Is Laminate Flooring for Stairs a Good Choice?

Among contemporary flooring options, laminate flooring stairs are becoming increasingly popular. Laminated flooring is prepared by blending various materials like concrete, melamine and insulating fibers. The ease-of-preparing laminated stairs can be understood by comparing the following aspects.

Advantage

Laminate flooring is being increasingly retailed in the form of self-installation kits. This negates the need to employ professional help—a major cost-saving. The installation requires basic household supplies like measuring tape, retailed adhesive and surface-cleansing chemicals.

Problem

Every laminate retailer has a different set of recommended tools and adhesives. Many times the installation kit proves inadequate. If the sub-floor has tiles or a finished concrete surface it needs to be cleaned with special chemicals that need to be bought separately. The laminates need to cut precisely along the stair’s edges to ensure there is no overhanging laminate panel. Once the laminate is fixed on the sub-floor, it needs to be pressed uniformly. Failure to do so allows air bubbles to seep within the adhesive causing layering among laminated surfaces.

Durability & Maintenance

Most contemporary laminate flooring varieties are extremely sturdy. The dependence upon using glue or nails to lay the flooring has decreased considerably. Unlike wood-panel flooring, laminates don’t need extensive finishing with chemicals. Modern versions of laminated flooring use a grid-locking system that guarantees years of use without issues like surface cracking. Unlike concrete flooring, laminated stairs don’t retain moisture and don’t react with household chemicals. This makes laminated stairs a more durable flooring option.

Safety Issues

Most laminate flooring stairs are a bit slippery. This issue can be resolved by using high-quality laminates with certified ratings. If the stairs are located in high-traffic areas of the house, you can use textured laminate flooring. Textured laminates offer a rougher, less slippery surface and are retailed as ‘abrasive laminates’.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Damaged Marble Lamp Base Restored in Fife

At this property in Fife, I was asked to restore not a tiled floor, but in fact a solid black Marble lamp base. The lamp base was particularly by scratched and damaged as a result of a lack of care and consideration by a removal company. It's a shame to see such a high-quality item suffer this kind of damage; nonetheless, I was keen to help with restoring it back to looking its best. I arranged to collect the base the next time we were working in the area of Fife, a historic area of Scotland Read more...

Dirty and Damaged Victorian Tiled Hallway Restored in Heathfield

This beautiful Victorian hallway had been left to suffer under the wear of rugby boots and dogs for many years. There were also some broken tiles in the doorways leading to other rooms, and there were clear paint splashes where decorators had neglected to clean up after themselves. To cut a long story short, the floor was in a bad state, and the property owner decided it was about time to call upon some professional assistance. After providing a demonstration of the techniques I could use to Read more...

Victorian Hallway Restored in East Surrex

This beautiful Victorian hallway had been left to suffer under the wear of rugby boots and dogs for many years. There were also some broken tiles in the doorways leading to other rooms, and there were clear paint splashes where decorators had neglected to clean up after themselves. To cut a long Read more...

Deep Cleaning Terrazzo Hallway Floor

This Terrazzo tiled hallway at a property in Northampton was in a really bad state. It was heavily soiled and suffered from glue marks where the original carpet covering it had been removed. Additionally, there was some damage to the edges of the doorway, and a large crack in the floor running across the width of the hallway. Terrazzo is an interesting material, originally produced in Italy, that consists mainly of concrete with segments of marble and other stone interspersed and held Read more...

Bamboo Laminate Benefits and Drawbacks

Bamboo laminate has become an extremely popular as environmental awareness has made bamboo flooring the natural flooring of choices for many homeowners.  However, natural bamboo flooring can be rather expensive and bamboo laminate is a less expensive alternative for homeowners.

Benefits

Bamboo laminate flooring has a number of benefits and advantages for homeowners and the do-it-yourself home renovation homeowner.

• Cost: Laminate flooring is often substantially less than natural hardwood flooring.  The cost is not only associated with the actual cost of materials, but also the cost of installing the flooring.  Since most hardwood flooring, including natural bamboo, requires professional installation, the cost can quickly skyrocket out of sight.  Laminate flooring, on the other hand, can usually be installed over a weekend by a homeowner.

• Durability: Bamboo laminate flooring is extremely durable.  They stand up well to high traffic and some brands even have a 10 year wear warranty.  It does not easily scratch, nor does it easily stain.

• Versatile: Not only does laminate flooring not have the problems with imperfect boards as natural wood flooring does, but it can also be used in a wider variety of applications.  For example, laminate flooring is wonderful in bathrooms and kitchens, where it may be subject to splashes from showers or sinks.  While no wood flooring material – hardwood included – stands up well to standing water, laminate flooring does not usually buckle or stain from simply being splashed or exposed to water spills.

Drawbacks 

For many people there are drawbacks to using bamboo laminate flooring instead of natural bamboo flooring.  Natural bamboo has been touted as a natural flooring material that is harvested from vast plantations of quickly growing and easy to replace bamboo stalks.  For homeowners concerned about environmentally responsible flooring materials, bamboo flooring is the material of choice.  Some of the drawbacks of using bamboo laminate are:

• Feel: For people used to the feel of a natural wood floor, laminate can feel fake or false underfoot.  Some individuals are bothered by the fact that it is not “real” wood flooring, although it does contain recycled wood products in the center core layer.

