Tips For Buying Wood Floors Online
Personally, I am not a fan of buying wood floors online. Read my article “Buying Wood Floors Online vs. Locally” and you will see why.
However, if you are set on the idea of buying your wood floors online, here are some important things to consider before purchasing:
1. Choose an online retailer with a phone number (make sure it actually works!). It seems really basic but it’s really important. If you have any problems or concerns – email is not enough. If you pay for your floors and they don’t come – you want to call them. If your floors come on time but they are damaged – you also want to call them. It is more personable on the phone and that is the superior way to do customer service.
2. Call and talk to a sales rep over the phone. Get a sense of their customer service. Even if most of your questions are answered on their web site, it is worth calling and experiencing their customer service for yourself. You want to purchase from a company that has exceptional customer service. Phoning your online wood floor retailer is the only way you will know what their customer service is like.
3. The return policy should be very clear and simple. As your wood floors are being shipped, there are occasional problems with shipping where products get damaged. It is very important that the company you choose will take back damaged floorboards without any issues. Also, see if they give refunds, too. Find out what is needed for a refund.
4. Do your reading on the online wood flooring retailer you are choosing. It is so important that you know what you are buying. Sometimes comments are written by the company pretending to be the customer. It sounds awful but it is true. Read everything very carefully and read as much as you can. If it sounds too good to be true, it is probably the company writing it parading as the consumer.
5. Get samples before purchasing. The colors on your computer screen never match the actual color of the flooring. You want to see what you are getting and look at the quality of the wood.
6. Ask for referrals and testimonials from the wood flooring company. Often they will have testimonials but get whatever you can get from them. It is worth calling and asking for a name or two. If they are reluctant to give a name out, you may want to call the Better Business Bureau.
7. Compare different online companies. See what different wood flooring companies have to offer and see which ones are better. Do reading on several companies before you select the online retailer that you are going to go with.
8. Take your time selecting the floor and the company you want. Even if their is sale right now, those sales come often. Don’t panic. Do your reading and asking questions before making your purchase.
9. Remember that when you get your wood flooring, it will be up to you to find your own floor installer if you are not going to do it yourself. You may get a referral for a wood flooring installer from the wood flooring company you purchase your floors from but don’t count on it.
Good luck and happy shopping!
Bona Hardwood Floor Polish Review
Bona is a reputable brand for wood floor maintenance and care. This American company has been trusted by professionals since 1919. They make a wood floor polish they call Bona Polish. This floor polish is good for all sealed wood floors including prefinished hardwood floors. It comes in a squirt bottle with the solution ready to apply. The product is a urethane coating so it will not build up on the surface of your wood floors. Bona Polish is available in gloss and matte.
Bona Polish can be used every 2-4 months. It all depends on how often you clean your floors. Leaving dirt on your floors often creates a sandpaper effect because it scratches your floors. Bona Polish will fill in minor scratches and make your floor look fresh and clean. It also adds a protective layer on your floor. Bona Polish evens out the sheen on your wood floors.
How Often Should I Apply Bona Polish
Bona Polish can be used every 2-4 months. It all depends on how often you clean your floors. Leaving dirt on your floors often creates a sandpaper effect because it scratches your floors. Bona Polish will fill in minor scratches and make your floor look fresh and clean. It also adds a protective layer on your floor. Bona Polish evens out the sheen on your wood floors.
How To Apply Bona Polish
All you do is thoroughly clean your floors. You should move furniture and rugs out of the room if possible before starting. Shake the container of floor polish before you open it. Then squirt Bona Polish on your floor. When you spread the floor polish, it is best to use the “feathering” technique. Spread it with a microfiber rag or a microfiber mop. (Bona makes a great microfiber mop). Make sure to coat your entire floor. Allow the product one hour to dry before walking on the floor for light traffic. For heavy foot traffic, it is recommended to wait 24 hours for the dry time. If you are replacing rugs or furniture, it is advised to wait 24 hours, too. If you apply it in lines, you will have streaks on your floor. It is always best to do a spot test in an inconspicuous spot before using the product throughout your floors.Final Thoughts
This non-toxic wood floor polish is easy to use with no special equipment necessary. It makes your wood floors look great. I highly recommend using Bona Polish as part of your wood floor maintenance. And remember, always read the label before you start polishing your wood floor.Bona Hardwood Floor Polish Review Reviewed by Wood Floor Doctor on July 17 . Bona Polish is easy to use, makes wood floors look great! Bona Polish is a non-toxic urethane coating that is suitable for all hardwood floors. It is very easy to apply. Bona Polish fills in minor scratches and evens out the shine on your wood floors. Rating:
Vacuums on Wood Floors: A Product Review
A good vacuum cleaner is an essential appliance in a home. It is one of those things that gets used quite a lot, especially if you have pets, little kids or dust allergies. A well vacuumed home is much more enjoyable than a dusty home.
There are so many different things to consider when purchasing a vacuum cleaner. How heavy is it to lug up and down the stairs? How well does it suck up dirt? How easy is it to empty? If it requires vacuum bags, are they expensive? Is it better to go with a bagless system? What style vacuum cleaner should I get? Is a stick vacuum better than a canister vacuum cleaner? How much power does a vacuum cleaner consume? Are there ones that are more energy efficient? And the list of questions goes on and on.
