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Floors that have lasting appeal - 30 April 2013

When you’re choosing new floors for your property, you’ll want materials that will benefit from lasting appeal. There’s no point in shelling out your hard-earned money and spending time and effort buying and laying new flooring only to have to rip it up and replace it when the fashions change.

This is why it’s well worth considering hardwood flooring. As a building material, timber has never gone out of favour and it’s not hard to see why.

Natural elegance and charm

Wood has a natural elegance and charm that’s unmatched by other materials. No two pieces of wood are exactly the same and this alone is a good enough reason to fall in love with timber. Floors made from it have their own character.

Also, it has a certain warmth about it that’s lacking in many other products, including plastics. Timber’s been used throughout the ages and there’s something deeply human about it.

Adaptable

Another advantage of solid wood flooring is the fact that it’s so adaptable. Even if you decide in a few years time to completely re-design the interior of your home, your floors will be able to remain in place.

As well as being the perfect match for homely furnishings and decor, wood can also complement contemporary looks.

Practical

It’s not only the way timber looks that makes it perfect for use in floors. The material is also highly practical. As long as it’s well looked after, it can stand the test of time. Unlike carpets that tend to go threadbare over a number of years, wood can stand up to the rigours of home life.

If at any stage you think it’s looking a little tired, you can always treat it to enhance its surface. This can help ensure it looks as good as new.

Only the best will do

Of course, if you’re to fully enjoy the benefits of wood floors London, it’s important that you purchase top-quality versions and this is where we come in. Here at Pro-Fit Mouldings Ltd, we specialise in these products and should have everything you need.

We offer the finest quality hardwood floors and accessories and buying from us couldn’t be easier.

Also, our prices should bring a smile to your face. We go out of our way to offer superb value for money, meaning you needn’t break the bank to take advantage of our products.

Accessories

To achieve the best results, it’s worthwhile getting some important extras too. We sell both standard and bespoke accessories, including stair nosing, skirtings, architraves, scotia, quadriant, door bars, perimeters, door casings and pipe covers.

Sit back and relax

Once you have laid your new floors and accessories, you can sit back and relax safe in the knowledge that the addition to your home will stand the test of time and will carry on looking great year after year.

This can be a great feeling. After all, life is busy enough these days without having to worry about replacing flooring time and again.

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Paying attention to those finishing touches - 30 April 2013

There’s no better way to inject some new life into your home than by ripping up your carpets or laminate and replacing them with new solid wood flooring. There is something really special about timber when it’s used in this way.

The great thing is, these floors are now more accessible than ever before. Getting your hands on the products is simple and you won’t have to break the bank either - as long as you choose the right supplier!

It’s the little things

To get the very most from your new wood flooring, it’s important to pay attention to the finer details. Interior design is a fine art and it takes a keen eye to make sure everything’s as it should be.

For example, rather than simply laying your new floors and leaving it at that, it’s well worth investing in some little extras.

You might benefit from purchasing some skirtings or architrave. Then there are door bars and door casings to consider, along with beadings and stair nosing. Let’s not forget pipe covers either.

Well worth the effort

OK, so investing in these extra products does require a little more spending, but it’s well worth it. After all, they can make a huge difference to the overall appearance of your rooms. Also, your wood floors will last for many years to come, so it’s important that they really look the part.

It’s now easier than ever before to access these products. Here at Pro-Fit Mouldings Ltd we stock a whole array of items that might be ideal for your property.

It’s amazing how much of a difference skirtings and other similar items can make to the look of your floors. Without these items, you risk making your new flooring seem unfinished and unprofessional.

You can always ask for help

Meanwhile, if you don’t have the time or the experience to fit flooring and all the extras that come with it yourself, you can always bring in the experts. This can make your life easier and it means you can be sure the end results will look superb.

Especially if you’re busy with work and other commitments, this can take a real weight off your mind.

Get in touch

If you don’t know which extras you need to go with your wood flooring, you can get in touch with our friendly and professional team by phone or email. We’re on hand to answer any queries you might have.

Real pride

Once your new floors have been laid, complete with any additional products you need, you can take a step back to admire your new-look rooms. It is a great feeling to be able to take real pride in your home and new wood floors are a guaranteed way to achieve this.

If you want to see the items we have to offer, just take a look around our website. You won’t be disappointed with the selection we provide and, before you know it, you could be enjoying your new timber floors.

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The best home makeovers - 25 April 2013

Officially at least, spring has sprung and you might have decided that this is the perfect time to revamp your home. There is certainly plenty of choice these days when it comes to selecting products to add to your property.

