Phases to Do in DIY Laminate Floor Installation

Phases to Do in DIY Laminate Floor Installation - DIY has become a lot much more popular recently. Well, it happens almost to anything including home improvement. People choose to do everything on their own due to the fact that it is a lot much more economical. Yep, with the situation where everything is sold in relatively high prices, DIY is an effective way to save some money. If you are trying to take care of your flooring and you have already had laminate floor installation in mind, you are totally allowed to do it on your own. Just make sure you have known these following things first before applying the installation so you will not be disappointed later on. First thing first, you need to find the guidelines for such installation. Where to get it? Don’t be lazy, guys. Book stores and internet are there for you to find it.

Prepare the Tools and Make the Floor Surface Ready

Now that you have known the principles in laminate floor installation, let’s move on to the next phase. True, it is about equipment and tools preparation. They should cover rubber band, utility knife, hammer and nails, tape measure, and the other necessary tools. Once everything has been prepared, say to yourself, “Let’s rock on with the installation!”

If you have old flooring, you need to get rid of it first. Make sure the surface where you are going to cope with the installation is really clean. Thus, sweeping and vacuuming are necessary to make it certain that there will be no debris left. Then, check the surface for its levelness. What do you need to do if you find it not really level? Using some dibs is the most proper idea to do. Another problematic situation you might face during this phase is some squeaks. For this matter, you need to apply tiny screws on the squeaky parts. 

Here Comes the Laminate Floor Installation

Finally, the time for laminate floor installation has come. You can start by lying moisture barrier on the floor. The aim is to make your laminate floor dry so it will not be wobbling and warping. Do not start the installation directly from the wall. Provide space at least 1 or 2 cm between the wall and the edge of your laminate floor. Tacking should be done every 10 inches or when you think it is necessary. Just make sure it is not too far away or too close from one tack to the others. If you are facing laminate floor installation that meets with door or any other uneven edge, use the knife to trim the flooring to match the shape of the door or the edge.

Have a Closer Look at Cork Flooring Reviews

Have a Closer Look at Cork Flooring Reviews - Like the way you are planning the concept of your house in a subjective way, the same preference also goes for interior concept and materials choices. The increasing trend of natural or eco-friendly flooring has inspired many house owners to make their sanctuary as green as possible. Not only will it resemble the latest updates, but more importantly it is healthier to live in. For families, the heart of their life goes back to their homes. Various flooring alternatives are now available for your options. One of the favored types is cork floor. How does this flooring suite your home? Let’s have a closer look at cork flooring reviews that are summed up from various testimonies of the customers. Learn well the benefits and risks.

Various Proven Benefits: Customers’ Cork Flooring Reviews 

Besides being known of its eco-friendly nature, most of cork flooring reviews highlights other benefits. This is of course positive for those who have chosen cork as part of the interior elements. However, for those who have not decided anything, it is always good to open up to various choices. The main reasons why people purchase cork flooring is due to its natural touch, lower budget maintenance since intensive cleanings may need to be performed if there are kids around the house. Another benefit is water resistant and comfy to walk on. Simple installation as safer for kids are other advantages one can get from this flooring type.

How about vacuuming? Is it possible to perform on this flooring? Yes, it is. While vacuuming carpets take longer time, vacuuming cork flooring is relatively simpler and faster to do since the vacuum rolls over the floor. The padding like feature of this floor makes things that fall on it, or kids, won’t easily get broken or injured. This is perhaps one of the most benefits parents can get. The look, that many of house owners adore, will be a plus point. Compared with laminated floor or hardwood, the budget for this floor is lower.

Things to Note

Yet, there is another note that you need to pay attention to. Not all cork flooring reviews portrays the excellence of this flooring type. This makes this choice falls into the third of the ranks rather than the first option. The most common complaints on cork flooring that it is bubbly below the installation. It makes the floor easy to get dent, and even dropping some items can leave marks. Depending on the manufacturer, some cork flooring qualities are having serious issues. The handling of complaints is also considered as unsatisfying. It is highly recommended that researching good manufacturers and retailers should be carefully done.

Natural Solutions for Laminate Floor Cleaner

Natural Solutions for Laminate Floor Cleaner - One of the elements that determine the endurance of your house flooring is its maintenance. It does not mean anything complicated that requires hiring professionals to do it, but the real deal challenge is actually keeping it clean every day. Laminate floor cleaner options that are available in the market may offer lots of practicality, but many are unsatisfied with result. Besides that, the exposure of chemical substance in the house is not really safe for the occupants. If you have small kids around, they usually do lots of activities on the floor playing and exploring with toys or doing homework. Making sure that the floor is clean and safe is very crucial.

