How to Properly Maintain Your Laminate Flooring

If you have laminate flooring, then you would need proper maintenance to ensure it stays in pristine shape for a long period. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to give you various tips with which to maintain your laminate flooring. 

But before we do that, we will give a brief definition of what laminate flooring is. This will help you further understand all tips that would be shared in this article. 

What is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring which can be otherwise called “floating wood tile” is synthetic flooring that is multi-layered. The layers of laminate floors are joined together through lamination, hence the name. And this peculiar nature of the flooring is also why you would require special methods to care for the floor. 

Tips to Maintain Your Laminate Flooring

The following maintenance tips for your laminate flooring will keep it in good shape for a long time…

1. Read the Instructions by the Manufacturer

The first step to ensuring a long life for your floor is to read and understand the instructions by the manufacturer. Do not rely on your knowledge even if you may know a thing or two about it before your purchase. 

This is because some specifications are peculiar to some brands. So, check your manufacturer’s website and read up the instructions, especially the section that talks about cleaning. 

2. Avoid the Use of Abrasive Tools 

One thing laminate floors are susceptible to is scratches, so anything abrasive can easily damage your floor. Therefore, only use soft-bristle brooms when you sweep. When vacuuming, do not use a rotating brush. 

3. Only Use Cleaning Products Labeled For Laminate Floors

When cleaning the floors, only use products that are labeled for laminate floors. Other cleaning products can cause mild damage. Like oil-based products are known to cause streaks on the floor and also spoil its protective sealant. 

If you have time on hand, you can DIY the cleaning product with vinegar and hot water. Follow the steps in the 3rd method of this article to make the vinegar cleaner for your floor. The vinegar in this solution will help break down any film that develops on your floor. And it also does this without damaging the floor’s surface. 

4. You Can Use Household Items to Clean the Floor 

Some regular household items can come in handy when an unusual situation occurs on your floor. For instance, if chewing gum or candle wax gets on your floor, you can put ice over it. And then, when the chewing gum or candle wax hardens, you can scrape it off with a credit card, plastic knife, or a scraper. 

You can also use rubbing alcohol in situations like paint, ink polish, or crayon spillage. 

5. Have a Welcome Mat by the Entrance of the Door

You may think a dirty floor is the only major disadvantage of not having a welcome mat. But, you are so wrong on that. Grit under your shoe can make your floor dull and even scratch it badly. Having a welcome mat will help reduce the chances of this happening. 

6. Trim their Nails -- Your Pets

Pets are known to cause havoc to floorings and furniture. So, if you have a pet, ensure its nails are always trimmed to avoid it scratching and damaging your flooring. 

7. Put Felt Pads under Your Tables and Chairs

Your chairs and tables can damage your flooring; this is especially true if you have to move them frequently. The solution to this is to get felt pads for all your furniture. Visit here https://www.cucicucicoo.com/2018/09/diy-chair-felt-pads-upcycling/ to learn how to make chair felt pads. These pads will serve as a cushion between your floor and your furniture. So they would not scratch and damage your flooring even if you have to move them a lot. 

Conclusion

Keeping your flooring in a good condition may be very tasking at times. But, laminate floors are an excellent choice if you do not intend to spend too much time on maintenance. 

However, if you do not know some basic tips then maintaining your laminate floor may still be difficult. The tips in this article are sure to help you keep your floor in pristine shape for a very long time. 

What Is the Average Cost To Lay A Brick Walkway In 2021?

Bricks are an excellent option for your walkway. Not only are they easy to put, but you can also organize them to create unique designs. Bricks are also pretty easy to clean as you only need a broom and a source of running water. 

When planning to lay your walkway, the cost is an essential factor. It influences nearly all aspects of the work. For example, your budget influences the quality of material you buy. It also influences the number of people who will work (thus influencing the speed of progress). 

It also contributes to who does the work (and, by extension, their level of experience). In short, the cost determines how good or bad your brick walkway becomes. As such, the question ‘what is the average cost to lay a brick walkway?’ is very common.

