June 2019 - PRO! Flooring

Flooring, Vinyl Floors
June 26, 2019

Why You Should Consider Vinyl Flooring

According to a recent report by Allied Market Research, the global vinyl flooring market was valued at $20 billion in 2016. But thanks to renewed interest and growing demand, it’s expected to rise to $48.47 billion by 2023.

Why is luxury vinyl flooring growing in popularity? One reason: technology. Technology is making vinyl flooring one of the most durable, yet beautiful flooring options in the industry. Also known as resilient flooring, it’s earning a reputation as being one of the best flooring choices in both commercial and residential applications.

It’s easy to install.
It can be laid almost anywhere.
It comes in sheets, tiles, and planks, and can mimic any flooring application you desire.
Colors and patterns are virtually unlimited – and it appears more realistic than ever, thanks to technology.
It’s low maintenance and easy to care for.
It’s budget friendly – it’s one of the most economical ways to have great, worry-free flooring.

For all these reasons and more, homeowners and commercial property owners alike are choosing vinyl flooring for its practicality.

What is luxury vinyl flooring?

When was the last time you looked at vinyl flooring? If it’s been awhile, you might be thinking about the patterns and colors your parents used in their kitchens and bathrooms. While traditional vinyl flooring is still available, what’s growing even more is the luxury vinyl flooring market.

This subsection of the vinyl flooring industry has grown out of demand and innovation. As manufacturers reach out to give the public more of what they want, consumers respond by pushing even further. The result is a more advanced product that looks great underfoot.

Vinyl manufacturers have mastered the art of creating realistic imitations. Technology and printing have made it possible to put anything you desire into vinyl manufacturing, making some of the processes so realistic you have to get down on the floor and touch it to determine what it’s made of. And with greater moisture resistance, higher durability, and a more budget friendly cost, it’s getting a second look by everyone considering flooring options.

With design no longer being an issue, it allows manufacturers the chance to test the boundaries of what’s possible. They have created many out-of-the-box ideas that consumers are happily choosing and installing. They can be stylish yet functional. Fashionable yet heavy-duty.

Hard … or Soft?

Hardwood tops the charts of wanted flooring materials. Natural stone has also grown in popularity over the years. Yet both have a problem of being hard surfaces that aren’t the best choice in flooring for everyone. Have small children learning to walk? Have elderly family members who are at risk of falling? Risk factors may force you to make other flooring choices.

Today’s vinyl flooring choices are blurring the lines between hard and soft surfaces, between settling for functionality or for beauty. By installing luxury vinyl tiles or planks that mimic hardwood or stone, you’ll be able to keep what you love in your decor options while keeping the practical side of you happy too.

Through technology, flooring manufacturers have mastered the art of creating materials an untrained eye has difficulty seeing the difference. Plus you often have the opportunity of having even more options because through technology, you can create any color, pattern, or style you desire. There is only so much you can do with hardwood and stain. But with a printer, you can create any color of the rainbow. It’s especially good for whitewash and lighter wood-look pieces.

Beyond Aesthetics – Let’s Talk Performance

What good is a flooring choice if it scuffs, scratches, and stains within days or weeks of installation? Manufacturers know this. That’s why they’ve worked equally as hard on the looks of vinyl flooring as they have the durability.

Different companies offer different products with different guarantees. You’ll find finishes that help resist stains, scuff marks, scratches, and more. They top the vinyl material with a coating that protects as well as increases for long term performance.

But it doesn’t stop there. While vinyl companies create products you’ll be proud to display in your home or office, they also make these new products a breeze for installation. Many come with adhesive already applied to the back. No guesswork on what to use; it comes pre-applied. That makes installation faster and easier, as well as ensuring you can get back to life in the shortest time possible. You’ll also spend less on installation costs, as your labor charge will be lower.

Introducing … Multilayer Flooring

If you have your heart set on wood, yet every ounce of your being is telling you it’s a disaster waiting to happen, vinyl might just be your answer. And if you do a little research you’re going to come across a new segment in the industry called Multilayer Flooring, or MLF.

By definition, multilayer flooring is any plank or tile format flooring that is made up of multiple layers of different material assembled together. That definition applies to many of the product in the luxury vinyl industry, including rigid luxury vinyl tiles, and enhanced vinyl planks.

If it looks like stone or wood, and mimics the core of these two product lines, you might see it referred to as multilayer flooring.

What people love about MLF is it provides a solution to what didn’t work with more traditional vinyl, and laminate flooring.

