Lumber Liquidators

What’s On Sale Now: May 30 - June 10

Now through June 10 you can save big! It’s time to ditch your carpet and upgrade your flooring, so don’t miss out on the sale! Here are just a few of the floors you could get ON SALE now.

 

Virginia Mill Works Golden Teak Acacia Handscraped

“The Sales Associates and Installer took a lot of time to make sure that the product that I chose would be the best solution for installation on my concrete slab home. I was pleasantly surprised that this engineered wood product looks fantastic and is low maintenance.”

 

Dream Home Nirvana- Royal Mahogany Laminate

“I bought this flooring and had it installed in my new condo in the living room and dining room. I had really wanted hardwood but due to the fact that I was on a budget and my sub floors are concrete, I decided to go with laminate. It came out beautifully. The color is rich and it feels like wood under my feet.”
 

 

Builder’s Pride Red Oak

“Instant floor in one weekend!”

 

Lisbon Cork- Medina

“I first used this product in 2006, to cover a bedroom, a bathroom and the laundry room floors. I loved its beauty, feel and durability so much that, 7 years later, when I renovated the kitchen and den, it was my first choice in flooring. The rest of my house has original hardwood flooring and the two products complement each other beautifully.”

 

Dream Home St. James African Mahogany Laminate

“This floor was recommended by a friend and my contractor. The product is very durable and has a beautiful finish throughout my home. The floor was installed in my entire home, including the kitchen. I have had other laminate flooring in the past and this floor is highly superior to the other brands. Overall, highly recommended.”

 

Morning Star Strand Carbonized Bamboo

“I never installed floors before, so I had a friend who has help me get started then I finished the 1000 sq/ft job myself over the next week. It's hard work! Overall we're very happy with the flooring…Unbox all the boxes beforehand since there are slight variation in color (which we love).”

 

Don't miss these deals and many more! Hurry in to your local Lumber Liquidators, or order online or by phone. 

What's the Difference? Choosing the Right Floor

New flooring is a big investment. Hardwood, bamboo, cork, laminate, vinyl…what’s the difference? Finding the right product can be tough, so here is a basic guide to help you choose the right floor for you and your family!

Hardwood

Solid Hardwood- milled from solid wood and comes unfinished (apply your own stain) or prefinished (one less step, easier installation).

Engineered Hardwood- real hardwood layers with a plywood fiberboard backing. Extremely stable, which means it can take on wood’s natural movement in high-moisture areas.

"Hardwood flooring is renowned for its natural beauty and durability. Its classic good looks harmonize with any architectural theme or interior design, and it’s an especially good choice to create visual room-to-room continuity for homes with open floor plans." (HGTV Flooring Guide)

Bamboo

"Bamboo is tough and durable. Because it comes from plants that are easy to grow and regenerate quickly, bamboo is considered a sustainable material and an environmentally friendly flooring choice." (HGTV Flooring Guide) 

Bamboo produces new shoots without the need for replanting, and gives you a stunning, unique look. For increase durability, try strand bamboo. It’s twice as hard as oak, making it an optimal choice for busy homes. It stands up to the wear and tear of foot traffic, active kids and even pets.  

Cork

Cork is produced by peeling away bark without destroying the tree.

"Cork has a warm, natural appearance and is comfortable underfoot." (HGTV Flooring Guide)

Plus, the benefits are awesome! Cork is resilient which relieves stress in the back and legs when standing. Spend a lot of time in the kitchen? Cork might be right for you! It also takes on the temperature of the room, so it’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It is great for sound deadening, reducing sound between rooms and floors. Maintenance is simple. Just sweep and spot clean!

Laminate

Laminate is a fiber core board with a photo on top. It’s easy to install, comes in array of colors and varies in thickness. You can even get that handscraped, rustic look. It’s very scratch resistant, which is great for those who are tough on floors.

"Low-maintenance laminate flooring offers an enormous variety of styles, colors and patterns." (HGTV Flooring Guide) 

Vinyl

Vinyl has a natural looking grain, is extremely water-resistant, and easy to install! Simply peel and stick or click-together and you’re done.

