Sushmita Gupta asked:


Wood paneling is a wall constructed from rigid or semi-rigid components, which are traditionally interlocking wood but it, could be also plastic or other materials.

Wood paneling is used in architecture and design, ornamental treatment of the walls, ceilings, doors, and furnishings that consist of a sequence of broad, thin sheets called panels that were framed together by smaller, thicker strips of wood. It was developed in antiquity to make rooms in stone buildings to look more comfortable. The panels work to insulate the room from the cold stone.

In modern buildings, it is installed for decorative purposes. Wood paneling such as wainscoting and boiserie in particular, may be extremely ornate and is particularly associated with 17th and 18th century interior design, Victorian architecture in Britain and its international contemporaries. Wainscot is a paneling design used to the lower 900mm to 1500mm of an interior wall, underneath the decorative rail on the wall or chair and above the skirting board or baseboard.

This style is traditionally created from tongue and groove boards though bead board or decorative panel such as wooden door might have is also common. Wainscot is also referring to other materials used in similar fashion. Its original purpose was to cover the lower parts of the walls in which in houses constructed with poor or nonexistent damp proof courses are often affected by rising dampness but now it general purpose is for decorative use. Boiserie is the term used to define ornate and intricately carved wood paneling.

Some early examples of boiserie were unpainted but later the raised moldings were painted or gilded. Boiserie is popular during the 17th and 18th century French interior design and Palace of Versailles has many fine examples. Wood panels were not just confined to the walls of the room but were also used to decorate doors, frames, cupboards and shelves. Wood paneling has been popular for hundreds of years ago and indeed it a natural wood adds warmth and elegance but the only way the craftsmen of earlier were able to apply wood paneling was in frames or what they called wainscoting.

Now, wood paneling became so popular that it is used in homes everywhere, in the kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom. Today, wood paneling in homes have a lighter and sleeker look. Those people who buy or own older homes with dark paneled rooms may be faced with the decision of keeping the paneling as in, removing or changing it and the easiest and most cost effective way to change the look of a paneled room is to add color by painting the paneling.

The wood paneling is often passed over as a quality building material. The images of the inexpensive imitation composite paneling the gained fame and fortune during the last half of the 20th century tend to dominate not to knock the cheaper alternative. Wood paneling can be a wonderful and economic addition to any other living space but many homeowners fail to consider the higher end wood paneling options available to them.

From a dramatically crafted raised panel accents to knotty pine tongues and groove walls and ceilings wood panels can convert any home from ordinary to extraordinary overnight. In wood paneling, you have many options to choose from that are available in the market today that will suits your tastes and budget. And if you are really fascinated in wood paneling, you can ask the help of an experience contractor, dealer or installer about what alternatives is best for you. And without a doubt, quality wood panels are one of the most beautiful and timeless investments you can make when it comes to enhancing the look and character of your home.



FRANK

Ed Terran asked:


There are many uses for wood in the home. One popular way of using wood is for beams on ceilings. They give the room a feel that is pleasing and it can reflect the rest of the décor of the room. The beams should be of a quality of wood that is mirrored in other aspects of the home.

Floor and door molding and window frames are often wood. The wood can either be painted to match the room or it can be left natural and have a glossy finish applied to help preserve the wood. These homes are quite beautiful and depending upon the type of wood used, the appearance can be quite sophisticated or can have a rustic feel. Many people use unfinished wood if they are going for the country motif. This can be quite impressive when combined with other pieces that are of the same general look.

Wood cabinets in your kitchen can be quite good looking. There are so many types of wood from which to choose. Cherry is often used for a look that is rich and deep. The look and feel of real wood is far more pleasing than the cheap imitation wood that can be purchased and it will last longer. Oak is another wood that is used for kitchen cabinets for those who prefer a lighter color in their kitchens.

Wood for cabinets and bases for sinks are often used in the bathroom as well. Here with the addition of wood towel bars, toothbrush holders, soap holder, and other accessories your look will be complete. The wood you use in your home will not only be pleasing to the eye but could raise the value as well.

Have you ever thought of having a wood mantel installed over your fireplace? This was used in many houses in the past and the look is stunning. The mantel can be a natural wood that has been covered with a finish for preservation or it can be painted to match the rest of the room. If you want to match it to other wood in the room, for instance, door frames and window frames or ever crown molding, this can create a truly beautiful look.

