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Tuesday, February 11, 2014

American walnut flooring Chicago




AMERICAN WALNUT
(latin name Juglans nigra) – grows only in central parts of North America.
Countries: Central states of the USA

A little bit about this beauty: 
American Walnut is known for the pronounced color difference between its sapwood and heartwood. While heartwood ranges from a deep, rich dark brown to purplish black, sapwood is nearly white to tan. American walnut has mostly straight and open grain, although the grain can be curly or burled on some boards. Prominent color contrast and variation is what distinguishes American walnut hardwood from other species’ and gives it sought after exotic appearance and charm. Unlike most other wood species, American walnut tends to lighten over time.

Physical Properties:
Although softer than oak (1010 on the Janka scale), American walnut is a strong wood with excellent shock resistance properties.
Application:
Throughout history, American walnut has been a popular choice for manufacturing gunstocks, paddles, furniture and flooring.
We carry American walnut.
Please visit our showroom at 3100 N Elston,Chicago 60618


Vinyl floors Chicago



Is wood flooring in the bathroom a good choice?

Hardwood is a better bathroom flooring choice than, say, carpet, but it can still be very problematic. Moisture kills hardwood, and a bathroom is probably the most humid area of the entire home. Showers in the morning, warm baths for the kids in the evening… bathtub overflows, spills and splashes can severely damage the floor.
 Of all hardwood flooring options, engineered is a better choice for a bathroom than solid, as plywood or solid wood bottom layers hold up against moisture relatively well and are very dimensionally stable. An engineered hardwood floor could hold up well in spacious, well-ventilated bathrooms that doesn’t receive much traffic. This is not the case in large family households with kids, where no matter how responsible you try to be, there is always going to be more water left on the floor than you think.
Additionally, bathroom floors in large family households are bound to be damp most of the time, and this can lead to growth of mold. Although some harsh chemical cleaners can kill harmful mold and bacteria, they are likely to dull or damage hardwood floor finish as well.
Bathroom Floors that Look Like Hardwood
 Faux-hardwood surfaces – floors that imitate the look of real wood so well it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference – will work well. Many vinyl based floors can be matched to the look of hardwood quite nicely, so that your faux-hardwood floor will appear nearly indistinguishable from the real wood installed throughout the rest of your home.
We also carry vinyl floors .Please visit our showroom during our business hours.
We are located on 3100 N Elston Chicago, IL  60618

Cleaning floors chicago



Cleaning Hardwood Floors with AB Hardwood and Supplies

     Follow our easy steps on how to clean hardwood floors. Transform your floors from dull and grimy to gleaming, gorgeous and clean with some useful tips  



First Things First—Determine the Finish
   Before you grab a bucket of water and a mop, it's best to find out how your hardwood floor is sealed—if at all. Why? The finish, not the wood type, determines how you clean and care for the floor.
      Surface-sealed floors: Most new wood floors are sealed with urethane, polyurethane or polyacrylic. Surface-sealed floors are stain and water-damage resistant and easiest to care for and clean: Sweep, mop and you're done!
     Penetrating-seal-treated and oil-treated floors: Also common, a penetrating seal or oil finish soaks into the wood grain and hardens. This type of floor must be pampered and protected with liquid or paste wax.
     Lacquered, varnished, shellacked and untreated floors: Although technically surface finishes, lacquers, varnishes and shellacs are not as resistant to moisture, spills and wear as the other sealants mentioned. Treat floors with these finishes and floors with no finish as you would penetrating-seal-treated and oil-treated floors.
Not sure what kind of finish you have? To tell the difference in a pinch, just rub your finger across the floor. If no smudge appears, the floor is surface sealed. If you do create a smudge, the floor has been treated with a penetrating seal, oil finish, shellac, varnish or lacquer, and then waxed.

Don't use oils, waxes or furniture sprays. Oil leaves a residue, furniture spray creates a slippery surface (think ice-skating rink!) and wax takes time to apply and makes recoating (see Tackling Simple Wood Floor Problems) difficult.

Don't use straight ammonia, alkaline products or abrasive cleaners. They'll dull or scratch the finish
Don't rely on water alone or a vinegar and water solution to clean hardwood floors. Mopping with water will result in dingy-looking floors and won't-budge dirt buildup. Vinegar and water is not as effective as soapy water and—some suggest—may dull floors sooner. (Eventual dullness and the need to recoat are inevitable no matter what you use.

In high-traffic areas, like the dining room and kitchen, you should sweep daily, if possible, and mop once or twice a week. Mop less-trafficked areas once a month or once a season.

Mopping Technique
Remember: Water is wood's worst enemy (even on sealed floors!), so use a damp mop rather than a soaking wet one.

Dip the mop into the bucket of prepared cleaning solution, wring it out completely, mop in the direction of the wood grain and repeat. When the water gets dirty, empty the bucket, mix a new batch of cleaning solution and continue mopping.
When finished, go back over the entire surface with clean water to rinse.

Good Luck.
Visit our store at  3100  N  Elston  Street ,Chicago 60618
 
Our website www.abhardwood.com



Hardwood floors Chicago



AB Hardwood Flooring
More people are turning to hardwoods, decorative concrete and other hard surfaces to spiff up their floors.
We got some comments about  hardwood  floors  from   the professionals. Take your time to read them!:)
An interior designer says:
The trend is toward hard surfaces in flooring, such as wood and tile.
There's a larger variety of woods, and more colors, to choose from than several years ago.
You can easily change a hardwood floors  look with area rugs. They will make your room more welcoming.
The hardwood-floor industry says:
Wood can last hundreds of years with proper care and periodic refinishing.
It doesn't hold on to allergens that can sink into the fibers of carpet.
Exotic woods that come in shades of yellow, pink, orange, purple and black are available. The trend is toward natural finishes without stains.
Bottom line: Wood is easy to clean and doesn't stain. It is current, durable and made from a sustainable resource.
A historic preservationist says:
Prior to 1890, most Midwest homes were built with softwood floors covered with patterned carpets imported from England.
Between the late 19th century and early 20th century, homes were constructed with hardwood floors.
A professional house cleaner says:
It's easier to spot spills, pet hair, crumbs and debris on hardwood floors. Spills can be completely wiped up. 

Wood needs to be cleaned -- vacuumed or swept, then mopped -- more often than carpet. Sweep it at least every other day
Hardwood floors are longer-lasting and can be refinished many times to freshen the look.
Hand-scraped wood flooring, with deeper grooves, hides the small dents and wear that can come from active families and pets.
It's a higher upfront investment than carpet, but hardwood adds a lasting value to a home that carpet can't.
It helps alleviate allergies.
We also would highly recommend  to install Hardwood  Floors  in your home, apartment or summer house .You will definitely benefit out of it  in a long run .

Your  truly Team of  AB Hardwood  Flooring and Supplies.
Visit our showroom during our business hours on 3100 N  Elston Street, Chicago
Visit our website www.abhardwood.com