HOW TO GET THE PERFECT LAMINATE FLOOR FOR YOUR HOME
Flooring

HOW TO GET THE PERFECT LAMINATE FLOOR FOR YOUR HOME

Ashley Cassidy

Introduction

Laminate flooring is one of the great developments in home improvement of the past 50 years. It’s inexpensive, durable and prefinished, but best of all. Most of the various styles are installed by just snapping together the planks-no glue or fasteners required. In fact, the trickiest part is choosing the product! .

 Types of laminate flooring

There are two types of laminate flooring. Both come in packages of snap-together planks about 1/4 in. thick. But here’s the difference: Engineered wood is made from layers of real wood glued together with each layer perpendicular to the one below and above it for better stability. The top layer is a high-quality thin layer of hardwood coated with acrylic finish. Plastic laminate, on the other hand, is completely artificial, with a layer of melamine on the bottom, a resin-saturated fiberboard center, and a woodgrain print on the top that’s protected by a layer of clear hard plastic.Its thin top layer of actual hardwood makes it more susceptible to dents, scratches and staining. But unlike plastic laminate flooring, it can be rejuvenated up to three times with careful sanding and refinishing. Because of that, you can expect it to last longer than plastic laminate—if you locate it away from water-prone and high-wear areas.Plastic laminate is for those who want the look of wood flooring in a place that gets wet or seriously abused. The bulletproof topcoat and plastic internal components make laminate floors extremely durable. They stand up to moisture, pet claws, in-line skates and sand-infested flip-flops much better than engineered wood floors. Learn more.

 Don’t Forget the Underlayment

All laminate flooring needs foam underlayment, don’t skip it.Underlayment makes the floorfeel softwhen walking across it. This makes the planks easier to install because it evens out small inconsistencies in the subfloor. Be careful to use whatever is required, buy the special laminate and wood flooring installation tool as well. You’ll need it to pull together flooring ends where each row abuts a wall.The directions will tell you the amount of slab or subfloor unevenness tolerated by the brand and type of flooring you buy. Over an uneven floor, wider planks will be harder to snap together, end joints won’t stay flush with one another and there will be more gaps beneath the planks that you’ll feel when you walk across the floor. So if your concrete or wood subfloor is quite uneven, you’re better off selecting a narrower plank style, and being thorough when you apply the floor leveling compound.

 Conclusion

If you lead a quiet life, choose whatever flooring style appeals to you. But if you have one of those crazy households with kids, pets and lots of visitors, be a bit more careful. Flooring with a varied grain pattern, a low-gloss finish or distressed or hand-scraped patina will look much better, much cleaner, much longer than flooring with a glossy, monolithic grain pattern. For more details, visit: https://www.theflooringlady.com/bamboo-and-cork/

Choosing Flooring Materials. What to consider before buying
Flooring

Choosing Flooring Materials. What to consider before buying

Ashley Cassidy

Fixation is the greatest part of any home because it is the one that determines the style and feel of any home. Some people cannot believe this but for sure flooring has a noteworthy part in making any house to look neat and make one to feel the atmosphere of the room. Due to this you need to be very careful when choosing your flooring and ensure you avoid mistakes that might make you have the worst floor ever. The ideal flooring options will depend on factors such as ones spending plan, ones way of life and also the measure of movement that the floor is likely to take. Some of these factors include:

Lifestyle

When looking for the best flooring options for you it is important for you to look at the lifestyle that you and your families lives or want to live. That is why you find that different houses have different floors that are meant to suit the needs of the owner of the house. The way you live and the way you want to utilize the house plays a great role in choosing the flooring materials. Strong flooring materials are considered for substantial movement zones such as the fired tile, wood flooring and the vinyl. Wood flooring is ideal for those people who have homes with insignificant activities.

Eco-friendly

Ensure that the flooring materials that you choose are eco-friendly and at the same time the flooring should not be extra-ordinary. Flooring materials should be good for the environment so that you will be comfortable living in such a house with your family. Some of the flooring materials that are eco-friendly to use are materials such as bamboo wood, plug flooring, stone flooring, reused glass tiles and many others that are friendly to the environment. Read more.

Cost

The cost of the flooring materials is another very crucial factor that should be taken into consideration. Do you know how flooring materials are evaluated? They are evaluated per square foot and in fact they have very high chances of adding up rapidly. All types of flooring materials are evaluated in value and therefore your pocket is what will determine the kind of flooring materials that you will buy for your house.

