hardwoodfloor

Check out this article it is pretty good. We have a great selection of hardwoodflooring

How To Select Scraped//Distressed Hardwood Flooring

Hand-scraped and Distressed hardwood floors are becoming a popular choice in today’s upscale homes and commercial buildings. These floors are a newer trend but are rooted in history. Before today’s modern sanding methods, floors were hand scraped on site to make the floors flat. Today’s hand scraping is done to add texture, richness and uniqueness.

Distressed hardwood flooring is done by machine or by hand. In an effort to reduce high labor costs, manufacturers have created machine-made distressed/scraped looking floors. These are cheaper imitations of the real thing. The problem with machine distressing is repetition of the pattern. As you look across the floor you see the same pattern repeating across the floor. This lacks a natural feel to the floor.

True hand scraped is exactly that - done by hand. When properly done this method creates a truly unique floor. These floors differ greatly in the amount of the texture added to the floor and the skill of the person scraping the floor.

Some manufacturers are just denting, scooping, or roughing the floor. Others are sanding the floor unevenly to create a worn look. Still others are scraping the entire surface of the flooring creating the most unique hand made look. Some product lines allow the customer to choose between heavy, medium and light scraping. True artisans can create a reclaimed look complete with wormholes, splits and other naturally occurring character markings.

The labor used in hand scraping varies greatly. Some floor installers simply have their crew scrape the floor after it is installed in the home. Results vary widely based on the skill of the person or persons doing the scraping. Lack of control and expertise can lead to disastrous results. Scraping is a plant environment is also varied. Some are using illegal immigrants for the scraping labor; one company uses the federal prison system, smartly not advertised as such. Yet another uses Pennsylvania Amish craftsman to create their Amish Hand-Scraped collection.

Some homeowners are buying scraped floors unfinished and applying the finish on site, but most are choosing prefinished. These floors require special methods to prepare the floor for finishing. Regular on site sanding can destroy the texture of the floor that the customer is paying for. The most expensive lines are being finished by hand sometimes referred to as “hand rubbed”. Most of the prefinished floors are excellent and create convenience and speed of installation for the contractor and homeowner alike.

One of the great benefits of a prefinished floor is the ability of each plank to move independently with the changes of humidity in the home. On site finishing bonds the finish between planks requiring the finish to split as the floor contracts at dry humidity levels. These cracks rarely create a problem and are natural in hardwood floors, they are less noticeable in prefinished microbevelled floors.

Scraped floors that have darker finished tend to show the scraping more than natural finished floors. This is due to the finish pooling in the scrapes causing shadows drawing your attention to the character in the floor. Most hardwood flooring manufacturers have web sites showing the consumer what the floors look like. Many have displays at dealers near your home so you can actually see and touch what you are buying.

Hand scraped floors are not cheap. They are for those looking for a truly unique look. The cheaper machine made distressed hardwood floors material can retail around $10 per square foot. You will pay $15 and up per square foot for hand scraped. With most things in life, the real thing is hard to imitate and most people know a fake when they see it. A true hand scraped floor will give a unique, warm, rich look to your home and will be an absolute guaranteed conversation piece with your friends and guests.

About The Author

Doug Bolton is the owner of Homerwood Hardwood Flooring, located in the heart of the Pennsylvania hardwood region - Titusville PA. You can learn more by visiting their website at http://www.homerwood.com.

dbolton@homerwood.com

article source: adzines.com

Hey guys it been a while. I just wanted to let everyone know we are working on the business and been away from website/blog pages. We will be updating some coming up shortly.  Check out our old blogs. They have good information.

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Laminate Flooring - Easy Care and Maintenance Tips
By Marion Taylor

It’s simple really - be good to your laminate floor and it will more than live up to its reputation for durability.

Minimize dirt, stains and markings with doormats and use protectors on the feet of your furniture. To clean laminate, sweep up the dirt and apply a slightly damp mop. We strongly recommend the Bona Hard Surface Cleaning Kit for cleaning laminate. It’s a fantastic product that comes with a:

• plastic mop handle and head that’s flexible enough to reach under the bed
• washable microfiber pad that fits onto the head
• non-toxic, water-based spray formula

Few products work better on laminate. I’ve used it to clean up dirty floors after drywalling and sawing projects to great effect. You can find the kit at most flooring stores, or order it online.