Speaking of crown molding, this is another use for wood in your home that gives the rooms such an expensive look. The wide array of crown molding that is available will allow you to match it up with just about any kind of wood you are using elsewhere in your home. It can be plain or can be carved with flowers, leaves, or any type of décor you choose.

Another item that is often made from wood is your entrance door. The door can be plain or it can have windows of just about any shape or style you want. The wood door can make a bold statement or it can be just a plain door. The oak door is one choice and with the right type of hardware, this can be a beautiful look.



CLAIR

Jesse Akre asked:


Wood kitchen tables are classics. There have been wood kitchen tables since the days of the farm house, the pioneer homes. Even back to biblical times the eating space in the kitchen was made of wood.

Back then it made perfect sense to have wood kitchen tables. The wood to make them was easily accessible by chopping down a nearby tree. Today, although we can skip on the chopping down of the tree on our own, there are still a number of great reasons to use wood kitchen tables.

Wood kitchen tables can complete the look of your kitchen. The materials in wood kitchen tables can compliment the wood that is already in use for your cabinets and counter edging. Wood kitchen tables also offer a friendly, natural feeling that welcomes people to take a seat and have something to eat.

This is where the strength of wood comes into play. The durable surface will allow many, many meals to be enjoyed on the surface and still have the table looking strong and new.

As you are considering purchasing wood kitchen tables there are some important things to take into consideration. This is going to be a major purpose. For the most part, people do not trade out their wood kitchen tables year after year. These tables are purchases that are going to stick around for a long time. So you want to make sure you get exactly what you need.

You should look through the wood kitchen tables on the market and find ones that will look good for years to come. Generally, wood kitchen tables on their own do this. Wood kitchen tables are always in style and can blend in with almost any style you decide on in your kitchen.

Next consider the seating solutions you need in your kitchen. For the most part you should have an idea of how many people may be eating in the kitchen on most days. You need to make sure you will have enough room to accommodate all of them. If you have some change in these numbers you may want to look at wood kitchen tables with leaves so you can extend the table when more people are around and condense it when you don’t need the extra space.

Make sure to know the square footage you have available before buying wood kitchen tables. While you may have enough room for the table, make sure to remember that people have to be able to get in and out of the chairs, comfortably, so make that you have allotted enough space. Part of your purchasing decision may be made by the chairs that go with the table. Some take up a little more space and may force you to shrink your table size to be able to fit all the pieces in your kitchen.

Once you have sorted out the size, you can start looking at style. That will not be a problem since wood kitchen tables come in a wide range of design options from classic wood, to wood and metal, wood with a glass top, and the very popular wood with tile top style.



GARRY

Jason Ashby asked:


The elegant look of a hardwood floor can add warmth and character to any room in a home. The natural characteristics of wood add depth and a visual appearance that many other types of floors try to duplicate. With the demand for hardwood flooring growing manufacturer’s are enhancing their ranges to meet this demand, with better quality finishes and superior construction techniques.

Hardwood floors come in a wide variety of wood species, colours and widths. Besides the classic hardwoods (like red oak, white oak, maple and ash) many manufacturers now offer exotic hardwood species from all over the World. Exotic hardwoods give homeowners the chance to better express their own personal decorating tastes with a more unique looking floor. With so many different types of hardwood flooring now available it is sometime hard to choice which is best suited to you.

Different Types of Wood Flooring

Solid wooden floors are one solid piece of wood that have tongue and groove sides and come in either pre-finished or unfinished styles. Solid wood floors are sensitive to moisture and it is not recommended to install these floors below ground level, or directly over a concrete slab. These floors are for nail-down installations only. You can refinish, or recoat solid wood floors several times, which adds to their appeal and to their long life. There are solid floors that are over 100 years old and are still in good condition.

All solid wood floors will react to the presence of moisture. In the winter heating months, moisture leaves the wood causing the floor to contract which leaves unsightly gaps between each plank. In the summer months when the humidity is higher the wood will expand and the gaps will disappear. If there is too much moisture it may cause the wood planks to cup, or buckle. This is why it is important when installing a solid strip floor to leave the proper expansion area around the perimeter and to acclimatize the wood prior to installation.

