With New Laminate Flooring, Don’t Do These 8 Things
After spending the money to replace your and put in nice, new hardwood flooring, you want to be certain that you look after it properly and do not do anything to break it. You want it to remain looking fine for so long as possible , so there are a couple of things that you definitely don't want to do to your hardwood flooring.
You definitely don't want to wet mop your , or get big amounts of water on it. Any spills should be cleaned up right away to limit the contact of the water with the flooring. Water could cause the flooring to expand and crack, as well as causing other possible damage to your floor. You must sweep your floor continually to get shot of the dust and dust which could scratch your floor, and use a dust mop or a little damp mop from time to time, but avoid wet mopping the floor.
Another don't when it comes to your hardwood flooring is using ammonia cleaners or oil soaps to wash the floor. These can essentially damage the finish on your floor, and it can make it so that your options for refinishing the floor later in case of any damage are a lot more limited. There are a number of hardwood flooring cleaners that you can purchase for spot treating any areas that have scuffs or stains ; these are a far better option since they will not damage your floor.
If your hardwood flooring has a urethane finish, it is critical not to wax your floor, or to use any sort of cleaner that will leave a residue. Make sure you are aware about the type of finish on your floor so you don't make a mistake and use wax when you should not.
It's also critical that you keep pets' nails trimmed short and that you don't wear spiky heels in areas where you have put hardwood flooring. These can scratch or dent the flooring, and this kind of damage isn't covered under most guaranties, so it is best to avoid it in the 1st place.
Do not drag furniture across the floor. Furniture should be lifted in order to move it to prevent scratching the floor. The feet should also have protecting guides placed on them in order that they are far less sure to damage your floor.
Although it is important to place mats on your floors in order to trap dust and dust and keep them off the floor, you do not need to use rubber backed mats or those that don't breathe because they are able to damage your floor. They make special mats just for hardwood surfaces, so you can buy this kind of mat instead for most impressive results in keeping your floor from being damaged.
Ensure that the humidity level in your home is not below thirty % or above fifty %, as air that is too dry or too damp will cause damage to your floor, including cracking. Use either a humidifier or dehumidifier to correct any problems you may have with the levels of humidity in your home.
The care of hardwood is definitely different from that of . Following these general tips will lengthen the life of your new floor.
Save Time With Hardwood And Laminate Flooring
You don't want carpet but you want something that looks good as well as will stand the test of time. The question is which one should you choose, but don't worry as I would like to tell you the benefits to hardwood and laminate flooring so that you can have the best for your home or business.
Although they look genuine you can get laminate pretty cheaply. The reason for this is that actual wood is not used in making it. The way they are made is by photocopying real wood and then sandwiching it between strong sheets, these are flexible and water resistant so you still get a great looking room.
They are also easy to maintain and as you would do with tiles or other water resistant flooring you can just clean it with a damp mop or sponge, depending on your cleaning preferences. This is something that benefits people who have children who tend to spill things and they can use a disinfectant if needed without worrying about damage.
No matter what room you wish to use it in you can benefit from the fact there are so many designs available. There are more colours than I could possibly list which is why many use it in not only the halls and kitchens but even in the living, dining and bedroom areas.
Another advantage is having the kind of flooring that clicks into place. As there is no glue needed it can be walked on as soon as it is laid. This is great especially in through rooms and hallways and is something that many can do in a short space of time without professional installation.
The main difference between the hardwood floor and laminate is that the hardwood is just that. Hard wood, where as the laminate is a printed version.
There are different varieties of wood to choose from all with their own style and characteristics. This looks great in its natural form. They make a great home investment as they will still look great without replacement for over a century. They will not go out of fashion like other flooring methods and will always look great no matter what else you change in your home. Just think of how much you would save if you never again have to pay for new floors or carpet.
Although it is possible for this kind of flooring to get scratched it can be repaired with ease by either purchasing a home kit or hiring a professional to do it for you.
It is worth the investment for many reasons. The first is that it naturally holds in the heat so even if you like to walk without your shoes on you can still prevent heat from being lost or being frightened to step out of bed in the morning in case you get cold feet.
you may want to sell your house at some point and if this is the case then you will find that having real wood floors will mean you can get more for the house than without.
