Category — Flooring

If you are looking to make some alterations in terms of the style of your child’s room or maybe just want to buy a little surprise for them then choosing something with their one of their favourite characters on can be a good way of doing this. There are numerous products available that are emblazoned with all sorts of characters from TV shows, sports stars and pop stars. There is a wide range of bedding sets, curtains and also children’s rugs for you to choose from and all can brighten up your little kiddies room.

Whether you have a little boy or girl, the chances are that there will be something that can be bought with pictures of their favourite things on. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a specific character or pop star though, there are plenty of designs that have animals or just bright patterns on them. You will often find that you can get a rug that is shaped like something such as a car which can be a great purchase for younger children. Purchasing a brightly coloured product can give the room more definition and will be an extremely popular choice.

Choosing to buy children’s rugs will give an instant focal point in the room and the rug can also act as a central point for your child. If you get them one that they love then you may find that they end up playing with all of their toys on it. This makes things a whole lot easier to manage if things are played with in one place rather than strewn all over the place.

Written by E-Commerce Manager of A Rug is For Life, Chris Roche. For more information on childrens rugs, modern and traditional rugs visit our website to see what types of shag pile rugs we have within our product range.

Wood flooring has been in use for many years. It is associated with style and elegance. In fact, many of the recent flooring materials all try to imitate its looks and durability. However, no material can ever replace the beauty, elegance and comfortable feel of the wooden floors.

Advantages

Wood flooring is easy to clean and maintain. Dirt does not get stuck and you can easily swept it clean with a regular broom. They do not get stained as with other types.

Another major advantage is its beautiful looks. Hardwood gives a house a natural lovely look. Polishing gives it a shinny and attractive look. It also allows you to match with a wide variety of house furniture color schemes.

A Hardwood floor is durable and last a life time. If well installed and maintained, it will continue to look shiny, new and beautiful for many years. Many of the other flooring alternatives fade off with time. Some wear off requiring frequent replacements.

The wood flooring is known for style and status. People who have it in their homes understand the stature that comes with wood floors. High-end offices use it to give an impression of superiority. It is also associated with the wealthy, royalty and expensive hotels. Therefore, if you want to increase the value of a rental house or a house on sale, putting a wood floor may be a good idea.

Wood floors also come with a wide variety of types, different stains, patterns and different finishing. Hard woods are more expensive and they last longer and look more elegant. There are different hardwood materials including oak wood and maple. Bamboo also gives a natural and beautiful look.

Buying Tips

Hardwood flooring can be quite expensive. However, you can save some costs by doing some research. One of the best ways of comparing prices is searching the internet. You can review different company websites and get designs and options. You can also seek ideas from architectural magazines.

Fitting

Fitting the floor can be a do-it-yourself process. However, it is advisable to get a professional for fitting. Furthermore, most of the firms that sell the floor also provide fitting. However, if you choose to do it yourself, there are various options that you can use.

The floating installation process involves fitting all the wood planks together onto the floor. You can then use a skirting finishing to cover the edges. The staple down installation process involves nailing the individual planks onto the sub-floor. This is an easy way of installation. However, the pitfall of this installation process is that no room is left for expansion. The Gluing installation method involves sticking the planks onto the sub-floor using glue. Due to the insulation caused by the gluing process, this installation technique makes that floor less noisy.

Maintenance

So as to have your floor looking new and elegant, you must maintenance it well. Clean it regularly by moping and sweeping. Polish it often to keep it looking shiny. You can also hire a professional periodically to treat and clean the floor.

Mckay Flooring is a leading flooring company in the UK. We provide high quality wood flooring, installation services and maintenance services at very competitive rates. You can check out our wide variety of wood flooring options.

For most people, the living room is the center of activity in their home. When guests come to visit, you do not take them into your kitchen. Instead, you seat them in what is supposed to be the coziest room in the home. Your living room should be where you show your personality. When it comes time to choose a new type of flooring, most people do not know what is right for their living room.

The type of flooring for one living room may be completely different from another. The fact is, the right type of flooring is going to depend on several factors. The first one is the size of your living room. If your room is already small, installing a carpet in it might make it appear a little smaller. While coziness is desired, the ultimate result may leave you and your guests feeling a little claustrophobic. In this instance, a hardwood or laminate floor may be the best choice.

