Outdoor furniture is a luxury that many do not enjoy. You need a good mount of space to accommodate this furniture.

Outdoor wood furniture is not nearly as popular as it once was. For quite a while now, outdoor furniture alternatives have been cheaper than the traditional wood. Metal and plastic can be machined and mass produced, eliminating any expertise required of an individual craftsman. Furthermore, these alternatives also require less upkeep than wood furniture. However, more expensive, hand-crafted wood is undoubtedly a great luxury. Your outdoor furniture will be your own and no one can duplicate it.

The most common and popular type of outdoor wood furniture is teak. Teak is the hardest of hardwoods and will stand up to outdoor conditions better than essentially every other readily available wood. Generally speaking, you can have outdoor wood furniture made from almost any type of wood, but you should plan on having it treated, sealed, and re-sealed every year or two.

Wooden furniture is mostly utilized as outdoor garden furniture. The look of your outdoor furniture is paramount to creating a beautiful garden. Metal furniture in a garden doesn’t essentially blend in with the surrounding and have high maintenance. The one big looming danger for garden furniture is the possibility of attracting pests. Not taking enough precautions may attract pests that will destroy your furniture.

Another alternative to Teak is the Ipe. Ipe is a wood that naturally resists rot, decay, insects, and mold without the use of toxic chemicals. Ipe is also naturally fire resistant and has been awarded an ‘A1′ rating, which is the highest rating in this category. Because of all these attributes it is very durable, and because it is a very dense wood, Ipe furniture is very heavy. This type of wood is harvested from naturally sustainable forests, and you can find FSC-certified Ipe wood easily. This wood, which grows in many South American locations, but mainly in Brazil, is also known as Ironwood, Brazilian Walnut, Pau Lope or Lapacho.

Ipe starts out as a reddish-brown wood and gradually acquires a silver patina. And thus, Ipe is ideal for outdoor furniture and decking.

Undoubtedly, wood is still a viable choice, but its alternatives have been taking an ever-increasing percentage of the market share. Aluminum and concrete finishes are becoming more and more decorative and impressive. Plastic furniture can also be decorative and sturdier than many homeowners imagine.

Nothing is going to eliminate the maintenance and care that outdoor furniture requires, but the better the protection you can give your furniture, the longer it will last and the more sense the investment will make.

Creating bedrooms which ooze elegance and chic style may not be as costly as you may think. High street and online retailers who specialise in bedding and matching accessories enable you to bring a fresh clean makeover to a bedroom in a weekend.

Begin with a blank canvass:

Spend time looking for ideas from interior design journals or online blogs which are dedicated to interior styles. Make notes, mental or jot them down, of all the features you like. Be realistic with your budget and swap expensive items for bargain pieces.

Take a fresh look at your existing bedroom furniture. It may simply need a good clean and polish or you could opt to paint worn or dated pieces.

Take a look at your headboard. If it is fabric may be able to find some great discount or wholesale fabric to re-cover it. Alternatively you could make a new headboard by covering foam rectangles with fabric, sew ribbons onto the top of each, if you are creating a new headboard for a double bed. Fix a wooden or white curtain pole to the wall, positioning it at the appropriate height, add beautiful end finials. Simply tie the covered foam pads with the ribbons to create a quick and effective headboard.

You could opt to match the headboard with new curtains or make a foot runner for the bottom of the bed to add coherence to the room.

Think of the colour combinations which you love and which make you feel relaxed. Pastel colours are ideal for bedrooms and offer a gentle and chic look when teamed with crisp white.

Decorating:

The easy way to start is to strip the room of all clutter, furniture, curtains and carpets as much as you possibly can. If you are keeping the carpet make sure it cover it with a dust sheet before you even think of opening a paint pot!

Fill cracks in walls with fast drying filler. Sand down woodwork on doors and their frames and window casements. Begin by doing the gloss paintwork, keep brush strokes vertical to give a smooth finish.

Paint the ceiling in white to reflect as much light as possible back down into the room. Paint walls with emulsion in neutral tones so that it will coordinate with your furniture and soft furnishings.

Re-introduce furniture:

Bring your furniture back into the room. Try and keep a generous amount of space around the bed, this will help you to make the bed properly as well as being far easier to climb into!

Keep things as simple as possible, a chest of drawers, a chair and wardrobe should be all you need!

Place a rug on the floor to give you a warm and soft feel to step onto first thing each morning!

