Entryway Flooring Options

Decorating any entryway requires a flooring that offers the ideal combination of durability and style. Color, style, daily maintenance, and whether or not the flooring requires professional installation or not all factor into which entryway flooring will best suit the needs of the home. All of the flooring materials listed below make a great choice for this much-used part of the home. Check out the pros and cons of each to make the best decision for your space.

Ceramic and Porcelain

Ceramic tile and porcelain tile are two of the most popular flooring options. Not only are they one of the most affordable flooring options, but they are also resistant to moisture, muck, and grime. They are easy to sweet and mop clean and don’t easily show signs of wear. When the entryway is part of an open-concept home, the same tiles can be continued throughout the living, dining, and kitchen areas for a seamless effect.

Because ceramic and porcelain tile are man-made materials, they come in a full range of color and finish options. There are even tiles designed to look like wood planks, granite, and other natural stone varieties. The versatility of design makes it easy to achieve any overall design style.

Luxury Vinyl

You never have to fear tracking in rain, snow, or mud when there’s luxury vinyl planks in the entryway. This high-end synthetic wood material offers the texture, color, and look of hardwood with the added benefit of being completely waterproof. It is easy to install over a wide variety of different subfloors, making it ideal for a quick renovation project.

This material is easy to cut to size using a sharp utility knife, making it easy enough to take on as a do-it-yourself project. Simply click the tiles together and finish the floor with new quarter-round. There’s no need to seal or grout luxury vinyl tiles. This budget-friendly flooring options I often much less expensive to install than ceramic tile, natural stone tiles, or engineered hardwood because the material is affordable and professional installation is optional.

Slate Tile

Slate is a natural stone material that is a popular choice in outdoor spaces. It’s great for decks and home facades because of its ability to hold up to the elements, which makes it a great option for use inside the home as well. Slate tile is going to be more of an investment that ceramic, porcelain, or luxury vinyl but it will also become a statement-making addition to your interior décor. It is also a great choice for resale, as many home buyers are interested in natural tile flooring.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood floors give the look of hardwood with additional benefits built right in. Not only are they much more budget-friendly than traditional hardwood, but waterproof engineered hardwood now exists. Make sure to check the individual specifications of the engineered hardwood to determine the durability of the product in high-traffic areas of the home like the entryway floor.

Bamboo

When it comes to making an environmentally-friendly choice for a home, bamboo is an excellent choice. Not only is bamboo natural and sustainable, but it is also an incredibly durable flooring selection. The versatile design of the material makes it suitable for use in the entryway, living areas, and many other spaces throughout the home. Like hardwood flooring, bamboo comes in a wide variety of finish options, making it easy to achieve the same elegance of natural wood with much more durability. Unfortunately, bamboo is not a great choice for homes in extremely cold or dry climates. It is also prone to showing scratches, especially if pets are present. Using an area rug over bamboo floors can help prevent scratches.

Protecting Your Entryway Floors

Simply adding a welcome mat or area rug over the entryway floor goes a long way to extending the lifespan of the flooring chosen. Rugs are inexpensive and easy to change out seasonally or whenever they start to show signs of wear. Keep a rug pad under the rug to help prevent the rug from shifting or moving with foot traffic. Putting down a tray for shoes and boots will help to keep any mud and muck contained and off the surface of your entryway floors. This is especially important when hardwood floors or any other flooring options that are not waterproof or water resistant.

Each flooring material offers a wide array of color and style options from which to choose. Consider the daily use of the space, the number of rooms requiring flooring, and the overall budget of the project when making final selections. Be sure to factor into the equation all installation costs and supplies. With new flooring in place, the foyer is sure to become an inviting entryway to the rest of your home.

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Many homeowners focus on décor and furniture when styling their living spaces. However, flooring is one part of any room that you shouldn’t overlook. The condition and quality of your floors impact how the space appears, and you’ll want to take steps to keep your floors in great shape. Engineered hardwood floors are especially stylish in any home.

They add the beautiful look of authentic wood flooring with the added benefits of being stronger and more stable than solid hardwood. While engineered hardwood is more durable, it can still be susceptible to scratches, especially in high-traffic areas and in busy homes with pets and kids. Learn how to fix scratches on engineered hardwood floors to make sure that your flooring always makes a stellar first impression.

What You Will Need To Fix Scratches On Engineered Hardwood

To fix scratches on engineered hardwood, you’ll need floor repair wax. Almost all hardware stores and home improvement stores have this material in stock. Make sure you get a type of wax with the correct color for your floor. Some waxes come in a stick-shaped similar to a crayon or marker. Other waxes are sold as blocks.

Larger floor repair kits can be somewhat pricey at around $60 or more. However, you may find that these kits include many of the other supplies and tools you need to complete the job. In addition, you can continue to use the kit in the years to come since you’ll find plenty of wax for future uses in the kit. Many wax repair kits come with multiple shades of color so that you have the option to blend colors to get an exact match with your floors.

Besides your repair kit, you’ll need the following tools and supplies:

• Broom
• Washcloth
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton swabs
• Plastic putty knife
• White cotton cloth
• Painter’s tape (optional)

Gather these materials and make sure everything is clean before you begin. You’ll want all your supplies to be close at hand during the process to avoid moving around and bringing dust into the area while you work.