In this article, we will review a few big name vacuum cleaners. We will examine the Dirt Devil Vibe, the Dyson Animal, the Bissell OnePass and the Shark Lift Away. You should get an idea of what to look for and what suits your lifestyle and your home.
One of their most popular vacuum models of vacuum cleaners is the Vibe 3-in-1 Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum. It sells for only $39.99 on the Dirt Devil web site. Now you pay for what you get. It is a terrific little vacuum cleaner for a small condo or apartment but don’t expect it to perform like a more serious vacuum cleaner.
It is an easy-to-use vacuum that is lightweight. It works well on all floors surfaces including hard floors and carpets. The dirt cup is easy to empty, too. The cord is a quick release so that is also a bonus.
Some of the downsides to the Dirt Devil Vibe: It is tricky to remove the brush if you want to get into those hard to reach corners. If you have a loose area rug, it will pick up the corners of it so you will have to turn off the bristles while you vacuum. The power cord is not very long so you are constantly unplugging and plugging it in. Also, the vacuum is pretty noisy.
Generally, the Dirt Devil Vibe is a good vacuum cleaner not a great one – but very reasonably priced.
Dyson manufactures a wide range of vacuum cleaners. They make uprights, canisters and cordless vacuums as well as tools, heaters, hand dryers and fans.
The Dyson brand is quite good but much more expensive than the Dirt Devil brand. The compact upright is the smallest vacuum cleaner they make which they call the DC51 Animal. This vacuum cleaner will run you $549.99 on their web site. They also offer a 5-year warranty.
Their upright vacuum cleaner collection uses a unique technology where Dyson claims to have cyclones that pick up more microscopic dust than any other cyclones. This vacuum cleaner has all the same technology that their bigger vacuums have just shrunk into a smaller sized machine. In fact, the DC51 Animal has their latest technology the 2 Tier Radial™ cyclones and the latest Ball™ technology. This means that 19 different cyclones are working at the same time in parallel across 2 tiers to generate high centrifugal forces.
Many people are very happy with the Dyson brand and love their DC51 Animal. It is super lightweight and very easy to move around. It also sucks really well. The Animal also switches from carpets to hard floors effortlessly. This means hardwood, tile, laminate and vinyl.
However, there are some negatives. It comes with tools – not all of which fit on this vacuum cleaner. Emptying the bin is not always a clean process. If you suck up hair or lightweight dust, it is airborne as soon as you open the dirt bin. You also cannot vacuum your staircase easily with it simply because the plastic is so rigid for the hose attachment. It is hard to angle your vacuum. Also, both the hose and the cord are pretty short. The dirt canister could also be bigger. The instructions are also very hard to follow as the pictures are separate from the words.
Bissell makes vacuum cleaners, sweepers and steam mops. They also manufacture accessories and cleaning formulas and they also sell to the automotive industry.
The Cleanview Vacuum with OnePass Technology 1816C sells for $99.99 from their web site. It is a lightweight vacuum cleaner – not super lightweight. At around 15 pounds, bringing it up and down the stairs is not too easy. The reason why they call it OnePass is because they claim to clean more on the initial vacuuming pass. It is designed to be easy to maintain and empty. It has a cyclonic system for durability and powerful suction. It also comes with lots of attachments.
You get what you pay for. The downside to this vacuum cleaner does not pick up fine dust very well. It also sometimes pushes dirt forward too. It gets the majority of the dirt up, but not all. The machine is not built that well. It is not very durable. It also is better on carpets than bare floors. It is designed for carpets. On hardwood floors it spits dirt back onto the floor.
Shark makes all kinds of products from vacuums to steam mops to garment care. They are one of the more popular lower end vacuum brands on the market.
They make the Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away. It sells for around $100. Shark boasts that this vacuum cleaner has a technology for never losing suction. The Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away has a great canister. It is a bagless vacuum. It goes from hard floors to carpets seamlessly and effortlessly.
The Shark does quite poorly at lifting up fine dust and pet hair. It is designed for every different style of job you need from carpets to hard floors. It also has great swivelling steering. It comes with easy to use attachments. The Shark comes with pet tools. You can do furniture with it. It is called a lift-away because you choose how to use it – it can even be used as a canister vacuum. It is very quiet.
Dirt Devil Vibe 3-in-1 Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum
Rating 3.5/5
Right off the bat, their motto is “Tough On Dirt. Easy On You” – love it. Vacuuming should be easy and enjoyable. Let’s face it we do it every week to two weeks! Some neat freaks vacuum every day! Dirt Devil makes all kinds of vacuum cleaners from upright vacuums to handheld vacuums to stick vacuums to canister vacuums. They even manufacture steam mops and SWIPES™ Cleaners.
One of their most popular vacuum models of vacuum cleaners is the Vibe 3-in-1 Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum. It sells for only $39.99 on the Dirt Devil web site. Now you pay for what you get. It is a terrific little vacuum cleaner for a small condo or apartment but don’t expect it to perform like a more serious vacuum cleaner.
