Quick Step Laminate Flooring - A Nice Option For Your Flooring


If you are considering new flooring options, you might want to add Quick Step laminate flooring to your list of floor coverings to explore. Quick-Step laminate flooring’s first layer is a picture of tiles or real wood that is then printed on a piece of paper. It is then permeated with melamine resin. On top of the first layer is a very durable translucent layer for added protection.

When you decide to install Quick Step laminate flooring in your home, you should keep in mind that this flooring is resistant to scratches, but it is not scratch proof. If sharp objects are dropped or dragged across your Quick-Step laminate flooring, it will leave a mark. You will also need to take care that sand and grit that become embedded in shoes doesn’t damage Quick-Step laminate flooring, so be sure that anyone entering your home wipes their feet well on a mat you have provided.

The maintenance of Quick Step flooring is fairly simple. The only thing you need to be diligent about is loose dirt and this can be swept with a dry broom daily. You may want to run a damp mop over your Quick-Step laminate flooring occasionally to be sure you have removed any dirt that may have stuck to the floor.

You can keep your Quick Step laminate flooring looking its best when you purchase Quick-Step Fix. With this product you can fill in any gaps in the flooring you might find. You can find the exact color to match your floor so any repairs will not be visible to a casual observer. If you have damage that goes beyond a small gap, you can always purchase new tiles to replace the damaged ones, and installing replacement tiles is a snap.

There are many outlets where you can find Quick-Step laminate flooring. You can find it in your local home improvement store or you can search for Quick-Step laminate flooring online. When you search online for Quick-Step laminate flooring, you will be able to find many colors and styles to fit your home décor. When you shop on the internet you may find bargains and sales that are not available anywhere else. Before you make any final decisions about your new flooring, take the time to check out what Quick-Step laminate flooring can offer you.

For more information about Quick Step Laminate Flooring ?, feel free to visit us at: http://www.aboutflooring.net/Laminate-Flooring.html

Discontinued Laminate Flooring

Individuals opting for discount rates and looking to save money when purchasing laminate flooring may need to be conscious about certain factors that are essential to influence the longevity and quality of the flooring. The home flooring industry operates through a large secondary market that might be deceiving the homeowners while decorating and enhancing their floor. Just as all the other branches, laminate flooring manufacturers also sell discontinued laminate floorings that typically refers to the flooring designs and patterns that have gone out of the market and are no more available.

This secondary market deals with the leftover materials of high-end retailers, manufacturers, department stores, and distributors and sells them at cheap prices to the homeowners. The price range of discontinued laminate flooring can fall as much as up to fifty percent as compared to the regular pricing. As a result, homeowners are attracted towards the cheap rates and attractive designs available for decorating their floors.

However, in future, if a small section in the flooring is damaged and needs to be replaced, it is highly probable that homeowners may not find the same style or design any more as that particular style may be already extinct. As a result, individuals would be forced to change the entire flooring where a small replacement would have been sufficient. Thus, in their endeavor to save a lot of money, individuals may end up spending much more within a short period of time in case of damages and replacements. The selling of discontinued laminate floorings can hence be considered as a way of increasing laminate flooring sales.

It is always advisable to go for a quality product ranging between approximately $1.50 and $3.00 per square foot and anything available for less should be double-checked and properly examined. Although the best laminate flooring costs may rise up to $6.00 per square foot, top manufacturers offer a variety of choices and optional schemes to match the budgets of their customers.

Laminate Flooring provides detailed information on Laminate Flooring, Laminate Wood Flooring, How To Install Laminate Flooring, Discount Laminate Flooring and more. Laminate Flooring is affiliated with Hardwood Laminate Floors.

Laminate Wood Flooring - Install It Yourself

How do you install laminate wood flooring for the optimum benefits and the prettiest look around? It is quite easy and you can do it too.

To install laminate wood flooring for optimum performance you need to have the proper tools. Having the right tools can make the difference between successful laminate wood flooring and a laminate wood flooring that is a disaster.

To install laminate wood flooring properly, you will need an eight foot straightedge. This will allow you to check for the flatness of a subfloor which is one of the most important aspects of laying a laminate wood flooring correctly. Most mistakes when installing laminate wood flooring happen at this stage.

You will also need a fine tooth handsaw to trim door casings. You will also need to avail yourself of a pneumatic brad nailer. This will be used for attaching the first courses of flooring. You should have a miter saw with a carbide blade for cutting strips of flooring to their proper length.

Having a jigsaw can be convenient for trimming pieces that need to fit around vents and other like obstacles. You can also be glad when you have a pneumatic staple gun. This can aid you in securing the flooring to the sub floor you need to install your laminate wood flooring. A notched trowel can be helpful when you need to spread adhesive for those glue down laminate wood flooring installations.

A plaster trowel can be helpful when you want to spread filler in order to level the subfloor before you are ready to install laminate wood flooring. A combination square will help you to mark the cut lines. You may want to have a rubber mallet to allow you to tap the floor pieces together without breaking them and you many find a utility knife is useful as well.

