Posted at 12:23 PM in Bamboo, Flooring, Hardwood, Sale | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Now a days, people seem to have one room in their house devoted specifically to a home office. But what does that mean? Is it a room where the computer is or is it where the kids to their homework? Is it a place to do crafts or is it truly a home office because you telecommute? Whatever your office's function is, it doesn't have to just be a place where you play on the computer or where you work on scrapbooks. Your office could be made to fit the rest of the decor in your house to be contemporary, modern, or traditional.
Do you need more storage space? Add some woven baskets. Not only do they look good, they're a great way to hide some of that extra stuff you have lying around. We use baskets on a book shelf and they hold games, sewing supplies, and old CDs. Plus, they match the colors on our couch. Are there a couple of school aged kids in your house? Try a long desk against a wall where two can work simultaneously. Do you use a rolling chair to get from your desk to your filing cabinet 72 times a day? Consider putting down a bamboo floor for easy rolling and a zen like atmosphere.
The reason that this thought popped into my head is because I was on HGTV.com this morning looking for ideas to freshen up our office. Some of the ideas were really great. If it would fit our decor (and budget!) here are a few that I would love to have.
Lots of Surface Space <---Plus, I couldn't resist this one because all I could image was Cherry Butcher Block as the counter!
What would be some of the things you would have in your perfect office? If I could build a home office from scratch, my wish list would be at least a whole wall covered with bookshelves, enough space for two computer work stations, plus enough room to work on my sewing projects but also storage for the sewing machine and table to be hidden away when I'm not using them. Hmm, maybe that's asking a lot. One can always dream.
Posted at 09:27 AM in Bamboo, Butcher Block, Design Ideas | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Recently, many people have asked how to properly measure their home for flooring. I talked to Bob, our in-house installer, for his expert advice on how to measure for flooring. I'm hoping that you find this useful in determining how many square feet you will need. Remember, if you ever have any further questions, you can always check our Flooring 101 section or contact Bob and his team.

Sample
Bed room - measures 13’8”x 15’2”
When measuring for square footage,
the simplest method is to measure a room’s length x width (L x W). Use a tape measure
to measure from wall to wall or baseboard to baseboard, ignoring built-in
cabinetry. Using this bedroom as an example, if the room measures 13’8″ x 15’2″
round up the measurement to 14′ x 16′. The room area will now be 224 sqft.
Measuring for kitchens? Most dishwashers can be pulled out or have adjustable
front legs or panels to allow the flooring to be installed underneath about 3-4
inches. Don’t forget the closets!
= 3.14. The measurement from the
center to the edge is called its radius; the radius of this circle is 20’.
The area of a circle is the number
of square units inside this circle - the
area is our focus. Follow this equation for the area;
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Area = π x R x R |
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Area = 1,256 sqft |
The area of a triangle is the number of square units inside that triangle. It is
always half the sum of the height and base..
Triangle area = 1/2 b x h (base 10' x height 20')
(10' x 20') = 200 sqft
1/2 of 200 sqft = (100sqft)
Total Triangle sqft area is 100 sqft
Just as a new suit needs new shoes, don’t
forget the matching trim pieces for your new flooring. We offer transitions and
moldings to color-match most flooring. Trim moldings are not only decorative
but also functional, hiding perimeter expansion gaps and even speaker wiring! Transitions
also offer décor plus safety while moving or transitioning between varying
floor heights. When measuring for quarter round or base moldings, measure along
the floor at the wall-base the perimeter of a room, this will give you the “linear
feet” (Lnft). For example a 12x12 room would measure 12+12+12+12 or about 48’
Lnft of base moldings. When measuring for transitions there are only 4 basic
styles, each designed for special purposes; T-molding, reducer, end-caps, and
stair nosing. Keep in mind that these basic styles will work for about 95% of
most applications, about 5% will need to be modified slightly by the installer to
accommodate unique job site considerations.
