How To Match Vinyl, Laminate, and Solid Hardwood

In a perfect world, you would install all new flooring throughout your house at the same time. Yet most of us don’t live in a world where that’s possible. Instead, we take it one remodel at a time, hoping we can match up the flooring between rooms well enough that it won’t be noticeable.

If you’ve ever walked into a home where the flooring doesn’t coordinate, you know there’s more to it than a simple install.

You’re ready to remodel the kitchen. You want it to flow into the living space you renovated last year. How do you ensure the flooring looks great from room to room?

The difference between matching hardwood and coordinating

There are two basic concepts in design: matching and coordinating. While similar in principle, they are slightly different when put into practice.

Matching is a concept we learn early in life through matching games. We put things together based on color, shape, and size. A red square goes with a red square. A right gray shoe goes with a left gray shoe. We look for things that appear to be the same, and fit together nicely in a set.

Coordinating puts items together that might not be a perfect match, but somehow fit together anyway. The color is the same, but the texture is different. Or the shape is the same, and the pattern is different. They may not be identical, but they go together anyway. You’ll find this every day in the way you dress. A light pink silk shirt coordinates well with a dark burgundy skirt.

How matching and coordinating helps you with flooring

Now let’s return to selecting flooring. You installed hardwood in a room last year, and this year it’s time for a new remodel. You have a space in mind. You’ve picked out the decor, and the paint has been purchased. But what to do with the floors?

Matching would give you the same flooring as you flow from one room to another. Matching would mean that with every installation, the new floor is the same color, texture, and size. Planks would be the same width. The stain would match in color. When everything is installed, it would appear that it was all done simultaneously.

Coordinating would allow you to create harmony throughout your home in different ways. It may contain hardwood in one room, vinyl in another, and laminate in a third. What ties them all together is the ability to live in harmony. Comfort instead of chaos. The colors would blend, the shades would go together, and you’d tie it all in with the decor.

Matching hardwood to hardwood

One of the most common requests we receive is installing hardwood in a new room and matching it to another already in place.

The existing hardwood has been installed for a while. It’s been walked on, worn, even faded from the sun. If you placed a new plank on top of it, you’d be surprised at the color change. Is there any way to match the two up?

If this is the case, it’s best to try and match the tones from one floor to another. Ensure you purchase new hardwood that is closest to the color. It might not be the exact same shade. You may have to select a slight variation to ensure it flows freely. Consider your decor as well to ensure it coordinates well. If you have red undertones, for example, you wouldn’t want to introduce grays.

Custom staining is also an option. Instead of trying to select prefinished hardwood, the installer would custom-mix the stain to match the flooring already laid. Be sure to use a professional with experience in custom mixing colors, and understands how to match colors already in place.

Matching hardwood to vinyl

Hardwood is a great choice for living space. When you move to the bathroom, it may not be your best choice.

When considering your options, it’s hard not to fall in love with vinyl. Today’s luxury vinyl planks mimic hardwood so closely, it often fools even professionals who work with it regularly.

What makes luxury vinyl planks so impressive is they are durable, and can be waterproof. That makes them the perfect choice for moisture-prone rooms like the bathroom.

But is it possible to install vinyl against hardwood?

That’s where coordinating comes into play. The key to great flooring is to pay attention to the transition. Transition strips connect two different types of flooring together, so they blend well as you move from one to another. It’s a board between the two floors for a smooth transition. It can be nailed in, screwed in, or laid with adhesive.

This is where coordinating comes in handy. Select colors that coordinate well, have the same tones or qualities. This is where a color palette can help. Stick with the same undertones – grays, reds, or browns. Think of the lighter shirt complementing the darker skirt.

Matching hardwood to laminate

Laminate provides a different quality than traditional hardwood. Many homeowners prefer laminate in places like the kitchen because they stand up to heavy traffic better, and won’t be impacted by moisture in the same way as hardwood. Want to match your hardwood and laminate for a cohesive look? Make sure the appearances are similar so the transition will be seamless as you move from one to another.

To coordinate the two effectively, a lot of professionals use transition strips. This is where it pays to have a professional who has done this many times. They’ll understand how to blend colors, and ensure a seamless look.

What’s the best flooring for your remodel?

What’s holding you back from installing new floors? If you know hardwood isn’t right for your space, but you want it to look good with the hardwood already in place, why not coordinate it with vinyl or laminate? Each type of flooring offers different benefits and options. Why not pick the right flooring to suit your needs?

https://pro-flooring.com/a-step-by-step-guide-to-choosing-flooring-for-your-remodel/

Transitions are easy when you work with a professional. You can have the best look, working together with different products and textures.

What’s the best flooring choice to suit your needs?

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Selecting The Right Hardwood Floor Color For Your Space

When most homeowners shop for new flooring, they come in with a goal in mind. Maybe they’ve dreamed of hardwood, and have a vision of it throughout their living space.

Yet starting the process may be more difficult than it seems. Suddenly, multiple samples are available to you. And the more you look, the more they appear the same. Should you choose Golden Oak, Colonial Maple, Golden Brown, or Red Mahogany?

Don’t think it gets any easier once you have a hue. Coming in with “dark” or “light” in mind can still leave you scratching your head when you start to lay samples side by side.

This one has a little more red. That one has a little more gray.

Which choice should you make?

Choosing the right hardwood floor color – where to begin

Selecting The Right Hardwood Floor Color For Your SpaceInstalling hardwood is a great choice for homeowners. It’s a flooring choice you’ll enjoy now and for many years to come. Hardwood is durable, easy to clean, easy to maintain, and you’ll fall in love with it a little more each day.

With any flooring you choose, your ultimate goal is to set the stage for aesthetics and decor. Your flooring is the baseline for whatever else you bring into your room.

For most homeowners, they choose a maximum of three flooring choices to use throughout the home.

  • Hardwood for all main living spaces
  • Carpet for bedrooms
  • Tile for bathrooms

This is one of the most common game plans for remodels and renovations. There’s a reason for this: it creates a cohesive look, and offers functionality where you need it most.

You can use your current decor to help point you in the right direction. What color are your cabinets? What choices have you made with furnishings? What ambiance are you trying to create?

Whether you move towards dark, light, or middle of the road, color choices appeal to what’s deep inside of each and every one of us. When we see our “dream” home, it usually comes predetermined by colors, tones, and hues.