A hammer is a tool that most people have in their home and this tool will be needed for installing laminate wood flooring the right way. You will also need a tape measure, as measuring the room for the laminate wood flooring is key to buying the right amount of supplies to install laminate wood flooring the correct way.

For more information about Laminate Wood Flooring? feel free to visit us at: http://www.aboutflooring.net/Laminate-Wood-Flooring.html

Marble As An Elegant And Durable Material For Home Flooring

Marble is one of the commonly-preferred natural stones for use in many residential and building applications. This natural stone material is suitable for flooring and other tiling and architectural purposes.

At present, there are many varieties of marble floor tiling materials to be chosen from, with each offering unique designs, shades and color patterns. These tiles also range from being polished, tumbled or honed. These materials could easily be sourced from tile dealers, home depot shops and on the Internet as well.

Characteristics Of Polished, Honed And Tumbled Marble

Honed marble tiles are materials generally utilized to give more floor traction, while polished tiles are used to provide a more elegant look to homes or offices. However, these types could become slippery when wet, and may necessitate the placement of mats to prevent accidents like slipping.

Tumbled marble is quite a popular choice these days, and is usually sought after for its old-world, rustic appearance and feel, and is quickly becoming a popular design pattern for a lot of homeowners today.

How Much These Natural Stone Variety Costs

Marble, whether for bathroom or living room tiling, has different varying sizes and measurements , and they could usually range from 305 x 305 mm to 500 mm and more. The tile finish could also vary from being either polished, gauged or beveled.

This natural stone material, like limestone, could cost starting from $5 to $20 per square foot, and is a sought-after material for higher-priced home renovations. These types of tiles are seen to offer more than just elegance and durability, as well as its ornate and refined beauty. Historically, these materials have been raised firmly in the annals of architecture and design, and were usually seen as potent symbols of affluence, sophistication and artistry.

Suitable For Most Home Applications

This natural stone material is generally suited for installation in bathrooms, kitchens, foyers and hallways, and will generally withstand everyday wear and tear, as well as heavy volumes of traffic, although it requires a regular maintenance and shining routine to help it last longer.

Though the cost of using this flooring material may be a bit high, especially when the materials are sourced from overseas, you could find a suitable local dealer if you take some time to research and shop around your area for the most affordable and lucrative choices. Do some comparisons, and research around first before buying one, so that you would be able to find the most suitable price ranges, and get only good-quality flooring materials for your home.

Marble has always been noted to be a durable, tough and elegant material for home flooring purposes. As tiles for the home, these can effectively create a more appealing, unique and elegant shine and glow to the floors of your home.

Using these materials also helps enhance the overall look and appeal of the room where it is installed, and will surely help increase your homes resale value, whenever you wish to put it up for sale someday. Whenever these tiles are installed in the right manner, you only need to pay minimal attention to properly maintaining the elegant appeal of this unique flooring material.

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Tips For Choosing The Perfect Laminate Flooring

When you decide that laminate flooring is what you need in your home, you still are just on the cusp of decision making. Laminate flooring encompasses everything from light wood appearances to stone and tile styled products. Sure laminate is tough and attractive, but do you know what you should really be considering when you choose your laminate floor?

Texture

You'll soon discover that some laminate floor is textured and some is smooth. If you have a busy household with a lot of foot traffic and pets, strongly consider textured laminate. The smooth planks might be more visually appealing in the store, but they will show every piece of dust, dirt and dog hair which lands on top. Sure, you can sweep it up in a matter of heartbeats, so it's not a make-or-break decision, but going an extra day before dusting might be appealing enough to go with a bit of texture.

Color

Again, color can have a lot to do with the feel of your laminate flooring and what shows up. The darker the flooring, the more dirt and dust will show. It seems wrong, but since dust and dirt aren't getting ground into the flooring like with carpet, the particles sit on top of the floor and are easily spotted. Dust especially is light in color, so it shows up like a homing beacon on dark laminate flooring. Picture a dark vehicle that is obviously in need of a wash. Dark flooring though can make a home appear statelier and warmer while light colors are more contemporary and lighten a room considerably.

Pattern

Naturally you'll want to select a pattern of flooring that suits your needs and your design plans. Stone laminate flooring might be perfect one place while wide plank designs more suitable someplace else. Don't be afraid to try something new - just be very sure it is what works for you since you'll be enjoying it for the next fifteen or twenty years at least.

Price

There is a wide range of prices in laminate flooring. Not surprisingly there is also a wide range of quality. While there is not really a poor quality laminate since all laminate is graded on durability, some flooring choices appear more "real" than others and the texture and feel of the flooring under your feet is different as well. Less expensive laminate flooring options are thinner with fewer layers or less padding beneath your feet, but can still be very attractive and last for more than a decade. More expensive laminate will appear almost identical to real wood floors, and will have a bit more give under your feet.

