10 Laminate Flooring Installation Tips For Instant Interior Design Success

The latest click-together laminate flooring installations transform from kitchens to dining rooms and home offices into elegant, low-maintenance living areas. Engineering has progressed to such an extent that real wood grains, styles and textures are now emulated to perfection. Quality and durability have also improved and a laminate flooring installation can be guaranteed for up to thirty years.

Ten things you need to keep in mind when opting for this floor covering:

1. BestSelling Brands: This sector of the home improvement industry is growing at a phenomenal pace and a host of manufacturers are queuing for your business. There are vast collections of excellent ranges. It is difficult to determine a winner. Your choice will be a question of personal taste, the brand's unique characteristics, your decor needs and the size of your budget. Some ranges can be used in bathrooms for instance, while others are not moisture resistant to that degree.

2. Discount Discontent: Look for a quality range at a good price. Stay away from a cheap, discount laminates that haven't been tested properly. A warranty is only as good as the backing behind it. Make sure that the company has been around for a while and won't disappear overnight.

3. Sub-Floor Surface: A major advantage of a laminate flooring installation is the fact that it can be done successfully over almost any sub-floor. Real wood, concrete and linoleum are all fine for this purpose. It may even be that linoleum can provide enough of a cushion to make an underlayment unnecessary, or you may be able to use a less expensive material. However, ask your supplier about this. In most cases you can't install the floor covering over carpeting or wood on concrete.

4. Indispensable Installation Kit: Many manufacturers have a laminate flooring installation kit available. It may be wise to make use of this. The kit can be a time-saver, ensuring that you have the right tools and accessories at your disposal during the project. The kit often includes a suitable underlayment. Check that this is of a satisfactory quality. Underlayments are a vital element when it comes to comfort. Laminates can be quite hard if you are on your feet for a long time. The padding also helps to dampen the hollow sound that is so characteristic of this type of floor covering. Of course power tools won't be included. It is often recommended that you use a circular saw to minimize chipping. Also be very careful and gentle with the tapping block or rubber mallet.

5. Barrier Basics: Find out what kind of moisture barrier you need to place on the sub-floor. This is usually specified in the warranty. The right choice will help to maintain the integrity of the floor, preventing buckling and lifting.

6. Be Warranty Wise: If you buy from a reputable company and you are given a warranty of 25 to 30 years, you can be fairly sure that you are purchasing an upper-class product. Some wholesale warehouse stores even include lifetime coverage on their lines. Read the warranty conditions with care and follow the instructions to the letter. This goes for both installation and maintenance. If you go against the guidelines, you are likely to void the protection. It is vitally important that you double check which cleaning agents are suitable.

7. Glue Grumbles: The click-together tongue and groove planks are meant to be used as a floating laminate flooring installation. In spite of this, there are still many experts who recommend the use of glue. The manufacturers don't always agree with this, as it may affect the way in which the floors contract and expand due to changes in temperature or humidity. Normally glue is only used on stairs. Glue should also be used to seal the joints between the planks in the case of a bathroom fitting.

8. Testing Tactics: In the end you have to be totally comfortable with your purchase. Test the locking mechanism in the store to make sure that it gives a tight fit, but is still easy to manage. Test samples for scratching, denting and scuffing. When it comes to indentations and moisture resistance, the density of the core is the vital component. The wear layer determines the level of resistance against fading and scratching.

9. Quantity Questions: Normally an error margin of 10% is advised when purchasing flooring. This makes provision for accidents during the laminate flooring installation, or factory faults that slipped through. Another sensible idea is to purchase extra planks to store in case you need to replace a floor section after a serious mishap. When that time comes, the particular shade may have been discontinued. Store the cartons unopened.

Check the run or lot numbers on the cartons. There are always subtle shading differences between lots. One way to even out coloring, is by working from a few boxes at the same time. In this way variations will no longer be so noticeable.

10. Clearing The Chore-Chart: These home remodeling ranges are known for their low maintenance. The smooth, hard surface is easy to keep spotless. You need only a broom and a slightly damp mop. Never wash the floor with water. There are many dedicated cleaning substances on the market for tougher spots. Abrasive cleaners and waxes are a serious no-no.

Flooring: The Foundation Of Your Design

 

Creativity is one of the most important elements in interior design. Until recently the steadfast rule was to choose furniture, accessories and paint first. Then almost as an afterthought, choose flooring.

Nowadays, decorators have changed their tune. They recognize that flooring can be the centerpiece of the room and the first step in the design process. Many of the best designers and architects are choosing wood flooring over other options. Not only is wood more pleasant to walk on than laminate, tile or even carpet, it is hypoallergenic which makes it a great choice for people sensitive to dust. It’s easy to clean and durable. If well cared for, a wood floor can last for hundreds of years or more.

Whether you want your home to have an old world feel or would prefer something more modern, here’s a good guideline to follow for choosing what wood floor to put in.