Middle colors of hardwood flooring

When homeowners first venture into hardwood flooring, they usually start with middle of the road colors. Think oak or pine. It’s popular and classic, and looks good no matter what aesthetics you prefer.

It won’t be so dark that you worry about the color. It won’t be so light that you’ll worry about brightness and seeing everything that accumulates in the nooks and crannies. It’s durable. And you’ll find middle colors just about everywhere you go.

What’s more, middle hues go with just about any decor. It complements almost any furniture genre, and will coordinate well with whatever color furnishing you desire.

Middle hues also give you the possibility of playing with your flooring in other ways. Want to add a bit of gray to your hardwood? Or how about moving toward reds? You’ll be amazed at how much you can change your surroundings just by moving a shade or two away from a “classic”. You might even consider mixing, selecting multi-color wood with side-by-side planks in slightly different shades. This works well, especially if you have lighter furnishings, as it will give you depth and allow the rest of your aesthetics to pop.

Dark colors of hardwood flooring

Dark hardwood floors are on-trend and have been popular in some homes for as long as hardwood flooring has been around. The old plantation-style homes are often reminiscent of dark flooring and equally classic furniture. But don’t think you need a country home to utilize this dark color hue. You’ll find it equally as appealing in a condo thirty floors up in the heart of Downtown Denver.

That’s because dark hardwood flooring works great with a variety of colors and fabrics. They’re a great choice if you’re trying to create something formal and contemporary. They’re also a great choice if you’re moving more toward rustic and casual. Because there are so many choices, you’ll find one that works well with your style and mood.

We find dark hardwood flooring works exceptionally well when you have an open concept floorplan that lets the beauty of the hardwood shine through. It may be a bit too dark for small rooms, giving them an even smaller look and feel. They also work better with larger planks – fewer seams show off the dark flooring. If you have your heart set on dark hardwood, the best way to select your color is to narrow it down to a few choices, and bring them home to see how they feel.

Light colors of hardwood flooring

Light is in abundance here in Colorado. Why not play off that light and add even more light to your home! Light hardwood floors have many favorable design aspects that homeowners love. Because their light color stands the test of time, it’s not unreasonable that light hardwood will give you decades worth of wear.

Floors with lighter finishes go with just about anything. It gives you a great choice when you’re in love with white furnishings, without truly installing white flooring. Oak and Maple maybe two of the most popular choices, but there are many more options. Ash and Hickory bring light flooring with new hues and tones, something that may be more appealing to your sense of decor.

There aren’t many spaces that aren’t created with light floors in mind – they look good everywhere. While some may feel light flooring will be harder to clean and maintain, the opposite is almost always true. It’s often harder to see dust and debris, and if a spill does occur, it’s easy to see and to clean.

What’s your shade – selecting the perfect hardwood color

Do you prefer to stick with trendy colors, giving your home a popular look and feel? Black stains, natural-looking hardwood, or planks with gray undertones are sure to meet your expectations.

Love classic good looks? You’ll never go wrong if you stick with mid-range colors, even if you move a little toward grays, whites, or reds.

Start with your gut – most homeowners have a feeling for what they want almost from the beginning. Narrow it to a few selections, and live with samples for a few days.

You’ll find yourself leaning towards one or the other.

Stop by today, and we’ll help you find the perfect selection to suit your needs.

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Give Your Rental Property The Best Flooring

Fix and flip. Income property. Retire on passive income. Every media channel you watch nowadays is filled with advice on average people investing in rental property that will drive revenue into their pockets. And for good reason.

Renting statistics show that the nationwide average for rental properties is $2,016 a month, with the current asking rent 77.1 percent higher than the median gross rent was pre-pandemic. With 35 percent of households living in rental properties, the desire for family rental property is at an all-time high. And if you’re an aspiring property owner with the desire to make passive income from your investment, now may be the time to fix it up and get it into shape to maximize your revenue stream.

Where do you start? What home improvement projects offer the best investment? And how do you find the best flooring for maximum return? Read on to find tips to help you turn your rental property into a place renters would love to call home.

Renting – It’s still home

Give Your Rental Property The Best FlooringWhen you’re looking at furnishings for a rental property, you approach it differently than you would your own home. For flooring, landlords must consider how durable a product is, how easy or difficult it is to maintain, and how attractive it is when a potential renter walks through the front door.

It’s a careful balance of weighing the options to ensure a home looks like a home, yet won’t be easily damaged by renters who may not care for the flooring as you would inside your own home.

What are the best flooring materials you should consider?

Luxury vinyl – it’s one of the best things for a rental property

Luxury vinyl is an attractive flooring option that mirrors some of the best loved floorings across Colorado. Homeowners love hardwood and tile … but that doesn’t always make sense in a rental property. Luxury vinyl makes it possible to create the look and feel of expensive hardwood and tile, with a more affordable price tag that won’t cut into your rental profits.

What makes luxury vinyl so popular is current technology. Luxury vinyl is designed to mimic traditional hardwood planks and tiles that even the most discerning homeowners use in their own homes.

Luxury vinyl planks (LVP) have several layers:

  • The coating layer – this gives the product its strength and durability to stand up to all your family can dish out. It protects all other layers from daily wear.
  • The wear layer – the thicker the wear layer, the more durable the vinyl plank will be. The wear layer lies at the top between the printed design layer and the coating to provide overall protection to the luxury vinyl plank.
  • The printed design layer – this layer is all about visual appeal. It’s the print film that gives the luxury vinyl planks their classic good looks.
  • The core layer – luxury vinyl planks have either a wood plastic composite (WPC) or stone plastic composite (SPC) core. WPC is softer, warmer, and insulates better for a quieter surface area, but can dent easier. SPC is harder and provides a more durable surface area, but will be louder and less comfortable.
  • Underlayment layer – this provides the insulation, moisture barrier, and stability of the overall product. The lowest end products may cut back on the underlayment layer in order to drive the cost down. This balancing layer can be especially important in areas that may see increased humidity or moisture, such as bathrooms or kitchens.

Luxury vinyl planks are a great investment because it’s a marriage between what both landlords and renters are looking for. It gives renters a desired look and feel, while landlords love the low cost and maintenance. If you haven’t looked at luxury vinyl for your rental property, stop by and see it for yourself.

Carpet – it’s still a great option for a rental property

There’s a reason carpet remains one of the most popular flooring materials available to homeowners: It’s just a great flooring material.