Durability

Finally, you'll want to consider durability. There are multiple AC grades / ratings of laminate floors The heaviest grades, namely AC4 and AC5, are rough under bare feet and suitable only for commercial purposes. The first two grades are best for homes and residential foot traffic. When selecting a laminate, don't be fooled into thinking that higher grades are better for your home - the opposite is true. For once, you want one of the lowest grades available, although the absolute lowest might not last as long in your home due to the limited amount of traffic the flooring can withstand.

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All About Laminate Wood Flooring In Your Home

Laminate wood flooring, is one of the latest options in home flooring. The finish is such that it resembles natural hardwood floors. Over the years the quality has improved and nowadays the materials are not only beautiful but also durable. At times it is difficult to tell them apart from real hardwood. Most of the big manufacturers these days make these floors, including Bruce flooring, Mannington flooring, Shaw laminate flooring and Armstrong laminate flooring.

Selecting Flooring

There are a wide variety of choices both in style and color of laminate floors. Several styles are available which take after natural hardwood or ceramic tiles. Styles in wood come in every tone from the light to darker hues. For a formal environment choose darker shades. While selecting the color remember that dark colors make a room look smaller, while lighter give an illusion of larger space.

Most flooring stores and home improvement centers stock Laminate flooring. Surfing on the internet, you might find discounted floorings too. After you have decided on the color and style of the floor material, you can start shopping around for a discounted price. Left over materials, would do if the room is very small. At times these are available in smaller amounts at a cheap rate.

Installing Laminate Flooring

Laminates are not attached to the floor. They are also called floating floors. Slats feature groove and tongue designs. Slats are fixed by inserting the tongue within the loop. Special adhesives made just for laminate floorings are used here.

Floors like this can be installed right over your old wood, tile or vinyl flooring. All you need to remove are carpeting and padding before installation. Make sure that the concrete or wood sub floor is level before you start the installation process.

Its possible hire professionals for the installation or you can do the job yourself. Since installation is fairly simple an average size room does not take more than a weekend. When it comes to larger areas, you might want to save the job till the time you have a vacation. The floor will cost more if you want professionals to do the job. Though, if you aren't good about the house or just don't have the time, paying some extra money might be worth it.

Caring for Wood Flooring

Before you clean your new floor read the instructions from the manufacturer closely. Remove dirt and debris, with a broom or vacuum using very little water. Use of extra water can damage the coating of laminate on the surface. The paper backing of the floor might be damaged. If moisture is accumulated under the laminate, it can damage the floor or cause the growth of mold, which is unhealthy. Due to this, the floors aren't the best choice for using in bathrooms. Since moisture tends to be present in this room it will damage the floor over a period of time.

Concentrating on the area of how to install marble flooring, he writes normally for http://www.insidewoodworking.com. You can have a look at his contributions on installing marble tile

Laminate-Wood Flooring - The Basics

Laminate-wood flooring is composed of several different layers which when they become fused together make a very durable material. Normally the top layer is transparent and this is specially treated in order that it is highly resistant to being scratched, burnt, dented or stained. The next layer is the decorative layer and this is what gives it its aesthetic look and can come in not just wood effect but also as ceramic or stone also. The main core layer (the middle one) is made from either a high or medium density fiberboard and this is there to help support the weight and stress caused by all those feet walking across it. The final layer of any laminate-wood flooring is there to provide strength and stability to the other layers.

Laminate-wood flooring originated in Europe but in the last few years it has become a major flooring category for many North American consumers. In fact if you were to take a look at any of your local flooring suppliers you would be amazed at the types of laminate wood flooring that they have available from different brands to different designs, colors and sizes. As well as this they also come in a variety of different plant widths as well as being available as square tiles also.

When you are looking at laminate wood flooring you will see that they come with an AC rating and this relates to the durability levels of the laminate flooring in question. This rating has been applied to all lines of laminate flooring including laminate-wood flooring by the EPLF (European Producers of Laminate Flooring). They are there to provide you with an idea of just how resistant they are to stress and so will help you understand more easily the difference in the durability of each time of laminate-wood flooring that is now available. But in order for an AC rating to be assigned to any type of laminate flooring be it wood or ceramic or tiles then a series of tests are carried out in order to assess its resistance to burning, scratching, stains and impact. Only the best types of laminate-wood flooring will have a rating and this helps to show that they have passed all the tests carried out on them.

For more information on flooring try visiting http://flooring-solution.com, a website that specializes in providing helpful flooring tips, advice and resources to include Laminate-Wood Flooring and more.

Laminate Flooring Reviews


Laminates were first used as a flooring material in Europe. In recent years, many US customers have also been using laminate flooring for their homes. This has resulted in manufacturers introducing a wide variety of laminate flooring options targeted at the US consumer. Laminate floorings come in different designs, sizes and colors. They are also available in different plank widths and tile sizes. Their designs vary from realistic stone and tile to hardwood.