It can be installed almost anywhere, with little work to the subfloor.
It’s easier to install than either vinyl or laminate.
It’s more water resistant – waterproof in some cases.

Plus you can’t argue with the look and feel of this product line. Sometimes you peel the adhesive back and press it into place. Or select locking technology that makes installation a snap.

Either way, you can have your new flooring installed and ready to live within hours – not days or even weeks.

That can be a big time saver if you want your flooring now.

So what’ll it be? Are you ready to install today’s vinyl in your home or commercial location? Are you excited to see what today’s vinyl flooring can offer you? Stop today, and see what’s in store for your new floors.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
June 21, 2019

Why Cork Flooring Is Perfect For Your Home

For some homeowners, they go searching for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, and make their homes more eco-friendly, greener places to live.

Of course, there are lots of ways to do that. But one of our favorites is with cork flooring.

When cork was first introduced in this industry, it’s greatest claim to fame was that it was an eco-friendly alternative. It was perfect for people who were worried about sustainability within the hardwood industry, or wanted something that was highly renewable and didn’t harm trees at all.

Natural cork fits that bill. Plus, it has the added benefits of being both biodegradable and recyclable, meaning when you decide to pull up your cork floors and install something new, you’ll have a way of maintaining the eco-friendliness of the product throughout its useful life.

Cork comes from cork oak trees native to Spain, Portugal, and Tunisia. While it’s been used for centuries in other parts of the world, and for different things, it’s only recently began climbing steadily in the flooring industry here in America, and for good reasons.

What are the benefits of cork flooring

Durability – Cork is an incredibly durable material. Cork flooring goes beyond the soft cork you use as a wine stopper or a bulletin board in your room. Cork does have a spongy quality to it, but when flooring manufacturers use cork to create flooring, they combine it with an adhesive resin to strengthen it and create a material that is resistant to dents and scratches. That means it won’t dent when you place furniture on it, it’ll bounce back instead. And if you properly maintain your cork floors over the years, you can easily expect a 40 year lifespan or more.

Comfortability – Hardwood flooring is just that – hard. And for a lot of people who are on their feet all day, that can mean back, hip, or leg pain. If you drop something on it, or fall on it, damage can be extensive. That’s why cork is a better alternative. The sponginess of cork creates a comfortable cushion underfoot. That same sponginess also acts as an insulator, meaning your room will stay warmer and quieter too.

Healthier – Do you have allergy or asthma sufferers in your home? Cork can be a great step in creating a healthier environment to live in. Cork is naturally resistant to biological growth, including mold and mildew, and can even stop termites from penetrating your home. It also has anti-microbial qualities, and when properly maintained, will not off-gas and negatively impact your indoor air quality.

Safer – Here in Colorado, depending on where you live, wildfires are something you have to consider with every building material you select. Cork is naturally fire-resistant, and will ignite and melt only at very high temperatures. What’s more, if temperatures do reach that point, because cork is an eco-friendly material, it generates less smoke, and produces less toxic fumes than other flooring choices.

Style – When you start looking at cork as a flooring choice for your home, you’ll be surprised at how many ways you can use it within your home. Use cork tiles to create a uniform look throughout a room. Or vary the tiles to create a more modern effect. Cork also comes in plank format similar to hardwood. You’ll find it in many styles, colors and patterns – if you can create it with hardwood, there’s a cork alternative. Like hardwood, cork runs through the thickness of the material, meaning it wears better over time when compared to vinyl or laminate.

Does cork flooring scratch easily

This is one of the questions we receive the most about cork flooring. Does cork scratch easily? Is it a good choice in flooring if you have dogs or cats? Will their claws hurt the cork material, or will it bounce back?

Cork is soft. And while it’s a durable material that stands the test of time well, a lot of it depends on the activity within your home. Pets included.

Some pets race around, digging in over and over throughout the day, playing chase or gaining traction. Some pets move slower. They aren’t as bouncy. They aren’t full of energy. They take life a bit slower.

Only you can truly know your pet and what it’s capable of. The only true flooring choice that can withstand constant pressure from a pet is stone – hard surfaces can’t be penetrated. But hard surfaces might not be the right choice for you or your pet.

Is cork flooring good for kitchens

Kitchens are one of the busiest rooms in a home. They are also one of the messiest. If your flooring can’t stand up to spilled water, messes from kids cooking dinner, or even a spilled bowl of food, you’re not going to love your flooring for very long.

Can cork stand up to all of that and more? Yes, it can. And while it isn’t as resistant as stone is, it can be a great alternative over other tile, and in some cases hardwood.