Both the laminate and the hardwood are brilliant for people who suffer from allergies as they are both easily cleaned and are not dust magnets in the way that carpets are. The final choice is yours as they are both great for different people depending on your needs and of course the amount you have to spend.
and other will make any room look good. In the world today, it seems that more and more individuals are getting rid of carpet and trying out different types of flooring.
Pinpointing A Peaking Laminate Floor
Compared to other types of flooring, laminate definitely stands out as being quite durable. There are, though, a few ways in which laminate floors will warp, and a few reasons why. Let's examine the type of warping that is called peaking. Laminate floors which are peaking look as if they are rising, like there is something coming up from underneath the floor. The resultant effect is a bit disturbing. Some people immediately think there is something wrong with the foundation in their home, or that, somehow, water has gotten under the laminate floor, but this is unlikely.
The Major Causes Of This Phenomenon
Your laminate floor might be peaking for a few reasons. If you want it fixed right the first time, you'll make knowing exactly what's happening your top priority. Many people assume that whatever affected their friend's laminate floors is also affecting theirs, but this is a dangerous and costly line of thinking. Assuming this can cost you not only money, but a ton of time.
Lack Of Expansion Space Is A Top Cause Of Peaking
Everything expands and contracts, and laminate flooring is certainly no exception. This is why laminated floors are supposed to be installed with space between their edges and the molding. If this space is not available to expand into, the planks will push against each other. Once the pressure is sufficient, the floor will go the only direction that it can: up. If ignored for long enough, the floor will end up with a sort of hump in it, almost like a permanent wave.
Fixed Moldings Will Cause Peaking
Your laminated flooring will still be trapped, even if there is room to expand, if the molding are immobile. Finding only a few pieces of secured molding can be a real nightmare. The solid point could be any place that's connected to the issue since laminate flooring is designed to not be attached to anything, moldings or sub-floor, something referred to as floating. Many times amateur installers fasten moldings down, either out of ignorance or because they're trying to get the flooring to stay put while they work.
Peaking Can Be Caused By Boards Which Are Longer Than Specified By The Manufacturer
This one only pertains to some manufacturers of laminate flooring, and generally happens the least. When you have one board that is longer than it should be, the effect can be similar to when there is not room enough for expansion. This is an easily avoidable issue, and won't happen as long as no single plank is longer than the manufacturer recommends. If you didn't install the floor yourself, though, you may have difficulty finding the name of the manufacturer. Luckily, since this is usually only an issue when there are areas that are 40 feet long or longer, most people can consider this a non-issue unless they have a very big home, or are experiencing peaking in a hallway. But, if you just can't find where the laminate floor has been fixed to anything, then you might be left with pulling up planks to find manufacturer markings.
Check out for more information on everything about .
categories: flooring,remodeling,diy,home and family,how to,save money,shopping,guide,product review,green,information,plastic,ergonomic,knowledge
The Percentage Of Solids In Epoxy Garage Floor Coatings
All garage floor coatings are a bit different and, as with lots of things, you may not be getting exactly what you think you are when purchasing garage flooring. It's easy to accidentally skip features if you don't know they exist, especially with things that are new to you. Let's take a look at an epoxy garage floor paint spec that few know about. Let's examine the percentage of solids in an epoxy garage floor coating.
Percentage Of Solids? What Does That Mean?
Every epoxy garage floor coating obviously begins its life in liquid form. There'd be no way to get it on your concrete garage floor if it was solid in the can. The important, but rarely spoken of "percentage of solids" pertains to how much of the mixture will end up as a solid. Consider epoxy adhesives, if you need help understanding. There's no evaporation when an epoxy adhesive dries; it's totally solid. With an epoxy garage floor coating, this might not be so.
But Where Is The Percentage Of Solids Listed?
Most companies that produce epoxy garage floor coatings tend to try to omit any statistics in which their product is not perfect, which is like just about every other company. Unfortunately, this can lead to difficulties for consumers when trying to pick out the correct product. As a general rule, if it doesn't say it on the label, then an epoxy garage floor coating is not 100% solid. Instead, they're usually called acrylic, or water based. Epoxy garage floor paint that is 100% solids will usually pronounce it quite boldly.
Do I Really Need An Epoxy Garage Floor Coating That Is 100% Solid?
