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	<title>Maple Flooring</title>
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	<link>http://mapleflooring.net</link>
	<description>Maple Flooring and Hardwood Floors</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:47:21 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Wide Plank Flooring</title>
		<link>http://mapleflooring.net/wide-plank-flooring/</link>
		<comments>http://mapleflooring.net/wide-plank-flooring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:47:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maple Flooring</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Wide Plank Flooring]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mapleflooring.net/?p=42</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Wide plank flooring is available in hardwood forms like pine, oak and other wood, in addition to laminate wooden styles for a great, classic look.]]></description>
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<p>Installing wide plank  flooring  is one of the best possible ways to give your home’s floor a much  more authentic and classic real hardwood look.  No matter what  type you choose, you can guarantee that your home will just look better  when this type of flooring is used.  Plus you’ll find that literally  any type of  hardwood that you may enjoy most is available in this  format, so you’re guaranteed to have the wood you want, in any room  of your home. All you have to do, is find the right type of wide plank  flooring for your home, so that you can enjoy your home’s floors in  a completely new way.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s important  to pick out the right type of wide plank flooring that’s tailored  to the room, so the first thing you want to do is map out the place  in your home you want your flooring to be put.  Remember, you want  lighter woods in brighter rooms, as they adapt to the constant sunlight  much better.  In fact, it’s important not to place a dark wood  in a room that receives direct sunlight.  This is because, practically  no matter what type of protective coating you put on the surface, you’ll   face sun bleaching of some kind down the line. That will change the  color of your floor in a way that just looks ugly and unnatural, and  that will really take down the value of your floor.</p>
<p>After that, you want to get  a good idea of cost.  The only way to do that is to measure out  the entire area where your floor will go, so that you can get an idea  of how much material you’re going to need.  Remember, pretty  much every single flooring supply is sold by the square foot, so you’re  able to judge how much material is going to cost, once you have an  accurate  measurement of how many square feet your floor encompasses.  Only  with this number can you be sure about the size of your floor, so that  you can better plan out just what type of wood is within your price  range.</p>
<p>Remember that authentic  hardwoods  look beautiful, but they also cost a lot for the privilege of having  them.  For that reason, you may need to go with engineered wide  plank flooring.  This is a cheaper way to get a great high quality  floor like you’ve always wanted, for a very low price.  While  some types of floors like hardwood require a lot of complicated  installation  techniques, from gluing the boards down, to ensuring that they interlock   properly, you’ll find engineered are much easier.  Because they  can be created in exactly the perfect shape every time, you’ll find  that boards of this type are able to be molded into the exact shape  that you need, without a problem, and they fit together with ease.</p>
<p>Of course, as with most other  products, the best place to buy all the wide plank flooring you could  possibly need, is always going to be online.  Through websites  like iFloor.com you can find literally any type of flooring you could  possibly want, to decorate your home in a completely new way.   Plus, the wide plank flooring you buy here is usually cheaper than  anywhere  else, and that’s something anyone would appreciate.</p>
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		<title>Hand Scraped Wood Flooring</title>
		<link>http://mapleflooring.net/hand-scraped-wood-flooring/</link>
		<comments>http://mapleflooring.net/hand-scraped-wood-flooring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:42:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maple Flooring</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Hand Scraped Flooring]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mapleflooring.net/?p=40</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hand scraped wood flooring gives your hardwood floors a high quality, natural look where each plank looks naturally carved.]]></description>
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<p>When you’re looking for a  more classic and authentic hardwood look for your floors, the best  possible  option is always going to be hand scraped wood flooring.  This  is the utmost in quality, and allows the wood on your floor to look  truly natural.  The problem with glossy treated and processed surfaces,  is that they take the natural look completely out of the wood, so that  you’re left with something that doesn’t really look or feel like  wood.  But with hand scraped wood flooring, your floor still has  texture and life, and you’ll be amazed by just how much you enjoy  the structure.</p>
