Do you dream of an exquisite floor? Are you inspired by beauty and seek exceptional quality with practical appeal? Then Wood Flooring is the answer to your dreams since you were also looking for refinish hardwood flooring.

Natural wood under your feet. Hardwood or bamboo flooring in your home reflects a personal image and is a major design feature. There is a wide range of styles available to reflect your individuality so, you can have a floor that compliments the interior design chic of tomorrow and bring a comfortable atmothsphere into your home.

Hardwood and Bamboo flooring will add warmth to your home and because it has a natural grain, each floor is unique, allowing your home to stand out from the rest.

Hardwood and bamboo flooring is hardwearing and durable and very easy to maintain, any spills are easily wiped up and you would never even know they happened.

Laying your hardwood or bamboo flooring could not be easier!

There are a few tools that will come in handy like a pair of scissors or a knife, try square, pencil. ruler, dust mask, hardpoint handsaw or jigsaw, fitting wedges and trim cutters.

Below is a step by step guide to laying "click" style hardwood or bamboo flooring.

1. Lay the boards lengthways towards the light source. Use fitting wedges at intervals between the board and skirting. You should leave a 10mm gap between your flooring and the skirting for expansion. Lay the first board in a left hand corner, the end with the short tongue against the wall. Lay the next board end on, placing the short tongue of the second board into the long tongue of the first board at a 30 degree angle. Lower the board and lock it into place. Lay more boards in the same way until you reach the end of the row, where you will probably have to cut a board to make it fit. If the cut off piece is 300mm-900mm use it to start the next row, otherwise halve a new board, as the joined should be staggered.

2. To start the next row, angle the cut board against the board in the previous row, cut end next to the skirting wedge. Press forward and fold down at the same time to lock its long side. Place the short end of the next board at an angle against the previous board and fold down. making sure the board is on the locking strip in the previous row. Angle the boards by 30 degrees and push them against the row in front. When the boards are tightly together, push them down. Continue to lay the boards in this way row by row.

3.For the last row, place a board on top of the second last row and place a third board on top with the tongue touching the skirting and use the edge to mark the cutting line on the board beneath. Cut the board and ease it into position, Remove the wedges.

4. Once the flooring is laid cover the edge around the edge or the room with flooring trim or skirting. The trim or skirting should be fixed to the original skirting -NOT to the floor- with adhesive. Use trim cutters that cut the trim in a straight line or at an angle to fit in the corner.

When buying your hardwood or bamboo flooring don't forget to buy the accessories that make the finishing touches to your perfect floor.

You will need underlay, there are many different types and depending on where you are laying your hardwood or bamboo flooring you will need to get the type to suit the conditions.

There is also a damp proof membrane available to ensure that no damp gets through to your hardwood or bamboo flooring.

A stunning floor deserves a stunning finish, so choose your trims that guarantee a seamless transition from floor to wall.

When your hardwood or bamboo flooring stops and the flooring of another room start there are door bars that can be used to gracefully take you through into the next room.

And for the perfectionist there are pipe covers that hide the expansion cap around your pipes.

All in all hardwood and bamboo flooring are amongst the most hardwearing durable and hassle free type of flooring available. And with so many styles to choose from there is something for everyone.

---

Hardwood Floor Care Will Keep Your Hardwood Looking Fantastic

Hardwood is still the homeowner’s favorite choice of flooring and caring for it takes minimal effort.

Unlike laminate or engineered wood, hardwood can be refinished many times, and will add years of beauty and warmth to your home, as well as increase its value and speed its resale.

Ongoing floor care is needed to keep your hardwood looking its best, however, and there are four major aspects of hardwood floor care:

1. Hardwood floor cleaning

2. Hardwood floor repair

3. Hardwood floor refinishing

4. Hardwood floor protection

Clean Your Hardwood Regularly Knowing how to clean hardwood floors is important because the bane of hardwood is dirt and grit, which will scratch and mark the floor if not removed promptly.

As well, dust is seen more easily on wood floors than it is on linoleum or on carpet, especially in the sunlight and especially if the floor has a dark stain.

Hardwood floor care, therefore, means sweeping and dusting regularly – once a week, at least, and after any event that leaves dirt and grit behind. Regular household dusting and cleaning products will cause damage, however, and you must use only products specifically designed for hardwood.

Vacuuming is preferable to sweeping because it allows the dirt and dust to be pulled from between the boards, but use a vacuum with a bare floor attachment, not a beater bar, which can damage the wood.

When a more in-depth cleaning is required, use a cleaning method appropriate to the finish on your floor.