"Vinyl tiles…are called resilient flooring – they’re flexible and slightly soft underfoot. They’re tough, durable and virtually maintenance-free. Vinyl comes in an array of colors and patterns at relatively modest cost." (HGTV Flooring Guide) 

Keep your style and preferences in mind when choosing flooring. Some other things to consider are color, width, texture, species and grade. What do you like?

Color: light, medium, dark

Width: 2¼”, 3 ¼”, 5”

For larger rooms, some advise that you use a wider plank, and for a smaller room, a narrower plank. Another consideration is fixed-width or variable plank width for a more dramatic appearance. It’s all about what you like!

Texture: smooth, handscraped

Handscraped or distressed selections are available for almost every type of floor (except cork).

Species: tree type

Pattern, lines, swirls, overall character and grain…everyone’s taste varies. Australian Cypress Hardwood has a variety of tones with exquisite dark knots for a rustic feel. Qing Spyder Strand Bamboo is simple and dark. What’s your style?

Grade: Select, Natural, Rustic

Select- most uniform plank, smallest knots, longest average length

Natural- some color variation, mineral coloring, small pin knots

Rustic- large knots, most color variation

 

For more assistance picking out your floor, visit your local store or call Sales at 800-476-0007 and a representative can help!

 

 

More Than Floors

Step into a new year with some customers who updated more than just the floor of a room. Spiced up stairs and redone hallways can make a big difference in the look and feel of your home. See the spaces you can redo for a total transformation! 

Stairs:

“I LOVE my new floors! I replaced the carpeting throughout my home with the Spyder Strand Bamboo. I am very pleased with the size and color selection that I made. It adds such an elegant, rich feel to my home. It is like having a new house!”
(Qing Spyder Strand Bamboo)

 

 (Qing Scorpion Strand Bamboo)

 

“I wanted a real wood look for my basement floor. I was reluctant so I started with the stairwell into the basement. I can't believe how beautiful it turned out. I have received only the best compliments on the floor and I can't wait to finish the rest of the basement!”
(North Perry Pine Resilient Vinyl)

 

(Golden Zebra Strand Bamboo)

 

(Golden Zebra Strand Bamboo)

 

"...When you are going to be in the kitchen for hours you can almost forget how sore your feet used to be with tile or laminate. Also, I have cathedral ceilings, but experience no echoes when walking across the floor. With vinyl flooring that was not the case. I keep my thermostat low throughout the year, but the floors stay relatively warm..." (Lisbon Cork Castelo)

 

(Morning Star Strand Carbonized Bamboo)

 

(Tanzanian Wenge Laminate)

 

Hall/Entryways

“We put the floor in our entryway and dining room. It makes such a grand entrance. Installation was very easy.” (Tobacco Road Acacia Handscraped)

 

(Tobacco Road Acacia Handscraped)

 

(Schon Quick Clic Honey Red Oak)

 

Ceilings

“I bought this product to use on the ceiling of our Great Room and it was a fantastic idea! My ceiling has gone from very drab and un-noticable to being the room's show piece! It's really helped us give our home the "ski lodge" style we were looking for! It looks even better than I had hoped and was easy to install." (Matterhorn Birch Handscraped)

 

(R.L. Colston Utility Oak)

 

Walls

(Utility Oak)

 

Cabinets

 

"I used this pine to reface kitchen cabinets. Good quality #2 pine. 3 coats of clear semi gloss polycrilic were applied and made them look great." (New England White Pine)

 

Tree Houses!

(R.L. Colston Utility Oak)

 

Where have you uniquely used our floors? Let us know!

Customer Projects: Fall 2012

Lumber Liquidators customers were busy this fall! Whether you are interested in installing new floors, need some design ideas, or just like looking at what other people have done with their homes, we’re bringing you some fall “Brags,” Before and After shots, and other customer photos.

Your “Brags”

Schön Quick Clic Engineered Canadian Maple

 

Tobacco Road Acacia

Builder’s Pride Millrun Maple

 

Before and After

This customer used Chesterfield Forest Oak to brighten up her hallway.

Another customer used this laminate in a different setting:

“All my clients are impressed.”

This couple turned their home office into a brighter, warmer looking room with the help of Gunstock Oak.