<p>What sets hand scraped wood  flooring apart from other types of hardwood floors, is the fact that  it’s hand treated so that it still has somewhat uneven edges.   This way, the wood feels naturally carved, so that there is texture  and depth to each plank.  Also, you’ll find that no two planks  are identical, which makes for an extremely beautiful surface to  behold.   Wood of this type is also extremely strong and durable, as it’s in  a much more natural state.  That means you can count on yours to  last you for a lifetime, no matter which type that you choose.   However, you’ll also find that hand scraped wood flooring can be quite  expensive.  For that reason, you want to be a more informed shopper  before you begin looking for different types of wood.</p>
<p>One of the most important  things  to investigate, is going to be how much material you need.  This  is important ,as it lets you know the prices that you can expect, so  that you know what’s in your price range, and what’s considered  unacceptable.  You can do this by measuring the entire length and  width of the floor, so that you can figure out how many square feet  your floor encompasses.  This is important, as the larger your  floor may be, the more material you’ll need.  But also, flooring  materials are sold by the square foot, so you need to know how many  square feet your floor encompasses, to know what costs you can expect.</p>
<p>Also, you’ll want to weigh  your options between choosing hand scraped wood flooring, or machine  scraped.  While hand worked is always the most ideal selection,  it’s also always going to be the most expensive.  But you’ll  find you can basically get the same look with machine scraped, for a  lot cheaper.  while the planks will be more uniform, and a trained  eye can recognize that your hand scraped wood flooring won’t be  authentic,  they will still look beautiful.  Plus this can be a great compromise  to get the floor you want, but at a price that you can readily afford.   All you have to do, is find the right type of flooring, that you will  enjoy the best in your home.</p>
<p>Typically the best way to get  hand scraped wood flooring of any kind, is to go through an internet  retailer of some sort.  This is because they have the widest variety  of different types of flooring, and can usually offer the type you need  at a great low price.  Through sites like WorldFloorsDirect.com  you can find great hand scraped wood flooring, at a price anyone can  afford.</p>
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		<title>Exotic Hardwood Floors</title>
		<link>http://mapleflooring.net/exotic-hardwood-floors/</link>
		<comments>http://mapleflooring.net/exotic-hardwood-floors/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:39:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maple Flooring</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Exotic Floors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mapleflooring.net/?p=38</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Exotic hardwood floors in styles like Brazilian cherry and walnut, canary, bamboo and more are a top notch choice in the wood flooring world.]]></description>
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<p>Installing exotic hardwood  floors in your home is the best possible way to make your floor shine  in a whole new way.  When you want nothing but the best for your  home, you’ll find that no other material will combine the great visual  appeal, as well as style that this type of flooring provides.   All you have to do, is find the right type of exotic hardwood floors  for your home.  There are so many different kinds of wood, making  the right choice is extremely difficult at times.  But that’s  part of the fun of redesigning your home, with a great new floor.</p>
<p>The main thing to think about,   is picking a type of exotic hardwood floors that you will enjoy the  most.  You want to pick a great natural color that works with the  room, but that you will also love looking at.  Whether you like  the rich color of Brazilian cherry wood, or the lighter beauty present  in canary, there is a style suited to you perfectly.  All you have  to do is inspect the various kinds, and find a shade that works for  you. Remember the type of exotic hardwood floors you choose, will  dictate  how the rest of the room should be decorated, so make your decision  carefully.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s also important  to match the type of wood that you choose, to the amount of sunlight  that a room receives.  Despite the high quality found in authentic  exotic hardwood floors, you can still suffer some color loss, or  bleaching  when it comes to very sunny conditions.  For that reason, you want  to be sure that you pick a light color for very sunny rooms, and deserve   beautiful dark hardwoods, for rooms that stay relatively dark all the  time.  Otherwise you can run into all sorts of trouble, especially  because hardwood floors are expensive.  The last thing you want,  is for your massive investment to be ruined in an instance like sun  bleaching.</p>
<p>Also, budget is something that  you’re going to have to think about, as authentic exotic hardwood  floors are very expensive.  They don’t come cheap, as the materials  are hard to find, and even more expensive to have shipped and available  to your location.  You can expect a really quality floor to cost  over $1,000 at the least.  For that reason, you may also want to  opt for engineered wood, that’s meant to look like exotic hardwood  floors.  This can be a great way to save money, while still giving  your home the look you want.  While they don’t look quite as  nice, you’ll find that they are still ideal in most cases, for giving  your home a new look on a limited budget.</p>
