| |
| |
|
Home Improvement Information |
|
|
|
Designing With Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are suited to both casual and formal environments; they feel at home with modern or traditional and will compliment the decor of both minimalist and eclectic designs. Hardwood can be classic, rock, jazz, country, or hip hop. Today's State-of-the-art technology coupled with an almost limitless choice of stains, finishes, styles and designs makes hardwood flooring one of the most practical and versatile floor coverings available. Their beauty is enduring and like a fine wine, they mature with age. Nature provides the inspiration when designing with hardwood floors. The abundance of natural hardwood species provides a plethora of wood grain structures, each unique and each matching a particular d�cor. Oak woods contain a lot of growth ring patterns and knots, and are best suited to traditional and rustic decors. However, adding a high gloss finish can make them elegant enough for any formal dining room. Woods such as Maple, Walnut and Birch contain very little graining and lend themselves well to contemporary and modern designs. The aesthetic appeal of hardwood is also influenced to a large extent by mineral streaking, the presence of knots and shade and color variation. These features are also used in the classification of hardwoods. Clear - This grade of hardwood is free of defects though it may have minor imperfections. Flooring in this category tends to be very consistent with little mineral streaking and knots, also making it the most expensive grade. Select - This grade is almost clear, but contains more natural characteristics such as knots and color variations. Common grades (No. 1 and No. 2) have more markings than either clear or select and are often chosen because of these natural features and the character they bring to a room. No.1 Common has a variegated appearance, light and dark colors, knots, flags and worm holes. No.2 Common is rustic in appearance and will show all wood characteristics of the species. These grades have always been the least expensive, but the recent revival of the antique rustic look has resulted in prices skyrocketing. Performance is a very important aspect when selecting a hardwood floor. Some hardwood species are less porous than others, making them harder and less susceptible to staining. The Janka Hardness Test provides the relative hardness of numerous wood species used in flooring. This rating should only be used as a general guide, as the hardness is also affected by growth region. Plank construction and finish are also important factors when determining the durability of any wood floor. Plank construction comes in two forms, solid and engineered. Factors such as type of existing subfloor and relative air humidity will determine which floor is best suited to your needs. Great advancements in finish technology have resulted in floors that are less susceptible to scratching, denting, fading, and are easier to maintain. The addition of Aluminum Oxide to the surface finish has added a measure of performance resulting in a hardwood floor that, maintained properly, should never have to be replaced. This flooring article was written by Barry H. Get more tips and techniques at: Flooring information
MORE RESOURCES:
Home-Improvement - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Employ Passive Solar Energy and Start Saving Electricity Today 1. Orientation, layout and positioning of your house on the landOrientate your living areas to the south side of the house, which receives most of the sun throughout the day (north if you live in the southern hemisphere). 10 Quick Ways to Change Your Fire-less Fireplace from a Black Hole to a Worthy Focal Point Everyone loves a fireplace aglow with a roaring fire or flickering embers. But your fireplace need not be a gaping empty hole--like a picture frame without a picture--those times you choose not to have a fire. How to Install a New Toilet in 5 Easy Steps If your toilet is old and in need of repairs, it is cheaper to replace it by installing a new one. This is quite easy to do and can be completed in an afternoon. Log Homes - Is a Log Home In Your Future? Many people dream about a log home in their future but never get around to making their dream come true. Here's how to get past the hurdles and start living your dream. Ladder Safety Tips One of the many tools that home owners use regularly is a ladder. Whether you need to change the porch light bulb, clean the gutters or put something in the top of the closet. Refinishing A Hardwood Floor Want to bring your hardwood floors back to their former beauty, but don't have the money? Then read on for some tips on how you can refinish the floor yourself.If you have the time and don't mind doing the work, then refinishing your floors yourself is a great option but before starting out, it's not a bad idea to get an estimate from a professional so you can compare the cost of doing it yourself to what they would charge. Home Improvement for The Ladies! Your Own Homes Improvement Outline(One for the Ladies)Let me begin by saying what a home improvement plan will not do! I have seen this happen more than once, so I will say this now. A home improvement project, addition, upgrade, remodel, or makeover will not make up for a troubled marriage. Lakeside Patios - The Water Makes Decisions For You If you are putting in a new patio on a lakeside, you have unique considerations that other homeowners do not have when it comes to purchasing patio furniture.We built a new patio on a 700 acre lake and I had to look around for just the right outdoor furniture. Acting As Your Own General Contractor When Building Your Dream Home This article is intended for the DIY (Do It Yourself) home builder; however, it is very useful information for the new home buyer to understand what processes you can monitor even if you are not acting as the general contractor and hiring a general contractor. For the inexperienced DIY home builder, acting as a general contractor is one of the most stressful things anyone can undertake. Three Types of Lighting for Room Remodeling When remodeling a room, choosing the correct lighting is one of the most important considerations. Proper lighting sets the atmosphere of the room, creates a particular mood, or provides accent to an architectural style. Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens - Buyers Guide to Materials Worktops and Countertops for Kitchens - Buyers Guide to MaterialsThe worktop or countertop is not only necessary for a kitchen it is also an integral part of its design. Food preparation can deliver a large amount of wear and tear to the surfaces in the kitchen. Planning Permission Tips UK - Agricultural Plots of Land for Sale - The Latest Mug Punter Scam? The first part of most years brings a flurry of trade shows aimed at the public & trade alike such as The Ideal Home Show, Interiors & just recently the Building Exhibition at the NEC. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of new gadgets & Gizmos (along with the usual tat) that companies invent for our consumption. Planning Your Replacement Windows Installation Windows are the eyes of a home. From inside, you see the outside world through them. Picnic Tables for Casual Dining Fun Picnic tables are the perfect solution for an afternoon or evening get together. They offer everything from different shapes of a picnic table, to ones that fold up in a box. Poster, Print or Painting. Where Are You Going To Put It? If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house, care has to be taken where your piece of art is to be displayed. Even if you have bought a picture on impulse there are a few tips that will not only enhance the picture but its surroundings. Getting the Power to Control One of the advantages of using machines to control processes for you is that you can harness tremendous amounts of power and energy which humans do not possess.By a flick of a switch, huge sliding flood gates can move to allow large quantities of water to flow out of a dam. Save Money On Home Improvement Projects Many of us avoid home improvement projects due to their expense. Granted if you are contemplating a "second-story" addition to your home, or the construction of a new "game-room", then most likely you will need to hire a general contractor to complete this task. Color Help: Color Theory and Design Psychology Color theory is an entire science unto itself, and to get a full picture of how it all works, I'd suggest picking up a few art books. In this article, however, we're going to take a brief look at the essentials of color theory, in light of the concepts of Design Psychology. Lighter Fluid: The Best Label and Scuff Mark Remover The first time my husband saw me scrubbing the black heel marksoff of our kitchen floor with a toothbrush, he said, "You knowlighter fluid will take those marks right off." And it did! Noscrubbing at all, just a little lighter fluid poured on a papertowel, and the marks wiped right off. Luxury Bedding is More Than Just Thread Count Thread count is the most widely referred to term when searching for those "perfect sheets." Generally, the higher the thread count, the more costly you'll find the sheets.
|