Windows:

Clean the windows before you either replace your curtains or blinds. If you opt for new, choose full length curtains which match or compliment the bedding and headboard. Wood blind are great for bedrooms which have a cottage style and blend beautifully with pine furniture and stripped floor boards.

Bedding:

Treat your self to wonderful luxury bedding in colours which compliment your new paint colours and window treatments. Choose bedding which has a gentle and elegant style with matching or coordinating valences, curtains and pillow shams.

Conclusion:

A chic and stylish affordable bedroom with little effort!

How is laminate flooring laid?

The most important thing to consider in laying laminate flooring is the nature of the subfloor on which it is being laid.

Is the floor dry, firm and level?

For screed floors a vapour barrier (damp proof membrane) will be required. This prevents any residual moisture from the subfloor forcing its way upwards. It should be at least 0.2mm in thickness.

In addition, you will also require an underlay, available in various forms.

Laminate flooring can be laid on most floors including screed, wood, stone, ceramic, plastic or similar. It is imperative however that you comply with the specific information and specifications of the manufacturers when doing so. Laminate floors should not be laid on top of carpet unless it is a very short pile carpet such as fixed down tiles.

Most new laminate floors are glue free, making installation easy and quick and allowing the customer to use their floors immediately. The flooring is laid as a floating floor meaning that it is not fixed down to the subfloor in any way. It also means that there is the requirement of an expansion around the perimeter of the entire floor. This is usually 10mm. If the laminate floor exceeds eight to ten metres in either width or length you will need to insert an additional break in the floor this is known as an expansion joint.

What is the 10mm expansion gap for?

Laminated flooring will expand and contract throughout its life span. If there is no expansion gap around the entire perimeter of the flooring the boards will lift up and the flooring will become damaged. The expansion gaps MUST remain empty and not filled with cork strips.

Do I need a fitting kit?

Yes a fitting kit is an essential part of the tools used to install laminated flooring. It contains the spacers to measure the 10mm expansion gap.

Does the flooring need to acclimatise to the room it is to be laid in before installation begins?

Yes, ideally, a minimum period of 48 hours should be left for the flooring to acclimatise to changes in its new surroundings i.e. the central heating system, warmth from the sun etc. The flooring should be left in its packaging during this period.

What type of underlay do I need or can I use my existing carpet underlay?

A suitable HARD FLOOR underlay is required with all floating floors (meaning the flooring is not fixed down in any way).

Carpets (and carpet underlays) do not form a suitable base because the pile layer in the carpet gives way excessively under load allowing the joints in click/loc systems to be subjected to damage.

There are three main types of underlay on the market at present.

A 2mm foam underlay which is suitable for most floor surfaces as long as the floors are flat. On concrete floors an added damp proof membrane (DPM) must be installed first.

A 7mm fibreboard underlay which provides extra heat and sound insulation to floors; again a DPM must be added on concrete floors. The fibre boards will help to overcome slight imperfections in the unevenness of floors.

There is a new breed of underlay, which includes the heat and sound insulation of the fibreboard, but is thinner, just 3mm, and also includes the DPM already in the construction of the material.

Why do I need a damp proof membrane (vapour barrier/PE sheet)?

Manufacturers always recommend the use of a vapour barrier (Polyethylene (PE) sheet ) to protect the laminate flooring from moisture coming from the subfloor. This is particularly important for rooms without cellars and in new buildings. Without this barrier moisture will travel upwards into the boards. As the surface layer of laminates is non porous it will not allow even the smallest amount of moisture to penetrate into the atmosphere. Therefore the moisture becomes trapped in the core board and over time the build up of moisture will affect the floor.

Can laminate flooring be laid on tiles?

If the tile surface is suitably even and meets the requirements for laminate flooring in terms of the subfloor (see above) then it is in principle possible. Any unevenness or variations in height in the tile surface must be evened out.

Can laminate flooring be laid on floors with underfloor heating?

Laminate flooring can be laid on a hot water underfloor heating system if it is installed correctly. The underlay must be the right type for the underfloor heating system – it is imperative that the resistance to heat transmission is not too high.

The maximum surface temperature of the laminate flooring when laid must never be permitted to exceed 26 degrees Celsius since this may lead to unsightly swelling of joints and arching. It is therefore essential that you check with your underfloor heating manufacturer first.

Does laminate flooring have to be laid in a certain direction?

The overall visual appearance of the laminate flooring created by the individual boards is dependent on:



the direction in which they are laid in the room relative to the light source and



the main direction from which they are viewed.



