Hardwood flooring installation can be an arduous and sometimes complicated job, but if you feel confident giving it a try, you may potentially end up saving quite a bit of money. Properly installed hardwoods can last for generations, even under wet and humid conditions, such as in a bathroom. With a little planning and a step by step guide, as well as plenty of time, hardwood flooring installation can be accomplished without exorbitant professional services.
Moisture is the number one enemy of hardwood flooring. Moisture can gradually warp the surface of the wood as it expands and contracts. This does not mean, however, that hardwood flooring cannot be used in wetter circumstances. Hardwood flooring simply requires a little preventive care in order to function well under these conditions. Installing hardwood with an asphalt felt should provide a great degree of protection against rotting and warping of the hardwood. Take 15 pound asphalt felt, and put it over the subfloor in overlapping sections. The felt should be secured with a staple gun.
Leave a small space, approximately half an inch, between the asphalt felt and the wall. A baseboard or base shoe will be secured in these smaller spaces between the flooring and the wall. The first three boards of the flooring should be placed by hand. Board lengths are typically random, so segments of the flooring should be set out as a test before nailing down. When the first boards are placed, the remainder can be set with a flooring nailer. This will make it easier to do a good job of laying out the flooring.
When the new flooring results in an uneven surface, you can use a reducer to create a level surface. When preparing to put down a hardwood floor, be certain to safely store the wood. Placing the wood outside where it can get damp will lead to warped and cracked flooring that does not fit together. If the flooring must be stored outdoors, be sure to protect it with a waterproof tarp. This can prevent any moisture from causing permanent damage. Do not transport wood flooring in an open bed when weather conditions could give rise to rain or high humidity.
For an attractive alternative to traditional hard wood flooring, many people decide to go with bamboo flooring. Growing in popularity, bamboo flooring has many attractive features that make it a viable option for modern homeowners. Bamboo flooring is cultivated mainly in South Asia and is available to consumers through out Europe and North America. Many early adopters of bamboo flooring point out its environmental friendliness. The bamboo plant grows very quickly when compared with the time it takes a forest to regrow. Commonly mistaken as a member of the tree family, Bamboo is in the grass category and grows much faster than trees. Today, Bamboo is cultivated and harvested much more responsibly and environmentally friendly than in past years.
In what way does bamboo and traditional hardwood flooring products compare with each other? High quality bamboo flooring products are harder and more durable than even the most expensive hardwood flooring. Moisture is also less of a problem for bamboo flooring. To a certain extent, bamboo flooring can absorb moisture more readily, when many hardwood brands can buckle or crack due to water exposure. The processing of bamboo flooring as a laminate is done with extreme pressure, treating it with a high quality glue product. This makes bamboo flooring very resistant to abrasions and scratches, where less treated hardwood floors may show scratches after a while. In today’s economy, bamboo flooring is increasing in popularity because it is one of the more affordable natural flooring products available.
Best of all, bamboo flooring can typically be installed at home without any professional assistance. Similar to other natural wood flooring products today, bamboo is produced in a manner where pieces can be joined together by snapping them in place without using any glue. However, before you begin installing a new bamboo floor you will need to allow the wood time to adjust to the surrounding temperature, usually for around three days. Although bamboo flooring is very resistant to moisture, they do need some time to adjust to their new climate before installation.
What should be done to maintain a bamboo floor? Maintenance requirements are fairly simple for bamboo flooring. Basic cleaning for spills should involve a lightly damp cloth, many retailers recommend using wood cleaners formulated for pre-finished hardwood or laminate floors and express the importance of wiping up spills immediately, and then buff drying afterwards. Long term cleaning will depend on the amount of wear on the floor, because once it begins to take on a dull appearance you will need to recoat the Urethane finish. There are several tips you can follow to help keep your bamboo flooring looking great for many years to come and one of which, is to only use a urethane-base finish verses any type of waxing. Beware of high heels; the average size woman in high heels can exert as much as 2,000 pounds per square inch of pressure on the floor and this can damage even the toughest flooring material. Make sure to always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation, as a properly maintained floor significantly increases the likelihood of the longevity of your bamboo flooring.
Bamboo flooring provides another avenue for those looking for something other than hardwood. Growing in popularity as an alternative, bamboo flooring has many features that make it stand out when compared to hardwood. Although harvested primarily in China, bamboo flooring can now be found easily in both European and North American markets. Many of those that adopted bamboo flooring early on point out its environmental friendliness. The bamboo plant regrows very quickly when compared with the time it takes a forest to regrow. In fact, the bamboo plant is considered a grass, as it grows far faster than a forest. When done responsibly, bamboo plant harvesting can be accomplished in a environmentally friendly manner.
How does bamboo flooring compare with traditional hardwoods? High quality bamboo flooring is harder and more durable than even the most expensive hardwood flooring. Moisture does not affect bamboo in the way that hardwood suffers from water damage. Where traditional hardwood may buckle and crack because of water exposure, bamboo flooring can absorb the moisture without a problem. Bamboo flooring is processed as a laminate and treated under very high pressure with a high quality glue. This makes bamboo flooring very resistant to abrasions and scratches, where a hardwood floor would end up showing scratches. Bamboo flooring has become significantly more affordable in the past few years as well.