That makes it an especially attractive option for rental properties because of its classic good looks. Of course, that’s not the only benefit it brings to the table. Many landlords lean towards carpet because:

  • It’s comfortable. That makes it attractive to renters of all ages, and works especially well in properties where you want to keep the flooring transitions to a minimum. Carpet works great in living rooms, dining areas, bedrooms, hallways, and bonus rooms.
  • It’s sound absorbent. This is a great feature if you’re adding flooring to multi-units with multiple floors. If you’re trying to cut down on noise complaints, a quality carpet and carpet pad can help muffle sound.
  • It’s affordable. Because of its popularity, you’ll find quality carpet at every price point. If you want to make your home more appealing to renters, replacing the carpet is a good way to earn bonus points. And with a low cost, you’ll find it easier to replace between tenants, and won’t balk over flooring issues when tenants spill or damage the fibers.

If you’re looking for an affordable, easy to replace flooring option for your rental properties, give carpet another look. It really is a great choice for single and multi-family dwellings.

Laminate – it’s the next best thing to hardwood for your rental property

Home dwellers love hardwood. It tops every list of “dream home” wishes, whether people rent or buy. But for many landlords, it’s difficult to justify installing hardwood in rental properties because of the cost and maintenance.

For some of your rental units, laminate may make perfect sense. Laminate is beautiful and relatively maintenance-free. It perhaps isn’t quite as durable as luxury vinyl, but it comes in a close second.

Laminate is a hybrid floor covering created from a particleboard wood base topped by an image layer mimicking the look of traditional hardwood. They are a popular floor covering perfect for living spaces, dining areas, kitchens, bedrooms, hallways, and other areas not subject to excessive moisture.

As an added benefit, laminate is an easy flooring option to install. It can often be installed directly over an existing flooring product, saving landlords money on having to rip out and dispose of old flooring.

Which is the best flooring for your rental property?

With several of the best flooring options to choose from, which will be the right choice for you?

From luxury vinyl to carpet, to laminate flooring, select any of these for easy installation, maximum durability, and increased cost savings. You’ll love what any of these best flooring options do for your rental property.

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Fall Is The Best Season To Buy and Install New Hardwood Floors

Choosing flooring is a critical decision for both design and functionality. When a homeowner decides to remodel a room or renovate an entire house, flooring sets the stage for personality and lifestyle.

Of course, you have different options. You may love the stone tile you’ve seen in your local decorating magazine. Or have loved the new carpet installed in a friend’s new media room. But is it the right choice for you? Will it serve all of your needs?

For homeowners today, there are a plethora of choices when it comes to buying and installing new flooring. But only one stands above the rest as one of the most requested and well-loved flooring choices: Hardwood.

If you’re dreaming of new hardwood floors in your home, the choices don’t stop once you’ve set your eye on the target of hardwood. All hardwood flooring isn’t created equally. Yes, color will be an essential choice. Yet durability and performance are equally important.

Where do you start? And what’s the best season to complete your flooring project? What should you know before you say “yes” to new hardwood floors?

Let’s start with when – What’s the best season for new hardwood floors?

Fall Is The Best Season To Buy and Install New Hardwood FloorsAsk four people about the best season for installing new hardwood floors, and you’ll likely hear four different answers. And in most cases, they’d all be right.

For many reasons, fall is the best season to install new hardwood floors. That’s because autumn is the start of new beginnings. Most homeowners wind down their outdoor summer projects, and start looking for indoor activities. You have weeks until holiday festivities begin, which means a little more downtime. The kids are in school, projects at work seem steady and stable. Autumn is a great time for getting your rooms fixed up and ready for holiday company.

If autumn doesn’t work for you, don’t let timing hold you back. The main thing to watch out for is dry environmental conditions. Colorado tends to be dry throughout the year, which means humidity levels can be low inside your home. No matter when you decide to install new floors, it’s important to introduce the hardwood planks before installation day, and let them acclimate to your indoor environment. That ensures they are properly conditioned before they are placed inside your home.

Choosing new hardwood floors

Now that you’ve settled on the ideal time to install new hardwood floors, it’s time to choose the right materials.

Traditionally, hardwood floors were created from thick solid planks of timber. Today, you’ll have a variety of choices when selecting your final flooring.

Solid hardwood is still widely acceptable – it’s a choice many homeowners can’t imagine living without. Still, solid hardwood isn’t always the best choice for your situation.

Many companies now offer engineered hardwood that is equal to more traditional flooring choices. Engineered hardwood is created from planks with a thinner top layer of hardwood, bonded to other layers that provide strength and durability. It also offers options when hardwood flooring might not be the most logical choice.

Colorado homes almost always have basements. If you’ve ever had a flooring expert talk you out of hardwood planks, it’s for a good reason. Basements, condos, and apartment buildings are often built with concrete flooring. Traditional hardwood planks are typically installed over one or two subfloors, which raises the height of the flooring and can interfere with doors. Engineered flooring can be glued directly to concrete, meaning you won’t have to raise the existing flooring in order to have a subfloor to lay traditional planks down.

Engineered hardwood is also perfect for radiant heating. If you’re looking for a new way to heat your rooms, radiant heating is an efficient way to keep heat near the flooring. It’s also perfect for rooms where you might be hesitant on hardwood because you worry about stepping on it and bare feet in the cold winter months.

If you choose engineered hardwood, be careful with the width of the top layer. Some manufacturers create the top veneer level so thin that it can’t be sanded and refinished in the future. While engineered will never give you the longevity of traditional hardwood planks, higher quality engineered planks can be sanded and refinished several times, giving you a flooring choice you’ll be able to live with for many years.

Prefinished or site finished

Hardwood planks can be purchased in one of two ways: prefinished or site finished.

With prefinished planks, what you see is what you get. You’ll select the type, style, and color based on what you find on the showroom floor. You’ll be able to choose the finish with the stain and topcoat already in place, which means no surprises with a finished look you didn’t plan on.

By going with prefinished, your project will be completed in a shorter time period. Once the prefinished planks are installed into place, you’ll be able to get back to living immediately.

With site finished, unfinished hardwood planks will be installed. Then the stain and finish will be applied once all of the hardwood planks are installed into place. The advantage of site finished is the entire surface area receives stain and finish after installation. Because an installer can mix different colors together, the possibilities are endless for how your finished floors will look. This is the perfect way to do it if you’re trying to match another color.