<p>The best place to shop when  you’re looking to buy real exotic hardwood floors, is always going  to be online.  Because materials are so expensive you want to cut  costs anyway that you can.  For that reason, you should consider  using websites like NationwideFloors.com for all of your flooring  needs.   There you can find any type of exotic hardwood floors material you could   want to make your home shine in a completely new and beautiful way.</p>
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		<title>Engineered Maple Flooring</title>
		<link>http://mapleflooring.net/engineered-maple-flooring/</link>
		<comments>http://mapleflooring.net/engineered-maple-flooring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:36:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maple Flooring</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Engineered Flooring]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mapleflooring.net/?p=36</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Engineered maple flooring is an elegant form of floating wood floors, giving you the look and feel of real hardwood at a more affordable cost.]]></description>
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<p>When you’re looking to redo  the floors of your home, you just can’t find a better option than  hardwood.  However, that type of material doesn’t come without  cost, and that’s just not affordable on most budgets.  For that  reason, you  may want to consider going with a great affordable  alternative like engineered maple flooring.  This is a material  that you can trust to look fantastic, as well as be extremely durable,  for as long as you’ll be living in your home.   Plus, engineered  maple flooring is much easier to install, and will ensure that you’re  not left with a hassle, like what you could expect with a real  hardwood.</p>
<p>The real plus of engineered  maple flooring, is that the planks in engineered woods are designed  to fit together perfectly, so that you don’t face a hassle to glue  your floorboards down.  Typically that means that any engineered  floor is going to be essentially a  floating style, but they are  easier to assemble, and require little effort on your part, compared  to other designs.  That gives you the opportunity to even do the  job yourself, so that you can save even more money by reducing  installation  costs.  Of course, there is some preparation you will want to do,  before you simply purchase your engineered maple flooring materials.</p>
<p>The first thing is to prepare  your sub floor.  Because you’ll be installing the engineered  maple flooring right over the top of an existing structure, you have  to make sure the floor underneath is completely clean and smooth.   This is important, so that you can be sure the floating material will  take hold properly.  That’s very important, as engineered maple  flooring is more forgiving for irregular floors.  But for the long  term health of your materials, you need to be sure that the sub floor  is prepped properly.  That way you can be sure your planks are  ready to be placed, and you can also guarantee that they can be placed  safely.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s also important  to know how much material you’re going to need beforehand, and for  that you’ll want to measure the entire floor first.  By measuring  the length and width of the entire area, you’ll be able to judge  accurately,  just how much flooring material you’ll need.  Remember this is  usually sold by the square foot, so you want to know the exact amount  of square feet that encompass the area where you’ll be installing  your flooring.  That means you just have to multiply the width  against the length, and you have an accurate number that tells you how  much engineered maple flooring is needed in the room.</p>
<p>You can typically find  engineered  maple flooring easily through hardware stores, as well as online  retailers.   Stores like Home Depot are great for practically any flooring you could  need, engineered or otherwise, plus they have the supplies you need  for do it yourself installation.  But of course, the most ideal  way to get the items you need, is to order your engineered maple  flooring  supplies online.  Through websites like WorldFloorsDirect.com you  can find literally any type of material you could possibly need, at  a lower price than you might expect.</p>
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		<title>Brazilian Teak Flooring</title>
		<link>http://mapleflooring.net/brazilian-teak-flooring/</link>
		<comments>http://mapleflooring.net/brazilian-teak-flooring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:34:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maple Flooring</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[teak flooring]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mapleflooring.net/?p=34</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Adding Brazilian teak flooring to your home can really be a fantastic way to improve the look of any room, guaranteed.  Not only will a real hardwood like this have the whole area looking better.  But you’ll simply be amazed at the quality you find your home takes on, with an improved visual appearance.  Guests [...]]]></description>