A few other things to keep in mind:

• Check your warranty and see if the manufacturer provides any special care and maintenance instructions for your laminate brand.
• If you’ve done any shaving/gluing detail work let the glue set for a couple of days before giving those areas a good cleaning.
• Wipe up spills immediately–moisture is hard on laminate floors. Dampen your mop sparingly when cleaning.

Most laminates will chip if you drop–or throw–something heavy onto the surface with a lot of force. That said, I know a national step-dancing champion who uses laminate flooring in his teaching studio because of its durability. Laminate chip repair products are available in a variety of colors at your local hardware store.

Few floors stand up to the wear and tear of daily life, children, and pets as easily as laminate.

Enjoy it!

Interested in how to install laminate flooring? You can save hundreds even thousands–by doing it yourself. Installation video demonstrates everything you need to know.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marion_Taylor
http://EzineArticles.com/?Laminate-Flooring—Easy-Care-and-Maintenance-Tips&id=1099891

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.Laminate Flooring - Easy Care and Maintenance Tips
By Marion Taylor

It’s simple really - be good to your laminate floor and it will more than live up to its reputation for durability.

Minimize dirt, stains and markings with doormats and use protectors on the feet of your furniture. To clean laminate, sweep up the dirt and apply a slightly damp mop. We strongly recommend the Bona Hard Surface Cleaning Kit for cleaning laminate. It’s a fantastic product that comes with a:

• plastic mop handle and head that’s flexible enough to reach under the bed
• washable microfiber pad that fits onto the head
• non-toxic, water-based spray formula

Few products work better on laminate. I’ve used it to clean up dirty floors after drywalling and sawing projects to great effect. You can find the kit at most flooring stores, or order it online.

A few other things to keep in mind:

• Check your warranty and see if the manufacturer provides any special care and maintenance instructions for your laminate brand.
• If you’ve done any shaving/gluing detail work let the glue set for a couple of days before giving those areas a good cleaning.
• Wipe up spills immediately–moisture is hard on laminate floors. Dampen your mop sparingly when cleaning.

Most laminates will chip if you drop–or throw–something heavy onto the surface with a lot of force. That said, I know a national step-dancing champion who uses laminate flooring in his teaching studio because of its durability. Laminate chip repair products are available in a variety of colors at your local hardware store.

Few floors stand up to the wear and tear of daily life, children, and pets as easily as laminate.

Enjoy it!

Interested in how to install laminate flooring? You can save hundreds even thousands–by doing it yourself. Installation video demonstrates everything you need to know.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marion_Taylor
http://EzineArticles.com/?Laminate-Flooring—Easy-Care-and-Maintenance-Tips&id=1099891

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.

Tips on Mopping Hardwood Floors
By Kirsten Steinman

Cleaning hardwood floors can be a very tricky process. Hardwood floors can suffer damage as a result of standing water, extreme changes in humidity, and abrasive cleaners. It’s important you clean your floors with cleaning products that are compatible with the exact hardwood floor type you have.

As a self-proclaimed judge of floor cleaners, I was blown away by the Bona Hardwood Floor Mop. Bona is a Swedish company that distributes mops and cleaning solutions specifically tailored for hardwood floors. For those who have hardwood flooring in their home, you probably already know how difficult it can be to keep hardwood looking shiny and clean. Especially since they can only be cleaned with a damp mop every now and then. Bona is not only free from toxic chemicals so often found in conventional floor cleaning products, they are also deemed safe for the environment.

The Bona Hardwood Floor Mop comes with a microfiber pad that can be washed and reused up to a three-hundred times before it enters the waste stream. This simple fact makes the Bona mop one of the greenest floor products on the market. In comparison, Swiffer Wet Jet mop pads must be tossed after every use. Not only does this entail more money, it’s also not very friendly to the environment. The Bona hardwood floor mop is also unique in the fact that it simultaneously sprays the hardwood cleaner onto the floor as you mop. Mopping is quick, easy, and residue free. To find out more, check out this head to head test with the Bona Hardwood Floor Mop and Swiffer Wet Jet.