• Value: For some homeowners, there is a real concern that bamboo laminate flooring does not offer enough value if the home is to be resold after it is installed.  Hardwood floor definitely is considered to be a rather high-end home feature, particularly when compared to laminate flooring.

• Durability: Unlike natural hardwood floors, when a laminate floor is damaged it cannot be sanded or refinished.  Instead, if the floor is heavily damaged, boards need to be either replaced or the entire floor will need to be replaced.

Bamboo laminate flooring is a wonderful alternative for homeowners looking for an easy to maintain and install flooring that will stand up well in high moisture areas of the house.  It is cost effective to install, particularly when compared to traditional hardwood floors.  However, bamboo laminate does not offer the same added value when installed in a home, when compared to real bamboo flooring.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Heavily Soiled Terrazzo Hallway Restored in Northampton

This Terrazzo tiled hallway at a property in Northampton was in a really bad state. It was heavily soiled and suffered from glue marks where the original carpet covering it had been removed. Additionally, there was some damage to the edges of the doorway, and a large crack in the floor running across the width of the hallway. Terrazzo is an interesting material, originally produced in Italy, that consists mainly of concrete with segments of marble and other stone interspersed and held Read more...

How to restore the appearance of Terrazzo

This Terrazzo tiled hallway at a property in Northampton was in a really bad state. It was heavily soiled and suffered from glue marks where the original carpet covering it had been removed. Additionally, there was some damage to the edges of the doorway, and a large crack in the floor running across the width of the hallway.


Terrazzo is an interesting material, originally produced in Italy, that consists mainly of concrete with segments of marble and other stone interspersed and held together with a resin. Since Terrazzo is formed in this way, I explained to the customer that I would fill the crack along the floor and the small holes around the edges with concrete, before then using tile paint to match in the colours as best as possible. This would be the most cost-effective solution, which was ideal since the customer had a limited budget for the repairs.


Before beginning the restoration, I tested a small area using a diamond encrusted burnishing pad, thereby giving the customer an indication of the type of results that could be achieved. With the customer pleased by the results, the job was booked in for the following week.

Cleaning and Burnishing a Soiled Terrazzo Tiled Hallway

To begin, Tile Doctor Remove & Go was applied to the floor and was left to dwell for ten minutes to soften the carpet glue and break down any old sealer. This was then scrubbed in to the tiles with a pad fitted to a rotary machine. To remove the remaining residue and marks in the particularly stubborn areas, I used a manual hand scraper. The entire floor was then wet vaxed to soak up the soiled cleaner and leave the area clean for burnishing. This was followed by the use of Tile Doctor diamond encrusted burnishing pads to polish the tiles, starting with a coarse grit pad, followed by wet vaxing and repeating the process with a medium grit pad and finally the fine grit pad to achieve the desired effect. I then installed a turbo dryer to dry the floor. I returned to the property once the floor was dry and carried out the repairs which had been discussed earlier with the customer (filling the holes and cracks in the floor with concrete), cleaning off any concrete residue before I finished for the day.

Sealing a Terrazzo Tiled Hallway

Upon my return to the property the next day, I refined the polish on the floor even further by applying the extra fine grit burnishing pad.


To finish off the three day restoration, I sealed the Terrazzo tiles using two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer. As an impregnating sealer, Colour Grow soaks into the pores of the stone, protecting it from ingrained dirt. Colour Grow also contains colour intensifying properties, allowing it to enhance the naturally occurring shades in the stone, and therefore stopping it from appearing dull.


This floor certainly was in a bad state, with damage as well as dirt to deal with, but I'm pleased to say that the work went a long way in transforming its appearance, leaving a very happy customer.





Source: Terrazzo Floor Tile Restoration Service in Northamptonshire

Restoring a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Swiss Cottage

This Victorian floor was discovered at a house in Swiss Cottage in the London borough of Camden when the current owner took the old carpet up. It was in need of substantial restoration to bring it back to its former glory however we have had really good results from restoring similar floors so we were confident it could be done. Restoring a Victorian Tiled Hallway The carpet had literally just been taken away so we had to remove the gripper rods, underlay and deal with the adhesive which we Read more...

Rebuilding a Victorian Tiled Hallway

This Victorian floor was discovered at a house in Swiss Cottage in the London borough of Camden when the current owner took the old carpet up. It was in need of substantial restoration to bring it back to its former glory however we have had really good results from restoring similar floors so Read more...

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Local Service

Why not take advantage of our free local survey service and arrange for your nearest independent hard floor specialist to pay you a visit at your home or premises, they will listen to your needs and use their knowledge and experience to select a sealer that suits your needs and make your tiles beautiful again. Remember prevention is cheaper than the cure so make a note to discuss grout sealing and work out an on-going maintenance plan. Complete the form below and we will arrange for your Read more...

Travertine Stone Tile Restoration

Travertine tile is a natural material that has unique features that no other stone can offer. The distinctive design of Travertine creates some of the most distinguished floor tiles. Travertine is ideal for commercial and residential use. It can be used for floor tile, kitchen flooring, bathroom Read more...

