How to Clean Laminate Flooring

As much as laminate flooring has the same look as a hardwood floor, it doesn’t mean that they need to be cleaned in a similar way. The most suitable way of cleaning the laminate flooring is very different. This type of floor needs to be cared for in a special way. This is because, unlike hardwood, you can’t just refinish the surface when it’s damaged or stained. It can be very costly having to replace even a portion of your laminate flooring. So, it’s critical that you treat and care for your floors with a lot of care. Here’s how to clean and care for both new and older laminate floors:

1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions

The very first thing to do during the process of cleaning your laminate floor is to read the manufacturer’s instructions with a lot of care. Depending on the material used for your specific brand, there may be specific recommendations. Manufacturers mostly provide product guides which are rather detailed on their websites and give instructions on how to go about cleaning the laminate floors.

2. Deal with spills the moment they happen

Stains on laminate flooring result from spills that are left to stay too long on the floor and therefore become difficult to clean. To avoid your floor developing stains as a result of spills, ensure you tackle them as soon as they occur. Do this by wiping the spills immediately. Laminate floors don’t really do well with liquids and it’s necessary to minimize how much they’re exposed to the liquids.

3. Clean with soft tools

Laminate flooring can get scratched as a result of cleaning if enough care isn’t taken. To avoid scratching your floor, sweep debris up using a dust mop or a soft-bristle broom. When vacuuming the floor ensure you use an attachment without a rotating brush or beater to avoid inflicting scratches.

4. Never use too much water

Laminate floors should never be mopped the traditional way because of the use of too much water. The water can damage the floors by seeping into the seams. However, by using a microfibre that has been slightly dampened, you can clean the floors.

5. Avoid using regular cleaning products

Avoid using regular cleaning products as they can leave residue and streaks on the floor and can also cause damage to the floor’s protective sealant. You may use a laminate cleaner but do it sparingly. Also, don’t apply the cleaner directly to the floor but rather to the microfibre cloth or mop. Polishes or wax should also never be used on these floors.

6. Use common household items for cleaning tough stains

Right in the house, you’ll be able to find the solution to removing tough stains on the laminate flooring. These stains include candle wax or ink. To the candle wax or chewing gum, apply a plastic bag containing ice. Then, use a plastic knife, credit card or scrapper once the stains have hardened. Rubbing alcohol can also be helpful for dealing with ink, tackle paint, crayon and nail polish.

7. Protect the floor surface

The laminate flooring surface should be protected from developing scratches and other forms of damage using appropriate means. It’s a great idea to add furniture pads under table and chair legs. This is very necessary if you frequently move the furniture. A great wear to prevent wear and tear, floor rugs and mats can be placed on the floor, especially at the entrances.

source http://www.qcflooring.co.uk/how-to-clean-laminate-flooring/

Tips to help keep your carpet clean

There’s a whole of difference you can give to your home by ensuring that your carpets are always clean. Cleanliness of the carpets means they’ll smell and look good and generally, the ambience of the home will just be nicer. So, for any homeowner who loves their property and loves cleanliness, keeping the carpets fresh and bright is of great importance. If you’re looking for ways to help you ensure that you keep your carpets clean, here are 8 tips to aid you:

1. Allow no shoes in the house

If you have to ensure that your carpets stay clean, you must get every potential source of dirt out of the room. So, let everyone coming into the house get off their shoes before coming it. This should be the case for both family and visitors. Shoes being worn in the house are a source of mess and dirt. The no shoes policy will also protect your carpets from damage.

2. Add some Protection to the Carpet

By adding a presentable rug to your house in an area that experiences a lot of footfall, you’re making them stay clean. Though the rug will also require cleaning, it’s nothing compared to carrying out a deep clean of the whole carpet. Chair mats are also great for protecting the carpet from the legs of the chairs.

3. Vacuum Well and Regularly

For keeping the carpet clean for longer, regular vacuuming’s the simple way to go. But vacuuming thrice a week, you’ll begin to see a huge difference in the cleanliness of your carpet. When you vacuum regularly, dirt is picked and up and stopped from being trodden in. A tip for effective vacuuming’s to go slowly. Places with higher foot traffic should be vacuumed much slowly.