Probably not. Most consumers will probably be perfectly satisfied with water or acrylic based garage floor finishes, and never really know the difference, especially if they use some sort of garage floor covering where they work. However, when you start comparing prices of those coatings that are 100% solids against those that are not, you'll notice that you really don't save a lot of money by purchasing the thinner paint. In fact, sometimes you can find a 100% solids epoxy garage floor coating that costs less than a water based mixture. I suppose you have to ask yourself: are you okay with spending the same amount of money for a watered down product?
The Reasons All Epoxy Garage Floor Coatings Are Not 100% Solid
I'm assuming that the main reason has to do with their profit margins. Most successful companies get there by maintaining a good reputation while making a product that costs as little as possible, and selling it for far more than it took to make it. So, in this case, they water the product down just enough to save money, but not enough to sacrifice their reputation. Should we all boycott acrylic and water based paints? You have to make a personal choice on this one. Do you buy based off of reputation, or the promise of a better product? I guess you just have to, when shopping for epoxy garage floor coatings, decide which type of consumer you'd rather be.
Check out for more information to help you choose or your .
categories: garage flooring,flooring,home improvement,do it yourself,home and family,home repair,automotive,shopping,how to,cars,outdoors,guide
Like It Or Not, A Garage Floor Finish Is Indispensable If You Want Your Concrete To Not Be All Cracked And Gross
You will want to use a finishing compound of some sort if you're wanting to be sure the floor that is in your garage will be able to resist oil, acid, and grease. These products have the ability to protect a concrete garage floor, sometimes for decades. These compounds exist to protect the floor in case of any liquid spillage that occurs throughout the years. If not for a finish of some sort, any concrete garage floor will certainly become unattractive through stains and cracks.
Epoxy Garage Floor Paint: The Most Popular Finish
Epoxy garage floor paint is probably the most used compound for these purposes. Your garage flooring will look great for a long time with an epoxy garage floor coating. Although there are other garage floor finishes on the market, you will probably want to go with one of the epoxy garage floor coatings if you're wanting the best protection.
Not All Garage Floor Finishes Are Easy To Install
Unfortunately, epoxy is one of the more difficult garage floor finishes to apply. Just mixing it is no small job, and getting it evenly brushed on larger garage floors is a definite chore. There are many tricks that professionals use to make such installs go smoothly, preventing problems from showing up in the future. Sometimes it really does make sense to consider professionals when it comes to applying a finish, especially with epoxy coatings.
Recent Garage Floor Finishes Install Easier Than Previous Ones
In comparison to recent decades, though, garage floor finishes have become easier and simpler to install for the average homeowner. Some of the more popular compounds are specifically designed with the homeowner in mind and, due to this, installations are not nearly as difficult. These newer garage floor finishes are a result of much more competition, in addition to the reduction in prices of garage floor coverings like tiles and mats which are much easier for your average homeowner to install on their own.
No Matter What, It's Still A Lot Of Work
All of that being considered, it's still not the easiest job to do. There are still time constraints, and the floor must be very clean before you even start. Etching is always a good idea before applying any concrete coating, so be sure to investigate that option as well. Some epoxy garage floor paint kits even come with etching fluid, as well as instructions on how to use it. Some of these etching fluids even clean the concrete at the same time.
Check out my site, , for more information on of all kinds, including paints, stains, and sealers.
categories: garage flooring,flooring,home improvement,do it,yourself,home and family,automotive,repair,shopping,how,to,cars,outdoors,guide
Reasons That You May Want To Think About A Garage Floor Covering With A Ribbed Design
So, you have decided on your garage floor covering. Now it's time to decide what pattern you need to use, as if choosing the garage flooring wasn't difficult enough. Bet you wouldn't have ever thought this could be so complicated. We'll focus on mainly garage floor mats since, with garage floor tiles, most of the options have more to do with their installation and what they're made of. Let us first take a look at ribbed garage floor covering. This info will be fairly generic, for the most part, although I'm sure some odd manufacturers exist that do their own thing.
The Advantages Of Every Garage Floor Covering
Before we get to the particulars about the ribbed flavors, though, let's examine those advantages that you can get from just about all garage floor protectors. They'll keep stains off a concrete garage floor, for one. They'll also prevent cracking by helping retain heat. For those that have damaged garage floors already, they'll help hide stains and cracks. And, to the majority of folks, a covering of any kind, be it garage floor tile or just a mat, looks nicer than plain concrete.