Quarry Tiles - Cleaning and Sealing

A classic hard wearing tile often utilised in high traffic areas such as reception areas and also often used for outdoor patio areas and porches. Although hard wearing Quarry tiles are often neglected and hidden under years of grime, however all is not lost they can be restored, see below for Read more...

Slate Stone Cleaning and Sealing

Slate stone has traditionally been used for centuries as roofing and flooring, the durability of this material ensured its popularity until the introduction of cheaper man made alternatives. Much of the slate used in the UK today comes from China however there are still Slate mines in Cornwall, Read more...

Victorian Tiles - Cleaning and Sealing

A hard wearing tile that gives a classic look to any space which is commonly found in the reception areas of older buildings, especially in hallways. We often find that the beauty of these tiles are hidden under years of grime and neglect, however all is not lost they can be restored, see below Read more...

Terracotta Tiles - Cleaning and Sealing

Terracotta Tiles have been around in certain parts of the world for over two millennia, in fact the word Terracotta means burned earth. The ancient Romans used a variety of terracotta tiles in their villas and palaces for many centuries. Terracotta tiles are thicker than most modern tiles giving Read more...

Limestone - Cleaning and Sealing

Limestone is reputed in the international market for its premium quality, toughness and durability. It is often the preferred choice for interior and exterior in both commercial and domestic for flooring, wall cladding, paving and facades of buildings, railway stations, pavement, landscaping and Read more...

Spanish Terracotta Floor Cleaned and Sealed in Mallorca

As Tile Doctor operates in Europe as well as mainland UK we have to be ready for certain logistical challenges i.e. flying over to Mallorca to help a customer who has had a number of issues cleaning and sealing their Terracotta floor tiles at their residence on the island. Naturally you would have thought a local firm would have been able to resolve these issues, unfortunately it seems this is not the case and we were asked to step in. As is it was not economical to ship our machinery to the Read more...

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Oak Laminate Vs. Maple and Pine

Oak laminate floors are one of the most popular flooring options available on the market today for home remodeling projects. When compared to traditional hardwood flooring versus pine and maple, laminate has the advantages of lower cost, easy installation and lower maintenance.

Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is a versatile and inexpensive alternative to traditional wood flooring, like maple and pine. Laminate flooring is actually made of several layers of materials that create flooring that is easy to care for and can be easily installed by almost any homeowner over as a weekend home improvement project.

Oak laminate flooring consists of recycled wood shavings that are pressed together to create the center core of the flooring panels. The next layer is a piece of paper that has been printed with the image of the wood flooring patterns–other laminate flooring can be made to look like stone, tile and other materials. The last layer is a thin, strong layer of plastic that covers the paper.

Installing Laminate Flooring
For homeowners looking for an inexpensive flooring option that they can install on their own, laminate flooring is easy to purchase and install. The homeowner can purchase flooring at almost any home improvement center, including the floor liner that goes over the subfloor.

Laminate is what is known as a floating floor system, where the flooring is not connected to the actual floor or the walls. The planks are interconnected with tongue and groove, allowing you to easily attach the interlocking planks, staggering the plank joints to create an appealing and natural pattern.

Once the panels are all placed over the floor, the flooring is held in place by the use of floor molding placed along the wall where the oak laminate floor meets the wall.

Care for a laminate floor once it is installed simply involves a quick swish of a dust mop or damp mop.

Hardwood Flooring
By contrast, hardwood flooring, like maple and pine, is more expensive and requires more care. For example, if a spill occurs on a laminate floor, it is easy to wipe it up and not worry about staining or the floor being damaged by liquid spills. With a hardwood floor, however, liquid spills need to be quickly wiped up and the floor may be damaged if the liquid is left on the floor for a long period of time. If water overflows a potted plant sitting on the floor and is left overnight, warping can occur. 

Also, while you can install a wood maple or pine floor yourself, you will need to be prepared to cut the planks to the correct size and to sand the floor joints. Additionally, the homeowner will also need to use a router to make a smooth joint. Plus, the floor will need to be sealed after it is completely installed. A traditional wood floor also requires periodic refinishing, including sanding and resealing.

While real hardwoods like maple and pine can be attractive, they are difficult to install and require additional work in cutting the boards, sanding and sealing the floor. By comparison, oak laminate floors are easy to install and do not require any extra work beyond the installation. Once installed they are easy to care for and will never need to be refinished or resealed.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Rebuilding a Victorian Tiled Hallway

The photographs below are from a Victorian tiled hallway floor at a property in Stoke Newington in London. The floor was in need of repair with a large area very uneven and partly sunk in the middle of the pattern. The repairs were made using as many existing tiles as possible. Cleaning Read more...

Removing Limescale from Slate Bathroom Tiles

Our client in Ravensden had a rough slate tiled floor fitted into her en-suite bathroom approximately six years ago. The tiles were never sealed and due to the hard water in the area, plus shower products the floor developed a white crust in areas. Tile doctor deals with tile problems across the Read more...

Restoring a Victorian Tiled Hallway in Stoke Newington

The photographs below are from a Victorian tiled hallway floor at a property in Stoke Newington in London. The floor was in need of repair with a large area very uneven and partly sunk in the middle of the pattern. The repairs were made using as many existing tiles as possible. Cleaning Victorian Tiles The first task was to set about cleaning the tiles using Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and Remove & Go on the stubborn areas. Both products were applied in the same way using black scrubbing pads to Read more...