“Attached is the before and after pictures of my spare bedroom turned home office. My husband and I are planning on renovating the entire upstairs of our home with 3/4" by 3  1/4" Gunstock Oak.. we chose this room as practice in hopes of working out any problems before starting installation on the other rooms and the hallway! It looks great and we are very excited to see the finished project! We used the Bella premium underlayment.”

Handscraped Golden Teak Acacia looks great with these light cabinets.

“The Floor is Fabulous!!!!! My whole house is now hardwood floor, thank-you Lumber Liquidators”

Kensington Manor Golden Teak laminate

 

Strand Natural Bamboo

“We installed a little over 400sq. Ft. of Strand Natural Bamboo. It was our first time installing hardwood flooring, hard work, but well worth it. Very hard flooring which should stand up to our 80 lb. Doberman. Thanks to the Ontario, OH store for all their help…”

Images We Love

Virginia Mill Works Matterhorn Birch Handscraped

 

Morning Star Tiger Strand Bamboo

Lisbon Cork Medina

Dream Home- Nirvana PLUS Lake Toba Teak laminate

Common Hardwood Myths - Part Two

Here's part two of our series on common hardwood myths.  The first one can be found HERE.

20.  Wood floors that are sanded and finished at the job-site are more durable than a factory manufactured finished floor.

     A pre-finished floor gives you the added benefit of a perfect finish applied under dust-free, ideal conditions at the factory.  Ours include from five to eight coats with aluminum oxide suspended in the finish.  The only thing harder is diamonds! Factory finishes are much harder than any product site-applied, requiring air-drying.

21.  Repairs are easier to make on a sanded and finished floor than a pre-finished floor.

     If needed, pre-finished boards can be replaced one at a time.  Job site finished boards require four or five days of sanding, staining, finishing and then waiting for the finish to dry.  After that, it may still not match the sheen of the floor.

22.  I have heard the oil-soaps are the best way to clean my wood floor.

     Soaps and detergents can leave a harmful film causing the top finishes to yellow, alligator or crack. Consult the product labeling for its expressed warranties.

23.  My wood flooring can be delivered and installed the same day.

     The industry and most wood manufacturers recommend that solid wood flooring be delivered to the job site at least 3-5 days before the installation. This properly acclimates the wood to "normal living conditions'. Temperature of 60F to 80F and a relative humidity of 30% to 50% with the HVAC fan left in the “on” position to provide a continuous flow of air across the floor are ideal.  Most engineered wood floors require about one day for acclimation. Be sure to check our installation guidelines for various products on our web site.

 24.   I only have white oak and red oak to choose from.

     Although White and Red Oak is still very popular, we have hundreds of beautiful Exotic wood species along with Cork and Bamboo from forests from all over the world. Many are offered in wider widths of 3”, 4”, 5”. The choice is yours.

 25.  When my wood is delivered can I store it in the garage, out of the weather?

     No. Wood flooring should never be stored in a garage, in a basement, directly on cement or in out buildings. No exposure to moisture of any type should be permitted.  Uncontrolled humidity or moisture vapors can penetrate into the wood flooring, causing it to swell or cup.

 26. Wood floors cannot be installed in a basement on a concrete floor.

     Not so.  We offer many fine quality engineered wood floors that feature cross-grain ply construction.  These floors are very stable and resist expansion and contraction.  Be sure to test your concrete floor for excessive levels of moisture over 3%.  Concrete installations (Gluedown or Floating) normally require moisture barriers.

27. I expect to get a wood floor to be all the same color, like the store sample.

     Wood is a natural product with patterns and color variations created in a living tree, like all of nature never to be repeated.  A small sample containing only a few grain patterns and shades of a species could never completely represent a fully installed floor with hundreds of pieces. If you prefer more uniformity in color and shade exotics may not be for you, consider our Dura-wood stained products.

 28. I expect my floor to have a “table top finish”.

      Wood floors are not tabletop material.  Hardwood floors that are pre-finished are milled to exacting specifications.  However, you may feel a slight variation from plank to plank, when walking across the floor in your bare feet. We offer both micro bevel and square edged materials.

 29. Hardwood floors are indestructible.

      Despite today's advanced technology, water spills, dirt and other abrasive substances can damage a wood floor's finish.  Location, traffic patterns, how often the floor is vacuumed and cleaned, children and/or pets are all factor that influence wear.

