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Archive for the ‘Flooring’ category

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The Basics Hardwood Floor Cleaning

November 17th, 2010

Hardwood is one of the materials that are known for its versatility. This kind of floor material had been around for a long time and had been used by all kinds of people in their homes, especially those who belong to the upper-middle to the upper class. The fact that this has been a choice for people who can afford extensive costs in interior home decoration imply that hardwood has become quiet a status symbol of class and elegance. Hardwood floors add a touch of style and appeal that is used in both domestic and commercial environment.

Because of its beauty, hardwood is one of the most challenging materials to maintain, especially on the floor. This is because one of the properties of hardwoods is that they are very sensitive and can become quickly marked and dulled, thus losing its visual appeal. What makes hardwood floors dull is due to the accumulation of grime, dust and bacteria caused by the scratching and abrasions. This would tell us that the key to maintaining the shine and elegance of hardwood floor cleaning and protecting the surface, with maintaining its aesthetics. » Read more: The Basics Hardwood Floor Cleaning

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Prevent Pets from Destroying Unfinished Hardwood Floors

November 10th, 2010

The very first thing you should keep in mind is that unfinished hardwood floors are practically defenseless against your pets. Their unfinished state gives them a different kind of beauty, but it also leaves them vulnerable against all kinds of damage. Unfinished wood plank flooring is vulnerable to scratches left by your pets’ sharp nails. Pet hairs will collect along your floor’s baseboards. Pet urine could leave stains and poop might not only leave unwanted stains but unpleasant odor as well and one that could certainly scare your guests away.

Give your pets a place to call their own.
Animals are generally territorial and they use their urine to mark their territory. The best way to prevent your pets from marking your beautiful unfinished hardwood flooring is to give them a place they can call their own. It could be a cat litter or a dog house. It doesn’t matter. What’s important is that this area is a place where they rightfully and safely urinate or defecate without causing huge damage to your home.
Train them. » Read more: Prevent Pets from Destroying Unfinished Hardwood Floors

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DIY – Tile Your Kitchen Floor

April 19th, 2010

Doing tile work is a great job for the newbie home renovator.

One of the most fun jobs of the whole affair is shopping for the materials. Go for excellent quality at good value.

Starting out, check the sub floor for loose or damaged areas and repair any loose nails by replacing them with screws. Next clean the area with a vacuum hose to clear out any debris. Then measure the space to know how much backer board is needed and multiply this number by 5% this will allow for mistakes.

Now, lay out the pattern for the board by snapping chalk lines to show where each panel will be placed. Layout the boards to plan for any panels to be cut and mark the panels. Using a scoring tool  cut along the lines that are marked. Then you can use your knee for support to snap the backer board along the scored edges.

Next follow the directions on the package of mortar to mix it correctly. Use a square notched trowel to apply the mortar on to the sub floor  in small sections and comb the mortar in straight vertical ridges. » Read more: DIY – Tile Your Kitchen Floor

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Home Cleaning Supplies to Remove Mildew from Carpets

April 12th, 2010

There are many factors that can contribute to the growth of mildew on your carpet. Whether it’s rain, flooding, humidity or a wet basement, there are ways to remove mildew. Using proper home cleaning supplies you can follow the steps below to get rid of those mildew stains you may notice in your carpet.

Step One
Use a vacuum to get as much mildew up as possible or you can beat the area. Take throw rugs outside and shake them out with a hard stick or a broom. Throw away any vacuum bags you use to vacuum the area of mildew.

Step Two
Make a solution to use. Take 1/2 tsp of dishwasher detergent and mix it with 1 cup of water that is not too hot and not too cold. Make the water as soapy and bubbly as possible.

Step Three
Get a sponge wet with the soapy water. Sponge the mildew area ad let it sit for 10 minutes or so.

Step Four
Rinse the mildew area with water and blot the carpet dry with a clean cloth. Do not rub the area as this can push the mildew deeper in the carpet.

Step Five
Now mix 1 cup of warm water with about 2 tsps of ammonia. Get a clean cloth and blot the area with it. » Read more: Home Cleaning Supplies to Remove Mildew from Carpets

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Advantages of Travertine Tile

March 31st, 2010

If you are looking to either remodel or build your home, there are many different choices you will have to make.  One of those choices will have to do with your flooring – which type will you install?  One possible option you should at least consider is using travertine tile or your floors. There are several advantages of traverting tile flooring, which we will explore the basics of in this post.

First of all, one of the biggest advantages is that you can replace this type of tile fairly easily down the road if there is a problem. Because travertine comes in a wide array of colors and styles it can actually be fairly easy to match in case you have to take out and repair or replace one.