Dealing with Limescale Stains on a Slate Tiled Bathroom in Ravensden

Our client in Ravensden had a rough slate tiled floor fitted into her en-suite bathroom approximately six years ago. The tiles were never sealed and due to the hard water in the area, plus shower products the floor developed a white crust in areas. Tile doctor deals with tile problems across the UK everyday and leads the way in developing new techniques to deal with tile related issues and so I was confident of finding a solution that could resolve the problem with a single visit. Dealing Read more...

Regualar Maintenance of Terracotta Tiles

As part of our service we advise customers on best practice for maintaining the appearance of the floor and I'm happy to report this client in Ampthill who has a Terracotta tiled floor that we had fully restored a few years ago had followed to the letter. Having two dogs and two children, the Read more...

Restoring the Appearance of Slate Bathroom Tiles

Our client in Ravensden had a rough slate tiled floor fitted into her en-suite bathroom approximately six years ago. The tiles were never sealed and due to the hard water in the area, plus shower products the floor developed a white crust in areas.


Tile doctor deals with tile problems across the UK everyday and leads the way in developing new techniques to deal with tile related issues and so I was confident of finding a solution that could resolve the problem with a single visit.

Dealing with Limescale on a Slate tiled floor

Mindful of damp levels in the slate we used a small coarse 200 grit Tile Doctor Diamond pad on a six-inch hand held machine to take off the lime scale. This cleaned most of it off but in corners and some deep rough areas where the pad could not access were spot treated using Tile Doctor Acid Gel which was left to sit and dwell for 20 minutes then rinsed off the floor.

Sealing a Slate tiled floor

A turbo fan was used to speed up the drying of the floor and within a couple of hours it was dry enough to seal for which we used a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is an impregnating sealer that seeps into the pores if the Slate protecting it from within and enhancing the look of the stone in the process.



Source: Slate Tile Problem Resolution Service in Bedfordshire

Deep Cleaning and Sealing and old Terracotta floor in Ampthill

As part of our service we advise customers on best practice for maintaining the appearance of the floor and I'm happy to report this client in Ampthill who has a Terracotta tiled floor that we had fully restored a few years ago had followed to the letter. Having two dogs and two children, the floor gets a lot of traffic and as expected over a period of time the sealer does wear thin in the busier areas. Should the sealer become too damaged dirt can get underneath and gradually the seal will Read more...

6 Reasons To Consider Cork Laminate Flooring

Cork laminate flooring is cork flooring with several coats of acrylic matte and/or gloss finish. This preserves those advantages of cork flooring while making it easier to clean and harder to damage.

Advantages of Cork Flooring

Even without the extra coating, cork flooring has a number of advantageous features.

1. Environmental friendliness – Cork flooring is made using the outer layers of tree bark, usually the tree bark taken from cork oak trees. The bark is harvested once every nine years, which gives the trees more than enough time to regrow it. Not only does it not require anyone to chop down any trees, but the same trees can be used over and over again without any long-term harm.
   
2. Sound and vibrations reduction – Cork flooring contains tiny compartments that seal the air inside, keeping the sounds from spreading beyond its immediate source. In other words, you won’t make much noise when you walk on it. It is also useful in rooms where heavy vibrations are common – it reduces that vibrations’ impact using the same principle.
   
3. Warmth and insulation – Cork flooring traps heat, which makes the flooring feel warm. It also helps to keep the heat from escaping outside the room.
4. Fire resistance – cork is naturally fire-resistant. It also does not release any toxic gases in combustion.
   
5. Impact resistance – cork membranes are flexible. If the weight is placed upon it’s surface, it bends, but it recovers shortly after the weight is lifted.   It can recover from everything to a heavy piano to the weight of a high-heeled shoe.
   
6. Water resistance – because of the way it’s structured, cork flooring doesn’t have any room for the water to seep through. That prevents the flooring from getting warped and protects the sub-floor structures that are underneath it.
   

Advantages of Coating

In cork laminate floors, the coating adds an extra layer of protection. While it can recover from impact, it is vulnerable to small cuts. It also makes the floor easier to clean. All you have to do is wipe it with a wet cloth, a sponge or a mop. The coating does reduce some of the cork’s natural softness, but all the other properties are retained.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Dirty Travertine Tiled Floor Cleaned and Polished in Ayrshire

When we arrived at this property in Ayrshire, Edinburgh, it appeared as though the owner's Travertine tiled floor was in relatively decent condition. On closer inspection, however, we could see that the grout lines were quite dirty and, while there was still a visible shine to the surface, it had become cloudy, likely due to a lack of sufficient maintenance. This was a big concern for the owner, and so they contacted me to see what I could do to remedy the situation. Cleaning and Read more...

Travertine Floor Maintenance in Scotland

When we arrived at this property in Ayrshire, Edinburgh, it appeared as though the owner's Travertine tiled floor was in relatively decent condition. On closer inspection, however, we could see that the grout lines were quite dirty and, while there was still a visible shine to the surface, it Read more...

Period Victorian Hallway Restoration

Victorian floors are known for their intricate and interesting patterns - so when tiles are in need of replacement, sourcing ones which are consistent with original pattern can be a difficult task. This was the case when recently I quoted for a clean and seal of a large black and white Read more...