Location

Where is your house located? This is a very crucial question that you need to answer yourself before you go to the market looking for the best flooring materials to buy. Ensure that the flooring that is at the anteroom or at the section is amazing and should be sturdy. Where snow, mud and rain are components ensure you put strong flooring and these kinds of flooring include tile, slate or even wood.

Last but not least, you have to be very keen when choosing the best flooring for your commercial or residential houses. What we all know is that flooring or carpet plays a very crucial role and more especially in the overall appearance of the house or room. Consider the location, the budget, your lifestyle and also your desired design when looking for the best flooring options. Learn more details at: https://www.theflooringlady.com/carpet/

Flooring

The Lost Art of Concrete Floor Finishing

Ashley Cassidy

 Concrete flooring isn’t the same anymore as a couple of years back. This is because of the variety of concrete floor finishes that you can choose from. You can even now create art when you are doing your concrete flooring. The problem is that many people don’t know about the different concrete floor finishing option that they have, and they don’t know all the information to make sure that they are choosing the best possible options. Here is everything you need to know about the lost art of concrete flooring:

Don’t need to have the boring grey flooring anymore

Some people think about the grey concrete floors when they hear about concrete flooring. And, that this isn’t really suitable for homes and patios. However, this doesn’t need to be the boring concrete flooring anymore.  When you are choosing your flooring, and consider concrete, then you will have more options than what you might think.

This is why you should make sure that you are doing research or talking to a professional about the different flooring options that you have.

Different types of flooring finishes available

The one thing that you need to know, is that there are different types of concrete flooring finishes available, and you need to make sure that you are going to choose the right one for your home. These are the basic concrete flooring finishes that you can choose from, when you consider concrete flooring, with a twist:

  • Chemical stain
  • Concrete stamping
  • Colored concrete
  • Laminated concrete floors
  • Polished concrete

Doing it yourself versus hiring a professional

The other thing that you should decide is if you should finish yourself the concrete flooring, or if you should rather consider hiring a professional.

The first thing that you should consider is the fact that you should consider what type of concrete are you going to consider. Is this something that you can do without the right equipment? It is advisable to consider hiring a professional that specializes in different concrete floor finishes ensuring that you have a professional looking floor. You might save money by doing it yourself, but you will not get the professional looking floor as when you have hired a professional.

Things to consider when hiring a concrete flooring company

When you have decided on what type of concrete flooring finish you are going to choose for your home, you need to hire a concrete flooring company. However, the last thing that you want, is to hire the first and best contractor that you can find. You should look at the experience, reputation and quality work before hiring anyone.

There are a couple of things that you should know about the art of concrete floor finishes. There are a large variety of options these days, that is going to look unique and that will ensure that it suits with your personality. The more you know about this type of flooring, the easier it is going to be to choose your flooring and to choose the contractor that is going to install the flooring for you. Visit this site for more information : http://www.theflooringlady.com/

Faux Stone Flooring
Flooring

Faux Stone Flooring

Ashley Cassidy

Stone flooring is quite a popular choice for many home owners and yet it can be a costly option. That has led more to look into faux stone instead. Now, faux stone is lovely because you can get a lovely cozy feel without the added cost and it is quite a simple thing to add into the home as well. It doesn’t matter what type of home you have, faux stone can really lift it and give it some spirit. However, what do you know about faux stone flooring?

Faux Stone Is Less Expensive Than Natural Stone

One of the biggest reasons as to why stone is greatly adored is because of how it looks. The natural stone can shine through and really look fantastic offering more beauty into a home. However natural stone can be a little more costly than what many would be happy to pay which leaves a real problem. Faux stone flooring however, offers the same quality look without the high costs. It’s a real plus to say the least as it ensures all home owners have the ability to use faux stone without getting the extremely high costs.

Why You Must Choose A High Quality Faux Stone Flooring Solution

Faux stone vinyl is certainly a popular option for those looking at stone and it’s all because of how easy the installation and finished result can be. Once the vinyl stickers are down the floor can look amazing but, if the vinyl isn’t high quality, they can look really bad. If the stickers are shiny then people will know its fake stone and you might not be happy with the look. Stone flooring, especially faux stone, is supposed to look nice and authentic but with vinyl it can all go wrong. That is why you must look at the quality of the vinyl flooring before purchasing. This will avoid a disaster once the floor is installed.

Installation Can Be Simple

Despite what many believe, stone flooring can be more than easy to install. There is no difficult installation required and you should be able to install with limited skills as well which is even better! It doesn’t matter if you’re opting for faux stone, it’s really easy to install and quite easy to maintain too. That is so important because if you don’t have the money to pay a professional to install the floor, its good it’s easy to install. However, faux stone is truly a lovely option for every home and there isn’t a lot that goes into maintaining it either so again, it’s a real advantage. That is why more are now choosing faux stone.

