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It is hard to imagine Bamboo becoming very popular for house hold and commercial flooring. Learn how this fast-growing, versatile plant with style and durability has come to compete with traditional hardwood as a quality flooring material.

Another quality of bamboo is that is one of the fastest growing plants in the world which makes it a versatile environmental choice for a flooring surface. Many environmental conscious minded consumers are choosing bamboo as an excellent flooring material.

5/8″ X 3-3/4″ Beijing Palace Bamboo Flooring

What happens after harvesting?

After the bamboo has been harvested, they remove the green outer skin and the stalk is cut lengthwise into strips. The strips – which are still in a curved shape having come from a round stalk – they are milled along their outer edges to produce a flat strip. To remove the moisture from the bamboo strips they are kiln dried, then to remove the natural starch and sugar they are boiled. Two purposes are served by the bamboo being boiled. Taking out the starch and the sugar makes the bamboo not attracted to termites or any other pests that could infest and destroy wood products. Being termite resistant makes bamboo suitable for certain geographical areas. Another quality of bamboo flooring is that it is less likely to expand or contract due to climate changes, unlike many of the traditional hardwoods. The second reason for boiling the bamboo is to bring out it’s natural beauty.

5/8″ x 3-3/4″ Horizontal Natural Bamboo Flooring

Carbonized Bamboo

This is a process by which the bamboo is boiled for a longer period of time thus causing it to become a darker color than its original natural blonde color.

By being able to create different colors of the bamboo flooring, you have different choices which will blend with any of your design schemes.

5/8″ x 3-3/4″ Horiz. Carbonized Bamboo Flooring

Horizontal and Vertical Styles of Bamboo Flooring

After the bamboo strips have been boiled, they will be kiln dried again, and glued together into one of two styles.
When gluing several of the strips together with their narrow edges facing up, the pattern is a beautiful bamboo edge grain with thin lines created between the laminated strips.
This will create the style of bamboo flooring called “vertical style.”
The other style of bamboo flooring is created by gluing together several strips along the narrow edges so that the wider surfaces face up. Using this style, the strips are glued in three layers so that the thickness of the floor will be the same as in the “vertical” style.
This three-layered style which has the wider surface facing up is called the “horizontal” style flooring. This style of flooring creates a random pattern of the growth rings to be visible in the flooring surface which makes for a beautiful pattern.
Both these styles are available in the blonde or carbonized coloring, and are both enjoyed for their unique, natural features.

5/8″ x 3-3/4″ Vertical Carbonized Bamboo Flooring

Strand-Woven Bamboo Flooring

Along with horizontal- and vertical-style bamboo flooring, there is also another style of bamboo flooring which is manufactured.
It is known as “strand-woven” bamboo flooring, and it is made from the excess strands trimmed from the stalks at the beginning stages of milling process.
Nothing is wasted in the producing of this durable line of flooring. Instead of getting rid of the excess bamboo stalk, it was discovered that these long, thin strands of bamboo would make a beautiful pattern if intertwined together to form another flooring product. Thus was created “strand woven bamboo”. It is created during a process which compresses the strands together with an environmentally safe resin to form a new “timber” which is:

** Scratch resistant
** UV resistant
** Moisture resistant

This newly created bamboo timber, with its own unique pattern, is strong and durable and is cut into its own attractive planks, which is then turned into its own style of bamboo flooring.Being that strand woven bamboo flooring goes through extremely high pressure compressing at the beginning of the timber making stage it will not have to go through the final pressing that the vertical and horizontal flooring will have to go through.

5/8″ x 3-3/4″ Sambuca Bamboo Flooring

Final Stages in Making Bamboo Flooring

In the last stages of manufacturing, all three types of bamboo flooring – horizontal-style, vertical style, and strand-woven – are milled and finished completing the refining process in created flooring products.
With precision milling, the tongue-and-groove connection cut into each board ensures the snug fit and smooth surface that you expect from a quality product.
To enhance the natural beauty of your bamboo flooring a clear coat is applied which will provide extra protection to your floor for years to come. At lease six coats of aluminum oxide will be applied to the finish of your floor making an extremely hard bamboo floor more resistant against surface wear and damage.

Now, there you are. You have seen a common grass taken and turned into a beautiful and durable flooring material. This bamboo flooring is a beautiful, strong and amazing alternative to your common hardwood floors.


