Tag Archives: Floors

How to Spend Less on Floor Refinishing

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Spending less is a common concern these days, and it extends as well to home expenses. Many homeowners are looking into ways to stretch their cash without sacrificing comfort and beauty. When it comes to maintaining your hardwood floors, you can actually make use of some simple steps and options that are easy on the budget but are very effective in maintaining the classic beauty of your floor and your home.

One expense that you can address is the cost of floor refinishing. Some homeowners are able to cut costs on floor refinishing by undertaking it themselves. The process of refinishing hardwood floors is not complicated at all, and the equipment you will be needing is generally available for rent in any equipment shop. Among the things you will be needing is a floor sander. This is equipment that you cannot do with out as you will need it to sand your floor correctly. The other option, which is manual sanding, is too tedious and can be hard on your back and knees. You will also need sandpaper of different grit sizes and a wood finishing product. After sanding the floor, you can proceed immediately to the application of the wood finisher. Make sure to let the prior coat dry first before you proceed with applying the next coat otherwise the finisher could bubble.

If you are not too comfortable or confident with refinishing the floor yourself, you can also make use of a service called dustless refinishing which is less costly than traditional floor refinishing procedures. This process gets the job done but does it in less time. Since there will be less time spent on refinishing your floor, labor costs are also significantly cut down. Many homeowners now prefer this procedure not only because of the less money involved but also because of other benefits associated with it such as less dust and less fumes that are inhaled in the process.

Whether you decide to avail of dustless refinishing or refinish your floor yourself, keep in mind that one of the best ways to save on floor refinishing is to establish a regular maintenance regimen that will prolong the shine of your floor. Regular cleaning will go a long way in keeping hardwood floors shiny and scratch-free, thus minimizing the need to refinish it. Good maintenance is thus a surefire way for you to save on refinishing costs.

Cleaning The Vinyl Flooring

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Vinyl flooring is very much popular these days. Its easy maintenance, durability and the most favorable, its cost makes it highly in demand. Moreover it is easy to install especially in the form of tiles so it helps in saving much money than other flooring types. Flooring seem uncomfortable when they are not friendly in maintenance. Unlike carpets and wooden floors vinyl floors are very easy to maintain. A little effort and your floor are shining. Simple moping is enough if you have not much traffic on the floor. Let me tell you some simple ways that can keep your floor a new one.

Washing With Plain Water:
A very simple way to clean the floor is to use plain water when you mop onto the floor. To remove dust and stains it is enough. But if some stains do not get off you can add a dish-washing solution to the water before moping. It will surely remove the stains and your floor will be perfectly clean.

Using Chlorine Bleach:
Another way to make your cleaning perfect is to use chlorine bleach for moping on the tiles. Chlorine bleach is excellent cleaner for vinyl floor. Add ¼ chlorine bleach in ¾ water and let it to be settled for five minutes and after that mop the floor. It will shine at it’s best.

Turpentine & Alcohol For Removing Stains:
To remove hard stains and scuff you can use turpentine, mineral spirit, alcohol and even baking soda. Soak the piece of cloth in any of the item and rub the defected area. For tough stains you can also apply glycerin added up in warm water. It will also help to get rid of stains.

Using Ammonia:
Ammonia also serves as a best cleaner for vinyl sheets and mostly on tiles. It leaves the floor with a perfect shine and complete satisfaction of safe and healthy flooring without any dirt particles and germs. Just a half-cup of ammonia is enough in one-gallon water. Mop the floor with this solution using a soft stuff. And after that, mop with simple water to satisfy any sediments on the floor.

Using Cleaning Products:
You can also use products in the market. There are very fine brands of cleaners and shiners especially made for vinyl flooring. They are also very affective in cleaning as well as maintaining the shine of the floor.

For perfect results and satisfaction you should vacuum or you may broom the vinyl floor every two days. Mop it at least once a week and it will pay back for years.

Facts About Concrete Flooring and How to Turn it From Boring to Beautiful

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Concrete flooring has made the transition from edgy to elegant. Once found only in industrial settings, it’s quickly becoming the answer for an affordable, green alternative.

There are a lot of misconceptions about concrete flooring out there, and a lot of advantages that few even consider.

Concrete is hard
Concrete is cold
Concrete is boring and grey
Concrete is only for industrial uses or design style

It’s hard. True, it doesn’t give under bare feet, but then again, neither does any other stone, such as tile or slate. In addition, depending on the finishing technique, it’s not abrasive on bare feet.

It’s cold. Again, true, but so are a lot of other flooring options, even hardwood. One thing about concrete many don’t know is that its thermal properties give it the ability to store and radiate heat. If your home relies on passive solar heating it can help store warmth and reduce your heating bills in the winter. In the summer, cool floors make a room more comfortable, also leading to reduced cooling costs.

Another plus is its compatibility with radiant heating, the process of burying radiant heating cables within the floor itself. This allows the home owner the option of controlling the heat and keeping the floors toasty warm.

It’s grey. Well, it can be. It can also be any color imaginable. One of the biggest pluses to concrete flooring is its versatility. Almost anything you can imagine can be brought to life in concrete flooring. There are additives available, everything from recycled glass to seashells. There are color techniques ranging from acid dyes to stains. Concrete can be etched, stenciled, overlaid and polished, creating looks that put high end flooring to shame.

It’s industrial. Again, it can be. But it can be used with any design style, depending on the finishing treatment. It looks equally well in a metal loft or a room with exposed wooden beams. Concrete flooring is the best option for affordable self expression.

It’s eco-friendly. Concrete flooring is also eco-friendly. There is no more durable flooring around. It can be made from limestone-the most common mineral on earth. It can also be made from waste products like slag cement and silica fume, byproducts from power plants, steel mills and other manufacturing processes.

It’s easy to care for. There’s no need for fancy equipment to take care of it. Just periodic damp or dust mopping is needed to keep it looking beautiful.

It’s cost effective. Compared to other flooring options it comes out on top every time, if you consider the fact that it will never need replacing if it’s properly maintained with a variety of different protectants and sealers. Actual cost per square foot varies, but usually ranges from $2.50 for a basic, one color, one finish application; to $15 for a high end, custom look. Even the high end look comes out well below other pricier options like marble and terrazzo flooring.

It helps reduce allergens. Carpets trap dust mites deep within their fibers where vacuums cannot reach. For people with allergies to dust and pet dander concrete flooring can be a life saving option.

All in all, decorative concrete flooring is long awaited option in housing and commercial flooring. The benefits are many and the costs are few.