Effective Natural Laminate Floor Cleaner

Although in many reviews laminate floor cleaner is said to be easy to maintain, but when it comes to perfection of cleaning and keeping the texture durable, this is the real challenge. Various products that are sold based on manufacture production sometimes are not really able to meet those demands. Hence, homemade mixture has been developed by several mothers offering cheaper, safer and eco-friendly solutions in floor cleaning.

Wooden laminating type of flooring is perhaps the easiest to maintain provided that you have found the right formula to keep it clean. Most of the recommended natural cleaning mixture is combination of water with vinegar. Make the proportion equal, and then wipe the floor. It does clean it well and quick to dry. If natural fragrance is wanted, drop some essential oils and you can vary the aroma anytime you want it!

Varied Ways of Cleaning

There is another natural solution for wooden laminate floor cleaner alternatives, especially if you are not really in the mood of wiping –the whole house- but prefer to use mop and bucket like you normally do with chemical cleaner. It is also as simple as pouring a half gallon of water and mix with vinegar (of a quarter cup) and one sixth cup of alcohol, plus a couple of dish soap drops (you can add more if needed).

But, if you do not mind wiping your floor using homemade laminate floor cleaner that is fresh from your hand, consider this tips:

• get a spray bottle that is usually for cleaning tables and window glass
• mix in it a cup of alcohol, a cup of vinegar and a cup of water (you can use cup or bottle lid)
• add up a couple of dish soup drops
• add up whatever essential oils of aromatherapy
• mix altogether, and shake before usage
• clean up the laminated floor, with broom or vacuum cleaner
• spray the floor and wipe it (like traditional moping technique) using micro fiber cloth
• it shines!

The Hardwood Flooring Types You Should Know

Hardwood flooring types is the type of flooring that is not only available in one option. At this time, quite a lot of hardwood flooring types are available. All of those types can be seen based on two major factors. The first one is the main types of the flooring itself and the second one is the species of woods used as the main material to produce the flooring. These two major things are the ones that we are going to talk about here. This basic information about hardwood flooring is certainly the one that you have to know.

Main Hardwood Flooring Types

As mentioned previously, there are two main hardwood flooring types that can be found at this point of time. Those types are solid hardwood flooring and also engineered hardwood flooring. In both of those flooring types, there are similarities and also differences can be found. The first thing found to be similar in both types is an excellent quality of durability. This value is the one that makes both types to be suitable to choose for long term flooring.

One major difference that can be found in both types of the flooring is that the engineered flooring is resistant to moisture while the solid one is not. This value can certainly be used as a point for you and others to consider when about choosing hardwood for home improvement or redecoration.

Types of Hardwood Flooring Based from the Species

If seen from the species of woods, actually there are so many hardwood flooring types can be listed. Even so, only some of the species are known to be more common to be used for house flooring. Let us say that there is maple flooring which color is rather bright. Other than the bright brown color it has, other characteristic that can be seen in this flooring is its smooth surface. Other than maple, there is also oak flooring which is available in two different types. Those types are white and also red oak.

If something dark is wanted, the type of hardwood flooring that must be chosen is nothing else but walnut hardwood flooring or cherry hardwood flooring. Both of these options own a quite dark color that can create better elegance value in any room where they are installed. Other than the options already mentioned here, there are also bamboo, ash, and also pine species that can be chosen for hardwood flooring options.

2 Things To Consider Before Getting Large Area Rugs Cheap

2 Things To Consider Before Getting Large Area Rugs Cheap - Creating a whole new look in your house can be frustrating if there is no idea pops up in your mind. Thinking about it too hard will only make you unable to get the idea even more. Instead of wasting your time finding the idea and finally leaving the inside of your house without any new and fresh decoration, using large area rugs cheap can be the easiest decorating idea worth it for you to try. These rugs are obviously affordable and they can definitely change the look inside your house. If you want to give it a try, here are some tips that can guide you to decorate your house better by using the rugs as the main material in the decorating.

Think Carefully in Choosing the Material Type of the Large Area Rugs Cheap

The very first tip about large area rugs cheap that you can use to change the interior look of your house is related to the material of the rugs. Material used to make the rugs is important to consider because some are just so hard to clean and also maintain. If you need a suggestion, there is a type of rug which is not that hard to clean and also maintain. The rug meant here is nothing else but wool rug.

This kind of rug is not only suitable for you who do not have much time, especially to clean your flooring. Other than that, it is also so suitable for you who have kids who can possibly leave stains on your rugs by accident or for you who have pets whose hairs can fall on the rugs as well. The fact that this rug is easy to clean is certainly the one that make it suggested for you to choose.

