Many consider the kitchen to be the most important room in the house, the family hub where day to day life is spent. When designing a new kitchen it is vital to produce a space that is practical, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. Part of this design process is to find worktops that are sympathetic to the decoration and provide a feeling of luxury. The sheer variety of worktops out there means that the choice can be extremely complex; hopefully this article will help make this decision easier.

The material used for kitchen worktops is the first concern. Popular choices include granite, composite stone, hard and soft woods and the cheaper laminate. Naturally all have pros and cons whilst varying immensely in cost as well as quality.

The most expensive of the materials used for worktops is solid granite. The look created however can be considered timeless and ultimately elegant. The main benefits of this material are its strength and beauty although as it is somewhat expensive, many redesigning their kitchen are put off. If price is a large issue but you are hankering for the stone look, composites can provide the perfect solution. Modern manufacturing means that all manner of colours and designs are now available in composite, including luxurious black and even worktops that sparkle in the sunlight.

Wood should always be considered as the material for worktops for it natural beauty and homely appeal. The types of wood used are wide and diverse including cherry, walnut, beech, iroko and of course, oak. If designing a new kitchen yourself, wood can also be installed without professional services; further reducing the cost of the makeover.

Walnut is one of the most sumptuous woods used for worktops. The grain of walnut is so distinctive that many would consider it a design feature in its own right. Along with the warm colouration, walnut should definitely be a major consideration.

Cherry is such a dark and richly coloured wood that some designers are put off. As an original choice however it is unrivalled, while the deep red may result in a somewhat dark kitchen, as the wood ages its elegance and beauty truly shine through.

Oak has been used in kitchen design for centuries for its classical style and strength. Like cherry it will age gracefully and create a kitchen that oozes country charm and warmth. While it may be commonly used, the disparate grain patterns can make oak an original choice for worktops.

Iroko is a relatively new material in the world of kitchen design, it is a dark would that offers much. Sometimes labelled the African teak, it is both strong and stylish. Dark woods however are not to everyone’s taste, if a lighter wood is preferable, beech can be considered a great solution. With light grain and an even lighter colour, beech can help those who do not like the oppressiveness of dark woods create a kitchen that is light and airy.

Laminate worktops, while not as high quality as either the wood or stone variants previously discussed are a far more affordable option. Modern laminates are wonderfully styled with a variety of patterns that can create an original kitchen. Requiring less maintenance than stone or wood, they are also the choice for those who want worktops without the hassles of staining or sanding.

The choice of material for your worktops is ultimately your decision. While cost is always a vital constituent of the choice it is vital to remember the importance of the kitchen space in family life at all stages of the decision making process. A happy kitchen means a happy home and the choice of materials can be fundamental in creating a space that is practical and above all comfortable.

Many people love the look of hardwood flooring, but cringe at the expense and maintenance they require. One of the great alternative products on the market is Pergo wood flooring. Pergo has made their wood flooring products reasonable priced and easy to maintain. Another advantage to using Pergo wood flooring is that you can, quite easily install it yourself.

What is Pergo Wood Flooring Actually Made of?

Pergo has a unique way of making their flooring. It is actually a three piece flooring. The top layer is made from a melamine laminate that is very durable because it is considered high pressured. This gives you the nice decorative look of wood flooring. That is then bonded to a wood core. The wood core is uniquely made so that it does not contract and expand too much and it is very highly moisture resistant. Then they add a backing to it for extra stability.

Preparation is Key to Installing Your Pergo Wood Floors

When you are getting ready to begin it is important to have everything you will need on hand. You will of course need the flooring, and the underlay. The underlay will help with moisture control and also gives you a barrier between the new floor and the old floor. This is very helpful in eliminating that echo sound you sometimes get from wood flooring. The tools you will need are a chop saw, a pull bar, measuring tape, and a mallet. One note, Pergo wood flooring is very hard so make sure that you have a good carbide blade in your chop saw, and the higher the tooth count on the blade, the smoother the cut.

Plan and Begin laying Your Flooring

Now that you have everything you need, you are ready to begin. The first thing you need to do is remove everything from the room. If you are going over vinyl or linoleum you do not need to remove it, Pergo is only 9mm thick so you can easily go right over it. If you had carpet you will need to remove it and all the carpet tacks. Then sweep the floor and make sure all debris is removed. Make sure that you remove all base boards and door casing, this will allow you to make less cuts.

Then determine which way you want to run the floor. That means when you are looking at the room do you want the flooring to run horizontal or vertical? Trying to run the flooring diagonally is a great look but you should only try it if you pretty handy and have a lot of patience because it will require a lot of miter cuts.

Now you are ready to lay the underlay. This should lie side by side, do not overlap it. Start in the center of the room. Pergo has made their wood flooring easy to use, it has a pre-glued tongue and groove system and it literally just snaps together, you can use a mallet just to tap the ends to make sure that the seam is tight. From the center of the room snap together your next piece on the short sides and continue all the way across the floor. For your next row do not line it up with the first piece perfectly, offset it. Otherwise, you will get a seam line and a noticeable repeated pattern. When you get to the edges and they are up against an object, a pull bar comes in handy so that you can still keep the seams tight.

Pergo Wood Flooring is Easy to Select

Along with the fact that the average home owner can install the Pergo wood flooring, they offer a wide variety of looks to choose from. In fact, on their web site you can actually see how your flooring will look in your room. They give you a place to create a virtual room. You can add the type and color of the cabinetry in the room and the wall color. Once you have those in place you can choose any of their floor styles and you can see exactly what your room will look like. This is a great way to get an actual picture in your mind of what the room will look like when it is completed.

Remember when you begin your installation to get everything together first. This will make the entire job go much smoother. If you happen to run into trouble during your installation go back to the home improvement store where you purchased it, they will have professionals on hand that can give you the advice you need to finish your project.