Keeping Beveled Laminate Flooring Dirt-Free

Beveled laminate flooring is laminated flooring with components that have angular edges. Technically, the term only refers to floors where the edges decline gradually. However, the term is often used to refer to any laminate floors with visible edges.

Cleaning the Surfaces

One of the biggest advantages of laminate flooring is that its surface is easy to maintain. The melamine wear layer on the floor’s top protects the floor from moisture, scratches and burns. Dirt is less likely to stick to the surface.

Laminate flooring can be cleaned using a wet cloth or a wipe. If a homeowner wants to clean up a large portion of the floor, he or she can use either  a mechanical mop, such as the Swiffer, or a mop vacuum cleaner.  

Cleaning the Edges

While the surfaces of the floor are easy to clean up, the spaces between the edges are a bit trickier. A spot may need to be cleaned several times in order to completely get rid of the dirt. If the edges are short, a mop will probably be able to clean up most of the dirt or, at the very least, dislodge it. However, wipes will usually take care of dirt on the first try. This is particularly true for the sections that are closer to the wall.  

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Flood Damaged Jura Limestone Floor Restored in Kirkby Lonsdale

The recent winter floods had a devastating effect on Cumbria, with many houses suffering severe damage from exposure to the water. This property in Kirkby Lonsdale had been flooded, and while the contract cleaners had made some basic repairs, the Jura Limestone floor had been left dull and patchy, and in dire need of a professional restoration. Jura Limestone has been around for over 180 million years and is an absolutely top quality stone, consisting of up to 97% dense calcium carbonate. Read more...

Jura Limestone Floor Restored after Flood Damage

The recent winter floods had a devastating effect on Cumbria, with many houses suffering severe damage from exposure to the water. This property in Kirkby Lonsdale had been flooded, and while the contract cleaners had made some basic repairs, the Jura Limestone floor had been left dull and Read more...

Restoring Floor Damaged Limestone Floor Tiles

The recent winter floods had a devastating effect on Cumbria, with many houses suffering severe damage from exposure to the water. This property in Kirkby Lonsdale had been flooded, and while the contract cleaners had made some basic repairs, the Jura Limestone floor had been left dull and patchy, and in dire need of a professional restoration.


Jura Limestone has been in use for over 180 million years and is an absolutely top quality stone, consisting of up to 97% dense calcium carbonate. Thanks to its density it is far less porous than other types of Limestone available on the market. Generally speaking, this makes it easy to look after as it is more difficult for dirt to become ingrained.

Burnishing and Cleaning a Jura Limestone floor

To restore the surface of the floor we used a process known as burnishing, which achieves particularly good results on polished stone tiles. It involves the application of several burnishing pads with different grades of grit to break down any old sealer and dirt, and to gradually smooth and polish the rough surface of the tiles. In this case, I worked my way through through the four pad system, starting with a Coarse pad lubricated with a little water before moving on to Medium, Fine and Very Fine pads to achieve the desired polished finish. Following this, we decided that the grout would also benefit from a special clean with Tile Doctor Pro Clean, and so applied the high alkaline cleaner to tackle the outstanding stains and dirt. The whole floor was then rinsed with clean water to remove any remaining slurry and then left to dry.

Sealing a Jura Limestone floor

We returned to the property the following day, by which time the floor had dried completely. I gave the tiles another polish with an Extra Fine burnishing pad, before proceeding to seal the floor with two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This is an impregnating sealer that soaks into the pores of the stone to provide durable protection whilst enhancing the natural shades in the Limestone.


Finally, I gave the floor one last polish with the Extra Fine burnishing pad just to tighten up the hone and polish off any extra sealer.


You can see the results in the corresponding photographs, and needless to say, the customers were exceptionally pleased to have their fantastic floor back to looking its best, especially considering the significant damage caused by the floods.


Source: Limestone Floor Restoration Service in Lancashire

Repairing and Cleaning a Checkered Victorian Tiled Hallway in West Byfleet

Victorian floors are known for their intricate and interesting patterns - so when tiles are in need of replacement, sourcing ones which are consistent with original pattern can be a difficult task. This was the case when recently I quoted for a clean and seal of a large black and white Checkered Victorian tiled hallway at a property in the town of West Byfleet, Surrey. The customer informed me they had engaged a tiler to lay black tiles in the door thresholds to match the others. I queried Read more...

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Glueless Laminate Flooring: Benefits and Drawbacks Explained

Glueless laminade flooring is laminate flooring that can be installed without using glue. Instead, they hold together using grooves and edges that are built into their design. This makes it much easier to install and replace. It has a number of other advantages and disadvantages. Some apply to all types laminate flooring while others are unique to the glueless flooring.

Benifits of Glueless Laminate Flooring

The most notable advantage of glueless laminate flooring is the ease of installation. Some models are easier to install than others, but so long as the instructions are carefully followed, the installation is achievable. Other advantages include:

• affordability  – Glueless laminate flooring is less expensive than other types of flooring. Furthermore, because it does not require any glue, the installation costs are significantly reduced

• aesthetics – Glueless laminate flooring comes in a wide variety of designs and color schemes, allowing them to fit an equally wide variety of room designs and décors. And while they may be less expensive than other types of flooring, the high-quality examples of this type look anything but cheap.

