Author: Yarik YML

Web Engineer

Refinish or Replace Hardwood Floors?

Posted on by Yarik YML

To ensure that you have good floors in your house, just knock on wood. Nothing rivals the way wood warm ups a room, its classic good looks, or how long it lasts. These are the main characteristics of good hardwood flooring. Nevertheless, hardwood floors take a lot of abuse, and over time they can become stained, warped, chipped or just dirty. When your hardwood floor begins to appear worn out, you can refinish it to restore its original condition, or you can tear out the floor and completely replace it. So, the choice isn’t that easy: refinish or replace hardwood floors?

How to know that it is time to change the floor?

  • Scratching

Do you know that even one bad scratch can make you to completely refinish the floor in a room? If you don’t like to live in a room full of scratches for years, replacing the floor can be more cost effective and allow you to choose a floor with a special anti-scratch layer.

  • Discoloration

Hardwood can change colors for many reasons, but primarily it has to do with stains and fading caused by the sun. The most common discoloration is gray and black, but some floors may fade in color. The problem is hot when one part of the floor is exposed to direct sunlight. Discolored boards can be difficult to refinish at all, so replacement is more likely a better option.

  • Watering

If your wood floors are exposed to water for an extended period of time it is possible that they will become stained, warped or otherwise damaged. Separation of wood, cupping and dark areas are generally irreversible. If your home experiences any sort of flooding issue, plumbing related or otherwise, be sure to contact a cleanup crew right away in order to increase your chances of saving the hardwood.

  • Multiple refinishes

Refinishing hardwood involves sanding and staining. If you have already refinished your floor before and did it more than 3 times, it is likely best to replace than conduct refinishing any more. The sanding will compromise the structural integrity of the flooring as the wood is thinned out. This means it is more likely to crack.

REFINISH OR REPLACE?

When most people think of hiring a hardwood floor refinishing service, they think of the new beauty that comes from those services. Of course, this makes sense if it is possible to bring your floor back to life and give it a new shine and luster. But, there are other benefits that homeowners get when they have their old flooring refinished. So, what’s the matter?

Let’s compare these processes by…

Price

Price is the first obvious variable to consider. Traditionally, it is almost always cheaper to refinish your floor than to replace it. When replacing, you must consider the cost of the new wood as well as the installation. You can save some money by installing the floor yourself, but this is a very time-taking process that needs specialized knowledge and precision. You can typically refinish a wood floor yourself, with just a few inexpensive solutions.

Aesthetic aspect

If your only goal is to brighten your floors and restore their original shine, consider refinishing them. But if you want to change some aspect of the floor itself, like the style of the wood, the direction of the planks or the consistency of the material, you will need to invest in a full replacement. Refinishing is ideal to restore existing wood, while replacement is ideal for establishing a completely new look or feel.

Quality

You cannot restore every wood floor by simply refinishing it. If your wood floor has become warped or if several of the planks have become damaged, you will typically need to replace the entire floor, as finishing will only brighten an already-damaged surface. Do you feel the difference? On really old floors, you may see the tongue where the boards come together, or your boards may lack adequate thickness. Floors like this are definite candidates for replacement, as refinishing is purely cosmetic.

Time of execution

Refinishing can actually take much more time than fully replacing a wood floor. Are you surprised? Refinishing is a messy, meticulous process than can take approximately four to five days, during which the floor surface must remain completely untouched. The process requires sanders, buffers, scrapers, brushes, base coat sealers, putty knives and sometimes paint. Replacement, on the other hand, can be done in considerably less time using only lumber, a couple of saws, measuring tape, a flat bar, a chalk line and a nail gun. So, sure enough, considering the time, you’d pick replacing.

Age of your floor

The age of your floor also plays an important role. If your floor has been in place for decades, it may resist refinishing for a number of reasons. For instance, if it has already been refinished several times or if too much of the surface wood has become exposed, refinishing your floor may have little effect. For very old floors, replacement can often be preferable to refinishing.