Waste Factor and Placing the Order
Using the bedroom as an example, if
the room measures 13’8″ x 15’2″ round up the measurement to 14′ x 16′. The room
area will now be 224 sqft. Add a typical waste percentage for cutting, defects
or damages to complete the project. When placing the order, round up to the
next full box/container. Waste percentages are related to the selected product, for example; Laminates usually require about 8% extra be added to the square footage
totals. Corks, bamboo and most exotic hardwood need about 10-15% extra. Add about
5% extra for domestic hardwoods.
It is beneficial to know that some
wood species may require additional percentage be added to an order to account
for such factors as shading, hardness or brittleness like Australian Cypress.
These traits are considered species characteristics not defects. When ordering,
don’t forget to keep an extra box of material on hand for future repairs if
needed.
Last but certainly not least, it’s
worth noting that “special buys”, “close-outs” and “odd-lots” are usually
one-of-a-kind deals with no way to order extra product! Make sure to get what’s
needed at the time of purchase.
Posted at 08:55 AM in Bamboo, Cork, Flooring, Hardwood, How-To, Installation, Measuring | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Hello out there in the blog-o-sphere. This post is for you. Actually, all of these posts are for you, that's why I'm here!!! This blog has been around for a few weeks now and I've had a lot of fun deciding on topics and posts. However, I want to know what YOU want to hear about. Leave some comments and let me know what you'd like to get out of this blog. Want to hear about products? Installation techniques? Happenings around the Lumber Liquidators offices? Customer Interviews? The recipe for my world famous Texas Sheet Cake (well, it's my aunt's and it's not world famous...yet)? I really am here for you and I will try to respond to suggestions and incorporate them into the blog over time. And please be nice, we do moderate the comments that come in so don't put anything that is spam, profane, or nonconstructive.
And in case you love the blog the way it is, here are some fun sites that I love that you may enjoy too!
http://www.lumberliquidators.com/ (<--You knew this would be at the top of the list!)
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/ (My dad watched this show when I was a kid and I find myself watching too!)
Posted at 10:51 AM in Bamboo, Cleaning, Community Information, Cork, Design Ideas, Dream Home, Eco-friendly, Fixes, Flooring, Green, Hardness, Hardwood, How-To, Installation, Janka, Laminate, Products, Sporting Events, Stability, Terms, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Many people are moving towards using green products in their homes, such as energy efficient appliances, CFL light bulbs (you know, the funny looking curly ones), and more efficient windows to keep energy costs low. You can go green with your flooring options also. A very popular trend in the past few years has been bamboo. While bamboo is a grass, not a wood, it is stable and strong and a good alternative to actual hardwood floors. Bamboo is fast growing and has an extensive root system that creates new bamboo shoots and requires no replanting!
Before you run out and choose bamboo because it is green
(not the color, but we do have a Blue Ash if you’re looking to make a
statement), take a look at the different types and what may be best suited to
your lifestyle. Similar to hardwood,
bamboo can still scratch and dent. The more mature a bamboo is,
the harder it is. When looking at a brand,
check the age of the bamboo. Different
brands have different harvesting schedules.
Specification sheets should give you this information.
Below are some terms you should understand before purchasing your bamboo. These can help you choose the floor that is best for your needs.
Horizontal – Horizontal
bamboo describes the direction of each of the bamboo pieces used in making the
flooring. The pieces of bamboo are
arranged in a horizontal direction, lying on their widest edge, and joined side
by side with adjacent pieces. Horizontal
bamboo is considered to be slightly harder than Red Oak.
Vertical –
Vertical bamboo has the pieces of bamboo arranged in a vertical direction,
standing on their narrow edge and then pressed together with other pieces. Vertical bamboo is also slightly harder than
Red Oak.
Strand – Strand
bamboo is neither vertical nor horizontal, but woven pieces of fibrous bamboo strips. These strips undergo high-pressure heat
pressing that produce a heavier bamboo product.
Strand bamboo is significantly harder than horizontal and vertical
bamboo.
Natural – Natural
bamboo is just that, natural looking. Nothing has been done to the grass itself
so it is a lighter, brighter color. Most
natural bamboo will be pretty consistent in color.
