January 2012
Article 1
We all say it: “Next time, I am going to remember to do this or that differently.” Unfortunately, time has a way of blurring the specific circumstances of the situation; rarely are the circumstances on each job the same, which allows busy contractors to forget about how they might improve a procedure at the next opportunity. Recently, we had an occasion to remember firsthand the importance of following a specific, predetermined procedure for job-site success in regards to customer service. How we deal with customers’ concerns and questions is vital to our survival in this delicate economy, since referrals are one of the best ways to demonstrate professionalism in our field. Here is what happened:
The issue began with the customer asking questions about irregularities she noticed with the contractor’s work (gaps between recently installed boards and debris in the finish) before the job was completed. In this situation most contractors are busy trying to meet a specific time schedule or get to the next job on their work ticket. If you don’t give a customer your undivided attention, the client will believe that his or her concerns are being minimized. If you don’t plan on addressing the concerns immediately, write them down in a list of “Things to Do Tomorrow.” Acknowledging the concerns and letting the client see you write the concerns on a list provides accountability.
In this case, the workers (rightly or wrongly) informed the customer that both the gaps and the debris would be dealt with during the next coat and specifically would be remedied with additional applications of finish. Here we have two issues. First, the customer is getting information from and giving information to workers who may or may not relay all the concerns accurately to their supervisor or the next crew. Without a record of the concerns, the information may be forgotten and/or not passed on to the next crew. Second, the written record provides you, the business owner or supervisor, with an opportunity to use your professional knowledge and follow up with the client (hopefully with a phone call). This reassures the client that the concerns will be addressed on the next scheduled visit, or it’s possible an impromptu inspection or repair the next day is warranted. At this point, you can reaffirm and recognize the client’s concerns and propose a course of action to remedy those issues.
After speaking with the workers, the client wondered how these issues would be remedied when they were already covered with a coat of finish. Here is where doubt creeps into the minds of our customers and plants the seeds of discontent. Clients have countless sources of information they can check to validate a contractor’s response (GCs, the NWFA consumer website, certified inspectors, other contractors, neighbors, etc.). One small concern opens the door to curiosity, and before you know it, the client is on hands and knees with a headlamp inspecting every inch of flooring. Make sure the response is logical and clearly conveyed to the customer. If necessary, write out a “change order” on the bid (at no charge, if the quality of work is in question). Get the customer to affirm the corrective action with a signature on the change of work order.
As a result of the above concerns not having been met to her satisfaction, the client contacted her GC to discuss her concerns and lack of customer service. This is where the process starts all over again, with a greater number of concerns and a less amicable working environment. Unfortunately, the owner continued to discount the customer’s concerns and ultimately blamed the customer for the existence of the issues. Ultimately, after two certified inspectors visited the job site and offered their recommendations, the customer decided to not allow the contractor to finish the job.
We were hired to fix the concerns and complete the job. For me, this job speaks volumes: Live and learn. When we drive the truck and trailer around the city and show up in work clothes, we give the impression that we work as blue-collar laborers. We get stain and dye on our hands and under our fingernails, and dust floats off of our sweatshirts in the wind, but what we want to convey to you, our peers in this industry, is that we are not just laborers. We are skilled craftspeople, accountants, account managers, customer service representatives, advertising representatives, and quality control managers. By reading this magazine, you prove that you are all of the above, as well. As wood flooring professionals, we all must have the skills to provide our clients with a beautiful, long-lasting floor as well as a business process that meets and exceeds their expectations. If you are in the field for the long term, you must take whatever steps necessary to satisfy your clients’ expectations, even if it means sometimes not making a short-term profit. If you don’t, someone else will.
Here are our recommendations for dealing with customer concerns:
1. Listen intently to customer concerns and write them down.
2. Immediately correct or address the concerns, even if it takes extra hours.
3. Provide NWFA documentation on procedures or call the NWFA tech line. Let your customer talk to the tech, if needed.
4. Get affirmation on the rectified concerns.
5. Smile and don’t take it personally (at least not until you get home).
Here are my recommendations when starting a job with an already-dissatisfied client, as we did on this job:
1. Recommend an independent inspector if one hasn’t already visited the job site.
2. Clearly explain what actions need to be taken to remedy the work and specifically list those actions on the bid.
3. Document everything: Take pictures of the existing issues. Take pictures of your work as it progresses. Receive enough payment up front to pay for your materials and labor (if state law permits). If the client is committed to improving their floors, they’ll pay for the changes.
4. Be honest about your opinion and realistic in your ability to meet their expectations; you are fighting an uphill battle.
