Revelion 2010

Suppliers of floor coatings to businesses and do-it-yourself home owners are deploying real-time technical phone support in order to solve the problem of improper installation.

The trick to creating a quality floor coating is getting the coating to adhere to the substrate surface with out chipping, peeling, or lifting. The key is preparation of the floor surface. But good surface preparation is a direct function of the experience and training of the applicator. Technical help lines now provide the business maintenance crews and homeowner the necessary on-the-job training and factory direct experience by phone. This kind of personal support greatly enhances the custom-built kits that suppliers are providing to homeowners.

Highly chemical- and wear-resistant, epoxy coatings have been used on concrete floors for decades in the industrial arena. These coated floors are easy to maintain with enhanced beauty and reduced wear. Unfortunately, these industrial grade coatings are generally not placed on the shelves of hardware stores and big box retailers due to liability concerns. In addition, store clerks are usually unable to provide the needed guidance for proper application of these industrial grade products.

One epoxy coating manufacture that is leading the way on this type of support is Durall Industrial Flooring of Minneapolis, MN. Durall enables individuals and project managers to obtain free, job-specific quotes on materials as well as nationwide turnkey installations by completing a simple questionnaire at www.concrete-floor-coatings.com.

For photo examples and more detail, visit www.concrete-floor-coatings.com

For more information, contact Harvey Chichester at harvey@concrete-floor-coatings.com

Phone: 1-800-466-8910 or 952-888-1488 (24/7)

Have you ever wondered how to install hardwood floor panels to make your home beautiful inside? There are many methods of installing hardwood flooring currently in use. One of the best do it yourself hardwood floors is the floating hardwood floor. The term floating doesn’t refer to a floor that is sitting in liquid. Floating means that, while the floor is fastened to itself, it is not fastened down to the subsurface.

A floating hardwood floor has some disadvantages you should be aware of before proceeding with your installation. These floors will sometimes feel like you’re walking on a bubble. And, each bubble you step on will have a creaky sound.

On the other hand, those bubbles give the floor a much softer feel than a well-fastened hardwood floor. And, the floating floor is much easier to maintain. Best of all, it is one of the cheapest types of hardwood floors to install.

Before continuing with the installation of a floating hardwood floor, we highly recommend that you consider using oak as your hardwood floor material. Oak looks beautiful and provides lasting durability.

-Tools Needed to Install a Floating Hardwood Floor

Broom and Dust Pan – It is important to keep everything clean as you go. It is particularly important to keep the saw dust out from under and between your panels where it can really throw things off kilter. If it gets in there, there is no way to get it out without the very difficult process of hardware floor disassembly.

There are different ways of keeping your hardwood floors on its tiptop shape. Maintaining the original condition of your floor can prevent you from experiencing future problems.

Having hardwood floors has always been nice. It makes us feel closer to the nature. It makes our house look more elegant and rich. And more importantly, it gives our house a homey feel. Most people think that having this kind of floor is hard to maintain. Fortunately, it’s untrue! Simple maintenance is required.

The condition and lifespan of your floor depends on how you take care of it. Few things must be taken into considerations in taking care of your hardwood floors. Different wood finish requires different kind of care. However, there are also some general ways of taking care of your hardwood floors:

* Keep your hardwood floor dry. Never let spills or any kind of fluid sit on your hardwood floor. This can cause warping on your floor. When spills occur, make sure to wipe it off right away with soft cloth. Never use dripping rugs or even damp rugs on your floor. Wet rugs can cause dullness and discoloration on your hardwood floors.

* Keep your hardwood floors away from too much sun exposure. Too much exposure to sunlight can cause damage to any organic material. This can make the color of your floor lose its original color. It is best to use curtains or blinds to keep sunlight from getting through your house.

* You should place fabric or any felt materials under the leg of your furniture to avoid scratching your hardwood floor. Lifting furniture when moving them can also avoid scratches on floor surfaces.

In the wood flooring industry, the term ‘old growth’ continues to be the subject of interpretation and controversy. At Madera Floors we make it our business to know more about wood than any other company, and to educate our customers so that they can make more informed purchasing decisions. We frequently address questions about ‘old growth’ trees, especially in relation to reclaimed timber. In fact, we have talked with many consumers who thought the terms meant the same thing and were misled into thinking their old growth flooring was the same as our antique reclaimed flooring. Here we define some of the terms and address questions surrounding the mystery of ‘old growth’.

Old Growth refers to established forests that, up until the time trees are cut, have had little or no disruption. Advocates of cutting old growth timbers suggest that pruning selected trees is good for the forest. We disagree. Old growth forests maintain themselves through a natural process that does not include cutting into the delicate fabric woven by nature.

How Old is “Old” Growth? The actual age that determines “old” growth varies depending on the specie, but it refers to the age at which a tree has reached its maturity. For an eastern white pine, it is between 130-150 years, while many of the hardwoods reach maturity at 80 years. But, what is most important is that at maturity and thereafter the old growth tree is still contributing to the ecosystem in which it lives.