Color of the Rugs Should Also be Chosen Carefully

Other than material, there is one other thing that you have to think about deeply in choosing large area rugs cheap for decoration in your house. The thing is nothing else but color. The reason why color should be thought about here is that by choosing the right color, you can minimize the chance to make any stains, dirt, or even pets’ hair, if there is any, to make it less visible. It will certainly give you enough time until you are able to clean up the mess once you have time to.

How to Do Your Own Concrete Floor Coatings

How to Do Your Own Concrete Floor Coatings - People get many problems from applying common painting to their concrete floors. They often find their concrete has cracks, moisture, and peeling paint. This makes them sick of it. Thus, they then try to find solution for those problems. The trend of painting concrete floor with stained method becomes the new way of concrete floor coatings in order to make the pain last long.Create your own concrete floor coatings

If you think that making concrete floor coatings is not easy, you can try these useful and applicable tips :

1. Make a finishing mixture. By using paint mixer, you can create a thinner finishing. The thin is only about one-eight out of one inch. This will make the mixture is thinner than Texture Pave. If you wish to make the basic color for the coat, you can add the integral color plus the acid stain as much as you desire. If you get confused, you can ask the manufacturer to get some specific additional information. Before adding Thin Finish, the finishing mixture, you should mix the color you want and the water altogether.
2. Moisten the concrete floor. It is better for you to make the concrete floor wet first before adding Thin Finish. This aims to make the floor dampen. You can apply with tool with trigger sprayer. All you have to do is just spray it once in a time. This will ease Thin Finish itself to gather with the mixture. You can save your time by asking another person to moisten the floor while you can add Thin Finish, for instance.
3. After moistening or dampening the concrete floor and adding Thin Finish, you can add few portions from Thin Finish. Do it in a time. First, you should sweep smoothly after you have done spreading Thin Finish on the concrete floor. After you ensure that the material has spread to the floor, complete the spreading in corner area by using paint brush. This aims to spread evenly Thin Finish. Do not forget to let it dry. This is the first layer of coating.
4. To add the second layer of coating, you can apply 55 pounds of Thin Finish with some water. Then, you can make the concrete mixture by adding five gallons of water. If you wish, you can mix some colors during you make the mixture. This can help the concrete create the basic color and also help the next step, which is acid stain. You can use as many colors as you want. The more you give colors, the deeper concrete colors will you get. If you anything to ask, you can call the manufacturer so you will not get lost.
5. The last step to coat the concrete floor is giving Thin Finish to the surface of it. You may use any tools to do it as long as it can ease your work. Sweep it step by step and evenly. In this step, you can make the texture you want for the floor. After you have finished, you have to let it dry for 24 hours to get the best result.

Those are the tips of concrete floor coatings. You can do it by yourself. But if you have any queries, you should call and ask the manufacturer so that you can get the result as you want.

Plain Concrete Floor? Try Concrete Floor Paint!

Concrete floor Paint is now becoming trend for many families around the world from time to time. This concrete floor may look so plain if it is left uncolored. Many of them just paint the floor with paint that is taken from the hardware market. It makes the paint does not last for a long time and in the long run it peels after common wear and the print of footsteps. But now, stained concrete floor paint starts to steal people’s heart since it gives more advantages than the plain paint.

Besides giving more sense of art and beauty to the floor, it does not give moisture effect like plain paint does. Thus, it will not peel. It is such a good choice for you to solve your problem with your concrete floor. Stained concrete floor paint is really suitable to apply in garage or basement since it will last long with them.

Get your own concrete floor paint

Who says that paint concrete floor cannot be done by yourself? Here are some tips for you to beautify your concrete floor :

1. Many people decide to call the contractor once they want to recover the paint on the floor if it starts to give moist signs. They do not find the cause first. They even want to paint and dry it as quick as possible. Thus, no wonder if the paint does not last long. You can do your own way to test the moisture. First, you can put the duct tape. Then, you should leave it for a day. The floor will show the moisture if you find the condensation below the duct tape.
2. If you want to remove any remaining of the past painting or any past dirt, you can try to apply cat litter. This can help you remove most of the paint oil, clean the floor, and wash it after you have done brushing the cat litter. If you want to seek other alternatives, you can choose warm water or warm soap. This also can help your work to clean up the concrete floor.
3. You can prevent any dust stuck on the paint by cleaning or vacuuming it. After two to three days waiting, you can get your concrete floor dries.
4. Some of the flooring result may remain such cracks on the floor. You can use an epoxy crack filler, Cement Fixall for instance. Do not let the cracks exist on the concrete for a long time because it will damage the beauty of the paint. Do not forget to let the crack filler dry.

The tips of concrete floor paint above are easy, right? The important thing you should not forget is that you have to let the paint dry fully so that it will last long.