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What is Laminate?

Laminate flooring is made up into layered construction:

1.) The Wear Layer: This is an easy-to-clean surface that contains aluminum oxide that protects the floor from stains, fading and wear.

Look to make sure that the flooring has an abrasion classification (A/C) rating of at least 3 for the best residential use protection.

2.) Image Design Layer: This is a photographic image of wood, stone, or virtually anything you can imagine.

3.) Inner Core Layer: This layer provides the floor’s structural strength and stability. It is made from high-density fiberboard. This core is often impregnated with a plastic resin called melamine to increase the floor’s strength, stability and resistance to moisture. Most products that have high levels of melamine do not need acclimation before installation.

4.) The Backing Layer: This layer is found beneath the inner core, and is made with resin saturated paper. This paper creates a moisture barrier that protects the floor and keeps it from warping.

All laminate floors are compressed together using one of two processes. DPL, or direct pressure laminate, which is the most common way for residential use. HPL, or high-pressure laminate, Which is an extra-hard construction. The difference between the two is cost, performance and the design realism. DPL is the less expensive, and has the same puncture resistance as HPL with objects that are dropped at or below counter height, plus it is easier to emboss for a more realistic texture. HPL is more expensive and is less likely to puncture if items are dropped on it from above counter-top height, but it is harder to emboss, which makes it not look as real as you would want it to.

Laminate Design

Laminate is the ultimate means by which you can get the look of real wood without paying the real wood price. Its uncanny ability to replicate the look of real wood, stone, brick and ceramic is due to highly detailed photography of the actual material. So, when you look at laminate, you’re looking at an image identical to the real thing. The image is coupled with advanced embossing that adds realistic texture to the floor surface. Sometimes it is hard to tell the laminate from the material it is imitating. Laminate also has an easy to clean surface that protects the floor from stains, fading or wear. Laminates ability to impersonate allows you to get the look and feel of rare, exotic wood or expensive stone at a fraction of the cost, with no natural material drawbacks.

Where Can I Use Laminate?

This flooring can be used in any room of the house, whether it’s below, on or above grade level. However, laminate floors do have some sensitivity to high moisture areas, so if you plan on using laminate in your bathroom, you should take special precautions.

Durability & Life Expectancy

Quality laminate products are one of the best flooring options when it comes to durability. Quality products should last for at least 15 to 30 years. The good performance is due to a good inner core stability and the tough wear layer. The aluminum oxide in laminates top coat makes it unsurpassed for wear and stain resistance. Although laminate stands up well to wear and tear, bear in mind that if it will scratch, and it can’t be resurfaced like a hardwood can. However, scratches can be covered using special pencils made by the manufacturer. Chips, gouges and deep scratches can be concealed by using filler sticks. If an area of the floor does become damaged, replacing it can be a tricky job that’s best left to an installation professional.

Keep in Mind:

* You can not expose laminate flooring to puddles of standing water, which will permanently damage the floor.
* Think about the pros and cons of DPL and HPL constructions for durability and image authenticity when deciding on your laminate floor. There will be a trade off when one of these types are more important than the other.

Care & Maintenance

Laminate flooring needs minimal care and never needs waxing. When necessary, you can mop your laminate floor using a cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Exposure to water will damage your laminate flooring, so if you have to clean with water, make sure to use a damp mop.

Keep in Mind:
* The main culprits to damage the finish on your laminate floor is sand and grit. Regularly clean your floors of dirt with a vacuum that has a wand attachment, or dust mopping. Never use brooms— because they will drag the grit across the floor, thus creating scratches.
* Chair and table leg protectors will help extend the life of your floor.

Installing your laminate floor:

So, you’ve finally quit putting it off and are ready to do something about your old worn out floors. Well when you go with hardwood floors you will not only improve the look and feel of your home but, you will also increase the value of your home as well. Laying hardwood floors in your home is a very solid investment. Just by taking a little care of hardwood floors will not only help keep it’s beautiful looks but, will last a life time.

WHY HARDWOOD FLOORS ARE A GOOD INVESTMENT:

** It has a never ending air of quality.

These floors have graced many of the exclusive mansions and estates throughout history all the while still giving off the air of longevity and classic qualities not fond in manufactured floors.