4. Before Vacuuming, Use Baking Soda

Appearing clean isn’t enough for your carpet; you also have to ensure that it has a clean nice smell as well. A great tip to help keep the carpet smelling fresh for longer periods is by sprinkling baking soda before vacuuming’s done. To do this, sprinkle the baking soda lightly and let it settle for a couple of minutes before you begin to vacuum in the normal way.

5. Ensure you Replace Filters and Bags Regularly

Keeping your vacuum itself in a perfect working state also contributes to keeping the carpets clean for longer periods. This should be the case with every type of vacuum, whether it’s a traditional, bag, upright or canister model. Ensure that the bag or filtered is changed regularly. Without this, it could lose suction and end up not picking up dirt effectively.

6. Carry out Deep Cleaning Two Times a Year

For keeping your carpet clean and protected like no other, proper deep cleaning is the best option. Don’t make it a habit to wait until the carpet clearly appears clean for you to have it deep cleaned. Plan to have your carpet deep cleaned twice every year. If you’re a DIY person, you can hire a deep cleaner. Alternatively, you can call in a professional to do it for you.

7. Deal with Stains the Moment they Occur

As a stain stays longer, it becomes harder to remove. It’s therefore, advisable to deal with stains and spills as soon as they occur. And the best way to deal with it is to blot it out and not by scrubbing.

8. Have an emergency kit close by.

There are certain items that you need to keep close by for cleaning stains that occur on an emergency. You should include commercial stain remover, club soda for the beer or wine pills, shaving cream, ice cubes for chewing gums, hydrogen peroxide and dishwasher detergent.

source http://www.qcflooring.co.uk/tips-to-help-keep-your-carpet-clean/

How to choose wood flooring

Wood flooring is a beautiful feature to add to any home. By choosing hardwood flooring, you’re investing hugely in your home. Yes, their initial cost is relatively higher than that of the other alternatives; this shouldn’t a hindrance as they’ll prove worth the investment as time goes by. When properly taken care of, these floors can last a lifetime. It, therefore, calls for you to take a whole lot of factors into consideration before you finally decide to make a choice. It’s not simply deciding on the colour of the wood and nothing else. Presently, these flooring options are completely customizable. To help you make the decision, take the following into consideration:

1. The Wood Type

There’s a wide variety of wood species that you can choose from. Each of them has a different hardness and grain. Maples, cherries and oaks are the most common types of wood flooring due to their hardness. They’re very sturdy and can withstand a lot of harshnesses put on them in terms of use. Exotic woods like Brazilian cherry and mahogany have an incredible look but aren’t as durable.

2. The Colour

Wood flooring colours vary depending on the wood type chosen and the finish is done on the wood. There’s everything from black to luscious cherry colour to brilliant blond floors. Staining on wood floors can be done to achieve nearly any colour.

3. The Hardness

Those who have children and pets will need to invest in a flooring option that’s as hard as possible like the red oak floor. The wood species has the capacity to withstand wear and tear far much better than pine floors; softwood that often easily scratches.

4. Engineered or Solid wood

Today, there’s an option of engineered wood for flooring. Basically speaking, these come as thinner wood planks that have a hardwood layer that’s bonded to other composite layers. In solid wood flooring, there’re solid wood planks. Each of these two options has both advantages and disadvantages. These are:
• Sand scratching out of engineered wood isn’t possible because the top layer is way too thin.

• Engineered wood can be glued directly to concrete. Solid wood floors, on the other hand, are often installed on a layer or layers plywood. This makes it likely possible that the solid wood floors can interfere with baseboards or doors.

• The design of engineered wood ensures it prevents shifting and warping.

• Solid wood shouldn’t be used on floors that are underground because moisture from the ground can cause problems.

5. Width of Board

The different types of boards that are available make it possible to do a lot with wood floors. For a more traditional appearance, there are narrow strips that are less than 3 inches in width. Wider planks, on the other hand, have a rusty appearance causing a space to look more open. Geometric designs like rectangles and squares can also be used to make a place appear more formal.

6. The Texture

Whether you’re looking for a floor that looks rustic and lived in or shiny and brand new, you have the option of hand scraping the wood. This gives it an appearance that’s timeworn. This makes a floor to look incredible and allows one to disguise heavy use with time.