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<p>Adding Brazilian teak  flooring  to your home can really be a fantastic way to improve the look of any  room, guaranteed.  Not only will a real hardwood like this have  the whole area looking better.  But you’ll simply be amazed at  the quality you find your home takes on, with an improved visual  appearance.   Guests will be amazed, and you can really wow family members the next  time they choose to visit.  All you have to do is find the right  type of Brazilian teak flooring, so that you can ensure your floor is  affordable, as well as beautiful.</p>
<p>One of the main things to  consider,  is that any authentic hardwood material, like Brazilian teak flooring  is always going to be very expensive.  This is because it’s an  authentic hardwood that can be fairly rare to find in high qualities  and quantities like are needed for harvesting the material to be used  for commercial purposes.  That means covering your entire floor  can get very expensive, considering the whole job can literally cost  into the thousands.  For that reason, you want to find great flooring  materials, but you want to be sure that they are affordable.</p>
<p>Although, before starting any  type of flooring work, you’re going to want to find out about how  much material you will need exactly to get the job done.  This  is important, so that you can ensure that you have enough flooring  materials  to completely cover your floor, so that you don’t have to worry about  going over budget or not being able to finish the job.  The best  way to estimate cost, is to measure the entire length and height of  the room, so that you know the size of the area you need to cover.   This way, you can make an estimate based upon material costs, as to  just how much the floor itself will run, beyond the workmanship needed  to actually install the floor itself.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s also important  to ensure that you buy your Brazilian teak flooring from the right  place.   You want to be sure that you go with a reputable manufacturer, so that  you can guarantee you get a quality product at the right price.   That means going with a company that you trust.  Usually the best  of these can be found online, through retailers like  LumberLiquidators.com  or iFloor.com, where you can find the resources to purchase any type  of hardwood flooring you could possibly need.  There you can purchase  all the Brazilian teak flooring you want, at a price that’s bound  to be lower than you expect.</p>
<p>But of course, even cheap  hardwood  is still expensive and just not an option for everyone.  For that  reason, you may want to consider going with an cheaper alternative.   One of the best choices you can make when it comes to affordable  flooring,  is always going to be using engineered wood.  You’ll find that  engineered Brazilian teak flooring looks almost as good as the real  stuff.  Plus it’s much cheaper, easier to install, and still  lasts a fantastically long time.  All you have to do is find the  most realistic Brazilian teak flooring possible, so that you can enjoy  the great new look of your home.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Maple Flooring</title>
		<link>http://mapleflooring.net/maple-flooring/</link>
		<comments>http://mapleflooring.net/maple-flooring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:25:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maple Flooring</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[top-menu]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mapleflooring.net/?p=31</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Maple flooring comes in hardwood, laminate, engineered, solid, and several other beautiful forms.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- 		@page { margin: 0.79in } 		P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->There is a special appeal that maple flooring can provide that no other material can deliver. Maple is a rich material that boasts splendid texture and color, and has been used extensively to create some of the most esteemed and valued furniture pieces over the past few centuries.  As maple is a priceless and prized commodity, you can expect the price of maple floors to be rather expensive as well.  Maple hardwood flooring and other varieties are often found in the homes of the rich and famous to adorn their lavish homes along with the use of marble and other expensive materials.</p>
<p>With its creamy white color and straight and attractive swirling granules, maple is considered one of the most beautiful types of wood around and it commands a relatively high price in the marketplace. Because of its high resistance to scratches, it makes a great material to use as a floor surface. Its bright, reflective colors make it an attractive addition to any home.</p>
<p>You can choose from soft oak  and hard oak flooring, also known as the rock. There are other variations like brown oak, which is actually harvested from the same exact tree as the white maple. The brown maple floors can create a unique appeal, but they are less popular than white maple ones. The whiter version has an array of interesting granules that is visible in the white woods, which makes it extremely fashionable and elegant.</p>
<p>If you are interested in using maple flooring in your own home, you can choose from solid maple hardwood floors and maple laminate flooring, which gives you the same look without the high price tag of solid wood floors. However, laminate maple floors can be less durable than solid maple floors to some extent. Solid wood floors are the best choice to have of you have a big budget and can afford the high price tag of this type of flooring. However, they can be vulnerable to moisture and stains, so it would not be a good idea to install these in your kitchen.</p>