Site finished also gives you the advantage of installing sealant after all planks are in place. This creates a tighter seal, protecting between the planks as well as the planks themselves. This can be especially important in a busy household where more messes become commonplace. While hardwood will never be waterproof, with the proper sealant, it can offer years of protection, keeping your floors looking good no matter what you or your family members dish out.

It’s here – the perfect season to install new hardwood floors

If you’re ready to install new hardwood floors, make today the day you move forward and do something about it.

While some would argue there’s a perfect season to install new hardwood floors, we’d say that the best time is when you’re ready for a change in your home.

How can we help you select the perfect hardwood floors?

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This Is How You Select The Best Carpet For High-Traffic Areas

Durability. It’s a word we frequently hear from homeowners searching for carpet. After all, you don’t want buyers’ remorse from the moment you lay your new carpet into place. And if you use the wrong carpet, it will show up almost instantly.

If you lay carpet in a guest room used infrequently, it might last for years, looking almost as good as the day you installed it. For other rooms, it depends on how much foot traffic it sees in a day. If you want the best carpet for high-traffic areas, how do you ensure you’re buying the right carpet?

Certain areas naturally see more foot traffic. Living rooms, hallways, and stairs all receive vast amounts of traffic on a daily basis. If you don’t want to replace your carpet regularly, it’s best to find carpet that holds its shape over time. It typically depends on:

  • Fiber type
  • Construction
  • Stain resistance
  • Density

What is the best carpet for high-traffic areas? Here are things to look for.

Carpet fibers

This Is How You Select The Best Carpet For High-Traffic AreasWhen it comes time to select a new carpet, most people run their fingers through it to feel its softness. They settle in on the right color to match the decor inside their homes.

While that’s an excellent place to start, it also benefits you to pay attention to the carpet fibers used. When carpets are made, they are constructed from thousands of fibers attached to a sturdy backing material. These fibers are stitched into closed loops, also known as loop carpet, or can be cut to create a plusher texture. Loop carpet will retain the loops, creating a dense material. Cut pile will be closer together and have a luxurious feel when touched.

Low pile loop carpets are smooth and firm, which makes them more durable. High pile cut fibers will be taller, and have a looser look with a softer feel.

How it’s cut and woven together is the starting point for durability. But it also is determined by the fiber material. There are four basic fibers to choose from:

https://pro-flooring.com/comparing-carpet-fibers/

  • Nylon
  • Olefin
  • Polyester
  • Wool

While other fibers exist, these tend to be the broadest categories of residential carpeting available to homeowners.

Nylon fiber – is one of the most popular carpet materials used because of its functionality. When properly treated, it’s durable, stain resistant, and comes in an almost infinite range of colors and patterns. It keeps its shape well over time, and is well protected from spills, pet stains, and other household messes.

Olefin fiber – olefin is used for both indoor and outdoor carpet options, made of a synthetic material that delivers both longevity and durability. It’s designed to be stain-resistant and moisture-resistant. It’s reasonably durable, and falls in second place on the list for use in high-traffic situations.

Polyester fiber – like olefin, polyester is a reasonably well-functioning carpet that handles well in many rooms in the home. It’s designed to balance cost-efficiency with performance. While it may perform better in medium traffic situations, a lot depends on the level of traffic throughout your home. It can be a perfect choice for empty nesters who don’t spend a lot of time at home.

Wool fiber – wool is ever-popular because it offers homeowners a durable, natural alternative. You’ll find it used in every room in the home, including living rooms and stairs. It’s a traditional favorite because it’s been used for thousands of years. It also has natural warmth factors that help warm a chilly home in the dead of winter.

 Carpet threats

The main threat to a carpet’s lifespan is caused by wear by heavy foot traffic. The more foot traffic, the more potential for damage.

  • Spills from kids dropping food or juice
  • Stains from red wine or other challenging liquids
  • Crushed fibers from repeated wear
  • Wear marks from natural patterns of the home
  • Pet stains

Any one of these can be a big problem for new carpet. Add several of them together, and you have the potential to shorten the lifespan of your carpet.

Durability is typically divided into two categories:

  • Stain resistance
  • Resilience

Stain resistance refers to the ability of the fibers to resist permanent staining from dropped food or drink, or ground in dirt. This is most often determined by the type of fiber it’s made from.

Out of all the fiber types, treated nylon and polyester tend to have the most stain resistance qualities. Polyester offers a natural stain-resistant repelling quality that prevents spills from seeping below its surface. Nylon is inherently stain-resistant, but most manufacturers also take the time to add stain-resistance qualities to prevent spills and stains. Many come with stain-resistant protection, such as Stainmaster, so ask about what features are most important to you before you finalize your purchase.

Resilience is the ability of the fibers to resist crushing as they are walked on. It’s the likelihood of the fibers bouncing back after every footstep.

This is where style comes back into play. Loop pile tends to be more durable because the loops hold their shape better than cut fiber. They usually form a shorter pile, which stands up better to foot traffic.

Resilience also depends on density and face weight. While less obvious than fiber and style, they are both equally important when it comes to durability.

Density is determined by how close the fibers are tufted together. Face weight is determined by the weight of the fibers within one square yard.

In most circumstances, the higher the face weight and the higher the density, the more resilient the carpet will be. You’ll find many high-quality nylon carpets treated with stain-resistant protectors take it further and also have high-density and face weight values too.

https://pro-flooring.com/carpet-density-what-you-should-know/

For a further breakdown of what makes the best carpet in high-traffic situations, stopping by and seeing samples can help you narrow down what’s available, and what makes the best choice for your home.

It’s time to choose – what’s the best carpet for you? 

Carpet is always best chosen according to your personality, your desires, and the room you’re buying for.

Most homeowners instinctively know that a white carpet in a high-traffic room is a set-up for disaster. But choosing a neutral color between nylon and olefin fibers, for example, might be a tougher decision.

That’s where we can help you finalize your decision. Stop by today and see our complete selection of carpet. We’ll help you narrow down your choices, and make the best decision for your lifestyle and situation.

How can we help you find the best carpet to suit your needs?

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Have a Family? You Probably Need Resilient Flooring

Resilient flooring. It sounds a bit vague; a catch-all phrase that can include all sorts of flooring products.