Planning to DIY? There are many steps to take: sanding, patching, staining, and top coating.

If you want your floors professional refinished or replaced, you can find local contractors using several online services. Average cost depends on your area. Read all of their online reviews carefully. Got questions? Message the person who left the review for additional information. Concerned about fake reviews? Authentic ones usually provide details about the user’s experience.

If you have doubts about the company’s professionalism, check the feedback’s for complaints. But if you spot one, don’t assume the worst until you read how the consumer’s claim was resolved. Even contractors make mistakes from time to time. But a well-intention-ed one will settle customer problems in a professional manner where all parties are satisfied. Make sure that the contractor is bonded, licensed and insured to work in your area. To do ask for each number and certification, then confirm if all are up to date.

Marmoleum Floors

Posted on by Yarik YML

Marmoleum-100% Natural Linoleum and Composition Tile

Made from natural raw materials, including linseed oil, pine rosin and wood flour, Marmoleum is biodegradable and environmentally friendly. The natural properties of Marmoleum cause it to strengthen over its life. When properly maintained, Marmoleum will retain its attractive appearance for decades.
In addition, Marmoleum helps create a healthier indoor environment. Naturally occurring anti-microbial properties inhibit the growth of many micro-organisms, including allergen producing dust mites and the MRSA strains of bacteria. Marmoleum also has natural anti-static properties to repel dust and dirt, making it easier to maintain a clean and hygienic environment. Marmoleum water-based Topshield finish eliminates the need for initial maintenance and chemicals, while providing lower cleaning costs and a better long-term appearance retention. From the indoor environment to the natural environment, Marmoleum helps create better environments.

Porcelain Tile & Marmoleum

Which variant is attractive for your kitchen, tile or linoleum? Choosing floor covering can be difficult and important decision. Some wants to use their design talent to decorate kitchen with the newest materials according to the newest standards. How about the poured floor with the original print? Nevertheless, the most of these materials are not cheap to buy and cover. Besides, you know nothing about floor capacities and characteristics. So, it is recommended to use just checked reliable materials: porcelain tile & marmoleum.

Which of these surfaces are the best for kitchen? It is time to answer this hot question by comparing them together according to the most important criteria.

marmoleum-floor
marmoleum-floor

Wearing Power

Kitchen is one of the best visiting rooms in the house. To take the loads, the floor of your kitchen must be of high wearing power. Otherwise, it will be cracked and damaged soon. In short, the wearing characteristics of kitchen tile are higher than linoleum. To break and crack your tile you should take big efforts to use it for dozens of years. There are several classes of porcelain tile. Kitchen needs 3-5 class of tile. Linoleum can be also different wearing classes. Choosing high class linoleum you may easily even the score.

Water Resistance

The second important point is water resistance. Of course, kitchen is a place where something is dropping, spilling and wetting down. The water concentration is high. Wet climate makes a big influence over the floor surface. It must be water resistant. Linoleum cannot be damaged with water. Nevertheless, if the water comes down under the floor covering, it causes mold, dust and floor deformation. To protect your floor, you have to dry it in the best way. Speaking about tile, it is water resistant floor. Remember, the swimming pools are also covered with tile. You are not afraid of watering with porcelain tile in the kitchen.

Wide Assortment

Porcelain tile & marmoleum boast with the wide assortments. It is not big, but huge. There are many different types of floor covering with different colors, textures, characteristics. There are two types of linoleum: homogeneous and heterogeneous. Homogeneous linoleum is one layer of polyvinylchloride with the nice decoration. It is protected with the thin layer of clear polyurethane. Heterogeneous linoleum is multilayered material, made of many layers of polyvinyl chloride and upper protective layer. Both of these types are attractive for kitchen.