5. It seems like a lot of up-front work, but call to check in with the client. Do they have any concerns in the process so far? If necessary, contact them each day of the job, just to ask how they’re doing. Explain the work that will take place that day and reassure them that they can contact you at any time. Provide them with something for free (cleaning kit, flush-mount vents, maintenance coat, etc.)
6. Be confident, particularly if you are an NWFA-certified professional. There aren’t a lot of us, and we should take pride in our work and efforts to remain knowledgeable in regards to products and processes.
Provide By Global Hardwood and supplies your hardwood flooring store in Thousand-Oaks Ventura County and Los Angeles
Article 2
Temperature and Engineered Floors
Engineered wood is surely a preference on solid hardwood when flooring is required in any area where changes in humidity and temperature vary. It is relatively more resistant to temperature changes than solid wood. When an installation is below grade, or over or near radiant heating systems and/or any humid area or climate is concerned, engineered wood is firmly favored over solid hardwood, the use of the latter being discouraged by most professionals.
Engineered wood is designed to provide better stability and resistance when moisture or heat may cause problems for solid wood floors. Engineered floors feature a multiple-ply plank design, meant to allow for expansion while maintaining its structural stability. This flooring is made up of an inner core of hardwood and/or softwood plywood or high density fiberboard and a top layer of veneer that is glued on the top surface of the core. These layers are bonded together under heat and pressure.
The stacking of the layers is meant to prevent the natural tendency of hardwoods to expand, contract, warp, or cup when exposed to different environmental factors. Especially, when moisture causes solid hardwood floors to expand excessively. As a result, engineered floors counteract twisting and warping in presence of moisture, and remain flat and intact.
This ‘multiple-ply plank’ feature makes engineered wood an excellent alternative in geographical areas that have excessive humidity, or in building spaces otherwise unsuited for solid hardwood like damp basements. Similarly, engineered flooring is a versatile choice in flooring, resistant to heat as well moisture. Engineered floors are a logical alternative to solid wood in areas where environmental factors do not allow solid hardwood to flourish.
Provided By Global Hardwood and supplies Thousand-Oaks Ventura County and Los Angeles
Article 3
Everything to Grain and variation: Choosing Your Hardwood Flooring Board’s
Choosing the variety of hardwood flooring board that you’ll be happiest with can go beyond the simple choice of color; you have more options open to you than you think! Find out a little bit more about the variety of hardwood that may best suit your hardwood flooring board ideal.
Now that you have decided that the structural strength, the old-world dependability and permanence of hardwood flooring board is the right choice for your space, you now have another level of choices available to you. Having options means enjoying a greater flexibility as far as the direction in which you want to go, but sometimes it can be a bit confusing too. For hardwood flooring board, there are several varieties from which to choose, and all of them have advantages as far as look and practicality are concerned. Here are some brief profiles of some excellent options you might consider when it comes to hardwood flooring board species.
White Oak we carry in stock in Our Multiple location Thousand oaks and Venice Los Angeles
This sturdy hardwood was a mainstay for shipwrights in the age of the tall ship, being very resistant to moisture as well as being very easy to work with in terms of cutting and fastening. The use of white oak was common to the eastern United States, as well as in the Midwestern Great Lakes region, where many ocean going ships were constructed with this species of hardwood. White oak makes excellent hardwood flooring board because of its strength and general durability. The white oak wood itself is as descriptively light in color, with subtle touches of brown highlighting it.
Red Oak we carry in stock in Our Multiple location Thousand oaks and Venice Los Angeles
Red oak was the workhorse hardwood of the Industrial Age, used not only as hardwood flooring board and for furniture, but also for use in making railroad ties and wagon wheels. This diverse usage is due in part to the wide availability of red oak hardwood, but also because of its hardness and adaptability to all kinds of household and commercial uses. Red oak is very easy to stain and yields a very good finish. Much like the white oak, it is very resistant to wear, making it a very practical choice for hardwood flooring board. Red oak wood is very attractive, demonstrating a pinkish hue in addition to its tonal range of off-whites and light browns.
American Cherry we carry in stock in Our Multiple location Thousand oaks and Venice Los Angeles
American Cherry is also known for its abundance as a hardwood species in North America, and its reputation a hardwood flooring board precedes it in many ways. Known for its rich natural deep burgundy exterior, cherry is a popular choice for use as hardwood flooring board, but also in cabinet making, paneling, and many other practical uses where reliable materials that are meant to last. American Cherry hardwood is one of the softer hardwoods and while not recommended as flooring board for high traffic areas, its reputation as easy to work with is renowned. Cherry hardwood is an ornate yet dependable choice for your hardwood flooring board project, with a range of color that spans off-white to reddish tones, making it truly distinctive. Because of its photosensitive nature, cherry will darken with age over time.
