The idea of acclimating hardwoods is a solution to a longstanding problem with finished wood products, especially flooring. In fact, it is not so much a solution to any problem so much as a move to work with the innate characteristics of wood instead of ignoring them. Inherently, wood is susceptible to changes in moisture content: when it dries it will shrink or contract, when the wood soaks up moisture it naturally expands. Acclimation is simply the process of allowing wood to adjust to what will be its everyday climate before installing the product.

Every home has felt the effects of wood’s moody lifestyle. If nowhere else than having to slam that front door in the humid, summer months. Even more critical to the look and feel of your home is your hardwood flooring. Problem #1 with hardwood flooring has always been its want to expand and contract, resulting in squeaks, cracks, and buckling from water getting into loose seams and wreaking havoc on the subfloor and beyond. So here are the basics of acclimation–a relatively simple process that can add several years to the life of the wood. (more…)

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There are now so many different and beautiful flooring options for homeowners to choose between; it really helps to know what product you are looking for before you begin shopping. What about limestone flooring, what are its pros and cons, and how does it compare to other flooring choices? (more…)

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The first decision to be made in your new tiling project is what type of stone to use. Understanding the qualities of, and differences between, each type of stone will make this choice an easier one to make.

Granite, of course, is the most popular of stones because of its excellent durability, bold colors and textures, and affordable price relative to other natural stones. It is granite’s caliber and practicality that account for its popularity.

Marble, while more expensive and less durable than granite, is unrivaled in appearance and texture. It is the contrasts evident in marble that make it such a high-end, luxurious stone. Two main types of marble are polished and tumbled. Tumbled marble is just that; tumbled or blasted with water to provide the same array of colors as polished marble but without the glossy finish. This has the advantage of reducing the visibility of scratches and water spots so easily noticed on a polished, mirror-like finish. (more…)

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