How to protect oak flooring?

Where to install oak flooring?

Manufacturing of oak flooring

Installation of oak flooring

1. Laying base coat before installing oak flooring

Step 1: Compact the earth properly: Compact the earth properly by watering and ramming. Do sand piling to make sure proper compaction of the earth under floor.

Step 2: Ensure the base coat is fully compacted: Lay 100 mm thick fine sand on compacted earth. After laying fine sand, lay 100 mm thick cement concrete in ratio of 1:8:16 and ensure that the base coat laid is fully compacted by hand rammers or with surface vibrator.

2. Leveling concrete in proper slope

3. Store flooring material at room temperature

Store the floor material at room temperature at least 24 hours before starting installation. If sub floor is of concrete, hard panels should be fixed with nail or glue. Also place insulation layer over entire surface of sub floor to insulate it against moisture, heat and noise.

4. How to install oak flooring?

Step 1: Clean and level the surface: Keep the surface clean, dry and in proper level before laying oak flooring.

Step 2: Start laying oak flooring using wedges: Begin laying engineered oak flooring boards along longest straight wall in the room and use wedges to maintain 10 mm gap between boards and skirting board or wall.

Step 4: Ensure proper joints in rows of boards: Make sure that the joints or offsets do not coincide in the rows instead they are staggered. To obtain staggered joints, use full length of board in first row, start with 2/3 length of board in 2nd row and begin with 1/3rd length of board in the 3rd row. Repeat this pattern throughout the room.

Step 5: Do finishing and fit boards properly: Cut the ends of boards at walls allowing a gap of 10 mm. To fit boards around corners or odd shapes, draw a cardboard template and trace outline of the template on board and use jigsaw to cut out the shape. To fit engineered oak flooring under a doorframe, use handsaw to cut thin slice from the bottom of doorframe allowing boards to slide under it.

Step 6: Cover gaps with matching molding: Once you have fitted all boards, cover the gaps at walls with matching molding. Make certain that you fix molding with skirting board or wall; not with flooring so that floor can be easily dismantled.

Note down: After completing installation process, the surface should be cleaned and polished.

Tools required for installation of oak flooring

• Jigsaw with 2.5 mm wood blade
• Handsaw
• Mallet
• Measuring tape
• Bench
• Miter
• Pencil etc.

Benefits of oak flooring

• Beautiful, elegant and sophisticated
• Extremely durable since it lasts for long time
• Adds to the value of your home
• Complements to any design of your home.
• Available in a variety of colors and styles
• Be installed in living room, bathroom or bedroom, family room etc.

Drawbacks of oak flooring

• Very expensive and usually unaffordable.
• Requires a lot of maintenance and care
• Fades in the sunlight as susceptible to extreme temperatures
• May be damaged, get scratches or dent if any sharp objects are placed on it.

Earthquake is produced by sudden release of tremendous amount of energy with in the earth by sudden movement at a point. Earthquake strikes suddenly, very fast and violently without any warning. It may harm badly designed and constructed buildings which may injure or kill the people. There are some factors affecting the building safety during the earthquake.

Factors affecting building during earthquake

• Poor quality building material, weak foundation or structure may be harmful during earthquake.
• Old or leaning trees, electrical wires and power line close to the house or building are harmful and cause damage at the time of earthquake.
• Irregular balconies and cantilever structure may be dangerous during earthquake.
• Reservoirs, water tower and other weak or poorly constructed buildings adjoining to your house or building can be harmful at the time of earthquake.
• Nature of soil also has great effect on the safety of the building during earthquake. Poor deep loose sand, silt clay, gavel, soft and saturated granular soils are not able to resist the earthquake motion in the ground and leads to foundation damage.
• Sandy soil can be easily affected by earthquake; it may make ground incapable of supporting foundation. The ground may crack or heave which may cause settlement of building or even building may collapse.
• Water saturated soil changed its behavior during earthquake and become slushy or liquid and leads to failure of foundation of the building.
• Type of building structure whether R.C.C. frame, steel frame, wooden frame or load bearing masonry walls also affect the building structure during earthquake.
• Irregular shaped and high buildings may be affected easily during earthquake.