It is an easy-to-use vacuum that is lightweight. It works well on all floors surfaces including hard floors and carpets. The dirt cup is easy to empty, too. The cord is a quick release so that is also a bonus.
Some of the downsides to the Dirt Devil Vibe: It is tricky to remove the brush if you want to get into those hard to reach corners. If you have a loose area rug, it will pick up the corners of it so you will have to turn off the bristles while you vacuum. The power cord is not very long so you are constantly unplugging and plugging it in. Also, the vacuum is pretty noisy.
Generally, the Dirt Devil Vibe is a good vacuum cleaner not a great one – but very reasonably priced.
Dyson
Rating 4.5/5
Dyson manufactures a wide range of vacuum cleaners. They make uprights, canisters and cordless vacuums as well as tools, heaters, hand dryers and fans.
The Dyson brand is quite good but much more expensive than the Dirt Devil brand. The compact upright is the smallest vacuum cleaner they make which they call the DC51 Animal. This vacuum cleaner will run you $549.99 on their web site. They also offer a 5-year warranty.
Their upright vacuum cleaner collection uses a unique technology where Dyson claims to have cyclones that pick up more microscopic dust than any other cyclones. This vacuum cleaner has all the same technology that their bigger vacuums have just shrunk into a smaller sized machine. In fact, the DC51 Animal has their latest technology the 2 Tier Radial™ cyclones and the latest Ball™ technology. This means that 19 different cyclones are working at the same time in parallel across 2 tiers to generate high centrifugal forces.
Many people are very happy with the Dyson brand and love their DC51 Animal. It is super lightweight and very easy to move around. It also sucks really well. The Animal also switches from carpets to hard floors effortlessly. This means hardwood, tile, laminate and vinyl.
However, there are some negatives. It comes with tools – not all of which fit on this vacuum cleaner. Emptying the bin is not always a clean process. If you suck up hair or lightweight dust, it is airborne as soon as you open the dirt bin. You also cannot vacuum your staircase easily with it simply because the plastic is so rigid for the hose attachment. It is hard to angle your vacuum. Also, both the hose and the cord are pretty short. The dirt canister could also be bigger. The instructions are also very hard to follow as the pictures are separate from the words.
Bissell
Rating – 3/5
Bissell makes vacuum cleaners, sweepers and steam mops. They also manufacture accessories and cleaning formulas and they also sell to the automotive industry.
The Cleanview Vacuum with OnePass Technology 1816C sells for $99.99 from their web site. It is a lightweight vacuum cleaner – not super lightweight. At around 15 pounds, bringing it up and down the stairs is not too easy. The reason why they call it OnePass is because they claim to clean more on the initial vacuuming pass. It is designed to be easy to maintain and empty. It has a cyclonic system for durability and powerful suction. It also comes with lots of attachments.
You get what you pay for. The downside to this vacuum cleaner does not pick up fine dust very well. It also sometimes pushes dirt forward too. It gets the majority of the dirt up, but not all. The machine is not built that well. It is not very durable. It also is better on carpets than bare floors. It is designed for carpets. On hardwood floors it spits dirt back onto the floor.
Shark
Rating 4/5
Shark makes all kinds of products from vacuums to steam mops to garment care. They are one of the more popular lower end vacuum brands on the market.
They make the Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away. It sells for around $100. Shark boasts that this vacuum cleaner has a technology for never losing suction. The Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away has a great canister. It is a bagless vacuum. It goes from hard floors to carpets seamlessly and effortlessly.
The Shark does quite poorly at lifting up fine dust and pet hair. It is designed for every different style of job you need from carpets to hard floors. It also has great swivelling steering. It comes with easy to use attachments. The Shark comes with pet tools. You can do furniture with it. It is called a lift-away because you choose how to use it – it can even be used as a canister vacuum. It is very quiet.
Final Thoughts
When shopping for a quality vacuum cleaner, you now know the features that are important to your lifestyle. Choose a vacuum cleaner that matches your home and your needs. If you are in a small condo, a lightweight vacuum is not an important feature. If you are in a house with lots of stairs, lightweight is essential. After reviewing several different vacuum cleaners, the favorite seems to be the Dyson Animal for a large house and the Dirt Devil Vibe for a small condo or apartment.Armstrong World Industries Floors: A Company Overview and Review
Armstrong World Industries was started by Thomas M. Armstrong in 1860 carving bottle stoppers from cork by hand in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Today, Armstrong is an umbrella company of several flooring brands. They also have ceiling products. These flooring brands are Armstrong, Bruce, Homerwood Premium Hardwood Flooring and T. Morton Handcrafted Hardwood. This article will focus on the Armstrong brand.
Armstrong offers a wide variety of floor coverings. Some of them are manufactured in the US but they also have facilities in China, England and Sweden. They sell hardwood, laminate, vinyl sheet, vinyl tile and linoleum. They are proud to offer hundreds of varieties of floor coverings.
Their prefinished floors also come with matching trims and moldings necessary to complete the job. Armstrong prefinished floors are Performance Plus Hardwood which means that they have a hard acrylic infused in the hardwood with a Nano Aluminum Oxide finish to make them very durable. Armstrong boasts that they are two and a half more times more durable than regular wood. Specifically, they are more resistant to dents and wear. Personally, I think this claim is questionable. I have no idea what floor they tested their prefinished floor against. There are just too many factors to make this a believable claim. These floors are available in birch, hickory, maple, cherry, oak and walnut.