Engineered wood floors - These floors are constructed from several wood plies that are glued together. The centre core is generally a softer wood material and is used to make the tongue and groove. A hardwood finish layer is glued on top of the centre core and another softer wood ply is attached underneath the core. This top ply is also called the finish layer and can be constructed of almost any wood specie.

Wood always wants to expand in a certain direction. In the presence of moisture solid wood planks will always expand across the width of the planks, rather than down the length of the boards. To avoid this problem, manufacturers of engineered planks place each ply in the opposite direction of each other. This is called cross-ply construction. Once the wood layers are glued together the plies will counteract each other which will stop the plank from growing or shrinking with changes in the humidity. Engineered wood floors are designed for the floating installation and can be glued together or some now come with a click system.

Veneer wood floors are very similar to laminate floors. The only difference is that with a veneer flooring to top wear layer is a thin piece or real hardwood instead of a photographic image as in laminates. Veneer flooring is usually around 8mm in thickness with the top hardwood layer being around 0.7mm. Advantages of a veneer floors are that they are fast and easy to install and you have a real hardwood floor.

Factory Pre-finished Wood Flooring

Most factory finished hardwood floors have several coats of finish applied to the wood’s surface. As example, many wood floor companies are applying 6-10 coats of a ultra-violet (UV) cured urethane. This would be extremely difficult for someone to duplicate on a job site finish, not to mention how many days it would take. This is one of the reasons why many flooring mechanics, flooring retailers, and builders are pushing pre-finished hardwood floors. Instead of taking several days to install and finish a new hardwood floor a pre-finished hardwood floor is generally done in one day.

The most common finishes are:

UV-cured - Factory finishes that are cured with Ultra Violet lights versus heat.

Polyurethane - A clear, tough and durable finish that is applied as a wear layer.

Acrylic-urethane - A slightly different chemical make up than Polyurethane with the same benefits.

Aluminium Oxide - Added to the urethane finish for increased abrasion resistance of the wear layer, which is becoming extremely popular on the better grade wood floors.

Acrylic Impregnated - Acrylic monomers are injected into the cell structure of the wood to give increased hardness and then finished with a wear layer over the wood.

Unfinished Wood Flooring

If you want a custom stained hardwood floor, or a wood floor to match existing trim than a unfinished hardwood floor is your answer. Unfinished means you start with a bare hardwood floor and than the floor is sanded, stained, and finished in the home. This can be quite a mess and the process does take several days, but your floor will have a finish to you requirements.

Installation Options

Nail Down - Secret nails are used with a wood flooring nailer and mallet to attach the flooring to the sub floor. Solid Strip floors or Plank floors can only be installed on wooden sub-floors or on batons.

Glue Down - Engineered wood floors and parquets can be glued down. This is when you spread the recommended glue all over the sub floor and lay the flooring into the glue.

Floating - This is when a thin underlay is placed between the wood flooring and the sub floor. A recommended wood glue is then applied in the tongue and groove of each plank to hold the planks together. Engineered



FREDDIE

Adam Peters asked:


Wooden shutters can make a home look really cosy and welcoming. However there are some disadvantages to owning real wooden shutters so it would be worth considering faux wooden shutters instead.

During the 1990s a new trend began to take hold in the United States, that of interior wooden shutters. This was a small part of a widespread increase in the use of window accessories in real wood. Unfortunately, wood shutters were on the high end of the price scale, so wood blinds became a viable alternative. As usually happens, the trend has now reversed, and instead of wood blinds, the market for wood shutters has become more popular, especially that of faux wood, a material that has the effect of wood but at a lower cost.

Why Choose Faux Wood

Consumers buy window shutters for both privacy and to shade the room from the rays of the sun. Unlike blinds, shutters can completely shade the room, thus letting less light into the room. Because faux wood shutters are usually made from PVC or a similar composite material, they can provide the consumers with all the advantages of real wood, including the attractiveness, without the cost factors involved with real wood.

How Trends Have Changed

In the past, wood blinds were a luxury only afforded the rich, but the development of the faux wood shutter has made them more affordable. In fact, the introduction of faux wood has even forced manufacturers of real wood to lower their prices in order to prevent a total loss of sales. This means that although more people can afford real wood shutters, fax wood shutters are still a less expensive option. This narrowing of the price gap between the two types of blinds means that approximately 50% of blinds currently sold in the US are fax wood while the percentage for shutters is likely to be within the same range.