However, if the structure has ductile behavior, it may increase the strength of building. RCC structure, steel structure and timber structure have ductile nature so this material is suitable for construction. However timber construction required good quality timber and some safety factors such as fire safety, termite control, and moisture should also be considered. And also brick masonry structure is less resistant to earthquake. So frame structure building and brick structure with re-enforcement at all the meeting joints provide earth quake resistant structure. Consider some design factors and building material requirement during construction and make your home earthquake resistant. Qualified engineer, good quality material and construction may minimize the damage during earthquake.

Earthquake resistant construction and building material

Design factors

• Foundation of the building should be constructed on the hard strata soil by using earthquake safety measures as directed by design Engineer.
• Minimum depth of foundation should be one meter.
• Deep and unbroken rock foundation of good quality and stiff soil are best for foundation as it allows less transfer of vibrations to the building.
• Foundation of building should be re-enforced by using M .S bars and cement concrete mix not less than the ratio of 1:1.5:3
• Building should be frame structure with re-enforced columns, beams and slab with less use of brickwork or stone work in wall and roof.
• The shape of building should be square or compact rectangular.
• Building should be closed shape, it is preferred to construct in U or L shape building.
• The parts of the building should be tied together firmly and braced at corners stiffly in such a way that the whole structure tends to move as single unit.
• Keep minimum balconies and cantilevers during construction of building.
• Parapets, cornices, cantilevers and projections should be re-enforced and tide to the main structure firmly.
• Keep minimum height of parapet and other unsupported walls.
• The structure should be made as light as possible because the force of earthquake is a function of the mass.
• Particularly the roof and upper stories of building should be designed as light as possible.
• The thickness of any load bearing wall should not be less than 23 cm.
• Keep minimum height as far as possible in multi-story building.
• If there are roof trusses, fix these with wall using bolts in pockets made in the wall and it should be filled with cement concrete.
• Use light sheet material for roofing such as G I sheet or A C sheet. And fix them with the purlins and J hooks.
• Do not use loose dry brick when using false ceiling below the trusses.
• All the joints of purlins and other supporting members should be properly bolted with each other.
• Make plinth protection around the house or building wide enough, so as to prevent water going under the foundation.
• R.C.C band with the size 75 mm to 100 mm thick should be provided at plinth level, lintel level and roof level.
• Provide R.C.C. band in case of trusses or rafter to connect all the columns and walls for protection against earth quake.

Building Material

• Bricks should be first class bricks and should have minimum crushing strength of 105 Kg. per sq. cm.
• Sand used for making cement mortar should be clean, free from silt, vegetable matter, and other foreign material.
• The ratio of cement sand mortar in brick work should be 1:4 but not less than 1:6 in any case.
• The material used in cement concrete should be according to the specification and the mix should be 1:1.5:3.
• Mild steel used in R. C. C. work should be tor or ribbed and properly tested in the testing laboratory.
• All the doors, windows and cabinets should be properly fixed with proper hold fast that should be embedded in cement concrete.
• The cement used in construction work should be fresh not affected by moisture and manufactured by reputed firm and not from local plant.
• The bricks used in masonry should be properly soaked in water.
• All construction work should be done by skilled mason, carpenter and blacksmith etc.
• All the building members should be properly connected with each other.
• R.C.C. unit should be laid with proper steel plates not by wooden planks or temporary bricks etc.
• Proper curing should be done during construction work for maximum strength of building.