• durability – as with other types of laminate flooring, glueless laminate flooring is highly resistant to impact and scratches.

• maintenance – glueless laminate flooring does not require waxing or polishing: it can be cleaned using a damp cloth or the mechanized mopping devices such as the Swiffer.

Drawbacks

Having said that, glueless laminate flooring does have some drawbacks.

• Lack of long-term durability – While glueless laminate flooring is resistant to impact and damage, it wears out quicker on the long run. The non-laminated flooring can endure for over a hundred years, and it can be kept in its original condition through repairs. The laminate flooring, on the other hand, is hard to repair and impossible to sand and refinish. Even if the damage is minimal, it usually doesn’t last more than 20 years. 

• Vulnerability to moisture – glueless laminate flooring is vulnerable to moisture, especially compared to other types of flooring. Even if it water doesn’t damage the flooring itself, it can seep through the flooring and damage the materials beneath.

• Diminished real estate values – Because glueless laminate flooring is a product of the more contemporary technology, houses that have it are seen as less valuable then houses with older flooring types.  This is true even if the house itself is several decades old – laminate flooring detracts from its historic authenticity, which makes it less valuable.

• Traction issues – Glueless laminate flooring tend to be more slippery than other types of flooring. There has been an effort to reduce this problem, and some of the more recent models reflect that, but the overall trend remains.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Slate Kitchen Floor Stripped Cleaned And Sealed Lochwinnoch

These photographs of a Slate tiled kitchen floor are from a house in Lochwinnoch in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. You can see that the slate and grout was looking very dull and any sealer that was present had failed leaving the stone in need of a deep clean and re-seal. Cleaning Slate Floor Tile and Grout On the first day we stripped the floor of any remaining sealer using Tile Doctor Pro-Clean mixed 50/50 with Remove and Go, this was left to dwell for 5-10mins before scrubbing it Read more...

Dirty Slate Kitchen Floor Deep Cleaned and Resealed

These photographs of a Slate tiled kitchen floor are from a house in Lochwinnoch in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. You can see that the slate and grout was looking very dull and any sealer that was present had failed leaving the stone in need of a deep clean and re-seal. Cleaning Slate Read more...

Recycled And Green Laminate Flooring

When considering what type of flooring to use in a home remodeling project, an innovative option that is gaining popularity is recycled or green laminate flooring. Installation is relatively easy and will give you the satisfaction of knowing you are conserving resources.

What is Green Laminate?
Green laminate flooring is largely composed of recycled materials like wood fibers or recycled paper. The wood core is constructed of recycled waste wood fibers that are pressed into a layer that gives the laminate the feeling of hardwood flooring. The top layer is often what creates the look or pattern of the laminate and is constructed of recycled post-consumer paper products.

Installing Recycled Laminate Flooring
After carefully measuring the area you have chosen to install your laminate flooring, prepare the floor by removing all baseboards and old flooring materials.

•    Place the floating underpad on top of the subfloor.
•    Place spacers against the wall where you start.
•    Begin fitting laminate planks together (remember to stagger joints), snugging with taps of a rubber mallet and a  snugging tool.
•    Reinstall baseboards or install new ones.

Once you have finished installing the entire floor, clean it with a dry mop and enjoy your new green laminate floor.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Dirty Victorian Hallway Floor Deep Cleaned

This post details the work we did at a house in the Lancashire town of Ribchester where the floor had been covered with a carpet for many years and the owner now wanted the floor restoring. As you see from the photographs, these Victorian tiles were in an extremely dirty condition and in dire Read more...

Sandstone Kitchen Floor Deep Cleaned

Tiled floors are a popular choice for people with large household pets - particularly dogs. Compared to carpeted floor they are hard wearing and reasonably easy to keep clean, with the right methods. At this property near the Northamptonshire village of Brockhall, my customer's Sandstone tiled floor had been very badly stained thanks to her two large dogs - a problem exacerbated by the fact that the tiles had not been professionally cleaned or sealed for a very long time. If you have read Read more...

Poorly Maintained Victorian Tiled Floor Revitalised in Ribchester

This post details the work we did at a house in the Lancashire town of Ribchester where the floor had been covered with a carpet for many years and the owner now wanted the floor restoring. As you see from the photographs, these Victorian tiles were in an extremely dirty condition and in dire need of a deep clean. Upon visiting the property and witnessing the condition of the tiles first hand, I decided that rather than spending time attempting to penetrate through the thick layers of Read more...

Hardwood vs Laminate Flooring: Which Lasts Longer?

In terms of hard surface flooring, there are two products stand above the rest: realhardwood floors and photo based laminate floors. During the manufacturing process, materials are added to extend the life of these floors. Hardwood has a layer of aluminum oxide added for durability and protection, while laminate has several coatings of synthetic protection.

Hardwood and laminate floors are made in many sizes and thicknesses. Depending on the thickness and construction of the product, the manufacturer will designate a specific wear warranty that can range from 5 to 30 years or may last a lifetime. The wear warranty covers the wear layer or surface of the product.