Concern for the environment may also influence people into buying faux wood instead of real wood shutters because they are concerned with natural wood depletion and replacement. Of course, you may find some who will argue that natural wood is biodegradable material while PVC and composite materials may create additional future refuse disposal issues. For most consumers, these problems are not even a consideration, but it’s important to take them into consideration for those who may make their decision based upon one of those issues.

Advantages of Faux Wood

Compared to real wood, faux wood shutters have the advantage when it comes to strength and damage resistance. For example, a faux wood shutter will not warp, fade or crack, and over long periods of sun exposure, PVC will keep its shape and texture far better than its real wood counterpart. Though many people may be able to tell the difference between real wood and faux wood, the purpose is to create a real wood “look” to the room that the casual observer fails to note from a distance.



DREW

Mary Hasti asked:


Such was the case of a young new homeowner, giddy with first time buyer’s joy. Monique’s furniture had arrived and the walls were freshly painted. Her focus then turned to her fourteen brand new windows that commanded proper dressing. After spending the better part of an evening surfing the various online blind stores, Monique finally knew what she wanted. She wanted the look and versatility of beautiful blinds, with all the bells and whistles, at rock bottom prices. Monique wanted wood, not aluminum, but hadn’t decided on real wood or faux wood. As long as they looked and felt real, she could handle faux. I was happy to jump in at this point to clarify the differences.

I informed her that there are three types of wood blinds, real wood, and two faux woods varieties, which are a vinyl polymer, or a vinyl polymer/wood composite. All are great choices and they each have their own appeal as well as assets and liabilities.

We started with real woods. Real woods for the most part are made of basswood. It’s a light hardwood that either comes stained in a huge assortment of wood tones, or painted mostly in the white family. The best part about wood blinds is, simply, they are beautifully 100% wood. They are the most energy efficient, and the most lightweight. Since they are lighter than the alternative faux wood blinds, they can be manufactured in larger sizes and don’t have as many ladders, which makes for a less cluttered look. They have the most options available, such as choice of valances, and numerous lift and tilt options, including a motorized tilt. On the downside, because they are a natural product they can warp or mildew in extreme conditions over long periods of time

Vinyl Faux Woods are by far the least expensive. From a short distance, they do look like wood blinds, won’t warp, and are easy to clean. They do have the least number of options available though. If you find a manufacturer that offers the decorative tape option, be sure to think it through, as it can become very busy, due to the many ladders required to string the heavier slats. On the downside, they can yellow over time and can show scratches.

Composite Faux Woods stand in the middle, by virtue of material composite, cost, and attractiveness. They are not as affordable as vinyl, but more affordable than real wood. The slats have a tinted baked on hard shell finish that won’t show scratches. They won’t yellow and they weigh less than the vinyl, thus less ladders. Choices of options when compared to the vinyl also increase. This is a good-looking product and has fooled many people into thinking its real wood. The downside, it’s not 100% real wood. It is a faux.

After much deliberation, Monique decided the composite faux wood blind, with an attractive price tag and natural oak finish would work best for her. When considering wood blinds, think wood, think faux, and think options.



DANNY

Muna wa Wanjiru asked:


As a great many of us are aware the exterior walls of our homes need some type of protection. This protection is usually in the form of cladding or siding. As we are choosing the type of protection that we desire, we will see the benefits and the disadvantages that are found in these products. Wood siding is in many ways a good product to use for the outside of our homes.

In wood siding you will find different types of siding being used for homes. Some homes will use log siding. Other homes will use Cedar wood siding and sometimes you will find homes that are using a faux wood siding. These different types of wood siding are all good to attach to our homes but they should be fixed properly.

In most cases this attachment process can be done by professional siding experts. These individuals will have many years of experience in the different forms of wood siding. Cedar wood siding can use Western Red Cedar as well. The Cedar wood siding has different types of attachment processes. Each of these techniques will yield a different look to the exterior of the house.

As an example you can use lap siding. This siding will produce a rustic look of a log cabin to your home. The tongue and groove technique that is used with wood siding can be fixed horizontally, vertically and even diagonally. Depending on the way that you have attached these wood siding pieces the walls of your home will look different and unique.

