Friday 9 October 2015

Wooden Flooring: Textures, Floor Styles and Finishes

HAND SCRAPED

Hand scraped is a particular design style that makes wood look aged. The individual planks are made to look like they were carved by hand. This makes them wavy on the top rather than being perfectly smooth. Hand scraped material do not have a wax finish. This makes them easy to clean and maintain. Any wear and tear that the wood may suffer is lost in the texture, making the floor planks' visual appeal last longer. Hand scraped textures are available in both solid and engineered hardwood and can be simulated on laminate and vinyl planks as well.





DISTRESSED

Distressed is similar to hand scraped finishes in that the purpose is to make the wood look aged. However, distressed wood goes through a process that bends the wood to create cracks and lines down the plank while maintaining the boards structural integrity. This keeps the surface of the plank smooth while still having the textured appearance. While it started in hardwood, distressed looks are used primarily in laminate floors.






FRENCH BLEED

French bleed floors have darkened edges that emphasize the bevel outlining each wood plank to create and old and aged look to the wood. This gives the floor an appearance of age and thickness. This style is found in both laminate and hardwood floors.









EMBOSSED IN REGISTER

Embossed in register is a feature in laminate flooring where a surface has different heights following the pattern and wood grains of the image. This means that darker areas may be set deeper into the plank, for instance. This creates a stronger look to the wood texture and feels bumpy to touch.








EMBOSSED

An embossed finish is almost same is embossed in registration but the raised wood does not follow the image pattern. This also has a bumpy feel and strong texture.









HIGH GLOSS

High gloss finishes have a slick, smooth, and shiny surface, similar to look on a piano's surface. Laminates with a glossy finish are created to have the same look as pre-finished wood. These floors need very little maintenance, just an occasional sweep with a dust mop or broom, but the finish can begin to chip under frequent stress.






MATTE

Matte is the standard finish for most floors. They have a semi-shiny appearance and look like real wood. This finish is used in laminates and is the look of most vinyl plank surfaces.











Leaders Floors [About Us]
At Leaders Floors, we deliver top quality and customized solutions for Interior and Exterior Flooring Concepts. We have a wide range of products and designs to choose from, manufactured using best technology in the world. We have developed unique abilities with vast product knowledge and trade experience of offering right service and value for money to our clients.

Customer Care: 98710.71222
Email: info@leadersgroup.co.in
Website: woodenflooring.leadersgroup.co.in

Monday 5 October 2015

Wooden Flooring: Everything you need to know and more...

It's not just the walls that lend a first impression on interiors of a house or office, elegant flooring also makes a world of difference to the interior environment. Among the various flooring options available in market today wooden flooring is fast climbing the popularity ladder. Wooden flooring not only provides your room a distinct look but also a hygienic environment. It does not harbor dust mites or moulds, thus creating better air quality for home inhabitants.

Types of wooden floors 

Wooden flooring is a lifetime investment so the type you choose for your home or office should be selected with due care. There is not much of a variance in quality among the available products today except the difference in patterns. Basically there are three types of wooden flooring patterns, technically known as plain, parquet, plank and strip. These patterns could be simply described as plain, stripes and chequered pattern on wood. Rahul Bhagat of Leaders Floors explains, "Notion brand offers four types of wooden flooring namely, 1 Strip, 3 Strip, Multi Strip and Fine Line (brand names for patterns). The main difference in these four products is that of pattern."

Apart from pattern, colors differentiate type of wooden floors. Wooden floors are available in different wood (brown) shades. Darker shades are selected for high traffic areas to conceal the dust and other stains while lighter shades are preferred for making the room space look bigger.

Price and guarantee 

Wood floors add value to your room but it comes with a price tag. Price of wood floor ranges from Rs. 100 to Rs. 250 per square foot including fitting charges compared to Rs. 75 per square foot for normal tiles.

This means that if you're planning to get wooden flooring then it would cost you somewhere between Rs. 1,00,000 to Rs. 2,50,000 (per 1000 sq. ft.house). Although wood flooring is very popular, few people prefer to get their entire house covered by it. Mainly wooden flooring is done in bedrooms and living room for aesthetic appeal. Moreover it is even costlier than good quality tiles and marble. Expensive it may be, but the wooden flooring comes with guarantees unlike some other flooring products, from 15 years, 30 years and lifetime warranties.

