over the layer of underlay. The underlay can be laid down over existing floors.
What is the required distance between the walls and the flooring boards?
When gluing a Real Wood to the subfloor an expansion gap of 15mm towards the walls is sufficient. With floating-floor installations for every metre of installation width the flooring requires a distance to the wall of at least 5mm, lengthwise an expansion gap of 15mm is sufficient.
Can I install the flooring using one pack after the other?
No, for a natural, harmonious looking installation is recommended to work with approximately 5 open packs of flooring and sort/choose the boards individually by colour.
How much wastage do I allow for?
Despite our strict sorting criteria and thorough quality control there may be certain material-specific peculiarities that customers come across during the on-site selection and installation process which may need to be cut out. Generally, we recommend adding 5% to the room's sqm-total for cutting scrap.
Which kind of Real Wood flooring is right for me?
The range of choices is huge. According to personal taste and character of the room you can choose between different wood types, board sizes, surface finishes (lacquer-finish or oil-impregnation), surface structures (Antique, Distressed, Brushed), impressions (Block or Wideplank) and styles.
Does sunlight have any effects on the flooring?
Yes, any kind of wood will change its colour over time. During this process light-coloured wood types are not necessarily going to get lighter, dark wood types however will get darker. Every wood type has a characteristic aging process of its own and will react in its individual way.
What is the maximum load a Real Wood flooring can bear on a single point?
With very large loads (e.g. pianos, aquariums, storage heaters and the like) we always recommend gluing down as the installation method of choice.
Can Engineered Real Wood flooring that has been installed as a floating floor be sanded and resurfaced?
Yes, but be aware that every sanding process will take off about 1mm of the flooring's wear-layer. Try not to use very heavy sanding machinery as the big weight of these machines may lead to the creation of "sanding waves"
How do I care for my oil-impregnated Real Wood floors?
Use Wood-Floor Soap for regular maintenance cleaning. Use a vacuum cleaner for lacquer-finished floors and damp-wipe only if needed.
Should your Floating Real Wood Flooring be installed under kitchen appliances?
In the kitchen, you should install the flooring under kitchen appliances, but be very careful when you slide the appliances over the floor. We recommend covering the flooring with something such as a spare rug to protect the flooring when you're moving the appliances.
Are there methods that make it possible for ALL stains to be removed from Real Wood Floors or is it sometimes impossible for some stains to be removed?
Most stains don't penetrate more than the sanding will remove. However, if you have a severe water stain, you may not be able to remove it.
How much of an irregularity (drop or rise) can there be in an existing sub floor before installing your Real Wood Flooring?
You can have a drop or rise up to 4mm over 2 linear metres.
Do Real Wood Floors increase home value?
Absolutely. Real Woods floors are recognised as one of the highest quality floors available and would increase the value of your home.
I am installing a Radiant Heat Floor System involving poly water tubing set in gypsum concrete that would be my sub-floor. Can your products be used with this type of floor heating system?
This installation is okay as long as the tubes don't touch the wood. You also would have to use a laminated underlay vapour barrier between the concrete and the floor.
Can your Real Wood Flooring be installed over Linoleum and be used on stairs?
Real Wood flooring can be installed on the stairs, however it can be slippery.
You can install our floating Real Wood flooring over linoleum if the linoleum remains sound and tightly glued to the original sub floor.
Is there a type of Real Wood Flooring (e.g. Maple v's Oak) that is more durable or longer lasting than another?
There isn't much difference between Real Wood flooring wood types. The only negative on oak is it's a rather porous wood, but it is a very hard durable wood, as are maple and beech. White oak is slightly harder than red oak. Your choice will really come down to aesthetics.
My concrete floor has a few low spots in it and I was wondering what to use to solve this problem?
Most building materials suppliers have a concrete levelling product. We suggest levelling any areas that are more than 3/16" in variation. Make sure you use the underlay with a DPM before installing over concrete.
Do you have to install your Real Wood Flooring under existing cabinets?
Ideally, the Real Wood flooring would go under the cabinets. You can, however, cut around the cabinets if removing the cabinets would cause undue complications. Keep in mind, though, that if you were ever to change the cabinets, you could have a problem if the new cabinets weren't the same size as the old cabinets.
Is it possible to install a Real Wood as a floating floor over concrete?
Real Wood floor is designed exactly for this kind of application. It requires an underlay with a DPM over the concrete floor. The floating floor system can go directly over that.
If there were a crack in the concrete, would it cause problems with a Floating Floor installation?