I was amazed by how clean Bona was able to get my floors, and won over by the fact that everything about the process was eco-friendly. While the initial cost can be a bit more than alternative cleaners and mops, in the long run it’s helped save me money. And actually, it’s quite reasonable - only $7.99 for a microfiber cleaning pad that will probably last you 2 years! You can buy Bona hardwood floor cleaning products and learn how to use them right on their website.

Bona doesn’t just make hardwood cleaning products; they also make cleaners for stone, tile and laminate floors. These water-based cleaning products are also made with environmentally responsible ingredients that are specially treated to clean all tile, laminate and stone floor varieties. And unlike other comparable floor cleaners, Bona products do not leave behind an unsightly residue.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Steinman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-on-Mopping-Hardwood-Floors&id=2037376

Here is a good article on hardwood floor care tips. Palmetto Hardwood has some great article on our regular website as well.   For a quote on hardwood floors and floor care products call us or visit our website.

Hardwood Floor Care Tips - Care A Little and Get a Lifetime of Value
By Tania Penwell

You have made a substantial investment in hardwood flooring to get an impeccable home décor - now it is time to learn how to care for your precious hardwood floor, so that your investment is well protected and keeps on adding value to your property for years and for generations.

Here is a simple hardwood care and maintenance guide for every homeowner.

With the proper care and maintenance regimen it is possible to retain the original richness, warmth and natural beauty of your hardwood floors for years. And the good news is: hardwood floors are among the easiest to maintain and keep clean.

Maintenance of hardwood flooring has two aspects

How to prevent damage to your expensive hardwood floors

Easy steps to keep your hardwood floor clean

These are some of the easy to follow ways how you can care for your hardwood floor-follow them to retain the natural shine for years.

Tania Penwell provides information on hardwood flooring and other DIY topics for A1 Wood Flooring - your guide to finding and caring for beautiful wood floors.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Hardwood-Floor-Care-Tips—Care-A-Little-and-Get-a-Lifetime-of-Value&id=712196

I found this great article on Hardwood floor installation. For great prices on hardwood flooring go to my website.

Hardwood Floor Installation Facts You Should Know
By Chris Smitts

Whether you are using hardwood flooring, laminate flooring or engineered flooring, there are some basic hardwood floor installation facts that you should be aware of. Hardwood floors are one of the most desirable forms of flooring that you will see in homes today. With the advances in the different types of flooring, it is hard to imagine an area of the home that you will not be able to use them.

If you are going to use standard hardwood flooring, you are first going to have to put down a sub-floor to secure the hardwood flooring to. This will allow you to have hardwood floor installation over things like hard floors (meaning concrete slabs) or over pre-existing floors and also provide a layer of insulation against moisture. If you want to avoid some of that work, you can choose an alternate style of flooring that will allow you to lay the floor down directly on those substances.

When you are trying hardwood floor installation in an area that has a lot of moisture, you should really avoid solid hardwood flooring and use one of the alternatives. If the area is not going to have a lot of moisture, you can still install wood floors, but you will want to use an engineered floor instead of a solid floor. This can hold up to relatively low levels of moisture without being damaged.

If your hardwood floor installation is going to be in an area like the bathroom or kitchen that is prone to a lot of spills, even the engineered floor may not be a good idea. If you are putting flooring down in this area, you may want to consider using something that can handle getting wet on a regular basis. Your option for this would be laminate hardwood flooring. While it is not really a wooden floor, it will give you the appearance and durability that you need.

In regards to installing hardwood floors, if you are going to do it yourself, there are a few more things that you will need to make sure you are prepared to handle. The first is the actual detailed work that is involved after you finish putting the floor down. It all starts with sanding down the floor to lose the rough spots from the wood filler that may be used to cover the nails and to also smooth out the entire floor.

From there you are going to have to possibly stain and finish the floor. This can be a very tedious task, but is also a time that the floor itself is unusable. If you have children or pets, you may want to get them out of the house until the finish dries to ensure that they do not mess it up.

Hardwood floor installation is a project that you can do yourself if you have some DIY skills, but may be something that you want to consider contracting out. If you are going to take on the task yourself, make sure you are educated on the installation process and that you can handle all of the tasks at hand to make sure you don’t ruin pieces as you are installing and add to the overall cost of the project…

Want to learn more? Click Here for more FREE INFORMATION on Hardwood Floor Installation

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Smitts
http://EzineArticles.com/?Hardwood-Floor-Installation-Facts-You-Should-Know&id=2837277

This is a good article on Hardwood Flooring. For a great price on hardwood flooring come to my website.

