Maple Hardwood Flooring: Pros and Cons

Maple hardwood flooring is a beautiful addition to any room. As with any hardwood flooring, there are benefits and drawbacks to this type of wood. Consider the following before you decide maple hardwood is the best option for your needs.

1. Hardness

Maple is one of the hardest of all domestic hardwoods. It comes in second for durability, with hickory being first. Consider that maple is most often used in bowling alleys, where the pounding bowling balls and foot traffic are heavy. This is why it is also a popular choice for cabinet builders and furniture manufacturers.

2. Affordability

Maple is very affordable. It is widely available, which eases the cost. It is especially budget friendly if you choose to purchase the lower grades, which are still very durable.

3. Great Color

Maple has a light color with a warm hue. This color will fit in virtually any room while adding warmth and light. It very easily adapts to any color palette, which allows you to decorate a room in any color you want without worrying about a clash in contrast.

4. Easy to Maintain

After your maple flooring is installed, it is very easy to maintain. If you sweep or vacuum weekly and follow with a good mopping with mild wood soap and water, the finish will stay looking new. About twice a year, as with any hardwood floor, you will need to buff it out to keep its luster.

5. Scratches and Other Marks

Scratches can be an issue with maple. The grain is very smooth, which causes the scratches to show, especially if it is a large scratch. You will need to polish out scratches with a rubbing compound wax to remove them.

Another issue can be heel marks from rubber soled shoes. These marks show due to the light color of the wood. They are easy to remove with an eraser and by buffing out the spot.

6. Stain Finish

Maple is difficult to stain sometimes. especially if you are going for a lighter look. The stain will sometimes have splotches where the grain is heavier. A darker stain will adhere more evenly. The pre-finished maple flooring should be stained evenly, but it is a good idea to seal it because the stain from the manufacturer may not give the floor the protection that it requires.

When you refinish it, you will have to completely re-sand it and add a very even coat of stain finish. This is best done by professionals for the above reasons.

7. Humidity Issues

Maple boards are prone to moving when the humidity rises and falls. If you live in a climate where the humidity rises and falls, you should purchase a humidifier to use under the floor during dry months to keep it from moving and from shrinkage.

On the other hand, maple can expand and crack if you live in a damp area. In this case, you will need a dehumidifier to absorb the moisture. Both of these are for extreme cases when the temperature is extremely damp or dry for long periods of time.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

How to Tile a Kitchen Floor

Porcelain or ceramic tile is commonly used as kitchen flooring because of its durability and attractive appearance. The price of installing kitchen tile, however, is often expensive and doing it yourself can seem daunting at first glance. Fortunately, tiling a kitchen is not as hard as it sounds and can be accomplished by following this simple guide.

What You’ll Need:

• Chalk line
• Straightedge
• Tile spacer
• Thinset mortar
• Drill
• Trowel
• Tile
• Framing square
• Scoring knife
• Tile cutter or wet saw
• Grout
• Grout float
• Sponge
• Sealer

Step 1 – Subfloor Prep

It’s very important that the subfloor is secure enough to support the tile and the people walking across it. The tile should not flex under additional weight as this can damage the grout over time and lead to water damage. You can strengthen the floor by using a backer board, such as vinyl or heavy felt. Once the floor is sufficiently secure, clean it before you begin the tile installation.

Step 2 – Dry Fit

Find the center of the room by snapping a chalk line from the halfway point of each wall. The lines will cross at the center of the room, which is where you will lay down the first row of tile. Using a straightedge, place the tiles in a row covering at least half the room. Use a tile spacer for better accuracy. Lay the tile until you reach one of the walls. Adjust the center line if the final row is too small of a cut. Repeat the process with the other walls to get the best placement and look.

Step 3 – Mix Mortar

Follow the package instructions for mixing thinset mortar. Do not mix more than you can install within 30 minutes. A drill with a mixing bit can make this process a lot easier. The final consistency should be similar to mayonnaise and will need to rest for around 10 minutes before starting.

Step 4 – Apply Mortar

Begin by applying a thin layer of mortar to an area around two feet square at the center line. Avoid covering large areas at once as the mortar can get too dry. Using a trowel, spread the mortar in curved patterns until it is flat on the surface. Then use the trowel’s notched edge at a 45-degree angle to finish spreading the mortar into small ridges.

