Tag: NYC

Wood flooring refinishing breathes new life into old, dull hardwood floors. Often, older homes have gorgeous hardwood floors waiting to be discovered underneath old, tattered carpet. If you discover this hidden gem in your home, consider giving those floors a new life with the right fix.

The first step in brightening up your floors is determining whether or not the boards are good candidates for the process. If you find that the boards are warped, buckled, soft, soggy, or saggy, they need to be replaced. If they are dull and scratched, but otherwise solid, then it is time to look into wood flooring refinishing.

The hardest part about the process is sanding the floors. Use a drum sander with 20 to 36 grit sandpaper to buff up the floor. Start slowly, as the machine can scuff your floors. After you place the sander in place, walk forward along the grain of the hardwood, from one half of the wall to the other, making two passes over each row. Do not allow the sander to sit for even a second or two in one spot. Always keep moving. Then, use an edge sander to finish the job. Repeat the process with a medium grit sandpaper and a fine grit sandpaper.

When you are done sanding, you will find dust all over the room. The next step in wood flooring refinishing is cleaning up all of that dust. Leaving any of it on the floor when you stain it will cause problems. Use a shop vac to thoroughly clean the room.

The next step is staining the floor. Follow the directions on the stain, and be sure to ventilate the room. Always follow behind yourself with a clean rag to wipe up any excess stain. Leave the stain to dry overnight before sealing it or walking on the floor.

Once the floor is clean and stained, apply sealant. Use around three coats, and allow three hours for it to dry before adding another coat. If you choose a water-based urethane as your finish, you will need more than three coats. Be careful about stirring up dust while the finish cures on the floor. Leave it for approximately three days before putting your furniture back.

Wood flooring refinishing is a huge time commitment as a do-it-yourself project. Homeowners who do not have excessive amounts of time to spend on home improvement projects can hire a professional to do the task. Professionals are trained on using the sander and quickly applying the stain and sealant. For those with busy schedules, hiring someone to do their wood flooring refinishing is a cost-effective option.

If you think your home could use a wood flooring refinishing NYC specialists can help you. For more information visit

There is a lot of time, money and thought that goes into purchasing the perfect NYC stone tiles

There are so many different types of stone tile available – slate, marble, quartzite, granite and more. Each one is not only attractive in its own away, but a permanent addition to your home. By cleaning your tile on a regular basis, you can ensure that your family is not breathing in dust and allergy-causing spores, and that your home is looking its best. Stone flooring needs special care, and cannot be washed like linoleum or wood flooring. Certain retail cleaning items can be too harsh on stone flooring and leave behind a nasty residue or film. On the other-hand, using something you already own, say vinegar, can be too acidic for NYC stone tiles to handle, and can create permanent damage and discoloration.

If you want to clean your stone flooring properly, you should follow the following steps: first, you should get a broom and sweep up any loose bits of dirt and debris. Alternately, you can use a vacuum if it is easier – but make sure to switch out the heads on the vacuum, and use a soft-brush attachment to make sure you do not scratch the floor.

Next, you should fill a bucket with hot water and dip a (clean) mop into it. Afterwards, squeeze out any extra water, and clean the floor with it. Repeat as necessary, but remember to continuously dip the mop into the bucket to make sure it stays wet. If your floor is exceptionally dirty, you can add some mild soap to the water and that will help get rid of any sticky messes or deep stains. Do not forget to run a non-soapy mop over the soapy NYC stone tiles, so that your floor will be fully clean.

After you are done mopping the floor, make sure all of the soap residue is gone, and double-check the surface area for any leftover stains. Next, dry the floor with a clean, soft rag to get rid of excess moisture and ensure that the floor is no longer slippery and is fully dry. As with any flooring material, stone tiles are susceptible to dirt and build-up.

By maintaining regular sweeping, soaping and mopping, you can keep your floor clean and looking orderly.