Polyvinylchloride is not the best variant for kitchen. Pay attention to the newest natural material – marmoleum. Marmoleum is not only natural, but safe material. It has many useful qualities, unlike polyvinylchloride. For example, marmoleum contains antiseptic and fungicide qualities, protecting your kitchen floor from dangerous bacteria. This is not the end! Marmoleum is water, fats, acids and ethanol resistant. It is also fire resistant. It is a pity, but linoleum characteristics are low. Why do people prefer linoleum to marmoleum? – No one can help to answer this question. Pay attention to the price. The price for linoleum is much cheaper than for marmoleum. It can happen that the price for marmoleum can be as high as the price for elite parquet.

It is time to speak about the floor colors. Speaking about the colors of linoleum, the choice is wide: the variety of natural colors, marble, different forms and stony surfaces. They are called heterogeneous or synthetic linoleums. The assortment of homogeneous linoleums is much frugal – natural soft colors or marble drops. Marmoleum are also dropped or self-colored. Sometimes, you can meet the collection of other original and creative floor colors, like crocodile skin and others. Have you any preferences about your floor color?

The colors and textures of the floor tiles are also different. It can be matted and glazed, different forms and colors. It is usually decorated with interesting picture. The most of modern collections consist of many tiles to compose a big picture, like flowers or butterflies. The opportunities of kitchen tile to simulate stone, parquet, metal, textile pictures are different. You can be surprised with masterful imitation of natural leather or wood. Oh, it is not only about picture, but texture of these materials.

Shock Resistance

Shock resistance is a popular linoleum feature. If you dropped something, nothing will happen. Linoleum floor is difficult to crack or scratch. The only one thing that your linoleum is afraid of is fork, knife and other sharp things. Tile is easy to crack. If you dropped something heavy on your tiled floor, you can damage it.

Hygiene and Ease to Use

How many times a day do you usually wash the kitchen floor? You should do it very often. Of course, you want to spend little efforts to clean the floor. Actually, it is not difficult to take care of tiled floor and linoleum. To clean the floor you should take the wet dust and remove dirt.

There is a set of special chemicals to take care of your floor. Nevertheless, you may use water and special soap or shampoo. What is more, the most of modern linoleums are provided with antibacterial and antifungal chemicals. Of course, it does not mean that antibacterial background safes you from the bacterial growth. Comparing linoleum and marmolium, marmoleum does need special presentation. It does not need special doping as far as the floor of marmoleum contains bactericide and antiseptic components.

Comfort

Touch it! Linoleum is warm and pleasant by touch. The thinner material is the more warmth it usually keeps. The best variant is linoleum with special base layer. It is not afraid of water. The tiled floor is cold. So, it can be uncomfortable to use it in winter. There is way out! You may cover your tiled floor with warm and soft rugs. You may also use under floor heating. Let the temperature of your floor be always comfortable.

Have you made the right decision? Porcelain tile & marmoleum are widely recommended to use for kitchen. Try to think of pluses and minuses of each of them and decide. So, what is your choice: tiles or marmoleum?

Flooring Products

Posted on by Yarik YML

Base Flooring Products

Solid Hardwood Flooring

Long-living is not the only one advantage of your wooden floor. As you know, wooden floor is warm and comfortable, better than other synthetic materials. This is a great chance to go without under-floor heating. Your floor looks like a massive wooden monolith that is sound resistant. The boards are wide and massive, making your room visually bigger. Every next board is inimitable to tell its own history. Finally, solid hardwood floor is ecologic, recommended to use by kids and allergists.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Wood is one of the most preferable materials for making floor. The modern world is mostly made of synthetic materials to be easy to use and clean. Thus, people try to employ natural materials in their life. Natural materials are considered to be the healthy and attractive for house building. There is nothing to be better! Science new technologies think of improving wooden materials to make them live longer. It is possible to create new improved products by combining everything the best from the modern civilization.

Engineered hardwood is one of those amazing materials that you can buy at any professional shop. This is a new interesting decision that is especially attractive for everyone who likes high quality, comfort and good appearance.

Wool Carpets and Rugs Flooring

The key decoration element of your house is carpet. If you could choose right carpet, it makes your home more comfortable and stylish. The carpets are not cheap. So, it is necessary to buy carpets or rugs of good look and quality.