Next, you will need to consider who is living in your home. If you have young children or pets, you may find they can damage a carpet much easier than hardwood flooring. Children can spill drinks that will stain, but the worst is accidents from pets. Pet accidents on the floor can cause major problems, as the urine will not just soak into the carpet, it will soak into the padding underneath, as well. Odors can easily stick in the carpet and anyone in your home will be able to detect them, no matter how hard you try to disguise them.

On the other hand, if you live by yourself and no young children or pets are in your future, a carpet can give a little more warmth in your interior decorating. Different color patterns can be chosen that will help you to highlight certain areas in the room or you may even choose different textures in the carpeting to create the atmosphere you desire. Of course, as you do not have children or pets, your options are wide open. Ceramic tiles are also a great choice, depending on the style you are going for.

Choosing the right type of flooring for your living room can be difficult. There are many different options for anyone who wants to give their room an update. The best way for you to decide is to take all factors into consideration, including care and maintenance, and determine which one is going to go with your décor and meet your needs.

For more information on Maryland Carpet and Flooring Maryland, visit ContractCarpet1.com.

The Internet is a treasure trove of horror stories about awful home contractors that provided poor workmanship and shoddy tile jobs. Homeowners detail the sagas of discovering the wrong size tile after the fact, cracked tile haphazardly sealed, overcharging, laziness, and even contractors who bailed halfway during the job and went off the grid. Basically anything less than the result you expected and paid for, it’s happened to someone. The best way to prevent a contractor horror story is to thoroughly check and double-check his or her qualifications before hiring anybody. Don’t shy away from asking personal questions. It’s your home they’re entering and improving. Here are 20 questions you must ask during any contractor interview, as noted by Contractors From Hell.

1. What are your hourly or project rates and what kind of payment schedule and options do you accept? (Remember: You often get what you pay for!)

2. What is the total cost of my project, as broken down by line item?

3. Does my tile project require any special building permits? (Remember: You are responsible for obtaining these from your city.)

4. Are you licensed and insured in this state? What kind of liability insurance do you carry? (Remember: Make a copy of every insurance policy they prove.)

5. Do you have your own crew or do you hire independent subcontractors? How long have they worked for you? (Remember: You have the right to verify all background checks and insurance papers of any workers in your home-and you should.)

6. Do your employees carry workman’s compensation and liability insurance? (Remember: This is required in most states and your homeowner’s insurance should not be any claim of coverage.)

7. How long have you been in business? (Remember: Verify the office address and beware of P.O. Boxes-this is a red flag!)

8. Can you provide me with references for similar tile jobs? (Remember: Just because a family member or friend recommended someone obligate you to hire them.)

9. Will mine be your only job or will you be juggling multiple clients and subcontractors simultaneously?

10. How much time will you, the General Contractor, spend in my home working each day? What is your work schedule for my tile project?

11. Have you ever had any legal action taken against you or your business in this or any other state? (Remember: Verify any statements with the local courts if necessary.)

12. Have you conducted business in this state under any other name?

13. Have you ever declared bankruptcy?

14. How often do you communicate with your clients throughout the job?

15. Who fills in if you are called away or unavailable on a certain day?

16. What safety precautions do you take each day, and before you leave, do you clean up the workspace for livability?

17. How do I keep my pets and children safe while you are working in my home?

18. How would past customers describe your work? (Remember: Angie’s List is a good source for customer reviews.)

19. Tell me about a customer who was unsatisfied with your work. How did you resolve the problem? What negative constructive criticism did you receive from them?

Even if you forget to ask something before hiring a contractor, at least remember the number one rule of home remodeling: Always get everything-everything-in writing. Before a single tile is bought or cut, hash out all of the estimates, warranties, and timetables with your contractor and if you insist, a lawyer as well. Hiring a good contractor saves you time and stress. Hiring a bad one only costs you more in the end. Take the time to get a good one.

Learn more great tips on home improvement directly from the Denver Tile Installation website, just click through to the blog when you get there.

Born and raised in Ukraine, Youri Naimark was an construction engineer for 20 years (specializing in coal mine construction). In that time Youri oversaw major projects and won several State-level awards. After moving to US in 2002, Youri scaled down and started a Denver tile installation company. Since then Youri’s company has become a boutique home improvement firm. Youri has been publishing articles related to home improvement for over 3 years and recently he started a blog dedicated to proper home improvement practices and some Do-It-Yourself tips, which can be found at http://www.denverstileinstallation.com/blog/

There is an ongoing debate among homeowners as to which carpet type to use: hand knotted or hand tufted. Basically they both look pretty much alike, however there are some basic differences between the two particularly when it comes to the way they are produced. The hand tufted carpets are also known as Full cut or latex carpets, and making them don’t require any particular skill, unlike knotted carpets which take much longer to make and need some knowledge in getting the knots lying the right way.

