How many times have you wished your floor was shinier, a different color, or just different in general? Today’s flooring products come in such a wide variety of styles, colors, and price ranges that a little work could result in just what you’ve been thinking. Read on for seven ways you can improve or change the flooring in your home today.
1. Give your hardwood floors a finishing treatment. For homes that already have hardwood floors installed, a hardwood flooring expert can work wonders with sanding and staining techniques to cover water damage, stains, and other issues on older hardwood floors. . Once the floors are completely sanded and stained, you should apply 3 coats of polyurethane to provide a strong, durable finish. It is your preference of choice of gloss finish, the most popular being semi-gloss, your other options are gloss and satin finishes as well. Current technology offers two polyurethane options, oil-based and water-based.
Water based will not yellow. Therefore, the color of the stain remains faithful. Oil-based will yellow and tint the overall color effect. Many prefer the water-based one due to the absence of bothersome fumes at the time of application, the low risk of combustion, as well as the shorter drying time. Oil-based products generally reach full hardness sooner than water-based products. If time is an issue, this can be convincing.
2. Install new carpet. This option is popular because it’s easy, and the rug comes in so many colors, patterns, and levels of quality that you’re sure to find something that meets your needs. However, stay away from “in” colors if you think you’ll sell your home in the next few years, as many people want a home that’s ready to move into, with no added expense for new carpet.
3. Research your ceramic tile options. Tiles are durable and easy to clean, which makes sense for bathroom and kitchen areas. Ceramic is an interesting option that allows you to get a high-end look at a very reasonable price. Check your building supply houses and big box stores for deals on high-traffic tile; You will be surprised at the great buys available in the price range of 0.80 to 0.99 cents per square foot. There are five grades assigned to floor tiles, the grades are in Roman numerals with Grade I being the lowest and V being the highest. Grade III tiles are perfect for residential applications in kitchens and entry areas that receive considerable traffic, Grade II can be used where light traffic is expected, such as bathroom floors. Grades IV and V are used primarily in commercial applications.
3. Install Pergo or one of the other brands of laminated wood products. These types of flooring look great and are easy to install on your own. Choose from a variety of colors and styles, and save big on flooring that has a great wood look for a fraction of the cost.
5. Get creative and use special paints and stencils to create designs on your floor. This works especially well in a child’s room, a garden room or the kitchen. Paint a “mat” in front of your kitchen sink in a bold color-coordinated pattern to add a whimsical touch, or get down to concrete and stain your floors for a modern, industrial look.
6. Get really crafty and use brown kraft paper for a faux fur look. This rustic version of the floor is easily achieved in the following way. Using paints made for floors, shred thick brown kraft paper and dip it into the paint, then stamp your floors. This method works best when done in darker shades of brown paint, with a satin-finish protective varnish applied afterwards.
7. Install one of the new types of glue-free vinyl sheet flooring. This flooring comes in a variety of great styles and patterns, making it one of the easiest options for transforming a room.
Whether you want an artistic look or sophistication, follow the tips above to transform your old-looking floors and you’ll be amazed at the results.