 30. Engineered floors are not “real wood” floors.

           Engineered floors have a real hardwood veneer wear layer with a multi-layer cross grain construction, perfect for at-grade or below-grade cement installations. These can be re-sanded about two times.

 31. If I get down on my hands and knees, I can see all kinds of small defects.

     Product claims are viewed/determined from a standing position.

 32. My basement, crawl space, or concrete slab looks dry so I should not have any problems with a new wood floor.

 About 90% of installation complaints are due to moisture, your installer should always check the subfloor and protect against moisture before installing the floor. Moisture issues are job site related.

 33. I have radiant heat, so I can't install a new wood floor.

     Many of our floors work well over radiant heat such as Floating, Laminates and Engineered. For solid wood, always shop for stability. Ask your sales assistant about this. Be sure to follow the radiant heat manufacturer’s guideline for thermostat controls. Do not exceed 85F surface temperatures.

 34.   I was told to re-seal my  hardwood or bamboo after installation to protect it against pet urine, vomit or spills.                                                                                                              

      Regular cleaning is always recommended however applying another sealer over the original finish will void the warranty. Once between the boards sealers can promote gapping and act as an adhesive preventing normal expansion of the flooring.

 35.  The area is prone to moisture and/or high humidity, can I still have a wood floor?

              If using wood, Engineered is the floor of choice. However Ceramic tiles and  Vinyl may be best.

 36.  Full bathrooms and laundry rooms are fine for wood floor installation.

      Engineered types of flooring can be used in full bathrooms because these are less susceptible to moisture fluctuations, however users should take reasonable precautions against steam and high humidity common with hot showers. Added ventilation can serve to alleviate excess humidity build-up in any room while mats placed around tubs to catch water spills are also recommended.

      37.  Is your Aluminum Oxide floor finish harmful?

There are no issues with Aluminum Oxide floor finish. These microscopic  Aluminum Oxide crystals are added into the finishes. Once cured, it is completely safe for our children and pets.

 

It is recommended, however, to do all board cutting outside in order to protect against breathing even normal wood dust. It is in this dust state that Aluminum Oxide and wood fibers can have a respiratory effect on people.

  38. Do I have any way to get my technical installation questions answered?

     Yes, you do.  Just call 1-800-366-4204 and ask to speak with our installation specialists or leave a message. You can also go online and visit our web site and receive installation instructions and advice.

 

Moisture Barrier and Underlayments, Don't Leave It Out

When installing hardwood floors, you want to protect your investment whether it's a $0.69 laminate or a $6.69 exotic hardwood.  Moisture is a big concern for flooring, you definitely don't want it!  And we're not just talking about some water spilling or snow being tracked through the house (although, to help with that, we do recommend putting down rugs at home entrances and in front of sinks).  Moisture can come up through your subfloor, especially if you are installing over concrete or below-grade.  A moisture barrier is need to protect the flooring against moisture or moisture vapor.  Along with the moisture barrier, you may want to install an underlayment.  It insulates and cushions the flooring, making it more comfortable to walk on. 

For moisture barriers, there are three basic methods of protection:

• Nail Down Installations - In crawl spaces under the subfloor, 6 mil poly sheeting plastic should be placed over the dirt.  IN addition, a 15 lb felt paper should be placed between the sub-floor and the new hardwood flooring.
• Glue Down Installations - When gluing down wood to concrete, a moisture barrier is almost always needed, especially below-grade.  Usually, a trowel applied product is recommended, such as Bostiks MVP or Mapei's WFM.
• Floating Floor Installations - When installing laminate or other floating floors over cement, VCT, ceramic tiles, or kitchen vinyl, use 6 mil poly sheeting plastic as the moisture barrier.  Omit plastic when covering bare wood subfloors thereby allowing the subfloor to breathe.

Some underlayments have a built in moisture barrier.  These are typically used for floating floor applications.  If you live in a condo, many have association rules regarding noise levels.  Underlayments can really help absorb sound.  As well, they can insulate the floor, leaving it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.  Cork is especially popular for these types of applications. 

