Home Decor

Archive for July, 2009

Timber floors are fixed on top screeds laid on concrete. When slit floors are made, there are two to three courses of masonry feature wall. This rise from the lower to upper level. The edge of the timber floor has a skirting piece fixed round the whole room. These pieces are fixed to the edge of the concrete floor. They are fixed flush with the feature wall. This joint at the edge wears out quite fast. This happens as people stand on it and thus the cover or skirting treatment done to this finishes.

The finish fixed on the floor and masonry is a timber skirting. This skirting is about three inches wide and one inch thick. It has a rebate at the top. This rebate is for anchorage and nailing into the concrete. Hardwood timber is used due to its durability. It should cover the masonry about two and a half inches on the face side. If looked at on elevation, it seems like a skirting placed on top of the wall. On the floor part, it should be about a done a quarter inch above the surface. This is to one avoid tripping on skirting end.

Since the two courses of masonry are a feature wall, the aesthetics must be kept. The rebated timber skirting should not distort that beauty. The cover piece can be painted to match the feature wall or made to compliment it. In the interior design of a house, aesthetics are an integral part of finishes to any two different materials bonded together. Therefore the skirting piece at the part it lies on the floor should mat the timber finish. Preferably the same floor varnish used should be applied on it.

When fixing the cover on the floor finish, first measure the length required. The size of the rebate should be measured to spread on to the floor by about an inch. The thickness of this part can be about an eighth to half an inch thick. Screws are used to fasten it onto the concrete below the timber floor. Fine saw dust mixed with wood glue is run over the screw heads. This is sanded and rubbed down till smooth. The skirting, when fixed should lie firmly onto the feature wall. Decoration is then applied to match the floor and wall or as desired.

When renovating your home floors to hardwood flooring, there are two substantial savings opportunities to be made. The first saving opportunity to be made is buying the actual floor online and the second saving opportunity to be made is installing the new floor yourself. If you are comfortable with general do it yourself projects, you might also be able to fit your new floor yourself provided you have the time, the will and the right instructions. There are three main methods of fitting hardwood floors, each requires slightly different skill set and time.

Which Method Should I Use:

In order to know which installation to use you need to look at the type of subfloor you bought. It is very important to choose the right subfloor matter as it can directly influence which method of installation needed and the overall quality of your wood flooring. There are three common categories for subflooring. Concrete / Cement Screed, Wooden-Plywood / Chipboards and Floor Joist / Battens. Each is suitable for either solid or engineered floor and for each there is at least one recommended installation method.

3 Hardwood Flooring Installation Methods Compared:

1. Floating Installation: This type of Installation method is recommended for engineered hardwood floors when any of the 3 types of subflooring is used. Floating Installation is the easiest DIY installation method because it requires the least amount of skill or prior experience in installing floors for the newbie builder. In a nutshell, floating installation is when you PVA glue the tongue and groove together.

2. Glue Down Installation: This type of Installation method is recommended for solid floors when any of the 3 types of subflooring is used and for engineered hardwood floors when concrete or wooden-plywood is used. Glue-down installation requires the use of a bonding agent or adhesives applied directly onto the subfloor and can be laid onto both concrete and wooden subfloors (Note: always read the health and safety recommendations when working with chemical agents).

3. Nail-down Installation: This type of installation method is recommended for solid floors when concrete or wooden-plywood is used. Nail-down installation requires certain skill set and level of prior knowledge so it is only advised if you have a wood subfloor and plenty of time to focus on the work. Generally, people regard nail-down installation as being very exacting and time-consuming. It requires you to use specific tools and equipment, which can be hard to find for a DIY job.

What Preparation Steps Should I Take:

1. Make sure the room is completely free of any obstacles such as your old carpet or wooden floors so you can concentrate on installing rather than moving furniture around.

2. Ensure the surface is clean from any debris and other reminisce of the previous floor.

3. If working with agents ensure the room is aired and that you have red the health and safety information on the product.

4. Educate yourself on the type of installation most suitable for your floor by reading a how-to guide or watching an installation video.

In most discussions regarding kitchen improvements, the topics tend to be biased towards the appliances and the cabinets; more than the floor. Although, the floor is actually the largest surface in this room, it is sometimes ignored. However, the color and the type of flooring material that is used in your home helps to determine exactly what the total appearance of your entire kitchen will look like.

If your kitchen floor is covered in outdated tiles, seemingly borrowed from the olden days of early civilization, then you have a terrific starting place for your current remodeling project. Up dating the kitchen floor with the timeless, reliable and elegance of some kind of natural stone will make your home the envy of a lot of people.

Over the years, many people have found it to be a wise decision to invest their hard earned money into a product that will last a lifetime. Limestone, marble, slate or granite tiles have often been chosen for kitchen counter tops with great success. However, the day has arrived when these material are also used for kitchen floor tiles. These natural stone materials are elegant, breathtaking and extremely durable. They are also among the most hard-wearing and stylish flooring options that are available for the modern kitchen of today. Be sure to check out any natural stone tiles that have a pleasing texture and an exceptional blending of colors. All home improvements projects should always be based on durability, trends and cost effectiveness. When it comes to investing in a sure thing, put your money on any kind of natural stone flooring.

Natural stone is available in a large variety of colors, patterns and textures. They can actually be selected with the purpose of drawing attention to the existing cabinets, counter tops and appliances that are already in the kitchen area. Finally, everyone needs a floor that can withstand a lot of wear and tear that often accompanies the every day living of an active family.