If cork is your choice for kitchen flooring, pay attention to the sealant. A polyurethane or similar sealant will help make the cork tiles or planks as durable as possible. These sealants should be reapplied every 5 years or so to help maintain the look and feel, and to keep moisture and stains at bay.

When spills do occur, clean the area as quickly as possible to avoid damage. The longer a spill sits, the more damage it can do. It can seep down to the backing of the tile or plank, move further into the adhesive layer and even the subfloor.

Cork flooring will continue to look great with minimal cleaning. Vacuum occasionally, and sweep on a regular basis. The key is keeping the floor free of dirt particles that can scrape the surface and leave a mark that will continue to wear over time. Wet mopping is too much; if you want a deeper clean, use a slightly damp towel or mop, making sure moisture isn’t left behind. Don’t use chemical cleaning agents, as they can wreck the polyurethane level and penetrate down into the cork material.

Is cork flooring good for high traffic areas

While cork flooring can be added to any room in your home, be aware that with higher traffic comes more chance of damage.

Cork may not be the best choice for your entryway, especially if you have guests coming and going all day.

It might not be the perfect choice if you have a home office with lots of action and activities.

It probably isn’t the best choice for commercial locations, especially if you have a lot of customers or clients. It might also not provide the wear you’re looking for if you consistently move inventory to and fro.

But cork flooring may be the perfect choice for you in many situations.

If you have any questions about using cork in your home, or if you simply want to see what’s available, stop by today and see our selection.

We know you’re going to love it as much as we do.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
June 18, 2019

How To Make Hardwood Flooring Installation A Success

Nothing says “Colorado” quite like hardwood floors. You’ll find them everywhere.

It’s no wonder they continually top the list of flooring choices across the Front Range. It’s also no surprise they are one of the most requested materials when people start searching to buy a new home.

Maybe you’ve decided that this is the year to add hardwood flooring to your home. But what is the hardwood flooring installation process really like? Read enough websites, and you might be a bit nervous about having them installed. After all, it can be quite a mess – especially if you approach it the wrong way.

Hardwood floors won’t be quickly installed and ready to walk on in hours like other flooring types. You can’t roll hardwood floors into place like carpet. Or float and click them together like laminate. It takes a little more work, but the finishing touches are well worth the wait.

What should you expect?

Where will I install my new hardwood flooring?

Hardwood can bring warmth and coziness to any room in your home. But that doesn’t mean it’s right for every room in your home.

You’ll often find hardwood flooring throughout the main level living quarters. Think living room, family room, home office, or dining room. These are perfect spaces to add warmth and style, and bring out your own unique personality by selecting a hardwood of your choice.

Hardwoods are also often extended upstairs and into bedrooms and shared space. We love the look of a grand entrance, with wood steps and risers that extend up to the second floor. Of course, you can add even more personality by adding a runner to make the steps a little softer underfoot. That only adds more charm.

Depending on your family and your lifestyle, some also choose hardwood flooring installation into the kitchen area. Just be conscious of your decision, and be quick to the draw with spills. Hardwood and moisture don’t mix. You’ll need a more detailed maintenance plan. Consider adding a protective finish that increases water resistance.

Hardwood should only be installed above grade. That means if you’re finishing your basement, opt for different flooring material. Hardwood doesn’t work well in damp environments.

What type of hardwood flooring materials will I use?

The fun part comes in selecting what hardwood material to use. You have so many choices!

First, start with the look. You’ll find hardwood flooring comes in strips, planks, and parquet. It may be finished or unfinished. That means your floors will either be ready to go once it’s laid into place, or be ready for your contractor to stain and seal it after it’s installed. Be prepared for the time it takes for all work, from beginning to end.

If you select unfinished, the final results depend on your selection and personality. The flooring will need several coats of stain to bring out the wood’s character, followed by a protective coating that helps it stand up to all your family can dish out.

The best hardwood floors are made from wood species that are readily available, sustainable, and are hard enough to stand up to daily use. Oak is one of the most popular floors, but look at other species such as cherry and maple too. One of the newest hardwoods is bamboo – it isn’t actually wood, but is grass instead. Yet it looks, feels, and performs much like hardwood. Want to go exotic? Consider teak, jarrah, or mesquite. Just be sure you learn a little about the manufacturer to ensure they use a sustainable harvest forest for their products.

What hardwood flooring installation method do I prefer?

Hardwood flooring can be installed in a variety of ways, depending on your subfloor and the material you select.

Nail down is popular for installing solid wood strips or planks, attaching them directly to the subfloor.