We recommend that any cracks in concrete be filled with concrete filler and sealed prior to installation. If it's just a hairline crack you can simply cover the crack with duct tape. Keep in mind that underlay with a DPM must be installed prior to laying down the floor.
Important note prior to installation:
Relative Humidity should be maintained a 40-55% prior to installation and throughout the life span of the floor.
15mm expansion gap must be maintained around the perimeter of the floor.
Real Wood Flooring FAQs brought to you by the flooring experts at Wood Flooring 2U
If you would like any further information on solid wood flooring, engineered wood flooring, laminate wood flooring or advice on how to install a wooden floor, please don't hesitate to get in touch, our knowledgeable team would be more than happy to help.
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Co-Founder Rob Banks hosts this overview of how to install an engineered floor. Take a look! learn.builddirect.com
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Laminate Flooring – Exceptional Durability
Laminate Flooring - Exceptional Durability
Laminate flooring offers exceptional durability. Laminate floors are remarkable for their unmatched reliability and affordability, these very factors account for their immense popularity.
Unlike hardwood, laminate floors aren’t pure wood. Instead, they consist of a wood composite base over which come layers of melamine-impregnated paper covered with a scratch-resistant layer that contributes to their amazing durability. The advantage they possess over hardwood is that the scratch-resistant wear layer is immune to dog claw scratches and all kinds of other scratch marks. Laminate flooring is also less expensive and easier to install than hardwood. But it still adds elegance to the room and lends the impression of real wood; therefore, this type of flooring looks much more expensive than it actually is.
Exotic Impressions from Armstrong is an example of wonderfully durable laminate flooring. The elegant finish it’s provided with gives it an appearance of exotic hardwood, and it is available in great wood-inspiring colors such as exotic walnut, cherry bronze, and cherry natural. It also comes with a 30-year limited warranty. Pergo’s Prestige is extremely attractive and resistant to scuff and stain. It’s also effective against moisture. It has a 25-year triple plus warranty and comes in colors such as savanna oak, Brazilian cherry and rustic oak.
Laminate floors can be either attached to the sub-floor or its pieces connected to each other. The latter is a floating floor that can be replaced easily whenever necessary. Laminate flooring of the former kind is more stable and produces less noise. As it is moisture-resistant, there’s almost no place in a home where laminate flooring cannot be used.
An online store can give you instant shopping and purchasing opportunities for all kinds of laminates. You can browse the range of colors and finishes offered and make your choice.
Worldwide Wholesale Floor Coverings - New Jersey Laminate Flooring – We offer easy to maintain and very affordable laminates that are a stylish way to create more look for less. Get premium quality NJ laminate flooring options from our store locations at Edison and Lawrenceville in New Jersey.
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Add grandeur to your house with Amtico Flooring
Add grandeur to your house with Amtico Flooring
Are you wondering how to add beauty and grandeur to the overall appearance of your place? If yes, then Amtico flooring can be the practical alternative for your needs. In today's time, flooring is the most important part of any interior's design. Finally, it is getting the well deserved recognition and attention amongst business houses and personal house constructions. Professional designers have introduced their latest ideas and concepts into flooring designs. Today, everybody is in search of perfect blend of color, texture and functionality of his home floors. Right kind of commercial flooring is highly essential to give more polished look to any place, be it your office room or kitchen.
Indisputably, Amtico has become the leader in the field of floor designing and materials. It consists of PVC that looks like real wood or stone and is considered as a revolutionary product for flooring. This wonderful PVC product is water, slip and dent resistant and suits all the areas within a house. It offers a comprehensive selection range in the latest and natural wood flooring designs. Once you decide to get Amtico floors for your place, then you don't have to worry about the long-term maintenance. Such floors possess tough abrasion resistant surface to repel stains and reduce the cost of maintenance to a great extent. The best part is that it's an ideal choice for wet places like bathrooms and shower rooms.
If you are looking for new flooring in your house then Amtico tiles are the best option. It is experiencing soaring popularity all around the globe, since it provides quality home flooring. No matter what are your flooring requirements, Amtico will surely meet all your needs. Nowadays, an extensive range of such flooring is available at cost-effective prices. Choice is all yours! You have to choose the perfect way to decorate a place and add value and sense of style with highly attractive flooring designs.