When making a hand-tufted carpeting, you need to use good quality wool material. On the other hand the quality of the hand-knotted rug is mostly based on how many knots are available per square inch. Many people call the hand tufted types as disposable as they seem to be the lower cost ones that don’t need much labor and expertise in doing them. This means that they are cheaper when bought so they are a better alternative when budget is your biggest motivator.

If the tufted rug is made of low quality wool, it won’t make a good quality piece in the long run and it will start showing signs of wear really fast. Getting a good quality piece means that you will have to shop around and buy it from a company with a good reputation.

There is a third type of rug that can be also used for your carpeting, called flat woven rug. This is quite lightweight and very easy to look after and clean. You can see many of these items as show pieces that are hung mostly on the walls than laid on the floor. You won’t find knots on this type and this makes it a much easier construction than the previous two types.

To properly care for your staircases the best option is to use wood stair treads, while for areas around your staircases where a full fledged carpet cannot fit you can easily go with some beautiful well placed braided stair treads.

Indoor flooring, whether it is slate, stone, wood or vinyl, usually has a great appearance and, depending on cost, offers varying levels of durability and varying designs. Keeping these floors looking good is a challenge, an important one as if not carefully maintained these floors can quickly become stained and dulled over time and with use. Slate and stone and vinyl flooring are two good examples of this and the maintenance of these types of flooring is particularly important. Vinyl, at first glance, appears low maintenance as spillages can be wiped, and the floor is durable. However, spillages can infiltrate the vinyl at the joint and for this reason a sealer is usually applied to proof it.

Slate and stone are obviously durable surfaces, but the grout usually needs some sort of sealant to maintain its aspect, and once again stop filtration and staining. Grout is the material used to fill the gaps along the edges of tiles, and to seal them. Grout is quite a porous substance, as it is composed of a mixture of cement, sand and water – making the need for a sealer paramount. Slate and stone often gains its attractive appearance from a floor polish.

General maintenance such as mopping and cleaning on a daily basis can help protect your floor, but general wear and tear, such as the moving of heavy furniture, spillages not cleaned immediately and walk in grit and particles can mark or scratch a floor. Once this happens, any sealant or polish can be marked or scratched leaving an area where bacteria and soiling can accumulate, dulling the floor’s appearance and causing it to lose its previous charm.

Unfortunately when this happens, general cleaning and maintenance ceases to be effective and a professional floor sealer and floor restoration company will need to be consulted. Such a company specializes in stripping the previous sealer and cleaning the floor to restore it to its previous state. At this point a new sealer is applied to give it added protection.

In the case of slate, it is possible that no sealant was originally applied, and in this case a sealant is recommended as stone stains very easily. A water based impregnator/sealer that is silicone free and non toxic is recommended, and as stated, a professional floor sealer and restoration company will be able to advise you on the best sealer for your floor.

A good floor is generally not cheap, and an investment to protect it could save you future work and cost. For further information, advice or a quote for floor sealer and floor restoration, please contact professional floor cleaners, the clean n simple team.

Rubber flooring is used in many different areas of work and in the home, and there are many different types of rubber tiles to choose from. Here is a look at some of the top tips when it comes to flooring rubber including the best places to buy, cleaning techniques, ideas, and more.

1. Choose a flooring fit for the purpose – not all rubber floorings fit all situations for example in commercial situations, where rubber tiles is most commonly found, rubber is not suited to kitchens because it is not at all resistant to animal fats, vegetable oils, or petroleum-based materials.
2. Maintain the flooring to make it last – rubber is prone to discolouring but there are ways to clean your rubber flooring to maximize its life span such as not using any hard materials as this could scratch the surface.
3. Shopping for flooring rubber – the best places to buy rubber flooring is local hardware stores whether it be an independent store or a large international chain such as B+Q. You can also look online as well; shopping online usually saves you more money than shopping in-store.
4. Gyms use rubber tiles and flooring – you have probably never noticed the floor in your gym before but next time you go have a look and you will notice it is rubber flooring. Rubber flooring is perfect for gyms because it is east clean, and the rubber helps reduce the impact off the body while working out. If you are wanting to install a home gym consider rubber flooring as your base.
5. Rubber floor installation – if you are wanting to lay the floor yourself to save on cost then choose interlocking rubber tiles, they are easy to lay and require no adhesive.
6. Remodelling your garage? – consider using a rubber floor for your newly remodeled garage as it will lend to vehicles, heavy traffic, easy clean up of dirty and mud, and it is an inexpensive flooring option.
7. Cleaning your floor – you can hoover your rubber tiles and flooring and mop with warm soapy water.
8. Options of colour – not only do you get the option of different types of rubber tiles and flooring to choose form but you also get a huge array of colours and so have a think about colour scheme before you set out shopping.

