Lumber Liquidators

Fix It Fast

Your floor can take a beating over the holidays. Whether it’s visiting family, holiday parties or winter weather, we have easy solutions for some of your biggest problems and advice from our installation professionals!

For Scratches and Gouges

Scratches can happen on all wood flooring. Luckily, our installation pros have a few ideas for getting rid of physical damage. First, repairs should be made immediately to fend off potential water damage. Second, always make sure the repair products you use are compatible with clear waterbase urethane finishes. For hardwood or bamboo:

Is it a surface scratch? Try a scratch cover, spray concealer or lotion to camouflage the scratch (but not remove it). There are also color satin markers which have a satin and urethane mixture, giving the repair a shine.

Is it a deep scratch? Wax color-fill sticks might work, which you can find at home repair stores. Just rub into the scratch and buff with a cotton rag. To see instructions for a light sanding and recoating, and for more detailed directions on scratch repairs check here.

Lumber Liquidators offer repair products that can help you, too:
Engineered Flooring Repair Kit
Solid & Bamboo Flooring Repair Kit
Engineered Repair Adhesive 

 

For Squeaky Floors

 

Squeaks are a result of board movement, whether wood-to-wood or wood-to-nail. If the cause is environmental, humidity can bring about noise. Humidity over 55%, for example, can cause boards to expand and rub. Always try to keep indoor humidity before and after installation between 30-50% with temperatures between 60 and 80. Another easy solution is to sprinkle baby powder in squeaky areas, as Bob tells us in the video above. Silica talc in the baby powder will work as a dry lubricant to lessen minor squeaks.

To learn more about squeaks and humidity, check here. 

 

Removing Marker

If you have laminate flooring, you’re in luck! Here’s one easy way to remove marker from your floor.

 

We hope some of these flooring fixes will help keep your floors safe and beautiful over the holidays! If you know of some others, share in the comments with your fellow floor fans!

Fast Fixes for Foreclosed Homes

Here is an ARA article where we are mentioned and I wanted to pass it along!

The high volume of foreclosed homes on the market is allowing some astute buyers to turn eyesores into eye-catching properties with only minimal investment. While not every property can be fixed up affordably, there are some common projects that dramatically improve a foreclosed home’s appeal and value.

“Many people are finding huge opportunities in fixing up foreclosures,” says Tom Sullivan, founder of Lumber Liquidators, the nation’s largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring. “Most of these houses can be completely transformed with just a few improvements. Often, the fixes are easy enough to be do-it-yourself projects.”

Below are some popular cost-effective options for breathing new life into a home in need:

Add new countertops. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any home, since it is a space where people spend a lot of time—from cooking dinner to entertaining friends. One of the most dramatic changes that can be made to a kitchen is adding new countertops. It alters the appearance of the space by changing the color scheme, depth and texture of the whole room.

Countertops range in price depending on room size, type of material and mode of installation. In an average kitchen, a new laminate countertop starts at around $1,000, with granite or quartz ranging from $3,000 to $6,000. Butcher-block countertops are another attractive, yet cost-effective option. Williamsburg Butcher Block Company offers options in both Maple and American Cherry starting around $310.

Replace the bathtub. Foreclosed houses frequently come with water stains left by standing water in sinks, toilets and bathtubs. Updating a bathroom by installing a new bathtub not only removes the problem, but, because the tub is a core item, it creates a more pleasant feeling in the room. Bathtubs are available in many different styles and sizes, so there is likely to be one that suits any taste, from traditional to contemporary.

Bathtubs start at around $300, depending on the size and type of bathtub.

Trade carpeting for new wood flooring. Foreclosed houses are frequently abandoned with soiled carpet that continues to gather buildup over time. Mold is also common in homes that have been left bare for extended periods. To get rid of hidden odors, allergens, irritants and mold, replace carpet with wood, particularly in high-traffic areas such as living rooms and great rooms.

In addition to reviving these common areas, swapping carpet for wood adds style and creates a more spacious feel. The choice of wood can also make a big difference. Light wood colors can make a room appear larger, medium-toned woods can make a room appear more traditional and dark flooring can make a room appear warmer.

 “The introduction of so many new species, colors and types of wood flooring in recent years gives homeowners a lot of options when renovating a room at different price points,” says Sullivan.

 Laminate flooring can deliver the appearance of solid hardwoods, but costs less than $1 per square foot at places like Lumber Liquidators. This allows budget-DIYers the ability to transform a 400-square-foot area for as little as $750.

 In addition to making a foreclosed home look new again, completing these easy and affordable updates can go a long way in restoring the value of the property when it comes time to sell.

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!)

How to Replace a Nail Down Prefinished Hardwood Floor Board

Do you have concerns about a damaged hardwood board? You are not alone.  Everyone who owns a hardwood floor will probably have to do a board replacement at some time. Board replacement is a normal part of the hardwood flooring industry, in fact up to 8 percent of your flooring can be replaced and your floor will still have its integrity. Most boards need to be replaced due to events that are out of our control, for example: environmental factors, objects that fall, or damage from furniture, shoes, children, and pets. A board replacement will have your flooring looking like it was never damaged and you will never know that it has been done.

Here are the steps on how to replace a damaged board.

Tools needed for Board Replacement

• Circular Saw
• Chisel
• Hammer
• #2080 painters tape
• Epoxy
• Miter Box
• Small pry bar
• Painters plastic (use to cover furniture from exposure to dust)

***Installation Tip #1: Due to natural color changes in wood species, the new board may not match the shade of the old flooring. If this is the case, let the new board sit in the home for a week in a spot where it will receive the most light. Direct light will quicken the color change, allowing the new board to blend in better with the old flooring. This will also help the new board acclimate to the environment of the home.

***Installation Tip #2: Measure the width of the old board to see if it is equal to the width of the new board. If the old wood has expanded due to moisture, the new board may not fit and the board replacement should wait to be done during a drier climate.

Step 1 – Cover the bottom of you circular saw with blue tape so it will not scratch your flooring. Set the depth of the skill saw to the thickness of the board being replaced. Apply blue tape around the board that is being cut so you don’t mistakenly cut into another plank. Cut down the length of the board on the groove side and on the tongue side and then make another cut diagonally across the first two cuts.

Step 2 – Take a hammer and pry bar and pull up the 2 halves in the middle of the board. Then chisel out the remaining pieces around the edges.

Step 3 - Pull out nails and cut out the felt or rosin paper. Take a vacuum and clean up any debris.

Step 4 - Measure the area that was cut out.

Step 5 - Measure new board and cut it to desired length needed. Use a sanding sponge to create a slight bevel on the cut edge. Also cut the bottom groove off the length and width of the board.

This picture shows the groove cut off the width end, do the same for the bottom groove down the length of the board.

Step 6 – Apply a 100% urethane adhesive in a snake like pattern to the cleaned subfloor and place new board in sliding the tongue of the board into place first. Take a block of wood and tap down gently on the new board to knock it in place.

 

Step 7 – Apply weight to the board until the adhesive has time to cure. You have now finished your board replacement.

If you ever have any questions about installation, you can also contact the Lumber Liquidators Technical and Installation Department at install@lumberliquidators.com.  Good luck with your project!