Many people are dissatisfied with their Armstrong floors. In fact, when customers have called the company complaining about cracks and popping, they blamed their flawed product on the floor installer. It is very common that the floor is acclimated and laid correctly and still lots of those annoying crunching sounds. This is the most common review.
A lot of things can go wrong with a wood floor. Never mind questionable wood floors, many people have complained about their Armstrong laminate floor – a floor that is much less fussy! Many people complain that the quality is not there and it also swells up. This company offers so many floor covering options that they don’t really specialize in a quality wood floor.
That said, there are some people who have Armstrong wood floors and they are very happy with them and have had them for years. Many customers are pleased with the slippery finish of Armstrong wood floors because they are very easy to keep clean. The company is quick to respond to customers’ problems – it is a matter of how they respond!
On a side note, in 2006, the company filed Chapter 11 because of personal injury claims reported from 2000. These claims were from asbestos costing the company somewhere between $758.8 million to $1.36 billion. Makes me wonder what is in their Nano Aluminum Oxide in their prefinished floors! If you are shopping around for wood floors, I would personally think twice if I was thinking of an Armstrong floor.
Armstrong offers a wide variety of floor coverings. Some of them are manufactured in the US but they also have facilities in China, England and Sweden. They sell hardwood, laminate, vinyl sheet, vinyl tile and linoleum. They are proud to offer hundreds of varieties of floor coverings.
Armstrong Wood Floors: Durability in the Flooring Material
They use both exotic and domestic hardwoods. They offer unique hand-scraped to more classic wood floors. When it comes to wood floors, they manufacture solid wood floors only in the prefinished variety (not the sand-on-site variety), engineered hardwood (the type that is made of many layers of wood glued together).
Their prefinished floors also come with matching trims and moldings necessary to complete the job. Armstrong prefinished floors are Performance Plus Hardwood which means that they have a hard acrylic infused in the hardwood with a Nano Aluminum Oxide finish to make them very durable. Armstrong boasts that they are two and a half more times more durable than regular wood. Specifically, they are more resistant to dents and wear. Personally, I think this claim is questionable. I have no idea what floor they tested their prefinished floor against. There are just too many factors to make this a believable claim. These floors are available in birch, hickory, maple, cherry, oak and walnut.
Installation
The installation is designed to be very easy. It is a fun job for any do-it-yourselfer. For a skilled floor installer, the job is very quick.Social Responsibility
Armstrong will donate flooring only to 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organizations where they are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions by the Internal Revenue Service. On a more sinister note, in 2007, Armstrong declared to the Washington Post that they purchase wood from developing nations. The CEO stated that he does not feel a need for labelling or a certification showing the origins of the lumber consumed in their products. Also, they are not a participant in the Forest Stewardship Council certification system. To make matters worse, it was stated in that same Washington Post article that in their factories in China, they have used exotic woods like teak and merbau which are banned wood products. The company commented on this claim that the wood came from Southeast Asia and they are working to make sure that the wood is harvested legally. Also, the company stated that 95.1 percent of their wood is grown in the U.S.
Customer Satisfaction and Final Thoughts
Many people are dissatisfied with their Armstrong floors. In fact, when customers have called the company complaining about cracks and popping, they blamed their flawed product on the floor installer. It is very common that the floor is acclimated and laid correctly and still lots of those annoying crunching sounds. This is the most common review.
A lot of things can go wrong with a wood floor. Never mind questionable wood floors, many people have complained about their Armstrong laminate floor – a floor that is much less fussy! Many people complain that the quality is not there and it also swells up. This company offers so many floor covering options that they don’t really specialize in a quality wood floor.
That said, there are some people who have Armstrong wood floors and they are very happy with them and have had them for years. Many customers are pleased with the slippery finish of Armstrong wood floors because they are very easy to keep clean. The company is quick to respond to customers’ problems – it is a matter of how they respond!
On a side note, in 2006, the company filed Chapter 11 because of personal injury claims reported from 2000. These claims were from asbestos costing the company somewhere between $758.8 million to $1.36 billion. Makes me wonder what is in their Nano Aluminum Oxide in their prefinished floors! If you are shopping around for wood floors, I would personally think twice if I was thinking of an Armstrong floor.
Armstrong World Industries Ltd. Reviewed by Wood Floor Doctor on June 22 . Easy to install, acrylic infused prefinished hardwood floors. Armstrong is an American company that makes prefinished wood floors amongst many other floor coverings. They pride themselves in the variety and durability of their floors yet their quality and business practices are questionable. Rating:
Anderson Wood Floors: A Company Overview and Review
Anderson Hardwood Floors Inc. is an American wood flooring company that is a very reputable brand today. In 1946, this family-owned, Carolinas-based company was born. Today, it is in South Carolina.
Anderson prizes their floors on both beauty and durability. Aesthetics are so important to this company that they even have a research and design team who constantly studies new trends in furniture, paint, cabinetry and textiles and they host a designer vision’s summit for interior designers to come and share ideas.