Indeed, it is essential to select the right kind of flooring for your house to improve the overall appearance. Flooring is equally important as much as the painting of your walls and furniture. High quality materials and latest technology are used to provide a natural look with Amtico spacia. Different types such as modern, traditional, basic and funky designs and styles are available to fit into your bill. Interestingly, you can use different combination of colors to give a personal touch. Put your mind at rest, since such flooring materials come with a long-term warranty and durability. Almost every organization has a department of customer services to resolve your issues related to flooring information and problems.
As you know, the internet has become home for everything! Thus, it is advisable to browse through internet to find out the best Amtico suppliers in your vicinity. Rest is assured that it will enhance the overall look of your place. Online purchase of desired materials can help you save hefty amount of money. Get the professional help to maximize the chances of getting benefits.
Christine R. Mercado is the author of this article on Amtico. Find more information on Amtico Flooring here.
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What is So Good About Amtico Flooring
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
Paul is technical manager at Birbek Wood Flooring which is a UK distributor of amtico.
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Laminate Wood Flooring
Laminate Wood Flooring
Laminate wood flooring is a versatile flooring type that gives the appearance of hardwood flooring. With natural looking designs in durable finish, laminate wood flooring can complement any home or office décor.
Designs and Patterns that Fit Every Interior
Laminate wood flooring is suitable for any room including family room, hallway, kitchen, and bathroom. Designed to withstand in heavy foot traffic areas, it is perfect for families with children and pets. Whatever your interior style - warm, light, energetic, playful, elegant or casual - a wide array of laminate wood flooring styles and colors are available. You can choose from smooth, textured, square edge, hand scraped, bevel edge, narrow plank and other interesting varieties.
Although laminate wood flooring patterns resemble original wood flooring, no solid wood is used in its construction. The realistic wood plank flooring patterns are created through advanced computerized technology. Laminate flooring can be installed on any flooring surface, concrete or wood.
Construction with Authentic Wood Appearance
Laminate wood flooring has a layered structure. The inner core layer is made using a high density, moisture-resistant fiber board. A high resolution image of natural hardwood flooring is glued and attached on the top of the fiber board. The backing layer is made using saturated paper which acts as a moisture barrier. The flooring is then finished with a clear coating to protect from stains and fading.
Laminate wood flooring is available in different installation formats – click-lock, glue down, and floating type. Floating type flooring does not fix directly to the sub floor. The most preferred type is click lock flooring that easily snaps together without glue or nails.
A Popular Flooring Option with Cost-saving Features
Laminate wood flooring enjoys high demand due to its affordability, simple installation, durability and easy maintenance. Most of the flooring manufacturers provide a long-term warranty for laminate floors. Dealers of laminate wood flooring also provide installation and maintenance services.
Worldwide Wholesale Floor Coverings - New Jersey Laminate Flooring – We offer easy to maintain and very affordable laminates that are a stylish way to create more look for less. Get premium quality NJ laminate wood flooring options from our store locations at Edison and Lawrenceville in New Jersey.
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Wood Flooring. Reclaimed Vs. Old Growth Wood. Northern Va, Antique/Reclaimed Wood Floor Specialists. Madera Floors
Wood Flooring. Reclaimed Vs. Old Growth Wood. Northern Va, Antique/Reclaimed Wood Floor Specialists. Madera Floors
In the wood flooring industry, the term 'old growth' continues to be the subject of interpretation and controversy. At Madera Floors we make it our business to know more about wood than any other company, and to educate our customers so that they can make more informed purchasing decisions. We frequently address questions about 'old growth' trees, especially in relation to reclaimed timber. In fact, we have talked with many consumers who thought the terms meant the same thing and were misled into thinking their old growth flooring was the same as our antique reclaimed flooring. Here we define some of the terms and address questions surrounding the mystery of 'old growth'.
Old Growth refers to established forests that, up until the time trees are cut, have had little or no disruption. Advocates of cutting old growth timbers suggest that pruning selected trees is good for the forest. We disagree. Old growth forests maintain themselves through a natural process that does not include cutting into the delicate fabric woven by nature.
How Old is "Old" Growth? The actual age that determines "old" growth varies depending on the specie, but it refers to the age at which a tree has reached its maturity. For an eastern white pine, it is between 130-150 years, while many of the hardwoods reach maturity at 80 years. But, what is most important is that at maturity and thereafter the old growth tree is still contributing to the ecosystem in which it lives.
Virgin Growth refers to dense stands of various species of hardwood or pine trees that are indigenous to their habitat; they have never been harvested. Many virgin forests are protected, but tragically there are also many that are still being cut today for purposes that include mass-produced wood flooring. Essentially, virgin timber is old growth that has never been cut, while old growth may or may not be virgin timber.