If your floor has a glossy finish, it means that polyurethane, or a water-based urethane, or a similar finish has been used to form a protective barrier over the hardwood.

If it has a matte finish, it means that the floor is protected with a penetrating seal of oil and/or wax.

On neither of these finishes is water an acceptable cleaning agent, but both of them can accept a surface, damp-mop cleaning, which means the mop is not wet but only damp to the touch. You are cleaning only the surface and not using enough water to penetrate even the oiled-and-waxed hardwood. When using a damp mop on oil and waxed hardwood, you can add a little neutral ph hardwood floor cleaner to the water before dipping the mop into it.

A floor with a protective glossy barrier can accept a generic hardwood floor cleaner providing it doesn’t contain any wax or oil.

The don’ts are every bit as important as the do’s in hardwood floor care;

1. Don’t use ammonia, regular floor cleaners, household cleaners, or dusting products on hardwood.

2. Never use wax on a floor with a urethane or other glossy finish.

3. Never wash hardwood; use only a slightly damp mop.

Repair Any Damage to Your Floors as Soon as Possible In most cases, when your oil and waxed hardwood floors have suffered surface damage, you have to remove the finish with a wax or oil stripper before dealing with the damage.

After completing the repair, you then re-wax or re-oil the area. Surface damage occurs less often on hardwood protected by polyurethane or a similar type of sealer, and when it does, the damage is not as obvious.

When repairing floors with such finishes, strip the finish from the entire board or boards where the damage has occurred. Make your repairs and then apply a finishing product to those boards that is consistent with the rest of the floor.

1. Water marks: Remove the protective finish, rub the marks with fine grade steel wool. Repeat if necessary, clean, and then refinish.

2. Burn marks: Lightly sand the area, use a damp cloth to pick up the grit, and then refinish as desired.

3. Scratches and gouges: Conceal shallow scratches with matching wood putty or a putty stick. After the area is dry, sand and refinish.

Refinishing Your Worn Hardwood Floors Will Recapture Their Original Beauty and Value

In a home with shabby hardwood floors, the biggest improvement you can make is to refinish the floors. Begin by making any necessary repairs, and then removing all the furniture and drapes and sealing the vents and registers in the room so that you won’t spread dust throughout the house.

Sanding floors is easiest to do with a drum sander and an edging machine for the sides and corners of the room. You can rent these machines, and it is a good idea to rent a buffer or floor polisher at the same time. Plan to make three passes with your sanding equipment, using increasingly finer sandpaper each time. Vacuum carefully and pick up every bit of fine dust and grit with tacking cloths. All dust and dirt must be removed.

You can now apply a stain if you wish or you can leave the natural color and design of the wood – such as the popular oak, maple, or cherry – to be displayed. Polish and clean the dust and dirt from the floor again, and then apply your sealer – a polyurethane or a water-based urethane that provides a protective barrier, or oil and wax, which penetrates the wood and protects from within.

Carefully read all the information accompanying each product, follow the safety advice, and apply as many coats of stain or sealer as suggested by the manufacturer of the products you are using.

Hardwood Floor Care Means Providing Ongoing Floor Protection As well as regular cleaning, and repairing and refinishing when necessary, there are a number of protective measures you can take to preserve the beauty of your hardwood:

1. Use area rugs and mats in high traffic areas and sites of frequent spills (e.g., in front of the stove, sink, and refrigerator). Move these rugs frequently so that these areas of the floor remain the same color as the exposed floor. As well, it is best to choose cotton mats as they do not trap water under them as rubber or vinyl might.

2. Keep high-heeled shoes in good repair and avoid using stiletto heels.

3. Keep nails trimmed on pets.

4. Clean up spills immediately with a paper towel or dry cloth. A damp cloth can be used for sticky spills, but dry the spot immediately afterwards with another towel or cloth.

5. Lift rather than drag furniture when moving it and use felt contacts under furniture legs to prevent scratches and gouges.

6. Use sheers or blinds to protect your floors from the discoloration caused by direct sun rays.

With proper care and maintenance, your hardwood floors will retain their beauty and enhance any décor that you choose. When your floors become worn, or if they become damaged, they can be restored to their former glory with a little time, effort, and money.

Use the Internet to check out quality products, read the information on how to use them, compare prices, and place your orders. We can help with all your hardwood floor care needs – everything from discount hardwood flooring to hardwood cleaners – and all items can be purchased online and delivered to your door. Let us help you keep your hardwood floors looking their best.

Scott Gray is currently freelance writing and enjoys providing information and moneysaving tips to consumers who are in the market for hardwood floors, hardwood floor care and hardwood flooring articles. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/