However, to achieve the best results, it’s important to bear a few basic principles in mind.

When to lay your solid wood flooring

For example, if you’re planning to invest in solid wood flooring, it’s important to consider when to lay it. If you jump the gun and put your new floors down too soon, you can run into problems. After all, if you lay the material down before you redecorate your walls, you risk getting paint or wallpaper paste on the timber. After spending your hard-earned money on these attractive new floors, this would be annoying to say the least!

As a general rule, you should paint or wallpaper your walls before you put your flooring in.

In contrast, if you’re planning to invest in new items of furniture, like new beds, couches, tables and so on, you should put your flooring down before you take delivery of them. There’s no point in positioning these objects perfectly only then to have to remove them from rooms to lay your new wood floors.

Effective planning is the key

The key to good home makeovers is effective planning. It’s easy to get carried away and start ordering products left right and centre without really having a schedule in mind, but this can lead to chaos and confusion.

By making sure you are methodical in your approach, you can make your life much easier.

A coherent scheme

The best homes are those that have a coherent interior design and it’s important to consider this when you’re choosing your flooring, wall colours and furniture. It doesn’t matter whether you want to aim for contemporary chic or rustic warmth, you can achieve superb results as long as you stick to your theme throughout your rooms.

The beauty of timber

One of the big advantages of solid wood flooring is the fact that it’s so adaptable. It can look homely or formal, modern or traditional - depending on what you team it up with.

With minimal furnishings and monochrome decor, it can be the epitome of contemporary elegance. At the same time, in busier rooms filled with more traditional items, it can have farmhouse charm.

If in years to come, you decide to completely change the look of your property, you won’t have to rip up your flooring. In many ways, you can see wood as the chameleon of the interior design world.

An impressive selection

Here at Pro-Fit Mouldings Ltd we’re passionate about timber floors and offer an impressive selection. By taking a look around our website, you should find exactly what you’re after, and the process of ordering is quick and easy. Meanwhile, our products represent superb value for money.

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Taking care of your new wooden floors - 16 April 2013

When your new hardwood flooring has just been laid, it’s great to take a step back and admire it. There’s something really special about using timber in your home like this. It has a natural elegance and beauty.

If you want to keep your floors looking as immaculate and attractive as this, it’s important that you take care of them. As long as you follow some basic principles, this should be straightforward - and you’ll get to benefit from many years of enjoyment of your fabulous new flooring.

Dust

It’s amazing how much dust can settle in the typical home. To tackle this, it’s a good idea to sweep your wood flooring regularly. You can also use a vacuum cleaner, but if you do make sure it has a brush setting. You don’t want to risk scratching the timber.

The good thing is, vacuuming or sweeping wood takes a matter of moments. It’s much less hassle than removing dust from thick carpets.

Mop

It’s also important to reach for the mop every so often. After all, some dirt won’t come up unless you use a little moisture. Roughly speaking, it’s advisable to use a mop once a week, but you can get away with leaving it a little longer if there are no noticeable marks on your floors.

Make sure that you use a well-wrung mop though, and it’s important that the wood’s surface has been treated otherwise it will absorb moisture. Meanwhile, if you leave too much water lying on the timber afterwards, you risk damaging its finish.

Also, don’t use harsh chemicals as this can also cause problems. You should find it easy to buy special cleaning products that are designed for use on wood.

Rugs

It’s worth using rugs on certain parts of your floors to minimise wear and tear. These items can also add a splash of colour to your rooms.

A facelift

Over the long-term, wood floors can lose a bit of their shine. If and when you think yours are in need of a facelift, you can remove the finish and re-apply. All of a sudden, you’ll have floors that look brand new.

This is something you can’t do with carpets. When carpets start looking tired and worn out, they have to be replaced.

Quality pays off

It really is worth investing in quality wood flooring in the first place. By making sure you choose products that are well designed and made, you can help ensure they will stand the test of time.

Here at Pro-Fit Mouldings Ltd we offer an impressive range of floors and should have exactly what you’re after. By coming to us to purchase these products, you can rest assured you’ll benefit from a superb standard of timber.

See for yourself

To see our full range for yourself, just take a look around the rest of our website. You won’t be disappointed by the level of choice available and the process of ordering is quick and simple. All you need are a spare few moments and a web connection.

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Step by Step Guide to Unfinished Wood Floors - 22 March 2013

As experts in solid wood flooring and everything that goes along with it, we know all about things like how to paint unfinished wood floors like the back of our hand! But for the laymen out there looking to make the most of their gorgeous new unfinished hardwood flooring, what are a few dos and don'ts? And how do you make sure you do the best job?