Maintenance 

Maintenance of any product is equally important as its purchase. Caring for wooden floors is a little more than simple sweeping, mopping and vacuuming. Unlike other flooring, wooden floors in bedroom demands more precaution. Like mopping is the last thing which should be done on the wooden floor. Performing routine maintenance as recommended by manufacturer; which includes sweeping and vacuuming to remove dirt and grit, always increases life of the wood. Using wax or polish could harm the wood. However not following the instructions of the manufacturer could even void the guarantee. To increase the life of wood, cleaning should be done on regular basis in the area with more usage.

Where can wooden floors be installed? 

With the variety of patterns and colours available, wooden flooring can be installed in any room of an office or house, except the bathroom. Apart from homes and offices wooden floors are becoming popular even in hotels, restaurants and showrooms.

Some places are more appealing than others, whether it is a house, office, restaurant or a showroom. Flooring makes an evident difference in uplifting the aesthetics of your decor.



Leaders Floors [About Us]
At Leaders Floors, we deliver top quality and customized solutions for Interior and Exterior Flooring Concepts. We have a wide range of products and designs to choose from, manufactured using best technology in the world. We have developed unique abilities with vast product knowledge and trade experience of offering right service and value for money to our clients.

Customer Care: 98710.71222
Email: info@leadersgroup.co.in
Website: woodenflooring.leadersgroup.co.in

Wooden Flooring: Engineered Hardwood vs Laminate Flooring

When you want the look of natural hardwood flooring in your home, you can choose between engineered hardwood and remarkably realistic-looking wood laminate. Both engineered hardwood and laminate make long-lasting and beautiful floors, with laminate looking exactly like the wood species from which it takes inspiration. Both hold up well in active households, including those with kids and pets. Both are easy to clean with just regular sweeping and damp mopping.

Likewise, there are a few differences. Laminate can go anywhere in the house while engineered hardwood is not recommended for frequently damp areas like bathrooms and basements. In cost considerations, engineered hardwood boards do cost more than laminate, yet that distinction deserves a closer look.

Here are the facts concerning the cost of engineered hardwood vs. laminate that may make your buying decision a little easier.

Is hardwood more expensive than laminate?

This question can be answered by looking at three factors: cost, floor life and resale value.

COST
The cost of quality engineered hardwood ranges from Rs.350 – Rs.650 per sq. ft., uninstalled. Installation costs depend on local rates of engineered hardwood flooring installers. For rough estimating, however, figure the cost to be Rs.15 per sq. ft., slightly less than the cost of the laminate.

The quality Laminate flooring costs range from Rs.100 – Rs.235 per sq. ft., uninstalled, with the higher cost reflecting better quality, more realistic-looking designs. The cost to install laminate depends on local area labor rates, is typically Rs.10 per sq. ft.

*These estimates are generalizations for the sake of comparison and don’t include associated costs such as the removal of an existing floor, product delivery, skirting and moldings.

FLOOR LIFE
How long a floor will last depends on wear, tear and maintenance. Under ideal conditions, laminate floors typically last 20 – 30 years while engineered hardwood floors can easily last a lifetime. The significant difference in life cycles is explained by the fact that laminate floors cannot be refinished when they get damaged or show signs of wear. Engineered hardwood floors, on the other hand, can be rejuvenated with sanding and refinishing, not only once but 2 – 4 times during the floor’s life.

RESALE VALUE
An engineered hardwood floor is considered an investment because it often dictates higher resale value when it comes time to sell your home. Prospective buyers will recognize the level of quality you chose. Laminate, on the other hand, may look like genuine hardwood, but it doesn’t have the same market appeal.

VERDICT
So, what’s the best choice when comparing the cost of engineered hardwood vs. laminate? After considering the total cost, floor life and resale value factors, engineered hardwood flooring is an excellent value.



Leaders Floors [About Us]
At Leaders Floors, we deliver top quality and customized solutions for Interior and Exterior Flooring Concepts. We have a wide range of products and designs to choose from, manufactured using best technology in the world. We have developed unique abilities with vast product knowledge and trade experience of offering right service and value for money to our clients.

