Blog : October, 2010 | Flooring Supply Shop BlogFlooring Supplies

Why Should you Choose Brand Name Flooring

living room with hardwood flooring

One of major decisions that every homeowner needs to make is to choose the right flooring material for their home. The wide variety of flooring options, make the decision all the more daunting. However, choosing brand name flooring material, over generic flooring options, proves beneficial for homeowners in several ways. Although, homeowners may have to pay little more for these branded products but it is worth spending the extra money as brand name flooring products are durable and cost effective. Once installed, homeowners can enjoy the benefit of good durable flooring, for years to come.

Branded products are beneficial in every way, as it offers better quality, guarantee and material which is durable. The leading brand names offer customers a wide range of options, including different materials such as marble, hardwood, tiles and laminate flooring. These are available in wide choices of colors, patterns and styles, which make it easier for the buyer to choose from. Moreover, the brand names ensure quality. Whatever branded flooring material you buy, would come with assured quality, which is worth all the investment. In addition, one of the biggest advantages of branded products is that all these flooring options are durable. With proper maintenance and care, the branded flooring options are long lasting which increase the overall value of the house. A company becomes a brand only when it offers quality and durable products, which eventually earns them a broad clientele. Hence, if you choose a brand name, you can be rest assured that the product is of high quality which will be long lasting.

The leading brands in the field constantly carry out research & development, in order to produce new and innovative products. The options available to the customers increase manifold with the introduction of new & useful products. Companies also offer customized solutions to incorporate the specific requirements of their customers. Moreover, with the increasing competition, companies strive to offer better quality products at lower rates, which eventually saves customers significant amount of money.

In addition, branded products last longer, and the flooring does not demand frequent repairs. Good quality branded products makes the flooring strong & durable to withstand greater foot traffic without fading and staining. With the use of branded products the maintenance cost for flooring decreases, which add on to the savings for the customers. An important reason why customers should opt for branded products is because these products come with a warranty. For the sake of their reputation, big brands of the industry ensure to provide quality products that prove beneficial to the customer.

Owing to all this certain companies have become household names and leading brands, whose products can be bought by customers with surety of quality and durability. Hence, in case you are contemplating with the idea of purchasing flooring for your home, consider buying brand name products. Though you may have to pay a little more for these branded products; it will save you time, effort and money as these lasts longer and offer value for your money.

The fact about Glass Tile

For centuries, glass has been a featured material in mosaic media to decorate and articulate a building. Glass tiles are essentially pieces of glass formed into consistent shapes. Glass mosaic tiles are suitable for both internal and external applications as they are impervious to frost, sunlight, and water. This quality makes it best suited for wet or constantly submerged areas. They are easy to clean, maintain, and they never discolor. Glass tiles have a varied application in black slashes of drawing-room, dining, kitchen, bath-room etc…, They are also used to highlight certain features. The spot lighting has further increased their use. Although glass tiles are complex to install the benefits and beauty makes us over see.

Production methods determine look and feel of a glass tile. There are four major types of glass tile based on their manufacturing method.

They are Smalti tile, Fused glass, Sintered and Glass casting

In addition, there are two other eminent glass surface treatments for these tiles: slumping and etching.

Smalti tile is type of glass tile which is Frosted glass, or opaque glass. It has been in use from ancient times. “Smalti” is an Italian word, and refers to a glass paste. Smalti is made by mixing molten glass with metal oxides for color. Translucent Smalti is a popular variant of smalti glass tile. It looks like stained glass with uniform colors.

Byzantine Glass is another smalti variant made from thinner slabs of glass. Metallic Smalti is a swirl of a copper-bearing mineral added into the molten glass before it is pressed. Gold Smalti are made by applying a gold leaf and a thin layer of blown glass.