The simplest way to answer the cost question would be to analyze all the factors involved in the laying work quickly. You may do this by looking at your total intended budget for your project. Looking at your building plan (if you have one) is another excellent way to do a quick analysis.

That said, some different aspects come into play to determine precisely how much you will spend. Some of the factors include:

• The types and quality of materials you use

Truth be told, materials take up a considerable chunk of your construction budget.  Different types of materials come at different costs. 

Also, every brand has its specific prices for the products sold.  A product may go for price X from a particular brand. A different brand will sell the same product at price Y. On the same note, material quality influences cost. 

Of course, price does not always equal quality. However, in most cases, the best quality products will always come at the highest cost. After all, they say cheap is expensive, right? 

• The length and width of the walkway

How long do you want your walkway? How wide do you need it? Naturally, the longer and broader the walkway, the more construction materials you will use.  Using more materials means you will spend more money, ultimately bringing up your construction costs.

• The extra path features you will add

Your path will not be made of just bricks alone. You will need to add other additional features to go with it. Some  factors that will determine your extras include your aesthetic needs and exactly where your walkway is leading. Some additional features are steps, benches, and lighting.

• Project work and management

Is your walkway a personal do-it-yourself project? Do you need professional help doing it? Building it yourself is cheaper than hiring help. Similarly, highly experienced service providers tend to charge heftily for their services. Your choice of running the project depends on precisely what you want and how quickly you need to complete it.

• Let’s Talk Numbers

You may be wondering, 'So what are the numbers?' Well, there is no uniform number when it comes to cost estimations. The numerous factors that are in play during construction are the reason for this. 

 Hiring a professional bricklayer will cost you an average cost per square foot of between $8 and $18. However, if you are under a small budget and decide to do the work yourself, the cost can go as low as $6 per square foot.

• Calculating Your Costs

Your total construction cost depends on the length and width of your path. To get the total cost, you will need to multiply the average cost and the total area, in square feet, of the pathway you are constructing.

For example, you might want to lay a 4-foot wide by a 50-foot long walkway. The total area to be covered is thus 200 square feet (4 feet X 50 feet). If you use the upper limit of $18 per square foot for a professional, your total cost will be $3600. The cost is inclusive of labor and materials. Similarly, if you were to do the work yourself, the cost is $1200.

Doing the work yourself is more than 50% cheaper. However, the construction process is strenuous. It involves putting a lot of energy and time into it. As such, in both instances, the price matches the value.

Tips to Help you Save on Cost

1. Do it yourself
   
   Building your pathway yourself means you only spend money on equipment and materials. Doing this helps you save on labor costs. To build, you will need to dig the trench, carry and lay the bricks. The weather conditions may also not be in your favor in the cold or under the scorching heat. However, if you are hands-on and enjoy such projects, you could do this and cut costs.
   
   
2. Straight over winding
   
   The  distance between two points is shortest within a straight line. Well, so is the cheapest. Having curves in your walkway is aesthetic. However, it takes up more material which makes it unsuitable if you are keen on cutting costs.
    
3. Proper research
   
   Nothing beats proper planning and research. If you want to save up, do adequate research on the most affordable contractors available. Enough research also helps you compare prices, thus identify excellent but cost-friendly materials and supplies.
   
   
4. Project management skills
   
   Your management skills will come in handy to help you cut costs. Whether you are doing the work yourself or hiring, you need to know what is going on exactly. You also need to have a work plan and adhere to it.
   
   
5. Cut down on the extras.
   
   You may want to add extra items to your pathway. When building it at the lowest cost possible, things like lighting and steps might have to go. Click here to read more about walkways.

Conclusion

While the prices in this article are only market averages, the actual prices are not far off.  You may opt to work yourself or hire out. You may also decide to spend a little money or go all in. Either way, a brick walkway is a fantastic way to add aesthetic, class, and functionality to your outdoor environment.