<p>Engineered maple flooring is good if you desire an easy installation and more affordable prices that these engineered pieces offer. These floors are also more durable to moisture and the individual pieces attached to create the planks can move and expand on their own when exposed to water, so they won&#8217;t likely crack or become damaged due to spills.</p>
<p>To maintain the impressive look that any maple floors can deliver, you need to be sure that you don’t use soap and water to clean any maple wood flooring. The water can seep into the wood and cause it to fray and feather at the edges, especially if these are unfinished wood items that have no protective sealant to cover them.</p>
<p>Remove all instances of dirt and dust (especially sand) and do not use anything to clean your floors that can scratch the surface of the maple wood.  Avoid dragging furniture with sharp edges like nails and metallic ends that can scratch the surface of any maple flooring to ensure that it lasts you for many years to come.</p>
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		<title>Maple Hardwood Flooring</title>
		<link>http://mapleflooring.net/maple-hardwood-flooring/</link>
		<comments>http://mapleflooring.net/maple-hardwood-flooring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:08:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maple Flooring</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[top-menu]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mapleflooring.net/?p=27</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Maple hardwood flooring is one of the most elegant surfaces for floors, with great practical and aesthetic appeal.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- 		@page { margin: 0.79in } 		P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->Maple hardwood flooring is beautiful, and exceptionally appealing because of its light texture and the intriguing blond color that sets it apart from other types of hardwood floors in the marketplace. You can almost instantly recognize maple furniture from a distance and the same attraction is similarly found in maple hardwood floors. Maple can withstand the high foot traffic that can often come into contact with floors, giving it a great deal of practical appeal on top of its good looks.  Maple wood flooring is famous because of its availability, its variations in color, and the durability it provides.</p>
<p>Most of the solid maple hardwood floors we see today come from the U.S and Canadian forests, and some are imported from overseas. The imported versions are known as exotic hardwood floors, while the local ones are refer to as the domestic wood flooring.  Exotic maple wood is much more expensive than products manufactured from domestic sources.  It is important to note that exotic wood floors tend to be more sensitive to light and if the rooms you plan to install your maple hardwood floors are subjected to plenty of light during the day, you can expect the wood to experience a slight change in color over time.</p>
<p>Maple hardwood floors can be tough on the wallet, but if you are trying to save money you can opt for unfinished maple hardwood flooring, which you can purchase for a much lower price than prefinished hardwood floors. The ones made from  more expensive materials will obviously cost you more, and the hardwood maple floors utilizing lower quality materials will be more affordable.</p>
<p>The price of maple wood flooring depends on the grade of the individual wood planes. The most expensive ones show almost no visible imperfections on the surface. The lowest quality maple hardwood floors are often rustic in appearance and show plenty of blemished and knots. The more attractive parts are harvested to create the highest quality maple  wood floors. The good thing is, all of these grades have the same strength and durability, and the difference lies in the cosmetic appeal.</p>
<p>Before you consider the type and grade of maple hardwood flooring you want for your own home, it is best to have a few questions answered. The first thing you should think about is the amount of light the space is getting during the day. If the area is exposed to sunlight for long periods of time, then you may want to go with domestic flooring, as the exotic maple hardwood floors tend to change color over the long haul if these are exposed to harsh sunlight. The next thing to consider is the existing furniture you have in the room. It is important to match your maple hardwood floors up with the existing décor in the room.</p>
<p>Once you have these any maple hardwood flooring in your home, you can always refinish the surface for a totally different look if you are tired of the same appearance after a few years.  Maple hardwood floors can be costly to obtain, but the investment can last many years down the line, giving you years of luxury and pleasure if these are present in your home</p>
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		<title>Maple Laminate Flooring</title>
		<link>http://mapleflooring.net/maple-laminate-flooring/</link>
