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All Rights Reserved. merchandizing@builddirect.com en-us Stone Tile Flooring and Countertops College April 25, 2008 /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU.aspx /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU.aspx Saltillo Tile College April 25, 2008 /Saltillo-Tile/Saltillo-Tile-Flooring-BDU.aspx /Saltillo-Tile/Saltillo-Tile-Flooring-BDU.aspx Ceramic Tile College April 25, 2008 /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU.aspx /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU.aspx Cork Flooring College April 25, 2008 /Cork-Flooring/Cork-Floors-BDU.aspx /Cork-Flooring/Cork-Floors-BDU.aspx Hardwood Flooring College April 25, 2008 /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU.aspx /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU.aspx Bamboo Flooring College April 25, 2008 /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU.aspx /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU.aspx Laminate Flooring College April 25, 2008 /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU.aspx /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU.aspx What you will learn: A review of the benefits of bamboo floors; an approach to mopping and vacuuming bamboo floors; best use of mats for your bamboo flooring; how to minimize tracking abrasive material from outdoors; ways to approach choosing cleaning products for bamboo floors May 30, 2007 /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU/Bamboo_Flooring_Area_Rugs.aspx /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU/Bamboo_Flooring_Area_Rugs.aspx What you will learn: A review of the benefits of bamboo floors; an approach to mopping and vacuuming bamboo floors; best use of mats for your bamboo flooring; how to minimize tracking abrasive material from outdoors; ways to approach choosing cleaning products for bamboo floors May 30, 2007 /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU/Renewing_the_Renewable_Cleaning_Your_Bamboo_Floors.aspx /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU/Renewing_the_Renewable_Cleaning_Your_Bamboo_Floors.aspx What you will learn: the aesthetic features of bamboo flooring; bamboo flooring colors; bamboo flooring styles; modern awareness of bamboo flooring. May 30, 2007 /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU/Bamboo_Flooring___Blonde_or_Brunette.aspx /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU/Bamboo_Flooring___Blonde_or_Brunette.aspx What you will learn: suggested locations for bamboo flooring; preparing for installation by allowing the bamboo to acclimate; what to consider when preparing the subfloor; installation basics. May 30, 2007 /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU/Tropical_Treatment_Bamboo_Flooring_in_any_Climate.aspx /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU/Tropical_Treatment_Bamboo_Flooring_in_any_Climate.aspx What you will learn: The strength of bamboo in its natural habitat; environmental benefits of choosing bamboo flooring; the process of turning bamboo into flooring; two distinct colors of bamboo flooring; three distinct styles of bamboo flooring; about vertical-style, horizontal style, and strand-woven style bamboo flooring. May 30, 2007 /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU/Bamboo_Flooring_The_Grass_is_Tougher.aspx /Bamboo-Flooring/Bamboo-Floors-BDU/Bamboo_Flooring_The_Grass_is_Tougher.aspx What you will learn: The advantages and disadvantages of some of the most popular and common products for cleaning ceramic tiles. May 30, 2007 /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU/Time_to_Oxidize_cleaning_products_for_ceramic_tile_grout.aspx /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU/Time_to_Oxidize_cleaning_products_for_ceramic_tile_grout.aspx What you will learn: Uses for porcelain tile; moisture resistance of porcelain tile; hardness of porcelain tile; the balance between beauty and practicality. May 30, 2007 /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU/Porcelain_Tile_Best_of_Both_Worlds.aspx /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU/Porcelain_Tile_Best_of_Both_Worlds.aspx What you will learn: what to consider when choosing products for cleaning ceramic tile; everyday tips in ceramic tile cleaning; strategies