Hard Maple we carry in stock in Our Multiple location Thousand oaks and Venice Los Angeles
Sometimes known as Canadian maple, or sugar maple, hard maple is a hardwood upon which Native Americans and early North American settlers depended heavily. Not only important for shelter, hard maple was used for making anything from footwear to weaponry, and from soap to syrup. The hardest of all maples, hard maple is known for its strength as well as its very abrasion- and wear-resistant surface. It also has a fine, uniform texture. These traits make maple a great choice for hardwood flooring board. Maple hardwood flooring board is often available in a pre-stained form. This variety of hardwood is the lightest of all species of maple and is characterized by a range of light to darker shades of rich brown, often with reddish highlights.
White Ash Another popular variety of hardwood flooring board is white ash. It is characterized by the density and strength of the wood itself, making it a logical choice for its use as hardwood flooring board. Among other things, white ash is a popular wood out of which baseball bats and other types of athletic equipment designed for maximum stress are made. You can be assured that white ash hardwood flooring board can stand up to heavy foot traffic! The color of the wood ranges from a blond cream to light brown with amber highlights, a lighter range than white oak. The grain pattern in white ash is similar to that of red oak, but without some of oak’s pinkish tones.
Yellow Birch we carry in stock in Our Multiple location Thousand oaks and Venice Los Angeles
Yellow birch has been long considered a reliable hardwood lumber because of its ease of use from the standpoint of builders and manufacturers. Historically, birch’s bark was famous for making canoes, and subsequently used for centuries in making all types of household items as well as enhancing interiors in many ways, including its use as hardwood flooring board. The yellow birch tends to be slightly more golden in color when compared to other species of birch, although it retains creamy white highlights. Yellow birch hardwood often features curling patterns in the grain that make it stand out among hardwoods. The wood is characterized by a fine, uniform texture, making it perfect for attractive hardwood flooring board.
Black Walnut we carry in stock in Our Multiple location Thousand oaks and Venice Los Angeles
Walnut stands as a decorative hardwood which is widely used through out the world. A hardwood known for its close-grain appearance and dark luster when used as hardwood flooring board, black walnut is another product in flooring that is widely available in North America. Although not as hard as some hardwood species and not recommended as flooring in high traffic areas, black walnut hardwood flooring board is very accommodating in terms of its ease of use from an installer’s point of view, and as a building material in general. Black walnut cuts, nails, and takes to glue very well, and it accepts stains very easily. The wood of the walnut varies in color from light to deeper golden brown tones, and on to even darker, chocolaty hues, with grains equally varied from straight to wavy patterns.
Brazilian Cherry, aka Jatoba we carry in stock in Our Multiple location Thousand oaks and Venice Los Angeles
This richly colored hardwood is known both as Brazilian Cherry and as Jatoba. Although it is not technically a cherry wood, it is like cherry in certain respects, and quite unlike in others. Brazilian Cherry is extremely versatile and is used in cabinet making, tool handles, and athletic equipment. It also makes excellent hardwood flooring board. The coloring of this exotic hardwood is very distinctive, characterized by a lustrous range of deep reds, burgundies, and darker reddish browns, making it an extremely decorative hardwood flooring board option with an exotic, high-end appeal. This hardwood flooring board is photosensitive and will darken over time, just like American cherry hardwood. The wood is extremely dense and hard, more so than many domestic hardwoods, which makes it a very reliable choice for hardwood flooring board.
Choosing the variety of hardwood flooring board which is best suited to your home or commercial project adds an additional level of ownership which can be enjoyed well into the future, knowing that the choice you’ve made reflects not only practicality and beauty, but also personality. After all, the hardwood flooring board you choose will define the living area or working area for a long time to come.
Provided By Global hardwood and supplies Thousand Oaks Ventura County
Article 4
About Laminate Flooring
You want the look of hardwood but don’t have the budget. Get ready for a great solution. Laminate flooring is durable, scratch, stain and fade resistant, easy to clean, hypoallergenic and perfect for households with pets and children and costs less than solid hardwood, every time. There are all kinds of laminates, not only with different looks but different plank widths and colors that are built to withstand different degrees of traffic. Laminates can resemble stone or ceramic tile but are best known as substitutes for wood floors. Best of all, the innovations in laminate keep on coming; new and better locking systems, embossing, new finishes and more.
What is Laminate Flooring?