Durability is obviously the first thing people think about when choosing a wood floor. Anderson takes the longevity of the floors so seriously that they have designed some new products to address durability.
Anderson prefinished floors do not use any wax in the finish. The floorboards do not require any preparation and can be installed right out of the packaging. They are a simple tongue and groove, very easy to install.
Anderson is a leader in environmental stewardship and responsible forestry. Anderson floors are RPP Certified from the US Renewing Forests GreenGuard Air Quality Certified for Children and Schools and Silver Certified from Cradle to Cradle.
This American wood floor manufacturer also founded the Anderson Prison Work Program. They use inmates from the Northeast Correctional Complex in Tennessee and at the Allendale and Tyger River Correctional Institutions in South Carolina as workers to give them a job and some money for when they get out of jail. This also keeps the labor in the U.S. On a side note, Canada does not allow product that are manufactured by prison labor to be imported. Anderson had to stop exporting their prisoner-produced wood floors to Canada.
Anderson prizes their floors on both beauty and durability. Aesthetics are so important to this company that they even have a research and design team who constantly studies new trends in furniture, paint, cabinetry and textiles and they host a designer vision’s summit for interior designers to come and share ideas.
Durability is obviously the first thing people think about when choosing a wood floor. Anderson takes the longevity of the floors so seriously that they have designed some new products to address durability.
Unique Inventions
Cross locked engineered floors
Cross locked engineered floors are an invention that is unique to this company. This style of engineered flooring has become an industry standard in the present day. Cross locked engineered floors use five different wood plies alternating the grain to give a floor that boasts to have as much strength as steel and uses half the amount of wood as ordinary wood floors. Also, this type of flooring will be as split resistant as solid oak wood. This is where the first glue down floors to concrete slab originates.New Floor Finishes
Anderson has made aluminum oxide high-wear wood floor finish. As well, they have also made Luster-Lock Ultra finish. Anderson claims that this wood floor finish is six times more resistant to scuffs and blemishes. I am not sure how they make such a claim, but they supposedly have research to back it up. Personally, I am a skeptic because there are so many variables when comparing two different floor finishes.Flooring Installation
Anderson prefinished floors do not use any wax in the finish. The floorboards do not require any preparation and can be installed right out of the packaging. They are a simple tongue and groove, very easy to install.
Customer Service
As much as Anderson prides themselves in durability and beauty, there have been a few unhappy customers who have had their prefinished floors installed with very quick splitting of the floorboards along the edges. However, they are pretty good about having an inspector come and assess your floors. They will replace faulty wood floors quickly.Social and Environmental Responsibility
Anderson is a leader in environmental stewardship and responsible forestry. Anderson floors are RPP Certified from the US Renewing Forests GreenGuard Air Quality Certified for Children and Schools and Silver Certified from Cradle to Cradle.
This American wood floor manufacturer also founded the Anderson Prison Work Program. They use inmates from the Northeast Correctional Complex in Tennessee and at the Allendale and Tyger River Correctional Institutions in South Carolina as workers to give them a job and some money for when they get out of jail. This also keeps the labor in the U.S. On a side note, Canada does not allow product that are manufactured by prison labor to be imported. Anderson had to stop exporting their prisoner-produced wood floors to Canada.
Final Thoughts
Most customers are quite happy with Anderson floors. This American company stands by their product. If you are looking for a good quality prefinished wood floor, consider an Anderson floor. They have lots of variety and are quite affordable.Anderson Hardwood Floors Inc Reviewed by Wood Floor Doctor on June 22 . Durable, beautiful and easy to install. Anderson is an American wood flooring company that makes prefinished wood floors. Their wood floors are known for both their beauty and durability.Rating:
Wood Look Tiles: A Wood Floor Alternative
A lot of people love the look of hardwood floors but don’t necessarily want them. They don’t want the upkeep of wood floors. Cleaning wood floors is different than cleaning tiles or carpet. Wood floors are very durable but require special care. Every 10 years or so, your wood floors need to be refinished.
For some homeowners who want to have a wood floor with zero upkeep, they sometimes choose wood look tiles also called wood floor tiles or wood effect tiles. They look very close to wood floors but require a much simpler cleaning. You also don’t need to worry about water getting on wood look tiles.
Wood effect tiles are gaining more and more popularity. They are becoming easier to get and Americans and Europeans alike are choosing them for their homes.
They range in price depending on the style that you want. With some styles coming in at as low as $2.29 a square foot, there is a style and price to match your budget.
You care for them just as you would any other tiled floors in your home. For a person who wants to have wood floors in their kitchen, bathroom or basement, wood floor tiles is the best solution. As wood floor tiles are often ceramic, porcelain or vinyl, they will not swell or get damaged with water or moisture.
Wood look tiles are available in many different styles and colors. You can get wide plank tiles to mimic wood floors. You can also achieve a parquet floor look alike with wood floor tiles. If you want a more classic look, you can get a herringbone floor look alike.
Basically, anything you can imagine can be done with wood floor tiles. You can even get the texture of hardwood floors with wood look tiles.
