Even if you never touch the screen of your monitor, it somehow has a tendency to collect dirt, dust, and fingerprints. Here are instructions on how to clean it.
When cleaning any computer componet (this includes the monitor) the standard advice is do not spray any liquid on the component and do not use so much liquid on the cloth that it runs off the cloth. Instead dampen a cloth with the liquid and then wipe the component with the damp cloth. The reason for this is that the liquid could seep inside of the case through cracks or vents and short out or ruin the electrical circuitry. As added protection against this happening, you should unplug the component before cleaning and not plug it in until any liquid that may seep inside has a chance to dry (like overnight).
If you clean the screen when it is off, you will be able to see the dirt and smudges better.
Before cleaning, you need to figure out what type of screen you have. Either the screen has a hard glass surface or it is soft. If the screen surface is soft to the touch or if it changes color when you touch it, it is soft. Otherwise, it is hard. CRT monitors (which are the old type of monitor and TV that is not flat), most touch screens, and most tablet screens are hard, while most LCD or flat panel display screens are soft.
There are some special don'ts for cleaning a soft screen. Don't use a paper towel or any cloth that could scratch the screen. Don't use ordinary glass cleaner (ammonia based liquids, like Windex). And don't press hard on the screen. Pressing hard anywhere on the screen could damage it (I know because my laptop screen has a pernament light spot on it because of this).
First try cleaning the soft screen with a dry, soft cotton cloth. If that does not clean it good enough, put water or rubbing alcohol on the cloth. Only dampen the cloth. Do not get it so wet that the liquid runs down the screen.
With a hard screen made of glass (as on a CRT monitor) you can use ordinary glass cleaner, but if the screen has anti-glare protection or some other special surface the ammonia in the cleaner could ruin it, so it is best just to steer clear of those types of cleaners. Water or alcohol should work fine. Hard screens do not require a light touch as the soft screens do.
Once the screen is clean, turn your attention to the rest of the monitor. Wipe off the back, top, and sides or better yet, vacuum it off being sure to suck out any dust that has accumulated in the vents. Be careful not to let any cleaning solution run or drip through the vents. While we are talking about the vents, never let books or papers stacked on the monitor obstruct the vents. The vents are there for a reason. Obstructed vents can cause the monitor to overheat or even catch on fire.
Even though the inside of a conventional monitor (CRT) can get quite dusty, it is not recommended to clean the inside unless you are an experienced technician because the picture tube contains high voltage even after the power has been shut off.
A dusty, smudgy monitor may not harbor dangerous bacteria which could make you sick or even kill you, but still, don't you think it is important to be able to see the screen? So, come on, get up off your chair, find a soft cloth and water, and clean your monitor now.
Ray Geide
Author of Ray's Computer Tips and many top computer software
Super Win Software, Inc.
http://www.superwin.com
How to Clean the Monitor
Properly Installing Marble Tiles On Bathroom Floors
Marble floor tiles are one of the best flooring options in large homes, offices, and even common single-family units.
The choice of flooring material for your home's many rooms carries a major role in creating a wonderful aesthetic look and appeal, as well as employing a unique functionality element. The flooring serves the same vital purpose, as vital as the other furnishings that you have installed in your home. Since these types of floor tiles help to create a healthy mix of elegance and functionality, it is considered to be one of the finest natural stone materials to be used for flooring.
Choose The Tiles Which Best Suit Your Preferences
There are a lot of different varieties and designs of marble floor tiles for bathroom floors and tubs, and these are sold in shops and hardware stores, with each one varying in textures, patterns, color schemes and finish. The different marble tiles available today offer a wide array of uses and applications, which makes some individuals prefer certain types of marble tiles over the others. major positive aspect of marble floor tiles is the look that it will give your home.
These tiles are most popular in the kitchen, however, many individuals also use them for their bathrooms as well. For those who want their tiles to remain sturdy and gleaming, you may also wish to combine it with a countertop to match. This serves as a great way of giving your kitchen or bathroom a completely unique feel, in addition to the elegant look that these tiles offer.
Properly Ionstalling Marble Flooring In The Bathroom
- For starters, start the process with a bare floor. Ensure that the subfloor is sturdy and stable, because if it shifts, the grout could crack. Check the floor for stability by having someone stand on one end of the room, while you stand on the other and bounce up and down. If your partner feels little or no vibration, then the floor should be quite sturdy.
- Ensure that the floor is level. Most tile manufacturers suggest that the floor slope no more than 1/16" for every 3'. Use the longest level available to check. You can also tell whether the floor has any dips or valleys by looking for gaps between the level and the floor.
- Lay out the tile in a test run, or dry run. This will ensure that you plan ahead for where the tiles will go. Start by placing a tile at one corner of the center point and working your way to the wall. If you end up with only a sliver of marble at the end, shift the run so that the starting tile straddles the chalk line.
- To begin tiling the bathroom floor, place one tile on or near the center, depending on the location that was determined by your test layout, and trace around the perimeter. Apply thin-set mortar within the borders, and set the tile in place. The tile will act as a reference point, or barometer of sorts, when you start to lay out the rest of the floor pieces.
- Start to apply thin-set mortar to the floor, notching it with your trowel, and applying the tiles. Fill any spaces when applying the mortar.
- In measuring tiles for cutting, place one tile directly on top of the full tile that is closest to the wall. Then place a second tile against the wall so that the edge rests on the first tile. Use a utility knife to score a line on the first tile, and make your cut along that line
Installing these natural stone varieties can be quite costly. The tiles themselves already cost significantly, and without utilizing the proper installation techniques, there would be a chance that something wrong could happen during the process. It would be much safer that you know the right tools, methods, prepare the adequate materials and safety measures as well, when installing these floor tiles for your bathroom.
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Trim It To Fit Corners And Walls
There is a need for you to make a series of relief cuts at every outside and inside corners so as the flooring will lie flat over the floor, after the flooring has been positioned. For outside corners, you have to start at the top of the lapped-up flooring and cut straight down to the meeting point of walls and floors. For inside corners, you can diagonally cut the excess flooring; gradually trimming it away until the flooring lies flat in the corner. The material that has been lapped up against the walls have to be removed after trimming down the corners.
Pressing the flooring into a right angle where the wall and floor join, should be done by using an 18 to 24-inch-long piece of 2 by 4. The flooring material should expand without buckling. So a gap of 1/8-inch should be left between the edge of the flooring and the wall to allow for the expansion of the material after trimming down the material by laying a heavy straightedge along the wall. You have to ensure that the wall base will overlap the edge of the flooring by a minimum of 1/4 -inch, if you plan to attach a wall base.
