Posts

How to Select Wood Flooring

/in /by


If you choose it right, your wood flooring will last you for years to come. Decorating your home will be a lot easier as well, since beautiful floors make for an excellent base for truly outstanding interior design. By learning how to decide between different types of wood flooring and how to adjust the final touches to match your decor, make sure you choose the best option for your home.


Look for labels on the nail slots in each panel. These slots are often marked with letters to help installers line up rows of panels properly. The vinyl panels are pretty thin, so don’t put the nails in too tightly. Pound the nails in so they’re about even with the upper lip of each panel. That way, the panels can expand and contract as the weather changes.


Attach a top strip to prevent water from seeping behind the vinyl. Use a snap-lock tool to punch a hole every 16 in (41 cm) over the upper furring strip. Set a vinyl strip or J-channel over the strip. Grip the strip between tin snips to guide it onto the vinyl panels. Secure it in place with more galvanized siding nails.


These are the only nails visible in the siding. Consider adding some primer and then painting over them with water-resistant latex paint. Keep the layer of mortar the same depth throughout the wall so the stone veneer fits evenly on the wall. Consider scratching the mortar with a scarifier, a metal rake, or another tool to improve the finished bonding.


Arrange the stone panels on the ground in front of the wall. The panels fit together like puzzle pieces, but you have to assemble them first to ensure they go together. Spread them out face down on the ground and push the pieces as close together as possible to eliminate gaps. Create the finished pattern you want your wall to have.

Choosing the Right Type of Flooring

/in /by


Choose solid flooring if you want to be able to refinish it in the future. Solid flooring comes in planks made solely of wood. It’s noticeably quieter and can be refinished over and over again since it gives plenty of solid wood to work with. However, solid flooring is also prone to expansion and contraction, which can change its appearance over time.


Opt for engineered flooring if you want the wood to be more stable. Engineered flooring consists of multiple layers, only the top one being solid wood. The way engineered flooring is made prevents it from expanding and contracting, which means it always stays the same. However, it usually comes with a pretty thin layer of solid wood, which doesn’t leave enough room for future refinishing.


If price is a big concern, engineered flooring is a better option. Not only is it cheaper, it can also be installed directly onto concrete floors, which can significantly reduce your costs. Get prefinished flooring if you prefer not taking risks. With prefinished flooring, the top coat is added before the planks leave the factory, so you know exactly what you’re getting.


Also, you don’t need to rely on your contractor’s skills when it comes to finishing touches. Once the flooring is delivered, it only needs to be installed. Go with unfinished flooring if you want a higher level of control. Unfinished flooring gets delivered without the top coat and has to be finished on site.


This is riskier, since you don’t see the end product before it’s already installed. However, choosing for the flooring to be finished on site allows you to make adjustments during the entire installation process. When it comes to price, unfinished flooring is less affordable, since you need to pay a contractor to first install your flooring and then do the finishing touches as well.

How to Avoid Common Glass Tile Installation Mistakes?

/in /by


Homeowners and interior design professional who want a fashion-forward, fresh look select glass tile accents more frequently than ever. Glass tile harmonizes with either traditional, transitional or contemporary architecture, adding a splash of style. For years, glass tile was only used for accent and trim pieces, with ceramic tile filling the field.


there was not much thought given to the installation materials, which were generally the same as those used for the ceramic tile. Modern design trends continue to push the envelope with glass tile, moving beyond the traditional accent pieces – glass tile is now being used as field tile with sizes 12″ x 12″ or larger, and with these new tiles come new challenges.


Ensure color consistency behind glass tile. Since glass can be the sole material in an installation, it is essential to choose a bonding mortar that meets its unique demands. In most cases, the color of the thin-set mortar was not an issue when installing opaque ceramic tile.


But with clear and translucent glass, the mortar appears through the tile: if the color varies in the mortar, it will in the glass tile too.To eliminate variations across a glass tile installation, choose a glass tile mortar with a bright white shade that is controlled to a consistent standard color.


The color consistency will ensure a uniform appearance on the face of the glass tile, even in large installations that require multiple batches of mortar. As an added bonus, the bright white shade of the mortar can enhance the color of the clear or translucent glass tile.

How Cleaning Solid Stone Tiles?