Laminate floorings are attractive and durable. They are resistant to wear and are scratch proof. As laminates have low maintenance costs and are easy to clean, they can be used in both commercial and household buildings.

Homeowners can easily assemble a laminate floor on their own, though many prefer to get it done with professional help. Laminate floors are installed by “floating” the planks over substrates. The substrates are usually made of plywood, OSB, concrete slabs or an existing floor covering. The planks and tiles have tongue and groove edges. These edges lock themselves together. Some laminates are glued together while other just snap together without glue. Laminate floors are never secured directly to the sub floor.

It has been observed that laminate flooring is spoiled when exposed to water. They also can corrode due to excessive exposure to humidity and moisture. Most manufacturers forewarn that the warranty provided by them would not apply if a laminate were to be spoiled because of exposure to water. Laminates tend to expand or contract as a result of temperature change and this may cause cracks or breakage.

It is economic to buy laminate flooring from a wholesaler. Companies also prefer selling wholesale because it generates cost savings due to a shorter supply chain.

Market surveys reveal that a majority of home- owners who have used laminate flooring are satisfied with it. The low cost of laminate flooring when compared to other flooring materials, combined with its durability and easy maintenance makes them a viable flooring option.

Laminate Flooring provides detailed information on Laminate Flooring, Laminate Wood Flooring, How To Install Laminate Flooring, Discount Laminate Flooring and more. Laminate Flooring is affiliated with Hardwood Laminate Floors.

Flooring - Laminate vs Hardwood

Laminate flooring has several advantages over hardwood flooring. This is why it is currently more popular among consumers. Laminate flooring is composed of four different layers. One of these layers is the design layer, which determines the look of the flooring. The design layer has a photographic image on it that allows laminate flooring to look very similar to natural hardwood flooring right down to its grain, color, and knots. Because the look of laminate depends on a photographic image on the design layer, laminate can have many more design options than hardwood. But there are still differences between the way the two look. The same grain patterns are repeated throughout the laminate flooring. In contrast, there is a little more variation in the grain patterns for hardwood flooring. This means that it is easier to find replacement laminate planks that will not contrast with the existing planks.

Laminate flooring is about twenty five percent cheaper than hardwood flooring. This means that you can get a floor that has the visual appeal of a hardwood floor at a much cheaper price.

Laminate flooring is much easier to install. The reason for this is because of the invention of glueless laminate flooring. Because it uses a locking tongue and groove design, you can install glueless laminate flooring by attaching the laminate planks together. This is much easier than using glue or nails to install hardwood flooring. It is also much easier to clean up after installing laminate flooring. Using a locking tongue and groove design instead of glue also means that you can immediately use your flooring right after the installation is finished because you do not have to wait for the glue to dry.

The installation of laminate flooring will also occur more quickly than with hardwood flooring. This is because the planks used for laminate are wider than the planks used for hardwood.

Laminate flooring is more durable than natural hardwood flooring. It is about fifteen times stronger. It is much easier to damage hardwood than laminate. Hardwood will not tolerate heavy foot traffic as well as laminate. This is why you will find that laminate often comes with a ten or fifteen year warranty. Warranties for hardwood are much shorter. However, if it is necessary, you can resand and refinish a hardwood floor as many times as is necessary. This will allow your hardwood floor to last for many years. Because of its design, you cannot resand and refinish laminate.

Another advantage of laminate flooring is that it provides ultraviolent (UV) protection. This gives laminate flooring the ability to block UV rays from the sun which will prevent the flooring from fading. Since hardwood flooring does not provide UV protection, you will have to spend a lot of money on maintenance costs to make sure that the hardwood flooring looks as good as it originally did.

Laminate flooring is much easier to maintain. Since it does not trap any dirt, the daily maintenance of laminate would only require the use of a brush or dust mop. If any water gets on the laminate, you can clean it up with a sponge, paper towel, or mop. Cleaning hardwood flooring is more time consuming and usually requires the use of relatively expensive cleaning products.

Discover How Installing Laminate Flooring Can Fight Family Allergies And Asthma

Discover how installing laminate flooring may offer relief if you are exasperated by blocked and runny noses, teary eyes and wheezing chests at home. This simple home remodeling project may be the solution if your kids suffer from chronic allergies or asthma. Off-gassed ranges have been labeled as highly effective hypoallergenic floor coverings. At the same time, installing laminate flooring offers low-maintenance upkeep, cutting down on cleaning chores.

While carpeting is seen as a warm, stylish and feet-hugging, the comfort often disguises the price your family may be paying health-wise. No matter how vigilant you are when it comes to cleaning, carpets become dust-traps and allergen-gatherers over time. While perhaps not a subject to discuss over tea, it is a fact that from dust mites, to animal dander, molds, fungi, bacteria and other irritating pollutants quietly thrive in the fibers of carpeting. There is also the possibility that some carpeting ranges may contain toxic chemicals aimed at reducing the dust mite population.

