Ben Larrabee, Author at PRO! Flooring

Vinyl Floors
July 4, 2022

What Is The Lifespan of Luxury Vinyl Planks?

When trying to find the perfect flooring choice for your home, it’s about weighing aesthetics and durability with cost effectiveness and longevity.

Do you have your heart set on a specific design, no matter how long it will last? Or is longevity your top concern, wanting flooring that will last for decades?

No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll run across a flooring product called luxury vinyl planks. This flooring product is designed to give you what you love about classic materials like hardwood, and combine it with other features you desire, such as being waterproof. It’s growing in popularity because of all the features it has to offer.

But what good is a product if it won’t last? Hardwood promises decades of use with proper maintenance and care. Tile can offer similar promises with proper care.

What about vinyl? What is the lifespan of luxury vinyl planks? Should you consider it in your next flooring upgrade?

Look at brand names for the highest longevity

This is where brand name manufacturers win every time. If you go with one of the most popular flooring manufacturers, you’ll likely get the best results. That’s because they set the standards within the industry, and build a product that will stand the test of time.

Looking for terms like “high quality” won’t always speak the truth. Instead, pay attention to the details, ensuring it’s installed correctly and properly maintained. Most manufacturers will require it to keep warranties valid.

If you follow guidelines with proper maintenance and care, many of the top manufacturers will tell you to expect a lifespan of 25 to 30 years.

What should you consider?

Look at construction

Luxury vinyl planks are a multi-layered product. Two of the areas you should focus on include the vinyl thickness and the wear layer.

Luxury vinyl planks are created with four separate layers:

Backing layer – the first or bottom layer, used as a stabilizing backing layer specifically formulated for durability and stability.
Core layers – this inner core provides thickness and durability. It builds the strength of the product and ensures longevity.
Print layer – this is the visual layer that provides realistic visuals. No matter what style you’re looking for, the print layer controls how good it looks. Pay attention to the process, as it determines how deep the construction of the visuals goes into the core.
Wear layer – this is the clear protective coat applied to the top, giving it color stability, depth of design, and overall wearability.

When you see a product list a thickness value, it’s usually measured in millimeters, and refers to the vinyl core. Luxury vinyl planks are typically between 2mm to 9mm for a higher quality product line. If you’re looking for a long lifespan, focus on getting a thicker product. The thinner the product, the more often they require specific underlayment in place before the installation. Thicker planks will often include the subfloor built in, and provide a more authentic look and feel.

The wear layer is measured in mil, and typically ranges between 8mil and 12 mil for residential products, and 20mil to 40mil for commercial applications. The thicker the wear layer, the more protection you’ll have from impacting the visual layer. This is when scuffs, scratches, and dents really start to show.

Consider your wear before settling on a product lifespan of luxury vinyl planks is contingent on how well it handles over time. High traffic areas like kitchens and entryways should err on the side of being as durable as possible. In lower traffic areas – possibly a guest bathroom – can do well with a lower quality product.

Focus on care

When homeowners select flooring material such as hardwood, they also look at ways to extend the life of the product, to ensure the best results.

Luxury vinyl planks are no different.

If you want to extend the lifespan, start by selecting a product that can withstand all your family will dish out. In higher traffic areas, select a higher quality product. In lower traffic areas, it may make sense to go with a different product, focusing on looks and aesthetics rather than durability as your top choice.

With the planks in place, provide proper care. Luxury vinyl planks are surprisingly easy to care for. Since they are water-resistant, or in some cases waterproof, they can withstand all your family dishes out. Simply wipe away messes as soon as they occur.

Stick with manufacturer’s suggested cleaning products. Some cleaners on the market today have harsh chemicals that can strip and damage the wear layer. Skip using these, and focus on mild cleaners instead. They will give you lasting results over time.

To provide further protection, consider using area rugs in the heaviest used areas. Rugs made from jute, cotton, or woven backings are better than with plastic latex in place. Plastic can easily scratch the surface as it moves.

You can also make a rule of no shoes in the house. When you remove shoes first, you’re less likely to bring in damaging particles that can scratch and dent floors. It also stops germs at the door instead of tracking them deep inside your home.

Think about your floors as you take everything in stride. If shoes can scratch and dent the floor, imagine what’s happening when an office chair slides across the floor. Consider using a chair mat to prevent damage.

You can also reduce the chances of sharp objects hitting the planks. Be cautious of where you place damaging items. Can you keep them in spaces where they are better contained? Use area rugs underneath dining room tables, or in a home office underneath the desk. Place soft pads underneath furniture legs. Awareness is the first step in prevention.

Are you ready for luxury vinyl planks?

It’s growing in popularity. It makes a dynamic flooring choice. Is luxury vinyl planks suitable for your needs? They may be the perfect choice.

While the lifespan of luxury vinyl planks may differ from other flooring choices, with care and maintenance, it will give you years of enjoyment.

Are you considering luxury vinyl planks for your next remodeling project?

Tile Floors
June 28, 2022

Advantages Of Using Tile In Your Next Home Improvement Project

Humans have long since realized the advantages of using tile.

Thousands of years ago, the first tiles were fired and created in the Holy Lands, weaving their way through history as the Romans and other civilizations brought them inside their homes. Individual clay tiles were pressed and imprinted by hand until the first machine made it possible to mass produce.

The Victorian era pushed tile even more into popularity with their demand for cleanliness and public health. Tile is one of the best surface areas to clean and sanitize with little effort. What they fell in love with was the almost unlimited color and design possibilities, as well as its durability.

Those are the very reasons that tile remains popular today. You don’t have to look very far to see the advantages of using tile in almost every room in your home. (Inside and out!)

