Category Archives: Home Tips

Facts About Hardwood Floor Installation

Wood flooring is perfect for many types of homes, from historic to modern, and everything in between, because of its adaptability and toughness. Even better, you may apply several finishes and arrange various kinds of wood in different designs to create a more distinctive, individual look. Additionally, hardwood flooring is not only practical for daily usage but also quite simple to install.

Following are some of the facts about hardwood floor installation that you need to know:

No Two Floors Look the Same

Genuine hardwood flooring is very distinctive. Hardwood flooring is unique, just like fingerprints. Why? Because no two trees are the same. You may choose from a variety of colors, masses, and texture patterns.

You can tell real wood from fake wood by the diversity in the wood grain’s texture, which explains why no two pieces of hardwood flooring will ever look precisely alike.

But if you buy laminate flooring, it already has a style that looks like real wood. Therefore, it is typical for laminate flooring to have repeating patterns.

Pre-finished Hardwood Flooring is Available

You may also buy hardwood flooring that has already been finished, which can speed up installation. When hardwood flooring is prefinished, the stains and gloss are placed during the floor’s construction.

In addition to being simpler to install, it has also shown to be quite durable.

Undoubtedly, you will find many knowledgeable experts near you if you search online with “hardwood flooring installation Phoenix”.

Indoor Air Quality Gets Improved by Hardwood Floors

Replace carpets with hardwood flooring if you often get allergy symptoms, even indoors. How? In contrast to carpets, wood floors do not contain pollutants and germs like mold, pet fur, or dust.

While it is challenging to remove them from the carpet, any dust motes on the surface may be removed by merely vacuuming or washing the floor.

Hardwood Floors Provide the Appearance of More Space

Less noticeable end joints result from larger hardwood panel lengths, which enlarge the appearance of any tiny space. Learn to pick the right solution to provide and search online with “hardwood flooring installation Phoenix” if you’re trying to upgrade your property quickly. Wide boards create the impression that the room is larger.

For Simple Maintenance

Don’t you detest having to wipe up a spill on your carpet time and time again? The stain must be removed with great effort. You need to scrub, soak, and dry.

You don’t need to be concerned about this if you have hardwood flooring. The spillage on the floor may be quickly cleaned up, clearing up the mess. The hardwood floor is simple to clean. Put an end to using your vacuum to wage war. Take a mop and clean the floor right away. Yes, it is that simple.

Professionals that often work with hardwood floor installation, maintenance, and restoration are familiar with this special material and possess the technical skills required to lay it effectively.

When is the Right Time to Refinish Your Wooden Floor?

Hardwood floors are one of the most popular flooring options. They can provide you with durable and aesthetically-pleasing floors for years.

There are numerous types of hardwood floors that you can choose for your house. However, with time the planks can get scratched, damaged, or dull. They can lose their shiny appearance and become dull or damaged.

Most wooden floors show visible damage signs after a few years of age. However, the need for floor refinishes also depends on the footfall and pets or children in your family.

The good news is hardwood floors can be refinished to restore their appearance. While engineered floors can be refinished only a few times, hardwood floors allow numerous refinishing sessions. However, it is essential to know the right time to refinish the wooden floors.

Wooden floor refinish makes your floors look brand new and also prevents them from further damage. Let us discuss refinishing hardwood floors and when is the right time to call a professional to refinish your hardwood floors.

Refinishing of hardwood floors

Refinishing wooden floors involves sanding down the uppermost layer to reveal the unharmed surface underneath. The sanded wood is then covered with fresh satin and lacquer.

Wooden floor refinish helps in removing the damaged layer and makes your hardwood floors look brand new. You can choose to refinish the wooden floors yourself. However, having a professional do the job ensures that the refinishing is carried out properly.

Here are a few signs indicating that it’s time to refinish your hardwood floors.

1. Scratches or gouges

If you have been using your hardwood floor for a while, chances are there are already some scratches on its surface. However, the need for refinishing depends on the number of scratches and their severity.

If the entire floor is covered in scratches, you should refinish it to restore its fading beauty. The depth of these scratches is also an important determinant. Scratches that go deeper than the polyurethane stain needs to be fixed as they make your hardwood floors susceptible to more damage in the future.

Gouges can create water pathways to the damaged part. Moisture can seep into the flooring worsening the situation even further.

2. Water damage

Water and moisture can be very harmful to your hardwood floors. If the damage is severe, you may even need to replace your hardwood floors.

The visible signs of water damage for your hardwood floors include separation, cupping of the board, and the appearance of dark patches. Numerous causes can make your wooden floors susceptible to water damage.

However, you can reverse the damage with a wooden floor refinish. Sanding away the top surface and sealing the planks can help in correcting the situation. Also, you may need to replace a section of flooring to save the remaining planks from water damage.