1. Make sure you have the right kit

Painting an unfinished wood floor isn't as easy as it sounds. The floor takes a real pounding over the years, so you need to make sure you do everything right to ensure the long life of the paint job. ALWAYS use paint designed for the job. It doesn't matter whether you're painting a sky blue solid wood kitchen floor or just touching up a gloss paint job in the bathroom – always use wood paint.

Other things you'll need are paint brushes, perhaps a telescopic paint pole (so you don't need to kneel down), paint roller, white spirit (to clean brushes), paint tray, primer and masking tape.

2. Clean the floor thoroughly

Our floors arrive unfinished, so you don't need to sand them, but a good scrub with a powder detergent makes sure all the dust and detritus accumulated during transit and fitting is gone. Leave the floor to dry completely (this could take several days)

3. Begin in the furthest corner and work towards your exit

This really depends on the shape of the room, but you should definitely make a painting plan to make sure you don't paint yourself into a corner (it happens more than you might think!) Always fit masking tape to protect vulnerable spots before you start to paint.

4. Use primer

There are various different types of primer out there, so find the one suitable for your wood and paint type. Primer helps to fix the paint and boosts the lifespan of each coat by sealing the wood grain – you'll use a lot less paint that way. For most primers it's essential to leave a couple of days drying time and consider giving the floor a light scrub with some gentle sand paper before the first coat of paint goes on.

5. Always give adequate drying time

This has to be the most important point to consider when painting floors. Did you know alkyd paint dries overnight but doesn't fully harden for around a month? That means a couple of weeks after the paint job, you still shouldn't be dragging tables across the floor or wearing stiletto heels!

6. Removing imperfections

A light sanding is usually enough to remove imperfections like brush stroke marks or drips. It's better to be gentle and take a little time over removing imperfections than to rush.

Hopefully now you'll be able to paint your new wood floor perfectly! If you've got any more tips about getting the perfect finish, let us know and we'll add them to this blog entry.

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5 DIY Jobs Brits Leave Unfinished - 22 March 2013

Britain is certainly a nation of DIY enthusiasts! In the spirit of make-do-and-mend, we love nothing more than a good DIY project to get our teeth into! But sometimes the sheen of motivations dulls and that handmade wardrobe or transit van camper conversion falls by the wayside. According to some surveys, up to a third of Brits are living with unfinished DIY projects!

We're experts at hardwood flooring, wood accessories and all things to do with engineered wood floors, but we're certainly as guilty as the rest of the UK when it comes to the odd botched DIY job! Here are five of the most common unfinished DIY projects to be found in Britain’s homes (with a little info on how to finish them!)

1. Tiling the bathroom

It seems like a pretty simple job if you've never done it before. But tiling the bathroom can be an exceptionally demanding task, especially if you're a layman trying to fit it in between things like going to work and managing a family. It could be time to either call in the professionals or set aside a whole weekend to get the job done!

2. Building a shed

The area in the corner of the garden was cleared, various pieces of wood were bought and a few were perhaps even nailed together, but a finished shed it is not! The internet is a great place to find advice on how to build the simplest sheds, so do a little digging and look for something that's easy to split into set tasks and small jobs.

3. Restoring a vehicle

That old VW Beetle been sitting half-finished in the garage for months? Nobody can get too mad about this one. After all, working on an old car is a labour of love, so take all the time you need!

4. Anything unexpectedly electrical

Electrical issues when doing anything DIY-related can be dangerous. A large portion of our DIY projects go unfinished because we hit a wall... or a bunch of electrical cables we don't know what to do with! Electrical issues are ALWAYS best left to the professionals, so bite the bullet and call in an expert to sort the project out.

5. Paint jobs

Now this includes everything from unwanted texture patterns in gloss paint to marks on the wall that need painting over. As far as DIY goes, painting is usually a pretty simple undertaking, but that hasn't stopped Brits citing paint jobs as one of the top undone DIY jobs in UK homes. According to the delightful Kirstie Allsopp, Brits need to get back in the saddle and reclaim DIY as a proud British pastime, starting with all those odd paint jobs (and that includes the wood stain on unfinished wood flooring!)

We hope we haven't shamed you into remembering that half-made spice rack kept out of sight under the stairs, but hopefully this blog entry has helped spur you on to get your hands dirty and tick a few jobs of that DIY list (even if you pay someone else to do it!)