Trimming around doorways : There should be a tight fit of flooring around the doorways and other locations because there will be a absence of floor molding to provide a finished appearance. One of the most effective ways to hide the exposed edge of the flooring over a doorjamb is to cut away that much of door casing so as to provide a slip through for the flooring under the casings.
Finishing the job : You have to carefully clean the surface once the flooring is in place. Use a specific floor cleaner recommended by the manufacturer that leaves your flooring unharmed. For the purpose of wiping away adhesive that is still left over on the surface use a solvent recommended by the manufacturer. You have to ensure that the flooring is set firmly into the adhesive if you have installed a flooring using an adhesive. The air bubbles that remain under the floor can be worked out by starting at the center. For this purpose, effective use of a floor roller is recommended.
After the floor is clean, flat and well settled, replacing the baseboards removed can be done. Leave a gap of 1/32 to 1/16 -inch between the flooring and the bottom of the molding and reattach the shoe molding. The movement of the flooring can be slight without buckling, if the nails are always driven through the molding into the baseboards and not through the flooring. Register or vent covers and fixtures that were removed can be replaced now.
Vinyl wall base is an alternative to baseboards and shoe molding. Vinyl wall base is available in a range of attractive colors. The tools used to install vinyl wall base are the same as the tools used to install resilient flooring, except for the adhesives that are made specifically to be used on surfaces that need vertical attachments. One of the characteristics of vinyl wall base is that it is flexible and is also available in rolls. With it's lower edge on the resilient flooring, the vinyl base can be fastened directly on to the wall. It should be out of contact with the surface of the floor.
The manufacturer's recommendations should be followed in installing the wall base, by spreading the adhesive with a notched trowel or by a brush. By allowing the adhesive to set, start at an inside corner, begin to install the base by pressing it strongly until it gets stuck. Stretch the vinyl at outside corners, pressing it strongly against the wall. You have to cut the vinyl to exact fit, by using a sharp utility knife to miter the ends, for the purpose of forming inside corners. For trimming a joint less inside corner score the back of vinyl and bend it to fit tightly into the corner.
You have to finish the sheet flooring as per the recommendations of the manufacturer.
Truck Floor Mats
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.
For more information on all types of laminated floors visit Laminate Flooring Co today!
How to Select the Best Laminate Flooring for You
Hardwood flooring - its' traditional look is almost timeless, its' beauty is unmatchable. However, it's pretty hard to maintain a hardwood floor, not to mention the price you have to pay for it. Even with the most recent floor treatments they will still scratch, fade, dent and stain in a rather small amount of time. That's why laminate flooring was invented. Because it's machine made and its' top layer is a hardwood photographic laminated surface, laminate has the look and appeal of real hardwood floors, but it's more durable and it requires less maintenance.
Unlike real hardwood floors, laminate flooring is more resistant to scratching, staining, fading and denting. Laminates warranty range from 10 years to lifetime and it covers all of the bad things mentioned above, while entry level laminates come with a 10 to 15 years one. But they are designed for light traffic areas. I mentioned this because many people mistake and think that they will remain the same if used in a high traffic area during the warranty period. This is not true. Used in a high traffic area, they will begin to show wear and tear rather quick (usually within 3 to 5 years).
Remember that choosing the right laminate flooring is not as easy as it seems, but by doing that, you will save money in the long run. Just think of things like the amount of time you are planning on staying in that house or the amount of traffic, because there is no point in buying really expensive laminate flooring with extended warranty if you know that you are moving sometime in the near future. Another thing you should know is that people usually replace the floor first when moving in a new house, so, with expensive laminate with an extended warranty, you will either pay an amount of money for nothing, or for the people who will move in after you.
A thing you should consider when buying laminate flooring for bathrooms or kitchens is it's core. A thicker core is more stable, less vulnerable and sounds more like the real hardwood floor when walked on. Quality laminate cores are treated with water repellent chemicals. Also consider buying laminates with Paraffin wax impregnated joints, as this wax acts as a water repellent and prevents water from penetrating down to the core.
As glueless locking mechanisms has been introduced to the market, laminate flooring has become the perfect choice for households because it has a quicker installation, it's easier to repair and it can be installed by people without experience or specialized tools. This will save you a considerable amount of money.
Laminate flooring enthusiasts unite! Installation, maintenance, selection, e.g., Harmonics, Pergo, Shaw, Mannington - you name it, we are talking about it. Join us at http://laminateflooring.oncloud8.com
Laminate Floor - Some Advice to Think Over
When you are remodeling or building you need to decide what type of flooring it is that you want. Many of the times people want the natural look or a wood floor appearance. In this case, you will want to decide to either install real hardwood or a laminate floor
When it comes to natural hardwood floors you will notice that they add warmth to any room in which it is installed. It comes in a wide variety of species and colors. If you take care of your hardwood floor, it could last a life time. Some of the perks to hardwood floors is the fact that is a natural, non allergenic product. If you are into real estate, you will know that hardwood floors add some value to the home as well.
When you are installing hardwood you have to choose between solid, long strip, and engineered flooring. Then you have to decide rather you have pre-finished or unfinished floors. If you go with unfinished, you have go through the mess of staining it. Although you have more control with the project by going with an unfinished floor, who has the time?
Some other things to think about is the fact that hardwood can be scratched and damaged. Sunlight will affect the color of your floor too. You can’t clean it with a mop and bucket because water will ruin your floor. So the upkeep is awful. What about the Laminate?
Laminate floors have the impression of real wood or tile but not all the upkeep and troubles of the real stuff. It is a wood alternative. Laminate flooring has the look of real wood, but doesn’t scratch. You have to have an extreme impact to damage the floor, but big dogs or dragging things will ruin the floor, but that could ruin any floor. Laminate will also not fade from the sun or burn from a cigarette. With laminate flooring you have three types also; glued-down, glueless, and pre-glued floors. Most of the time glue isn’t required and even you can install the floor. It also doesn’t need to be waxed or polished and you can use a mop and water to clean your floor.
The only problem with laminate is the fact that you can’t repair the planks, but you have to replace them. You also need to place a special padding underneath the floor, but can still be placed over concrete and other flooring materials.
When being compared to each other laminate flooring is more scratch, stain, and fade resistant. It also can take more of an impact and is view low maintains. It is also easier to install. It is also cheaper to install. However the hardwood floor is more visually appealing and repaired easily. It can also be refinished and lasts longer than laminate.
