In a recent laminate flooring poll, voters were asked their opinions of laminate floors as viable option. Overall, the web survey proved to be a mixed bag. Some love the laminates, while others despise them for being cheap. If you’re thinking about using this product, let’s go through the results from Floor Talk’s MicroPoll. I don’t want to bore you with the numbers but here goes. 42% think laminate flooring is a great product that will give you the look of hardwood for less money and is more practical for your family and traffic patterns.

The next highest percentage of voters took a completely opposite reaction. 36% of them believe laminate floors are cheap. On the flip side, some would argue that laminate flooring has made great strides over the years with new technologies. I tend to agree but at the same time it’s very hard to beat the warmth of real hardwood floors.

The remaining 22% say it is loud and clicky or they think it scratches easily and will not hold up to your family and traffic patterns. What’s most important about this survey? We’ll, it shows that consumers are torn between traditional products and cheaper alternatives. (more…)

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There are several ways to add a new shine to that dirty old garage floor. Here are some ways to convert the garage into a NASCAR showroom. To get started you have to clean the floor; it’s a dirty job but one that must be done. Oil and grease stains have to go, especially if you’re going to paint.

One way to eliminate these tough spots is to use a pressure sprayer. This high-powered cleaner should remove most grease and debris with ease. A steam cleaner can be just as effective. Another way to clean the floor is by giving your garage floor an acid wash. This surface preparation can be completed with a push broom and solvent. It removes contaminates while leaving your floor with a sand paper like finish. Once you’ve cleaned the floor your ready to apply a new floor.

Epoxy is a popular do-it-yourself makeover. Keep in mind, if your cement floor is sealed you’ll have to rent or buy a concrete grinder; this will prep the cement for the epoxy application. You’ll need roller brushes with an extension arm, plus the epoxy coating kit. Start by mixing the basecoats of the epoxy together. Then work in six-by-six foot sections, beginning in the furthest quadrant of the room. Once you’ve completed a section, toss in some color chips to give it that marble look. When you’ve finished the entire floor, let it cure for 24 hours. Apply a protective cover and you’re done. For more information on epoxy floors go to this website: http://originalcolorchips.com/store/.



• The G-Floor from Better Life Technology requires virtually no tools for installation. This polyvinyl laminate is merely rolled on to your garage floor. It adheres easily to cement and can be trimmed with scissors for a perfect fit. The G-Floor comes with a vapor/moisture barrier preventing oil and grease from seeping through. It’s also easy to clean; just remove it from the garage and spray it down with the hose. (more…)

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Tile has been a popular choice as a flooring material all over the world for centuries. I enjoy it in my home as it is easy to clean, durable, cooler in the summer, and always looks clean and attractive. Before you invest in new tile for your home, whether it is for the indoors or out, you should check its durability based upon the Porcelain Enamel Institute’s (PEI) rating system. If you’ve already gone tile shopping, you probably have heard the term PEI Rating. This rating system tests how much foot traffic each type of tile can endure and ranks the durability of the tile from one to five. For exterior purposes, a rating under four is not recommended.

• Ceramic Tile. Although very attractive, ceramic tiles have a PEI rating of 0-3 and are not recommended for heavy traffic areas. They also absorb more water, which makes them less desirable for exterior applications. The water can either freeze, causing cracks, or lead to mold or mildew growth.
• Porcelain Tile. These tiles are very durable and many have a PEI rating of 5 making, them an excellent choice for both indoors and out.
• Natural Stones. These can include granite, slate, limestone, travertine, and marble. The PEI ratings vary with these, with all of them except marble being durable enough for floor use.

PEI ratings are broken down as follows: (more…)

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