for keeping ceramic tile grout clean. May 30, 2007 /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU/Keep_It_Clean_Maintaining_Ceramic_Tile.aspx /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU/Keep_It_Clean_Maintaining_Ceramic_Tile.aspx What you will learn: characteristics of unglazed ceramic tile; characteristics of glazed ceramic tile; suggested locations for installation of both types of ceramic tile; types of glaze and the advantages of each. May 30, 2007 /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU/Rough_and_or_Ready_Glazed_and_Unglazed_Ceramic_Tile_Compared.aspx /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU/Rough_and_or_Ready_Glazed_and_Unglazed_Ceramic_Tile_Compared.aspx What you will learn: how ceramic tile is made; attributes of ceramic tile; the difference between single fired and double fired ceramic tile; which substrates are the most suitable for ceramic tile; how to prepare substrates; what a PEI rating means. May 30, 2007 /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU/Down_To_Earth_The_World_of_Ceramic_Tile.aspx /Porcelain-Tile/Ceramic-Tile-BDU/Down_To_Earth_The_World_of_Ceramic_Tile.aspx What you will learn: The renewable nature of natural cork flooring; general uses for cork as an available material; harvesting practices for natural cork flooring; potential health benefits for natural cork flooring May 30, 2007 /Cork-Flooring/Cork-Floors-BDU/Natural_Cork_Flooring_Easy_Bein_Green.aspx /Cork-Flooring/Cork-Floors-BDU/Natural_Cork_Flooring_Easy_Bein_Green.aspx What you will learn: Reasons to choose cork flooring as a way to minimize sound; where cork flooring comes from; structure of cork flooring; where cork flooring is widely used May 30, 2007 /Cork-Flooring/Cork-Floors-BDU/Cork_Flooring_Silence_is_Golden.aspx /Cork-Flooring/Cork-Floors-BDU/Cork_Flooring_Silence_is_Golden.aspx What you will learn: The benefits of cork for flooring; how cork is harvested; what processes cork undergoes at the factory; cork flooring as a decorative option May 30, 2007 /Cork-Flooring/Cork-Floors-BDU/Bark_For_Flooring_The_Making_of_Cork_Flooring.aspx /Cork-Flooring/Cork-Floors-BDU/Bark_For_Flooring_The_Making_of_Cork_Flooring.aspx What you will learn: the advantages of choosing a deck design which will complement the rest of your property in terms of function; popular uses for decks in homes and cottages; traffic considerations for decking. May 30, 2007 /Decking_Plans_Design_and_Function.aspx /Decking_Plans_Design_and_Function.aspx What you will learn: decks as a year round feature; multi-level decks and uneven terrain; unity of design when choosing a deck to complement the rest of your property. May 30, 2007 /Decking_Dreams_Choosing_deck_designs.aspx /Decking_Dreams_Choosing_deck_designs.aspx What you will learn: decking colors and deck materials as complementary to your property; structural considerations for deck plans; importance of local building codes to your deck plans. May 30, 2007 /Deck_Plans_Think_Ahead.aspx /Deck_Plans_Think_Ahead.aspx What you will learn: Review of the natural enemies of cedar and composite decks; advantages and disadvantages of north facing decks; decks location in terms of convenience; decks location in terms of privacy; issues surrounding decks on uneven ground May 30, 2007 /The_Site_is_Right_Where_to_build_your_cedar_or_composite_deck.aspx /The_Site_is_Right_Where_to_build_your_cedar_or_composite_deck.aspx What you will learn: Options for cleaning cedar and composite decks; when to use a pressure washer and when not to use one; the importance of good drainage when cleaning your cedar deck or composite deck; things to consider when deciding on cleaning agents. May 30, 2007 /Friends_for_Life_Maintaining_Your_Cedar_or_Composite_Decking.aspx /Friends_for_Life_Maintaining_Your_Cedar_or_Composite_Decking.aspx What you will learn: The enemies of your cedar deck; what to do before you apply a stain to your cedar deck; things to consider as you apply your choice of cedar decking stain. May 30, 2007 /The_Big_Finish_Stains_and_Finishes_for_Cedar_Decking.aspx /The_Big_Finish_Stains_and_Finishes_for_Cedar_Decking.aspx What you will learn: what composite decking is; how composite decking can gain you more leisure time; the low maintenance nature of composite decking; easy to work with qualities of