Grain
If you want the grain to stand out as a decorative element, you’ll want to select a wood that has prominent grain in it, like hickory, oak or ash flooring. Cherry, maple and eastern white pine are considered mellow flooring because their grains are less prominent.

Grade
If you want a more refined, clean look, you’ll want to use a select grade wood that has less character. To create a rustic look indicative of the floors from 150 to 200 years ago, you’ll want to go with a country grade wood that is rich in character.

Width of the Boards
Single width boards create a more formal and refined look. If you choose random width boards, you’ll get a hand-crafted, comfortable feeling in the room. The wider the plank, the more unique the room will look. Wider boards, by their very nature, have a lot more character. Character depicts the life the tree has lived and often people will want to feature the knots, mineral stains and worm holes to create focal points in the room.

Color
Most wood floors installed today retain their natural color, but stains do exist that can make them mimic more expensive materials. For example, to make an oak floor look more like walnut, you can stain it Brown. The stain selection is so vast that you can create just the color you want for your room. Plus custom stain colors can be created to perfectly match your furniture.

Design Ideas For Hardwood Flooring

The fact that hardwood comes from organic material means that no two planks of wood are ever going to be exactly alike. If you go for factory manufactured and prefinished wood, you might be able to see uniformity in the designs, especially with deliberatel distressed hardwoods, but, the bottomline is, when you use hardwood material for your floor, you are sure that what you are stepping and walking on is one of a kind.

This leads us to the question: what is it about hardwood floors that never go out of style no matter how the times and interior design principles change?

Hardwood floors offer a kind of natural sturdiness and reliability that cannot be found in most home building materials. Sure, concrete is great, but nothing beats a well finished hardwood floor to get that truly natural touch.

Having a hardwood floor in your home is an investment, but it is a one-time expenditure. This means you shell out a large amount only once because all you have to do is make sure the floor is clean and its finish its intact to for the next generations to benefit from it. Diligent waxing will do; so will constant deep cleaning.

If you want to see interesting designs on your hardwood floor, a good idea would be to have it distressed. Now you should be careful with this project as a poor distressing job could result in a disaster instead of a work of art. You should hire a professional to do this.

There are pre-distressed hardwood boards available in home building stores, but they are factory manufactured so they are likely to have repeating designs. With a hand distressed hardwood floor, you are sure that every inch is unique, and your floor will not look too fabricated. Experts on flooring can spot a fake dead-on.

Tea - An Easy Way To Clean Your Wood Flooring

Here's a great tip to get a rich shine from your wood flooring. Black tea – we're afraid milk and two sugars doesn't quite work – is a great cleaning agent, as well as being cheap and environmentally sound.

The trick is in the tannic acid, which helps to bring out rich wood colours. Simply steep 5-10 tea bags in a litre or two of boiling water for around ten minutes. This may seem like a lot, but its necessary to make a brew strong enough to clean properly. Afterwards, remove the bags and allow to cool.

You'll then need to wash the floor as usual, either with a mixture of warm water and vinegar or your normal cleaning product. It's important to never wash hardwood with hot water as this can damage the finish.

Straight afterwards, mop over the tea mixture and leave to dry. Almost immediately, you'll notice the difference with a deep, rich shine. If you like, you can buff the floor further with a dry, clean cloth.

Alternatively, the tea can be poured in a spray bottle and sprayed directly on the floor in sections. This makes an excellent furniture polish too, and is a great way to get the kids involved. As tea is non-toxic, there's no need to worry about inhaling fumes or getting damaging chemicals on sensitive skin.

Remember though, this will only work with unsweetened black tea. Flavoured and herbal teas don't have the necessary tannins, and could do more harm than good, while a brew with sugar will leave an unappealing sticky layer. It's also wise to dust mop your wood flooring at least weekly to stop large debris from building up, which can scratch the surface when trod in.

However, if you do find deep scratches, all is not lost. Here's another good trick – after you have cleaned the floor and applied the tea solution, let it dry as normal. Then take a crayon that's a similar colour to your finish – the closer the better – and rub it into the scratch until it is filled. Then heat the damaged area with a hair drier until its blended in and leave for a moment to set. A quick buff with another clean, dry cloth and your wood floor should be as good as new. Easy!

Bathroom Flooring Design For Your Bathroom

Choosing the ideal bathroom floor design can make a big impact to your bathroom overall appeal. The flooring should be intoned with the accessories, the fixtures, the color, and the size of the bathroom.

You might find yourself lacking inspiration to come up with the floor design for your bathroom. You don't need to worry. There are a lot of bathroom floor designs that you can choose from and each has a kind of style that can match your bathroom preference. You can start by having a theme for your bathroom. From there, your imagination and your preference will work your way to choosing the nice and ideal bathroom floor design for you.

There are a lot of options you can choose from that can be perfect for your bathroom. There is the resilient, vinyl, and laminate for basic. There is hardwood, porcelain, marble and ceramic tiles can also be your choices for that best flooring tiles you can use to make the total bathroom floor design. The color and the material will be your deciding factors for your design. Not only that, you can also make use of rugs that can decorate and at the same time add safety after use. Make sure that it will be well-maintained so it won't incur germs and dirt which will make cleaning difficult.