Oddvar Nilsen writes about a variety of subjects. Looking for more information about laminate floor? Check out the Huge Resourses at http://www.laminatefloor-guide.info and http://www.laminateflooring-guide.info
Cheap Laminate Flooring-Where to Get a Truly Good Deal
Have you been tempted by ads for cheap laminate flooring that costs well under a dollar per square foot? You can find these ads in nearly every newspaper and on the surface they may sound pretty good. But, if you buy truly cheap laminate flooring you will probably be disappointed with the end result and surprised at what the final costs actually are once you have it installed. However, there is a better way to get cheap laminate flooring that is good quality and you may even be able to save more money by installing it yourself.
Many laminate manufacturing companies make a “low end” version of their laminate. This cheap laminate flooring is thin, not very scratch and dent resistant, and it will not look like the “real” thing. It probably will not last very long either, so you may end up replacing it sooner than you had planned. You may also have to apply glue to install some types of cheap laminate flooring which is usually best left to a professional, which will end up costing you more money. The better laminate products have features such as aluminum oxide in the top layer to enhance the hardness and damage resistance, and melamine to give it added strength.
The best way to buy cheap laminate flooring that is good quality is to shop around at discount flooring stores. If you are lucky you will be able to find one in your local area. Before you go, you may want to take a look at some manufacturer’s websites and get a good idea of what types of products you like and don’t like. Make yourself familiar with the process of making laminate as well as installing it so that you can decide which laminate is best for you.
If you don’t have a discount flooring store in your area, or if you would rather not shop around that way, you can find dozens of discount flooring stores online with large selections of products. You can save 50 percent or more and you may even be able to get a deal on shipping.
Eriani Doyel writes articles for and about Laminate Flooring. For more information on cheap laminate flooring visit buypergo.com.
Hard Wood Floor Cleaner And Essential Oil - Smells Great
Hard wood floors are not only gorgeous, they need regular special care. Unlike many other kinds of flooring, hard wood floors are not so forgiving to normal wear and tear. They can warp in humidity, become chipped by dog toenails and rot because of water damage. But regular cleaning can keep it strong and protected. A mix of your hard wood floor cleaner and essential oils can help your floors look and smell great.
Not Just The Oil, Please
You never want to use only essential oil as a floor cleaner. Not only is this fabulously expensive, many oils can also be far too powerful for hard wood floors. Essential oils like cinnamon can also stain your floors permanently, or strip any finish off. You shouldn't use cinnamon oil as furniture cleaner, anyway, but that's just an example.
Only some kinds of essential oils will work well mixed with hard wood floor cleaners. You really need to do your research before you just randomly mix and match hard wood floor cleaners and essential oils. That's a great way to destroy your floors. Go to an aromatherapy web site or book to check up on all of the properties of the essential oils you have in your home. When in doubt, leave it out.
That Smells Fresh
Some relatively inexpensive essential oils that you can mix with hard wood floor cleaners - or just about any kind of hard furniture cleaner, for that matter - are the citrus fruit group. This includes lemon, lime and orange. These are not only some of the most common essential oils on store shelves, but they also have natural antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
Hard wood floor cleaners also like essential oils of lavender and tea tree. Some people claim rosemary makes a great cleaner, but this writer finds the smell far too overpowering. Rosemary is also a much more expensive oil to put on your floors or other pieces of hard furniture.
All you need to do to make hard wood floor cleaner and essential oil mix is to add about fifteen to twenty drops of your chosen oil to a gallon bucket of hot water and hard wood cleaner. You might want to take a very small amount and do a test patch on your hard wood floor first to see that they are compatible.
A long time ago, people did floor washes. This isn't needed in modern flooring, but can really help get rid of any extra residue and help give your room the desired scent. Put fifteen to twenty drops into a gallon of warm water and mop.
Dick Lin is a contributing Editor for Essential Oil. Find out which essential oil products, treatments & solutions will continue to be beautiful at any time. Our site is dedicated to providing information about essential oil well options so you can continue to do it perfect,if want to more information,please visit Hard Wood Floor Cleaner
Be Careful When Using Mops To Clean Laminate floor
When you clean your kitchen floor you may use a regular old mop and heavy duty cleaners to strip the wax from the floor and remove surface dirt and grime. If you used to the same chemicals and mops to clean laminate floor you would have very negative results. To keep your laminate floor in pristine condition with a lustrous shine you must clean it with the appropriate chemicals and mops.
Mops to clean laminate floor should not be wet or submersed in any chemicals that are used to clean other types of flooring or damage to the floors sealants and coatings could be the result. When cleaning your laminate floor it is best to use one of the newer dry style mops to clean laminate floor. Many major manufactures have marketed these dry mops and they do a great job picking up loose dirt and dust that collects on floors. Many of these manufactures also have specialty laminate floor cleaners that are safe for your floors finish and will not cause and damage when used correctly.
When using any type of liquid chemical on you laminate floor you must avoid saturation. Although most laminate floors are water proof constant cleaning with to much flooring chemicals can cause it to seep between the flooring boards. This can cause the sub floor to swell and make your laminate floor buckle. Any liquid that is allowed between the laminate floor panels may also damage the floor as they will be able to sit on the flooring panels longer then they were designed for. Most laminate floors are designed to have the liquid spill cleaned up quickly and not left on for days. This is especially important in older floors where boards may have slightly separated since installation, even the smallest gaps can allow water under the floor.
When using mops to clean laminate floor always use common sense, good judgment and the proper mop and cleaners for the job.
More Great Info About Wood laminate flooring and its installation and care tips.
Make Laminate Floor Cleaners Easily
Every laminate owner of laminate flooring knows that keeping their floor clean is the best way to keep it looking shiny and new for many years to come. But laminate flooring owners may also be lost as to what the best laminate floor cleaners are. Everyone that has a wood floor wants a cleaner that will get their floor shiny clean without damaging it.
There are may laminate floor cleaners on the market today, if you walk down the cleaning aisle at any major store you are literally bombard by products and chemicals. Some smell like lemons, some promise the brightest shine, bottom line is do they work and should you use them? Almost all of the laminate floor cleaners being sold by major manufacturers today do a great job when used appropriately and per manufactures instructions. However many homeowners are finding out that a simple solution made from basic household ingredients is cheaper and works just as well as the fancy store brands.
To make your own laminate floor cleaners you will need three inexpensive things, a bucket, water and vinegar. Simply fill your bucket with about a gallon of warm water and add 1/2 cup vinegar, mix it up and you have laminate floor cleaner. This simple mixture of vinegar and water will do wonders to leave your laminate floor clean, streak free and shiny. However keep in mind that when using any type of liquid on a laminate floor cleaners that you must not over saturate the flooring tiles. standing water on your laminate floor is a fast way to damage or destroy your floors beauty and shine. So If you are unsure and overwhelmed by the massive amount's of floor cleaning products on then market go ahead and try a simple 2 minute solution and save money in the process.