Staple down is similar to nailing, except it uses a pneumatic staple gun instead of nails.

Glue down is usually used on parquet flooring or if you select engineered wood.

Floating is also a popular form of installation for plank wood, especially engineered, and is installed over a layer of padding to help with noise reduction too.

When do I have plenty of time for installation?

This is usually the biggest complaint associated with the hardwood flooring installation process. If you want a good looking floor made of hardwood, it’s going to take a little time.

It takes time to ensure your subfloor is prepared and ready for the hardwood of your choice.

It takes time to acclimate the hardwood to your home.

It takes time to lay the individual boards into place.

It takes time to stain and seal your hardwood floors.

It takes time for the floor to dry and seal.

If you want your hardwood floors ready for a specific event or reason, be sure to leave enough time for this entire process to take place.

Is my subfloor and base surface in great shape?

Hardwood flooring is hard – it doesn’t have the give of carpeting or vinyl, and it won’t conform to the subfloor below. If your subfloor isn’t flat, your hardwood is immediately at risk.

Above all, the subfloor should be a dry material before the installation begins. It can be a raised plywood subfloor, with is the traditional material, but we’ve also used a cured, moisture-proof concrete subfloor for both glue down and floating installation.

Just be aware that installing hardwood flooring can raise your flooring level up a bit. That means it might not be even with other flooring materials in adjacent rooms, causing you to rethink your transition material from room to room.

Is the hardwood properly prepared for installation?

Wood is a natural product; it isn’t man-made. That means it reacts to the area in which it is installed, and needs to adjust to the moisture content and the humidity levels of your space.

The best seasons for installation are spring and fall. That’s when the degree of humidity is at the lowest, and you’re not using your furnace and air conditioner on a regular basis. Of course, you can install other times; just allow plenty of time for the acclimation process inside your home.

To ready the hardwood for installation, have the materials delivered and stored in your home before work begins. Open the package and let the wood sit inside your home for up to a week or more, to give them a chance to acclimate to your home’s conditions.

It’s also a good idea to ensure your indoor humidity levels are between 45 and 65 percent. This not only gives you a comfortable air supply to breathe, but your floors will thank you too.

Is this the year you select hardwood flooring installation for your home?

Carpet, Flooring
June 14, 2019

6 Signs It’s Time To Replace Your Carpet

Remember when you first installed new carpet? Your rooms looked new. They made you smile whenever you walked inside. They added color and pizzazz. They helped you define your decor, and add personality to your room.

And then things changed.

A stain here. Pulled fibers there. Threadbare over here. And damage over there. Yep, your carpet is worn out.

It’s time to replace your carpet.

But maybe, just maybe you can stretch another few months out of it. Surely it can last another year … right?

Your carpet might be trying to tell you: no way! It’s time to replace your carpet, and bring some freshness back into your home once again.

You can’t ignore the stains on the carpet

The first stain is usually pretty easy to hide. You simply move the furniture around to cover it up.

The second stain becomes a bit more challenging. How about a bigger rug?

Eventually, you don’t have enough furniture to make your carpet look good. And it’s not just the stain from the grape juice your kids spilled, or the bottle of red wine from your last party. It’s the fade marks from the sun streaming through the window too.

Carpet cleaners can often work magic. If you call them in as soon as some stains appear, they can treat the area and make it look better. But not all carpet cleaners are the same. Some carpet cleaning methods can actually do more harm than good. They can make your stains more noticeable, and can damage the fibers with harsh chemicals.

Of course, there are other stains too that can do severe damage to the carpet, the pad, the subfloor, and even your health: biological substances like pet urine, vomit, mildew, and mold. It’s difficult to get these out when they occur, and over time they can cause serious hazards throughout your home. When you have several spots like this in your room, it’s time to replace your carpet.

Wear and tear on carpet is telling you something too

Remember how your carpet looked when it was brand new? The color was perfect. The fibers popped back into place as you walked across it. It looked beautiful.

Now, it looks like a matted mess. And after years of vacuuming, you may have even noticed it pulling up around the edges. While that might not matter much in the corner of your room, you can’t ignore it when it’s near a threshold as you move from one room to the next.

You may also start to notice trails. Do you see more wear in heavy traffic areas? Hallways are notorious for matting down. And no matter how much vacuuming you do, within minutes, it’s right back to looking old and worn.

Different types of fibers wear in different ways. While nylon fibers are more resilient than others and respond well to cleaning, they can still wear out over time. When you no longer can hide the matting, or can’t get a piece of metal or wood wide enough to cover the threadbare edges of your carpeting, it’s time to replace your carpet.