When choosing the right flooring design for the bathroom, make sure that it is durable. It also has to endure different elements like steam, moist, and heat. It should also be safe for the users as well so you also need to consider that. The budget should also work for you. You need to make a good choice and will be valuable for you. The overall flooring will truly make a transformation of your bathroom so choose wisely. Get ideas from magazines and from the experienced or, sit down in front of the computer and search for the best ideas, and then, order away!

5 Big Issues in Architectural Commercial Flooring Design

Architectural commercial flooring design is sometimes a tough proposition. Working with a client's concepts can require producing a series of workable options, for informed choice and to get a clear picture of what the client wants. When you're working with a big area of commercial carpet, custom design and custom colourisation, you need some backup for your consultation and estimate processes.

1.Choosing concepts
As all architects are well aware, the process of choosing concepts can be hard work, particularly if you don't have ready access to visual information to show the client. How those concepts are presented is also vitally important. It's imperative to remove any possible misconceptions from the equation before there are any issues. The new design technology in custom carpets allows the client to see a computer rendition of a full installation. The consultation becomes an informed assessment of design ideas, and you can work together to investigate the possibilities.

2.Colour and design
The most sensitive design elements of any flooring design concept are colour and carpet patterns. These directly affect the overall design, and it's vitally important that architects and clients are working on the same page with their information. It's now possible to run through multiple options quickly and effectively with complete specifications available for each option. There's no guesswork and no ambiguity in the information, and decisions can be made far more efficiently.

3.Customisation options
Some designs need full customisation. This used to be a grim process of design, carpet quality definitions, and estimates. It's now a fully integrated process in manufacturing. The resulting savings in time and effort, together with standardised quality controls, make customisation quite simple and easy to achieve. Even with complex custom requirements, this is now a very straightforward procedure. Customisation of colour, design, and full specifications for floor coverings of all kinds is now just a few clicks away on your computer. This is nothing less than a godsend for architects and clients alike. Realistic, cost, and designer specified customisation is available from the start of planning.

4.Designer flooring
Designer flooring with retail carpet, industrial carpet tiles, commercial carpet squares, and custom colour is possible in any business environment. These major design elements are easily translated into flooring specifications with basic software. This is top of the range design capacity, available when you need it. Designers can provide their clients with a complete design scenario, with options and clear methodologies for assessing designs.

5.Dealing with Manufacturers
One of the reasons for these huge improvements in design abilities was demand from manufacturers. The limitations of the restrictive design capabilities of the past were counterproductive, restrictive and outdated in the modern market.

Talk to the manufacturers direct about your designs. You'll find manufacturers well aware of the requirements of the modern design market, and receptive to design ideas and concepts. You'll get quotes, advice, and save time and money from the planning stage through to installation. Dealing with manufacturers really helps, at all stages of the design and installation processes.

Wooden Floors - Hardwood Floor Designs

Wooden floors are most famous floor type. They are expensive but their luxurious style and long lasting life make them the best choice one can opt for.

Wooden floors have many types depending on the wood being used and the style like engineered wooden floor , solid wood floor, green floors and hardwood floors. All have marvelous designs and colors, which can be used according to the location.

Hardwood floor And It's designs:

One of the most famous styles in wooden floors is the hardwood floor. Hardwood floor is available in various ranges depending on the wood quality being used and the color and design. hardwood flooring is highly in demand these days as the hardwood floor in patterns increases the attraction to the floor. It is incredible if used in matching wood colors. Such floor designs enhance the beauty of the area and interest builds towards the floor. Let's discuss some of the ideas we can do with the hardwood flooring.

Plank Hardwood Flooring:

This is one of the design in which the planks of hardwood are used. Plank style can be installed in many ways. Weather the planks re thick or moderate you can apply patterns of planks in different directions, it will give awesome look. For narrow area you should use wide planks they will be eye catching and will give width to the room.

You can use mixed sized planks too. Using different sized planks with different patterns will bring up a unique design, if arranged with artistic sense.

Concentric Circles:

As the name depicts the planks of hardwood are used in form of rings to give rise to the circles. You can use the rings in the center of the room to attract the attention to the floor. This is a traditional style that small pieces of planks are cut in shape of small circles and fixed just in the center and the edges of the room are also given the same pattern to give coordination.

Herringbone And Wooden Rugs:

Another style of hardwood flooring is making herringbone and wooden rugs. This is done to separate the specific area from the other area. You can use herringbone pattern to even out the edges of the room if it is having different shapes. Using pattern different from the one used in the room to highlight the specific area can form wooden rugs.

For instance you can give a rectangular or square shape with the different tone to the eating-place or dinning place in the kitchen. This gives a rug look and is stylish.

Try to think for more creative flooring by using different layouts and patterns of hardwood. You can invent quite different and elegant flooring and it will be there for long.