There are two types of hardwood floors: engineered and solid wood. Engineered wood is constructed with multiple layers of wood with the top layer or veneer comprised of a specific type of wood. This top layer is the wear layer. They are screened, which involves light sanding, and finished. Solid hardwood floors are typically ¾ of an inch thick and are available in different widths. This process is limited. Both solid and engineered floors require maintenance that extends their life expectancy. Hardwood floors age over time becoming richer in color and, in some cases, even harder.

Hardwood floors are available in different constructions, but laminates are constructed in the same way with a top layer, middle core and bottom layer. The top wear layer consists of a representational photograph which has several coats of a synthetic material for protection and durability. The middle core is made of compressed fiber board. The bottom layer is made of the same material as the top for stability. These three layers will vary from one manufacturer to another depending on quality and warranties. Price will reflect quality and wear warranties. Laminate floors require very little maintenance.

Both hardwood and laminate floors are designed for years of service. Depending on traffic, maintenance and construction, either floor could outlast the other. It is virtually impossible to actually wear out hardwood or laminate flooring.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Deep Cleaning Very Dirty Victorian Tiled Hallway Tiles

This post details the work we did at a house in the Lancashire town of Ribchester where the floor had been covered with a carpet for many years and the owner now wanted the floor restoring. As you see from the photographs, these Victorian tiles were in an extremely dirty condition and in dire need of a deep clean. Upon visiting the property and witnessing the condition of the tiles first hand, I decided that rather than spending time attempting to penetrate through the thick layers of ingrained dirt, it would be more effective to go with the application of coarse 200 grit diamond encrusted pads (also known as burnishing pads). Usually we only use this type of pad on stone floors, including Limestone; however, we have been successfully experimenting with them on other surfaces at the Tile Doctor training centre including Victorian Tiles so I was confident they would do well.

Cleaning a Victorian Tiled Floor

In the case of this floor a carpet underlay had been in place and this is something that has often proved very difficult to remove in the past, but by using the 200 grit pads to open the pores of the clay it proved not to be a problem. The pads worked well on the main floor however being circular they do struggle to get into corners and right up to the edges so ensure these areas were equally cleaned I used small hand held burnishing pads. One problem I did find, nonetheless, was that the pads revealed a pattern had been impressed onto the floor. To remove this I applied Tile Doctor Acid Gel, which is a blend of phosphoric and hydrochloric acids in gel form. This was so effective that within ten minutes the pattern had completely disappeared. Following this, I gave the floor a thorough wash with water, and the resulting slurry was extracted by a wet vacuum. The property owner and I then agreed that I would return to the house in a few days, leaving the area enough time to fully dry. I returned to the property two days later to find that alkaline salt deposits (commonly known as efflorescence) had appeared on the floor while it was drying out, with the exception of the area to which I had applied Acid Gel. I polished off the efflorescence with a cloth, before giving the whole floor a rinse with Acid Gel to neutralise the salts. The floor was then given another rinse with water to remove any trace of the product, and was thoroughly dried using a wet vacuum to extract the moisture.

Sealing a Victorian Tiled Floor

I left the floor to dry unassisted for a few hours before running damp tests. All tests came back with decent results, and so I proceeded to seal the floor using three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This is a breathable solvent sealer, particularly notable for its capability to cope with any further efflorescence salt issues that could potentially affect most normal surface sealers. It also contains properties which intensify the natural colours and shades in the stone, leaving a bold and vibrant appearance. The owner was very happy with the big improvement in the floor, leaving the following feedback: "Thanks Russell for doing such a good job on the Victorian tiles."     Source: Victorian Tile Restoration Service in Lancashire

Heavily Soiled and Stained Sandstone Kitchen Tiles Cleaned and Sealed in Brockhall

Tiled floors are a popular choice for people with large household pets - particularly dogs. Compared to carpeted floor they are hard wearing and reasonably easy to keep clean, with the right methods. At this property near the Northamptonshire village of Brockhall, my customer's Sandstone tiled floor had been very badly stained thanks to her two large dogs - a problem exacerbated by the fact that the tiles had not been professionally cleaned or sealed for a very long time. If you have read Read more...

Annual Sandstone Patio Cleaning

As the summer slowly approaches thoughts turn to sorting out those outside areas ready for use again, so it's about this time of year I get asked to look at cleaning external tiled surfaces such as patio areas driveways. These external surfaces suffer from a heavily build-up of soils due to the general wear and tear caused by exposure to harsh weather conditions. We have all the high pressure equipment and fantastic results can be achieved by pressure washing in combination with quality Read more...

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Repairing Cracks in Travertine Kitchen Tiles

This Travertine tiled kitchen floor had been laid around five years previously in a house in Didsbury and now most of the sealer had worn down making the floor difficult to clean effectively. This resulted in the tiles looking continually dirty and a few of the tiles had cracked which you can Read more...

Large Sandstone Patio and Pool Area Cleaning

As the summer slowly approaches thoughts turn to sorting out those outside areas ready for use again, so it's about this time of year I get asked to look at cleaning external tiled surfaces such as patio areas driveways. These external surfaces suffer from a heavily build-up of soils due to the general wear and tear caused by exposure to harsh weather conditions. We have all the high pressure equipment and fantastic results can be achieved by pressure washing in combination with quality Read more...