Chemical Spills And Ribbed Garage Floor Coverings
Since garage floor coverings with the ribbed pattern have ridges that only go one way, spills always follow that path. Because of this, the ribbed design works particularly well when working on your vehicle. The mat can be laid either horizontally, to contain the spill, or vertically, to direct the spill in a particular direction. Be wary of directing dangerous chemicals like oil or coolant into the ground. Not only is this very illegal, but it's also high irresponsible.
Ribbed Garage Floor Coverings And Cleaning
Since just about every garage floor mat will resist liquids and stains, cleaning is a breeze. Simply spray your garage floor covering off with a water hose. Again, be careful not to spray dangerous chemicals straight into the ground. Check your local laws and regulations regarding this, and also consider any nearby bodies of water, as well as groundwater. Do you really want to pour anti-freeze on soil that's all of ten feet above your well water?
The General Cost Of The Ribbed Pattern And Garage Floor Coverings
This particular design is usually fairly reasonable. Most companies that make garage floor coverings price their ribbed designs only a bit higher than their cheapest mats. For this reason, I would consider the ribbed design to be the best value. Not only will it do everything you could want or need garage floor protector to do, but it will be relatively cheap as well. The only reason one would pay more is for aesthetic reasons. I suspect that most car guys think that ribbed garage floor coverings look just fine.
Check out for more information to help you choose your.
categories: garage flooring,flooring,home improvement,do it yourself,home and family,home repair,automotive,shopping,how to,cars,outdoors,guide
Advice On Repairing Your Epoxy Garage Floor Coating
Most people apply epoxy garage floor paint because they want to be sure that their concrete garage floor will be protected. It looks really nice, and makes you happy to be in your garage. I bet you never thought garage flooring could brighten your day so much! But then, it happens. A tool falls (insert slow motion footage), slams into the epoxy garage floor coating, leaving a dent and sending a chip of epoxy flying. Thankfully, repairing cracks and chips on epoxy garage floors isn't very difficult.
Preparing An Epoxy Garage Floor Coating To Be Repaired
The first thing you need to do is clean the area that needs to be prepared. You'll want to get rid of dirt, but there will also likely be some sort of grease or oil, even if you don't work on your car in your garage. Cars are funny like that, even brand new ones. If nothing else, tires track some pretty nasty stuff on to your garage floor coating. Luckily, since epoxy paint is designed to resist damage from chemicals, it's also pretty good at taking a thorough cleaning. Although there are cleaners that are specifically designed for epoxy, dish soap works just as well, and is much easier on your hands. Don't just clean the damage, either. Be sure to clean a wide area around the damaged spot as well.
We're Going To Have To Amputate...
If you were to simply fill in the scar, scratch, crack, or whatever it is we're repairing, it would be fairly obvious. Epoxy, like all paints, sort of change color over time, even if it's not readily apparent, and simply "touching it up" would leave you with discoloration. With cars, you can fix this by using a scratch remover or clay bar and mixing the new paint with the old. However, epoxy paint's resistance to damage sort of works against you in this case as it will also resist repairing scratches in this way. To address this, you'll want to cut a square around the affected area, so that the area with the new paint is large enough that it won't be so obvious. You can do this using a box cutter or a hobby knife of some sort. Go for about two inches around the scar, but bigger if you're repairing an extremely obvious area, like the center of your garage floor. Once you've made the cut, use a blow dryer to heat the area so until the epoxy softens, then scrape it away with a paint scraper.
Fixing The Problem While Being Sure Not To Die
Now that you have an area that is mostly bare, you can repair the epoxy garage floor coating. Use the directions that are included with your epoxy kit, as well as some common sense regarding the fact that you're working with a small area. Make sure that you also hit the edges where the affected area touches the old paint, bleeding over at least a little bit, to blend the new and old colors. Most importantly, make sure that your garage is ventilated any time that you are using an epoxy garage floor coating. Human lungs don't care for epoxy fumes.