Prepare the Area

Do you have many scratches you’re planning to fix at one time? If so, move furniture and rugs out of the way and mark each one with painter’s tape so that you don’t lose track of where you’ve been working.

Next, sweep the floor thoroughly. You’ll want to lift any dust and debris out of and away from the scratches.

5 Steps to Fixing Scratches

Follow the five steps below to fix a scratch:

1. Clean the area. Apply some rubbing alcohol to a washcloth. Wipe the scratch and the surrounding area.
2. Really get in there. Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and run the swab along the length of the scratch. This action will remove any remaining dirt and debris.
3. Prep your floor wax according to the directions. Before you proceed, hold a sample of the wax next to the floor to compare the shade. You may need to blend different colors of wax to get an exact match for your flooring.
4. Fill the scratch. Using the plastic putty knife, take a small amount of wax and push it into the scratch. Press it down at a diagonal angle until the scratch is filled. Use the flat end of the knife to remove excess wax so that the wax in the scratch is level with the rest of the floor.
5. Lightly wipe the floor using a cotton cloth. Remove excess wax from the floor without removing any wax filling the scratch. If you need to even out the wax, you can buff the area very lightly with a fine-grit sandpaper.

If you’ve fixed a number of scratches and feel as though the results don’t blend in perfectly, you may want to consider staining your engineered hardwood floors. The stain will help to lock in the wax you’ve applied and create a more even and consistent color throughout the room so that the fixed scratches blend in.

Buff It Out

If you’re dealing with a very fine, shallow scratch that penetrates only the wood veneer surface and not the wood itself, you may be able to buff it away rather than using a wax repair kit. To accomplish this task, use very fine grit sandpaper and lightly buff the scratch as you move in the direction of the grain of the wood. Use a tack cloth to clear away dust and debris once you’re finished sanding.

The veneer on your engineered hardwood flooring is likely only 1/16- to 1/8-inch thick. Therefore, this technique will work only for very light scratches. Don’t use too much pressure while sanding since excess force could permanently damage the wood under the veneer layer.

Alternative Methods to Fix Scratches on Engineered Hardwood

While using a floor repair wax or light buffing works for many homeowners, you can consider alternative methods to remove the appearance of scratches on engineered hardwood flooring. Discover some of the other scratch repair strategies you may want to try:

• Steel wool: Light scratches may be fixed by steel wool rather than sandpaper. Rub fine steel wool lightly over the scratch to minimize its appearance. Be sure to go with the direction of the wood grain to avoid creating more scratches.
• Wood filler: Use a plastic putty knife to apply premixed wood filler to a scratch. Make sure you choose a wood filler that matches the color of your engineered hardwood flooring.
• Seal the area: After using any of the methods mentioned here, including wax, sandpaper, steel wool, and wood filler, you can refinish and seal the area using varnish or polyurethane. Apply the product with a lamb’s wool applicator or natural bristle brush to prevent air bubbles from developing.

Engineered hardwood floors are designed to last for decades. In fact, top-quality brands may last up to a century. With such a long lifespan and a house full of pets and children, some scratches are bound to develop. To make scratches disappear and keep your floors looking beautiful for decades to come, carefully apply one of the methods described above.

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The Best Ways to a Keep a Bathroom Warm

Fix Window Drafts

Studies show air leakage can account for as much as a quarter of a home’s winter heat loss. Are your windows making your bathroom floors colder? Put your hand near the glass and window frames to detect drafts, paying extra attention to the edges and places where the window sections intersect. Seal any gaps with caulk or weather stripping to make your whole bathroom, including its floor, much warmer.

Warm Bathrooms on a Budget – Use Rugs

So you don’t have a lot of money to spend, but you’re not sure how to keep your feet warm on such a tight budget? Rugs are the easiest solution. Simply lay down rugs in the high traffic areas, like the space by the sink where you clean your teeth and just outside the shower where you dry off. The rugs will feel much warmer under your feet than tile or other traditional bathroom flooring. Choose rugs in warm colors like reds and oranges to warm up your bathroom’s appearance, too.

Sliding rugs can be a hazard, but this problem is easily solved with a rug pad or rug tape to hold the rug in place. Bathrooms are damp places too, so make sure to wash your rugs regularly to prevent mold and mildew setting in.

Add Underfloor Heating

For the ultimate winter warmer, look to underfloor heating. This indulgent option is a real space saver because everything is hidden away underneath your heated floor. It’s also very effective because heat rises, warming the whole room as well as the surface underfoot. It’s much nicer stepping onto a heated tile than an icy one on a chilly morning, too!

Large underfloor heating systems, installed by professionals, have been around for some time, but new mat-based heating systems are gaining popularity. These mats, which have toaster-like coils woven through them, are much less expensive and not too difficult to install for the average DIYer. However, a professional is still required to wire the thermostat to the system and run a line from the mats to the breaker box. It’s also important to note that upfront costs aren’t the only important consideration. Running an underfloor heating system is quite expensive, so it may not suit budget-conscious homeowners.