Tips on Mopping Hardwood Floors
By Kirsten Steinman

Cleaning hardwood floors can be a very tricky process. Hardwood floors can suffer damage as a result of standing water, extreme changes in humidity, and abrasive cleaners. It’s important you clean your floors with cleaning products that are compatible with the exact hardwood floor type you have.

As a self-proclaimed judge of floor cleaners, I was blown away by the Bona Hardwood Floor Mop. Bona is a Swedish company that distributes mops and cleaning solutions specifically tailored for hardwood floors. For those who have hardwood flooring in their home, you probably already know how difficult it can be to keep hardwood looking shiny and clean. Especially since they can only be cleaned with a damp mop every now and then. Bona is not only free from toxic chemicals so often found in conventional floor cleaning products, they are also deemed safe for the environment.

The Bona Hardwood Floor Mop comes with a microfiber pad that can be washed and reused up to a three-hundred times before it enters the waste stream. This simple fact makes the Bona mop one of the greenest floor products on the market. In comparison, Swiffer Wet Jet mop pads must be tossed after every use. Not only does this entail more money, it’s also not very friendly to the environment. The Bona hardwood floor mop is also unique in the fact that it simultaneously sprays the hardwood cleaner onto the floor as you mop. Mopping is quick, easy, and residue free. To find out more, check out this head to head test with the Bona Hardwood Floor Mop and Swiffer Wet Jet.

I was amazed by how clean Bona was able to get my floors, and won over by the fact that everything about the process was eco-friendly. While the initial cost can be a bit more than alternative cleaners and mops, in the long run it’s helped save me money. And actually, it’s quite reasonable - only $7.99 for a microfiber cleaning pad that will probably last you 2 years! You can buy Bona hardwood floor cleaning products and learn how to use them right on their website.

Bona doesn’t just make hardwood cleaning products; they also make cleaners for stone, tile and laminate floors. These water-based cleaning products are also made with environmentally responsible ingredients that are specially treated to clean all tile, laminate and stone floor varieties. And unlike other comparable floor cleaners, Bona products do not leave behind an unsightly residue.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Steinman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-on-Mopping-Hardwood-Floors&id=2037376

This is a good Article. For more information on purchasing hardwood flooring come to Palmetto Hardwood Website.

How to Find the Best Hardwood Flooring Cleaner
By Pieter West

Your wood floors are an investment that should hopefully last you a lifetime, but this will only happen if you take proper care of them. One of the difficulties of maintaining your floors is finding the right hardwood flooring cleaner. The marketplace has many options available, but if you want to get the best results, and make sure you are not damaging your floors, then it is important that you are careful what you use to clean them. In order to keep your wood floors looking great you should not take any decision regarding them lightly.

The most important thing you should do in order to preserve your flooring is to clean it regularly with a professional grade hardwood flooring cleaner. It is important that you consult the professional who installed your floors in order to get their opinion on what type of product you should use. Not only will this help you to get the best results, but it will also protect whatever warranty or guarantee you have on the product.

One thing you can do in order to maintain proper hardwood flooring care is to keep the surface protected at all times. You will want to make sure that your floor is not constantly being subjected to moisture, so when you mop your floors only use as much water as necessary. Do your best to prevent heavy wear as well because this can easily create scratches. A few things you should take proper care not to do include: using ammonia or dust cleaners, tracking dirt, or waxing a polyurethane finish. Also make sure to keep your pet’s nails trimmed as this may also damage your floors.

You should know that simple hardwood flooring care is not enough to keep your floors looking new. You will have to take a proactive approach to keeping dirt, food, and moisture away from them. You can start by placing mats in front of entryways to your home and floor protectors on the feet of your furniture. Also be certain to sweep, dust mop, or vacuum your floors each day in order to keep the amount of dust and dirt accumulated on them to a minimum. Make this a regular event in your household so you will stick with it. This is especially important to do every time there has been major traffic in your home.