You can get different species like oak, bamboo and walnut. You can also get a weathered or rustic looking floor if you want that hand-scraped plank look. The styles are endless.
You can even get beautiful borders for a room in different colors of wood – usually darker than the rest of the floor tiles in that room.
You can also get minimal grout so that your floors look like wood floors rather than tiled floors. From traditional to modern, wood floor tiles can be used for any look.
Wood floor companies like Armstrong sell wood floor tiles. They are getting easier to find. Many different companies now offer them in a multitude of styles, species and colors. Different manufacturers makes wood look tiles in different materials.
With high quality and no care, there is a reason why these wood floor tiles are gaining so much popularity. Wood look tiles are all the rage. No wonder – wet mopping a wood floor tile floor is all you need to take care of it! Very easy and very elegant!
For some homeowners who want to have a wood floor with zero upkeep, they sometimes choose wood look tiles also called wood floor tiles or wood effect tiles. They look very close to wood floors but require a much simpler cleaning. You also don’t need to worry about water getting on wood look tiles.
Wood effect tiles are gaining more and more popularity. They are becoming easier to get and Americans and Europeans alike are choosing them for their homes.
They range in price depending on the style that you want. With some styles coming in at as low as $2.29 a square foot, there is a style and price to match your budget.
You care for them just as you would any other tiled floors in your home. For a person who wants to have wood floors in their kitchen, bathroom or basement, wood floor tiles is the best solution. As wood floor tiles are often ceramic, porcelain or vinyl, they will not swell or get damaged with water or moisture.
Wood look tiles are available in many different styles and colors. You can get wide plank tiles to mimic wood floors. You can also achieve a parquet floor look alike with wood floor tiles. If you want a more classic look, you can get a herringbone floor look alike.
Basically, anything you can imagine can be done with wood floor tiles. You can even get the texture of hardwood floors with wood look tiles.
You can get different species like oak, bamboo and walnut. You can also get a weathered or rustic looking floor if you want that hand-scraped plank look. The styles are endless.
You can even get beautiful borders for a room in different colors of wood – usually darker than the rest of the floor tiles in that room.
You can also get minimal grout so that your floors look like wood floors rather than tiled floors. From traditional to modern, wood floor tiles can be used for any look.
Wood floor companies like Armstrong sell wood floor tiles. They are getting easier to find. Many different companies now offer them in a multitude of styles, species and colors. Different manufacturers makes wood look tiles in different materials.
With high quality and no care, there is a reason why these wood floor tiles are gaining so much popularity. Wood look tiles are all the rage. No wonder – wet mopping a wood floor tile floor is all you need to take care of it! Very easy and very elegant!
Anderson Hardwood Floors Inc Reviewed by Wood Floor Doctor on June 22 . Durable, beautiful and easy to install. Anderson is an American wood flooring company that makes prefinished wood floors. Their wood floors are known for both their beauty and durability. Rating:
Wood Floor Vent Cover Review
Baseboard heaters and radiator heaters are becoming common in older houses nowadays. Ventilation has changed as many other things in our homes have changed. Vents are the more modern way to heat and cool your home.
When it comes to carpets and tiled floors, the style of floor vents you choose are not as important because they will blend in. Besides, if you are going to spend the money on a solid hardwood floor, using a standard HVAC will make the floor look less elegant.
Today, floor vent covers can be a designer item. They no longer only have a utilitarian purpose. For example, some feel that if you have a hardwood floor, it is more elegant to use a vent cover that is wooden.
Most of the time the air vent is a standard size and the vent cover is a standard size to go over top it. Almost always, any self-rimming floor vent should be able to fit on any size hole. Manufacturers make a one size fits all self-rimming floor vent. Usually, they are available in both prefinished and unfinished wood. They also come in a variety of colors. They also come in a variety of different wood species like mahogany and oak. Often they have metal and wood in a self-rimming floor vent cover.
They typically start at 2″ by 10″ and go to as large as 6″ by 14″. They are available in almost every sizes in between. The ones that are as big as 6″ by 14″ are designed for large industrial buildings. Some manufacturers will even make custom sized self-rimming floor vent covers.
The specifications are pretty simple. For example, Air Wood Vents is a company that manufactures floor vent covers for wood floors. The requirement is that you need three quarters of an inch wood floors for their covers to lay flush.
Types of Floor Vent Covers
There are different styles of floor vent covers. They matter for aesthetics and practicality. Not all ventilation covers are designed for high foot traffic areas. It matters what style of floor ventilation cover you get depending on where it is going to be placed.Self-Rimming Floor Vent Cover
Self-rimming floor vent covers sit on the surface of the installed floor. These are common in most modern homes with wood or tiled floors. It is called self-rimming because it rims the floor. It is very much like what you would see on a metal vent. They are made by many different manufacturers and come in a variety of styles and sizes.Most of the time the air vent is a standard size and the vent cover is a standard size to go over top it. Almost always, any self-rimming floor vent should be able to fit on any size hole. Manufacturers make a one size fits all self-rimming floor vent. Usually, they are available in both prefinished and unfinished wood. They also come in a variety of colors. They also come in a variety of different wood species like mahogany and oak. Often they have metal and wood in a self-rimming floor vent cover.