A laminate floor is a high-tech floor made by fusing together several layers of materials into one board. The core layer or the center of the laminate floorboard is almost always made of high density fiberboard, but sometimes medium density fiberboard. This core, which supports the weight and stress of foot traffic, will affect how sturdy and stable your floor will be. Strength and stability is further ensured by the laminate’s bottom stabilizing layer. A decorative layer is fused on top of the core. The decorative layer is actually a picture of the floor that is printed on a type of “living paper”. A transparent wear layer is applied over the décor layer and is then treated with one or more coats of an aluminum oxide finish. This is what makes for the incredible wear resistance against scratches, burns, dents and stains that laminates are so famous for. Then there’s the locking system. It’s the system or the way the laminate boards will click together to form your floor. It’s the hallmark of laminate flooring to come with glue-free, click joints or locking systems that are easy to assemble. That’s why installing laminate floors has become something many people can do themselves. You virtually never need to glue a laminate floor to a subfloor nor build a level subfloor first like you would have to do with a solid hardwood installation.
Global Hardwood and supplies in Thousand Oaks Blvd and Venice Blvd
We Carry in Stock Laminate 12mm and 8mm laminate Distressed Surface and Smooth AC3
Provided By Global Hardwood Thousand Oaks Location
Article 5
Removing Hardwood Flooring
Removing your hardwood flooring can prove to be cost effective.
You might ask why would you ever want to remove hardwood flooring, as prized as it is by most homeowners. There are numerous reasons, including salvaging old hardwood flooring from a property that’s about to be demolished or totally remodeled.
One of the best methods we’ve found for removing old hardwood flooring is in a well-illustrated article from Popular Mechanics, by Alex Hutchinson. Alex says, “Old-growth wood – typically, Douglas fir, oak, and maple — has higher density and fewer defects than new wood, and often comes in lengths of 12 ft. or more, which you won’t find at a big-box store. Salvaging it from an old home takes time but saves money; boards wider than the standard 2 1/4-in. strips are particularly valuable.” The 1-2-3 step process he describes goes as follows:
Step 1: Pry up the first few boards to give yourself room to work. Alternatively, use a circular saw with a carbide-tooth blade to make a plunge cut along the length of the sacrificial board, and use a pry bar to tear it out.
Step 2: Working from the tongue side, use a pry bar to gently lift the adjacent board up and out in the direction of the nail in order to avoid breaking off the groove. Work your way down the length of the board with the pry bar, rather than trying to remove it in one go.
Step 3: Pull any remaining nails from the salvaged wood using large locking pliers. Then carefully patrol the subfloor and extract nail stubs. Renail any floor sections that have been damaged by the salvage process.
But what if the hardwood flooring was glued down when it was originally installed? This will require different methods and be a lot messier and labor intensive. Installers will tell you it all depends on how the flooring was installed in the first place. Flooring installed by professionals will have been done to last, and will be the most difficult to remove. If the flooring was installed without as much know-how, it may be easier to remove due to factors such as insufficient glue, the wrong type of glue, or inadequately prepared subflooring.
My Flooring Helper, another useful source for removing hardwood flooring, gives this advice: Before you begin the job, know the type of floor you want to install after you remove the current one. If you’re installing a floating floor afterwards, it’s okay if the subflooring is still slightly bumpy, but if you’re installing glued floor, then the subsurface must be absolutely clean and perfectly level.
If you’re planning to tackle hardwood flooring removal yourself, here are the tools you’re likely to need:
Pry Bar
Circular Saw
Claw Hammer
Chisel
Sledge Hammer
Flooring Scraper
You may discover that it’s more cost-effective in the long run to hire a specialized contractor to remove glued-down hardwood flooring, especially if you want to salvage the boards for other uses. A skilled contractor will be familiar with products needed to remove glue, have all the requisite tools to do the job – and will understand the need for adequate ventilation during the process.
This Article was provided by Global Hardwood and supplies Thousand-Oaks and Venice Location
Article 6
Engineered Hardwood Flooring: A Few Ways to Protect and Clean it
You would like to add elegance and style into your home, well-engineered hardwood flooring can be an option for you. It will add lavish style and beauty that is also lasting but you don’t have to spend huge amount of cash on it. A lot of people opt for well-engineered hardwood floors because of the elegance, durability and the longevity it can provide to the user. But of course, just like other types of floors that you can see in the market, engineered wood floors should be protected and it should be well preserved at the same time. It will protect the integrity of the user and it will also help in making the floor beautiful for so many years.
Hardwood floors are so convenient and it is nice to look at but you will have a problem if you don’t know how to properly install it if you prefer to be the one to install it into your home. Engineered wood floors are made of wood and they are also of the same look but it is inexpensive than real wood and it is also easier to install compared to real wood. There are various ways to install it depending on your needs. But you don’t have to worry because there are also shops that are offering free installation once you have decided to buy this type of wood from them.