Love Faux Stone

Faux stone has to be amongst the very best types of flooring options today and it really does show its quality. Once you have this installed and complete, you will just love its unique look and it can be utterly gorgeous. It’s long-lasting and you should find it more than durable too which is perfect! Enjoy your faux stone flooring and it’ll last a lifetime.

Check out this link for more informations: http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/floors/how-to-install-natural-stone-tile-flooring

Protect Vinyl Flooring from Moisture
Flooring

Protect Vinyl Flooring from Moisture

Ashley Cassidy

One of the good things about the vinyl floor is that they are quite resistant to moisture and it will take a huge number of spills to cause any visible effect on it. When there is a constant presence of moisture underneath the floor which ends up corroding the adhesive and causing the edges to pull away, this is where there is a problem with the level.

It ends up causing the edges of the floor to pull away, and it also leads to discoloration as well as stain rings. The sources of the moisture on the floor are quite numerous, and some of them are usually not taken into consideration by contractors. There is the need for the adequate checking and fixing of any source through which water might infiltrate the vinyl and also thoroughly preparing the concrete.

Vinyl flooring installation

It is critical that the floor installers check the level of moisture in the concrete during the facility. Once the moisture level is adequate, then the installation of the floor may proceed. If however, something changes such as a heavy rain after a long drought season, inadequate drainage, or improving landscaping, then there is a high possibility of the home being subjected to vapor emission.

In the process of installing vinyl flooring in an area with high moisture, the floor should be dried first; although this might take a long time ranging from days to weeks.

Moisture and Vinyl Adhesive

Go for plastic that comes with built-in mildewcide which won’t allow the growth of mold. Purchase an adhesive that comes with an already made sealant, and you should also ensure it is compatible with the floor.

In case your concrete subfloor is too moist, then you should consider some other flooring options such as tiles. A good practice is also the installation of new flooring over an old one, for instance, this will encapsulate old materials that contain asbestos and also add some extra level of moisture protection.

Sealing out Moisture

One of the most prevalent sources of moisture to a floor is the toilet; you should always ensure that all the adjacent fixtures to the part for vinyl floor installation are water tight; hence you should pay extra attention to the toilet.

Conduit water pipes are also where moisture comes in contact with the vinyl flooring, making use of high quality, flexible silicone sealant will help to keep the emission of vapor down.

Find out more informations here: http://www.allamericandoor-mn.com/the-real-deal-behind-home-construction-cost/

The Real Deal Behind Home Construction Cost
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The Real Deal Behind Home Construction Cost

Ashley Cassidy

If the cost of building a new home seems unimaginable for you because you feel that labor fees and the price of construction materials and equipment have soared through the roof, you are not alone in this thinking. A lot of people who move from one residence another often contemplate the option of moving into an ‘old’ home where another family has previously lived, rather than building a new house from the ground up. The reason behind their hesitancy in building a house from scratch is the humongous construction costs involved. If you would like to know the real deal behind home construction costs, here is a preview of where the construction cost will go.

First, if you have purchased a lot in a state which you would like to call home, you may have already consulted a contractor or an architect who can make a preliminary sketch of what your actual dream house will look like. If this is the case and you already have a blueprint, then estimating the actual construction cost will definitely be a breeze. However, if there are no preliminary plans yet, you would have to bring out all the traditional and high-tech tools that you have, like your laptop computer, so that you can make a do-it-yourself estimate on your home construction costs. Here, you can make use of free online home construction costs calculator to make your job easier. The problem is, you may not have an idea of the quantity of the materials that you would need to buy. For this, you can make a rough estimate of the floor area of the house that you intend to build. From these figures, you can use the online calculator so that you would at least have an idea of how much money you need to prepare to get things going. More details in this post.

The next best thing to a do-it-yourself home construction cost estimate is to have a local builder or contractor in the area quote you an actual price. Usually, home builders charge on a per square footage basis. Thus, knowing the exact area of the house that you want to build is an essential part of estimating the home construction costs. Expect to pay a higher rate per square footage if you want to build a larger house as compared to the average-sized homes in your area. Even the shape of the house is being considered by a local contractor before giving homeowners a ballpark construction cost amount. Whether you will do the cost estimations yourself or if you will be requesting a quotation from a contractor, the important thing is to have an idea of how much building a new home would cost so that you can determine if such a major undertaking is feasible with your current financial status. If you decide that it is, then you have already taken that first crucial step in building that dream house of yours.

Learn to research information in our site here http://www.theflooringlady.com/  before getting into conclusion.