Cracked Travertine Tiled Kitchen Floor Maintained in Didsbury

This Travertine tiled kitchen floor had been laid around five years previously in a house in Didsbury and now most of the sealer had worn down making the floor difficult to clean effectively. This resulted in the tiles looking continually dirty and a few of the tiles had cracked which you can see in the photograph below. Maintaining Travertine Tiles To start off with i scrubbed Tile Doctor Pro-Clean into all the grout lines with a stiff brush in order to get them as clean as possible Read more...

Large Sandstone Patio and Swimming Pool Area Cleaned in Brockhall

As the summer slowly approaches thoughts turn to sorting out those outside areas ready for use again, so it's about this time of year I get asked to look at cleaning external tiled surfaces such as patio areas driveways. These external surfaces suffer from a heavily build-up of soils due to the general wear and tear caused by exposure to harsh weather conditions. We have all the high pressure equipment and fantastic results can be achieved by pressure washing in combination with quality Read more...

How To Remove Laminate Flooring

Follow these simple steps to remove laminate flooring for repairs or to make room for a new floor.

What You'll Need

• Razor Floor Scraper (for concrete sub-floors)
• Wedge Scraper (for wood sub-floors)
• Flooring Compound
• Mallet
• Skill Saw (available for rental)

Precautionary Note

If your floor is older than 30 years, of if your house was built prior to 1977, have a contractor test for asbestos before you start removing the planks. A lot of older adhesives contained asbestos and/or lead. Breathing this can be dangerous.

Step 1 — Cut down the middle of each plank with the saw. This will help to break up any adhesive that may be difficult to remove.

Step 2 — Use your chisel and mallet to tap the planks out of place.

Step 3 — Use your razor floor scraper to remove any residual adhesive left on the concrete sub-flooring. Use the wedge scraper to do the same thing for the wood sub-flooring.

Step 4 — Fill in any cracks or dents using the flooring compound.

Your subfloor is now ready to install a new floor.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com

Original Marble Tiled Bathroom Floor Restored at a Hotel in Walkerburn

Windlestraw is a picturesque Edwardian manor hotel overlooking the Tweed Valley, near Walkerburn in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. One of the bathrooms in the manor was in the process of being refurbished when two layers of floor tiles were removed, unveiling an original Marble tiled floor dating back to the 1920s. After the top layers of tile had been removed the Marble was still covered in old adhesive and cement and although Marble is known for its quality and durability the Read more...

Refreshing Kitchen Wall Grout in an Edinburgh Kitchen

If you're looking to give your kitchen a face lift then read on as the following post details a very simple grout treatment that I think you will agree really refreshed the look of this kitchen in Edinburgh. In fact if you're thinking of selling your property this quick but effective grout treatment will really make your tiles look a lot more appealing. Normally to get grout clean we recommend a good scrub with Tile Doctor Pro-Clean however in some cases the staining cannot be removed Read more...

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9 Essential Laminate Flooring Tools

Chances are you already may have most, if not all of the laminate flooring tools you need to install or repair your laminate flooring. But if you are considering a flooring project, here’s a list of the most basic ones you’ll need to get it done right. Any tools on the list that you don’t have can also likely be rented for a lot less money than an outright purchase, if this is a one-off project.

Pry Bars

A good solid pry bar or flat bar is a good tool to have for many different types of household repairs. For laminate flooring, it’s used to remove decorative trim and molding from around the room.

Level

Another good tool to always have. A level will help you ensure that you lay the floor evenly. Houses aren’t perfect, and it’s often possible to be working with an area that just isn’t straight. The level will help you spot these areas before you lay down a potential eyesore.

Screwdrivers

You will need both a flat head and a phillip’s head screwdriver for installing or repairing any flooring. You can wedge a flat head under trim to loosen it, and if you have any trim that’s been attached with screws, the phillip’s head will aide you in removing those.

Miter Box

Chances are if you are installing laminate flooring you will need to cut corners and angles at some point. A miter box will help you create the angles without making mistakes. Miter boxes are another great tool to have in your home or tool shed for other repairs as well.

Belt Sander
A belt sander can come in handy for sanding down the sub-flooring. Even though laminate flooring is considered a floating floor, meaning it can be installed on top of any type of sub-floor, it’s best to have a smooth, even surface.

Spacers

Your home will actually react to the conditions and weather. Age and temperature can make walls expand and retract. Spacers are necessary for installing laminate flooring to account for these subtle fluctuations, because they allow expansion around the walls and other immovable objects.

Tapping Block

While a tapping block is not necessary to complete the project, it’s certainly useful. It's a tool designed to fit over the plank and allow you to tighten joints with gentle tapping. Without a tapping block, you may struggle to get the tongues of the planks to snap in correctly and with ease.

Installation Straps and Clamps

If you’ve purchased a kit, chances are that it has included these items, which are only needed if you use glue or other adhesive to hold the planks down. The clamps will keep the rows from shifting or moving while you install the flooring. The straps do the same thing, extending across the floor to keep everything tight and snug. They also help to prevent any shifting from occurring during installation.


Pencil or China Marker

While you are installing your floor you will be taking measurements throughout. You need to be able to mark holes and lines. China markers are non-permanent, so the lines can be cleaned up easily after installation. The same applies to pencils.

Source: www.DoItYourself.com