That funny smell? Yep, it’s your carpet

If you have a pet, those funny smells can linger long after the carpet cleaner leaves your home. When you continue to smell that weird smell long after you attempt to do something about it, that’s when you know the problem is deeper than just your carpet. The problem has sunk down into your padding, and possibly even impacted your subfloor.

As spills, biological substances, and chemicals seep through the backing of your carpet, it soaks into your padding. And once there, there is little you can do to get it out. So it stays there, and grows. It can mildew and mold.

And the smell begins.

That’s when you know it’s time to replace your carpet.

Dig deeper – your carpet padding is the problem

When people shop for carpet, they usually focus all their energy on the carpet. They move to a more expensive, higher quality carpet thinking the additional investment will add longevity overall.

That’s not entirely true. Yes, a higher-quality carpet will give you better performance. But carpet padding comes into play too. Carpet padding is the foundation for your flooring. Without the right carpet pad in place, carpet is nothing more than a sheet of material you hook into place.

Carpet padding is what buffers sound. It keeps the room quieter. It improves the insulation factor of your space. It also adds comfort and increases wearability. If your carpet wears well, you can thank the carpet padding for that.

And when you start to see problems with your carpet – stains, spills, ripples, and wrinkles – that’s your carpet padding saying: help!

Cleaning your carpet doesn’t necessarily reach down to your padding. So the problems escalate until finally it can’t take anymore.

That’s when you know it’s time to replace your carpet.

Sick more? It may be your carpet

The more stains your carpet accumulates, the more the padding begins to wear, the more particulates you’ll have in your space. And eventually, all of that biological substances can start impacting your health.

Do you sneeze more? Have colds that linger? Have allergy symptoms you never used to have?

It might be your carpet.

If you can’t find any other reason for your health issues, it might be time to replace your carpet.

Maybe your carpet is just old

How old is your carpet? Is it still original from when you moved in? Did you add it when you remodeled, yet you’re almost ready to remodel again?

Carpet isn’t designed to last forever. With even the best care, you can expect carpet to last around 10 years.

After 10 years, you’ll notice it shows signs of wear, especially in high traffic areas. The dirt will show. The spills will stand out. And no matter what you do, you can’t make it look good.

It’s a little embarrassing, right?

Think of what new carpet would do for your home. How would it liven up your room? How would it change your decor?

New carpet may be one of the least expensive ways to revive your home. To give it style and add life back into your room.

So what’s it going to be? What’s the best carpet for your home?

Stop by today and see what’s new. And in just a few minutes walking through our showroom, you’ll wonder why you didn’t replace your carpet before.

Flooring, Tile Floors
June 9, 2019

You’re Going To Love Wood Look Tile For Your Home

A lot of Colorado homeowners dream of using hardwood throughout their homes. It’s a beautiful choice. It’s aesthetically pleasing. Nothing says Colorado more than using wood throughout.

But if you’ve had hardwood before, as much as you love it, there might be something holding you back. It might be the care and maintenance – especially if you have kids and pets. What if there was another choice?

Enter wood look tile.

Wood look tile gives you everything you love about hardwood flooring, with the ease and durability of tile.

Wood look tile is one of the most sought after flooring choices in the industry. Changes in technology have made wood look tiles more realistic than ever before. But you’ll know the difference. You’ll have style and personality, aesthetic beauty, and an easy to maintain flooring choice perfect for your active lifestyle.

Not sure if wood look tile is right for your home? That’s why we’ve created this handy guide to give you all you need to know about this growing floor trend. And when you think you’re ready to start finalizing your decision, stop by. We can help you narrow your selection and choose the perfect tile for your unique tastes.

What is wood look tile?

A wood look tile is ceramic or porcelain tile designed to look like hardwood flooring. It replicates the aesthetics and appearance of natural hardwood sourced from all kinds of trees. Love cherry hardwood? Or traditional oak? Or maybe something more exotic like reclaimed hardwood? There’s a wood look tile for that.

Ceramic wood look tile comes in a wide variety of sizes, colors, and tones. It can be used in many different applications.

Likewise, porcelain wood look tile is designed to mimic almost any kind of hardwood you could imagine. And because porcelain tile is one of the hardest substances you can select for flooring, with a high breakage point, it’s one of the most desirable flooring choices in busy households.

If you drop something heavy on your porcelain wood look tile, chances are you won’t be able to tell after you clean the mess up. Try that on traditional hardwood floors.

What are the benefits of using wood look tile?