Learn more about Wood laminate flooring and useful Laminate Floor Cleaning and Care Tips
On My Wish List - The Ultimate Cloth for Cleaning
I'll be the first to confess that I'll never win an award for housekeeper of the year. My home is never filthy, but it has what some friends kindly describe as the "lived in" look. There always seems to be a pile of papers on the dining room table, kids' toys in the living room, and a load of clothes waiting to be folded. It's not that I don't enjoy having a clean and mess-free house; rather, it's that I just seem to have other priorities.
I have a demanding job, so that takes up more hours in the day than I even like to think about. And then there are school activities, chauffeuring my son to sporting events, and errands to run.
But at the root of it all, I've figured out, is that I always end up feeling discouraged when I clean. Why? Because it can so often feel pointless. I can't count the number of times when I've spent hours cleaning my windows, only for the sun to come up the next day and reveal the streaks on the windows. Ditto for my shower doors. It's frustrating to put in that kind of time and wind up with a less-than-desirable result. I've tried using tricks my mother taught me, like using newspapers instead of paper towels, but that offers only a marginal improvement. What I really need is the ultimate cloth for cleaning - streak free cloths that will allow me to wet it, wring it out, wipe it down, and walk away.
If often imagine that, if I could find the ultimate cloth - perhaps made from a new mircofiber or mirafiber - I would finally feel the motivation to keep everything clean and shiny. This ultimate cloth would be totally green and eco-friendly, with no chemicals or other harmful elements. It would be washable and bleachable, so that I could just toss it in the laundry and be able to use it over and over again. This ultimate cloth would also be versatile, so that I could not only use it on my windows and shower doors, but also on my countertops, stainless steel, mirrors, and ceramic tile.
These streak free cloths would be both tough and tender - tough on dirt, yet gentle enough so that it won't scratch or damage the surface I'm cleaning. They would have a magnet effect, so that they're able to grab and hold dirt, dust, and grime, while at the same time being very absorbent.
Frankly, I get tired of a cleaning process where it seems like I'm just pushing dirt and dust around and never really capturing it. In my vision of a perfect world, I'd be able to get a microfiber ultimate cloth string mop that would clean tile floors, laminates, and hardwood floors without chemicals and using just water.
With the latest advances in fiber technology, I wouldn't be surprised if my ultimate cloth exists. Once I find it, I know that my frustration with cleaning will dissipate, and that I'll be more motivated to keep my windows, countertops, and floors sparkling.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about The Ultimate Cloth for Cleaning or Majon's Home and Garden directory.
Fixing Laminate Floor Scratches To Restore Your Floors Shine and Beauty
When you first installed your laminate floor the shine was more then likely beautiful and bright. However after time the finish can deteriorate and scratches can develop. Fixing laminate floor scratches can rejuvenate the shine and beauty your floor once had.
First you will have to determine if you want to fix the scratches or just refinish the entire floor. Most laminate flooring will allow one or two refinishing before they need to be replaced. If you decide that you want the floors refinished you should get at least three quotes from reputable local flooring contractors and see if the project fits within your budget.
Although not all laminate flooring can be refinished, and if your floor is in terrible shape in may need to be replaced instead of refinished.
If you decide you are going to fix the laminate floor scratches you will need to pick up a flooring repair kit from a local hardware store. This is nothing more then color matched putty that will allow you to fill in large scratches an chips.
Many kits are available from the manufactures of the flooring and sticking with the same brand of scratch filler is a good idea to get the closet color match for your floor.
It is always best to start in a low visibility part of your flooring to test the color match. The last thing any home owner wants is a big unmatched streak in the middle of their living room.
If the color is slightly off you can always buy a lighter or darker shade of filler putty and increase or decrease the color shade to more closely match your floor. Always let the test areas dry 24 hours to be certain of the final color.
Once you have the color matched just follow the manufactures application instructions and start fixing the laminate floor scratches that are reducing the beauty and shine of your floor.
Discover more useful Wood laminate flooring installation and care tips at http://www.bestwoodlaminateflooring.com
Laminate Floor Repair
Laminate floor material that has been damaged or has visible defects should not be installed. The warranty provided by the manufacturer will take care of replacements etc. of uninstalled laminate flooring material provided the installation instructions are complied with.
The routine care of laminate floors - mopping, vacuuming, dusting etc. - is also quite effortless. However, in spite of taking adequate care there may be destruction and damage of the floors due to some reason. Surface and structural damage may develop under certain circumstances due to careless handling.
In case of minor surface damages like scratches cropping up due to large particles of dust, rock etc. or due to careless movement/relocation of heavy furniture on the floors, a touch up stick may be used. Such a stick can be procured from the manufacturer. After repair, the damaged/affected area often becomes invisible and merges with the associated areas quite indifferently.
Spots caused by permanent colors may also be considered as minor damages. Oil, paint and even permanent marker spots can be removed by use of a nail polish remover. Some neutral cleaner or warm water may clean up blood spots or spilt drinks’ marks. Careful scraping can help remove candle wax or chewing gum remains on the floor.
Unlikely though, more severe surface and structural damages may also take place. In such cases a trained professional’s help may be called for. A replacement of the plank may be needed in such cases. If repairing is carried out in the right manner the new plank becomes one with the rest in all respects and it seems quite indistinguishable from the others.
Laminate Floors provides detailed information on Discount Laminate Floors, Hardwood Laminate Floors, How To Clean Laminate Floors, How To Install Laminate Floors and more. Laminate Floors is affiliated with How To Install Laminate Flooring.
Laminate Flooring is Easy to Install
Most people who buy laminate flooring do so because they want hard flooring, but can’t afford wood. But how does laminate flooring compare to wood? Is it a good alternative, or a case of ‘you get what you pay for’?
Well, that depends on what’s important to you. The biggest advantage of laminate flooring, apart from its attractive price point, is that it is so easy to install: you can do it yourself, quite easily, which is far from the case with wood flooring. Laminate systems tend to be designed like a jigsaw puzzle, to quickly and easily snap together.
Laminate flooring is also often sturdier than wood – it is very hard wearing, to the point where a cheap shop like Ikea can give a much longer guarantee on their laminates than most wood floor shops can. It won’t fade or dent easily.
While it’s no easier to clean that wood, it’s worth mentioning that it’s an awful lot easier to clean laminate that it is to clean carpet, if you were also considering putting that on your floor. Between the quality of wood and the cheapness of laminate, it’s hardly even worth considering carpet as an option these days.