It’s not easy to identify hardwood floorings especially the engineered ones because they are composed of many layers of plywood and the top is glued with a thicker layer of wood which makes the flooring looks like a solid hardwood floor. This type of floor can be sanded down not more than 2 times but the hard type hardwood floor can be sanded often depending on the need of the home owner. Engineered hardwood floor is not as expensive as the solid cut engineered hardwood floor and it also comes with various sizes and types.
You can choose from wood parquet, strips, and planks. Most of them come with different finishes depending on your needs. You can also find these types of wood in different grades to choose from so you don’t have to worry about it too when you are about to choose the one that is meant for your needs. There are also benefits that you can get from it and one of those is the resistance to humidity which other types of floor materials cannot do.
Articles provided By Global Hardwood and supplies Ventura County Thousand oaks Location
Article 7
Exotic Hardwood: Durable Beautiful Hardwood Flooring at its Finest
Recognizing Options in Hardwood Floors
Hardwood flooring is a classic and traditional choice for people who want to create a feeling of strength, warmth, and longevity to their homes or businesses. Its popularity stems from the fact that it ads great value to the home, and is very durable. While there are quite a number of traditional hardwood species to choose from, exotic hardwoods have slowly been gaining speed.
Defining Exotic Hardwood flooring
Hardwoods termed “exotic” come from locations such as Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America. Some exotic hardwoods cost a bit more than the usual hardwood flooring options, but are often more durable. Others are more cost-efficient, and meet the durability of their domestic counterparts.
Judging the Hardness of Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors are tested for hardness using the Janka Hardness Rating, in which the pressure needed to embed a 0.444-inch diameter steel ball one half its own diameter into the wood is determined. The greater the pressure needed, the more durable the wood is. While traditional hardwoods can reach the high hundreds (for example, American Cherry rates at 950), many exotic hardwoods reach into the thousands (Brazilian Teak: 3,540) – very durable indeed.
Applying Exotic Hardwood Flooring in Ideal Locations
The Janka scale is particularly helpful to know which type of exotic hardwood flooring is suitable for your property. Exotic hardwood flooring is a great choice if you have a growing family or large pets, or if your property is known for high foot traffic. Their durability, as determined by the Janka Hardness rating, often means that your floor will require less maintenance and repair from wear and tear.
Enjoying Beautiful Hardwood Floors
Besides being durable, exotic hardwood flooring also boasts of a variety of finishes, stains, and patterns to choose from. Rich colors and patterns will highlight and showcase the best features of your room, which you can enjoy for many years to come. The unique eye-catching features of these hardwood floors will certainly add value to your property.
Article Provided By Global Hardwood Mid-city Location Venice
Article 8
All you need to know About Bamboo Flooring
Install Hardwood Floor
- Hardwood – Repair/Refinish
- Carpet
- Flooring Contractors
View All Project Categories
Related Articles & Checklists
Wood Flooring Options
Refinishing Hardwood Floors
Hardwood Floor Repair
Cleaning Hardwood Floors
Checklist: Recommended Questions to Ask a Contractor
All Flooring Articles
Related Topics
Carpet
Tile
Home Remodeling
Home Building
Find Top-Rated Pros
Bamboo Flooring: The Hardwood Alternative
When remodeling floors, many people immediately think of traditional hardwood planks. This is a great idea: they’re classy, beautiful, and add value to your home. However, they’re also expensive and tough on the environment. So, though traditional hardwood is a great option, there is also a new material on the market that has been gaining in popularity due to its strength, selection, and cost-effectiveness. Therefore, when shopping around, bamboo flooring is definitely something worth checking out.
Exotic Construction
Guest what? Bamboo floors are not technically made of wood. Though they are harder than most hardwoods, they are actually a form of grass. Often grown in China and other regions of Asia, these hollow shoots are cut down, sliced into strips, and then laminated together to look like traditional wooden plants. They often come in only two shades: their natural light-colored tint or they can be boiled—often called carbonized—for a darker look (but this may also make them a bit softer as well). Though there are only two shades, due to their overall abundance, there are tons of color options available.
Create Stronger Environments
In the World: One unique benefit of bamboo flooring is that it is exceptionally environmentally friendly. Bamboo reaches full maturity in just a few years, unlike wood which takes decades to grow. Plus, it rejuvenates on its own without any need for re-planting. In fact, if it isn’t cut down often, it can actually put a strain on the environment. This makes it a truly renewable resource. Also, its initial production has almost no impact on the natural world because no pesticides or fertilizer is required in its development. And don’t worry about native animals: panda bears actually eat a different species of bamboo in a different region of the country.