Step 5 – Setting Tile

Set down each tile along the center line, pushing down with a short twist until each piece is firmly in place. Use a consistent amount of pressure to keep each tile the same height as its neighbor. Continue this process until all of the full tile pieces are in place as these are the easiest to install. Periodically use a framing square to make sure everything is lining up correctly and keep an eye on all of your lines. Once you reach the edge of the floor, you will need to use a scoring knife to properly cut the final pieces.

Step 6 – Cutting Tile

After all the full pieces of tile have been laid, you will need to start cutting pieces for the outer edge. Taking accurate measurements is critical at this stage and cut one piece at a time until you are certain the size is correct. You can cut the pieces of tile with a hand tile cutter or a wet saw. Scoring the tile will make the cuts cleaner and more accurate.

Step 7 – Grouting

The final step in installing kitchen tile is placing the grout. Remove any spacers and excess mortar before laying down the grout. Using a grout float, apply the grout along the seams of the tile. Use a damp sponge to clean any excess grout, but only after it has dried for around 30 minutes. Once the grout work is done, return the following day and clean the surface with a damp sponge. Apply a sealer after the grout has fully dried. The drying process typically takes three to four days, depending on the type of grout and moisture conditions.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

6 Money-Saving Hacks for Wood and Laminate Flooring

New flooring offers a quick facelift to just about any space. While there are some jobs that you will want to hire out for, installing wood or laminate flooring is something you can most likely tackle yourself. Once you create a plan and read up on the topic, you’ll be covering a room with new flooring in no time. While doing the installation yourself obviously saves you money on installation fees, there are other tips to help you save money on the product and the process.

1. Shop Bulk Stores

Stores like Costco and Sam’s Club carry laminate flooring at a good price based on the fact that the store has already negotiated a bulk rate for the product. Many stores only carry flooring products seasonally or a few times a year, so you will want to check your local store occasionally for availability. You can also scour the websites and have the flooring shipped from the warehouse directly to your home.

Similar to the clothing and housewares outlet malls spread across the country are lumber discount stores like Lumber Liquidators. These businesses buy discontinued products and make large bulk purchases, and then pass the savings on to you. The selection might be limited but, then again, they may have just what you’re looking for. Check-in with them frequently to see what’s new in the warehouse.

3. Check Your Local Habitat for Humanity ReStore

For smaller projects, make a trip to your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. This organization makes homeownership possible for many families across the nation by helping them build homes and obtain an affordable loan. The ReStores accept donations of all building materials and resell them as a way to fund this goal. Check with your local ReStore for flooring that may have been donated. It’s common to see many unopened boxes of matching products at a steep discount from buying new!

4. Find a Coupon Online

If you find the perfect flooring to suit your needs, be sure to check for a coupon to save you some dough. For example, if you plan to install a Pergo product that you find at Lowe’s, peruse the internet for a discount coupon. Lowe’s issues coupons to new customers or local patrons whenever they open a store in a new area. Recipients often post these coupon codes online for other people to use. Start with the store’s website to see if they are offering a discount or mention coupon code. If you don’t find anything there, run a search at RetailMeNot and try any coupon codes that pop up there. eBay members often sell coupon codes, as well. For example, you can commonly find a Lowe’s 10% off coupon, which you can buy for $ 0.99 and gain immediate access to via electronic transfer to your email. Then, use that coupon to place your online order or print and take it to the store.

5. Borrow Tools

Some jobs require special tools. For example, when installing wood flooring you will need a nail gun. But before you run out to buy one, ask your local flooring company if they have one that you can rent. Also, check with friends and neighbors to see if someone has the tool you need that you can borrow.

6. Avoid Waste

For most laminate or wood flooring, it’s recommended that you factor in 10% waste. While it’s impossible to eliminate all waste, careful planning and proper layout of materials can significantly reduce excess garbage. For example, when installing planks, use the end of the board cut off from one row as your starting piece for the next row. A room that is square will have less waste than one that includes many corners, curves, alcoves, and closets. Minimize waste in rooms with those features by using small, cut pieces inside areas that will not be seen, such as the back of the pantry or closet. This tactic will prevent you from having to purchase additional flooring.

Additional Tips

When you allow yourself a little bit of time to plan for the project, it’s easy to find discounts on the products you need. Use the internet to comparison shop and be sure to watch for delivery fees that may be tacked on. Also, consider the quality of the product you’re buying. While you can find laminate flooring for $.99/sq. ft, this product likely has a very thin top layer and may quickly peel or warp. This may be all you need for the project you have in mind, but if you have long-term plans for the flooring, then having to replace it in a few years is not going to save you any money in the long run.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com