One of the top benefits of using wood look tile is its durability. If you’ve installed hardwood before in high traffic areas in your home and been disappointed with the results, wood look tile may be the perfect solution for you. Wood look tile is perfect for day to day use, as it won’t nick, scratch, crack, or warp like its hardwood counterpart. This means you can do day-to-day things without worrying about the implications – walking in heels, moving furniture, or playing with your cat or dog will no longer be cringe-worthy events.

Maintenance is also a breeze. For many homeowners, hardwood is a daily chore. You sweep. You vacuum. You mop. You jump at every spill. You sand. You wax. And you start it all over again.

If you’ve ever had tiles before, you know how much easier they are to maintain. Tiles have an easy-to-care for surface that can be cleaned with a wipe of a sponge or a swish of a mop. You don’t have to worry about every spill because tile will never warp. It requires minimal maintenance, and it will never stain the way more traditional hardwood choices can. Of course, that depends on the wood look tile you select, so it’s always important to talk with one of our flooring consultants to understand the nuances of your final selection.

And, of course, wood look tile is the perfect selection if you’ve been dreaming of installing radiant heating. Yes, you can install radiant heating under some hardwood selections. But it can be a difficult process, one you’ll have to watch out for to prevent warping and cracking. That’s where wood look tile excels. Tile and radiant heating are made for each other. This gives you a win-win for aesthetics and comfort.

How long does wood look tile last?

As a homeowner, changing out your flooring isn’t a fun job. It’s not something you want to tackle on a seasonal basis.

When you look at flooring choices, think durability. If you install it today, what are the chances it will still look good in a year? In ten years? Or more?

That’s where tile excels. Because of its hard surface area, with the right care and maintenance, it can last for decades. It can be nice to know you’ll only have to change out your flooring because you WANT to, not because you HAVE to.

Does wood look tile scratch?

We get this question a lot, typically from busy homeowners that have bad experiences with their hardwood.

Nothing can be more disheartening than having a pet make the first scratch minutes after the installer leaves. Or creating a deep gauge by moving a chair from here to there.

While we can’t tell you that it’s impossible to scratch a wood look tile, we will tell you it’s more difficult to do than with traditional hardwood flooring. Tile has a harder surface. It stands up better to normal, everyday punishment.

With everyday living, it will look better for longer. And if that’s what you’re looking for, we’d tell you this is your perfect choice.

Is wood look tile a fad … or here to stay?

Remember the bright orange shag carpet in your parent’s home?

Or maybe the wild patterns vinyl displayed decades ago in kitchens across the land?

While people loved them at the time, they quickly became dated. Try selling a house when the flooring “screams” fad – it’s not an easy process.

So of course, you don’t want to select a flooring choice and pay good money for something that will be out of date in just a few years. And while there is no guarantee with any type of flooring, we think wood look tile is here to stay.

Why? Because its looks and durability are hard to beat. It looks almost like the real thing, and yet it can be added anywhere in your home and provide you with exceptional results. Think kitchen. Or bathroom. Or laundry room.

Should I use wood look tile?

Only you can decide if wood look tile is best for you.

But if we’ve piqued your interest, why not stop by and look at our full display? Then pick a few samples and bring them home. See how they look in the rooms you are considering. Touch it. Feel it. Play with how they look at different times of the day.

And discover why wood look tile may be the perfect choice for your remodel.

Flooring, Vinyl Floors
June 6, 2019

Laminate Flooring May Be The Perfect Choice For Your Home

When you live here in Colorado, hardwood flooring is a natural choice for your home. However, just because you love its looks, doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for your home or your situation. If you have an active household, filled with kids and activities, pets and parties, hardwood can be a problematic flooring choice to take care of. You may regret your decision almost as soon as it’s installed.

Consider laminate flooring instead.

Why laminate flooring?

Because laminate flooring looks as good as hardwood, but it offers benefits that make it the perfect choice for busy households.

Laminate flooring offers the stunning looks of hardwood, only with more durability. Today’s laminate flooring isn’t what it was even a few years ago. You’ll find today’s laminate choices in abundance, with colors, styles, patterns, and looks to suit every taste.

It’s stronger than hardwood. If you’ve ever dropped a can from your pantry onto your hardwood, you know those dents can add up. That won’t happen as easily with laminate. It’s also scratch-resistant. That means it’s a better choice for a family with pets, or with small kids where they love to play on the floor.

Is laminate flooring a good investment?

If you are currently designing your forever home, you might not be worried about the investment value of the flooring you install. But if you’re planning on selling in the near future, it becomes more of a consideration.