The importance of light is paramount today in every walk of life. You might have heard a director said” Lights, camera, action”…!!!. You can see light comes first for any kind of activity today. Imagine the world without sun. Well when it comes to human comforts, light essentially provides us the finest medium. We are nothing without a medium. Now, keeping in mind the fluctuation of markets and scarcity of high quality light facilities, we have kept ourselves available for you. You can get any kind of lights. Be it for your car, garage, and house or even play ground. Lights are available for you. This facilitation is not only a way to get something in exchange of your bills yet the quality, standard and prices are just what the best for you.

We have opened finest closet for you. You could buy Light Emitting Diode high quality lights at low prices. Our RGB LED lights are supreme. You will not find a comparison of same quality because of best quality and performance of our RGB LED. The combination of Red, Green and Blue has outstanding impact in adding a charm to your mono-colored lives. RGB LED at our online closet is unparallel. This RGB LED is supreme in performance. Buy at lowest prices RGB LED from our online shop.

We also offer a smashing variety of other LED lights. These lights are Bollard lights, Architectural lighting, Uplights and Ceiling lights. Your house needs a modest trend of lights. Our Bollard light, Downlights, Uplights and Ceiling lights is the finest choice for you. You should buy the needed stuff at your sweet will. No matter whether you want to buy Bollard lights, Downlights, Uplights or even Ceiling lights, chance is outstanding for you. The warranty is more than the human common sense could think of. Bollard lights, Downlights, Uplights and Ceiling lights are highly required thing every where. When you have raised your house to a highly maintained status then you need high quality lights such as Bollard lights, Downlights, Uplights and Ceiling lights at our online shop.

Similarly, when you require brand new models of Vertical lighting, Shadowless light, Trimless lighting, Recessed lighting and Flood lighting for your home d�cor, office or flats we are the best choice. Vertical lighting, Shadowless light, Trimless lighting, Recessed lighting and Flood lighting at our shop are available at lowest prices. These prices of Vertical lighting, Shadowless light, Trimless lighting, Recessed lighting and Flood lighting have been kept controlled so that all of customers could have equal chance to buy what they need. Buy Vertical lighting, Shadowless light, Trimless lighting, Recessed lighting and Flood lighting of modern models and light your houses with a remarkable difference. We have been receiving new bids every now and then. It is due to our supreme performance and enlighten approach to provide necessities of life to all peoples equally well. We provide guaranteed service. The delivery is sooner than expected. Buy the modern tech lights of new era and charm your dull lighting houses.

If your budget is on a diet, no problem. From our classic half-log siding to our economical quarter-log siding we have a product to fit your budget. In addition, our straightforward pricing and value-added features make WoodHaven the best value overall, guaranteed!

For pricing and information on our new FatBoy Log Siding, please call us at 1-888-988-PINE (7463).

WoodHaven Log & Lumber, located in Northern Michigan, is a supplier of premium grade pine and cedar log siding, knotty pine paneling and log home accessories.

Galvanized sheet metal roof flashing is widely used roof flashing whereas Aluminium and Copper roof flashings are used where cost of maintenance matters. Copper is the most durable but it is costly and has advantages over the other metals as the corners of copper can be soldered to make the joints water tight. This article tells you about roof flashing locations, roof leaks testing, roof flashing materials, and types of roof flashing.

How to test roof leakage for roof flashing?

Roof leakage testing is a way to find the place and cause of leak in the roof of your house. Wait for dry weather and ask one person to go onto the roof with a garden hose while the other person to go inside the attic with a bucket and strong light. The person on roof floods the roof with water while the other person watches carefully until the leak appears into the roof. Once the leak is found, drive a nail into the hole to mark the location of leak.    

Where to apply roof flashing on roof?

Roof flashing is fixed at roof top edge, pipes, chimney, and edges resting on the wall, skylights, and valleys / gutter and at the joints of top roofing sheets/slates to fasten them against water penetration or leakage. The roof flashing protects building from water leakage and dampness and ensures the safety of materials and contents of the building against water leaks. 