7. The Finish

The finish of the wood is its source of colour and protection. You have the option of either finishing the wood on site or buying a prefinished one. Prefinished wood often lasts longer. The site finishes give more options to choose from. Prefinished wood is also easier to replace in case of damages.

source http://www.qcflooring.co.uk/how-to-choose-wood-flooring/

What is luxury vinyl tile flooring?

Luxury vinyl tiling is a flooring solution that serves as an alternative to other flooring solutions such as stone and wood. Though it’s different from other hard flooring surfaces like vinyl composite tile or laminate, a lot of people find it difficult to tell the difference which is very clear in the aesthetics. It’s quite an innovative flooring design that’s continuously becoming affordable and popular than the other hard surface flooring solutions. It has a realistic look of ceramic, wood or stone tile that’s very resilient to wear and tear and truly hard wearing. It can be used in any room in the house as it’s waterproof and resistant to scratches. Its structure is composed of multiple thin layers ensuring that the flooring is easy to maintain and quite durable but also flexible.

 

Another exciting thing about luxury vinyl tiling is that can be found in various effects. For instance, there are effects such as ceramic tiles, wood planks or even stone. Wood plank effect luxury vinyl tile flooring takes the form and shape of a plank of wood. It’s available with various wood species, grain patterns and colours all looking very authentic and realistic. To suit every décor and requirements for rooms, the wood plank effects are available in various lengths and widths of planks. The tile and stone effect is also very realistic. They’re available in tiles that are uninformed sized as well as style and colour choices like beige, cream and grey slate effect tiles.

 

Luxury Vinyl tiling is increasingly becoming popular among homeowners because of its ability to transform a home with hardwearing an authentic floor. It lacks the downsides and drawbacks that often come with natural products.

 

How Luxury Vinyl Tiling is made

Every brand of luxury vinyl tile floor is created and designed in a slightly unique way. However, in general terms, multiple layers are often compressed together to come up with a floor covering that’s durable, waterproof and high quality. These kinds of flooring in most cases have averagely not less than 5 layers to ensure the floor remains thin and flexible but still waterproof, durable and strong. The layer at the top is a protective coating with built-in technology for stain guarding and scratch resistance. Under this is a layer with a detailed design of a high definition photograph. It’s very high quality so as to give the authentic and realistic appearance of natural products. The design layer takes the picture of flooring style; either stone or wood. The rest of the layers are made of stabilizing fibreglass sheets, core layers resistant to impacts and backing layers for moisture resistance. The layers prevent any disfiguration or warping of the tiles. At the time of manufacture, a system of interlocking click fitting is added to the tiles to make their installation straightforward and easy.

 

 

Rooms where Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring can be used

This flooring solution is suited for any room in the house. Because of its durability and robustness, it’s a great choice for areas that are busy, including living spaces and halls. Due to its ability to reduce sound, it’s the best choice for rooms such as studies, bedroom and nurseries. These tiles are also waterproof, making them suitable for installation in rooms with a lot of water like kitchens, utility rooms, bathrooms as well as porch areas. It can also be fitted into orangeries, conservatories and underfloor heating systems since they’re able to cope with temperature fluctuations and humidity.

 

Conclusion

In general, luxury vinyl tiling is a resilient and versatile flooring solution with an additional benefit of having the look of natural products. It’s usable in any room in the house and has the ability to add character, charm and warmth.

source http://www.qcflooring.co.uk/what-is-luxury-vinyl-tile-flooring/

What is Vinyl Flooring and how can it improve my home?

We are lucky to have a guest post written for us by Abbott Flooring, they go into the details of why vinyl flooring is so important to have in the house.

Vinyl flooring is a flooring solution that’s one of the most recent and more resilient the market. Flooring types that are considered resilient are those that are simply artificial and composite in nature. Such floors include plastic, rubber PVC, linoleum and vinyl. Of course, in this category, vinyl is the most recent addition as we’ve noted. These products for the floors are produced in many regions of the world. Vinyl tends to cost less, versatile, water and stain-resistant and relatively much more durable than the other flooring solutions. They’ve gained popularity for these qualities and are more commonly preferred for bathrooms and kitchens. Over the years since their inception and use in home design, they’ve become more economical and attractive.