composite decking; structural properties of composite decking. May 30, 2007 /Composite_Decking_A_Smooth_Move_in_Decking.aspx /Composite_Decking_A_Smooth_Move_in_Decking.aspx What you will learn: The natural benefits of cedar for decking; popularity of cedar as a building material; colors of cedar wood. May 30, 2007 /Cedar_Decking_An_Architectural_Choice.aspx /Cedar_Decking_An_Architectural_Choice.aspx What you will learn: How to be vigilant when owning pets and hardwood flooring, why pet urine can be damaging to a hardwood floor, controlling moisture caused by pet water dishes, where to seek advice on controlling moisture on hardwood caused by pets. May 30, 2007 /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/Looking_out_for_Number_1_Pet_urine_pet_spills_and_hardwood_flooring.aspx /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/Looking_out_for_Number_1_Pet_urine_pet_spills_and_hardwood_flooring.aspx What you will learn: History of hardwood flooring board species; modern uses of hardwood flooring board species; color and appearance of hardwood flooring board varieties. May 30, 2007 /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/Everything_to_Grain_Choosing_Your_Hardwood_Flooring_Board.aspx /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/Everything_to_Grain_Choosing_Your_Hardwood_Flooring_Board.aspx What you will learn: environmental factors affecting your hardwood floor; what to think about before installing your hardwood floor; why hiring a professional hardwood floor contractor is a good idea.what engineered hardwood flooring is; advantages of engineered hardwood flooring; how engineered hardwood flooring is installed. May 30, 2007 /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/An_Air_of_Permanence_Your_New_Hardwood_Floor_and_You.aspx /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/An_Air_of_Permanence_Your_New_Hardwood_Floor_and_You.aspx What you will learn: what engineered hardwood flooring is; advantages of engineered hardwood flooring; how engineered hardwood flooring is installed. May 30, 2007 /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/Hardwood_Plus_Engineered_Hardwood_Flooring_Defined.aspx /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/Hardwood_Plus_Engineered_Hardwood_Flooring_Defined.aspx What you will learn: how solid hardwood flooring is installed on a subfloor; unsuitable subfloors for solid hardwood flooring; installation grades (on grade, above grade, below grade); engineered hardwood as an alternative to solid hardwood. May 30, 2007 /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/More_than_What_You_See_The_Importance_of_Your_Subfloor_to_Solid_Hardwood_Flooring.aspx /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/More_than_What_You_See_The_Importance_of_Your_Subfloor_to_Solid_Hardwood_Flooring.aspx What you will learn: advantages of pre-finished hardwood floors; advantages of unfinished hardwood floors; limitations of both unfinished and pre-finished hardwood floors. May 30, 2007 /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/Unfinished_and_Pre_finished_Hardwood_Floors_Two_Choices_in_Solid_Hardwood.aspx /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/Unfinished_and_Pre_finished_Hardwood_Floors_Two_Choices_in_Solid_Hardwood.aspx What you will learn: advantages of hardwood flooring; varieties of hardwood flooring including engineered hardwood; varieties of surface appearance including hand-scraped hardwood flooring. May 30, 2007 /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/Hardwood_Flooring_Beauty_and_Strength_in_Quality_Floors.aspx /Hardwood-Flooring/Hardwood-Floors-BDU/Hardwood_Flooring_Beauty_and_Strength_in_Quality_Floors.aspx What you will learn: the major varieties of underlayment and their characteristics May 30, 2007 /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Defense_From_Below_Choosing_underlayment_for_laminate_flooring.aspx /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Defense_From_Below_Choosing_underlayment_for_laminate_flooring.aspx What you will learn: Subtle benefit of underlayment for a laminate floor; how underlayment affects the experience of walking on a laminate floor; how underlayment affects how sound is carried on a laminate floor; how underlayment can help to even out a subfloor May 30, 2007 /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/What_lies_beneath_underlayment_for_laminate_flooring.aspx /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/What_lies_beneath_underlayment_for_laminate_flooring.aspx What you will learn: Limitations of carpet; laminate flooring board as an easily cleaned surface; the importance of laminate flooring board underlayment May 30, 2007 /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Laminate_flooring_board_A_hypoallergenic_flooring_solution_comin_ach_OO.aspx /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Laminate_flooring_board_A_hypoallergenic_flooring_solution_comin_ach_OO.aspx What you will learn: history of laminate for use as a solution for floors; benefits of laminate floors; what is EPLF; what does AC rating mean and why is AC Rating important for consumers of laminate floors; future of laminate floors May 30, 2007 /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Laminate_Floors_A_History_of_Quality_Flooring.aspx /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Laminate_Floors_A_History_of_Quality_Flooring.aspx What you will learn: What makes solid hardwood floors, engineered hardwood floors and laminate floors altogether different; advantages and characteristics of laminate floors; advantages and characteristics of engineered hardwood floors. May 30, 2007 /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Not_Just_Another_Name_Avoiding_Confusion_Between_Laminate_Engineered_Hardwood_and_Solid_Hardwood_Flooring.aspx /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Not_Just_Another_Name_Avoiding_Confusion_Between_Laminate_Engineered_Hardwood_and_Solid_Hardwood_Flooring.aspx What you will learn: About types of moldings for laminate flooring and their uses May 30, 2007 /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Making_Transitions_A_Guide_to_Laminate_Floor_Moldings.aspx /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Making_Transitions_A_Guide_to_Laminate_Floor_Moldings.aspx What you will learn: What laminate flooring is made from, what makes laminate flooring a good choice for the do-it-yourselfer, how laminate flooring compares to hardwood flooring, limitations of laminate flooring, cleaning laminate flooring. May 30, 2007 /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Laminate_Flooring_A_Picture_Perfect_Flooring_Solution.aspx /Laminate-Flooring/Laminate-Floors-BDU/Laminate_Flooring_A_Picture_Perfect_Flooring_Solution.aspx What you will learn: effects of animals on a roof; ways to take care of animal traffic and residency on a roof; when to call for help in taking care of a roof. May 30, 2007 /Wings_Stings_Legs_and_Eggs_Pests_and_Animal_Traffic_On_Your_Roof.aspx /Wings_Stings_Legs_and_Eggs_Pests_and_Animal_Traffic_On_Your_Roof.aspx What you will learn:the definition of roofing exposure; the definition of a roofs pitch; importance of adhering to Certi-label instructions for roofing exposure; methods of measuring a roofs pitch. May 30, 2007 /Raise_the_Roof_Roofing_Exposure_and_Pitch_Explained.aspx /Raise_the_Roof_Roofing_Exposure_and_Pitch_Explained.aspx What you will learn: visual options and effects of cedar shingles and cedar shakes; different cuts of cedar shakes and cedar shingles and their definitions; guidelines on repairs and taking care while on your roof. May 30, 2007 /Cedar_Roofing_Rough_or_Smooth.aspx /Cedar_Roofing_Rough_or_Smooth.aspx What you will learn: the superior benefits of cedar as a roofing material; how cedar shakes and cedar shingles are made and the differences between the two; fire-resistant cedar shakes and cedar shingles; ways to care for your cedar roofing. May 30, 2007 /Cedar_Roofing_Your_Shield_Against_the_Elements.aspx /Cedar_Roofing_Your_Shield_Against_the_Elements.aspx What you will learn: How Saltillo tile is made; what Saltillo tile looks like and its distinguishing qualities; the history of Saltillo tile; the best places to install Saltillo tile; limitations of Saltillo tile May 30, 2007 /Saltillo-Tile/Saltillo-Tile-Flooring-BDU/Desert_Baked_Beauty_Saltillo_Tile.aspx /Saltillo-Tile/Saltillo-Tile-Flooring-BDU/Desert_Baked_Beauty_Saltillo_Tile.aspx What you will learn: the key advantages of faux stone siding, how faux stone siding is made and packaged, how faux stone siding can affect your propertys curb appeal. May 30, 2007 /Rock_Solid_Faux_Stone_Siding.aspx /Rock_Solid_Faux_Stone_Siding.aspx What you will learn: how fiber cement siding is made, about the long-lasting quality of fiber cement siding, how low maintenance fiber cement siding is less stressful on the environment. May 30, 2007 /Fiber_Cement_Siding_Lean_Mean_and_Green.aspx /Fiber_Cement_Siding_Lean_Mean_and_Green.aspx What you will learn: why cedar siding can save you money, why cedar siding can naturally balance temperatures for interiors, why cedar siding is a natural noise-reduction element May 30, 2007 /Siding_With_Quality_Styles_of_Wood_Siding.aspx /Siding_With_Quality_Styles_of_Wood_Siding.aspx What you will learn: why cedar siding can save you money, why cedar siding can naturally balance temperatures for interiors, why cedar siding is a natural noise-reduction element May 30, 2007 /Cedar_Siding_Comfort_From_The_Outside_In.aspx /Cedar_Siding_Comfort_From_The_Outside_In.aspx What you will learn: factors affecting slip resistance on any surface; the meaning of static co-efficient of friction (SCOF) and what the ratings mean; SCOF scores for various travertine tiles surfaces; wetness and slip-resistance on travertine tiles May 30, 2007 /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Slip_Slip_Slipping_Away_Friction_and_slip_resistance_of_travertine_tiles.aspx /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Slip_Slip_Slipping_Away_Friction_and_slip_resistance_of_travertine_tiles.aspx What you will learn: The origins of slate; applications of slate as flooring; practical advantages of slate; how slate is cut and varieties available; definitions of gauge and calibration in reference to slate; about color variations in slate. May 30, 2007 /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Slate_No_Slip_Ups.aspx /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Slate_No_Slip_Ups.aspx What you will learn: What happens at the granite quarry; what tools are used to cut granite at the quarry; what is typical of an average installation; what tools the contractor might use; what to do with leftover pieces of granite after the granite countertop or granite vanity top is installed. May 30, 2007 /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Making_the_Cut_Granite_countertops_and_Vanity_Tops_from_Quarry_to_Installation.aspx /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Making_the_Cut_Granite_countertops_and_Vanity_Tops_from_Quarry_to_Installation.aspx What you will learn: the nature of marble and how it is formed; how marble is processed for use as a building material; practical benefits of marble tile as flooring; artistic value of marble tile May 30, 2007 /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Marble_Tile_A_Renaissance_in_Natural_Stone_Tile_Flooring.aspx /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Marble_Tile_A_Renaissance_in_Natural_Stone_Tile_Flooring.aspx What you will learn: basics of cleaning natural stone tile surfaces; what to do about spills and stains; the definition of poulticing and its application; guidelines on using polish and cleaners. May 30, 2007 /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Tough_Love_Taking_Care_of_Your_Natural_Stone_Tile_Granite_Countertop_or_Granite_Vanity_Top.aspx /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Tough_Love_Taking_Care_of_Your_Natural_Stone_Tile_Granite_Countertop_or_Granite_Vanity_Top.aspx What you will learn: origins of travertine; appearance of travertine; applications of travertine as a building material; types of cuts and finish for travertine. May 30, 2007 /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Travertine_A_Classical_Beauty.aspx /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/Travertine_A_Classical_Beauty.aspx What you will learn: origins of natural stone; benefit of natural stone as flooring; what to consider before deciding on where to install stone tile flooring; why granite is the perfect natural stone for countertops and vanity tops; basic maintenance of granite countertops, tile flooring and vanity tops. May 30, 2007 /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/From_Near_the_Earths_Core_and_Onto_Your_Floor_The_Natural_Stone_Tile_Solution.aspx /Stone-Flooring/Stone-Tile-Floors-BDU/From_Near_the_Earths_Core_and_Onto_Your_Floor_The_Natural_Stone_Tile_Solution.aspx