Installing laminate flooring has become one of the notable growth areas in the home improvement industry. This is happening with good reason. Not only does this offer a unique do-it-yourself opportunity, but it is also affordable and comes in a wealth of styles, shades and finishes. It can be right at home in any decor plan. The wood-grain patterns have become so authentic that they simulate real wood almost perfectly. In addition, stone tiling can now be emulated without the expense or grout messes.

The surface of a laminate floor is hard and smooth, with tight joints. This leaves very little room for dust particles to get trapped. Everything can be swept or vacuumed away in a fashion that is just not possible on a carpet. Provided that the installation procedure has been proper, a quality underlayment will ensure that the surface remains dry and that molds are therefore minimized as far as possible.

Allergies are the bane of modern living. Virtually every family has someone who is severely affected in this regard. The ailment leads to high medical costs and personal discomfort. Luckily laminates are extremely inhospitable when it comes to the allergens found in every home.

Installing laminate flooring usually creates a floating surface over the existing sub-floor. These days the tongue and groove planks are simply clicked together to form tightly locked joints. This is an extremely gratifying and fast-paced installation process. There is none of the sanding, staining or coating that comes with a real hardwood floor. The surface is immediately usable.

One aspect you need to consider seriously before deciding on installing laminate flooring, is the use of formaldehyde adhesives in some ranges. This substance may release toxic fumes for a long period after installation. Other VOC's (volatile organic compounds) may also be present. These properties may aggravate allergies or asthma, rather than offer relief. Although the levels are usually fairly low and presumed to be safe, it may still present a problem if you have allergies. The advantage is that these ranges usually don't come with all sorts of nasty solvents, chemicals or preservatives that are likely to have an adverse effect on an allergy sufferer.

One way to sidestep the toxicity issues, is to make sure that you buy a floor covering that doesn't utilize formaldehyde glue or binders and that has been off-gassed in the factory. Both cork and bamboo flooring can be treated in a similar way and offer the benefit of being kind to allergy prone kids. Vinyl flooring isn't seen as an eco-friendly choice. Enquire about the options with the lowest emmission levels possible. Use water-based adhesives or sealers where necessary.

In the end even carpeting isn't free from these emmissions. The polypropylene mesh used for backings may also have high VOC emmissions. So does latex bonding agents used in some ranges. The treatments that make carpeting stain and fire resistant can also be a source of fumes.

So, as long as you can solve the off-gass headache, installing laminate flooring may make a vast difference when it comes to the health of your kids an other loved ones.

How To Install Laminate Flooring

If you are attempting laminate flooring installation for first time it may appear a daunting task for you in the beginning but believe me if you spend little time in understanding the procedure about how to install laminate flooring as per the instructions provided by the manufacturer you can do it easily with out any difficulty. You need to have the required tool kit at your dispense and you are ready to go.

But before you start, make sure you plan your installation properly, as with any task preparation is the key. Measure your laying area properly; recheck you have right numbers of laminate squares with you; gauge the space to be floored. This little time which you spend in preparing before hand can safe you tremendous amount of time and installation hassles.

Decide your substrate or sub floor you are intending to use. Adaptability is the beauty of floating laminate flooring. It can be placed on almost any substrate including wood, concrete or any other existing flooring. Check with your manufacturer about the ideal temperature in which you can install the laminate flooring. You need to leave your laminates at the place of installation for at least 24-48 hours so that they can acclimatize to the conditions.

While installing the laminates leave a gap of 5X16'' from the wall. Place wood or plastic spacers to ensure that you lay all squares in proper order and maintain uniform space all along the wall. This space is integral to the installation as it allows for expansion due to temperature changes. Not leaving this space can damage your laminates with any temperature change.

If you are installing over a large area provide 3/8'' for expansion joints every 30-40 linear feet. To mask these you can use expansive joint sealant in these intermediary expansion joints. Expansive joint sealant is also used to seal joints between boards. Make sure you clean and dry surfaces thoroughly before applying sealant.

When installation is complete allow at least 24 hours for joints to dry and settle on the floor. Then clean the floor to remove any debris and left over mess from the installation. Then thoroughly inspect al joints for evenness.

Please find more information about laminate flooring here: http://www.howtoinstalllaminateflooring.net

The Beauty That Wood Flooring Does To Your Space

Out of all the houses I've seen in my lifetime, I have to say that none are as warm and inviting as those that have wood floors. This simple and classic material is a must for anyone who wants to create an inviting atmosphere for friends and family to share. The truth is that the timeless beauty of the floor gives enhancement to any room and it adds value to the home as a whole.

The beauty behind it goes beyond the physical attributes associated with the traditional flooring. For instance, Many real estate agents assert that a houses that has wood flooring will sell quicker than a home that has other types of flooring. It's also been known to increase the value of the home as well. Homes that have the timeless element built in sell for more money than ones that don't.