Install New Flooring
In the House: But not only are they a great ecological product, bamboo floors provide great benefits for the home environment as well:
Durable: Due to its strength, this material is often impervious to dents and lasts a long time (it often come with a 10-20 year warranty).
Flexibility: Though stronger than most hardwoods, it is still lightweight, easy to cut for installation, and flexible enough to fit any room dimensions.
Resilience: It is mildew, pest, fire, and stain resistant.
Installation Options
Bamboo floors can be installed in any room, on any type of sub-floor. Its installation is like that of any other wood product, so any contractor should be able to take care of it. When you do install, here are a few popular design options available:
Horizontal Style: This is when the planks are laid flat on the ground, revealing the plant’s growth rings (also called “knuckles”) for a more natural look.
Vertical Style: When the strips are laminated on their sides, so that the strips appear in longer, thinner rows, allowing your floors to have a tight, intricate look.
Strand-Woven: This type of bamboo flooring looks like any other design out there, but it is produced a little differently: the strips are uniquely coated, compressed, and milled to retain an even greater strength.
Cost Cutting
Not only does it cut environmental costs, bamboo flooring will also preserve your budget. When it comes to installation, since it’s laid like any other product, the price will be the same. But the cost of the product itself is significantly cheaper: it’ll run you about $5-10 per a square foot; almost half that of other hardwoods. Plus, it can save you on maintenance costs. It’s easy to take care of with some simple sweeping and mopping. But just because it’s tough doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. Don’t slide furniture around and use rugs where you can. And though naturally moisture resistant, quickly clean up spills and avoid installation in damp areas of the home: basements, bathrooms, washrooms, etc.
Article Provided by Global Hardwood and supplies Thousand-Oaks
Article 9
Los Angeles Wood Flooring
1 Install New Flooring
2 Home Remodels
3 Flooring Repair
4 More Home Interior Pros
While there are a ton of home improvement projects you can choose to beautify your property and increase the value of your home, very few are as desirable as installing wood flooring. Los Angeles is a great place for wood floors for several reasons. Those thinking of replacing an existing floor or building a new home in southern California would do well to give this classic, but never out of style, flooring material some careful consideration.
Benefits of Los Angeles Wooden Flooring
Climate is one of the biggest factors for anyone who wants to install wood flooring. Los Angeles happens to be one of the best environments in the country for a project such as this. Wood of any kind will expand and contract because of temperature and moisture changes. This causes some serious problems for outdoor wood, but wood flooring that’s indoors can still be affected. Issues like bowing, splintering, and cracking can all be found with indoor wood, especially in climates where moisture and temperatures change dramatically every year. In L.A. the likelihood of a wood floor reaching its full life expectancy is much higher than in other areas of the country.
Durability isn’t the only reason many people choose wood flooring in Los Angeles. The fact is wood floors have an appearance that no other material can match. Not only are they beautiful, but they give any room they are in a sense of quality and luxury. Wood floors have a very long history, and even one that is brand new will draw from that history to create a look that is desirable, classic, and impressive.
Install New Flooring
Drawbacks of Los Angeles Wood Flooring
As with many things, wood flooring has a downside. Though aesthetically very pleasing when first installed, wood floors require more maintenance than many other options. They need to be kept dry, and spills need to be cleaned up as soon as possible to prevent stains. Grit and dirt can scratch and dull a wood floor’s surface pretty quickly, and sweeping or vacuuming on a tight schedule is probably the only preventative measure you can take to avoid this. After a while, some wood floors need to be refinished as the protective top coat (especially on older floors) can wear through and expose the wood underneath.
The good news is that Los Angeles wooden flooring is likely to need far less attention than it would if installed in another environment. With the low levels of precipitation in L.A., tracked in dirt and grit won’t be as big of an issue. Though some attention may be necessary on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, a quick sweep or dry mop every few days is well worth the beauty a natural wood floor will bring into your home.
Prices of Los Angeles Wood Flooring
Estimating the price of Los Angeles wood flooring is a little difficult, as there are so many variables to consider. An expansive wood floor made of distressed pine can easily cost over $10,000, while a moderately sized room might be completely redone with a more common species for a few thousand. One of the best things to keep in mind about a project like this is that the money you spend isn’t simply going out the window. Putting in a new hardwood floor will increase the value of your home and make it a more attractive property for potential buyers. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the look and feel of your wood floor for as long as you own your home, as long as you take care of it.