Roof Flashing Types

Chimney Flashing

Cap flashing is provided at projection or with walls at the point of intersection of walls and roof shingles. To avoid leakage of water, 15 cm to 20 cm cap flashing is overlapped on Base flashing. A groove is provided in wall or parapet to fix Cap flashing. To avoid wind pressure and strengthen the edge of flashing, the edge of Cap flashing metal sheet is bent from 12 mm to 25 mm.

Cap flashing is installed on the slope of the roof. Along the slope of roof Cap flashings are arranged in steps where upper steps overlap the lower steps at least by 15 cm to avoid any leakage. Base flashing should be inserted in such a way on the roof consisting of slate, tiles or asphalt shingles as the joints are water tight living no possibility of leakage. 

To avoid differential movements caused by change in weather, fix Cap flashing and Base flashing independently. If the flashings are improperly fixed or installed carelessly, they may be damaged by ice or storm. If both flashing are bent up to each other at the joint, they will not move properly according to weather changes. To avoid leakage the joints should move freely but care should be taken that these joints are tight.

Continuous Flashing

Drip Edges Flashing

Skylight Flashing

Step Flashing

Valley Flashing

Vent Pipe Flashing

Roof Flashing aterials

1. Galvanized Steel Roof Flashing

Advantages of Galvanized steel roof flashing

• Economical material  
• Gives a better look 
• Less fabrication and installation cost 
• Available in long pieces that can be fixed quickly

Disadvantages of Galvanized steel roof flashing

• Rust and decay in short time if used without paint  
• Bad effect in polluted and acidic environment 
• Not molded into any shape easily
• Needs heating for molding to the required shape which spoils galvanizing

2. Stainless Steel Roof Flashing

Advantages of stainless Steel roof flashing  

• Most durable 
• Can be turned into any shape 
• Not affected by ecological corrosion like acid rain or salt spray 
• Not spoiled if fixed in direct contact with masonry or concrete surface.

Disadvantages of stainless Steel roof flashing

• Costly 
• High labor for fabrication and installation
• Difficult to shape in the field being stiff and rigid material

3. Copper OR Lead Coated Copper Roof Flashing

 Advantages of Lead coated Copper roof flashing

• Long life 
• Weather proof 
• Low maintenance cost

Disadvantages of Lead coated Copper roofflashing

• Costly material 
• Expensive fabrication and installation 

4. Aluminum Roof Flashing

Advantages of Aluminum roof flashing

• Economical in comparison to copper
• Inexpensive fabrication and installation  
• Soft in nature and can easily be molded in any required shape. 

Disadvantages of Aluminum roof flashing

• Spoiled in short time if it is used without painting or anodizing
• Handled carefully being soft in nature otherwise leakage may start 

5. Rheinzink Roof Flashing

Advantages of Rheinzink roof flashing

• Works easily into complex shapes 
• Less expensive than lead-coated copper

Disadvantages of of Rheinzink roof flashing

• Requires ventilation to protect the underside of material from white rust and corrosion which reduce its life
• Needs bituminous material to reduce the influence of alkali, acid etc.

Katy Wood Floors Add Beauty, Warmth, and Charm
Flooring your Katy home? No other flooring material adds more beauty, warmth, or charm than hardwood floors. Wood floors lend a timeless elegance to any home and are easier to clean than ever before. As you consider the many choices available today, consider contracting with Katy’s wood floor specialist.

We’ve been in the contracting business for over twenty years and have seen flooring styles come and go. One thing we’ve noticed is that wood floors never go out of style. Today’s hardwood flooring has evolved with more choices, eco-friendly flooring options, and low-maintenance finishes and polishes. Whether you want a formal look or a cozy one, we are experts in delivering exactly what you have in mind.