Reclaimed Wood is also referred to as Antique wood, and for us the terms are interchangeable when describing the wood we use to make our floors. We agree that old growth flooring is beautiful; however, we prefer to reuse this majestic timber that was originally cut to build structures that have shaped our history in the United States and in interesting places all over the world.
"Deconstruction" is the core of the reclaimed wood industry. The emphasis is on utilizing materials that have outlived their usefulness and would otherwise be demolished, discarded or left to decay. Deconstruction helps to close the resource loop that we now realize is so valuable in this world of finite resources.In recycling this precious material there is a significant positive environmental impact.
Deconstruction differs from 'demolition' in that it is a painstaking process involving the selective dismantlement of building components. We work with experts who carefully manage dismantling projects to preserve the grand dimensions of the beams, posts and floor joists; this will be reflected in your floor as we work to maintain the superior widths and lengths of these ancient timbers.
Demolition, on the other hand, is unfortunately the more common method of taking down a building. Implosion or 'wrecking-ball' style demolition is relatively inexpensive and offers a quick method of clearing sites for new structures. Consequently this process results in significant waste and unusable material.
For more information please visit our website at
www.maderafloors.com or our blog www.maderafloors.blogspot.com
Thanks
Madera Floors is a state of the art wood floor company which serves all of Northern Virginia, Maryland and D.C. We are growing to encompass a staff of highly trained craftsmen who execute each job skillfully and meticulously.
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Related Wood Flooring Articles
The Basics of Engineered Wood Flooring
The Basics of Engineered Wood Flooring
Engineered Wood Flooring is somewhat different from Natural Wood Flooring. Natural Wood Flooring is made from natural wood obtained from different types of trees like Bamboo, Beech, Cherry, Maple, Oak, etc. Engineered Wood Flooring, on the other hand, is part Natural Wood and part Plywood. It is made by using 1/16" to 1/8" of finish wood on top and unfinished plywood underneath. So what is inside does not matter, the top surface is100 percent genuine wood. Engineered Wood Flooring is the latest trend in the market and is an innovative and interesting substitute of Natural wood Flooring. Natural Wood Flooring is prone to warping, discoloring and cracking when exposed to extreme temperatures, whereas Engineered Wood Flooring is durable and easier to maintain.
The construction process of Engineered Wood Flooring is different from that of Natural Wood Flooring. In Engineered Wood Flooring, a thin layer of hard wood is laid on top of a thick layer of plywood. The top layer is suited to be walked upon as soon as it is laid down as it has already been polished. The top layer is real wood hence it needs to be polished regularly so that it does not lose its luster. There are different species of Engineered Wood Flooring. A few of them would be:
Hickory Wood- Hand scraped wood gives your home a timeless feeling.
Maple Wood- Maple Wood gives an elegant finish to whichever room it is applied in. It is most suitable in living rooms and dining rooms.
Bamboo Wood- Almost all Bamboo Wood Flooring is engineered but it "Green" and cheap.
Oak Wood- Oak Wood is reddish in color and is inexpensive and the most popular type of wood used for flooring.
Engineered Wood Flooring can be sanded if it develops scratches or dings. There are various disadvantages of Engineered Wood Flooring as well. First and foremost, if the sanding of this floor is not done by a professional, then the life of this floor can get drastically reduced. The sanding of Engineered Wood Flooring should always be carried out by an expert. Secondly, Engineered Wood flooring cannot be sanded more than 2-3 times. If it is sanded excessively, it tends to lose its luster and sturdiness.
Engineered Wood Flooring is moisture resistant and can be suitably applied in areas with maximum moisture like kitchens, basements, bathrooms, etc. Though it can retain moisture well, it is advisable not to use Engineered Wood Flooring in basements that tend to flood frequently or in children's bathrooms as they are also prone to flooding.
Engineered Wood Flooring has many advantages over Natural Wood Flooring and Synthetic Wood Flooring. If you want sturdy durable flooring that offers the same feel and luster as Natural Wood Flooring and which is inexpensive and durable, then Engineered Wood Flooring is the one to choose.
London Flooring Supplies Ltd.- One of the leading company tproviding high quality of Wood Flooring for commercial and domestic use. You can buy wooden flooring from our online website :www.londonflooring.uk.com.
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Floating Flooring Installation guidelines
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Oak Laminate Flooring – A Better Choice Than Real Hardwood?