Even though the feature enhances the beauty of your home and even though the feature increases the economic value of your home, it is relatively inexpensive. This makes it a great choice overall. Another great facet of the traditional flooring is the quality and appearance of the material increases over time if the material is well maintained.

Maintaining your floors is relatively easy. Today's stains and finishes are so advanced that they have little demands as far as upkeep. The strength of the material lies in the technological advances in today's finishes for this type of element. You can maintain your flooring by keeping up with steady cleaning that requires little more than sweeping with a broom or vacuuming.

Occasionally, you will want to use a professional-grade cleanup product for maintenance. It is best to consult the professionals when it comes to finding a good cleaning solution. The first place to start is consulting with the individuals who are familiar with installing the floor. You can also seek advice from the manufacturer as well to verify that you will be using a product that will pay optimal results in the long haul.

Those who are ecologically mindful may want to look into the wood flooring as an option for their homes. The natural resourcefulness is easily recycled and it can be renewed as well. People with allergies like the material because it does not collect dust or other allergy-aggravating elements. Anyone who wants a clean, healthy livelihood environment will be happy with this type of flooring.

No matter who you are, you will be pleased with the dateless beauty offered by wood floors. The traditional look suits classic styles as well as modern decor. It's safe to say that this kind of flooring is a great choice.

For More Tips on Wood Flooring Ideas for you and your family. Visit E-Mans Decorating Tips Journal We can help guide you towards your decorating needs.

Why Choose Laminate Flooring?

There are many reasons why you should consider buying laminate flooring for your home. Firstly it comes in a wide variety of wood and stone finishes which are very realistic to look at. Also it is easy to look after and maintain and is both moisture and scratch resistant. Because of the technology it is able to create the most realistic types of clear and vibrant laminate flooring designs available anywhere in the world today.

One company, Armstrong, has a patented installation system known as Armalock Laminate Flooring Installation which makes it much easier to install and there is no need for the use of glue (so no mess). Plus they also have a DIY Center where you can obtain information and advice on any home improvement project that you may be carrying out. Although we have briefly looked at what laminate flooring is let us take a further look at the pro's and con's of using it in your home.

What are the pros of using laminate flooring?

1. Laminate flooring is available in a number of realistic designs both in wood, tile or stone effect.

2. The cost of buying this type of flooring compared to purchase the real Mccoy is much cheaper.

3. This laminate flooring has been designed to last and is extremely durable as well as being much less likely to scratch compared to wood.

4. As it is easy to install because of its special interlocking installation system it is DIY friendly as it only floats over rather than it needing to be attached to the sub-floor.

5. It can easily be adjoined to other floors this is because it is between 7-10mm in thickness.

6. Not only is environmentally friendly as it is made with recycled materials but it is also child and pet friendly also.

What are the cons of using laminate flooring?

1. Unlike any hardwood flooring the laminate flooring can not be either recoated or refinished.

2. It has a much shorter life expectancy than natural products and will normally last between 15 and 30 years but is certainly on a par with all other forms of flooring that is available today.

3. Unfortunately the construction and installation methods that laminate flooring use can cause hollow sounds especially when either people or animals walk on it. By using the right sort of underlay before laying down your laminate flooring should eliminate this problem.

For more information on flooring try visiting http://flooring-solution.com, a website that specializes in providing helpful flooring tips, advice and resources to include Laminate Flooring and more.

Laminate Flooring For Your Home


Laminate flooring is great when you know that you need to install a wood finish at a traffic heavy location. Faux wood and faux stone laminate floors provide you with the look you want tempered with physical wear and care properties that you and your family can live with. Laminate flooring is suited for rooms whereby stain and scratch resistance is needed. Examples od rooms include kitchens, family rooms, hallways, children' s room.

Prolonged exposure to moisture will damage some laminate products and hence, when purchasing laminate products, do seek manufacturers that offer warranties against staining, scratching, cracking, and peeling for up to 25 years.

To understand laminate flooring, we must know how they are made. Laminate is made from paper impregnated with melamine, an organic resin. It is bonded to a core of particleboard, fiberboard, or other wood byproducts. It can be laid over any form of subflooring surface like concrete and wood. If you already have an existing ceramic, wood or vinyl tiles flooring, do not worry as laminate flooring can be applied on them as well.

When installing laminate flooring, you will require sheets of special foam under layment followed by careful placement, cutting and gluing of the laminate. The installation of laminate flooring is a relatively quick and easy process. Laminates come in planks, squares and blocks which offer greater design flexibility!

However, be reminded that proper care of laminate flooring is required. Constant vacuuming and occasional damp-mopping is required to ensure the durability of your laminate flooring.

William Tan is a writer and designer from http://www.interiordecora.com At Interior Decora, we provide you with the best source of interior decorating and design tips!