While these types of wood siding can be considered as being attractive some of us want our homes to look like log cabins. While the lap siding in Cedar wood siding can give your home a rustic look the real look of a log cabin can be achieved with full uncut logs or log siding.

These types of wood sidings are a cheaper alternative for homeowners who prefer to have their home covered in logs without the high cost that full logs are known to have. The other added benefit of log wood siding is that you only need nails and a hammer to attach this wood siding to your house frame.

When you use log siding to cover your home on top of other siding material you will get an added layer of insulation for your home. Since wood is known to be a natural insulator of heat and energy using wood siding like that of log siding will significantly lower your heat costs.

To find the various advantages that wood siding has you can see what the sales representatives will tell you about their wood siding products. From this information you can decide on the types of wood siding that will give your home the attractive look that you have always desired.



CHESTER

Batsheva Vaknin asked:


There is nothing like wood furniture to add elegance and beauty to a home. Whether it is a thick, all-natural butchers block table, an Art Deco wooden dresser, a simple mahogany dining room table or a sleek, modern coffee table, wood furniture is a staple in homes across America and the world. Make sure your wood tables, vanities and dressers stay gorgeous for generations to come with these simple solutions and guidelines.

Stain, Stain, Go Away!

Ever gasped after a child inadvertently left a giant scratch in the surface of your dining room table? Or cringed when a well-meaning adult accidentally knocked over a drink onto your beautiful wood coffee table? Well, fear not. One of the best attributes of wood furniture is that it is simple to touch up or renew its original luster.

Small nicks and scratches can usually be disguised with the help of a store-bought scratch cover product. For larger scratches, try using a felt tip pen or shoe polish in a color closely matched to the finish of the furniture piece. Shoe polish applicator bottles filled with the stain work well for the cover-up job, as do Sharpie markers. Coloring in the scratch is easy and surprisingly effective.

Get rid of pesky water spots on your wood furniture by allowing the spots to dry completely, then rubbing real mayonnaise onto it with a soft cloth, until the spots disappear. Erase color rings left on tables by cups and glasses with a homemade mixture of cigarette ashes and cooking oil. Prep the stain first by scrubbing it with an abrasive pad or sandpaper. Then, rub the oil and ash concoction into the wood.

And what about candle wax, marring the beautiful finish of your wood dining room table? Wait until the wax cools, then apply ice. Once the wax becomes extremely hard and brittle, gently scrape it off with a plastic spatula. Finally, polish the table with a rich cream polish, and buff away any residue.

Prevent serious damage to your wood furniture by taking care not to position it in direct sunlight. Unless you are going for the weathered picnic table look, shield all wood furniture from the drying influence of the sun. Also, protect your dining room table’s finish using an inexpensive table pad when the table is not in use.

When eating a meal or entertaining guests, use a tablecloth or placemats to protect the finish of a wood table, especially when serving hot food. Place hot serving dishes atop a hot pad and candle holders over a large felt protector with a plastic top, since plastic prevents wax from running.

Use coasters beneath all glasses and mugs to protect your coffee table, dining room table and wood dressers from unsightly rings and water spots. Beware, because not all coasters are created equal. Metal coasters can sweat onto the wood, and plastic coasters can react with certain finishes on some wood furniture pieces. So consider choosing wooden coasters with felt backing and a waterproof material on top to further ensure the longevity of your wood table tops. The best coasters are those that taper up on the sides, preventing leakage.

Polishing wood furniture every week goes a long way toward protecting the finish from damage and helping your wood tables, chairs and dressers look their best. Beware, though, of cheap polishes, or any polish that contains silicone or alcohol. Alcohol can do permanent damage to a wood surface, as can any household cleaner that contains ammonia. An excellent polish can be easily made at home, by combining lemon oil with 3 parts olive oil.

Now that you know about polishes, don’t forget to clean your wood furniture as well. Regular cleaning is especially important for coffee tables and dining room tables where food and drink are daily staples. Use a very mild soap, such as a diluted mixture of hand soap and water, as a cleaning agent for your wood furniture. And if you really want to ensure your dining room table or heirloom wood desk stays beautiful, have your wood furniture buffed and polished by a professional service once or twice a year.

Now you are fully armed to properly care for your wood furniture. And don’t be disheartened if you are unable to make a nick or small stain disappear completely. Signs of use can add character to a piece of wood furniture, and are often barely noticeable. Whether it is a dresser, coffee table, bookshelf, desk, or dining room table, wood furniture is the perfect addition to any home.