Fused Tile is manufactured using the fusion method. In this type a flat glass is cut into tiles shapes and then fired in a furnace. The clear glass will show the tile until treated with a color. In this method colors are added to the top or bottom of the glass. Fused glass tiles are characterized with a translucent area and a layer of opaque color visible through the tile. These tiles are further treated with an etching or other coating, for aesthetics or abrasion.

Sintered glass tile is a variety made by pressing glass powder into dies and then heated until the particles fuse. The color is either added into the powder or added topically after cooling. Unlike smalti tiles, sintered tiles tend to have a uniform look. This milky and scratch-resistant finish makes it versatile.

Cast tile is made by inserting chunks of glass into a mold which gives it a layered look. Most recycled glass tile products are made using this method making it environment friendly.

All these variants can be treated to slumping and etching. Slumped glasses are curved into convex/concave shape during firing. Etched glass is a process of applying a thin-translucent layer on the surface of a tile. All these features give glass tile a unique appearance which is unachievable with the conventional tiles. The reverberant and depth of color makes them unique.

How to install vinyl flooring effectively

There are a number of factors that need to be considered while selecting a flooring type for your house. Durability, ease of installation, moisture resistance and the cost are some of the major factors that people consider while selecting flooring. Vinyl is one of the most popular flooring types since it stands good on all of the above mentioned factors. Vinyl flooring offers high aesthetics and is quite inexpensive as compared to a number of other flooring types.

However, in order to get maximum benefit out of your vinyl flooring it is essential to install it properly. One of the key considerations in installing vinyl flooring is the sub floor. Vinyl requires the foundation to be even and smooth so that the finish is of the highest quality. It is for this reason that sanded plywood is considered to be the ideal choice of sub floors for vinyl flooring. Another effective option is to install the vinyl flooring over the existing one. This will eliminate the need to install a new sub floor before using vinyl flooring.

Before you start installing vinyl flooring it is essential to take the exact measurements of the room concerned. This will enable you to accurately estimate the amount of vinyl that you need to purchase. Furthermore, it is always advised to purchase a little extra vinyl to allow for trimming and cutting after the installation.

In case you are installing vinyl over your existing sub floor you need to ensure that it is smooth and free from any holes. In case there are holes in your sub floor you should use a patching mixture to fill them before you install vinyl.

Cutting vinyl can be a tricky job, and it is not uncommon to hear of vinyl tearing while it is being laid down. You should lay down the vinyl cover over the area that needs to be floored and mark the exact places to be cut. Make sure that you have left some extra space to trim and cut later.

Adhesive is another crucial step that can determine the durability and effectiveness of your vinyl flooring. You should purchase a high quality adhesive material and should apply it evenly to ensure strong adhesive. Apply firm pressure while laying down the flooring. You should allow the adhesion to dry for at least two hours before using the floor. Even after a strong bond has been created it is essential to carefully move any furniture over the flooring. This is so, since even a minor tear would require to re-do the entire job again.

Since vinyl floors require less maintenance, and are highly durable they have become the material of choice in a number of commercial establishments as well as households. However, adequate care needs to be taken while installing vinyl for maximum effectiveness. Although, a number of individuals consider it to be a ‘do-it-yourself’ job, in case you are not confident about it; it would be advisable to avail the services of a professional contractor.

Home Gym A Great Addition to Your Home

Being healthy is what every individual yearns for, and the chase for fitness is ongoing for ensuring a better lifestyle. Shortage of time in today’s busy life makes it impossible to regularly visit gyms, fitness clubs, and other such places. In order to solve this problem, homeowners are increasingly opting for personal home gyms.

Home gym is a great addition to your home, as you have the freedom to exercise whenever you get time. Whatever short-term expenses you incur in designing the home gym, proves beneficial in the long run. This is so because you do not to spend money on paying any fees or on traveling to the fitness center. Hence, a home gym aids in keeping you and your family healthy along with saving a good amount of money.