If you look up the term “resilient” in the dictionary, it means:

  • Capable of returning to an original shape or position
  • Flexible
  • Able to recover readily

For many homeowners, that’s exactly what they are looking for when selecting a new flooring material. That’s why resilient flooring is trending upward in the marketplace.

Still, if you’re a homeowner in the market for new flooring, what does that really mean?

Resilient flooring explained

When you picture resilient flooring, you may think of flooring that:

  • Is comfortable with a little give
  • Bounces back no matter what your family can dish out
  • Is easy to care for
  • Continues to look good year after year
  • Is easy to maintain
  • Is a good value for your hard-earned dollar

Have a Family? You Probably Need Resilient FlooringResilient flooring is all that and more. It has more “give” than you’ll find in hardwood planks, stone, or ceramic tile. It has more support than you’ll find with carpet. It has the physical strength and flexibility to withstand nearly anything your family can spill, throw, or drop on it. In short, it’s what many homeowners are installing right now as they remodel and renovate their homes.

Does it sound perfect for your home?

Types of resilient flooring

If you find resilient flooring interesting for installing inside your home, you’ll find several floor covering types available for consideration.

Vinyl

Vinyl encompasses a variety of different flooring products, each with its own benefits for including them inside your home. Considering vinyl makes up about 80 percent of the resilient flooring market, it’s worth digging in and learning more about if you’re looking for resilient flooring.

Vinyl composition tiles (VCTs) top the list for strength and durability, often used in commercial applications. It’s strong enough to stand up to the abuse it receives in healthcare, schools, and even supermarkets. It’s a low cost, durable option that many DIYers are turning to because of the strength of the product. VCT manufacturers often fuse VCT chips into large sheets before cutting them into smaller tiles, making for easier installation. These VCT chips contain things like natural limestone, color pigments, polymers, and filler materials. They require several layers of polish after installation to keep them from being susceptible to stains and water damage.

Flexible luxury vinyl tile (LVT) has increased in sales the last few years because of its incredible design capabilities. If you’ve had your eye on some of the most popular flooring options – granite, marble, stone, hardwood – and can’t justify the cost, LVT may be the right choice for you. The designs have become so well created, many guests can’t tell the difference between the LVT product and the real thing. It’s highly durable, and is water resistant. Maybe that’s what’s driving its current popularity – it’s user-friendly in homes with active families.

Rigid luxury vinyl tile is often called rigid core flooring, and provides all of the advantages of flexible LVT … plus a few more. If you’re looking for a product with underfoot comfort, look no further than rigid LVT. It combines a rigid surface plus a multilayer core that provides added warmth and better sound absorption. If you want even greater resistance to water, humidity, and environmental changes, rigid LVT ups what’s possible in a flooring product. Some manufacturers offer waterproof flooring – you get great looks and the benefits of standing up to standing water too. Just be aware that nothing can withstand a flood. While this product does well if your kids forget to mention the puddle of water on the floor, water damage can occur if the entire room floods, and the water seeps into the baseboards and down underneath the tiles.

Sheet vinyl has been around for decades, and continues to be a great choice for some rooms in your home. Today’s sheet vinyl typically comes in a 6-foot, 12-foot, or greater width roll that allows you to easily lay down flooring and provide excellent moisture protection. Today’s sheet vinyl is better than anything you may remember from your parent’s or grandparent’s home. It mimics the aesthetics of other popular flooring choices, such as hardwood or stone. It combines lasting performance, low maintenance, softness underfoot, and an economical way to bring beauty into your home. From laundry rooms to bathrooms, it remains an economical choice for many homeowners.

Linoleum

For some homeowners, they want to expand beyond vinyl and return to a flooring product that is more natural, sustainable, and eco-friendly. For those families, we love to recommend linoleum. Made from natural, rapidly renewable ingredients, it offers an economical choice for families looking for resilient flooring. Linoleum is made from linseed oil (derived from flax plants), and is combined with limestone, pine resin, cork, wood flour, and dye. It’s rolled onto a jute backing, and offers a flooring choice built to withstand heavy traffic, standing up to scratches, and more.

Linoleum comes in several types:

  • Glue down tiles that require adhesive during the installation process
  • Click and lock tiles that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, ensuring a secure connection between the tiles or planks
  • Sheets are similar to glue-down vinyl, and are ideal for large spaces, such as halls and entryways

Rubber

While many homeowners rarely think of rubber when it comes to a flooring choice, that’s changing as rubber moves more into the mainstream. Yoga spaces, workout rooms, and home gyms are often fitted with rubber to create a softer space for your workout routine without losing its shape.

But don’t let the thought of being for gyms or workout spaces hold you back; we’re seeing people move it to playrooms, nurseries, children’s bedrooms, and even family rooms as they realize the benefits it brings.

Cork

A final product that homeowners are turning to brings a touch of eco-friendliness to the product. Cork comes in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Because it is harvested from the cork oak tree, it brings a sense of sustainability. Rather than harvesting the tree, cork is removed from the bark, meaning the tree can produce multiple times.

It’s softer than you’ll find with some of the more rigid resilient flooring options.

It’s sustainable, which can give it an edge if that matters to you.

It’s durable and easy to maintain. That alone makes it a great choice for any room in your home, able to withstand anything your family dishes out.

So what’ll it be? Which resilient flooring is right for you?

There isn’t a wrong choice. If we’ve listed it here, it has a number of benefits that can make it a great option for your home.

Resilient flooring is perfect for homeowners who want to strike a balance between comfort, cost, and durability.

How can we help you find the right resilient flooring to suit your needs?

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Select Carpet That Will Always Be In Style

When you install new carpet in your home, it can reasonably last a decade or longer.

If you install it today, will you still love it ten years from now? Or will the color appear trendy, and the style be long gone?

When we invest our hard-earned money in decor, we want it to last as long as possible. More than that, we hope we’ll love it as much at the end-life as we did when we first picked it out.

That’s a lot to ask for any product. But it’s your dollars at work. How do you ensure you select carpet that will always be in style?

Fall in love with carpet – make it the right choice

One of the first things we do with new customers is to find out a little about their lifestyle. What are they looking for in flooring? Is carpet the best choice?

If you’ve had another flooring choice in mind and are settling for carpet, you may be disappointed with the results. But if you lean towards carpet because it’s something you really want, that’s where you’ll find a product you love.