A second advantage of such tile is that it is much easier to cut and shape than some other types of materials. Essentially, this can allow you to do some things that are more creative and aesthetically appealing than you otherwise would be able to do–a big advantage for people who like to have a ‘custom’ look and feel with their home decor.
» Read more: Advantages of Travertine Tile

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Carpeting Your Outdoor Lounge or Patio

March 18th, 2010

Maybe you’ve considered putting carpet on some of your outdoor areas, like a lounge or patio. No doubt-ably than you’ve considered outdoor carpeting. There are a few things to keep in mind when looking to purchase and/or install outdoor carpeting. The first thing to consider is how exactly you’re expecting the carpet to perform under certain conditions. For example, will the area be exposed to a lot of direct sunlight or water? Depending on these conditions, your carpeting choice will vary.

If the area will likely see standing water, then you’ll want to consider marine carpeting. When most people think of marine carpeting, they think of the ugly green carpet you may have seen around boat docks. Besides green, there are many different colors to choose from but the makeup of marine carpeting is basically the same. Marine carpet is constructed of a marine backing made to actually hold water and a polypropylene or olefin fiber.

Another type of outdoor carpet is olefin without the marine backing yet still stands up quite resiliently to sun and high traffic. There are two main methods for installing such carpet. As with traditional indoor carpet, outdoor carpets come in rolls or carpet squares with adhesive backing.
» Read more: Carpeting Your Outdoor Lounge or Patio

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Posted in Decks & Porches, Flooring

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Guide to Cleaning Grout

February 13th, 2010

There are a variety of grout cleaners available from solutions and pastes made from ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen to professional-quality chemical cleaners. To keep your grout looking nice, regular cleaning is necessary. Start with the first cleaners, which are gentler and less likely to damage the grout, working down the list if the grout is still dirty and needs a stronger cleaner.

1. Vinegar (either diluted or full-strength) is a good choice for daily or weekly cleaning and also works as a disinfectant. Spray it over the grout, wait 10 minutes or so and then scrub with a scrubbing brush, abrasive sponge or a toothbrush. Rinse completely with water and towel dry.

2.  Baking soda is a key ingredient for organic grout cleaning pastes. Mix water or vinegar with it until paste consistency or make one with 1/3 baking soda, 1/3 vinegar and 1/3 salt. The salt helps it get into all the nooks and crannies.

3.  Lemon juice helps remove discolorations and stains. Leave it on for around 15 minutes before wiping with a damp sponge.

4.  Bleach not only removes stains, but is also a terrific disinfectant. It is great for cleaning off the mold and mildew that tend to grow in the grout in moist areas. The bleach should be mixed with water (1 to 4) and be sure to wear gloves. Only use bleach on white grout; it will discolor grout that has been tinted. » Read more: Guide to Cleaning Grout

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Changing Your Flooring Every 10 Years Is A Good Idea

February 9th, 2010

Every ten years or so it is a good idea change the flooring in the home in one or all of the rooms. Changing the flooring every so often allows the owner to take a look at the bare base flooring of the home, basically the foundation to check for settling, cracking or any buildup of mold and mildew from dampness.

This is also a good way to check to see if there is any water damage from pipes that may be a small slow leak. There are a lot of styles of flooring to choose from these days such as, laminate, wood, natural stone, ceramic and porcelain tile, vinyl tile and last but not least the good old stand by of carpeting.

With everyone’s busy lifestyle these days the most popular type of flooring they look for is the type of flooring that requires the least amount of care. Carpeting is usually on the bottom of this list especially if there are children or pets in the home. Everyone, adults, children and pets carry all kinds of things from the outside to the inside of the home on their shoes.

Carpeting just collects all this debris and no matter how often it is vacuumed it still houses all kinds of bacteria and germs. It is for this reason that many prefer to have either laminate, wood or some form of tile installed throughout their home. » Read more: Changing Your Flooring Every 10 Years Is A Good Idea

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Bamboo Flooring – An Overview

February 6th, 2010

Using bamboo for your next flooring project is an excellent way to go green in your home. Bamboo flooring has a very unique and some would even say exotic look which will truly add the beauty of nature to your living space. Learn more about the options you have available to add bamboo flooring to your home. One of the things that makes bamboo an eco-friendly flooring option as opposed to hardwood is that bamboo is easily replenished. The process of harvesting bamboo does not kill the plant. After it is harvested, bamboo quickly grows back and renews itself. To prepare the harvested bamboo for flooring material, the outermost layers of the stalk are removed and the remainder is reduced to strips for the mill. The resulting strips are then pressed flat, boiled, dried, and then assembled into flooring boards using appropriate adhesives. This type of processing results in what is commonly referred to as solid plank bamboo. Solid plank bamboo tends towards the less dense and durable end of the flooring spectrum. Its hardness is roughly equivalent to that of maple wood flooring.

Plank bamboo is generally not well suited to high traffic areas of the home as a result. The manufacturing of solid bamboo floors still leaves a considerable amount of wastage due to the need to keep uniform sizes in the planks. Innovative thinkers revised the process of making bamboo flooring to eliminate this waste while creating a more sturdy and durable flooring material. The result is what is known as strand woven bamboo flooring » Read more: Bamboo Flooring – An Overview

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