Laminate Flooring - A DIYers Dream

Laminate flooring has been one of the most popular flooring solutions for homeowner since it was first introduced, and it is now available in a range of prices, and designs, to suit any conceivable budget and taste.

Styles of Laminate Flooring

Wood-replicating laminate flooring? You’ll not only find laminate flooring to resemble hardwoods of every species; you’ll find it colored to match any wood stain, and in more patterns than you thought possible. Single, double, or triple strip patterns; beveled or square edges; a wide variety of finished; and all of them ready, with their adhesive backings and snap together fit, are ready to be taken from their cartons and slapped on your floor.

If you are handy enough with math to know how to make templates for the cutouts and cut rounds necessary for fitting the laminate flooring squares to your floor, you can even do your own installation. For experienced DIYers who have some practice, completing two or three hundred square feet of laminate flooring installation in a day is not impossible.

Research Your Laminate Flooring Options

If you are considering laminate flooring for your home, you should begin by researching the reputations of the various laminate flooring manufacturers. Most of them have websites, as do the flooring retailers in your area who carry their products. You will learn a great amount simply by reading the customer reviews of those who have purchased the different laminates, both about their quality, and about the customer service they received from the retailers.

It’s human nature for you to want your laminate flooring dollars to get you the very best product you can find; but one thing to keep in mind is that the laminate flooring which costs the most maybe priced according to its popularity, not its quality. Laminate in a trendy color may be impossible for the retailers to keep on their shelves, and they will, naturally enough, price it to take advantage of the extra customer interest.

By doing your research, you will soon get a handle on which laminate flooring manufacturers are known for the quality of both their products and customer service, and you can then narrow down your list according to prices. And remember, if you are willing to practice with a few squares of your laminate flooring, you may find that you can actually do your own installation, eliminating the need for, and cost of, a contractor!

You can also find more info on Engineered Hardwood Flooring and Laminate Flooring. Homeflooringhelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Home Flooring.

Laminate Wood Flooring

Wood floorings have always been very fashionable, but they are gaining more and more popularity even for offices and other formal rooms. This rise in popularity is because of their warm look, affordability, variety, eco-friendliness, ease of maintenance and high value.

Having originated in Europe, laminate wood floors are becoming a good alternative for hardwood in North America. They are available in various styles, sizes, designs and colors, just like wood floors. They can also be very stylish in patterns like tile, realistic stones and hardwood visuals.

Laminate wood flooring is a kind of flooring that enhances the natural look of wood with greater durability and toughness. This flooring is easy to install, innovative, cost-effective and very durable. The floors are also scratch resistant and low-maintenance. Laminate wood floors are very tough, and are thus ideal for all kinds of rooms—even those with high traffic like kitchens and offices—since they are resistant to stains, scratches, spills and burns. They are also available in an extensive variety of styles, species, cuts and types. Laminate floors are available in planks or tiles.

Laminate wood flooring is done using sophisticated technology for the designs. They can be installed on previous floors like plywood, concrete slabs and OSB by simply floating the tiles over them. These planks have tongue-and-groove edges that allow them to lock into each other. Hence, they do not need any glue to keep them in place. They are just placed over the previous floor. A special polyurethane underlay is laid on the previous floor before installing, to enable the laminate wood floor to float freely. These floors are therefore very easy to install. Some kinds of laminate floors are pre-glued and just have to be wiped with a wet sponge to reactivate the glue. There are also some kinds of glued-laminate wood floors available.

Maintenance for laminate wood floors is relatively easy. They should not be waxed or polished. Using felt pads or casters under the legs of the furniture would prevent scratching. The floor should be vacuumed regularly using soft brushes, and it should be wiped with a wet cloth or mop when required. Do not use any harsh cleaners or steel wool for cleaning. Do not refinish or sand the floor. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully for other maintenance tips. These precautions will make the floor last for years.

Some of the most popular manufacturers of laminate wood flooring are Mannington, Pergo, Mohawk, Wilsonart, Quick-Step, Shaw, Witex, Armstrong and Alloc.

Wood Flooring provides detailed information about wood flooring, laminate wood flooring, hard wood flooring, engineered wood flooring and more. Wood Flooring is the sister site of How To Clean Marble.

My Experience with Laminate Flooring

Are you wondering if laminate flooring is right for you? I have some experience with this type of flooring and can outline some of the pros and cons to help you make a more informed decision. The type I have used is the type that snaps together.

I have laminate flooring throughout my house and have installed it in my rental property. I have also helped a few friends and family members install this flooring in their homes. I have to say that in my experience it is the best bang for your buck if you don't like carpet and don't want to go to the expense of installing natural wood floor or tile. If you are at all handy and can do things for yourself you can install this yourself and save yourself the labor costs of hiring a contractor to do the work for you. The instructions are simple to follow and for the cost of a $30 kit and with a miter saw and maybe a jig saw if you have some outside corners to work around you will have all the tools you need to do the work (always use proper safety gear and follow manufacturer's instructions). Many home improvement stores offer free workshops on how to install laminate flooring.