Select Carpet That Will Always Be In Style

Carpet Samples

Carpet works well in living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and entertainment spaces where you spend a lot of time as a family, and want warmth, comfort, and sound absorption as one of the qualities. Imagine movie night as a couple; carpet helps muffle the sound from surrounding areas, keeping the noise away from kids’ bedrooms.

Carpet isn’t designed for high-traffic situations. You wouldn’t want to place it in entryways, bathrooms, or kitchens. Carpet has a tendency to mold and mildew when exposed to moisture. Humidity from daily showers, or constant spills in a kitchen would wear down carpet long before its time.

What room are you considering? Is carpet the best choice?

Modern carpet styles

When most homeowners settle on installing carpet in their homes, they usually have a desire for one of two options.

Wall-to-wall carpet allows you to add carpet to completely cover a room. You’ll feel the warmth as it covers the subfloor completely, adding an extra layer of insulation.

Area rugs also offer warmth and protection, without being a permanent addition to your aesthetics.

Here in Colorado, carpet is often chosen to add warmth, mitigate noise, and help lower utility bills in the winter. If you’ve ever stepped out on a cold floor on a winter morning, you’ll appreciate the aesthetics of what carpet provides.

Step into a flooring showroom, and you’ll discover popular colors, patterns, and styles. If it’s currently available, it’s in style.

But the question might be: How long do you want it in style? Are you planning on selling your home in the future?

Bring your answers in when you finalize your selection. We can use it to guide you to the right selection.

As flooring experts, we often recommend a few tips to ensure it stays in style for years to come:

  • Select mid to short pile carpeting. This always stays in style, and will never become the “shag” carpet of tomorrow.
  • Choose neutral colors. If you look back over time, you’ll find neutrals never go out of style. If you think of colors like oranges and greens, you can date them back to specific decades. Beiges, tans, and other neutral colors will be just as classic in ten years as they are today.
  • Stick with subtle patterns with low contrast. If you want a pop of color or anything more complex, do it with accessories that are easier to change out.

Getting down to the most important carpet choices

What makes a carpet classic, gives it longevity, and ensures it never goes out of style? Many homeowners would tell you it’s carpeting that continues to maintain its quality year after year.

That doesn’t come from color, patterns, or plushness. Instead, it comes from selecting a carpet that will wear well year after year.

Natural fibers will always be in style. Wool tops the list of natural fibers, and is known for its wearability. It holds dye well, and cleans up easily. If you’re trying to be a little more eco-friendly with your purchases, wool is the way to go. Many homeowners are moving towards wool carpet because of its warmth and durability. While it has one of the longest longevity marks in the carpet industry, it may pile occasionally – think of your favorite wool sweater.

Synthetic fibers are created in a lab, and offer you a variety of benefits. Acrylic replicates wool, and resists stains and sun bleaching. Nylon is one of the most popular because it resists stains and static electricity. Polyester is another popular choice that handles well in direct sunlight. Olefin is a great choice in high traffic situations.

With longevity in mind, it’s also wise to go beyond the carpet you select. Padding is primarily meant to give your carpet the support it needs as you live on it. It adds protection to everything you do. From walking to enduring all your home environment can dish out, it’s the padding that sets the stage for how well it will perform overall.

Is it time for you to fall in love with carpet again? 

Congratulations! You’re remodeling your home. You’re leaning towards carpet, and you’re wondering if it will always be in style.

Keeping up with the latest furnishing trends can be an exhausting job. Home improvement stores are designed to push what’s the latest trend. In order to do that, they have to select something new every year.

But if you watch the design sites, or take in your favorite show on the home network, you’ll discover what they continue to show over time are trends that you can live with.

Neutral will never go out of style. Neither will classic good looks.

If it’s an appealing color to you, something you look at repeatedly, there’s a good sign you’ll be in love with it tomorrow, and continue to love it for years to come.

Wall-to-wall carpet will never go out of style. Neither will quality. Err on the side of selecting high-quality, and it’ll never lose its appeal.

Whatever choice you fall in love with today, you’ll be in love with it tomorrow too.

How can we help you finalize your selection?

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Is Engineered Flooring Good For The Environment?

Are you remodeling or renovating your home? Hardwood flooring is often a logical choice for the main living spaces. Homeowners all across the Front Range love the classic looks hardwood offers.

Yet classic hardwood doesn’t make sense for every homeowner. That’s why manufacturers have created many different options: engineered hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl planks.

You know solid hardwood doesn’t make sense with your lifestyle. You’re leaning towards engineered hardwood. But something else is weighing on your mind.

Is engineered flooring good for the environment? Is engineered hardwood sustainable?

Many people question the sustainable practices of using hardwood flooring. It can be detrimental to the environment, chopping down trees that took decades to grow. Is engineered hardwood a better solution?

What is engineered hardwood? 

Is Engineered Flooring Good For The Environment?

Engineered wood floor installation with subfloor membrane in condo. Maple hardwood flooring planks closeup showing composite plywood layers. Remodeling home improvement concept.

While solid hardwood flooring is constructed from a solid piece of wood, engineered hardwood is constructed in layers. It uses a relatively thin layer of wood veneer bonded over a premium quality plywood layer. It gives it classic good looks as well as durability.

The best engineered hardwood floors are created from up to nine layers of plywood core for flexibility and stability. While it may not last as long as traditional hardwood planks, a good quality product will give you up to 30 years of life, and be able to be refinished several times before it needs replacing.

Because it’s easier to handle, it’s also more do-it-yourself-friendly – if you’re looking for a DIY project, engineered hardwood may be the better choice. With a lower cost than traditional hardwood, it’s often the better choice.

What makes engineered hardwood more natural than solid hardwood?

Engineered hardwood planks are still made from wood. Instead of a solid core, it’s created in multiple layers.

While solid hardwood is created from freshly harvested trees, engineered hardwood planks are created in more ingenious ways. They are still natural wood flooring, created from the environment with all-natural products. The veneer consists of real hardwood. The core is produced from plywood or fiberboard, all of which are natural wood products.

Yet because they aren’t solid hardwood, they can be created in many ways. Often, plywood and fiberboard are created from recycled or leftover wood byproducts, eliminating waste in the manufacturing process and creating a more sustainable product.

