Find a Hardwood Flooring Contractor

The great thing about having hardwood floors in your home is that they can be brought back to life after years of service. Carpeting, linoleum, natural stone - they all need to be replaced if there are rips and tears, stains, chips and gouges. Replacing these other products can be expensive and it's not environmentally friendly, either. But wood flooring is different. Just about every type of hardwood floor can be resurfaced to remove just about any deep scratch or surface stains.

First, it's important to make sure that you really do have a hardwood floor. An engineered or veneer surface wood floor may be too thin to resurface as they usually have about an 1/8" surface of wood on top of particle boards. Check a small section, near a furnace grate or by pulling up the edging near a door.

Next, you need to consider whether you'll do this project yourself or hire a company to resurface the wood for you. You'll need to clear and prep the room, remove exposed nails or carpet tacks, and rent a sanding machine, an edging sander, and a floor buffer. The project should take you one to three days, depending on the size and complexity of the room. There are also hardwood floor resurfacing companies that will do the work for you.

Finally, you'll need to choose the type of finish you want on your new floors. You can go with either a water-based polyurethane or an oil-based product.

Water-based Polyurethane:

• No-to-low Odor


• Dries Quickly


• Requires More Coats Than Oil


• Higher Cost


• Easy to Clean Tools


• Has No Yellowing or Amber Tint

Oil-based Polyurethane:

• Requires Fewer Coats


• Takes Longer to Dry (6-12 Hours)


• Strong Odor


• Lower Cost


• Adds Rich Amber Glow

So, if you've got quality hardwoods under your carpet or need to refresh the look of your wood floor, consider resurfacing instead of replacing. And, if you don't want to do the project yourself, you can find quality resurfacing companies with us, at Construction Deal. We've got a network of flooring contractors who will bid on your job. It's a fast, free and easy way to find a pro!

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Labels: Flooring Companies, Hardwood Flooring, Resurfacing

Tell people you're installing a laminate floor in your home and many might actually turn up their nose. While there's definitely a stigma attached to laminate flooring, most don't realize that there are some really great options out there in laminates that are not only durable but good looking.

A laminate floor can be the perfect choice for a heavily-trafficked area or in homes with kids and pets. But it goes beyond being able to stand up to a lot of wear and tear. Laminates can have a look of real wood, with wood grains on the surface, or even the look of a natural stone.

Advantages of Laminate Flooring

• Hard to stain, scratch or wear down
• Perfect to help reduce allergens in the home
• Very low maintenance required
• Less expensive than real hardwood or stone floors
• Easy to install
• May come with a warranty

There are some disadvantages to laminates but, as with any flooring material option, it depends on the situation and the application. For example, you don't want to install a laminate in the bathroom or any "wet" household area. The surface resists water, but it's not good to get water around the edging of the laminate where it can get under the surface and cause problems.

In the past, many have complained of a hollow knock or tapping sound when they walk on their laminate flooring. Today, the problem has been solved by adding an insulation barrier under the laminate to prevent this. It can be similar to adding a pad under a carpet. Cork padding usually works best to help eliminate any noise problems.

If you're looking to install a laminate floor in your home, post your project with Construction Deal. We'll match you to local Flooring Contractors to help with the installation. It's free to use the service and you'll save time and money in the process.

Labels: Flooring Installation, Flooring Options, Laminate Flooring

From Yahoo! Finance - "NEW YORK, Jan. 9 -- Positive U.S. economic trends coupled with easy-to-install options have spurred growth in the laminate and vinyl flooring industry, with the market increasing nearly 8% from 2001- 2005 and the supply value topping $3 billion in 2005. As the remodeling boom continues, the market should see healthy gains, exceeding $4 billion by 2010, according to Laminate and Vinyl Flooring in the U.S., a new report from market research publisher SBI."

"SBI's findings show double-digit growth from 2001 to 2005 in the laminate sector, which has found favor with homeowners seeking a wood-flooring look at a budget price. The advent of glue-less, interlocking floors will help laminates grow from $1.2 billion in 2005 to more than $1.9 billion in 2010. Although vinyl flooring still dominates with almost a two-thirds share of the combined market, SBI expects the vinyl sector to grow more slowly than laminate flooring to reach $2.4 billion by 2010."

"'Consumer tastes are changing with a preference towards exotic-looking, hand-scraped, and rustic species laminates.'"

Labels: Flooring News, Flooring Options, Laminate Flooring

Labels: Flooring Installation, Flooring Options, Hardwood Flooring