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.
For more information on Oak
Laminate Flooring visit Laminate
Flooring Co
Website: http://www.laminateflooringco.com
Used 'Quick-Step' laminate flooring, 'Harvest Oak' colour
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Engineered Wood Flooring – A Great Alternative To Solid Hardwood Floors
Engineered Wood Flooring - A Great Alternative To Solid Hardwood Floors
Engineered wood flooring has been one of the great innovations in flooring to hit the market. Engineered hardwood is not made from solid wood. It consists of several layers and only the top layer is the actual hardwood that you always dreamed of having for the floors of your home. The layers underneath are specifically designed to give you maximum wear and tear and they give you practical flooring for just about every room of the house. Engineered wood flooring has advantages over solid hardwood that make it very attractive.
For one thing, engineered wood flooring is not as costly as solid hardwood flooring. The other layers of the engineered hardwood flooring are plywood or high density fibreboard. They are molded together under high pressure in a factory setting. Engineered hardwood floors will not expand and contract as solid hardwood does with changes in humidity and temperature. You can install it over just about any type of existing floor and by following special instructions you can install an engineered floor over radiant heat sources.
Engineered wood flooring in one of the most versatile choices that you can make when it comes to flooring in your home. It has many practical applications. You can install it over an existing concrete floor or one made with inferior grade wood. You can glue or nail it down and there are also forms of engineered hardwood floors that are glueless, forming a floating floor. It is an excellent choice in areas where there are drastic changes in temperature and humidity. However, engineered wood does not perform well in rooms of the home where there is an excess of humidity and moisture, such as in bathrooms or mudrooms.
One of the major reasons that many homeowners choose engineered wood flooring is its fantastic price. You have the same look and texture of hardwood, but it seems as if you are getting the hardwood at a wholesale price. Engineered hardwood floors are easy to install and the instructions are clearly printed inside each carton of flooring. You do have to make sure that the subfloor is clean of dust and dirt before you start so that any small pieces of rock won't work their way up through the flooring.
In the line of engineered wood flooring, you can get various types of wood, stains and finishes. You can also choose prefinished and unfinished hardwood, but if you are looking for an easy project, then it is best to go with prefinished. This way when you have the engineered hardwood flooring installed, you don't have to bother applying any stain or finish. You can just sit back and enjoy your engineered wood flooring.
Find out about Wood Flooring at Peter's Website Wood Flooring Explained, all about Laminate Flooring and lots more about laminate and hardwood flooring
Beware About Buying Cheap Laminate Flooring!
Beware About Buying Cheap Laminate Flooring!
There are so many advertisements asking you to buy cheap laminate flooring that it is easy to be tempted into spending less for your laminate flooring needs. Nearly every newspaper that you pick up will have at least one ad selling you cheap laminate floorings and on the face of it this might look like a good deal. The sad part is that if you do purchase cheap laminate flooring then chances are that you will end up being disappointed with an end product which will in all probability lack in quality and finish and so will not serve any real purpose.
Final Costs Can be Too High
In fact, you should also be careful that after all is said and done that the final costs of installing even cheap laminate flooring will prove to be surprisingly high. If you really do want to purchase cheap laminate flooring there are better alternatives available that you should learn more about. If you follow the right steps it is easy to both find cheap laminate flooring and also get a good deal in return.
It is customary for most reputable manufacturers of laminates to also produce low end products that are sold at lower costs and which are of sufficiently good quality to justify the purchase. Such cheap laminate flooring will not scratch too easily and they are also resistant to dents and will also look good. Such qualities are what you need to look for in cheap laminate flooring.
However, even such products generally do not last too long so you have to factor in the costs of replacements in the initial price and in addition often you may have to also purchase glue to install these cheaper varieties which too adds to the costs.
A good laminate product will however come with better finish and will be harder and more resistant to getting damaged and with some melamine in it they are also quite strong as well. These too are qualities that you need to look for in cheap laminate flooring. Finally, you should also look for cheap laminate flooring at discount stores.
Most experts recommend buying laminate wood flooring as such flooring will add some value to your home and also preserves the integrity of your furnishing. In fact, wood is a material that does a lot for the interiors of the home and can help transform even a bad situation into one that is appealing and decent.
If you love this article, you will also love another article written by this article's author on best laminate flooring and vinyl plank flooring.
A video step by step guide to installing laminate flooring. Everything you need to know about how to install laminate floors. Presented by BuildDirect. www.builddirect.com