Wood Floor Benefits
Not only are wood floors a gorgeous choice, they offer a variety of benefits over other flooring materials including:

• Eco-friendly - If you’re concerned about the environment, wood floors are a natural choice! Choose recycled wood (such as off an old barn) for a distressed look and the peace of mind that you are doing your part or opt for a fast-growing bamboo wood. As a renewable resource, you can feel good about your investment in wood floors. Plus, years from now, your Katy wood floor can be recycled.
• Health benefits – Unlike carpets, wood floors are not dust and allergen warehouses. Once the floors are cleaned, the dust and allergens are gone whereas carpets are notorious for trapping dirt and debris.
• Low maintenance – Think you have to spend hours cleaning your wood floors? Think again. Today’s wood floors feature advanced finishes and stains that are easy to keep clean. Simply sweep or vacuum regularly and then occasionally use a good wood cleaner approved for your floor’s finish.
• Renewability – Should a spill or scratch occur, wood floors tend to be one of the more forgiving floors. Often, all you need to do is wipe up the spill or rub out the scratch. Repair kits are available for deeper scratches.  
• Affordability – Tired of replacing your carpets every few years? Or worse, living with worn out and soiled carpet until you can afford to replace them? Wood floors are affordable upfront as well as over the long term. In fact, expect your Katy home’s wood floors to last a lifetime with proper care and the occasional professional refinishing (every 10-15 years).
• Lots of styles – Consult with a Katy wood floors specialist and discover the huge variety of wood flooring styles and finishes available. The type of wood itself is but one of many design options. Other considerations include color, finish, borders, medallions, painting, distressing, and even mixing wood with other flooring materials.

Other benefits include resale value, acoustics, and comfort.

Swimming Pool Repair

Remember the anticipation of refreshing dips in the pool back when you first purchased your home or hired a Katy pool contractor? Now that you’re a proud pool owner, a new reality has set in: the need for Katy pool services. Keeping a pool sparkling clean isn’t as easy as dumping in a few scoops of chemicals and skimming the occasional leaf from the surface. Pool ownership requires regular maintenance. If you don’t want to do the job yourself, count on Katy Pool Services to keep the pool sparkling clean and ready for your enjoyment.

We are a full service pool specialist capable of all of your pool service needs including:

• Pool and spa debris removal
• Test chemical balance of water
• Maintain water quality
• Chemical pool maintenance
• Chemical pool maintenance
• Pool wall and floor cleaning
• Pump and pool equipment inspections
• Stain cleaning and prevention
• Winterization/Summerization
• Residential and commercial pool services

Kitchens are more than just rooms where food is prepared; they are gathering places, entertainment centers, and places where family memories are made. Outfitting your kitchen with new kitchen cabinets is an investment that will serve your family well for years to come. Because your kitchen cabinets will be a prominent feature and used extensively for many years, perhaps generations, investing in quality cabinetry makes sense. Jeanine Johnson and the entire Distinguished Cabinets staff specialize in providing quality kitchen cabinets designed to fit your lifestyle and your budget.

Jeanine Johnson helps Florida homeowners design functional and stylish kitchen cabinets that match the individual’s personal style as well as stays in tune with the home’s architectural style. If you live in Palm Beach, Florida or in one of the communities spanning from Boca Raton to Port St. Lucia, you are sure to be impressed with Distinguished Cabinets’ inspired cabinetry installations. Jeanine and her team will work with you to create the kitchen of your dreams!

What do you want out of your kitchen cabinets? Form? Function? Jeanine Johnson believes that you can have both!

Kitchen Cabinets as a Style Statement
During your initial consultation, Jeanine Johnson will assess your kitchen space with an eye on both form and function. She will note your home’s architectural style and ask you about your preferences. Design choices such as modern or traditional will be discussed as well as your thoughts on glass inserts, finishes, embellishments, soffits, open storage, and other visual elements. This part of the kitchen cabinet design process is fun for homeowners and Jeanine Johnson alike as your imagination coupled with Jeanine’s expertise come together and eventually lead to a stunning kitchen centerpiece.

