Lumber Liquidators

Weekend Sale Through 8/3/2010

Here's Nate to tell you about some of our specials going on this weekend.  First he'll tell you about the Bellawood Brazilian Redwood and next, it's Tiger Strand Bamboo.

What Do You Need From a Home Office?

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. 

Wood Paneled Walls

High Tech but Cozy

Geometric and Simple

Clean Spaces

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.

How to Measure for Hardwood, Bamboo, Cork and Laminate Floorings

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”

 

 The basics

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!

Many older historic homes have irregular shaped rooms making accurate measurements more difficult. If this is the case simply break-up rooms into more manageable squares or rectangles. Circular and triangular rooms are a little more challenging. Below are examples of how this can be achieved.  

The measurement around a circle is called its circumference. The measurement across a circle through its center is called its diameter. Commonly the Greek letter π pronounced Pi is used to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to the diameter, or = 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;

Area = π x R x R

= 3.14 · (20’) · (20’)

= 3.14 · (400’)

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                                   
    

Transitions and Trim moldings

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. 

What WOOD You Like to Hear About?

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.hgtv.com/

http://www.diynetwork.com/

http://www.foodnetwork.com/ 

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/  (My dad watched this show when I was a kid and I find myself watching too!)

Going Green? Try Bamboo Flooring!

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?

Steps to Finding Your Perfect Floor

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!

Hardwood Cleaning Tips

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.

• First, vacuuming, dust-mop or sweeping regularly is the best way to remove surface dust, grit and dirt before it gets walked into the finish, dulling the luster. Vacuuming also pulls accumulated dust from the grooves between factory finished and plank floors. Sand particles are very destructive and are really tiny pieces of glass, like sandpaper ready to scratch the finish. When vacuuming, soft attachment parts are recommended. It's best to avoid the notorious beater-bar. Its spinning bristles can scratch or generate enough heat to permanently leave hot-spot marks on the finish

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.

• Secondly, remember that wood and water does not mix well. So never pour water directly onto your floor or wet mop the floor like you would ceramic tiles. Even small amounts of water can cause hard water spots, clouding or deterioration to the finish or edge cup the wood. When selecting maintenance products, please note the labeling instructions. Only use products specifically designed or safe for urethane finished floors. Note that some cleaners may interfere with future re-coating such as waxes and oil soaps. The application is also important as many cleaners will direct you to apply the cleaner to the applicator first then the floor, rather than directly to the floor. You must adhere to the manufacturer's labeling directions for their warranty.

• Lastly, protect your floors by using chair leg protectors and walk-off mats or throw-rugs just inside the entrances. Choose non-solvent, felt or plant based products. Do not use synthetic rubber or plastic backed mats as trace chemicals can attack, discolor, yellow or fade the finish. These types of mats often react negatively exposed to direct UV light. Some non-slip padding's placed under throw-rugs may also contain plasticizers harmful to urethane finishes.

Please see our Flooring 101 for more installation details and how to get the most from your new flooring.