One thing to consider when choosing an underlayment is that in this case, too much can be a bad thing.  Installing laminate that already have a pad pre-attached over another underlayment is not recommended.  Too much padding material can actually lead to a weakening of the joints from the underside resulting in the floor seperating.  Our laminate that have a pad pre-attached have been tested for both sound suppression and support of the locking system and are sufficient.  However, for customer wanting extra sound isolation and thermo properties, our cork underlayments are perfect for use under laminates with or without a pre-attached pad.  The Quiet Walk (which has a built in moisture barrier) and Insulayment underlayment would also be appropriate.

Both moisture barriers and underlayments are important parts of your floor.  Make sure you find out what works best with your needs to have the best experience you can with your beautiful new floors!

A Little Background About Cork

Recently, cork has become a much more popular product for flooring.  Most people, when they hear cork, they either envision the stopper that is between them and a nice bottle of Shiraz or a bulletin board with pushpins and "To-Do" lists.  However, cork comes in different colors and designs and can create a very interesting feel in a room.

We have had many people ask what the pros and cons of cork are.  I will post about that another day, but before that, I wanted to give a little bit more information on cork.

Cork is harvested from the outer bark of the cork oak tree found in the Mediterranean region of the world. Cork has natural sound isolating and thermal insulating properties. AKA, it makes a room sound quieter and your feet won't freeze in the winter!  It is considered a green product because the same tree can be harvested numerous times without tree destruction. As a natural product, color and shade variations can be expected.  Cork can usually be harvested every 9-12 years and it doesn't harm the tree at all!  Typically it is harvested by hand, similar to the way it has been harvested since people first discovered the many uses of cork. 

While the look of cork isn't for everyone, it definitely can make a statement.  And it doesn't need to look like you have a giant cork board on your floor.  We offer many varieties of cork to fit your home and decor.  

If you are interested in cork for your flooring, make sure you speak with your salesperson about the benefits of cork (if you decide to buy before my next article on the subject!).

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. 

Cork Flooring in Restaurant, So Cool!!!

This past weekend I was up in Charlottesville, VA to do a little sight-seeing and to get away from my broken AC (our house was over 90 degrees!).   I have never been there before, but found it to be a very charming town.  Besides being the home of the University of Virginia and Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home, which was beautiful by the way), it also has a very nice, historic downtown area. After dinner at a lovely steakhouse, we wandered down the street to meet up with friends for drinks.  We went to a restaurant called "Ten".  Besides serving delicious beverages and modern Japanese cuisine, they also had a very cool atmosphere. 

By working at Lumber Liquidators, I notice flooring everywhere I go.  I notice hardwood, distressed boards, handscraped, laminate, tile, marble, just about everything that comes under my feet.  This place was no exception. They had cork flooring and it was one of the first things that I noticed.  I probably looked silly as I was being led to our table, I couldn't help but admire the floor.  It took me a few minutes to look around at the rest of the atmosphere.  The dining room at Ten was designed by Formwork of Charlottesville and I think they did a great job (if you click the link, you can take a look at what Ten looks like).  The flooring went seamlessly from one side of the dining room to the other.  The reason I found this interesting is because one half of the dining area is very dark, emulating the night.  The other side, a very light, cloud-like atmosphere, also had the cork and it looked great in both settings.  It was definitely very versatile.  I am not positive what type of cork they used, but it looked very similar to our Van Gogh Cork by Lisbon Cork. 

As I commented about the floor to the friends we were with, we started to discuss how it was probably also insulating from noise.  Unknown to me, there was a club downstairs (you have to climb an indoor staircase to get up to Ten).  You couldn't hear a noise from below.  While the cork may have not been the only contributing factor, however, cork does have noise reduction qualities.  I could definitely tell this because while there were many people at the restaurant when we arrived, you could barely hear any of the conversations going on around us.  Although the restaurant was very modern, it also had a very cozy feeling.  I was surprised at this since most modern designs feel very sterile to me.  I definitely think the natural cork floor helped in the comfort factor.

I definitely think the cork gave Ten a very warm feeling and I give a lot of credit to Formwork.  The fact that the floor worked so well in two very different design schemes and helped make the restaurant feel comfortable (without having to yell over other conversations) really capped off a great weekend. 

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!)