Best of all, bamboo flooring is easy enough to lay down without any professional help. Like many of the newer hardwoods, bamboo flooring is produced with a tongue and groove construction, making them considerably easier to install. Before installing a bamboo floor, let the planks to adjust to their new environment for no less than 72 hours. Although bamboo flooring does not suffer from water damage like hardwood, they do need some time to adjust to their new climate before installation.
What should be done to maintain a bamboo floor? Maintenance requirements are fairly simple for bamboo flooring. Make certain to sweep and mop the floor after it is laid down. Regular dusting and sweeping should be done after installation. This will prevent dust and dirt from collecting on the finish. A mat should be placed at the entrance to prevent dust and dirt from coming into the room. Dirt and small rocks will end up damaging the finish, and a mat can do a great deal to prevent this problem.
As one of the largest flooring manufacturers in the world, Armstrong flooring products provides an amazing array of products to consumers everywhere. Some of the more widely popular flooring selection they specialize in are, tiling, hardwood, sheet and laminating flooring products.
With such a huge selection of products, Armstrong has something for every home flooring project.
When it comes to hardwoods, Armstrong offers a line of several very distinct products. One of which are the Bruce hardwood brand flooring that redefines tradition by bringing affordable luxury into the home. With the revolutionary Armstrong “Lock & Fold” technology, hardwood flooring can be installed easily and without glue. The ’do-it-yourself’ hardwood flooring options has grown in popularity. It not only saves the consumer time, but also a lot of money, by cutting back on having a professional install it. Armstrong hardwoods can be found in almost any species, color, shade, or pattern.
Armstrong is also known as a producer of high quality laminate flooring. People who live in a climate high in moisture or anticipate excessive traffic on the floor, often opt to use laminate flooring as a substitute to hardwood flooring. Similar to appearance of hardwood patterns, laminate flooring has a large variety of colors and styles to select from. This is a great alternative to hardwood flooring, offering an affordable means to add elegance to a room. Armstrong laminate flooring comes equipped with their trademark G3 Wear Layer, protecting against stains and fading. With improvements in the quality of High-definition Print Technology, the laminate patterns are made with a very realistic look and feel.
Armstrong also specializes in high-quality tile flooring products. Consumers that need a floor covering for areas that will get a lot of wear and tear, tile flooring is an great option. Tile will not suffer from scratches and other issues as readily as a wood floor might. Tile is affordable and resistant to moisture damage, making it a very attractive choice in the kitchen or patio.
Armstrong offers a wide variety of vinyl flooring products, each with a unique pattern or shade. The vinyl products they offer are known for their durability and hard-wearing capabilities. Vinyl requires very little maintenance and will not absorb moisture. Vinyl is an easy to install waterproof flooring product, that does not need glue or staples, and best of all beautiful in appearance, which is one of the many reasons that it is growing in popularity for homeowners. Armstrong flooring offers both durability and aesthetics for an affordable price.
Discount flooring is a great way to quickly improve the value of a home that needs renovation. Although discount flooring once meant less than great materials, there are materials available today that are both appealing and cheap. Hardwood flooring and expensive carpeting are no longer necessary to achieve a great look in the home or in a commercial setting. There are a number of manufacturers that specialize in quality discount flooring today.
For some of the best flooring, look to suppliers that can provide vinyl flooring. Vinyl flooring is a revolutionary product that makes quality affordable. Both very affordable and flexible, vinyl flooring can work in almost all environments while providing a great looking surface. Vinyl flooring has been in use in the commercial sector for several years because of its affordability and quality. Floors with a high degree of traffic require durable flooring that is easy to maintain. Vinyl flooring provides just the durability needed to resist the abrasions of everyday high traffic levels.
Vinyl flooring is also very resistant to stains and water damage. Pressure sealed against water damage, vinyl flooring is vulnerable neither from the top nor the subfloor. The pressure sealed flooring will not absorb stains either, and as long as the spill is cleaned up promptly, it should leave no mark. When vinyl flooring begins to lose its finish, it can be easily repaired by simply buffing the floor. This is an extremely simple surface to care for, and does not require the high level of maintenance seen with hardwoods.
Wood flooring can be very appealing, but it is also difficult to care for and costly. Wood flooring has a tendency to warp with water damage and moisture exposure. The flooring is also susceptible to expansion and contraction over the years, eventually leading to cracks in the surface.
Vinyl flooring does not suffer from these problems, and with its interlocking tile system, damaged tiles can be taken out and replaced with ease.
Carpet can sometimes be a viable alternative, but it is also susceptible to suffering damage over time. Moisture and stains can be absorbed into the surface, causing a great deal of damage over time. Carpets can also be damaged by abrasion as time passes, becoming frayed and torn in places.
More information on flooring can be found at Pergo Flooring