However, there are also quite a few disadvantages to laminate flooring. The first is the look and sound of it: it looks fake, and it sounds hollow. While the sound can be fixed with an underlay, the look will never be as unique as wood, as wood is naturally formed on a tree and every floor is different. Laminate flooring is basically like sticking a bunch of repeating posters to your floor with a picture of some wood on them – hardly the same.
Also, laminate floors will often curl up and get spoiled if you drop water or other liquids on them. This generally makes them unsuitable for bathroom and kitchen use, unless they have been specially treated for it.
John Gibb is the owner of Laminate-Flooring resources For more information on laminate flooring check out http://www.Laminate-Flooring-resource2k.info
How To Install Laminate Flooring
The first thing to remember is that tools can be dangerous and should not be thrown at one another. We did not actually throw any tools at each other. And we had been married long enough when we installed our laminate flooring to know that yelling at each other gets us no where. But there were some tense moments. We were fortunate that our only real injuries were an assortment of aches and pains in new and not so interesting places.
Have a plan. The flooring we selected was not wood grain. It looks like tile and has a very strong pattern. That was our first mistake. With a wood look alike, it does not so much matter where you begin and end.
If your laminate has a strong pattern, take a good look at the room and decide what the focal points are and how you want the pattern to look in those areas. Also, you might want to measure the room and figure out how many planks across it is. You will want to “hide” any thin pieces behind furniture. Also, do not just stagger the planks as a brick layer staggers bricks. Sometimes you will come up to an end wall and have just a little sliver of the end of a plank to put down. These will not stay in place well and you end us saying things to your spouse like, “It was your job to keep that in mind” and “What do you mean it was my job, you never told me that.” Then he tries to make it better with a compliment, “Well, you’re the one with the good memory.” So each time you begin a run, check to see how it will end and adjust the starting plank by trimming the starting end that butts up to the wall appropriately.
If you will be laying laminate in more than one room, as we did, and these rooms connect, give some thought to how you will want the transition to look. There are threshold pieces that allow you to stop and start up again in a new room as long as the pattern is not definite. We had to blend everything together and I have to tell you that going around corners gave us fits. You have never heard so much cursing. If you have to go around corners, have lots of paper handy. Large sheets are best. Make templates. A good rule of thumb for the whole project is to “measure twice and cut once”. Even so a lot of exasperated groaning will occur. Do save the pieces you cut incorrectly, you may be able to use them later. Do not try to work on your floor after you have put in a long day at your paying job. That is when we made the most errors. But we did not have much choice about it because our days off did not have much in common.
Once you have figured out how you want it to look (remember to maintain some flexibility on this issue), it is time to take a really good look at your floor. If your house is built on a concrete foundation, most likely your floor is nice and level. Sing Hallelujah. Ours was not. Our house is built on a raised foundation and there was a sizable drop off from the kitchen to the dining area, from the kitchen to the nook and a good dip in the living room. These had to be leveled before we could begin putting down the flooring. Pray that your floor is level.
There are a number of products made just for this purpose. They are supposed to be self leveling. Right. It is not always good to follow the directions. But this is my natural tendency. As my husband finally figured out, it is better if the leveling compound is thinner than recommended than the other way around. My penance was to do a lot of sanding. Drywall sanding sheets worked best for me. Avoid this step if you possibly can. Believe me, if your floor is not level, it is best to just live with no carpeting or whatever for a while than to begin and figure that you will level it as you go along. That dip in the living room that I mentioned, well, it was very late one night and we just wanted to finish the living room. We went right over the dip without thinking. Luckily, laminate flooring is somewhat flexible and the dip is not too extreme. But do not believe it when the salesperson tells you how flexible it is, it’s not as flexible as they say. We try not to walk over that spot too much.
If you do not have a nice big truck, have the flooring delivered. Do not try to get it home in your Jeep Cherokee, especially if the store is more than a few minutes from your home and you have to make several trips. That was so not fun. Buy more flooring than you will need to cover all your floors. The exact amount extra you will need depends on how many mistakes you will make and how strong a pattern you are working with. The more definite the pattern, the more extra you will need. Luckily for us, the new batch that we had to order matched the old batch nicely enough.
There are a number of special tools the salesperson will want to sell to you. Buy them. That way you will not have to go back later and get them anyway. We used a circular saw to do the simple trims on the planks. Buy several replacement blades ahead of time. Laminate flooring is really tough and just eats up your blades. For the fancy cuts around corners and such we used one of those rotating plunge cutters/saws. My husband could tell you the name of it. I love my jewelry making tools and can name them all. That I can not name all other tools appropriately is not a defect on my part.
We sacrificed our garage for a time and parked our cars outside. We set up the garage as our workshop. That meant we did not have to bring all our tools in from outside each time we stopped working on the floor. You do not want to cut the flooring indoors. The dust that is created is phenomenal. Be sure to close the door from your house to your garage before you start cutting. Even then, you will have to wipe down your walls afterwards. Cover your furniture with drop cloths. I really wish someone had told us that.
We also made a cutting table from a large piece of plywood and saw horses. Make sure the horses are stable and level. Temporarily attach the plywood to the horses with screws. On one long side of the table, screw down two 2x4’s parallel to each other along the full length about five inches apart. This makes the long cuts along the length of the planks easier. Wear eye and hearing protection while cutting. Seriously.
For the rest of it, just follow the directions (especially the one about the spacing between walls and flooring. Oh yeah.). And yes, I know what I said about directions earlier. We love our laminate floor. We are glad that we did it. You will be too.
http://www.syzygyjewelry.com
Laminate Flooring Products is Durable and Inexpensive
The flooring of any room is the most important part of it, people will immediately be drawn to the floor and that's why it should look so beautiful. Laminate floors are suitable reasons for a number of different reasons, firstly this flooring can be purchased in a number of different styles and designs. Laminate floors can be used to enhance the look of many rooms. Lots of people choose to use laminate flooring in order to create an attractive floor which is very durable. Laminated flooring is available in many different colors and styles, including walnut and maple.
Laminate floor can be purchased in hardwood styles which resemble these floors almost identically. You can also purchase these floors in stone and other patterns. Designing this flooring is like an art work, a lot of effort goes in to designing these so that they are perfect copies of the real thing. You can purchase laminated flooring from most good home hardware stores, it's not difficult to find. If you're not sure what would work well in your home then you can get samples to lay out on your floor at home. You can also find pictures of these flooring products on the websites.