Avoiding Having To Do This Again
Stuff happens, but it's not nearly as annoying if it happens to a garage floor mat. You can bet that if it happened once, it's going to happen again. Every garage floor covering will protect your paint, and a small mat to place where you work is not terribly expensive. Next time a tool decides to bail, you will be really glad to see it bounce instead of crash. Epoxy garage floor coatings are very nice to look at, and can take a lot, but like car paint, sometimes they need a little extra protection.
Check out for even more great information.
categories: garage flooring,flooring,home improvement,do it yourself,home and family,home,automotive,repair,shopping,how to,cars,outdoors,guide
A Few Good Reasons That One Might Should Look At Garage Floor Mats
Whereas people who are going for a certain look often choose epoxy garage floor paint or garage floor tile, those who just want to get the job done without messing up their concrete often go for garage floor mats. This may or may not be your best option for the long run, though. Let's take a look at the various reasons why one might choose garage floor mats over tiles or paint so that you can be sure you're purchasing the right garage flooring solution for you.
Garage Floor Mats Might Be Your Cheapest Option
Depending on how you go about it, a garage floor mat could be your cheapest option. Of course, in this case, we would be talking about a compartment mat. The purpose of a compartment mat is to protect a small area of your concrete garage floor from damage. There are also parking mats, and whole garage mats, neither of which can be considered cheap. Even compartment mats can get pricey if you look for a lot of features, such as tall edges or the ability to absorb liquids. However, when you get down to it, there is no other way to protect garage floors for less than $60, with the possible exception of an epoxy garage floor coating.
It Doesn't Get Any Easier To Install
This is kind of obvious, but it's amazing how many people really don't consider how long it will take, or how difficult it will be to install the more complicated options such as an epoxy garage floor coating. Once they get the kits in their hands and read the instructions, many will be tempted to pay a contractor to install it for them, which takes that cheap epoxy paint kit and multiplies the total price by ten or more. Ordering a garage floor mat is done and done. You'll probably spend more time deciding which one to buy than you will installing it.
Garage Floor Mats Cover Even The Most Damaged Floors
If your concrete garage floor is in really bad shape, you might not even be able to use peel and stick garage floor tiles or epoxy. When you're in this position, you've really only got two options: a garage floor mat, or snap together tiles. Interlocking tiles are in no way cheap. Smaller sets, which really only compare to compartment mats without the raised edges, can cost over $300. If you're not going for a specific look, I can't see how that's worth the cost.
Garage Floor Mats Are Very Easy To Clean
There are some mats out there that absorb liquid, be it thin stuff like water, or thicker things like motor oil, which works well as you can wring the mat out when you're done. If done right, this is also a very green way of doing things as it's hard to pick up the spill and move it. However, those mats that just have raised edges but do not absorb can do this as well with smaller spills. Having the ability to just relocate your mess helps with cleaning like you wouldn't believe. Will that matter to you, in your endeavors? I suppose that depends on how messy you are!
Check out for more information to help you choose your.
categories: garage flooring,flooring,home improvement,do it,yourself,home and family,home repair,automotive,shopping,how,to,cars,outdoors,guide
Thinking About Staining The Garage Floor With Quikrete Concrete Stain?
Quikrete is, by far, the most popular of all garage floor coatings. Maybe this is due to the catchy name, or maybe they've just built a good reputation based on good products, but no one else even comes close. I suppose it just makes sense, then, that Quikrete Concrete Stain would often be looked at as the premier garage floor stain available.
Quikrete Makes Two Different Products For Staining Concrete
There's not a particular product that is named "Quikrete Concrete Stain". This can be kind of confusing since, if you do a search on Quikrete Concrete Stain, you'll probably get one of these entries: Quikrete Semi-Transparent Concrete Stain, or Quikrete Etching Stain. Be careful which you pick, because these two products will result in different looks. For the time being, we'll concentrate on the Quikrete Etching Stain. I'll most likely talk about their Semi-Transparent Concrete Stain later on. Hey, stop whining, I'll get around to it. And eat those peas, too.
Quikrete Says To Use Etching Stain For Your Garage Floor
Actually, to be more exact, Quikrete doesn't recommend you use anything other than etching stain in your garage, and for good reason. Etching involves nothing short of melting the top layer of your concrete garage floor with acid so that you can scrape texture into it while, in this case, adding the stain as well. The result is garage flooring with improved grip for both car tires and human shoes or feet, as well as an old world, classic stone look.