Being frugal, I opted to purchase my flooring at a local hardware clearinghouse and paid approximately $1 per square foot for the flooring for my rental property. It actually is prettier than what I installed in the house I live in. I paid approximately $2.49 per square foot for the flooring in my house 5 years ago but prices vary according to brand, color and where you live. Laminate floors are wildly popular now and are a really cost effective alternative to carpeting and are much healthier for people who suffer from allergies. There are many colors and textures available that range from a wood flooring look to slate to ceramic tile styles.

Besides price and beauty, laminate floors have the advantage of not trapping allergens the way carpet does. However, they do need to be swept daily and/or dustmopped because you would not believe how much dust and dirt accumulate on the floor.

I have found that even though they are hard to scratch occasionally they will scratch or chip and I usually am able to cover this with (of all things) either a matching crayon or marker rubbed into the spot then rubbed over with a cloth to remove the excess. Having a child in the house helps - there is always a variety of crayons and markers to match anything and everything!

Another disadvantage is that it is hard to keep them from looking dull. I have heard some people say that damp mopping with a solution of 1/4 cup white vinegar to 2 gallons of water will do the trick. I will occasionally shine my floors with a floor shine product from Holland House found at WalMart. The shine lasts until the floor is walked on a few times.

Although I love my laminate floors, I am very clumsy and have caused some damage to mine - I turned a bucket of water over while mopping (twice in one night I might add and by falling flat on my back just added insult to injury) and once that water is out of the bucket there is no getting it back in and the damage is done. You can see the floor blister almost before your eyes. You either have to live with it or replace the damaged parts, which involves cutting out the damaged pieces and gluing in replacement pieces - keep in mind this floor was originally snapped together. Also you might not want to put this floor in bathrooms or laundry rooms unless you are prepared to immediately wipe up water splashes. I will be replacing the floor in my laundry room with ceramic tile - hindsight is 20/20. Also if you have a pet that is...well, not so well trained...laminate floor does not stand up well to pet accidents. Not only will pet urine blister the laminate surface but the smell saturates the laminate flooring.

If you are preparing your house to sell and are going to replace the flooring I would definitely recommend using laminate flooring. Not only is it inexpensive and easy to install, the result is eye-pleasing and sure to attract buyers and it looks like a million bucks for the money you will spend. Just be sure to finish out the edges with trim. A note here...I have never purchased the expensive trim they sell with the flooring. We have always purchased just regular unfinished baseboard or other trim and stained it to match the floor or wall to cover the gaps between floor and wall. If you are going from laminate to a tile surface you may need to purchase the trim piece if there is no other alternative available.

I hope reading about my experience with laminate flooring has given you some things to consider in deciding if laminate flooring is right for you.

Gail Enochs, a working wife and mother, is a home-improvement addict and the creator of http://www.advertiseyourhouse.org

Beautiful, Elegant Marble


The material you choose for the flooring in your home will have a great effect on the looks of your home. Ironically, it will also reflect upon your taste and personality. An elegant material such as marble flooring will reflect very favorably upon the homeowner who chooses it. Marble flooring is always in elegant style, everywhere.

What exactly is marble? Metamorphic rock is a rock that has metamorphed from limestone or dolostone and has a high concentration of calcium. This metamorphic rock is more commonly known as marble. Marble has been used since antiquity for the beautiful works of art that we still admire today. These sculptures can be viewed in museums around the world, including Turkey, Spain and Italy. The Romans and Greeks extensively used marble both for their artistic and architectural creations along with mosaic tiles and mosaic tables.

Today's marble comes from the same regions that used it over the years, such as Italy and Spain, but it is also now being imported from China. Italy remains one of the biggest exporters of marble and they have developed an industry based on their vast experience in quality, design and execution.

Anyone who sees a marble floor will automatically think of a luxurious mansion where the expression of lavish beauty is paramount. To get the full benefit of a marble floor, it should not be covered by rugs or any other covering.

Marble should be allowed to let its own beauty stand out. This is the reason you will see marble used in warm climates where rugs are not necessary, or in areas where you would not normally put a rug, such as the entrance, a bath or a kitchen.

Unexpectedly, marble can stain easily, and it therefore has to be cared for properly. Most of the time, it will have to be cleaned on a daily basis with a specialized product that will allow it to shine while removing any stains. For a stunning effect, there are specialized marble cleaning machines that make the floor positively glow. These machines can be rented, or a professional can be hired to clean the marble periodically.

If you are going to make the large investment in a marble floor, make sure you do all of your research so that you buy the best marble for the price. In addition to the cost of the marble, you will have a large shipping bill because of the weight of marble.

Despite its cost, marble flooring is one of the most beautiful materials you can use in your home, and if you want to make a dramatic statement in your decorating, one that cannot be beat.

Adam Peters is a freelance writer for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com Read additional info on tile ideas or mosaic tables