Laminated Flooring Is Easy to Maintain
If you are familiar with DIY and feel yourself capable then you will almost certainly be able to install this laminate flooring by yourself. Laminate Flooring products are very easy to install. It is also possible to lay this flooring over the top of your existing flooring without having to rip it up and remove it. The modern versions of laminate flooring simply click together and don't even require any glue. Laminate flooring will last for a number of years and many people prefer them to carpet and other forms of flooring. Laminated flooring will save quite a lot of money over the time as it lasts for a long time.
Laminate flooring is very easy to maintain, it is possible to install it in an area which receives a lot of traffic without any huge problems. It's very easy to keep these floors clean with nothing more than a vacuum cleaner and a mop. Most laminate flooring products are scratch resistant which means they will look beautiful for a great number of years. You can purchase specialist cleaning and maintenance kits to keep these floors in their best condition. Laminate flooring is considered as being very healthy because there is no dust which gets stuck within the fabric.
Greg Hansward regularly pens online reports on problems associated with discount laminate flooring. His articles on discount laminate floors can be found on http://www.insidewoodworking.com .
How to Clean Laminate Flooring
After installing your laminate floors the next thing that you need to learn about is how to clean laminate floors. The first thing that you should know about cleaning laminate flooring is that it really only needs minimal care. It is a good idea to sweep your laminate regularly. By sweeping your floor you will be removing dirt and debris that could wear down the finish on your laminate floor or that could potential discolor your laminate floor.
Some laminate flooring manufacturers also recommend that you use a cleaning solution periodically to remove sticky substances from your floor, or to remove mud and other moist debris. These cleaners are also recommended on a periodic basis to help restore the finish of your laminate floor. The manufacturer of your flooring product probably will have their own brand of laminate floor cleaner and refinishing spray.
In addition to sweeping and cleaning your laminate flooring with a cleaning solution you may also need to occasionally replace damaged boards. This can be very difficult to do. One method is to use a skill saw to separate the damage board from its neighbors. Simply place the blade on the joint and press down. This will saw through the tongue and groove and allow you to remove the damaged board. If this is a glued floor then you will need to saw off the tongues on the new board as well so that it will fit in the space left by the damaged board. Apply wood glue to all four edged of the replacement board and insert it into the open space. Wipe away excess glue. That is all you will have to do to maintain your laminate flooring.
Is affordable laminate flooring right for you? Find out more at LaminateFloorsCheap.com - your source for information on cleaning laminate floors, do it yourself floor installation information and professional flooring advice. For more home decor and remodeling options visit the home and garden directory.
Wilsonart Laminate Flooring - 5 Click-With-Client Secrets Of Wilsonart Flooring
Wilsonart Laminate Flooring's Tap-N-Lock innovation has locked in the loyalty of an impressive segment of the working parents market. The low maintenance level required by this flooring product makes it ideal for a busy household ruled by kids and pets. A Wilsonart laminate flooring installation comes with a long list of quality home remodeling qualifications. Let's take a closer look at five of these:
1. Wilsonart Laminate Flooring Tops With Tap-N-Lock Installation
In an innovative move away from the hinged installation methods of many other flooring manufacturers, Wilsonart Floor's Tap-N-Lock technology allows for a less complicated, time-saving flat installation. No glue is necessary during general installation. Areas around doors and kick-plates of cabinets are easily navigated with a pull bar. A hammer and a tapping block is used to gently ease the flat tongue and groove planks together to form a tight, smooth joint. Don't use too much elbow grease, or you will have problems with chipping. Wilsonart Laminate Flooring requires a gentle touch. This is not the time or place to show off your muscle power!
2. Wilsonart Red Label Hand Scraped Collection Invites Nature Into Your Home
The days of smooth, plastic-looking, unrealistic laminate finishes are long gone. Wilsonart Laminate Flooring has developed into a copycat creator extraordinaire. Their innovative Red Label Hand Scraped range brings the texture and tints of real wood to life in an unmistakable way. The casual, slightly worn appearance is rich in natural variation and random patterning. Five woods have been selected for the Red Label Hand Scraped Wilsonart Laminate Flooring look.
You can almost imagine the weathering process Olde Oak Wilson Laminate Flooring has been through. Subtle cathedrals add realistic appeal. If you love reddish tinted woods, you will fall head over heels in love with the rustic Hickory Plank line. The dramatic tan and red hues are softened with white to cream sapwood and fine brown lines. All the characteristic burls and streaks are visible in a Wilsonart Laminate Floor.
Alternatively opt for richly textured Spanish Maple with its interesting 'line drawings'. You will never tire of looking at this version of Wilsonart Laminate Flooring. For a true old-world look, choose Aged Timberwood. An open-pore structure richly textured with knots takes you back to yesteryear and happy childhood memories. Add stylish elegance with Burnished Maple with beautiful golden tones, creating a warm atmosphere.
3. High Pressure Lives Deserve Wilsonart Laminate Flooring
Choose durability during your home remodeling efforts by opting for high pressure Wilsonart Laminate Flooring. Whereas direct pressure flooring undergoes 300 to 500 pounds of pressure per square inch, the high pressure versions are made using a massive 1400 pounds of pressure per square inch. The benefits of opting for a higher pressure flooring product are noticeable. More pressure means triple the toughness. You will see improved wear resistance, meaning that scuffing and scratching will be minimized. The static load capacity increases, lessening dimpling. With high pressure Wilsonart Laminate Flooring you will notice higher impact resistance, which is very important in a home where there is a high level of activity. The sheen factor is upped in the process, giving you a clear, realistic looking design. You can also be sure that there will be far fewer factory damaged planks per package. Lastly, chipped corners will not be such a headache.
4. Wilsonart Laminate Flooring Accessories
No laminate floor installation will have a professional finish without quality accessories and moldings. Wilsonart Laminate Flooring has this aspect down to a fine art, due to more than 50 years in the industry. The decorative moldings tone in with the coloring of the flooring.
The classy T-Moldings will give you a smooth transition between rooms, finishing doorways in style. Where you go from laminate flooring to thick ceramic tiles or carpeting, use a Carpet Reducer. These also come in handy at exterior doorways. On stairs you will utilize the Step Down Stairnose. An elegant Wilsonart Laminate Flooring Wall Base molding can be used as a wall border, or to cover unsightly toe kicks at the base of cabinets.
5. Maintaining The Gleaming Face Of Your Wilsonart Laminate Flooring
Busy moms fall in love with Wilsonart because of the low maintenance level. Gone are the days of costly carpet replacements after a staining spill, or yelling at the kids because of a mess on the floor. Cleaning up is so simple with Wilsonart Laminate Flooring. It is robust enough to literally repel dirt. A range of easy to use products ensures the right treatment for any kind of flooring fiasco.