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5 Easy Ways to Update Your Home Decor with the Seasons - 22 March 2013

Let's take it for granted that you've come to see us about hardwood flooring or engineered wood floors – come for flooring, stay for the price and the advice!

But jokes aside, we like to think of this blog as a great way for us to communicate with readers on a slightly more informal level. We don't need to harp on about wood flooring and all the great services we offer – that's how you arrived at the website – so today we thought we'd give you a few pointers on how to make the most of the seasons in terms of home décor... without crippling the bank account every three months!

1. Move the room around

Every room has a number of optimal positions that work best with things like seasonal changes in where the sun shines, being closer to the radiator, etc. Nothing is more refreshing in a tired room than giving all the furniture a good clean and relocating it to it's seasonally optimal position.

2. Themed artwork and photographs

Certainly one of the easiest and cheapest ways to give your home a new seasonal edge, switching art and photographs is like changing the face of your home to suit the seasons. We're heading into spring now, so how about plenty of bright colours and sunny shots?

3. A change of colour

Colour has to be one of the most effective seasonal weapons. We love to festoon our living rooms in bright hues during the spring and summer, moving to deep luxury colours in autumn and winter. If you're feeling particularly brave, why not repaint a statement wall a couple of times each year to match the shift between warm and cold?

4. New textures

There's something about velvet and corduroy that's so deliciously autumnal, isn't there? And canvas seems to be the fabric of summer. Introduce new textures with the changing seasons any way you can, especially in relation to things like scatter cushions, throws, etc.

5. Curtains, blinds and cushions

Along with artwork, changing soft furnishings can be a great cheap way to rehash the look and style of your home. If you invest in decent soft furnishings, there's no reason why they can't head up to the loft during their seasons out of use. Winter curtains can even help keep heat in your home! We love to use delicate cotton blinds or curtains during warmer months, switching to heavy velvet or thick cotton mixes in winter.

Updating your home isn't about going horribly over budget every time you want a new look. It's about finding clever, cheap ways to afford yourself the tools to change the face of your home with the changing seasons.

If you've got any other tips on how to update the look of your home on the cheap, please let us know by filling in the comments section on this blog entry and we'll let all our readers know!

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Now is the Time to Get Set for Summer with New Decor - 15 March 2013

No-one wants to spend the summer with a half-finished floor or a paint brush in their hand, so what better time is there to give your home a good going over in readiness for a summer of gorgeous décor, inside and out!

Getting the Garden in Shape

Make-do-and-mend is a buzz phrase that's certainly comp back into fashion in recent years. We may be a supplier of some of the best quality hardwood flooring in the UK, but we know a bargain when we see it too!

The garden is a great place to really put that whole salvage art eye into play. For example, you can use old wooden pallets and plastic sheeting to create custom temporary greenhouses.

The garden is also great for spring projects like restoring some old garden furniture, building a chicken coop, redesigning the old shed, planting new bedding areas and a thousand other odd jobs that can provide an entire season of DIY fun without taking up space in the living room!

Websites like Pinterest are great for sourcing curious garden project ideas. But first the garden needs to be in basically a good state, and than means a whole load of weeding, clearing and tidying. The garden may look a bit sparse, but you'll be providing great growing conditions for late spring blooms and early summer plants.

Flooring – Needs and Decor Choices

You may not need a complete wood flooring overhaul, but spring is a superb time to take care of all those little bits of damage that may have accumulated in the decades since your original wood floor went down (well, wood floors ARE very robust!) Our stain matching service means you can order custom flooring and moulding parts to bring your flooring back into tiptop condition.

Thinking of getting new flooring this spring? Here are some questions to ask yourself.

What kind of use will the flooring see? E.g. do you have seven kids and three big dogs? Probably best to steer clear of carpet then! Solid wood is going to be the safest option and best aesthetic choice for you.

Will you move house soon? Wood floors make superb investments in terms of property value. But if you're moving soon and would rather invest in wood floors in your new home, maybe stick to carpet from our soft flooring range instead.

What's your décor like? The great thing about wood flooring is that is goes with everything, but sometimes there's nothing like the feel of luxury carpet between your toes!

So, is that enough to keep you busy this spring? Put the hours in now and come summer it'll be time to sit back and watch the world go by from your new deck, restored garden swing or whatever else your project threw up!

Our ranges of wood flooring and mouldings are updated throughout the year, so don't forget to visit us again for more advice, information and great new products.

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Pets and Hardwood Floors - 28 February 2013

Many people assume that hardwood floors and pets cannot co-exist. Indeed, it seems to be quite a common belief that wood’s propensity to be scratched makes it a completely unsuitable flooring option for homes where domestic pets live.