/in /by


Dry mop solid stone tiles every day or two. Dry mop your tiles every day or as soon as you notice dirt or debris. The dry dust mop will prevent sand and grit from rubbing against the tiles which can cause scratches. You should dry mop if your tiles are made of:Granite, Slate, Limestone, Marble, Sandstone.


Wash the tiles with soap and water. Fill a 5 US gal (19 L) bucket with water and a few squirts of mild dish soap or stone soap. Dip a mop into the soapy water and wring it out. Mop the tiles in small, overlapping circles to remove the dirt and prevent streaking.


Choose a soapstone with a pH level of 7 or try to find a soapless cleanser since it won’t leave streaks. If you’re using dish soap, choose one that’s phosphate-free and biodegradable.


Identify if you should use a bleach solution. To remove algae or moss, clean the tiles with a bleach solution. If your solid stone tiles are near a pool, patio, or hot tub, wash them off with clean water. Pour 2 gallons (7.6 L) of water into a bucket and stir in 4 tablespoons (59 ml) of bleach. Use a sponge or mop to wash the area with the mild bleach solution.


Rinse and dry the tiles. If you’re cleaning a large space, take a garden hose and rinse the tiles with clean water to remove any soap residue. If you’re cleaning a small area, you can dip the mop in clean water and wring it out. Mop over the tiles so they’re rinsed with the clean water. Wipe the tiles with a soft cloth until they’re dry and let them air dry completely.

How Removing Greasy Marks from Tiles?

/in /by

Wipe up oil splatters as soon as they happen, if possible. Tile splashbacks look fantastic but can get greasy quickly. Oil marks are easiest to remove when they are fresh. If you notice oil splashing on the tiles while you are cooking, use a paper towel to blot the oil. If you don’t have a paper towel on hand, use a clean dishcloth instead. This method will remove greasy marks from all types of cement tiles.

Fill a bucket with warm water and 2 drops of dishwashing liquid. If you notice greasy marks on the clunny tiles that have likely been there a while, use this method to get rid of them. The warm water and dishwashing liquid help to break down the oil and remove the stains. Add the water and dishwashing liquid into the bucket and then use your hand to gently stir them together. Any dishwashing liquid or detergent works for this method.

Dip a sponge into the soapy water and use it to wipe up the grease. Soak the sponge in the water and then squeeze it to remove any drips. Press the sponge onto the greasy marks for 5 seconds and then wipe in circular motions until all the marks are gone.

Soak the sponge in soapy water and wipe off the grease with it. Soak the sponge in water and squeeze to remove any water droplets. Press the sponge on the oil stain for 5 seconds, then wipe it circularly until all the oil stains disappear. If you want to clean a large area, soak the sponge regularly in soapy water to ensure that there is fresh dishwash soap on it. If there is a lot of excess accumulation on the tile, you may need to use store-bought degreaser or vinegar solution to clean it.

If you are cleaning a large area, dunk your sponge in the soapy water regularly to ensure that it has fresh dish soap on it. If there’s is a lot of excess build-up on your tiles, you may need to clean with a store-bought degreaser or use a vinegar solution.

What Are The Advantages Of Retro Tiles?

/in /by

1, the use of ceramic tile has a lot of benefits such as slip, the ceramic tile appearance is no polishing processing, so the brick surface friction coefficient will be relatively high, in the above step sureness, warm and comfortable, wear resistance. Because the surface glazing reduces polishing link, non mirror effect is not prone to scratches, many families in the kitchen using retro brick, because of its strong anti fouling, the surface glaze layer to prevent stains permeable brick, easier to clean.

2, as well as in color and pattern of the style is very much, in the design are almost according to some wood, crystal, flowers, skin and other patterns of modeling, production color, pattern rich and colorful, specifications change. At the beginning of more than a small Vintage brick available specifications, the development has also appeared in many large retro brick specifications, six more angle, octagonal shape, more easy to do mosaic style, different styles of decorative Home Furnishing. When restoring the ancient style becomes the trend, the retro brick is the spokesman of the fashion. Its waterproof, anti-skid, wear-resistant and acid alkali characteristics make its physical properties stable. The decorate space timeless, the use of a wide range, suitable for indoor living room, bedroom, kitchen, balcony, more suitable for outdoor square, walkways etc.

Classical style should use soft color, uniform texture, delicate perception marble tiles to decorate can dilute the whole space Home Furnishing dull atmosphere, but also can enhance the sense of space “, that space is very quiet, gentle, low-key style show.