Home Construction Loan – Exactly What Does Your Bank Want?
Construction Services

Home Construction Loan – Exactly What Does Your Bank Want?

Ashley Cassidy

One quick call should do it. You’ll just go to your banker and because of your great relationship; she’ll set you up with the construction loan you need to build your home. Now, where’s that “easy button”?

Okay, maybe you don’t think it will be that easy, but surely it can’t be all that worrisome, right? The construction loan is a unique animal. Not many lenders are adept at it and many lenders won’t even touch it. It takes some real experience and good management for a lender to control it and make a profit.

Just What is a Construction Loan?

The home construction loan funds your home building project. It’s viewed as a risky proposition by the lender. They are being asked to fund a promise. All loans are a promise to pay, yes, but a construction loan is a promise to pay without much collateral. There is no home there to repossess if it isn’t completed. Not something all banks are eager to participate in.

These loans can be profitable for lenders but they must reduce their risk as much as possible before they commit. It’s this risk reduction that makes them seem so picky about their qualifications standards.

Here’s what you should be asking your lender before you plow ahead with your homebuilding plans. Their answers will enlighten you about their requirements.

  • Will they accept you as an Owner Builder or require a licensed contractor?

Be sure that your banker knows what your goal is. Are you a true owner builder? Will you be hiring a General Contractor? What is their policy on owner involvement?

  • Does your bank screen the contractors for approval?

Many banks and other lenders will have the last word on the builder or General Contractor you use. Others that allow Owner Builder programs will likely require a Home Building Coach. How do they approve them?

  • What kind of equity does the bank require you to have first?

Will your land need to be free and clear of any loans or encumbrances? Will you be required to put additional cash into the project?

  • Do they use a “builder’s control” system for paying bills?

How is the money disbursed throughout your home building project? Will you be in charge of the money paid out? What will the paperwork be like? How much will this cost to administer?

  • Will you be required to make construction loan payments?

If you do not make loan payments on your construction loan along the way, how much interest reserve will you need to include in the loan?

  • How many months is the construction loan term?

Home building construction loans are typically very short term loans. They range for six to 12 months on average. What is their policy if you end up needing more time? More explained here: http://www.bankrate.com/finance/real-estate/how-do-home-construction-loans-work.aspx

  • Will the loan automatically roll over into a 30-year mortgage?

You can see from this that it’s important to start this conversation early. There are many hoops to jump through and it’s an ongoing process. You may not be able to proceed exactly the way you envisioned.

Finally, getting a loan to build your dream is just part of the reality of getting it done. My advice is to go with the flow and provide your banker with what she needs. She wants to get it done too! Just be sure to communicate well. Ask questions and understand the reasons for the requirements. It’ll make life easier for you even if you’re operating without that phantom “button.”

What Is The Open Wall Construction Technology?
Construction Services

What Is The Open Wall Construction Technology?

Ashley Cassidy

Open wall construction is not limited to a single technique. The theories and principles behind the construction are unique, but the design uses existing methods and materials to allow for complete flexibility.

Methods discussed later describe only one of a number of design models created, and provides examples of the applications, which should be modified to meet local codes and personal preferences.

Wrap and Strap Open Wall Construction

This method is ideal for tradesmen because its application is simple, and the buildings thermal envelope can easily be maintained. It consists of a primary shell, which is the buildings structural skeleton, being constructed with standard platform framing techniques. The entire building is then wrapped in polyethylene, and then a second non-structural skin is attached to the exterior, which is insulated and finished. This type of open wall construction is used to retro-fit existing two by four constructions into super-insulated, air tight homes.

Platform Open Wall Construction

Platform construction methods require that the framing carpenters perform not only the structural framing, but install the windows, doors, insulation, air/vapor barrier, exterior moisture barrier and sometimes exterior finishes when used in paneled wall sections.

This method has been utilized in the pre-manufacture of exterior walls in sections which are handled by four workers easily. It is very effective for consumers, not familiar with structural design, but who wish to erect their own homes. It is also a much quicker method because the building can be factory built elsewhere, shipped, and erected with the vapor barrier, insulation, electrical, interior finishes, windows, doors and siding already installed. A unique ability of this method is the capability of the structure to be disconnected and moved in sections. This would have ideal applications for modification and additions, or to perform panel repair/replacement.

Foundation

When building the foundation wall assemblies, it is important to use proper materials and consider the use of a raised, compacted sub-footing. Whether using a granular sub-footing, a full height concrete footing or a footing and sub-foundation to elevate the wall assembly, the foundation panels cannot be backfilled more than three and a half feet. Any more than this and the structural integrity of the wall will be compromised.

