A hardwood floor is a beautiful, natural element that can elevate the look and feel of any space. However if the floor is scratched and faded, they can actually be a terrible eyesore, and foot sore, if they start to splinter. Luckily the process of refinishing your floors is one that can be undertaken by yourself, without the need to shell out big bucks to some professional.
The first step towards refinishing your floors will be to thoroughly sand them down. No don’t get down on your hands and knees with a strip of sandpaper. This is the modern age, and professional grade automatic floor sanders can be rented from most equipment or hardware stores.
Even using a commercial sander the process will still be fairly labor intensive. The sander is apt to be large, heavy, and difficult to get around, and you will have to cover a lot of surface area if you want to do an entire floor of your house. While sanding, be very certain to move slowly and evenly across the wood. You don’t want to end up with dips or holes.
Once the floor has been completely sanded down, you should thoroughly cleanse it using a damp cloth. You have to be careful to remove all of the sawdust, dirt, and other particles from the floor before actually applying a finishing agent; otherwise the surface will end up being bumpy and ugly.
Choosing a good floor finish can be a bit of a problem. The most powerful commercial grade finishes aren’t sold to private individuals, because they are dangerous to use, and complicated to mix properly. However you will be able to find a variety of water and polyurethane based finishes that should suit your needs. You should specifically look for a kind that is advertised as “low odor”, and which can be re-applied as soon as it dries. If you can apply a second coat of the finish within 24 hours of the first you will save yourself the hassle of having to re-sand the floor in between the two applications.
Make certain that the floor is completely dry and clean before applying the stain. To apply the finish, you should use a good strong, and clean hard bristle brush. Make sure to wipe excess off of the brush to prevent drips, and then apply the stain in very light, even lines, across the floor. Stop often to check the absorption rate of the stain, and use a dry rag to wipe off excess.
Once the floor is refinished and looking like new, you will want to do your best to maintain that appearance. One major way to do this is to avoid harsh chemical cleaning agents. These acidic chemicals can break up the finish of the floor, and eat into the wood.
Instead clean the floor using a clean damp rag or mop. Then afterwards apply a thin coat of scented oil to the floor, to protect its surface, give it a nice clean shine, and fill the room with the aroma of your choice. Just be sure to wipe off excess oil so that the floor does not become too slippery.
Refinishing your floors doesn’t have to be an impossibly difficult or expensive task. Using modern equipment, it is a task that can be undertaken by one or two people, over the course of a weekend. The final result will be a major improvement to the look and feel of your home.
This article was written on behalf of PebbleZ’s rustic natural decorating accessories. The article itself was written and researched by interior expert Joey Pebble.
SW Home Decor
SantaFeDecor.com
WesternCowboyHorseDecor.com
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Does Lighting Really Matter? Give Your Kitchen a New Look
If you’re ready to remodel the kitchen, you’ve probably put a lot of time, money, and energy into selecting kitchen cabinets and flooring. Maybe you’ve gone all-out and ordered upscale countertops that resist stains, damage, and are easy to clean. Changing the lighting fixtures may seem like a very simple step in contrast; after all, how much can lighting really affect the appearance of a room.
In reality, the lighting you choose can make – or break – the atmosphere of the entire room. Want to ruin all of your efforts to create a warm, cozy space that seems comfortable and livable? Add a brightly glaring spotlight that blazes from the center of your room – directly over the spot where you’ve chosen to locate the table.
True, your kitchen is a workroom, and you want to be able to have a brightly lit workspace. Also, you don’t want to hide the room in shadows, a potential result of poorly placed recessed lighting fixtures. So what’s the workable alternative? A little bit of both!
The most innovative concept in lighting design today is called the “layered look.” The first, and brightest, layer of lighting is sometimes referred to as task lighting. Achieve this effect by installing lights that can be turned up when you’re chopping vegetables or baking cookies. Ideally, these lights are located between under wall cabinets, or at another point between your head and your work space.
The second layer of lighting is the one that most people forgo in an effort to save money. Ambient lighting can be located in the recesses of the room, or between the cabinets and the ceiling, and creates that soft glow that gives the room a cozy and conversational feel. If installing a separate lighting source isn’t a practical alternative, consider a dimmer switch instead. Turn up the lights when you’re working, and turn them down for an intimate dinner or quiet coffee conversation.
Accent china cabinets or special artwork with lower-voltage spotlights that draw attention to family heirlooms or treasured glassware are another option. These dimmer lights can also serve to illuminate the room without guzzling power in the evenings when you’re not quite ready yet to turn off all the lights in the kitchen.
Depending on the size and shape of your kitchen, you may have different needs. For example, perhaps you have a center island for a workspace, or want to be sure the children have good lighting at the bar to finish their school work.
Many people often make the mistake of deciding to try to install the lighting themselves, rather than hiring an expert. Lighting can be very complicated and even people with an eye for taste and color often find their decorating schemes undone by poorly chosen lighting.
Adding the proper lighting to your kitchen is definitely one area where an expert in lighting can actually save you money. After all, doing it right the first time is almost always much less expensive than trying to fix the mistakes you didn’t realize you were making.
This article brought to you by PebbleZ’s natural stone beverage coasters. The writing and research for the article was done by Joey Pebble; one of the designers that has worked extensively with the PebbleZ team.
SW Home Decor
SantaFeDecor.com
WesternCowboyHorseDecor.com
In reality, the lighting you choose can make – or break – the atmosphere of the entire room. Want to ruin all of your efforts to create a warm, cozy space that seems comfortable and livable? Add a brightly glaring spotlight that blazes from the center of your room – directly over the spot where you’ve chosen to locate the table.
True, your kitchen is a workroom, and you want to be able to have a brightly lit workspace. Also, you don’t want to hide the room in shadows, a potential result of poorly placed recessed lighting fixtures. So what’s the workable alternative? A little bit of both!
The most innovative concept in lighting design today is called the “layered look.” The first, and brightest, layer of lighting is sometimes referred to as task lighting. Achieve this effect by installing lights that can be turned up when you’re chopping vegetables or baking cookies. Ideally, these lights are located between under wall cabinets, or at another point between your head and your work space.
The second layer of lighting is the one that most people forgo in an effort to save money. Ambient lighting can be located in the recesses of the room, or between the cabinets and the ceiling, and creates that soft glow that gives the room a cozy and conversational feel. If installing a separate lighting source isn’t a practical alternative, consider a dimmer switch instead. Turn up the lights when you’re working, and turn them down for an intimate dinner or quiet coffee conversation.
Accent china cabinets or special artwork with lower-voltage spotlights that draw attention to family heirlooms or treasured glassware are another option. These dimmer lights can also serve to illuminate the room without guzzling power in the evenings when you’re not quite ready yet to turn off all the lights in the kitchen.
Depending on the size and shape of your kitchen, you may have different needs. For example, perhaps you have a center island for a workspace, or want to be sure the children have good lighting at the bar to finish their school work.
Many people often make the mistake of deciding to try to install the lighting themselves, rather than hiring an expert. Lighting can be very complicated and even people with an eye for taste and color often find their decorating schemes undone by poorly chosen lighting.
Adding the proper lighting to your kitchen is definitely one area where an expert in lighting can actually save you money. After all, doing it right the first time is almost always much less expensive than trying to fix the mistakes you didn’t realize you were making.
This article brought to you by PebbleZ’s natural stone beverage coasters. The writing and research for the article was done by Joey Pebble; one of the designers that has worked extensively with the PebbleZ team.
SW Home Decor
SantaFeDecor.com
WesternCowboyHorseDecor.com
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