Does engineered hardwood use fewer trees? Yes! Solid hardwood planks must be cut from the heart of the tree, which can create leftover materials. Engineered wood only has a thin veneer that sits on top of plywood or fiberboard. This means less traditional wood is used in each plank production, and ultimately requires fewer trees to be cut down for the same level of production.

What does sustainable harvesting mean?

Without healthy forests, our entire way of living may be at risk. More evidence is pointing to needing forests for proper global diversity.

Many manufacturers realize this, and have set up sustainable businesses to put these ideas into practice.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an organization dedicated to achieving better practices with the use of our forests. This ensures they are properly managed for ecosystems and habitats, as well as giving the world the products and resources it needs and desires.

By checking for the FSC label, you’ll ensure the engineered hardwood you purchase is FSC-certified. That means it’s sourced from forests that are managed responsibly, while helping to protect wildlife habitats and ensuring zero deforestation.

When a manufacturer uses this label, it means they are part of the bigger picture of creating sustainable, eco-friendly measures. Because engineered hardwood doesn’t require the same core hardwood product as traditional hardwood planks, it ensures companies can use more of the materials they harvest, which means less wood to cut down. This can preserve older growth forests, and encourage healthy forest regeneration.

What about indoor air quality?

With all we’ve been through the past few years, many homeowners are paying attention to the products and materials they bring indoors, ensuring they won’t create an unhealthy environment.

Wood is a carbon-neutral product, which means it has low environmental impact throughout the life of the product. Of course, you have to consider all of your options carefully. Look closely at the manufacturer – do they work hard at sustainable business practices? It also requires you to look closely at the dealer you do business with – do they use sustainable methods when installing and replacing the flooring?

Wood floors are one of the most popular options because they are also one of the most hypoallergenic. They are created from sustainable, low-VOC materials. And because they are easy to clean and maintain, they won’t attract dust and debris like other materials. A simple swipe of the broom each day will keep the dust bunnies away.

Pay attention to the entire production process. If engineered hardwood flooring products state they are low or no VOCs, it means they won’t release harmful toxins into the air before, during, or after production. Ask about installation, and choose a chemical-free installation method that won’t introduce other toxic chemicals into your air supply. Every little bit helps in creating a clean indoor environment.

Will they last?

One of the biggest benefits of solid hardwood is its longevity. Because you can sand them down and refinish them multiple times, it’s less waste overall. They can realistically last 50 to 100 years, depending on the quality of the product and the care it’s given over its lifetime.

While engineered may not offer that level of longevity, they can still be a welcome addition to your home for several decades with the proper care. That means if you invest in a higher quality product in the beginning, you can expect to keep them in your home for years, even if you choose to remodel or renovate other furnishings in the future.

Fewer replacements, less waste, lower costs – all of that may be just what you’re looking for. Add in environmentally friendly products too, and you may decide engineered hardwood flooring is the perfect choice for you.

Is engineered hardwood flooring right for you? We can help. Stop by today and see our complete selection of engineered hardwood flooring products. We’ll help you find the perfect look for your home.

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Wondering How To Install Your Hardwood Floors? The Top Patterns Homeowners Love

Hardwood floors often top a homeowner’s dream list. They may envision them for years before finally remodeling and installing them throughout their homes.

Yet finalizing the decision is often the easy part. Then comes the decision process of what species of hardwood, what color of stain, and what flooring patterns to install.

Every plank of hardwood is unique. It comes with its own patterns, textures, colors, and designs. How you install it will ultimately determine its final look. It will create an aesthetic you’ll be proud to call home.

Not sure of what hardwood floor pattern to create? Have you always assumed hardwood planks are a “one size fits all” kind of choice? Think again. TYou can create many different patterns from hardwood, which will change the look of your room as it runs across the floor.

Straight

Straight hardwood floor patterns are considered the norm in the industry. It’s the most common pattern you’ll see when you walk into a home. That’s primarily because it’s the simplest and least expensive method for installation.

The hardwood planks are laid together side by side, parallel to each other along the length or width of your room.

This pattern creates a clean, contemporary design that enhances the look of the hardwood flooring material. It uses the hardwood most efficiently, sticking with the hardwood planks as they were initially cut and designed.

Diagonal

Wondering How To Install Your Hardwood Floors? The Top Patterns Homeowners LoveWhen you walk into a room, and the planks run parallel to the length or width of the room, your mind moves up to the overall aesthetics of the room. But when you install hardwood planks diagonal, you instantly notice a more unique, luxurious look and feel inside the space.

The planks are installed parallel to each other, but instead of being installed along the length or width of the space, they are laid at a 45-degree angle to the wall. This creates a striking visual effect that isn’t expected. It gives anyone who enters a moment to notice the floors time to pause and take in the beauty of the flooring.

This is perfect for any homeowner who wants something a little different, yet still wants to stick with the functionality of traditional hardwood, while efficiently utilizing the product.

Random

For an orderly, traditionalist homeowner, they might not be able to imagine flooring in any other way but straight. But for homeowners who desire to change things up a bit, random placement may be more your style.

You’ll still install your hardwood floor based on the length or width of your room. But instead of using the same planks in a repeating pattern, you’ll mix things up a bit.

Select planks in different lengths and widths. Mix the color of two different hardwood colors – light and lighter. Then install them in a varying pattern. This mixture of boards will give your room a more rustic feel. It’s customizable, allowing you to play with final looks and patterns, and create something uniquely your own.

Parquet

It should come as no surprise to discover that parquet flooring dates back to 16th century France. Parquet is derived from the French word “parquetry”, meaning “small compartment.” These wood floors used country estate marble and stone, which was difficult and expensive to replace. The most famous comes from a single room in Versailles, created by Louis XIV. The parquetry is distinguishable by large squares laid on a bias, with diagonal squares within.

Today, parquet flooring is distinguishable by a repeated geometric pattern, giving it a checkerboard pattern. You’ll sometimes find even more sophistication to the complex patterns within each square.

Cheap imitations have been created in recent times to make this expensive and incredibly detailed flooring choice easier to install. But it can never replace the sophistication of a truly original parquet flooring.

Chevron

This pattern is often referred to as diagonal because wood planks are laid diagonally, alternating direction across the space.

The chevron pattern is effective when each of the planks is identical in size and shape, and appears in columns going one direction. Then the next column is laid facing the opposite direction. The edges are always flush against one another, giving it a seamless look.