Nothing motivates a potential buyer more than hardwood. Especially here in Colorado, where architecture and design likes to focus on natural beauty, hardwood is one of the most popular choices you can make for your home.

But not all rooms are meant for hardwood.

Laminate is an excellent addition for places that need extra protection from water or humidity. It can be a great choice for the walkout basement you’re refinishing, where potential water damage can impact the structure of the flooring in many ways.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of laminate flooring?

Still not sure if laminate flooring is the best choice for you? Here are just a few of the reasons we see customers choosing laminate flooring for their home.

It’s durability

We’ve covered this a bit earlier, but it’s worth mentioning again. Laminate is one of the best ways to get the look and feel of hardwood in a much stronger and more durable package. It’s a great choice for heavy traffic areas, areas prone to moisture or humidity, or for homes with pets and kids.

It’s easier to install

Laminate can be easier to install compared with other flooring choices. Laminate boards are created with an interlocking system, making them a snap to install. Plus laminate flooring is designed to “float”, meaning you don’t have to create a perfect subfloor before you start the installation process. Whether you’re choosing laminate as a DIY project or just want your remodeling project finished quickly and easily, laminate may be your perfect choice.

It’s more forgiving

Have you ever been told you can’t install hardwood in your home because your subfloor won’t handle the installation? You might be the perfect candidate for laminate.

Laminate is versatile and can be installed on almost all types of subflooring. Have a base of concrete? Not a problem. Have vinyl or linoleum flooring in need of replacing? You can often install laminate directly over the existing materials.

It’s easy to clean and maintain

Because laminate flooring is a hard, durable surface, clean up is a snap. With just a quick sweep or vacuum, you can keep your flooring looking its best all the time. What’s more, you won’t need a lot of special cleaners or waxes as a part of the upkeep. Check with manufacturers guidelines, but in most cases, you can wipe away messes with little more than water.

It’s hypoallergenic

One of the best flooring choices for people with allergies is hardwood – there isn’t a place for dust, dirt, and other particles to hide. Laminate flooring provides those same benefits, but makes it even easier to keep clean. What’s more, laminate is built with a multilayer system that includes underlayment that not only protects the floor from damage, but it also prevents mold from growing underneath. That makes it an excellent choice for worry-free care.

It’s stylish

No matter what style of flooring you’re looking for, or how much personality you wish to incorporate into your final design, there’s a laminate product for you.

If you stop by and take a look at our full selection, you’ll be amazed at all you can do with laminate flooring. Want laminate that looks like oak, maple, or even rustic wood? There’s a choice for you. Want the look of natural stone without the hardness factor of laying down stone tiles? Laminate is for you. Love the look of ceramic or porcelain tile? You can get laminate with the same good looks.

Laminate typically has four layers.

Layer one is the backer paper, or the bottom layer that provides the backing and seal for the product. This ensures the laminate maintains stability as it’s laid into place. This backer paper often decreases the need to have a subfloor in place.

Layer two is the core board. This is the fiber board that gives laminate its strength and durability.

Layer three is the decorative paper. This is what gives your laminate the look of real wood, stone, or tile. Plus it can provide a multitude of colors and patterns, often far more than you can get with other products.

Layer four is the overlay layer. This gives laminate its seal and protects the laminate floor from everyday wear and tear. It also shields the decorative paper layer from harmful UV rays as the sun scatters across your floor from windows and doors throughout the day.

A few things to consider

You may be sold on laminate flooring, but there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Laminate does a good job mimicking hardwood, but it’s not. That means as good as it looks, it will never provide the ultimate look and feel of the real thing. If you want the natural blemishes real wood provides, you’ll have to install the real thing.

While laminate is moisture resistant, it’s not waterproof. That means if you have a room that is regularly subjected to water and large spills, think twice about laminate. It can handle the occasional messes, and will last for years with quick attention to accidents. But if water is allowed to sit for too long, it can penetrate between the spaces and ruin your floor.

And the one thing people always notice is it feels slightly different underfoot. Run across it, and it has a somewhat hollow sound. That can be reduced by opting for thicker, more expensive laminate. But because of its construction, it will never have the acoustics of real wood.

Want to way the differences and see what makes your best choice? Stop by today and see our entire selection of laminate flooring. There’s a choice perfect for your home.

Carpet
June 3, 2019

Surprising Reasons To Choose Carpet

What do you think of when dreaming about the perfect home? Do you see a gourmet kitchen? A family room where everyone wants to hang out? Cozy bedrooms that allow you to snuggle down for some quality alone time?

