Gmkmaden Home Improvement Tips & Guide!

Archive for the ‘Flooring’ Category

Vinyl, the popular name for polyvinyl chloride, is a synthetic man-made substance which is made from ethylene and chlorine. It is a type of plastic. It was invented as a cheaper and durable substitute to metal, and to counter its (metal) disadvantages. Vinyl is simpler to produce, simpler to use and is quite rust-resistant.

When oxygen comes in contact with certain metals over a period of time, the ensuing ugly blemishes on the metal is known as rust. What happens is, the metal, due to the continued presence of oxygen, combines with the oxygen atoms to form a different compound on the surface of the metal. Talk of rotten apples. The substance formed is known as the oxide of the metal and the process is called oxidation. Thus, if iron is coming in contact with the atmospheric oxygen, the compound is known as iron oxide. Similarly we have aluminum oxide and copper oxide. Water is a common catalyst for rust. Which then explains the rusting of pipes, old park benches and the Golden Gate Bridge. And if not removed, it will not just look unsightly, but will also cause damage to the metal.

Now the question on your mind is, if vinyl is really a rust-free substance, where in the world did the stains come from. While vinyl is rust-resistant, it’s not really protected from rust stains. The rust stains may have come on the metal nails that you used to fix the flooring. Or you must have kept something metallic on the floor for a long period of time which has now rusted and left stains on the floor.
Read the rest of this entry »

When you think of getting some home improvements done, you will come across many terms that you are not aware of. You may probably change the flooring of your home and choose wood flooring to give a warm feeling in the house. You may employ professional services of a contractor or visit the hardware store and they may ask you which wood flooring you want for your home; engineered wood flooring or laminate flooring?

This simple question may turn you into a dilemma, as you may not know much about laminate wood flooring vs engineered flooring. Therefore, you may end up tossing and turning in your bed, arguing with your spouse or blindly have trust over the contractor as you seriously draw a blank regarding the choice between engineered wood flooring vs laminate. Well, if you are visiting this page, it means you are stuck in a similar situation and want to learn more about these two types of flooring.

Engineered wood flooring is made by pressing 1/6″ to 1/8″ of finish wood on the top and the bottom layer, with non-finish plywood. Engineered wood flooring is 0.6 mm to 7mm in thickness and glued to plywood, that makes the total thickness range from 3/8″ to ¾ “.

Engineered wood flooring can be sanding down and re-coated 1-3 times. It is advisable to employ professional services for sanding, due to low tolerance of engineered wood flooring that may result in revealing the plywood. It has great stability for longer periods of time due to the plywood attached. It is not affected by changes in humidity and can be installed over radiant heat. Engineered wood flooring can be glued, stapled or nailed to the floor. You can also install it as a floating floor. But engineered wood floors are prone to scathing, dents and fading.

Engineered wood flooring is pre-finished, that is, sanding and sealed. You can walk on it as soon as it is laid on the floor. You can use engineered wood flooring for kitchens, basements and areas of low moisture. The engineered wood flooring do not hold well in areas with high moisture content. This is a really expensive type of flooring, but in the long run, it is very cost-effective. As they can be periodically sanded, you can revive the grain and erase scratches. Engineered wood flooring have an aesthetic appeal for use in home decor. You can read more on unique home decor.
Read the rest of this entry »