Article Provided By Global Hardwood Mid-city Location Venice
Article 10
Glueless Laminate Flooring
Laminate Flooring
Glueless laminate flooring is a new flooring alternative that makes installing laminate floors easier than ever. Instead of applying adhesive to the laminate planks where they join together, glueless laminate flooring is manufactured with special tongue and groove edges that click together and hold without the need of extra adhesive. It makes installing these floors about as easy and straightforward as a homeowner could hope for.
Glueless Laminate Flooring Prep
The amount of prep you need to do depends a lot on the type of pre-existing floor you’re dealing with. One of the most attractive qualities of glueless laminate flooring is that it can be installed over just about any pre-existing floor, with the exception of carpeting. If you want to be thorough, it’s certainly not a bad idea to tear the old out before you put in the new, but be careful about getting in over your head. For example, if you’ve got old vinyl or linoleum floors, it’s best to let them be. Many contain asbestos that is released as a dust if you start tearing them out. They’re not dangerous if you leave them alone, but if you decide to remove them, you’ll need to hire a licensed asbestos abatement contractor to come in and do the work for you. Besides those precautions, however, all the prep work you really need to do is make sure the old floor is clean before you begin to lay down the new.
Let Your Laminate Age Before Installation
Once you purchase your glueless laminate flooring, you’ll want to remove it from the box and let it sit in the room where it’s going to be installed for 48 to 72 hours. This allows it to acclimate to the humidity in your home, and prevents it from tearing apart your floor during initial phases of expansion or contraction. Once the laminate has been aged properly, however, you’re all set to begin installation.
Flooring Contractor
From Here on Out, It’s a Snap
Things from there on out are pretty straight forward. You’ll need to lay down a vapor barrier and a sound underlayment before you put down the laminate itself, and since glueless laminate flooring is a floating floor product, you’ll want to measure the space carefully and cut your boards such that you leave a 1/4″ gap at the walls in order to allow for expansion. Also, be sure to follow all of the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, and utilize the aid of a tapping block and tightening straps so you get your flooring installed as tight as possible. Glueless laminate flooring can separate slightly over time if improperly installed, though it’s extremely rare if you follow installation guidelines or have it done by a professional flooring contactor. Other than that, all you’ve really got to remember is to snap the pieces together. Before you know it (usually in a long weekend, depending on the space you’re covering and your level expertise) you’ll be sitting back and admiring a beautiful new floor.
Glueless Vinyl Flooring
While glueless laminate is by far the most popular glueless flooring material on the market, glueless vinyl flooring is gaining in popularity as well. Unlike laminate, these vinyl products come manufactured with adhesive strips attached to the underside of the tiles or strips. Simply fit the flooring pieces together, remove the protective tape from the adhesive, and attach each piece to the sub-floor. Glueless vinyl flooring usually has a composite fiberglass surface, and is made to mimic everything from hardwood to ceramic tile to natural stone. It’s not as proven as laminate flooring as of yet, but as a new, easy to install flooring material, it is certainly worth a look.
Article Provided by Global Hardwood Ventura County Thousand-Oaks Check our Website for Direction and More information
Article 11
Builder Confidence Up Slightly in July 2011
| Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes in July rose two points to 15, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). Testament to the housing market’s slow recovery, the latest figure marks the ninth time out of the past 10 months in which the index has held within the same three-point range.” The improvement in builder confidence in July is a positive sign that the outlook perhaps isn’t quite as bleak as was feared in June,” said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the NAHB and a home builder from Reno, Nev.Two out of three of the HMI’s component indexes rebounded in July from declines in June. The component gauging current sales conditions rose two points to 15, returning to its May level, while the component gauging sales expectations in the next six months rose seven points to 22, which is where it stood in April. The component gauging traffic of prospective buyers held even with the previous month, at 12.”While builders continue to confront serious challenges with regard to competition from foreclosed properties that are priced below replacement cost, inaccurate appraisals of new homes, and a very restrictive lending environment for new home construction, select markets are showing gradual improvement as consumers begin to take advantage of very favorable buying conditions,” Nielsen added. | |
| Posted By HWF Editors At 11:24 AM • | |
Article 12
ZEBRAWOOD
Let us know how we can help. Contact Global Hardwood 805-230-1300 Or Visit Our Website
Article 28
Selecting the laminate flooring that suites you .
Unlike hardwood, laminate flooring will not stain, fade, dent and are far more scratch and water resistant. Entry level laminate floors is designed for light traffic areas and come with warranties ranging from 10 to 15 years.
