Flooring

Urban myths seem to arise about almost anything. These are the things someone says with complete confidence in a bar or has read from some ‘fake news’ site on the internet. The myths gain credence simply by repetition, even if they usually bear little or no relation to the truth. 

This is certainly true when the subject turns to Grand Provincial or engineered oak flooring. So, here are four ‘truths’ people have heard about this terrific product which actually aren’t true…

‘The finished surface doesn’t look as good if it’s engineered’

The truth is that, as described below, the surface layer is constructed of genuine oak hardwood, giving exactly the stylish appearance you would expect from an oak product. In fact, most folk would look at the finished floor and simply not know the difference. They would be admiring a terrific product though!

‘They don’t use real hardwood for engineered oak flooring’

This often leads to a belief that all of the floorboard is constructed using engineered materials. That is the case only for the inner core, which is made of high-density wood layers. However, the veneer that tops the finished product is genuine premium oak hardwood. 

‘An engineered floor won’t last as long as solid wood’

The construction process, as mentioned above, combines the durable hardwood real oak veneer with an engineered timber core featuring multiple layers. This process means that engineered oak flooring is recognised as being more stable and better able to withstand moisture than if you were simply to use a single piece of hardwood. As a customer once cheerfully said of their new engineered flooring: ‘Well it’ll certainly last longer than me’. 

‘I won’t be able to sand an engineered surface when I want to’

The newly-installed floor should put this thought way at the back of anyone’s mind. However, as the years’ pass, if such a process is considered, then the truth of this statement is certainly open to question. In fact, a quality engineered oak floor will have delivered enough thickness in the surface layer for this to be able to be sanded back and then refinished on more than one occasion if you wish. And that’s surely a fair number of years into the future.

So many people across Australia now hugely appreciate the resilience and style of engineered and Grand Provincial oak flooring. Yet, sadly, some of those myths still hang desperately on. At least, now, you know better!

Your flooring is one of the most expensive parts of decorating your home. However, when you consider how much wear and tear your floor takes, and how much its style influences the rest of your home, it’s an investment you want to get right from the start.

There are so many choices when it comes to your floor, with more being invented every day, like hybrid flooring for example. Hybrid flooring is a composite of multiple layers of vinyl and laminate pressed together. This combination creates a floor you’ll love in your home because:

1. It looks great. You can choose a great range of colours and finishes in hybrid flooring to suit your style. For example, you can have a timber-look floor which runs right from your living areas to your wet areas and to your bedrooms.
2. It’s hardwearing. The combination of vinyl and laminate makes hybrid flooring very strong in any situation. Therefore, if you have kids, pets or just a partner who tends to walk around the house in their work boots, you don’t have to worry about your beautiful floor being scratched or damaged.
3. It’s waterproof. You really can use hybrid flooring throughout your home, including in the wet areas. Not only do you not have to worry about spills in the kitchen or a knocked over dog bowl ruining the finish of your floor, but you can also have a sleek and stylish floor in your bathrooms and laundry.
4. It’s easy to maintain. Look for hybrid flooring which has a lifetime warranty, as this means the manufacturer is ready to stand behind their floor’s durability. In the time you have your hybrid floor you won’t have to worry about sanding it back or doing any expensive or time-consuming waxing or polishing to keep it looking new.
5. It’s easy to clean. You don’t have to get down on your hands and knees to scrub at grout as you would with tiles, and you don’t need a specialised wooden cleaning product or steam mop as you do with floorboards. All you need is a standard mop and bucket and you can quickly keep on top of a clean floor.

Wooden floorboards are a beautiful feature in any home. Unfortunately, they can wear easily and require ongoing maintenance to look their best. Therefore, if you are looking at your wooden floorboards and thinking they’re looking a bit tired, consider these few tips before you break out the sander and bucket of stain:

• Stain or polish? Staining your timber floors requires a lot of sanding and preparation work, which may not actually be necessary. If you are happy with the colour of your wooden floorboards, you may be able to just polish the timber to brighten up the look. You can choose a polish in a matte or gloss finish depending on the finish you want.

• Staining can accentuate flaws in timber floors. This can be a problem with any scratches or dents, in particular, if you intend to sand the floorboards yourself. Stain contains large pigments of colour which lodge in gouges and depressions in the timber. The stain then appears darker in these areas, drawing the eye.

• What type of timber are your floorboards? Some types of timber make it very difficult to obtain an even stain. For example, timber floors of maple, birch, pine or fir are tight-grained, with very small pores. This means the fibres in the timber’s pore walls varies dramatically, leading to an uneven finish when stained. Pine or fit timber floors can also contain sap or resin which will resist the stain and make the finish look mottled.

• Do you know the right amount of stain? The stain is applied to a timber floor by rubbing it on and then wiping it off. There is a finite amount of stain your timber floors will absorb no matter how much stain you keep applying. If you do happen to apply more stain than the timber can take, you will see bleed back, where the stain will return to the surface of the timber when the solvent starts to evaporate. Bleed back can also seep up from in between the boards after they have been sealed.

• Do you have the time? Not only is the preparation and staining labour intensive, but the drying process also can’t be rushed. You will need to leave your stain to dry for at least 48 hours, but preferably 72 hours. The timber flooring stain dries as the solvent evaporates, so it will dry best with some windows open. You’ll then want to apply two to three coats of a clear protectant on top and wait for that to cure. So you should allow at least a week before you can move your furniture and family back in.