It is commonly accepted that laminated floors should be laid in the direction of the main light source.

The laminate flooring arches. What can be done?

If the laminated flooring becomes undulated (arches) this will generally be because the floor does not have enough room to move at one or more points in the room. This is normally the result of a laying error, e.g. lack of or inadequate expansion joints.

It is important to identify any problems early and resolve them immediately. This will reduce the risk of permanent damage to the floor.

Inspect the entire perimeter of the floor and locate the points where the laminate has come into contact with a solid object or is being pinned down and the natural movement of the boards is impeded. Release any obstruction and the floor should revert to its original shape.

What is laminate flooring made of?

Laminate flooring is 80% wood: Wood fibres, wood chips, pulp derived from wood (paper). Wood products can be found in all three layers of the laminate floor: Decorative paper + overlay (wear layer), core layer, stabilizing layer. With the exception of the core layer each of these layers is impregnated with synthetic resin (e.g. melamine resin). These are pressed onto the core layer at high pressure and high temperature.

Does laminate flooring emit formaldehyde? Is it harmful to the environment?

Like all wood-based products laminate flooring also contains the substance formaldehyde, which can be emitted to the air retroactively. The amount of possible emissions, however, is absolutely minimal and falls within the range of “normal background levels“. This is comparable with emission levels from natural wood and is well below the legally permissible limit of 0.1 ppm (i.e. 0.12 mg/m³ of air), the so-called E1 value.

What is the correct way to dispose of laminate flooring and can it be recycled?

Any individual pieces of laminate floor can be disposed of along with normal household waste, it is now also possible to recycle laminate flooring.

What kinds of decorative coverings does laminate flooring come in?

Laminate floors can be designed with any logo, motif or finishing effect as the surface layer is a photograph. It can be textured or smooth, the possibilities are endless.

Is laminate flooring hygienic?

Thanks to its sealed surface laminate flooring is extremely hygienic. The surface coating, which is made of a particularly hard material (melamine resin), prevents dirt and bacteria from penetrating the floor. This makes the floor very suitable for use by allergy sufferers,

How do I find out which is the right laminate floor for my application?

First, consider where the floor is to be laid. Is the laminate flooring to be laid in the bedroom, in the living room, hallway etc? It goes without saying that the floor in the hallway will be exposed to more use than in the bedroom, for example.

All laminated floors must be tested for their suitability and wear ratings. The European Standards Agency has set strict guidelines for these tests and has produced categories for each level of wear resistance. These categories are called Abrasion Class (AC) and Impact Class (IC). They comprise of five main tests against Impact/Abrasion/Burning/Swelling/Staining. Companies show these results after testing their products on the packaging as an AC number or IC number. Occasionally there is a picture of 1 to 3 people and/or a picture of a house or offices.

AC4 products – at 60% tougher than AC3 this is a tough durable surface suitable for most rooms in the house including high traffic areas and can also be used for general commercial applications. Its IC value is IC2.

Below is an example of the classes and the pictures.

How do I care for my laminate flooring?

The best way to maintain the floors natural look is with a dry clean system. Any stubborn stains can be removed with a damp cloth or if required a touch of acetone. It is not recommended to wash the flooring as excessive moisture will penetrate the joints and the boards will swell.

Due to the nature of laminated flooring and the surface being non porous, it is not recommended to wax or polish it in any way. This will result in the flooring becoming very slippery and the wax or polish will not adhere to the surface.

What does the Guarantee cover?

The manufacturers guarantee covers manufacturing faults in the boards. It does not cover accidental damage, abuse, misuse or damage to the floor caused by incorrect fitting.

How do you fit the flooring around the doorframes leaving a 10mm expansion gap?

The bottom of the doorframes (architrave) needs to be removed at a height sufficient to allow the underlay and laminate boards to pass underneath. The remaining architrave hides the 10mm expansion gap between the wall and the floor.

How do you attach the trim and where?

Trim Adhesive should be used when fixing the trims to the skirting or wall after installation. The trims are always attached to the wall or skirting; never to the flooring itself, as this would impede the expansion of the boards.

Do I have to separate each room when laying flooring throughout the home?

Yes. Each room has its own environment governed by the amount of sunlight exposure, moisture levels from plants etc, so each room will have differing rates of expansion and contraction. The use of a door threshold to separate each room will alleviate any problems that may occur.

How do you fit the flooring in a bathroom?