General cleaning is done with a mop and a bucket of water with a dash of Wilsonart Flooring Cleaner. Wilsonart Flooring Spray Cleaner takes cares of specific spots that need tender loving care. If the kids have gone on a creative spree with colorful crayons, you don't have to worry. Mineral spirits, denatured alcohol or acetone takes care of this in a jiffy. Candle wax can simply be scraped off gently with the blunt edge of a blade. Just make sure that you always follow the manufacturer's maintenance instructions to the letter. You don't want to do anything that can void your Wilsonart Laminate Flooring warranty.
Once you have Wilsonart Flooring in place, you may also want to investigate the possibility of a kitchen make-over with Wilsonart HD Laminate Counter Tops. The high definition HD Wilsonart Counter Tops have taken the domestic world by storm with its quality and creative designs. These solid surface products are accompanied by the solid backup of this reputable company.
So, join the home improvement do it yourself brigade by forging a friendship with Wilsonart Laminate Flooring.
Awnings-and-Blinds.com - Don't start your laminate flooring installation before reading the laminate flooring installation secrets article. The author, Rika Susan offers more laminate flooring information in the kronotex laminate flooring article at Awnings-and-Blinds.com. Copyright of this article: 2007 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.
What Is Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring is not natural hardwood, it is a manufactured product generally made up of four layers of material. The following information applies to most of the medium and high quality laminate flooring products. Some of the very low cost products on the market may not be manufactured in this manner.
From bottom to top:
Backing Layer: The backing layer is the layer of material that rests on the sub-floor or underlay. Generally made of resin saturated paper, it creates the moisture barrier that helps protects the floor from warping due to condensation being trapped between the sub-floor and the finished floor.
Inner Core Layer: Stability and structural strength of laminate flooring material is provided by the inner core layer. The inner core layer is made of high-density fiberboard (HDF) usually impregnated with melamine, a plastic resin, which creates a stronger, more stable and higher level of moisture resistance. The inner core layer can vary from 6 to 12 millimeters. The thicker the inner core layer the less chance that the floor will warp and be damaged by moisture.
Note: Products that have higher levels of plastic resin do not need to be acclimatized prior to installation.
Image Design Layer: This is what you see, a photograph. It can be a picture of any species of hardwood, ceramic or porcelain tile, a geometric or random pattern. In fact it can be a photograph of anything imaginable.
Wear Layer: This is the laminate flooring's surface finish. The surface finish generally contains aluminum oxide that is helps to prevent the laminate flooring from staining, fading and increases the resistance to wear.
Note: Most laminate flooring will have an abrasion classification (A/C). For installation in residential applications the A/C should be a minimum of 3.
There are 2 different manufacturing techniques used to bond the layers of the laminate flooring to one another and they both have advantages and disadvantages.
Direct Pressure Laminate: Direct pressure laminate or DPL is the most widely used process for bonding the layers of a laminate floor. DPL is the least expensive of the 2 processes and has the same resistance to gouging when objects fall from or at counter height. It is an easier method to emboss and hence provides a more realistic surface texture.
High-Pressure Laminate: High-pressure laminate or HPL provides for a much harder surface. HPL is a more expensive manufacturing process than DPL and is less likely to gouge if items are dropped from higher than a counter top height. Because it produces a harder finished product, it is more difficult to emboss and hence the finished laminate flooring may not look as realistic.
As with any flooring product a laminate flooring material at $1.00 a sq. ft. will most likely not perform as well and last as long as a product that is $3.00 sq. ft.
For additional information on flooring products for your home or other renovation projects including landscaping and gardening, visit Renovation Headquarters.
Installing Laminate Flooring - Dos and Don'ts!
Every manufacturer of laminate flooring provides very specific instructions on the proper method of installing their product.
There are however, some common dos and don’ts that apply to the installation of any laminate floor. Surprisingly many people ignore these instructions, believing that they know better than the manufacturers.
Laminate flooring must acclimatize to your home. This is done by placing the boxes in the room where you are going to install the laminate for a minimum period of 48 to 72 hours. Failure to do this will cause floors to buckle. This is the number one mistake made by most people including contractors.
There must be a gap between walls and any other obstacle, (columns, stair risers, heat vents, etc.) of between 5/16" and 1/2" depending on the manufacturer. This allows for the expansion of the floor. If a gap is not left, the floor will buckle.
If the laminate flooring is going to be installed on a concrete slab floor where there is earth below the concrete, a vapor barrier must be placed between the concrete and the laminate. The seams should be taped with a moisture resistant tape. Laminate flooring should not be installed on any floor that has a drain.
Some manufacturers will allow the installation of laminate flooring on carpet. The carpet should be a hard twist (Berber), or a very low pile (commercial carpet). If the underlayment is spongy, the flooring will separate when walked on.
The smallest piece of flooring should never be less than 8 inches long and the width should never be less than 2 inches. Measure your room before you start the installation as it may be necessary to cut the first board in length and the first row of boards in width to avoid having small pieces.
Joints should be staggered a minimum of 16 inches apart and a minimum of 3 rows for repeating of the joint.
If installing base board or quarter round on top of the laminate, do not nail through the laminate. A laminate floor must be allowed to expand and contract.
Repair any and all squeaks and soft spots in the sub-floor before installing the laminate. Laminate flooring will not correct squeak or soft spot problems.
Do not continue the installation of laminate flooring through a doorway that is less than 48 inches in width, use a transition molding.
Do not hammer on the groove end on the board – ever!
Always start the installation of the laminate flooring with the groove side and end towards the walls.
Always use a tapping block to help tighten joints, but do not over hammer or you will damage the surface of the laminate at the joints.
Floors must be level, no more than 3/16” slope over a ten foot span.
Floors must be flat. Any dips in the floor should be filled in with self-leveling compound and left to dry at least 72 hours.
Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions and you will end up with a quality floor that will last for years.
For additional information on flooring products for your home or other renovation projects, visit Renovation Headquarters.
Laminate Floor Cleaning Made Easy
The beauty of laminate flooring is uncontested, nothing can beat the shine of well kept wood floors. On the other hand unclean dull wood floors can make any room look dirty and dingy. Most home owners with wood floors often wonder what is the best approach for laminate floor cleaning? The answer is quite simple and laminate floor cleaning can be easily accomplished with common household chemicals!
Floor Cleaning Made Easy
The first step required for laminate floor cleaning is the good old fashioned broom sweeping. This will get all the big dust balls and larger items that may have accumulated off your floor quickly and easily. Sweeping will also make mopping your floor much easier and cleaner.