		<comments>http://mapleflooring.net/maple-laminate-flooring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maple Flooring</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[top-menu]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mapleflooring.net/?p=23</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Maple laminate flooring is a luxurious option for any home, yet cheaper than solid maple wood.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- 		@page { margin: 0.79in } 		P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->Maple laminate flooring is a cheaper alternative to using solid maple wood floors to create the beautiful floors for a modern home. The process of lamination refers to the act of layering thin sheets of decorative materials over a synthetic base or a particle board. As maple and other types of solid wood are very expensive, using this technique can be a real life saver in terms of the amount of money you can save by utilizing this technique. Laminated maple floors are the product of a process where layers of wood strips are placed over a particle board or any synthetic base.</p>
<p>The thin strip of wood is then covered with a protective sealant, which prevents it from breaking down. The pieces are then glued or stapled down for a firm bond, or even snapped into place just like a jigsaw puzzle. The downside to using maple laminate wood flooring is these are not as sturdy as the materials they try to imitate &#8211; the real solid maple wood floors. Laminated wood flooring is highly vulnerable to moisture and water, and it is easy to damage a beautiful surface simply due to a few spills and stains. It tends to be susceptible to scratches too.  When the glossy surface of laminate maple flooring is scratched, the real material underneath can start to show through.</p>
<p>The first ever maple laminate floors were designed in Europe back in the 1980s. After the initial attention they received from the masses, laminate wood floors made their way to the US and all over the world. The earlier versions of maple laminate flooring were rather inferior and very prone to the damage caused by normal household activities. Today, these  floors are created with much higher quality materials and are much sturdier than their early predecessors.</p>
<p>Most home improvement stores carry a wide selection of maple laminate floor planks along with adhesive glue and an installation manual to allow you to do it yourself without the need for help from a professional. If you are adventurous and would like to experience DIY maple laminate flooring and save some cash in the process, head on over to your local hardware or home improvement stores and you can buy the supplies for a much lower price than if you were to hire someone to do it for you.</p>
<p>This wood will not fade much with age or become dingy with use. It can easily maintain its splendid just installed look even after years of the installation. It responds well to high moisture areas and can resist spills and stains.</p>
<p>Another great feature of the maple laminate wood floor is it can provide adequate noise reduction in ways that normal wood flooring cannot deliver.  It makes it perfect for a perfect solution in high traffic areas where traditional hardwood is simply impractical to use.</p>
<p>You can also mix and match two or more types of maple laminate flooring to achieve a new and unique effect.  If you desire such bold and daring statements to use in your home, it is best to consult a trained specialist who can help you to make a great choice that creates the impressive effect you want.</p>
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		<title>Unfinished Wood Flooring</title>
		<link>http://mapleflooring.net/unfinished-wood-flooring/</link>
		<comments>http://mapleflooring.net/unfinished-wood-flooring/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:52:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maple Flooring</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[top-menu]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mapleflooring.net/?p=20</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Unfinished wood floors can be a great money saver, costing far less than prefinished wood flooring.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- 		@page { margin: 0.79in } 		P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->Unfinished wood flooring can be a great choice for your home, but before you decide that this is your best choice, there are some vital questions you should address that may aid you in making the best decision when it comes to the flooring style that you choose.  Unfinished wood floors have their benefits, as well as a few potential drawbacks.</p>
<p>They&#8217;re typically available in more styles and varieties than finished wood floors, so the options are virtually limitless when it comes to unfinished wood flooring.</p>
<p>Here are some handy tips you can use to help you decide if unfinished solid wood flooring is a good fit for your home.</p>
<p>Factor #1: Type of Installation</p>
<p>Is your unfinished wood floor going to be a totally new installation, or simply an upgrade of your existing floor? Will the installation be targeted at a specific area inside your home, or will it cover the entire house?  If this is meant for a new installation, unfinished wood is perfect for the task. If it is purchased for the entire house, then probably you may want to reconsider your options as it can be very inconvenient to finish all the work yourself when the space is really large. You would be better off with prefinished wood floors, as they can deliver the a consistent color and finish throughout the entire area.</p>
<p>Tip #2: Budget</p>
