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by ANDY LEDDY (Dislike New Flickr Version)

The Marvels Of Engineered Wood Flooring

The engineered wood is very much in demand these days for the new houses that are being built. This is mainly used for the floor because hardwood flooring is not easy to be done on your own. You have to get a floor installer. Comparatively, the engineered wood flooring is an alternative that not only enhances the look of your house but is also hassle free.

Engineered wood is a mixture of plywood and finish wood and so you have actually got yourself real wood for the floor, no matter what people may say. The engineered hardwood floors are moisture proof and are also easy to maintain. Even though hard wood is sturdy, the ply wood used across the finish wood in case of engineered hardwood flooring gives support and strength.

There are various advantages of the engineered hardwood floors. In case of solid wood floors once it is laid, it needs to be sealed and you must give it some time to dry before it is ready to be used. The engineered hardwood floors are instantly ready to be used once it is done, since these are sold after sand cleaning and sealing. Another benefit of these floors is that they can be later sanded in case scratches develop. Laminated floors do not have this advantage.

Compared to the other wood floors the engineered hard wood flooring is the best for kitchens, bathrooms and to a certain extent in basements too. The installation of engineered floors can be done in two ways. You nail them or glue them in place. There are floating engineered floors too.

Though more expensive than the laminated floors the engineered wood floors are easier to maintain as they can be cleaned to remove the various marks that form on the floor when used constantly. The unique feature of engineered floors is that they are noiseless while tiled or stone floors tend to create noise. During winter the feel of the floor under our feet is warm unlike the other floors. You can rest assured that your floor will not develop dents or get warped when it comes in contact with moisture.  

Engineered wood floors in Utah, Salt Lake City, is prompt and is done by experts.  There are very many specialists in engineered hardwood flooring. With their help you can also customize the floor according to your choice.

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by MsPatt

Floor Sanding – Transforming An Old Wood Floor

One of the most satisfying DIY jobs within the home is lovingly sanding down an old wooden floor and transforming it into a beautiful new surface. It is not recommended to carry out floor sanding under your own steam on a parquet floor as these require specialist sanding machines and should not be attempted by the complete novice.

Time should be taken to ensure that the correct equipment is hired; your local floor sander hire centre should be able to offer advice. Remember that pine floors no matter how flat they seem will invariably dip in the middle of each board. If the wrong equipment is used you will most likely end up with an uneven result after all your efforts.

To carry out the task of sanding a wooden floor you will require a large sander for the main area, a specialised edge sander for any edges as well as any stairs. The sanders are extremely powerful and they need to be to achieve the right results. When using the sander, keep it moving to get a nice even finish and remember not to leave the sander in the same place for too long, even one extra second and the sander will eat the floor. It is always better to sand with the direction of the grain rather than going against it. When approaching the end of the room it is important not to panic, simply turn the sander around and head in the opposite direction, you can stop at any time and you must not let the sander run away with you.

There might be gaps between the floorboards that you would rather not see; if this is the case it is possible to fill the gaps. This can be a time consuming project and it should be remembered that when the floor is stained or varnished the filled gaps will appear a different colour than the floorboards.

Once the main area of the floor has been taken down to new wood, there will be some marks remaining due to undulations in the wood but these can easily be removed with the use of the edge sander. Then use the edge sander to sand the areas of the floor close to the skirting board, with this done it is time to change the grade of the paper and repeat the process. The point of changing the grade of paper used is to remove the scratches caused by removing the top layers of wood. The local sander hire centre should be able to advice you on which grade of paper to use for each stage. It may be necessary to carry out the process several times; changing the grade of the paper used each time, to achieve the smooth finish desired.

When completely satisfied Hoover the floor and repeat after several hours to guarantee that you have removed all the dust. It is well worth hiring an up to date sanding machine purely on the grounds of how much dust is created by using old sanders. Then wipe the floor surface with white spirit on a rag and allow it to evaporate for several hours. Cleaning the floor in this fashion will degrease it and prepare the surface for staining or varnishing.

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