Change Your Flooring

The vast majority of American bathrooms have porcelain or ceramic tile floors. These floors are durable and stylish, but they’re also colder than virtually any other material. Modern consumers have a lot more choices, so why not investigate other options? Cork doesn’t just feel warm underfoot; it also absorbs humidity and repels mold and mildew, and it’s really easy to keep clean. Many homeowners worry about wood in a bathroom, but engineered wood, made of wood veneer supported by plywood, is quite humidity resistant. It also feels toasty warm underfoot.

Whatever you choose, just resist the temptation to choose carpet. While this flooring is really warm, adding it to damp bathrooms is a recipe for a mold problem.

Whether you’re ready for a complete overhaul or just want an easy hack to overcome the winter chill, there are plenty of ways to warm up your bathroom floor this winter.

The post How to Keep Bathroom Floors Warm in the Winter appeared first on Learning Center.

Engineered hardwood will help you create an inviting and stylish space. (Jasper Engineered Hardwood – Handscraped Hickory)

1. What is engineered hardwood flooring?

Engineered hardwood flooring features a top layer of hardwood veneer over a plywood, hardwood, or HDF (high density fiber board) core. Because engineered hardwood veneers are made from real wood, and not a photographic layer, they have the natural characteristics of the selected wood species.

2. What are the benefits of engineered hardwood flooring?

Engineered hardwood flooring offers more versatility than solid hardwood flooring because its construction allows it to be installed in many areas where solid planks aren’t recommended (like basements). This is due to its ability to resist moisture and humidity better than solid hardwood, which might be dimensionally unstable under the same conditions. Many engineered options are also able to be installed over underfloor heating systems that would otherwise dry out and damage hardwood.

3. What does greater stability mean?

The instability of solid hardwood flooring is generally moisture or heat related. In unsuitable conditions, solid hardwood can warp, cup, swell, or split apart. Engineered hardwood is more stable because it overcomes many of these problems with its the multi-ply plank construction that counteracts twisting and remains flat and intact.This makes engineered hardwood a better candidate for installation over underfloor heating and concrete, whether it’s above or below grade.

4. How many layers are present in engineered hardwood flooring?

Most types of engineered wood flooring have at least three layers beneath the hardwood veneer. Some options have as many as five to seven layers. More layers provides greater stability.

5. How thick is the hardwood veneer?

The top layer of hardwood, also known as the hardwood veneer, ranges in thickness from 0.5 mm to upwards of 6 mm. Thicker veneer layers are priced higher as they can be refinished multiple times, extending the life of your floor.

6. What’s the thinnest veneer layer that can be refinished?

The top veneer needs to be at least 2 mm thick for refinishing to be possible; if sanding is desired, professional sanding procedures typically remove 1/32 of an inch. The thicker the veneer, the more you can sand it without destroying the floor. However, homeowners with engineered hardwood flooring typically find that they never need to refinish it as these floors come with high quality finishes. If serious damage occurs, its often easier to have the area professionally removed and replaced.

7. What is the Janka hardness test, and what does it tell me about engineered hardwood floors?

The Janka hardness test measures the force needed to lodge a .444-inch steel ball in wood to a depth of half its diameter. This rating is helpful when you’re comparing various wood species because it tells you how hard each type of wood is and their ability to withstand wear and dents.

At the bottom of the scale are species like douglas fir, southern yellow pine, and black cherry with ratings under 1000. Brazilian cherry and mesquite are at the top of the scale, rating over 2300 on the Janka hardness scale. Hardness ratings are particularly important in high-traffic areas.

Janka Hardness Chart:

8. What does it mean when flooring is sold in random lengths?

Depending on the floor manufacturer, lengths will vary. Some will provide boards of all one length, generally at a higher cost because of the quality control measures required. Others will provide boards of random lengths, indicating the shortest board and the longest board lengths per box. With random board lengths, all the boards in the box will fall in between those two lengths. Some manufacturers will note the average board length.

9. How do you install engineered hardwood flooring?

In general, engineered flooring can be installed in one of three different ways:

1. nail down if installing over a plywood subfloor
2. glue down if installing over a plywood or concrete subfloor
3. float if installing over a plywood or concrete subfloor

For nail down installations, the plywood subfloor should be 3/4″ thick, and a 15lb roofing felt or moisture barrier (such as MoistureBlock) should be placed underneath.

If you’re glueing the floor directly on the subfloor, use 100% urethane based adhesive with an integrated vapor barrier.

For floating installations, use an underlayment with a vapor barrier. Usually for this type of installation, the seams will still need to be glued together using regular wood glue such as Elmers or Titebond, unless the flooring is designed for a glue-less click-lock installation.

Please note, the above explanation is a very general guide. Always refer to manufacturer installation instructions for details.

10. What is the maximum variance allowable for a subfloor?

A well-prepared subfloor helps ensure a successful installation of your engineered flooring. The variance should be no more than 3/16-inch over 10 feet.

What other questions do you have about engineered hardwood? Let us know in the comments.

Browse our selection of versatile Engineered Hardwood Flooring here.

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