As you can see, taking the proper care of your flooring is important if you are going to get your money’s worth out of your investment. As a recap, remember to use only professionally recommended hardwood flooring cleaner, sweep or vacuum your floors regularly, keep exposure to moisture to a minimum. You will see that when you pay the proper attention to your natural wood floors they will last you a lifetime.

Pieter West travels the world on a regular basis and have written about numerous subjects. He has an extensive knowledge about, finances, DIY, parenting advice and many more subjects.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pieter_West
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Find-the-Best-Hardwood-Flooring-Cleaner&id=2851821

This is a good article on Hardwood Flooring. For a great price on hardwood flooring come to my website.

Need A Hardwood Floor Cleaner Recipe?
By Christopher W Smith

Hardwood floors seem simple to clean when you are considering installing them in your home. You don’t have to worry about the dirt sticking to the floor, stains from food and drinks, and other issues you have with carpet. Carpet tends to lose its luster after a few years and can be irreparably stained. While it is more difficult to damage hardwood flooring, it is still possible. You will want to have the proper cleaning supplies when you consider your hardwood floor. Some chemicals can actually be too harsh stripping away the floors finishing. Scraps in the floor can be difficult to repair, and of course pet stains on hardwood flooring are difficult to remove.

A very simple hardwood floor cleaner recipe is taking 1 teaspoon of vinegar, 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and one quart of water. You will combine these ingredients in a bucket and either use a mop or a washrag to rub over the floor after you have swept the area. Once you have applied the cleaning recipe to the floor you will want to go back over the floor with clear and clean water. It is also best that you take a rag and clean in the corners to help get the dust out of the corners before you begin the treatment.

If you have any scratches on the floor that are not deep you will be able to use a finishing lacquer to cover the scratches. More involved scratches will need to be sanded and refinished. If you have a deep stain you can still use the simple floor cleaner above. It may take a little extra work or you may have to sand the area first to remove the uppermost part of the stain.

When you have hardwood floors you need to deal with spills quickly. While the finishing is supposed to protect the floor from damaging water can still get through. Most importantly you need to know the type of hardwood flooring you have. Some of the newer floors are so simple to put in that the sealer is not applied so the grooves are protected. This means that a spill can leak through the grooves and damage the flooring beneath. On this type of floor it is best to use small amounts of the recipe above and water on the stain and to clean the floor to avoid damaging it.

Another great recipe to use on hardwood floors is using a vegetable soap or Murphy’s oil soap to create a watered down mixture that you can apply to the floors. The same rules apply as above. You do not want to use excess moisture when cleaning the hardwood floors as it can warp the wood or cause more severe damage. You may use a spray bottle to make sure that you have the correct amount of solution come out. A rag or the new Swiffer mops are great for getting your hardwood floors clean because they don’t require the pads to be soaked.

Visit us for more information on installing hardwood floors, refinishing hardwood floors and hardwood floor accessories

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Hardwood Flooring - Simple Cleaning Tips
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dyuane_Dukes]Dyuane Dukes

Cleaning your hardwood floors on a regular basis is very important.  Hardwood flooring is an expensive investment.  With proper maintenance you hardwoods will last a lifetime.

There is some simple preventative maintenance you can do to protect you floors. Put rugs at your entrances and area rugs in high traffic areas.  Make sure that you don’t get the foam and/or rubber backed type of mats. These types of rugs will stick to the floor over time causing trap moisture against the floor surface.  Make sure that you clean your floors regularly with a broom or vacuum that does not have beating bar.  Do not damp mop. Water and hardwood floors do not mix. Do not use oil based cleaning supplies. Oil based cleaning supplies may dull the finish on the floors.  If you purchased new floors from a company follow the recommended cleaning techniques.  With this simple maintenance you hardwood floors will last a lifetime.

This was a short quick guide on maintenance.  We will be posting some more articles soon with more in depth details. So very simple things to remember. One put rug at your entrance to check the lose stones that can scratch you floors. Two, sweep the floor frequently.  Three, do not use oil based cleaning products because they can damage your finish.  Fourth, clean up any spill on the floor quickly. If you follow these simple steps you will have some beautiful floors that will last a lifetime.

I hope you enjoyed this little article.

Hopefully you hear more from us soon. [http://www.palmettohardwood.com]http://www.palmettohardwood.com.

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