They typically start at 2″ by 10″ and go to as large as 6″ by 14″. They are available in almost every sizes in between. The ones that are as big as 6″ by 14″ are designed for large industrial buildings. Some manufacturers will even make custom sized self-rimming floor vent covers.
The specifications are pretty simple. For example, Air Wood Vents is a company that manufactures floor vent covers for wood floors. The requirement is that you need three quarters of an inch wood floors for their covers to lay flush.
Flush Mount (Flushmount) Floor Vent Cover
The requirements for flush mount is similar to self-rimming floor vents. Most manufacturers, like Fretworks Wood Products, design flush mount vent covers to go on hardwood floors that are three quarters of an inch. This guarantees that the vent cover will lay flush. They are also commonly available in both prefinished and unfinished. Flush mount floor vents covers are recommended to be installed when the floors are being laid. They come in a variety of colors in prefinished and in a variety of unfinished wood species like fir and hickory.Styles of Vent Covers
Egg Crate (Eggcrate) is a type of floor vent is the one that looks like a grid or an egg crate. Eggcrate vent covers come in both prefinished and unfinished. They come in a variety of different wood species. Louver vent covers are amongst the most common. They are the ones that have the pattern that looks similar to window blinds. Slotted vents look similar to the louver style but have long, thin slots. Most vent covers come in wood or metal. The wood varieties are quite extensive and can make your vents really blend in. Floor vents also come in metal. If you choose to get a metal one for a wood floor, it is easy to drop in after the floor is installed and finished. There are varieties of metal ones that are painted to look like wood. Most floor vents are easy to find at your local home building center.Wood Floor Wipes
If you are a parent or have taken care of young children, wood floor wipes are very similar to baby wipes. If you are unfamiliar with wet wipes, they are moist toilettes – almost like a moist paper towel but much more durable than paper towel.
Wood floor wipes are designed for sealed wood floors. These wipes are fairly common. They are not the wipes that you put on your mophead. Wood floor wipes are for bending down and doing the dirty work on your hands and knees!
You can buy them on Amazon or at your local home building center. You may even find them at Walmart. Wood floor wipes can be on the expensive side – close to $1 for one. That is expensive seeing how little one actually cleans up.
Wood floors need spot cleaning from time to time. This means that a small area of the wood floor needs to be cleaned. It could be that food or a beverage spilled.
Wood floor wipes are becoming more and more common. Many different companies are now making them. Even if they come in different fragrances, they all do the same thing. Is there really a difference from one wood floor wipe to the next?
It is not a technical product like a steam mop or a vacuum cleaner where one has distinctly different features from the next product. They all claim to disinfect, cut grease and clean wood floors. Do some of the brands leave a sticky residue? Besides, they use so little product on the wipe that it really should not make a difference. Sadly, wood floor wipes are not all the same, Even if it is a small amount of wax or oil soap in your wipes, it may cause damage to your wood floors.
Dyson Wood Nourishing Wipes – They come in a lovely spring scent. Dyson wipes cost about $7.50 for a pack of 12. Dyson is a reputable company. I would trust their floor wipes.
Green Works Natural Wipes – This is a company owned by Clorox. This is a much more environmentally friendly product. In fact, they are biodegradable. These “all purpose” wipes are actually not so all purpose! They are safe for every type of floor except wood floors. Even if you are tempted, do not buy them for your wood floors.
Murphy’s Oil Soap Wipes – Personally, I am not a fan of Murphy Oil soap at all. It will always cause more damage than good. I would never think of purchasing their wipes. They sell for around $11 for a pack of 18 wipes.
Baby Wipes – They are much cheaper than any of these wood floor wipes. They do the job for sure but they are not the best choice for your wood floor finish.
Wet wipes should only ever be designed to do a quick spot cleaning. If you need to clean a dusty area and would love to damp mop but prefer to keep your wood floors as dry as possible, wood floor wipes are your answer.
Wood floor wipes are designed for sealed wood floors. These wipes are fairly common. They are not the wipes that you put on your mophead. Wood floor wipes are for bending down and doing the dirty work on your hands and knees!
You can buy them on Amazon or at your local home building center. You may even find them at Walmart. Wood floor wipes can be on the expensive side – close to $1 for one. That is expensive seeing how little one actually cleans up.
Wood floors need spot cleaning from time to time. This means that a small area of the wood floor needs to be cleaned. It could be that food or a beverage spilled.
Wood floor wipes are becoming more and more common. Many different companies are now making them. Even if they come in different fragrances, they all do the same thing. Is there really a difference from one wood floor wipe to the next?
It is not a technical product like a steam mop or a vacuum cleaner where one has distinctly different features from the next product. They all claim to disinfect, cut grease and clean wood floors. Do some of the brands leave a sticky residue? Besides, they use so little product on the wipe that it really should not make a difference. Sadly, wood floor wipes are not all the same, Even if it is a small amount of wax or oil soap in your wipes, it may cause damage to your wood floors.
Dyson Wood Nourishing Wipes – They come in a lovely spring scent. Dyson wipes cost about $7.50 for a pack of 12. Dyson is a reputable company. I would trust their floor wipes.