How Vinyl Can Improve Your Home

If you’ve been wondering whether to consider vinyl flooring as a solution for your flooring needs, the following are the reasons you should opt for it if you want to improve your home:

How comfortable is vinyl?

Comfort underfoot is a very important aspect to consider whenever you’re looking to install a flooring solution in your house. With the wide range of solutions available, you need to make informed choices to achieve your goal. Vinyl flooring is one such solution for making your floor more comfortable. Compared to ceramic tiles or wood, vinyl feels softer on your underfoot and doesn’t get cold in the winter. Vinyl tiles and sheet may have an underlayer that’s padded to make walking on them more comfortable.

Is vinyl high maintenance?

Floor maintenance can be quite a hassle if you don’t select the best option of flooring. Taking care of vinyl floors is very easy. All is needed for maintaining the floor surface is to ensure that dirt and grit are swept and kept from being on the floor at all times. After sweeping the dirt and grit, stains can then be removed by using an approved cleaner for vinyl floors and a damp mop.

Will vinyl fit into my budget?

The average costs of a square foot of vinyl flooring often don’t exceed the cost levels for flooring solutions. Even materials that are high-end premium cost averagely less than the other choices of flooring options like stones. The price differences for products of vinyl are determined by material quality and the surface design options.

But is vinyl resistant to water?

Vinyl is the perfect material for use in the kitchen, bathroom or other spaces in the home that experience high moisture like the laundry room. This is because vinyl is nearly impervious to penetration of water if properly installed.

How difficult is vinyl to fit?

After ensuring that you have a subfloor level that’s completely dry, it’s relatively easy to install vinyl flooring. This means that you can install your floor by yourself having had the subfloor done by a professional.

How durable is vinyl?

Vinyl can make the floor of your home very durable if installed and maintained in a proper way. They’ll last for up to 10 to 20 years. This is, however, determined by the quality of material from which it’s made from and the way it was manufactured.

Is vinyl stain resistant?

Having flooring that has the ability to be resistant to stains is a great way to improve your home. Vinyl sheets and tiles that are printed a wear layer that protects the floor from spills and stains. This makes the vinyl flooring easy to clean and maintain.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve known what vinyl flooring is and how it can improve your home, it’s time to install it in your home to begin reaping the above benefits. You’ll definitely be thankful that you opted for them over the other materials available. Why not contact us today to arrange a consultation.

source http://www.qcflooring.co.uk/how-vinyl-flooring-can-improve-your-home/

What is laminate flooring and what can it bring to your home?

Originally, laminate flooring was a type of flooring solution that was mainly for commercial purposes. However, this type of flooring material has become a stable for a large number of homes. This is due to the fact that it has a better appearance, better performance and feels much better under the foot than when it was originally introduced. So, to the definition; laminate flooring is a floor covering of a hybrid nature and is made from particleboard wood. It can be installed just like real hardwood since its boards are joined together.
Benefits of Laminate Flooring to Your Home

Now that we know what laminate flooring is and what it’s made of, let’s go deeper to look at things that it has the capacity to add to your home. The following are the benefits of this floor type to your home:

 

1. They are Easy and Fast to Install

The installation of laminate floors is fast and easy. Older laminate floor types required that the pieces are glued together. However, the types available today are easy to install as they feature fold/ lock or click/ lock design. This latest design allows a homeowner to fit planks easily just like the pieces of a puzzle. This feature makes them one of the materials for the floor that can be installed quite fast. What makes them easy to install if the fact that the planks are made from particleboard that’s very soft. Hence, they can easily be cut using a utility knife or a hand saw. Due to the ease and fastness in their installation, the cost incurred as a result of the installation is quite low.

 

2. They are Easy to Clean

Most flooring materials require an elaborate way of cleaning to ensure that they stay clean. The laminate floors, on the other hand, are exceptionally easy to clean. You won’t have to spend a lot of money looking for specialized materials and products to clean the laminate floors. All you need is a broom or a simple vacuum cleaner. They can be mopped with a laminate floor cleaner or a slightly damp mop. You don’t need to do floor waxing to clean them.