** These floors are natural.

They bring inside the natural feel of the outside, containing no man-made chemicals inside the wood. People with an impeccable taste for design will gravitate to the look and feel of hardwood floors - something about these floors just can not be matched by manufactured floors.

** These floors will increase the value of your home.

Laying hardwood floors in your home will be a solid investment which will keep it’s value. In a lot of instances laying hardwood floors in your home will increase the return on your investment that will exceed the initial cost of installation.

** Hardwood floor colors will never go out of style.

Laying hardwood floors in your home with it’s natural colors will ensure that your home will not ever go out of style because of your flooring.

** These type floors have a better sound to them.

Laying hardwood floors in your home, done correctly, will produce a solid sound with no hollow sounds or vibrating when you walk on them. You will actually sense this feeling and that is what make laying hardwood floors in your home nice.

HARDWOOD FACTS:

** Extremely durable ( will last you a lifetime)

** Has many selections: type of wood, type of colors, type of patterns, type of stains, and the type of finishes.

** All natural

** It is environment friendly

** It is stylish and looks pleasing to the eye

** Is hypo-allergenic

** It is affordable and is worth it

** The care of hardwood floors is easy to maintain

TEN THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT CHOOSING YOUR HARDWOOD FLOOR:

1.) Your only choice in laying hardwood floors is not Red Oak.

For a unique look, and not be like everyone else, you have many different designs, colors and patterns to choose from. For example: Cherry, Walnut, Mahogany, White Oak, Maple, Pine, Bamboo, and many many other choices that will even include exotic hardwood floors. The choice is almost endless! Stand out in the crowd and be different when it comes to choosing you hardwood flooring.

2.) The only available size is not 2 1/4 inches.

If when talking to your builder you just ask him about just laying hardwood floors in your home - You will wind up with 2 1/4 inch Red Oak. Reason being, it is in stock, most common used, most produced, and it is the cheapest selection available. Sizes come in widths from 3″ to 12″. If you are looking for a uniform look then you will want to use a single width size. But, for random looks you can play with the different widths. Your patterns could be 3″ - 4″ - 5″ which is most common, or 3″- 5″, or 4″ - 5″ - 6″. Be unique and stand out from the crowd. A wider floor will show more seasonal separations in the floor planks.

3.) Laying hardwood floors that are imported - doesn’t support jobs in the United States.

While there are a vast amount of exotic hardwood floors available, there are many unique and great looking and interesting species of hardwood floors right here in the United States. Now is the time to support our own economy.

4.) Not all flooring is made out of clear or select grade.

Most commonly the floors are made from a select grade. However, none of these woods contain the characteristics that make a certain wood unique. When you look in your retailers you see just about all select grade flooring. What you need to do is to see a character grade or other grades to see the beauty in the wood its self. Try and get a look at a section of floor not just one piece to see the beauty that some wood flaws can make in the overall look of a floor.

5.) There is convenience in prefinished hardwood floors.

If you have ever had your floors refinished and had to leave your home for two or three days then you will appreciate the term prefinished. A professional will refinish your floors and leave your home spotless while someone else will leave dust all over your furniture and fixtures, not caring about cleaning up too good. With todays prefinished hardwood floors you can have them installed today and throw a party tonight. Also, with prefinished hardwood floors the “seasonal cracks” are not as noticeable.

6.) While colors may be cool - It’s hard to beat “Mother Nature”

Some varieties of flooring produce a beauty that doesn’t need any kind of coloring. Look up on the internet Walnut, Cherry, Hickory or Natural Red Oak and you will see what I am talking about.

7.) Prefinished warranties are a gimmick!

These will be “wear through” warranties only. Long before you wear through the finish your floor will lose it’s shine and luster and will have to be refinished. So, to better protect your floor vacuum it on a regular basis to keep up objects from damaging the finish on your floor.

8.) All flooring is not smooth - texture is becoming popular.

Nowadays your hardwood floors do not have to be just smooth. There are many of the companies that are now offering hand scraped, reclaimed and distressed flooring. All these styles have a unique and classic look about them and they will add great value to upscale homes. These type floors will not show many scratches or wear because they have character interests which will draw your attention to different spots of the floor. You can bet that these floors will be the vocal of conversation between you and your friends and family and you will see them as the focal point in many luxury home tours.

9.) Engineered flooring is best used in a basement.

