Parquet floors are a chic alternative to standard hardwood planks. Talk about making a great first impression! At first glance, this parquet floor looks like tile, but it's actually made up of alternating strips of maple and walnut. Each "tile" measures 13" x 13" and is composed of four strips of hardwood laid side by side. Installing this floor in the traditional parquet method was a painstaking process but the high-end look is certainly worth the trouble. Design by Rate My Space contributor October Road. A painted area rug is a great cover-up for sections of hardwood that have seen better days. Want a really unique floor? Well, if you're handy with a paintbrush then a painted floor may be in your future. The look is one-of-a-kind and, despite appearances, is not that hard to accomplish. The key is in proper preparation: the most important step is to first thoroughly remove the polyurethane or varnish protecting the wood's surface, sand smooth, then prime with an oil-based primer.
Now comes, the fun part: unleash your creativity and add the pattern of your choosing with paints made specifically for floors. Design by Rate My Space contributor fauxdesign. Richly stained concrete floors give a space a hip, urban feel. Rate My Space contributor jpaustin knows how to stretch a buck! At first glance, the floor in this eclectic living room look like exotic wenge or ipe wood but it's actually stained concrete. In addition to being budget friendly (refinishing the floor cost just $500) concrete is low maintenance and gives any space a modern, loft-style vibe. A beautiful tile floor makes a sophisticated statement. Although this bathroom is new, Rate My Space contributor TheresaManglinong was able to give it a timeless look thanks to her choice of a Carrara marble and granite floor laid in a classic basket-weave pattern. Tone-on-tone pattern proves diamonds are a floor's best friend. Rate My Space contributor mallielu came up with a clever cost-saving way to add hardwood floors to their kitchen.
They simply pulled up the existing vinyl, then sanded and stained the pine subfloor with alternating wood tones. Even new floors can use a little customization. Vintage honeycomb ceramic tile suits the style of this Victorian WC to a T. The home is nearly a century old, but this bath is down-to-the-studs new. The owner, Rate My Space contributor oldhousemama, did an impeccable job selecting fixtures and finishes to match the rest of the home. Once installed, she decided that the honeycomb tile could use a little spicing up so created a custom red floral pattern by painstakingly covering select tiles with red epoxy paint. This large-scale mosaic pattern is too pretty to cover with a rug. Rate My Space contributor meigsart created a whimsical mosaic pattern that flows through her home by meticulously cutting large and small ceramic tiles to create this cheery floor.Kicky paint colors keep it fun. Rate My Space contributor smallfreckles certainly is not afraid of color!
Rather than going through the expensive and time-consuming process of tearing out the existing kitchen, they chose instead to brighten up their cabinets and vinyl floor with vibrant lime and orange paint. For best results, select paint that is specially made for vinyl and follow manufacturers' instructions on prep and application.Walnut flooring cost: $4 to $9 per square foot When shopping for walnut flooring, homeowners will find that manufacturers charge between $4 and $9 per square foot for the wood boards alone. American walnut is usually on the lower end of the price range, while Brazilian walnut is more expensive. The cost of sourcing that wood and shipping it to manufacturers leads to the price increase. Installation costs can add an extra $4 per square foot to the cost, but some companies charge as little as $1 per square foot for installation. The cost typically depends on the type of walnut the homeowners choose. Traditional hardwood requires staples and nails to keep the boards in place, but newer forms of engineered wood don't require staples or nails.
While installing engineered walnut is a little less expensive, the material typically doesn't add as much value to the home and doesn't last as long as solid unstained or pretreated walnut does. Walnut trees are typically known for the nuts that they produce, but they are also valued for their hardwood used in flooring. Black walnut is one of the more popular options, but some call this material American walnut because manufacturers source the material from walnut trees raised across the country. Black walnut and American walnut have a hardness rating of 1010, which is harder than some materials and not as strong as others. Brazilian walnut, which comes from other parts of the world, has a much stronger hardness rating of 3680. One of the first choices that homeowners must make is between prefinished walnut and unstained walnut. Walnut has a rich and warm chocolate brown color that works in both larger and smaller rooms. Prefinished walnut comes with a stain added to the surface that highlights the natural color of the wood.
Manufacturers typically add a clear sealant to the top of the wood as well, which provides a barrier against moisture. Prefinished walnut floors can also come in a darker or lighter shade of brown, based on the stain the manufacturer uses. Unstained walnut floors lack any type of sealant or stain. This is a good choice for those who like the natural look of the wood, want something a little more rustic or desire a customized color. Unstained flooring is often less expensive than prefinished flooring, but some homeowners don't like the amount of time it takes to stain the wood. The wood requires at least one coat of sealant, which protects against moisture and other hazards, and some people apply a stain to the wood before the sealant. The stain can intensify the rich, brown color of the walnut or make the walnut resemble a different type of wood. Installing walnut flooring is extremely difficult for beginners. The process involves a number of different steps and even one simple mistake can cost thousands to repair.
After measuring the size of the room, determining the number of boards needed and arranging the materials, the installer will check the floor for any uneven spots or problems and take care of those issues. Installers then place vapor barrier paper on the floor. This paper blocks moisture and prevents other types of damage to the sub-flooring. The installers start laying the walnut boards on one side of the room, placing each board side by side and eliminating any gaps between those boards. Each board must have a series of nails placed through the surface that affixes the boards to the flooring, and most installers also use wood staples in the boards. After arranging each board, the installers will use wood putty to fill gaps and holes and ensure that the boards are level. One reason so many people choose walnut flooring is because the flooring requires little in the way of maintenance. Homeowners simply need to sweep away dirt and debris, and they can find specialty cleaners that remove stains from the wood.
Walnut is also durable enough for most homes, though many find that it isn't strong enough for the most frequently-used areas of their home. Though walnut is naturally dark, the color of the wood works in a variety of settings. It does equally well in both modern and more traditional homes and rooms. Walnut also features a strong grain pattern in a shade slightly darker than the color of the wood itself, and applying a sealant or stain can really bring out that grain. Despite some strong benefits, walnut isn't nearly as strong as other types of woods. American walnut has a low hardness number in comparison to other woods, which means that it doesn't withstand constant use. Scratches and scuffs can appear on the wood just from walking across the floor or moving furniture. Like other types of wood flooring, walnut requires regular sealing and waxing. A thin layer of wax added to the wood can restore its natural look and bring shine back to a dull floor. The sealant added to the surface of the wood can break down over time and leave the wood exposed to natural sunlight and other environmental dangers.