If you are looking for rubber flooring take a look at The Rubber Floor Store’s website.

Wooden flooring can be an inspiration to the home and if you are having difficulty deciding what type of flooring to go for and if it will match with your other pieces of furniture, then hopefully this guide will aid you in making the perfect choice.

Before you even buy your flooring there are certain things you need to consider:

• Are you after a contemporary feel? If this is the case then the boards need to be of a uniform variety and need to have a clean look to them.
• Are you after a rustic farmhouse effect? To create this effect you need the boards to have colour variations and look as though they’ve been cut from a tree, so having knots in the wood will add the rustic factor you are after.
• What’s the layout of your room? If you have a narrow room then slim boards can help the room look much wider than what it actually is and on the other hand wide boards suit a large space enabling the expanse to be contained into uniformed proportion.

So what type of wooden flooring is there for you to consider? There are pro’s and con’s with each type and by following this guide it should allow you to make the ideal choice for living arrangements. Not only do you need to factor in your budget you also need to consider where the floorboards are placed. If the area is a high traffic area such as a hallway, then you need to consider the damage which can be caused by footwear, such as high heels. You also need to take into account the shifting of furniture, such as in a home office, will there be an office chair wheeling about on the boards? If this is the case, then a hard wearing laminate is in order.

Also you need to consider matching or accentuating your current furniture with your flooring, you can always take samples of the flooring so you see how the grain sits with your home office furniture or bedroom furniture. Also consider the weight of the furniture, as a heavy wardrobe could dent a softwood floor and when it comes to changing your room about you will be left with unsightly dents which may need to sanded.

The following wooden flooring is the most requested:

• Laminate Flooring – this is hardwearing flooring and is suitable for high traffic areas, it is stain-resistant and doesn’t fade easily. However if you buy cheap laminate you can end up with boards which do not fit well together. Another advantage with laminate is they can also come with other properties such as antistatic and antimicrobial.
• Solid Wood Flooring – If you are thinking of using this type of flooring and you have under floor heating you need to be aware that it expands and contracts so it is not really suitable, also if the area is quite damp, then this is another no, no for the solid wood aspect. However, it is highly durable and will offer the elegance wanted, plus if scratches appear they can be sanded as needed. It is more beneficial to go for a hard wood as soft woods are prone to denting.
• Reclaimed Boards – One of the most environmentally friendly options to choose from and one of the added benefits is they are already aged and have character about them from years of use. At the same time, they are probably one of the most expensive options to choose from as the installation can prove more time consuming and difficult than the fitting of new boards, although pine is one of the cheaper options.
• Engineered Boards – If you live in an apartment and you have other residents below you then be aware this type of board is louder than solid wood flooring when walking over it in footwear, however it not as expensive as solid wood. It is hard wearing flooring and is as quick to lay as laminate, plus it can be sanded and used with under floor heating.
• Bamboo Flooring – Not actually wood, but well worth considering for the option of flooring. It is durable and a lot more moisture resistant than wood, so ideal for a damp room and it is also environmentally friendly due to the speed of growth the plant. However with bamboo you may not get the wide range of finishes you get with other flooring.

With so many options and the variety of colour choices available buying wooden flooring can be daunting but with using a guide to the pro’s and con’s it can ensure you are buying the best choice for your home.

Riley Coleman is an experienced interior designer specialising in modern bedroom furniture and designing home offices. She has a passion for writing and is a keen on the idea of combining the home and the outside. She also works for a bedroom furniture retailer.

Hardwood floors are a stunning addition to any home and can increase a property’s value. However, caring for them can be a little tricky, but if you are careful your floors will outlast you. Just keep the following tips in mind to maintain the lovely look of your hardwood floors.

1. One of the worst things you can do is start moving furniture around in a room with hardwood without lifting it. The heavier the furniture the more you tend to push it and the more scratches it leaves behind. So if you do want to rearrange furniture make sure you have a few strong friends to help you lift everything.