Herringbone

Close to the chevron design, a herringbone pattern uses the column sections laid on the diagonal, but mixes it up by placing them in a zigzag pattern. This makes the blocks appear to be stacked like a staircase rather than running flush from side to side.

This is a sophisticated installation challenge, not one meant for DIY projects. The more complicated a pattern, the more you should search out a reputable installer who has laid various hardwood patterns in homes before.

Basketweave

One of the most complex patterns for hardwood floors is the basketweave, consisting of both rectangular and square shapes. To install, it starts with two rectangular pieces laid down as a T-shape. Additional T-shapes are fed in on either side. The gaps will be filled with the square shapes.

This pattern is continued across the floor, resembling a basketweave then it’s completed. The basketweave design works well in mid-size rooms when you want to give an illusion of grader and space. This flooring works on optical illusion, pushing out walls and making the room seem bigger than it is. It can lend sophistication to long, narrow rooms such as a hallway.

Finishing work

While you might have a specific pattern in mind, custom hardwood flooring work can create something uniquely your own. Complete the project with hand-crafted molding. Or build a pattern around a medallion or centerpiece. Stick with hardwood, or build it around stone, metal, or glass for a one-of-a-kind look.

Note that any additional patterns or finishing work required for installation will only add more time to the job. If you need your final flooring in place by a certain time, it’s better to check in with a flooring servicer first. They can help you create a pattern perfect for your home, building a spectacular display that will add style and uniqueness that’s all your own.

How can we help you find the perfect hardwood flooring pattern to suit your needs?

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Yes You Can Use Area Rugs On Carpet

It’s easy to fall in love with area rugs. They can bring a pop of color, changing the aesthetics at any time simply by rolling it into place.

Area rugs are such a part of room design, you’ll find them everywhere. They’re easy to change periodically without reinvesting entirely in a new floor. Or change them by the season – it’s a great way to freshen up a room.

Hardwood, vinyl, tile – area rugs work great on many different flooring surfaces.

But what if you don’t have a hard surface? What if you have wall-to-wall carpet in place? Can you place an area rug on top of carpet?

Can you put an area rug on top of carpet?

An area rug on top of carpet seems a bit redundant. But there are many reasons why it might be the perfect choice for your situation.

Renters often use area rugs to make their home cozier, and to bring their own personality into the space. Property managers often install the low-grade carpet that can wear out quickly. If it’s looking a little threadbare soon after you move in, why not ramp up the quality of your rental unit by adding an area rug into the mix?

Or maybe you own your home and you’re planning a remodel … eventually. Your carpet is a little worn down, but now isn’t the best time for a remodel. An area rug is the perfect way to upgrade your aesthetics without the major time and money commitment of a significant remodel.

Yes You Can Use Area Rugs On CarpetHave a large room you’d prefer to divide into workable spaces? That’s a great reason for introducing an area rug. Place one underneath a dining room table and you have an instant eating nook. Use one underneath a coffee table, surrounded by a couple of chairs, and you have a quaint space perfect for intimate gatherings. If you can dream it, you can do it. Use an area rug as your inspiration.

Or maybe you just like change. You love your soft, plush carpet. But occasionally, you want to change things up a bit. You’re looking to make your home cozier in the winter. Or maybe fresher, airier in the summer. An area rug is just what you need to make it happen.

Whatever your reason for wanting to use an area rug over carpet works. It’s your home, your design, your aesthetics. If it works for you, go for it.

How to live with an area rug over carpet

When you lay an area rug down on a hard floor, it conforms to the surface below and creates smooth transitions as you move across the floor.

When you lay an area rug on carpet, you’re placing soft on soft. It’s much easier to catch your toe underneath the area rug, creating a dangerous situation.

While placing an area rug over carpet is possible, doing it properly is essential to avoid problems.

Preventing ripples

When you place a rug over carpet, it will naturally have a tendency to move around. How much movement you’ll get depends on the carpet and the area rug. Sturdier rugs may move and slip, while softer area rugs may ripple and fold in on itself. Regardless, an area rug will shift with a soft surface underneath unless it’s properly anchored into place.

Wrinkling can occur when you step on one portion of the area rug and it shifts underneath the weight. It causes one side to move while another stays in place. You might see a “wave” as it moves to a new position.

The easiest way to solve this is by making your furniture work for you. If the area rug is creating a sitting area, use tables and chairs to anchor the rug’s edges into place. The aim is for weight to be placed on all four corners of the rug, to keep it tight and avoid having it be a tripping hazard.

Using a non-slip pad

If you’ve ever used an area rug over hardwood flooring before, you know there are non-slip pads for everything. Including adding an area rug over carpeting. They generally are referred to as carpet-to-carpet pads.

They are specifically designed to help keep the area rug in place over a soft surface, to help keep it from rippling as you walk over it through your daily activities.

Additionally, these carpet pads can help keep the carpet underneath the area rug safe from damage. As the area rug shifts and moves, it can damage the fibers of your carpet. With a pad in place, it gives an added layer of protection.

Their effectiveness varies greatly depending on the carpet you have in place and the area rug you purchase. This is why relying on an expert’s help to provide guidance can help you make a wise choice to ensure both safety as well as gain a long life from both your carpet and your area rug.

Finalizing your selection

Layering a rug over carpet takes a little more thought than just buying what you love in the store. You can’t just lay it down because you like it. It requires a little planning to make sure it works well overall.

Will any area rug do? We advise our clients to stick with high-quality fibers to ensure the best results over time. Going with a rubber-backed area rug can damage carpet fibers and allow moisture to build underneath. Natural fibers ensure breathability, keeping all layers of your flooring to remain safe over time.

Pay attention to textures

The texture of the carpet should work well with the surface of the area rug. A plush shag area rug with a Berber carpet might work. A low-profile rug and carpet will also work well together. Consider fibers that add depth, yet still stay in the same aesthetics to create natural flow.

Consider color palette

While you can’t do anything about the color of the carpet you’ll be laying the rug over, it should still be considered as you select the color of your area rug. Clashing colors and patterns will add more chaos to the room. If you have questions about getting hues and tones to match, a color wheel can be your best friend. It’s a great way to select shades that complement, never overwhelm.

Let rugs complement your decor

An area rug should always fit the aesthetics and personality of the room. Select a size that works well with the furniture it’s bringing together. Never select it just because you like the color. It should bring out a natural feeling in the way your room flows.

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