Laminate Flooring Laminate Floors Design Hardwood floors Bamboo Flooring Carpet Cork Floors Tile Vinyl Flooring
Most people set their expectations too high and expect that entry level laminate floors will perform under heavy traffic conditions and still look good for the duration of the warranty. This is however not the case, as an entry level floor subject to high traffic will start to show wear and tear within three to five years.
Laminate floors come with cores ranging from 6mm up to 12mm. A thicker core is more stable, less vulnerable to buckling and will sound more like real hardwood when walked on. Good quality cores are treated with water repellent chemicals, and resist swelling due to excessive moisture. This is very important especially when considering placing laminate wood flooring in bathrooms and kitchen. For these applications also consider a floor that has Paraffin wax impregnated joints. The Paraffin wax acts as a water repellent and will prevent topical water spills from penetrating down to the core. Also remember to scrutinize the warranty, as certain products are not covered for use in bathrooms and kitchens.
Buying the floors that suits your needs will save you money in the long run. This is not to say that every home requires a high end floor with an extensive warranty. Consider the amount of traffic as well as the amount of time you intend staying in your current home. There is no point in purchasing an expensive floor with an extended warranty if you plan on moving in the near future. Remember, the floor is usually the first thing replaced by people when moving to a new home.
Laminate wood flooring offers the best combination of quality and value in a wide range of colors, styles and designs and are also engineered engineered for exceptional strength and durability and will last for years and years. For a rich and long-lasting experience, at a home friendly price, choose l-a-m-i-n-a-t-e; it’s a natural look for your home and for the way you want to live.
Laminate floors history
Since their introduction into the US in 1982, the sector has experienced growth of up to 20% per annum at the expense of other floor types, making laminate the fastest growing floor type in the country. The appeal lies not only in its aesthetic value of its representation of real hardwood, but also due to its incredible durability and ease of maintenance.
The traditional look of hardwood is timeless; its beauty has brought a sense of comfort and elegance to homes around the world for many generations. Hardwood floors are however pricey, not very durable and require a fair amount of routine maintenance and care. Even the most recent technological advancements in surface treatment have not been able to solve such problems as scratching, fading, denting and staining. This has lead to the invention of laminate wood floors. With its machine made construction and hardwood photographic laminated surface, this floor is the perfect solution for the look and appeal of real hardwood that is more durable and requires less maintenance.
Article 29
Laminate Flooring VS Carpets
There is a range of ways to laminate your floor, and with prices ranging to suit most budgets it could be worthwhile considering the merits of laminate over more traditional carpets or other types of flooring.
Adding value
One of the first questions to ask about laminate flooring is whether it will add value and convenience to your home. As a modern style and with lower maintenance levels than carpet, many householders find there is a distinct appeal with laminate floors. They look smart and functional, and there is an immediate choice if you miss the soft warm feel of carpet as rugs and mats work exceptionally well laid out over laminate floor.
The downside is that it is not real wood. It’s actually a photograph or image of wood glued to high-density backing board. Choose the wrong type of laminate flooring and you could find that it looks a bit ‘tacky’, almost as if you’re trying to make something look like wood when it blatantly isn’t. Vinyl floors with a ‘wood effect’ finish can also suffer from the same problem. Choosing cost over quality could be counter productive when you’re trying to add value and appeal to your property, so always go for the best quality laminate or vinyl flooring you can afford.
But if you’re trying to add value and appeal to your home, laminate floors can be a more affordable home improvement than a real wood floor. Like vinyl, they are easy to maintain and relatively cheap to install. But if you’ve already got a quality carpet then it might be worth ditching the idea, as on balance a good quality carpet could have just as much appeal as a fake wood floor.
What’s under the carpet?
The whole point about improving your floor is adding style, functionality and visual appeal. An old scruffy carpet is going to look far worse than a brand new laminate floor, but try taking a look under the carpet. Before you spend money on a new vinyl or laminate floor it could be worth checking that you don’t already have a great looking wood floor underneath your existing carpet. It might be in need of a bit of sanding and varnish, but you could already be standing on what would otherwise be a very expensive and valuable wooden floor.
A mix of carpet and laminate or wood flooring can often be a good option, with wood or laminate flooring on the ground floor, and carpet in the bedrooms. This way, you can save money and put the wood or laminate flooring in the areas where they’re most likely to be appreciated, and valued. Rugs can be laid over the wood flooring where necessary.
Essentially, the choice between carpet and laminate is down to individual style. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, but while a wood floor always looks better than laminate, it’s a question over what is affordable and whether you’re really going to get value for money.
Article Provided By Global Hardwood and supplies Thousand Oaks Ventura County .
www.Ghardwood.com
Article 30
Hot Deals
Engineered Hickory Vintage