Finishing the wall by installation of the pressure treated plywood foundation cover and/or siding is then done. The plywood foundation paneling must be installed with the joints staggered against the underlying foam board. These panels are fastened with exterior screws, spaced eight inches around the edges, and ten inches within the interior area.

First Floor Walls

In design, it is important that if you do not use tie straps to hold the sections together, then the upper and lower sections should have overlapping plates to prevent separation. Also, depending on the particular design, the floor may have to be installed before continuing. It is recommended to install floors before continuing for this gives the carpenters a level area to construct the upper walls on and supports the exterior foundation.

Windows and Doors (exterior openings)

Probably the trickiest area to seal against infiltration and exfiltration. Although the area around the opening could be sealed with expanding foam, by pre-installing the windows in frames with a perimeter gasket, less work and material is required.

Interior Floors

Because open wall construction relies on continuous wall insulation between stories, the interior floors in this method must be designed to remain within the building envelope. Utilizing overhanging walls, wider lower wall sections or ledger strips, the interior floors can be supported on sufficient bearing. Floor assemblies can be joists, truss floors, wood I beams or any other type of framing material.

Roofs

Open wall construction was designed for use with truss components, but by strapping over ceiling joists, the same results can be obtained. For effective design, overhangs should be completely eliminated. They are costly and require extensive labor to complete. Roof edges should have angled fascia (called knife edging) to allow enough overhang to prevent excess run off from running down walls. Simple “two by” fascia, lapped over wall siding can be trimmed or painted in many colors and still provide adequate visual separation from the roof. By lapping the fascia over the siding gravity water cannot enter into the buildings wall cavities. But remember to leave enough screened eave area, to allow for adequate attic ventilation. Gables should also be completed with knife edging and reduced overhang. Sheathing and roofing materials are applied as per current building techniques.

Find out more informations here: http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/walls-and-ceilings/all-about-ceiling-and-wall-construction

Choosing a High Quality Sub Floor Construction Adhesive
Construction Services

Choosing a High Quality Sub Floor Construction Adhesive

Ashley Cassidy

There are many things to consider when it comes to high quality sub floor construction a really nice place to spend time. One of the most important things that you need to decide, is what kind of construction adhesive you will install, as this will have a major effect on the way your sub floor looks overall. This article will take a look at some of the different types of sub flooring and some considerations that need to be borne in mind before making a purchase decision.

When it comes to building a house or renovating your existing home, it’s important for you to make sure that you have stable and solid flooring. Floor creaks are an inevitable consequence of a poorly constructed sub floor and choosing a low quality sub floor adhesives. Whether you plan on installing wood flooring or tile flooring, an excellent sub floor adhesive ensures well-set floors for your home.

Why choose sub floor construction adhesives

Before construction adhesives were formulated to aid in a variety of construction projects, most carpenters and professional wall and floor installers accomplished their jobs merely through the help of nails and screws. However, nails eventually would work loose and screws are not designed to work well with every kind of surface, including tile floors and tile paneling.

Construction adhesives, on the other hand, ensure a sold fastening system, bonding two surfaces together without relying too much on the nail or screw method. While there are flooring projects which do require the use of screws to ensure a more solid bond, thereby reducing floor creaks, the use of a top quality product eliminates stability problems early on. Many of these are also designed to work from one season to the next, and to withstand extreme changes in temperatures. These work to provide long-lasting bonding performance, whether for flooring or wall paneling purposes. Flexible and durable, these fastening products may be used both for interior and exterior construction projects. Find out more tips here: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/4-tips-for-removing-heavy-duty-construction-adhesives

Buying a sub floor construction adhesive

Durability and reliability are important factors in choosing a subfloor construction adhesive. You will need to choose an adhesive that can guarantee a durable bonding mechanism for all your projects especially on surfaces that require hard-wearing adhesion. An excellent adhesive should have the ability to bridge gaps, so that stress is evenly distributed and strength and bonding abilities are not compromised.

When you’re doing a wide range of construction and bonding projects moreover, it pays to choose a product that is built for flexible purposes. While some sub floor adhesives are built only to work with wood or tiles, some of the most reliable ones are also ideal in fastening polyurethane foam, ceramic tiles, and even fiber glass.

The Nail Power Low VOC Sub Floor Construction Adhesive is a durable, reliable, and flexible construction adhesive which is made to suit a variety of indoor and outdoor bonding applications. Formulated to last and to work well with a variety of materials, from wood to tile to trim moldings, what you have a superior construction adhesive that works as hard as you do.