Laminate floors are generally not intended for use in wet areas such as bathrooms, saunas, steam rooms etc. However, there are some floors which have a moisture resistant core board suitable for domestic bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms.

In bathrooms the ideal fitting technique would be the removal of the toilet and sink units during installation and then replacing the units on top of the floor. If this is not possible, a 10mm expansion gap will be needed around each unit. This gap can be covered with a flexible sealant. A joint sealer can also be used during installation to give added protection in vulnerable areas.

Is there any advantage to applying glue the joints?

There is no added benefit to adding glue to the locking joints, in fact this may cause some problems during installation as the profiles are milled tightly and adding an extra element to the fitting process will make installation difficult.

How can I protect my laminate against wear?

The use of felt pads and castor cups on all furniture is recommended as this will prevent unwanted scratching and marking. In internal and external doorways mats are recommended to remove grit and moisture from the soles of shoes.

What is the drying time for a concrete subfloor?

It is generally the rule that concrete and screed floors take 1 day per 1mm drying time under normal conditions. However if a room is not water tight or the level of moisture in the atmosphere is higher than average please allow extra time to compensate.

Wood as furniture material becomes people first choice today. Regardless to the reducing natural wood source effect, yet the demand of certain types of wood for furniture is getting more and more. Tropical wood like teak and subtropical wood like walnut is widely available in furniture store for wholesale and retail for satisfy the need of customers.

Many kinds of wood play a role to give beauty to the furniture attached. But what wood which has the most quality for one’s furniture? Is it teak, mahogany, oak, walnut or pine? You may get confused to choose which one is the best.

For many years, teak is considerable as the chosen one to be the most requested for people to fill their living space. There are some considerations to comprehend the statement earlier. It can be seen from the typical origin, color, texture, and its sturdiness etc.

Teak is known as tropical wood which originally from Asia. The best quality of teak is mainly found in Indonesia. The silky uneven texture gives it a unique appearance that lovable to see. Despite the coarse texture and straight grain, teak stays smooth because of the natural oil inside. The oil will keep teak texture moisturized.

Beside that, the color of teak range from honey shade into gray silver. The brown color appears as new furniture and stays like that if stores as indoor wood furniture. It shows a warmth comfortable tranquil look when perform as indoor furniture. That is one which gives the elegant touch to the wood. But when furnished into outdoor, the gray color comes up and that make it exotic in one way.

Formed as furniture, teak has its center quality compared to the other wood. It has a wonderful resistant of climate condition, easy to care since has natural oil content, and free from pest especially termite attack.

However, teak timber can be transformed into living room, dining room and bedroom furniture from something simple to complex design to meet the necessities. But what ever style and shape it has, whether classic traditional or contemporary modern furniture, the grace always appear from it.

If cost is holding you back from purchasing new bedroom furniture, there are alternatives out there that will let you update your look without putting you in the poorhouse. Even as the Swedish company with the blue and gold logo has made knock-down, or ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture much more commonplace, there is still a negative connotation attached to furniture made with engineered wood that is very undeserving. In fact, there are a few advantages that RTA furniture has over solid and all-wood furniture that many out there don’t know about.

Perhaps the main advantage RTA furniture has over solid wood furniture is that it is actually stronger. Particleboard with a thin veneer on each side can hold more weight and take more abuse than most solid wood boards. In addition, solid wood has the propensity to warp and crack over time due to changes in humidity and moisture entering small cracks and openings. Engineered wood is almost completely impenetrable and doesn’t have the natural cracks and pores solid wood has. If taken care of, RTA furniture actually has properties that give it a longer life span than solid wood furniture.

If you’re going for a contemporary look in your bedroom, RTA furniture is the ideal choice for you. Modern designs are simple and sleek, with solid tones that are often void of wood grains completely. Dark hues like espresso and jet black are very popular in contemporary bedroom furniture right now. What’s the use of hiding a beautiful oak bedroom set under a coat of black paint? RTA furniture gives you the finish and look you want for a fraction of the price.

And of course, price is always a concern; at least it is for most of us. If taken care of properly, RTA bedroom sets can last for as long as you want them to. If you like to update the look in your bedroom every so often and prefer to keep up with trends, RTA furniture is perfect for you. You don’t have to invest a huge chunk of money and pray you don’t grow tired of it like you do with solid wood furniture. With the minimal cost of RTA furniture, updating your bedroom furniture every year or two is viable option.