CURTIS

Linden J. Walhard asked:


If you want to build furniture or place wood flooring in your home, the main question for both will be which hardwood lumber is the best choice for your project. Once you learn a little about the different characteristics of hardwoods, this is not a difficult question to answer. Each hard wood lumber has certain characteristics that give them their unique qualities.

Hardwood is defined as wood originating from board leaf trees or trees that produce nuts. The hickory, oak, walnut, maple and cherry trees are the most popular hard wood trees in North America. The climate is perfect for large production of these species of trees. The lumber made from these trees is what is referred to as “hardwood.” But, not all hardwood is the same. Groups in the hard wood lumber industry have made great progress in standardizing wood by its strength and grade. This helps consumers know which woods are the hardest and the most appropriate for their project. For example, the hickory and pecan are the hardest of the hardwoods. The hardness of a wood is measured by the number of pounds of pressure required to mar the wood. For the hickory and pecan woods, it takes approximately 1,820 pounds of pressure before the wood becomes marred. On the contrary, the Aspen is considered a hardwood but requires only 350 pounds of pressure before the wood is marred. Woods between these two extremes include the hard maple requiring 1,450 pounds of pressure and the white oak requiring 1,360 pounds. This comparison provides a good way to evaluate which wood is best for flooring and which is better for building furniture. The harder woods are best for flooring. For instance, cherry is a common wood for furniture and is in the middle of the hardness scale requiring 950 pounds of pressure for the wood to mar.

Hardwood can change depending on certain conditions. Specifically, it contracts and expands depending on the temperature and moisture and does this because it tries to adapt to the environment. The wood was once a living thing and maintains a life to some degree. To minimize the degree of change to the wood, it is kiln dried to remove much of the moisture and stabilize it. This helps keep the finished product closer to its true size and shape as it was the time it was manufactured.

Careful consideration of the right hard wood lumber for your project is very important, and equally as important as the finished look of the floor. Many hardwoods vary only slightly in their durability and strength. As a consumer, you will also need to decide on if you want the grainy appearance of the white oak or the smooth finish of the maple. Keep in mind, though, that any hard wood lumber can be stained and finished to the color that you want so consider the grain more than the color at this point.



FREDRICK

Mr.Andrew Caxton asked:


In this article you will learn about the advantages of wood railings for inside and outside of your home. Wood railings will make any home look more inviting and welcoming.

Wood railings are a very popular choice for most homeowners. Learning more about the installation and care of wood railings is necessary before you make your final decision. This article will give you some hints to help make your wood railings last for many years.

Wood Railings Inside Your Home

Wood railings offer character and elegance like no other material does. It is beautiful and inviting inside and outside of the home. By adding wooden railings to your home, you will find that wood can give you a serene and tranquil feeling, simply because it is a more natural material. Using them indoors can add a touch of sophistication and welcomeness that you just won’t find with other materials.

Wood Railing Benefits

Wood railings can offer you many benefits over other materials that are available for railings. Here are a few of them.

1. Wood has natural beauty that is hard to find in another material.

2. Wood railings are maintenance free when used indoors. By polishing and lacquering them during installation, you will find that they do not need any further maintenance.

3. Wood will last for many years, as evidenced by many period styled homes around the country.

4. Due to the wide width of the railing, children will have fun sliding down the rails. This is a great deal of fun for kids of all ages!

Wood Choices

There are many different wood varieties that you can find for your railings. These wood varieties include Red Oak, White Oak, Cherry, Mahogany, Cherry, Poplar, Maple, Beech, Burma teak, Cedar, Yellow Pine, or Ash. Manufacturers are able to work with you to help you create any style of railing that you want by using hand artistry, CNC machinery, and CAD systems. You will be able to have balusters or newel posts created into your exact specifications.

Wood Railings Care

Very little maintenance will be needed if you take proper care of your wood railings. Wood railings are particularly susceptible to microorganisms and water. By treating wood with chemicals that kill microorganisms, then you are protecting the wood from this particular type of danger. Water can be kept away from the wood by treating it and covering it with a lacquer or other coating. By cleaning your wood railings on a regular basis and waxing when needed, you will find that you can keep your wood railings look beautiful for a long time.



BRENDAN