3. Discoloration

One of the major causes of discolored hardwood floors is sun damage. If your floors are exposed to direct sunlight, the harmful UV rays from the sun can bleach them.

This can cause some spots to become discolored and ruin the appearance of the entire floor. Also, moisture damage can cause the appearance of gray patches on the floor. You will need a wooden floor to refinish to fix the water damage and prevent your flooring from any more issues.

4. Dull floors

A hardwood flooring elevates the appearance of your entire house. They are available in different finishes; satin, matt, glossy and brushed. Despite the finish, the floors can get dull and lose their luster after a few years.

The floors look worn out and ruin the beauty of your living space.

Refinishing the wooden floors can help in bringing back that brand new look of your flooring.

These are some of the signs that point toward the need for wooden floor refinishing.

Wood Flooring – What are the Options for Your Floor

Wood flooring is one of the most preferred flooring options for many house owners. It gives you durable floors that add a luxurious feel to your house. Also, wooden flooring has a good reputation in the real estate market. Buyers prefer a property with added warmth and luxury that hardwood provides. Hence, adding wooden flooring to your house can increase its resale value in the market.

Now that you have decided to adorn your floors with wood, you will be surprised at the options you have. From types of wood, its cost to the installation style, there is a lot to consider before you begin the installation process.

Let us discuss the options that you have for your floor when you start looking for wood flooring Paradise Valley.

Types of wood flooring

Wood flooring varies in terms of the type of wood species, hardness of the wood, cut pattern, etc. Wood flooring Paradise Valley offers you wide varieties. However, the two main categories to consider for wood flooring are as mentioned below.

1. Solid wood

2. Engineered wood

1. Solid wood

Solid wood floors are made from a single piece of wood throughout. The flooring contains hardwood from top to bottom which is derived from trees like oak, pine, mahogany, etc.

These woods are nailed or stapled to the subfloor and can provide you with a durable floor for years. Hence, installing a hardwood floor requires precision that comes from years of flooring experience. If you are looking for a DIY floor, this may not be a suitable option unless you have experience in the area.

With regular maintenance Wood Flooring, Paradise Valley can last around 70-100 years. However, they can be susceptible to scratching and may not be suitable for a highly active household.

Hardwood floors are also prone to warping. If you have a concrete subfloor, a hardwood floor may not be a suitable option. Humidity from the concrete slab can cause the wood to swell and warp. Hence, a solid wood floor can easily get damaged.

Solid wood floors are costlier and require additional labor costs for installation. However, the price is justified due to the longevity it offers.

2. Engineered floor

People often have a misconception that engineered floors are fake, which is far from the truth. There is nothing fake about an engineered hardwood floor. It consists of thin strips of hardwood on a solid base of plywood. This adds more strength to the wooden floors.

Installation of engineered floors is comparatively easier and can be installed by the homeowner. They can have a click-lock pattern and can be arranged as a floating floor. Alternatively, it can also be glued to the subfloor.

Engineered floors have a shorter life span in comparison to hardwood floors. With proper maintenance, you can extend the life of your engineered wood floors to 25-30 years. Since the wooden layer is thin, it can only be sanded and resurfaced once or twice, after which they will need to be replaced.

Engineered floors can also be used in areas with high humidity and moisture. They do not warp like hardwood floors and can also be installed in areas like the kitchen or bathroom.

It is crucial to understand that engineered floors work well in the humid atmosphere, but they are not waterproof. Hence, putting them in your shower is a recipe for disaster.

Engineered floors can cost you slightly lesser than a hardwood floor. Also, you can save money by choosing to install the flooring by yourself.

Now that you are aware of the different options available to you. You can contact Wood Flooring Paradise Valley and get a wooden floor to amp up your house. Whether you chose hardwood floors or engineered ones is completely up to you.

Secrets of Top Air Purifiers for Home Odor Removal

If you are worried about the quality of the air in your home and are considering an air purifier to clean and sanitize the air, there is the expectation that an air purifier will also remove or neutralize odors in the home. However, not all air purifiers are effective against odor. The secret to effective home odor removal is to be sure your air purifier for home has an activated charcoal filter and to understand the source of the most unpleasant home odors. Here are other secrets to keeping the air in the home clean and as free of odors as possible. An air purifier can help with home odor removal and give the home the best, safest air possible.

Secret #1 — Air purifiers are powerful germ killers and odor neutralizers, but they do not act alone.

An air purifier for home will circulate and sanitize the air. It can also remove pollutants, allergens and toxins and it will not add other airborne chemicals at the same time. Not all air purifiers for the home remove odors. Some do, some don’t and rely on your understanding of what causes the odors in the first place. There are things that can be done to help the air purifier do this job.

What are the causes of odors, and why do they linger?

Odors in the home come from pets, from cooking and food leftovers, from mold and mildew and surprisingly, from attempts to remove the odors. Odors are difficult to filter from the air because these Volatile Organic Compounds are smaller and the molecules that create the smells may not be large enough to be trapped in the air purifier.