Green Works Natural Wipes – This is a company owned by Clorox. This is a much more environmentally friendly product. In fact, they are biodegradable. These “all purpose” wipes are actually not so all purpose! They are safe for every type of floor except wood floors. Even if you are tempted, do not buy them for your wood floors.
Murphy’s Oil Soap Wipes – Personally, I am not a fan of Murphy Oil soap at all. It will always cause more damage than good. I would never think of purchasing their wipes. They sell for around $11 for a pack of 18 wipes.
Baby Wipes – They are much cheaper than any of these wood floor wipes. They do the job for sure but they are not the best choice for your wood floor finish.
Wet wipes should only ever be designed to do a quick spot cleaning. If you need to clean a dusty area and would love to damp mop but prefer to keep your wood floors as dry as possible, wood floor wipes are your answer. A Style and Design Guide To Wood Look Tiles
With the advent of digital imaging and ink-jet printing, it is now much more affordable to purchase tiles with a printed pattern.
The wood grain look is amongst the most popular looks for tiles currently. I think this wood grain look tiles are here to stay. It has been popular now for a few years and more and more new styles are being brought out.
Tips for Selecting Floor Tiles
Tiles are not like hardwood floor that is always classic. Many people update their homes frequently so changing their tiles is part of their routine. If you are not wanting to frequently replace tiles, you don’t have to. Pick a style that you really love and a grout color that you really love too. Changing your grout color is a big deal – it is not like painting over a color on your walls. Many homeowners think it is a quick and simple job but it will be laborious and expensive if you hire it out. You need to pick a color and style you will be happy with. Some people like texture and pattern. Some people like very plain and simple. Whatever you like you can find. The styles are truly endless.Color
Tiles have a fashion of their own. Unlike wood floors that remain classic, tile style change every 5 years or so. It doesn’t mean you have to keep up with the latest trends but you surely can. The biggest change is the color of tiles. As I write this in 2014, the popular color now is grey. The range in gray is from very dark charcoal to a very light almost white. They can be long and thin like wood floorboards or more square like classic tiles. They can be a very dark grey with a very light grout or they could be textured grey tiles to mimic tiles. These are all trendy styles right now. When you think of grey wood floors, they are much less common than honey stained wood floors. Wood look tiles and wood floors have trends of their own. There are so many interesting wood floors you can recreate with tiles.Fossilized Wood Floor Tiles
You can have a fossilized wood floor. This Spanish ceramic tile design that is growing in popularity. Sometimes people will do this fossilized tile on their floors and walls in the same room to create an elegant look. This is a warm look that with real wood is a process is most often do with bamboo flooring.Traditional and Modern Takes On Wood Floors
Because tiles are so diverse, when mimicking a wood floor, you can stay with long and thin floor tiles like common wood floors. You can also have a wide plank wood floor look. If you want a more artistic floor, you can have a variety of different colors of tiles looking like each “floorboard” is a different color stain. You can make your floor look like a traditional wood floor or you can be creative and modern with your design. You can play with different colors, patinas and finishes for your wood look tiles. Very dark walnut is popular as a style for wood look tiles.Reclaimed Wood Floors
Reclaimed wood floors are many homeowners’ dream but so expensive. Today, there are many tiles that mimic reclaimed wood. You no longer have to search for 100 year old wood from an old farmhouse. And the fun thing about making a tiled floor that mimics old reclaimed wood is you choose the dimensions of your “floorboards”. You choose the “stain”. You can really make it look exactly like you want. You can make your floor look like different species of wood. Going with the reclaimed wood look, some homeowners are even opting for a weathered wood tile floor. This makes the floor look very old and as if it has been exposed to the elements for a long time. If you like old and reclaimed wood, you can also get tiles to mimic petrified wood.Final Thoughts
Similar to wood floors, nowadays you can recreate your favorite wood floor using ceramic or porcelain tiles. From herringbone to parquet to reclaimed wood to classic wood floors – tiles can do it all! No need for refinishing, sanding, staining, special cleaning schedules, etc. Wet mopping is all you need to do. Unlike real wood floors, wood look tiles are cost effective because there is no long-term maintenance. This is the appeal that is making wood look tiles so incredibly popular.Your Home, Your Wood Floors and Fleas
The Science Behind Fleas
Fleas are a serious insect to have in your home if you have pets or small children. They feast on dog and cat blood and human blood, too. Fleas like any warm-blooded species. The scary thing about fleas is they can survive as mature adults without any food source for several weeks.
They can spread from one pet to another. Some pets have to be treated for fleas if it gets really bad and they have a flea allergy. They can make the host quite itchy. They usually are brought into houses on your pets.
Once a flea finds a host, it is happy to stay on it. This is often in the fur of an animal. For a flea, a comfy carpet mimics a furry animal. If you have any area rugs, fleas will infest them. Fleas don’t like smooth areas like wood floors but if a furry pet drops them off, they will stay. Even working in the garden or going for a walk can potentially lead to you bringing fleas in the house. Children carry fleas more often than adults. Kids love laying on the ground and digging in the dirt, places where fleas will reside. Rodents such as mice and rats also carry them into our homes. The larvae feed on adult droppings so they like to stay in dark, dusty areas.