Among the decisions you will need to make is wood choice. The type of wood you select will affect the overall feel of the cabinet design. For example, cherry wood can lend a more traditional look to your home while birch adds a more contemporary look. If you’re looking for a homier look, oak may be the better choice. In addition to wood choice, you will need to select a finish as wood stains further define the cabinets’ appearance. If this sounds like a lot to figure out, that’s okay because Jeanine Johnson works with you, making the design process feel nearly effortless.

Kitchen Cabinets as Furniture
While the kitchen cabinets must be visually appealing, they must also perform. Jeanine will evaluate the current layout of the kitchen and recommend a cabinet design that fits into your lifestyle. Quality materials and craftsmanship are built into the design as Jeanine Johnson uses KraftMaid built-to-order custom cabinetry solutions. Not only will your cabinets be beautiful and functional, they will be built to last.

Jeanine Johnson serves homeowners and works with contractors throughout the greater Palm Beach area. If you live in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Lake Worth, West Palm Beach, Jupiter, Palm City, North River Shores, Port St. Lucie, or any other community in the general vicinity, contact Jeanine Johnson today for a kitchen cabinetry consultation.

“Building with cob, a step-by-step guide” by Adam Weismann & Katy Bryce gives you an in-depth look at many of the items you need to consider when planning to build a cob home as well as the instructions on how to do it yourself.

The book includes 13 chapters packed with information.

Chapter 1 - Earth Building around the world
Natural building with the materials that are local and easily available has always been a popular choice. There are many earth buildings around the world. In this chapter the authors discuss the vast range of earth buildings and provide an outline of their history.

Chapter 2 - Site & Design
This chapter gives you some great tips about what to look for in a property as well as how to situate your home. It discusses things like the best way to capitalize on passive solar and other environmental considerations.

Chapter 3 - Identifying and testing soil
Knowing exactly what kind of soil you are working with is essential so that you can include the right materials in your cob mix.

Chapter 4 - How to make a cob mix
The fun part! Instructions on mixing cob with your feet are included as well as other methods which the authors have worked. Detailed information is included so you’ll know if your have it right.

Chapter 5 - Foundations
Any building is only as good as the foundation it is placed on. Included in this chapter is how to create the best possible foundation so your building can last for generations.

Chapter 6 - Building with cob
How exactly does all this mud turn into a structure? This chapter describes multiple ways to build as well as discussing drying times and other important details.

Chapter 7 - Roofs
For cob to stand the test of time, it needs a good roof. Different types of roofing choices are discussed including the option of creating a turf roof. Specific instructions for creating a living roof are included.

Chapter 8 - Insulation
This chapter discusses your different options and ways to make your home comfortable all year long. They recommend natural materials that are sustainable and renewable.

Chapter 9 - Lime & other natural finishes
Specific recipes are given to create natural finishes for your home. The tools and methods are described in wonderful detail.

Chapter 10 - Earthen floors
Yes, your floor can be dirt also. The method to create an earthen floor is mapped out in this chapter. Instructions on how to care for your flooring are included.

Chapter 11 - Cob fireplaces & earthen ovens
Not everyone will want to put the time and work into creating an entire home, but cob can also be utilized to create wonderful fireplaces and ovens. Varying styles of both are discussed as well as instructions on how to create them.

Chapter 12 - Restoration
In the UK there are many cob building that have stood the test of time and survived for hundreds of years. Some of these homes are in need of repair and the authors discuss the best ways to make those repairs. They also give you some ideas about what types of problems you are most likely to come across when working with an older cob home.

Chapter 13 - Planning permission & building regulations
Because this book was written in the UK, all of the information in this chapter is only valid for that area of the world. Different countries and even different states will have varying regulations. If you intend to build a cob home, it is always advisable to check with your local government officials to find out what you need to do to make sure your home is legal and complies with all building codes.

Overall, this book is a wonderful primer filled with great information. It also includes many full color photographs that provide both insight and inspiration. Cob building is a growing building medium that creates community as well as structures.

Author: Debbie Striker
BellaOnline's Creativity Editor