The most important part of the carpet is hair. Actually, there are two features that make your carpet to live long. They are hair type and carpet material. It is better to choose carpet that is widely used for walking, removing furniture, pets and other weightings. The hair of the carpet is made of five main materials: nylon, olefin, wool, polyester, acrylic. It is also very popular to combine wool and nylon. Obviously, wool carpets and rugs are natural. This fact makes them highly popular.

Laminate Flooring

The first thing you should do, choosing the good laminate for your house, is find a good reliable partner – company that is ready to sell laminate for you. As a rule, such companies have their official web sites, where you can find all necessary information about producer, address, contacts, guarantee and other proposals. Do not believe to big phrases like the best covering, high technology or made by great masters. You should believe facts, documents, official proposals and positive feedbacks. If you want, you can ask for consultation first to learn everything about the laminated floor and partner-company

Porcelain Tile Flooring

Quality Floors 4 Less has an outstanding business relationship with Bedrosians – one of the largest independent tile and stone importers and distributors in the United States, providing the highest level of service possible, the best technical and design assistance available, excellent product quality and competitive pricing since 1948. We only have 2 Best-Selling Displays in our Store, so please feel free to stop-by their own Show-Room if you didn’t find what you are looking for- it’s very impressive! As an authorized Dealer, we offer better pricing on all of their products- make sure you order through QF4L to save even more!

How to Install Laminate DIY

Posted on by Yarik YML

DIY: One Room in One Day!

Set down a new floor in no time at all. Do you really think so? Laminate flooring is easy to install and can be walked on the same day. Can you believe that? You should know how to install laminate DIY to prove that!

Laminate flooring is easier to install than hardwood flooring and offers the same appearance. The planks consist of medium-density fiberboard sandwiched between plastic laminate. The top laminate looks like random-grain wood, but its plastic composition makes it scratch- and stain-resistant. It also leaves room for options like gray laminate wood flooring or dark wood laminate flooring. The precision-milled tongue-and-groove edges make accurate installation a snap. The whole floating floor assembly is glued together at the edges and floats on a thin, closed-cell polyethylene foam pad.

This is probably the main laminate advantage! How about installation?

Pro

Laminate installs fast and easy. Fast: you can install 300 square feet in one weekend. Older types of laminate flooring required you to glue pieces to each other. Today’s types of laminate flooring have a click/lock or fold/lock design that allows planks to fit together like puzzle pieces. Easy: since the planks are constructed of soft particleboard, they can be cut with a hand saw or even a utility knife.

Con

While designed to be easy, the click/lock or fold/lock design often does not work as well as it should. Sides of the boards can be especially difficult to join with adjoining sides. Also, if you force boards into place, you risk curling up the top wear layer, compromising the floor’s ability to resist moisture. That’s why you need a guide!

install-laminate-flooring-diy

WHAT YOU NEED TO INSTALL LAMINATE DIY

Tools:

Pry bar, tape measure, pencil, table saw, spacing blocks, tapping blocks, hammer

Materials:

Laminate flooring, underlayment, shoe molding, finishing nails

HOW TO INSTALL LAMINATE DIY

STEP 1

Acclimate the Flooring

Your laminate wood flooring should sit in the room for at least 48 hours prior to installation, giving it time to expand or contract in relation to the room’s temperature and humidity. It is especially needed in the cold weather. This prevents buckling and other problems after installation.

STEP 2

Remove Baseboard

Remove existing baseboard molding. Use the pry bar to remove baseboard from the wall; set the pieces aside for re-installation. Floating laminate planks should be installed over a hard, smooth surface, such as vinyl. If existing flooring is damaged, remove it to reveal the sub-floor. Don’t install laminate on the damaged basement.