Arranging gymnasium equipment in your house is a simple process, but designing the gym room properly can become tedious, for which, you need to be little patient, until the room becomes operational. There are several experts who can assist you in arranging and maintaining a home gym. With their guidance and assistance, you need to make a few right choices while designing the room, so that you own a gym where you would love to go and spend quality time by exercising.

Select a room that is large enough to accommodate various exercising equipment. In case your room is not that large, you can put a wall-size mirror to visually enhance the size of the room. Make the room interesting and attractive with the help of happy colors, wall murals and artwork. You can even hang photos of models on the wall with the ideal body you are striving to achieve. Additionally, you can also install music system in the room so that you can enjoy relaxing music while exercising. If you wish, you can even install a television set, where you can catch the latest news updates or matches while exercising.

With the advancement in technology, there are several user-friendly exercising equipment available in the market. Amongst these options, you can easily find equipment that matches your requirements and budget. Buying a treadmill is the best choice if you enjoy walking or jogging; however you should purchase bicycle if you enjoy cardiovascular workout.

It is usually recommended that before you purchase any of this equipment, you must consult an expert. It becomes all the more important to seek professional help if you are totally unaware about the various equipment. You should only purchase branded equipment, as these are safe and often come with a guarantee against manufacturing defects. Additionally, keep in perspective the size of the gym room while purchasing equipment so that you buy only those equipment that will easily fit into the room.

Thus, considering your requirements and budget, along with these simple guidelines, you can easily design your home gym.

Warm and Cozy Floors at Home During the Winter

Winters are beautiful and visually appealing with plenty of snowfall, however this also leads to drop in temperature, beyond comfort One of the biggest discomforts in the winter season are cold floors. This problem however, can be rectified by installing radiant floor heating system which will keep the flooring as well as the interiors of your house, warm all through the freezing winter season. These affordable and easy to install radiant heating system are increasingly being used by individuals around the world.

The thermostat controlled heating system installed in your house keeps the air warm and not the floor, which results in significant difference between the air and floor temperature. However, with the radiant floor heating system you can easily eliminate the discomforts caused due to the cold floors. These are safe, cost effective and can be installed under any type of flooring such as tile, concrete, asphalt or brick with ease. Radiant floor heating systems prove beneficial even for clearing up the snow from driveway, stairs and patios.

However, before purchasing radiant floor heating systems, one needs to take into consideration certain important factors. Radiant floor heating systems should be certified safe and easy to install. Another important consideration is the system’s heat output, which can be varied as per individual choice. In case one wants a warm floor then you need a moderate heating system with low output, however if you want to keep the entire room warm, then you need a system with higher output. Moreover, one must choose a system with a thermostat control which can be conveniently programmed according to the need and maintain optimum temperature throughout the day. This ensures that there is no wastage of energy, which results in low power consumption. Furthermore, since higher EMF is associated with certain ill effects, hence you consider a system that works effectively and does not increase the EMF significantly. There are many reliable companies in the market which offer customized floor heating systems to meet your specific requirements in terms of size and dimensions, thereby enabling you to install these systems anywhere, be it kitchen, bathroom or outside.

There are so many advantages offered by the radiant floor heating system offers that it has become a must for winters. There is no need to make alteration to the room décor as these heating systems are installed below the flooring, without significantly raising the floor level, as it has compact dimensions. Moreover, these systems can be easily installed below any type of flooring, be it tiles, carpet or hardwood; and has minimal maintenance needs. The radiant floor heating systems are ideal for keeping not just the floors but interiors of the home warm as well; consequently you can turn down your main thermostat by few degrees and save on the power bills.

Hence, to have warm and comfortable winters, get the “radiant floor heating system” installed at your place before the start of the winter season. Moreover, this is one luxury which is efficient as well as affordable.

Month: October 2010

Why Should you Choose Brand Name Flooring

The fact about Glass Tile

How to install vinyl flooring effectively

Home Gym A Great Addition to Your Home

Warm and Cozy Floors at Home During the Winter

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