However, it is fair to say that these assumptions are not overly accurate.

Indeed, wooden floors and pets CAN co-exist in harmony if certain factors are considered and met.

So, if you want to have beautiful wood floors in your home and keep your four-legged friend sweet, read on.

Benefits for Pet Owners

Although some wooden floors are more suited to pets than others, it is safe to say that all hardwood flooring is able to offer pet owners three key benefits: it is very easy to clean, extremely easy to maintain, and incredibly durable (when properly cared for). Unlike some other floor surfaces, wooden floors do not harbour dust, mould, pet hair or dander. Wood is also the perfect surface for pet owners who have animals which shed a lot as a quick blast with the vacuum cleaners is all that’s needed to get rid of unwanted hair.

Refinishing

Another great advantage of solid wood flooring is that it can be refinished. Whilst other flooring solutions inevitably need replacing when they get start looking worn, hardwood floors can be made to look as good as new with a little bit of sanding and re-staining. Although this may take a bit of time, it is far more cost-effective than buying a whole new floor surface and getting it fitted (or installing it yourself). Naturally, this can provide you with great peace of mind (animals can be very unpredictable after all).

Advantages of Distressed Floors

Distressed wood is arguably the stand out option when it comes to choosing a truly pet-friendly hardwood floor. Indeed, distressed flooring choices have become increasingly popular anyway in recent years as they have an ‘old-world’ look and feel which many people today find appealing. The reason they are so well suited to pets is that scratch marks (made from pet claws) are far less noticeable when they are made in wood which already looks characteristically ‘worn’. In fact, the distressed look actually makes claw scratches look like they’re supposed to be there. The same is true of knotty or grainy wood so you can always opt for them if you’re not that keen on distressed wood.

Less Pet-Friendly Offerings

Of course, some types of wood are less likely to fair so well. For instance, dark coloured woods show up scratches more clearly than lighter woods. Similarly, wooden floors that have shiny finishes are also poor options when it comes to pets as they too will display flaws. Although some wooden floor finishes will advertise themselves as being ‘scratch resistant’ many of them do not allow for the fact that pets’ claws can dig deeper than the first few surface layers.

Without doubt, pets and hardwood floors really can co-exist – just make sure you choose wisely!

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How to Keep your Hardwood Floor Looking Pristine - 25 February 2013

Having solid wood flooring fitted in your home really is a treat. Indeed, wooden floors don’t just make your home look and feel amazing; they also feel lovely to walk on too!

Of course, if you want your floors to keep looking and feeling amazing for a good long time then you will need to look after them. After all, they will likely have to endure many years of people walking, sitting, playing, jumping, dancing and Wii-ing all over them! Fortunately, it is quite easy to keep your solid wood floors looking pristine. In fact, if you follow the tips below then you should find that your lovely-looking floors will stay looking lovely for a good long time to time!

Clean your Floors Regularly

Cleaning your floors regularly is arguably the most sensible and effective way of keeping your floors in great shape. Indeed, giving your wooden surface a quick going over with a cloth just once a week will be more than enough to keep dirt and grime at bay. You don’t need to invest in specialist, super-effective cleaning cloths for this. In fact, the cheap cloths available in supermarkets and hardware stores will be more than up to the task, as will a normal household rag. To get the best results, sweep away loose dirt and debris with a dustpan and brush before you get busy with your cloth. This will enable you to target and eliminate the deeper set dirt far more effectively!

Be Extra Careful when Moving Furniture

Pulling or pushing furniture across wood floors is not a good idea. Indeed, moving furniture in this fashion is a sure fire way of scratching or marking a floor made of wood. Think about it: you know those track marks that appear on carpet whenever you move sofas around for a party or at Christmas? Well, picture those on your wooden floor.

Not good.

The same concerns also apply to pets or children who inadvertently move furniture when they are excited or playful. Happily, there are two things you can do to mitigate these fears. The first is simple: get someone to help you lift your furniture. Whilst getting someone round to help you lift your favourite armchair or move a sideboard may seem a little convoluted, it really is worth it in the end.

The second is solution is also pretty straightforward: get some rubber pads to put on the bottom of furniture items which are likely to get moved. These little protectors can be invaluable as they don’t just protect your floors from scratches and marks; they also help to give your furniture items a little bit of extra grip. Moreover, these handy additions are cheap, easy to apply and widely available so they really ought to be very high up on your list of ‘must haves’.

Without doubt, a little bit of care and attention will help to ensure your hardwood floors stay looking pristine for a good long while!

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