 

3. Can be installed in Semi-Moist Areas

This type of floor can be installed in semi-moist areas of the house such as kitchens, powder rooms and other places where there’s likely to be amounts of moisture. They have the ability to resist the moisture as long as the boards leave no avenue for it as they are installed tight together.

 

4. They are Durable and Easy to Maintain

Wood can dent, unlike laminate flooring which nearly impervious to scratches and dents. They have a layer known as the wear layer that protects the layer known as the photographic layer. They can, therefore, resist stains but if they do get stained, cleaning it off is very easy.

 

5. They have High Aesthetic Value

Laminate flooring has no defects. Each and every board that constitutes it is consistent in terms of appearance and quality. They can reproduce the look of stone, wood and other such natural materials. This makes it one of the flooring solutions with the highest aesthetic values.

 

6. They offer a high level of functionality

Without an underlayment, laminate floors can feel rather hard. However, most of them are installed inclusive of an underlayment. This feature makes them easier to stand on for long periods without feeling uncomfortable.

 

Conclusion

If you’ve never known the benefits you’d gain by installing laminate flooring at your home, then it’s great that you’ve just come across this blog. This flooring has the ability to bring all the above good to your house. Try it out and live to tell the benefits you get.

source http://www.qcflooring.co.uk/what-is-laminate-flooring-and-what-can-it-bring-to-your-home/

The benefits of Vinyl Flooring

There are many options for flooring in the market today, making it almost always difficult to settle for the most appropriate for your home in all aspects. However, when you know what you’re really looking for, the options shrink and become fewer. This is because there are some that are quite unique to themselves in all aspects. One option that stands out from the rest is vinyl flooring. In the recent years, a lot of people have made vinyl their number one flooring solution due to a wide range of reasons. These reasons are the main benefits offered by this flooring solution. They are as follows:

1. Long-lasting and Adaptable

Durable is most likely the first and the most important benefit that people get from vinyl flooring. With the correct way of installation, they can last for extended periods of time without requiring a lot of maintenance. Due to its ability to withstand very high foot traffic and high resistance to stains, they are recommended for large families and homes that have kids.

2. Versatility

The range of available options is another important benefit of vinyl flooring. They come in a variety of designs and colours. Depending on your preference and the décor of your home, you can opt for the most suitable colour and design. They can also be made to look like other flooring options like tile, hardwood and natural stone. In terms of texture, you can get non-slip options and smooth among others. Depending on the look of floor you want, you can choose tile vinyl and sheet vinyl.

3. Ease of Cleaning

Vinyl flooring is considered to be very hygienic and is easy to clean. This is another top reason why people choose vinyl. They don’t stain easily and have resistance to water. Any kind of sanitizer can be used to clean the vinyl flooring without causing any damage to it. In terms of hygiene, these floors have no room for the setting of bacterial germs. They are also safe for those with any kind of allergy. This also means that kids can play on this floor without risking being attacked by germs.

4. Ease of Installation

Vinyl flooring is easy to clean since it’s available in both sheets and planks. These two options come in stick and peel method and this makes them an easy task for homeowners as it can be done by self.

5. Cost-Effectiveness

When compared to other types of flooring available, vinyl flooring is a cheaper option. Since they can mimic the other flooring types like stone, wood or tile, they help in cost-saving and maintenance. It’s also an economical flooring option because it’s not easily damaged and is very durable and hence won’t need frequent replacement.

6. Comfortability

Due to their resilient nature as a flooring solution, it’s comfortable on the feet and one can walk around on the flooring for long periods without getting their feet hurt. This makes vinyl good flooring solution for the kitchen where one needs to cook while standing or walking around for hours.

7. Moisture Resistance

Vinyl is one of the moisture resistant materials for floors. It can be installed in rooms where moisture can be retained like the kitchen and the bathroom.

Conclusion

You’re not likely to go wrong with vinyl flooring as it has a lot of benefits as we’ve seen here. When you try to compare it with the other solutions of flooring, it’s very likely that it will emerge as the best option.

source http://www.qcflooring.co.uk/the-benefits-of-vinyl-flooring/