The base for all that coziness starts at the bottom – with your flooring. What do you see?

In recent years, hardwood has become the decor item of choice. But it by no means is the only option for your home. For many people, hardwood simply doesn’t make sense. Hardwood has its own unique problems.

There are many reasons to choose carpet instead. Here are just a few.

Comfort

It’s hard to ignore the softness of wall to wall carpet. Plush pile gives you just what you need to sink your toes into, especially on a cold, winter morning. While you might not prefer carpeting throughout your home, it’s quite often one of the best choices for bedrooms. And because carpet comes in a variety of colors, patterns, textures, and styles, you can let your creativity run wild and select something perfect to compliment your decor.

In addition to feeling great on your toes, carpet adds warmth to a room too. Because it’s made from thick fibers, with a backing equal in strength, and placed over a thick pad to increase the longevity of the carpet, it helps insulate the room and keep it a comfortable place to be all year long. Your kids will love to snuggle down into it, whether lying on their backs reading, or playing games with their friends. And pets will find it comfortable to sleep and relax, taking a little of the stress off their joints. For older homeowners that live with pain, carpet can be the perfect addition to increase comfort levels as they walk from room to room.

And in busy households, carpet acts as a buffer, reducing the sound and noise throughout the rooms. Many condo associations have made carpeting a standard flooring choice for this very reason. While hardwoods and laminates create echos, carpet helps muffle sound. That can be especially helpful if your family includes small children taking naps, or shift workers trying to sleep at all hours of the day.

Green

When most people desire to increase the green factor of their home, selecting products with eco-friendliness in mind, carpet isn’t their first choice.

Think again.

It’s true, most carpet today is made from synthetic fibers such as nylon, polypropylene, or polyester. Increasingly carpets are being created from post-consumer waste – recycled bottles and containers – making it a sustainable material. That makes it stronger, more resilient, and more stain-resistant than other carpets before.

If you’re worried about VOCs – this new synthetic carpeting has lowered the VOCs and is similar to other man-made flooring choices. Like other products, it is a good idea to keep your home well ventilated during the installation process, and for a few days after it’s completed.

If you want to up the green factor in your home, bypass synthetic materials and return to good old-fashioned wool. Today’s wool fibers are warm, durable, and easier to maintain than other wool carpets of the past. You can also consider other natural fibers such as sisal from the agave plant, or coir, which is made from coconut trees. Both offer a wide variety of color and design options, while keeping your home green in the process.

Appearance and Decor

We know one of the top reasons people choose carpet is the appearance. It’s one of the best materials available to match any decor. You can create a clean palette and stay neutral, or liven things up by going bright and bold. You can compliment your decor, or change things up and make it the center of attention.

Before you make a decision on what color carpet to install, ask yourself a few questions.

How tolerant am I of color?
How often do I like to change my decor?
Will I be moving out of this home soon?

Our staff also can help by showing you a wide variety of options, then help you narrow down the selections and make the best choice for your situation. Think texture. A smooth, Saxony texture may be perfect for a refined look. A nubby loop pile texture may be the right choice for a busy family room. And let’s not forget frieze – it’s a modern take on the iconic shag carpet popular a few decades ago.

Of course, if you’re planning on making a move soon, it might benefit you to stay neutral. The last thing you want a potential buyer is to focus on the carpet. But even if you do want to stick with standard beige, you never have to settle for anything less than gorgeous. There really are a lot of options in any color combination.

Cost

Which brings us to one of the best reasons to choose carpet: cost. Carpeting is one of the most affordable flooring solutions on the market today. You can find it at any price point, stay simple, or move to a more luxurious look and feel.

With carpet installation, it’s not just the carpet that will be installed; padding plays an important role too. Padding is what helps increase your carpet’s longevity. It gives it proper support against the subfloor every time you walk on it. Padding isn’t the place to cut back on the cost; it’s just as important as the final selection in carpeting.

Keep in mind that carpet won’t last as long as other flooring choices such as hardwood or tile. But with proper care and maintenance, it has a lifespan of around ten years. As you’re considering your choices, look carefully at the different manufacturers. Each will give you guidelines on how to keep them looking their best. Carpet cleaning periodically is a must, but follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for best results.

So what are your reasons to choose carpet for your home?

Are you ready to make your home a warmer, more comfortable place to live?

Are you ready to add a pop of color to every room in your home?

Or are you looking for an economical way to improve the looks of your home?

Whatever your reasons, we’re here to help you make the best possible choice. And love your home for years to come.