STEP 3

Install Underlayment

Install the underlayment to your floating laminate floor. Clear the floor of staples, nails, and other dirt. Roll out the underlayment. Do not overlap adjoining strips. Use the utility knife to cut pieces as needed. The foam underlayment deadens sound and helps the floor feel more resilient and durable.

STEP 4

Plan the Layout

To decide which direction to lay the planks, consider which wall is the longest and straightest. Avoid a narrow strip against the focal-point wall. Planks in the last row should be at least 2 inches wide. Figure on a 1/4-inch gap at each wall. Note: If the last row will be less than 2 inches wide, add that width to the width of a full plank and divide by 2. Cut planks in the first and last rows to this width. This is the secret you should know.

STEP 5

Cut First Row

Depending on your layout, you may need to rip, or cut the first row of planks lengthwise. If using a power saw (better table saw), cut with the finished side down; if using a handsaw, cut with the finished side up. Use clamps to steady the planks as you cut them.

STEP 6

Leave a Gap

Laminate wood flooring kits come with space chips. Wedge these between the wall and the planks to leave an expansion gap of 1/4 inch. We’ve already mentioned about it. The won’t be visible once the baseboard is attached.

STEP 7

Install the First Row

Install the planks with the tongue side facing the wall (some manufacturers recommend you cut off the tongue edge of planks that face walls). Connect one plank to another by connecting the tongues and grooves. You may be able to snugly connect the planks by hand, or you may need to use a pull bar from the installation kit and a hammer to pull them together or a tapping block to tap the joints together. Cut the last plank in the row to length (save the scraps if they’re at least 12 inches long).

STEP 8

Install Additional Rows

Install additional rows. As you snap on new rows, stagger the seams at least 12 inches in adjoining rows, much like you’d see on a wood plank wall or a brick wall. You often can start a new row with the scrap from the plank you cut to end the previous row.

STEP 9

Install the Last Row

You’ll need to slide the planks into position at an angle, then gently pry them into place with the pry bar. Be sure you leave a 1/4-inch expansion gap between the last row and the wall. Don’t forget about it!

STEP 10

Cut Around Casings

Cut around door casings. Don’t try to cut planks to fit around door casings. Instead, it is better to use the jamb saw to cut the door casing about 1/16 inch above the height of the flooring, giving the plank room to slide under the casing. Rest a piece of flooring with underlayment on the floor and against the casing. Rest the jamb saw on top and cut the casing to the desired height.

STEP 11

Reinstall Trim

Reinstall the trim. After the planks are in place, reinstall the baseboard molding using the hammer and finishing nails. Then install shoe molding over the expansion joints and use transition strips to connect the laminate to adjoining surfaces, such as tile or carpet. Do not nail through the floor, just through the trim and wall.

But now…waiting for your flooring to arrive, you are pretty intimidated when this showed up in your driveway! If installing area is big, you can receive about 50 boxes or even more of brilliantly packaged and prepared laminate flooring! Don’t forget to leave it in the house for some time to acclimate the flooring! And the only thing standing between you and your new laminate is your installing skill! Read our tips again and remind how to install laminate DIY.

Please checkout full video on how to do laminate waterproof floors by Youdoit

 

Comment if you like our flooring installation article!

 

Cleaning House Carpet with Pets

Posted on by Yarik YML

How to keep your house clean with pets? What a popular question!

Of course you love your furry family members! Is it possible cleaning house carpet with pets? It can be rather difficult to have dogs and cats and keep your house clean and healthy. Don’t worry about it! There are a few simple steps to manage everything. All you need to do is learn a few tricks, put in some regular effort, and stick to the routine. Read the article carefully and at the end you’ll see the way out.

PREVENTION

Fur: It’s not difficult to brush your cat or dog every day. Typically animals love this and it helps you bond with your pet, a win-win! You’ll be surprised at how helpful it is! Spending five minutes brushing your pet will cut down on the hair that floats around your home. Daily brushing also gets rid of dead skin and you’ll notice that your pet looks and smells better after. So, you probably need to buy a brush if you don’t have it yet!