Secret #2 — Not all air purifiers are designed to filter small particles from the air

Air purifiers for home can do a lot to clean the air but one secret here is to be aware of the type that you have. The job of the air purifier is to pull in the air from the room and cycle it through the reactor chamber so that the virus causing particles are deactivated and the air is disinfected. Then the clean air is returned to the room. It is necessary to understand the size of the space that needs cleaning, and to have an appropriate air purifier for home with the correct filter.

An air purifier is more than an air filter

Although your air purifier needs filters in order to remove odors, a filter alone does not do what an air purifier can do. The air purifier for the home has the benefit of getting rid of nasty things in the air that you do not want your family to be breathing, and the air purifier decontaminates the air. There are other things that you can do to filter and change the air. For instance, open windows when the air outside is fresh. When the air is too cold, or smoky outside to open the windows the air purifier for home will keep clean air circulating but opening windows when you can, is very effective for home odor removal. Add some indoor plants as they are naturally beneficial to the air.

Secret #3 — Change the filters throughout your home regularly

An air purifier is only as effective as its filter. An air purifier for home odor removal needs a working activated carbon filter to trap and remove the odors as well as filters for virus causing contaminants. HEPA filters will trap bacteria and mold but if these filters are not replaced regularly they might increase smells in the home.

Air purifiers do not act alone to remove home odors. Odors are a legitimate problem, and an air purifier is good to help keep the family safe. The odor causing compounds are not what anyone wants circulating through the air, so be sure to understand their source and have the correct air purifier and filter system for your home needs. Choose an air purifier for the space you want to clean and know what you want it to do. You can keep your home air clean as well as germ and odor free.

The Need for Lead Paint Removal in Old Homes

Lead paint, while widely used for decades, is now known to be harmful to people, especially children. Since this discovery, efforts have been made to remove lead paint from homes. Unfortunately, many older homes still have lead paint, sometimes unbeknownst to its current occupants. If you live in an older home, then it may be time to contact lead paint removal professionals to inspect your home, assess any potential risk and remove it safely.

In the following, we give you a quick guide on the dangers lead paint can pose, how to tell if your home has lead paint and who to call for the safe removal of lead paint from your home.

Why is Lead Paint Dangerous?

Lead poisoning is a problem that was only really understood a few decades ago. Since its effects don’t always present right away, we were using lead in everyday household items for years before anyone connected the presence of lead with potential health issues. It turns out that exposure to lead, especially in children, has been linked to a number of health and development issues.

Chief among these potential issues is anemia, which is a lack of red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body, and damage to the brain and central nervous system. Since children’s and babies’ bodies can absorb lead more readily and they are prone to putting their mouths on things, they are at a higher risk of suffering the effects of lead poisoning. If you have an old home and young children, have you house inspected to see if lead paint removal is required.

Most people are worried about lead in their pipes, which then gets into the water and into our bodies, but lead paint is also an issue. Dust and disturbed lead paint can easily be inhaled and absorbed by the body, which can be just as dangerous as lead in other forms.

In order to completely remove the threat of lead poisoning from a home, you will need to have it assessed and detected, and then professionally removed. Using lead paint removal experts is the only way to safely and comprehensively remove lead from your home entirely.

How Do I Know if My House has Lead Paint?

In general, lead paint is an issue that exists for older homes. Whether or not paint contains lead depends on where the home is located and when it was built. Since laws against lead paint happened differently in different counties, it’s possible to have lead paint in almost any home. In general, however, homes built in the 1960s or earlier are the most likely to have lead paint. Homes built after 1990 are the least likely to contain lead paint since all consumer paints being manufactured by this point were not allowed to contain lead.

Remember, it is possible that lead paint exists in a home and isn’t the top layer of paint. In many instances, people simply painted over lead paint with more paint, which does not remove the issue. So, while the surface-level paint may not contain lead, the paint underneath could pose a threat to your health and safety.

How Do Experts Detect Lead Paint?

So how do lead paint removal experts determine if your home has lead paint? This job requires certification as a risk assessor or dedicated lead inspector. These professionals use test kits that chemically break down paint to determine if it contains lead. These tests are available to the general public, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strongly recommends that anyone who suspects that they have lead paint contact a certified and professional lead detector or risk assessor.

Why Do I Need Professionals for Lead Paint Removal?

While many people think that they can safely handle lead paint removal, this isn’t always the right choice. In fact, it can be dangerous for you and your family if you handle the work yourself. This is because only professionals can comprehensively detect all the lead paint in your home and remove it properly.

Lead paint removal not only requires specialized training, but it also requires special equipment to keep workers safe and prevent lead dust from staying in a home after it’s removed. In order to keep your family safe, you will need the experts to handle every step of the process, from initial inspection through to removing it from your home.