Customer Care: 98710.71222
Email: info@leadersgroup.co.in
Website: woodenflooring.leadersgroup.co.in

Wooden Flooring: History of Flooring From across the World

Earthen Floor [since the beginning of time]
Hard-packed dirt, topped with thin layer of straw for warmth and comfort. In medieval times, almost all peasants housing had earthen floors. It was predominant in most houses until the mid-14th century in Europe.

Earthen floors have been developed and are now used as a part of a 'green building' movement. Linseed oil is used to seal the floor and protect it from wear and tear.

Where can you find it now...?
The Roman Amphitheater, London


Stone Floor [since the beginning of time]
Formed deep beneath the surface under intense heat and pressure. This heat and pressure created massive blocks of natural stones like marble, granite, limestone, slate and travertine used then and now as flooring.

Enormous blocks of limestone and granite were used to construct Step Pyramids in Egypt, the oldest remaining structures created entirely out of natural stones..

Where can you find it now...?
The Great Pyramid, Giza


Concrete Floor [created 5600 BC]
A mixture of broken stone or gravel, sand, cement and water, which can be spread and poured into molds and forms a stone like mass on hardening.

The ancient Romans used a material that is remarkably close to modern cement to build many of their architectural marvels, such as Colosseum, Rome.

Where can you find it now...?
The Roman Pantheon, Rome


Carpet Floor [created 5000 BC]
A floor covering made of thick woven fabric. Carpets were primarily used to decorate walls or tables until Persian rugs became popular in Europe in the early 17th century.

A few hundred years later, the United States carpet industry came into being when William Sprague started the first woven carpet mill in Pennsylvania in 1971.

Where can you find it now...?
The Pazyryk Carpet


Ceramic Tiles [created 4000 BC]
A tile made from clay that has been permanently hardened by heat, often having a decorative glaze. The Romans introduced tile-making in Western Europe as they occupied territories. However, the art was eventually forgotten in Europe for centuries until the 12th century when Cistercian monks developed a method of making encaustic floor tiles with inlaid patterns for cathedral and church floors.

Tiles were not made again in Europe until almost the mid-19th century.

Where can you find it now...?
The Vatican, Rome


Hardwood Floor [created 1600 AD]
The wood from a broadleaved tree (such as oak, ash or beech) as distinguished from that of conifers. Hardwood got its start as unfinished planks supported by wooden joists over dirt or stone but developed style and elegance during the Baroque Era (1625-1714).

European parquet floors began to appear in the wealthiest American homes late in the Victorian era (1840-1910) when factories began mass-producing wood floors. The advent of tongue and groove construction in the Edwardian Era (1901-1914) allowed planks to be levelled before installation for a more polished, uniform look, and the look we are still familiar with today began to take shape.

Where can you find it now...?
The Winter Palace, Saint Petersburg


Linoleum/Vinyl Floor [created 1855 AD]
A material consisting of a canvas backing thickly coated with a preparation of linseed oil and powdered cork, used especially as a floor covering.

Linoleum or vinyl flooring had its heyday before World War II but is steadily mounting a comeback. Linoleum was invented by English Fredrick Walton. In 1855, Walton happened to notice the rubbery, flexible skin of solidified linseed oil (linoxyn) that had formed on a can of oil-based paint.

Where can you find it now...?
The Armstrong Pattern Book


Engineered Hardwood Floor [created 1960 AD]
A layered combination that combines a hardwood veneer and plywood substrates.

Engineered hardwood flooring started as 'wood carpeting' in 1903, involving wood strips glued onto heavy canvas. The flooring we now know began in 1960s, and was quickly considered more versatile than solid wood flooring.

Where can you find it now...?
Found in typical family homes


Laminate Flooring [created 1970 AD]
A Multi-layer synthetic flooring product fused together with a lamination process. Laminate flooring simulates wood (or sometimes stone) with a photographic applique layer under clear protective layer. The inner core layer is usually composed of melamine resin and fiber board materials.

Laminate flooring was invented in 1977 by the Swedish company Perstorp.

Where can you find it now...?
Found in budget conscious homes


Leaders Floors [About Us]
At Leaders Floors, we deliver top quality and customized solutions for Interior and Exterior Flooring Concepts. We have a wide range of products and designs to choose from, manufactured using best technology in the world. We have developed unique abilities with vast product knowledge and trade experience of offering right service and value for money to our clients.

Customer Care: 98710.71222
Email: info@leadersgroup.co.in
Website: woodenflooring.leadersgroup.co.in