Carbonized – Carbonized
bamboo is not a stained bamboo but rather it has gone through a process where
the bamboo is steamed or boiled in a giant bath, heating up the sugars. The sugars turn a darker, richer color that
permeates the entire board throughout.
Carbonized bamboo can vary slightly in color depending on how long the
bamboo was treated and how much sugar the bamboo has in it. If you choose carbonized bamboo, you or your
installer may want to work out of several boxes at a time in case there are any
color variations between boxes.
Tiger Strand – Tiger
Strand bamboo is strand bamboo that has pressed natural and carbonized bamboo
together, creating stripes similar to that of a tiger’s, hence the name.
There are also stained options if you are looking for a lighter or darker option compared to the natural or carbonized variety. Bamboo is a unique and green flooring option that can really make a statement in a room. Beautiful, green, unique, what more do you need in a floor?
Posted at 09:26 AM in Bamboo, Eco-friendly, Green, Products, Terms, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
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Thinking about putting hardwood down but don’t know what is best for your room? There are a lot of things to consider before making a major purchase. You want to be happy with your purchase and so do we!
First, you probably want to decide what your budget is so
you know which products to look at more closely. If you want to spend $2.00 a square foot but
want hardwood, you may not be able to get the unique exotic that you have your
heart set on. Fear not! There are other great, affordable options
like laminate and engineered that may work for your price point. Consider how many square feet you want to put
down and how much you are willing to spend for that area. If you want to spend $3000 for a 400 square
foot room, you will have a lot more options than if you plan on spending less
than $1000 for the same space.
Next you want to consider the area that you are putting the
flooring in. Is it a bedroom that
doesn’t get a lot of traffic? A kitchen
where water has a tendency to not stay in the sink? A playroom for children who practice
WWF-style moves? Different products are
good for different applications. For
example, hardwood may not be an ideal choice for a full bathroom that is
showered in daily because of the water that ends up on the floor and the
humidity that can be absorbed into the flooring, resulting in board edge
cupping. An engineered floor may be
better for that area. Cork is becoming a
popular option for kitchens due to the comfort it brings when people are
standing for long periods. If you are
concerned about durability, check out the Janka rating (for hardwood durability)
or the AC rating (for laminate durability) while you are doing your shopping.
Then comes, perhaps, the most exciting consideration:
color! With a wide variety of hardwood,
laminate, bamboo, cork, and engineered at your disposal, there are many, many
options for color from light, bright colors to rich, dark tones. Whether you want your floor to match an existing floor, to be a showpiece, to compliment furniture, or to give your room “mood flooring”, there is a floor for you.
Hmm, maybe “mood flooring” won’t take off the way “mood lighting”
did. Oh well.
Lumber Liquidators has a wide variety of these products as well as knowledgeable staff that are happy to help you with your flooring decision. New flooring can dramatically change the look and feel of your home. Choose the floor that’s best for you and you will enjoy it for years to come!
Posted at 11:00 AM in Bamboo, Cork, Flooring, Hardwood, How-To, Janka, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
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Today's Prefinished wood floorings are easier than ever to keep clean, needing only minimal care to keep looking good, year after year. Here's a few simple cleaning and preventive maintenance tips for hardwood, cork and bamboo floorings with urethane finishes.
If you do have scratches, quite often minor ones can be concealed using liquid scratch covers, sprays or lotions. Dents and nicks can be filled using wood floor repair kits (Touch-up markers, epoxy fill sticks or wax color pencils) usually available at your local home store. If your floor is severely damaged you can consult a professional about refinishing, or perhaps just an individual board replacement may be all that's needed. Scratching and denting of installed flooring while unfortunate is beyond a manufacturer's ability to control therefore not considered a product defect. Interestingly, the purpose of today's urethane top-finishes serves the same function as waxed floors did in the old days in that finishes are intended to take the abuse first, thereby protecting the actual wood. Therefore, as unsightly as scratches are the urethane top-finishes are actually working as intended... protecting your investment.
Please see our Flooring 101 for more installation details and how to get the most from your new flooring.
Posted at 12:16 PM in Bamboo, Cleaning, Cork, Flooring, Hardwood, How-To, Weblogs | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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