Don't Worry, Etching Isn't All That Hard
As far as home improvement projects go, concrete etching is easy. In fact, Quikrete etching stain is actually a one-coat job. However, you do still have to apply a sealant, so you can forget about it being a truly one coat job. Even though, the application on the whole is a lot simpler than any epoxy garage floor paint, and you will have some protection after the sealant is on there, which is something that you can't claim with stain alone. Don't forget you also need to clean your garage floors, especially if you have any grease or oil stains, and you may want to use some sort of stain remover. Not really one coat, is it?
Staining Is Cheaper Than An Epoxy Garage Floor Coating, Right?
Usually, but not in this case. My guess would be that it's due to the acids needed for the etching process, but a can of Quikrete Etching Stain will likely run you over $300, and that's without cleaner or sealant. That's pretty darn expensive, even moreso than some of the higher quality garage floor tiles. However, garage floor tile won't make your concrete look like marble. Is it worth it? That depends entirely on you. If protecting your concrete is your top priority, I would say no, although once sealed, there is some protection. If your main goal is to make your concrete look different than any of the other garage floor finishes, though, then this will certainly do it.
For more information on , check out .
Finding Out Some Of The Hidden Benefits Of Applying Garage Floor Finishes
If you have been researching garage floors, then I'm sure you know that when you add a finish of just about any kind to your flooring, it will protect the concrete garage floor, preventing stains from motor oils and pretty much any other chemicals. There are other benefits that are gained from a garage floor finish, too. If you are still up in the air about it, then read on.
Garage Floor Finishes Can Prevent Damage
There are a few different things that can damage your garage flooring, beyond the typical motor oil stains that you normally see. For one, if the concrete is left untreated, it can end up cracking due to exposure to the elements. Many people don't realize that concrete, to be as durable as possible, needs to have some sort of seal. A good epoxy garage floor coating can take care of this for you, but even a garage floor covering like a rubber mat will be much better than nothing.
Many Garage Floor Finishes Increase Your Comfort As Well
Sometimes you'll see features on the various garage floor coverings like "soft step," or "anti-fatigue". These are referring to you, the human element. Humans were not meant to walk around on concrete. We are, for the most part, best suited for grass and soil, which is much softer than your concrete garage floor could ever hope to be. Garage floor mats, tiles, and epoxy coatings add a bit of springiness to your floor, which will cut down on the jarring to your back and knees, especially if you do a lot of work in your garage. If you decide to go with one of the many garage floor coatings, be sure to check the features of the product before you purchase if you want a softer step, as not all of them offer this. The best thing on your body, especially if you do a lot of laying down under vehicles, would be a garage floor mat that is made for this purpose on top of whatever coating or covering you choose.
Garage Floor Finishes Can Also Improve Your Garage's Lighting
No, we're not talking about a glowing floor, though that would certainly be interesting. Regular old gray concrete is not at all good at reflecting light, and that's a very good thing. Can you imagine the difficulty driving in the daytime on a road that reflected the light at you? However, in a garage, light being reflected instead of absorbed is a very good thing since it will brighten the entire room, making it easier to see things. If the plan is to work in your garage often, especially at night, make sure that your garage floor finish is designed to reflect and not absorb light. Black garage floor paint will obviously not help reflect light as well as silver garage floor tiles, for example.
A Garage Floor Finish Might Even Improve Your Mood... No, Really
Getting weirder and weirder, aren't we? Seriously, though, think about it. How much nicer would a shiny new car look on shiny garage flooring as opposed to drab gray? I'm not in the statistics business, but I bet if you were to take a poll of the most depressing color out there, gray would rank pretty highly. More and more studies are coming out every day that point to color having far more of an effect on our psyche than we ever thought possible or even considered, and that's just solid colors. Patterns can be exciting, too. Imagine how much nicer it would be for a car racing fan to work on his car on top of checkerboard garage floor tile? Working on a car can be frustrating. Do you really need your garage floor helping you be depressed?
For more information on , check out .
categories: garage flooring,flooring,home improvement,do it yourself,home and family,home,repair,automotive,shopping,how to,cars,outdoors,guide