Most people will glue down these engineered floors to the concrete in areas that are prone to high moisture. This type of floor is made with a thin layer of hardwood with a cross banded plywood base.This allows more stability and does not require nailing as does a regular hardwood floor.

10.) Although laminate flooring looks like wood - it is not real wood.

A good tasting hamburger does not taste the same as a picture of a good tasting hamburger. The point is - if you want originality go with real hardwood flooring. But, if you want the look of real wood without the high cost of real wood then laminate flooring is the way to go.

HOW TO CLEAN HARDWOOD FLOORS:

Now that you have finished laying hardwood floors in your home, how do you take care of them? How do you keep them clean and shiny? Read the following Q & A in which 2 hardwood floor owners ask just those questions.

Question:

“While looking on your site I saw where one should not use oil based cleaners. Why? The installer that installed out floors told us to use vinegar in water and a damp cloth to clean the floors and to clean them about once a week. What? will this damage the floor? What is a polyurethane cleaner and where can you but it at?”

Answer:

When you use an oil based cleaner on your polyurethane finished floor, it will leave a oily residue on the surface of the floor which will not only make cleaning the floor more difficult, but will after a period of time, when the floor is showing the signs of wear and needs buffed and re-coated, the residue can cause adhesion problems. Any time you clean hardwood or furniture use minimal water. Other words use a damp cloth not a wet one. If you add a cap full of vinegar to your water it will help, and is suggested by the National Wood Flooring Association. The absolute best and safest way to clean any wood floor that has a urethane finish is to use polyurethane cleaners which are made by both hardwood manufactures and polyurethane manufactures. You can use Squeaky Cleaner from Basic Coatings. You can find this at any hardwood floor supplier, Home Depot, or any place that sells hardwood floors. The cleaner is usually blue in color, and is mixed 4 parts water to 1 part cleaner in a spray bottle. Mist some on a cloth and then wipe. This can be used to clean any wood surface with a urethane top coat.

Question:

“We had bought a gorgeous old home with wood floors through out that were installed in ‘93. Two years ago, when we moved in, they looked pretty good, now they look worn and dull. The person who does our cleaning uses X Brand to clean the floors with, could that be the problem? How can we get the shine back?

Answer:

There is a number of cleaners, in the supermarkets, that say that they are for wood floors. The safest thing to do is to purchase a cleaner manufactured by a floor company or a floor finish company.

Final Words:

It doesn’t matter what kind of look you are trying to achieve, We carry the wood floor that will be just right for you. We carry all different types of wood floors | solid | glue down | staple down |and | floating wood floors |. If you ever have a question you can contact us directly and we will take as much time as needed to resolve your question to help you to make the right decision. Our goal is for you to be 100% happy and satisfied with your purchase so you will come back and shop with us again and so that you will tell others about us too.

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Unique light fixtures, at home, at work or play; enhances our lives and complements our sense of style.

Light is the first element of design; without it there is no color, form, or texture. By choosing unique light fixtures one determines the element of their homes design, weather it be brightly illuminated or a dimmer illuminated home, is the individual’s personal choice.

Think of the color in your rooms interior, then by using unique light fixtures you can bring out those colors thus creating each rooms on ambience. Now, each room in your home has it’s own feel and atmosphere.

There are three basic types of lighting that work together to light a room: general lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. A good lighting plan combines all three types to light an area, according to function and style. | General Lighting | provides an area with overall illumination. Also known as ambient lighting, It radiates a comfortable level of brightness, enabling one to see and walk about safely. | Task Lighting | can assist in performing specific tasks such as applying makeup, shaving, dressing a wound, or performing a manicure. | Accent Lighting | Depending on the size of the room accent lighting can add a little drama to a room by creating visual interest. As part of the decorating scheme, accent lighting can be used to spotlight particular objects that are especially attractive or interesting in the room.

When it comes to unique light fixtures there are several different styles and designs that one can choose from. With the massive number of choices that one has to choose from there is no excuse for you not to be able to get the perfect unique light fixtures that will compliment your home.

The importance of having the right atmosphere in your home is essential in that it will effect your mood. If your home is dim and dismel you will experience moods that put you into a sort of depressed or down in the dumbs feeling, while on the other hand if your home is bright and cheerful, your mood will reflect it. Also with the right lighting you can change the mood tone to one of romance and love. This all depends on what mood “you” are in.

Just imagine all the different ambience you can create with the usage of the right unique lighting fixtures!


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