Specific Odors: Put a fabric softener sheet in your favorite scent under the sofa or chair cushions where your pet likes to hang out.

Dirt: Cleaning house carpet with pets is impossible without placing mats at both the outside and inside of every door. Why? It will cut down the dirt that their paws track inside the house. Make sure these mats are washable so you can throw them in the wash as needed.

It would be also useful to coat surfaces in dark paint. Obviously, the best thing you can do for your kitchen is to paint all your lower cabinets in Gloss Black! Dark paint does an excellent job of hiding smears from wet noses and mud from wagging tails. It is easy to wipe down. You can take the paint to cabinets and walls in other areas of the house, too.

Emergency clean-up kit: To avoid messes getting out of hand, keep the following must-haves handy: a bucket with spray stain removers, rags, paper towels, and disposable disinfectant wipes. It often happens that you have no time for professional cleaning right now, so, the clean-up kit is needed for cleaning house carpet with pets!

YOUR HOUSE FLOOR CLEANING

Regular vacuuming: Pets will always shed, so it is important to vacuum often. If it’s just you and one pet, you can get away with vacuuming once or twice a week. But, for every other person and pet you should add another vacuum to the routine. If you have a big family and more than one pet, it is recommended to vacuum your carpet every day. Don’t worry! It doesn’t take much time! To save time you can also swiffer wood surfaces and minimize time that your pets spend in carpeted rooms.

Professional carpet and rug cleaning: Between routine cleanings it’s important to give your carpets a deep clean. Can you do it on your own? Don’t think so! You are not going to take professional cleaning equipment for rent, aren’t you? Pet dander, hair, mites, etc. in bed deeply into the fibers of your rugs and carpets. If you are prone to allergies, it’s even more important to invest in a carpet cleaning at least once or twice a year. Just call for the cleaning company and spend a couple of hours for walking with your pets while professional cleaners are cleaning your house carefully.

Fur busting tools: Run a rubber or latex glove over carpets, rugs, furniture, etc. to collect pet hair quickly. Lint rollers are also a must to have on hand to collect hair in a hurry.

Odors: Baking soda is natural ingredient that gets rid of pet odors without any toxic concerns. Sprinkle on carpets, couches, pet beds, etc. Let sit for a couple of hours and vacuum up. You’ll notice the difference of your fresh smelling home. You can also make a baking soda and water spray and mist the air or fabrics easily. Spraying vinegar into the air is another way to beat pet odors. Of course, it doesn’t sound professionally. This method is good to use regularly but professional cleaning is recommended.

Cleaning products you need for your floor: Always clean up pet messes right away, and when choosing a cleaner, make sure to use those that are non-toxic for animals. Pets are very sensitive! So, you need a cleaner that stores only safe formulas for pets, but you can also make your own cleaners from baking soda and vinegar that are safe. You can find the recipes of a few DIY cleaners in the web. They are non-toxic for cats and dogs. Remember to never use ammonia to clean, as it’s is similar to the scent of animal urine, which can send mixed signals to your pet.

Removing stains: It is impossible to have pets without stains! A big part of cleaning house carpets with pets goes for removing stains. If your pet has accidentally made a mess on your floor, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Have you ever tried adding some shaving cream to your cleaning kit? You could spend a ton trying out every last “miracle” pet stain product, but shaving cream works best, even on the toughest stains such as dog vomit and cat pee. Make sure to use foam, not gel! Simply spray the stain, let it sit and foam for a minute, and then wipe with warm water.

You have dogs and cats. You also have carpet. Sometimes these two things don’t go together very well, especially when messy dogs stain your carpet. There are many tips to follow. But if you want to start, remember this: CLEAN PETS=CLEAN CARPETS. This is where to start. Bathing your dogs regularly can keep that dog smell out of your carpets. Keeping up with brushing avoids clumps of hair all over the house as well. All the rest leave for professionals! These prevention tips and cleaning tactics should make your home feel as clean as it was before you added your furry family members.

-->