There are plenty of reasons why you would want to have vinyl floors in your home. They’re cost-effective, look great, and they’re comfortable to walk on, too. They’re also durable, and with only a little bit of maintenance, can stay looking as good as new for many years to come. However, even though they’re not considered to need much work, it’s not as if you can ignore the cleaning aspect. Everything can get dirty! If you need to know how to keep your vinyl floor clean, then take a read below. 

Entrance Mats

It’s a lot easier to keep your floor clean if you’re limiting how dirty it can become in the first place. While some dirt will materialize no matter what you do, most of it is within your control. That’s because a lot of the dirt is walked in from other places, most notably outside. If you have a mat at the entrance to your home (or wherever you have vinyl flooring), then you’ll be able to wipe your feet off the dirt that you’d otherwise bring inside. Simple and effective!

Sweep you vinyl floor daily

We know that time is at a premium in the modern age, but everyone has the time for a few minutes of brushing. Keep a broom handy, and make a habit of sweeping up when you have a moment to yourself. Just 2-3 minutes of brushing a day will keep your floor in better condition! Don’t overthink it, just do it. If you’re on the phone to your friend, or chatting with your family about their day, what difference does it make if you’re sat down or if you’re wandering the room with a brush in your hand? 

Mop up Spills Straight Away

Accidents happen, no matter how careful you might be. While those little drops of coffee and wine won’t do any harm instantly, they’ll reduce the quality of the floor if they’re not allowed to sink into the flooring. As such, make a habit of clearing away any spills as soon as they happen. It’ll take all of two minutes to pick up the mess and clean the floor, and once you’ve finished it’ll be like nothing has happened. Be on extra alert if you’re having a party — it’s easy to think “I’ll do that tomorrow” but better to take care of it straight away.

Find the Right Cleaner for your vinyl floor

Those daily sweeping sessions will help to keep your vinyl flooring in good condition, but to keep it looking as new, you’ll want to engage in some deeper cleaning. For this, you’ll need to find the right cleaning products. It’s best to get one that’s specifically designed for vinyl flooring, especially if yours is made of no-wax vinyl. 

What to avoid

So what’s what you should do, but what about what you shouldn’t be doing? Don’t scrub too hard, or invest in heavy furniture with rollers — they won’t dirty up the place, but they will leave scratches, which will decrease the look no matter how clean it is. 

Comparing Laminate and Hardwood Flooring

It can be difficult to make strong flooring decisions at times. That’s due to the fact that choices in floors are rather plentiful in this day and age. It can be tough to pick between grey ironbark vs spotted gum offerings. It can be equally tough to pick between laminate flooring vs hardwood flooring in general as well. It doesn’t matter if you have your sights set on timber look laminate flooring, laminated timber flooring, classic hardwood or anything else. You need to meticulously and thoroughly assess the positives and the negatives of all of the flooring choices that are right in front of you.

Reasons to Consider the Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring prices are often pretty economical. If you’re searching for flooring that doesn’t cost a lot to install at all, then laminate may be up your alley. Hardwood flooring installation rates tend to be markedly steeper.

It’s crucial to try to invest in flooring that’s resilient and that can successfully stand the test of time. You don’t want to waste your wherewithal on flooring that’s weak and feeble and that will deteriorate rapidly, after all. It’s critical to assess laminate floorboards and how powerful they are with significant detail. The positive news is on hand for people who have penchants for the laminate route, however. Laminate consists of wood that’s pressed. That’s the reason that it’s much tougher than hardwood is. It has the ability to withstand general deterioration. It even has the ability to withstand moisture contact and scraping. If you want to maintain flooring that isn’t an eyesore, then laminate may be in the cards for you.

You should also think at length about any and all upkeep requirements. Routine cleaning sessions for laminate flooring generally are a piece of cake. Cleaning floors that are made using laminate tends to be a straightforward thing. If you want your cleaning sessions to be brief and devoid of much frustration, then laminate may be optimal for you. If you want to pick the ideal floor for your space, you should think about everything. Analyze laminate floorboards and how they appear to you. Analyze laminate flooring prices. Think about laminated timber flooring and how it appears in conjunction with the rest of your interior design scheme at the moment.

Reasons to Think About the Hardwood Flooring Path

Problems can always pop up with flooring. They’re in many situations totally inevitable. Fixing hardwood flooring isn’t usually too complex. If you need to repair hardwood flooring, you don’t usually have to panic. Sanding flaws tends to work like a charm. Refinishing work can in many situations do away with hardwood floor troubles that emerge. Hardwood flooring tends to stand the test of time. It often surpasses laminate flooring as far as longevity goes. People typically do not have to replace it as frequently.

A timber floor can be notable for one major reason. It can have an aesthetic appeal that’s out of this world. If you have a fondness for flooring that’s especially striking, then you may not be able to resist the wonders of hardwood options that are out there for you. Timber floorboards can come in handy for people who are enthusiastic about interior spaces that are cozy and welcoming. If you want to infuse your living room or bedroom with an authentic toasty vibe, then you may be hard-pressed to come up with flooring options that can even hold a candle to timber floor offerings. Timber floorboards can deliver a rare yet intriguing vibe of snugness to your interior design scheme.