<p>If you find yourself on a limited budget, then unfinished wood flooring might be perfect for you. It costs much less than prefinished wood flooring and can potentially save you thousands of dollars depending upon the measurements of the space you have in mind.  Also known as distressed wood flooring, this is a very economical choice that makes it extremely popular in homes around the world.</p>
<p>Tip #3: Custom Size</p>
<p>If you need specially designed custom made wood planks, then go for unfinished hardwood floors. They offers you much more flexibility and convenience. If you are trying to create a special effect that matches the other furniture in your home, then unfinished hardwood flooring could definitely be the way to go. You can paint or stain it to match the exact texture and color of your furniture.</p>
<p>Tip #4:  Location</p>
<p>If you are planning to install unfinished wood planks in your basement or places with high levels of humidity, then you&#8217;re wise to consider using unfinished wooded floors here. If you want, you can then even finish the wood to suit your particular needs and interests, or you can even leave them unfinished for a more natural look.</p>
<p>Tip #5: Skills</p>
<p>If you have the necessary skills to be able to paint or stain the wooden planks yourself, then by all means go on and get the unfinished wooden planks. You will save a lot of money by finishing and installing the wood planks yourself. Be sure you don’t have any small kids that may make the job difficult for you, or any pets around that could get in the way if you plan to do it yourself.</p>
<p>If all of the factors seem to be in favor of getting unfinished wood flooring, you&#8217;ll likely be very happy with your decision once you decide to go with these floors.</p>
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		<title>Floating Wood Floors</title>
		<link>http://mapleflooring.net/floating-wood-floors/</link>
		<comments>http://mapleflooring.net/floating-wood-floors/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:04:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Maple Flooring</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[top-menu]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://mapleflooring.net/?p=17</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Floating wood floors are a far more affordable option than traditional hardwood flooring.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- 		@page { margin: 0.79in } 		P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } -->Floating wood floors are the result of smart modern technology and engineering.  They let homeowners enjoy the beauty of wood flooring over existing floors that may be made from concrete, cement, wood subfloors, and any other types of flooring that may be used as the base for installing floating wood over them. This is considerably less expensive than getting a solid wood floor solution.</p>
<p>Floating hardwood floors make use of strips of wood that are installed over a solid and flat concrete surface like concrete slabs or vinyl floors, allowing you to enjoy the natural appearance of wood in your house without spending a ton of money to install solid wood floors in the area.</p>
<p>Floating wood flooring is great if you live in a humid area where moisture content is high during most times of the year. These are individually installed slabs of wooded planks, so any form of expansion and contraction could effect each and every piece of wood in your floors, warping or cracking them. Floating wooden floors are also perfect in specific areas of a home where humidity may be high.  A perfect example of this would be the basement. Another such area may be the kitchen, where water spills and other liquids may come into contact with the surface of the wood floor.</p>
<p>Installation of floating wood floors is very fast and easy too. You can hire a professional to the job for you, or you can even perform DIY floating wood floor installation. You can glue or staple them together for a neat and tidy look.</p>
<p>The newer versions even come with a snap on lock on feature, which you can simply assemble by snapping the individual pieces together without the need for any kind of glue.</p>
<p>Floating wood floors are usually available in one, two,or  three strip designs. The single strip design looks similar to a large wooden plank. The two strip units appear as two individual units placed alongside one another. The three strip design result in three narrow strips of wood placed together in unison to create a charming and attractive effect.</p>
<p>The floating hardwood flooring we see today is made from the best quality materials to deliver the same high end look that  more expensive hardwood floors provide.  However, there are some lower quality materials that make use of lesser quality items to result in lower prices that may be more attractive to you.</p>
<p>You can choose from domestic or hardwood floating wood, which comes in a wide variety of colors. You can even purchase unfinished floating wood floors, which you can sand and finish off yourself. You can stain and paint them to match the theme and color present in the rest of the room.</p>
<p>Naturally, floating wood flooring is are built to last much longer, and you can expect them to hold up well for as far as 40-60 years out, depending on the kind of maintenance you dedicate to keep it looking new and bright. If you are interested in the idea of installing floating wood floors in your home, check out your local stores, or find more information by browsing the various websites offering all styles and varieties of floating hardwood at great prices.</p>
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