After the floor is swept free of debris you can make your laminate floor cleaning mixture! This is a very easy mixture to make and is made from common household items. First mix distilled white vinegar into a bucket at a ratio of 1/2 cup for every gallon of warm water. Although vinegar does not smell the greatest it will stop water spots from forming during laminate floor cleaning. It is recommended to stay away from harsh chemicals such as ammonia and bleach, the long term affects from these chemicals could be devastating to your laminate floors sealant.
The final step is in laminate floor cleaning is actually clean the floor! This can be done with either a towel or a sponge head mop. Many people prefer the mop because you can purchase an automatic wring mop that makes the job much easier!
You want the mop or towel damp but not to wet. The idea is to just pick up the dirt and dust and be very careful and make sure to not over saturate you laminate flooring as this could damage or swell the floor! Make sure to wring the towel or mop out between floor cleaning strokes. Work the room how ever you feel is the quickest way to get the floor clean
Laminate flooring adds beauty and elegance to any home and by using the proper chemicals for laminate floor cleaning you can guarantee that your wood floors beauty and shine will last a long time. Taking your shoes off at the door doesn't hurt either!
Learn more about Wood laminate flooring and its installation and care tips.
Laminate Flooring Installation Buyer's Guide - Tips For Taking In The AC Rating
A laminate flooring installation will be only as successful as your ability to judge the quality of the flooring planks. It is absolutely vital to match the characteristics of the flooring to the area in which it will be installed. A high traffic living room floor cluttered with kid's crayons and punished by pet claws, calls for a tougher laminate flooring installation than that of a tranquil guest room.
One indication of the suitability of a particular flooring range for a specific home remodeling area is its Abrasion Class Rating, or AC Rating. The AC RAting was developed by The European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF). It is a clear and easily understandable indication of the laminate flooring installation's ability to withstand stress, wear, impact, burns, stains, scratches, and other calamities. Swelling of the core during contact with fluids after installing the laminate floor, is also examined. In addition, the tests done on the flooring ascertain to what level it can resist damage done by furniture feet or casters. Once the tests have been done, the results are used to determine for which areas the particular flooring product will be appropriate.
Recently the tests have become even more exhaustive, with abrasion resistance being challenged to a greater extent. With the implementation of these changes, getting a high abrasion classification has more difficult than ever.
The AC Rating symbols make it easy to understand the characteristics and robustness of a particular laminate flooring installation. If it is a residential flooring solution, the AC Rating will be indicated with a house symbol. In the case of a commercial product, the pictograph will show a building. In addition, next to this symbol, will be a picture of people. The number of figures indicate the traffic intensity the flooring has been manufactured for.
AC1: Indicates a laminate flooring installation suitable for residential bedrooms and guest rooms with moderate traffic.
AC2: Flooring lines able to cope with normal residential living room and dining room activity.
AC3: Laminate flooring installations robust enough for heavy traffic in any residential space.
AC4: Laminate flooring that can be used in a commercial setting such as a small office or restaurant where the traffic is moderate.
AC5: These tough-as-nails laminate flooring installations can withstand the hustle and bustle of public buildings, department stores and other high traffic commercial areas.
Never judge a laminate flooring installation simply by its price tag. Take notice of the AC Rating to ensure that you won't be disappointed with the performance of the floor on completion of your home improvement project. If you choose a cheap or discount laminate flooring product, it may come without the rating, indicating that it either failed the tests, or never went through the judging process.
For residential use, opt for an AC Rating of at least AC3, such as displayed by the Accolade Pergo Flooring line. Upping your choice to the higher levels may seem prudent if you don't have budget concerns, but you must remember that these products are manufactured to have a rougher surface. Your feet may not appreciate the difference, even if your pocketbook is happy with the long-term durability of the purchase! You may also discover that your socks suddenly begin to look moth-eaten due to the rough treatment doled out by the laminate flooring installation.
The AC Rating makes choosing the grade of your laminate flooring installation a cinch. Now, if only you can decide on a design and texture...
Awnings-and-Blinds.com - Don't start your laminate flooring installation before reading the secrets of installing laminate flooring by Rika Susan, and taking a look at pergo laminate flooring at Awnings-and-Blinds.com. Copyright of this article: 2007 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.
Best Way to Clean Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring was first invented by a Swedish company called Pergo AB in the year 1977. Pergo AB is part of a larger company named Perstop AB which is responsible for the invention of laminate tabletops. Even though the laminate flooring was invented in 1977, it didn't become available in the United States until the year 1994. In just a little less than a decade and a half since it's entrance to the United States, laminate flooring has become one of the most popular forms of flooring in the country, and as one of the most popular forms of flooring many people are concerned with how easy cleaning laminate flooring is. This is an article about the best way to clean laminate flooring.
The best part about laminate floors is that the best way to clean laminate flooring does not have to be very hard at all. In fact, cleaning laminate flooring is down right easy as the floors are resistant to most moisture, scratches and stains. Typically all you need for cleaning laminate flooring is a damp towel, a dry mop and a vacuum cleaner.
The best way to clean laminate flooring is to use a basic ammonia based or vinegar solution of cleaning liquid. You can simply put a fourth of a cup of vinegar into a thirty or thirty two ounce spray bottle and then fill the rest of the bottle with water and you have a perfect solution for cleaning laminate flooring. Then simply spray the solution on the floor and wipe it up. You can move across the floor quickly with this method and before you know it, your floor will be perfectly clean!
If you want to use a wet mop, make sure you do not leave any standing liquid or you might saturate and damage the floor.
Windex is another fantastic cleaner for cleaning laminate flooring. Other cleaning solutions that can be used as the best way to clean laminate flooring include the swiffer wetjet wood floor cleaner or either of the following solutions:
1. Equal parts of water, rubbing alcohol and vinegar
2. one third of a cup of white vinegar, one third of a cup of rubbing alcohol, one third of a cup of water and three drops of dishwashing liquid (this should give you one quart of cleaning solution).
If you want to do some spot cleaning, for tough spots you can use either a nail polish remover that contains acetone or alcohol. Warm water can be used for stains and for things like gum or wax you should first use ice to harden them and then scrape them away very gently.
Cleaning laminate flooring is not hard at all. In fact the best way to clean laminate flooring is the same way you would clean your counter or table top. You will not need any abrasive materials or strong chemicals. Usually just water and a clean cloth will do the trick. Its easy to clean nature is partly what makes laminate flooring so popular.
Copyright (c) 2008 Steven Magill
Laminate flooring is now one of the most popular forms of flooring in the world. What do you want to Know About It ? http://www.installinglaminateflooring.info