2. Avoid wheels. Yes, wheels in your home. You know, the ones from computer chairs, your kids’ toys or rollerblades, or even that serving tray. Either make sure your floors don’t see any wheels at all, or at least make sure they are the rubber type. Many children’s toys have hard plastic wheels which will scratch any hardwood floor beyond recognition.

3. Sand, dirt, grit and anything else that may be carried in the house on someone’s shoes can ruin your hardwood floors. Sand and grit are abrasive, and in combination with each other you may as well get a sheet of sandpaper and start rubbing it across the floor. Of course, the ideal situation would be for people to take their shoes off, but this is not a very practical approach. Therefore, make sure you have a mat just outside the doorway and you should consider adding a few high traffic rugs, just to make sure any other debris will fall off.

4. Never wash your hardwood without speaking to the flooring consultant first because wood is extremely sensitive and you may end up ruining your floors. Your consultant will tell you exactly which cleaning agents are good for your floors and which you should avoid.

5. Make sure you clean up any spill quickly, because hardwood floors stain easily. Additionally, water can infiltrate tiny cracks and you may end up with some warped hardwood.

6. Keep the sun away from your floors as much as possible, even if it is a wonderful feeling to have sunlight coming through the windows. In time, the sun can cause your hardwood floors to fade and lose that lovely, deep, rich color. Therefore, keep the blinds closed whenever possible to avoid this.

7. When vacuuming the floor, make sure to use a brush attachment. In fact, it’s preferable if you keep one attachment especially for your hardwood and have a separate one for other areas of the house.

Maintaining hardwood floors may seem difficult, especially since there are many more tips on how you should care for your floors. At the same time though, hardwood floors are so beautiful and charming that they are worth every minute. Everything will become a habit and you won’t notice all the things you do to take care of your floors.

David “Delta” Cooper was an F-14 Tomcat Pilot for the United States Air Force from 1990 until 2002. After he was discharged to civilian life once again, he took what the military had taught him and built his first house. He has since been keeping up with repairs and maintenance on his own and feels that his experiences would be wasted if he didn’t share them with the community. He has just finished installing Hardwood Floors in his sisters house and is currently dealing with his hardwood floors squeaking.

Just like any other consumer product, the cost of floor covering depends on the product’s purpose, quality, and demand. Unless you root out an incredible deal on shipping and handling, for the most part, due to the weight of the item, you should buy your carpeting at a nearby location.

How much does carpet usually cost? The really inexpensive variety can cost as little as $2 per 12×12 square, and those seeking luxury can shell out more than $100 for a square yard, or just under $10 per square foot. On average, carpet and padding can be installed for anywhere from $19 to $38 for nine square feet. The actual final cost is calculated from the quality of the materials plus the cost of installation.

For brainstorming purposes, consider a room that is 144 square feet, or 12 feet by 12 feet. To start, we’ll need to change square feet to square yards, which is the way most carpeting is measured. Get out your calculator or a pencil and paper! Divide the number of square feet, in our case 144, by 9. This gives us a converted measurement of 16 square yards. Multiply this number by the lowest average price for carpeting, $19 per square yard, to get a final amount of $304. In this scenario, it will cost us just about $300 to carpet our room, but keep in mind that we are envisioning taking the cheapest option.

The next step is to take your measurements (and your calculator) to local carpet shops and start checking out prices. Ask a clerk about the cost of padding and installation right away. Is it included? This will dramatically impact your final cost. In other words, don’t just budget the carpet by itself. You’ll need to factor in the price of padding, installation, and removal of old carpeting, too.

Typically, you can plan to spend about $3 or $4 per square yard, and if you’re planning on getting rid of old carpet, another $1 per square yard to have it torn out and removed. If you are particularly industrious, you can save money by ripping out the old carpet and padding on your own, but it is often worth the money to have a professional take care of the whole process.

In sum, the steps to successful carpet buying are: accurately measuring the space you want to cover, deciding the class and quality of material would best fit that space, pricing the materials using the formula above, and deciding if you want to do a little work yourself or have professionals take care of all or part of the project.

Any home improvement task can often be daunting. What you want and what you can afford are not always a match. Finding great carpet prices is just like anything else, you get what you pay for. In terms of carpeting, arm yourself with the facts before you head to the store. See what floor covering and carpet price fits your budget for the space you want to redo, then head out and get the best price and beautify your home!