If you’re finalizing your next home improvement project, and you’re considering tile, here are just a few of the advantages for finalizing and selecting this popular flooring choice.

Unlimited design potential

What captures most homeowners’ attention is the unlimited design potential tile brings to possibilities. No matter what color or pattern you’ve been dreaming of, you’ll find it with today’s tile selections. They can be made from a variety of materials:

Cement
Ceramic
Glass
Marble
Porcelain
Slate
Travertine

Because there are so many options, you’ll find them at just about every price point you can imagine. Whether you’re looking for an affordable option, or want the finest luxury, there’s an option for you.

Durability

There’s a reason why digs in ancient civilizations find tile in various shapes and formats – it stands the test of time. While we’re not saying your tile floor will last thousands of years, with care and maintenance, it can last for decades. You’ll grow weary of the design and color long before the tile itself wears out.

If you’re looking for flooring in a high-traffic situation, tile will always be one of the flooring choices that tops the list. If water, moisture, dampness, or other messy situations will be a constant in the room, tile will again work its way up the list of possibilities. That’s why you’ll see tile recommended in almost every room:

Kitchens
Bathrooms
Entryways
Hallways
Basements
Even in outdoor living spaces like patios and porches

Keep in mind that every material will function differently. If you have specific needs, be sure to research thoroughly and select the right material for you. There are even waterproof choices if that’s important to you.

Low maintenance

With the right tile in place, it can be one of the easiest flooring choices to maintain. That’s why you’ll find tile in residential as well as commercial settings. There’s a reason restaurants, supermarkets, and even hospitals use this popular flooring product.

It just takes a regular routine of some water and a mop for cleaning up quick messes. For something deeper, there are many household cleaners that will do the trick. You can keep this process as eco-friendly as you desire, or turn to industrial strength cleaning if that’s more your style. Just ensure the tile you select can take the chemicals you apply, and won’t harm the finish.

Low cost

One of the biggest advantages of using tile is their affordability. Because certain types of tile are produced on a mass scale, you can find high quality tile at a price that suits every budget.

Yet if you want uniqueness and you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind look, there’s a tile for you too.

Keep in mind that installation costs will also include preparing the subfloor, adhesive costs, as well as grout and possibly a sealer.

One of the advantages of using tile in a room is it’s easy to fix potential problems. Keep a few extra tiles on hand for replacement. That way you won’t have to rip up a floor with one problem area, and can simply replace the tile that’s broken or cracked.

Environmentally friendly

Going green is on everyone’s minds these days. And there’s a good reason why tile continues to make the list. A lot of tile materials provide you with some of the most eco-friendly flooring materials. Think sand, glass, stone, and clay. These materials are found readily in nature, and take very little processing to create the finished product.

Tiles can also make it easier to heat and cool your home. Tile is naturally cool to the touch. In the heat of the summer, they can feel cool on your feet, and make it easier to keep your home feeling cool no matter how high the temperatures climb.

Colordoans are often leery of installing tile because of the coolness in the dead of winter. Don’t let that hold you back. Radiant heating is one of the most energy efficient heating systems around. Because it uses water to heat a space rather than air, it will be more energy efficient. That means it can improve your utility bills as well as stay warm and toasty under feet. Imagine that when you step out of bed in the morning and head into your master suite.

Cleaner, healthier living space

Tiles can also create a healthier living space. Because they have a hard, smooth surface area, they won’t attract dirt, pollen, or other allergens the way other flooring products will.

Most tiles are fired in kilns at high temperatures, removing toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the mix. If you’ve ever said “no” to other flooring products because you’re nervous about what they’ll do to your air quality, say “yes” to tile and you’ll love the results.

Plus, when it comes to cleaning and sanitizing, you’ll be able to swish away dirt and germs whenever you please. And that’s more important now than ever after all we’ve lived through in the past couple of years.

Are you ready for the advantages of installing tile flooring?

The benefits of tiles are almost never-ending. That’s why they remain one of the most popular choices for a home.

Whether you’re remodeling a room, or looking at replacing the flooring in every room in your home, there’s a tile that will work for you.

Stop by today and view our entire selection.

Flooring
June 24, 2022

This Is How You Choose The Right Commercial Flooring For Your Business

Updating or replacing commercial flooring can be an overwhelming task. That’s why many people forgo the process for as long as possible.

But your commercial flooring sets the stage for your entire business.

What do people think when they enter?
What aesthetics is it creating?
Are you putting people at risk with worn out floors?
Are you harming other materials like subfloors?

Flooring may be the first thing people notice when they enter, either consciously or subconsciously. If it’s time for you to make a selection, choosing flooring that will last for the next several years, we have a few tips for you to keep in mind.

Shop with a purpose in mind

No matter what type of flooring you’ve had in place before, before installing something new, it’s a good idea to consider your specific requirements to help you determine the right choices to suit your needs. Ask yourself a few questions:

What is the purpose of this area?
How much foot traffic will it have to sustain?
Is it serviceable by customers, employees, or both?
What layout will be used?
How durable should the material be?
Will you have to sanitize or sterilize?
Will it withstand heavy loads?
Will color or patterns be a part of the final design?

While all commercial flooring applications are quite durable and can withstand a lot of use, choosing the right layout will ensure it continues to look good for many years to come.

We often suggest property managers start with a goal in mind. The questions above will help lead the way. By starting with a goal instead of a specific flooring choice, you might find better options you’ve never considered before.

A corporate boardroom may function well with commercial-grade hardwood flooring. It may just as easily create a sleek and sophisticated design with well-branded commercial carpeting in corporate colors. By seeing both choices up close and personal, you’ll be able to visualize the right choice for your overall design.

Select the right materials

Once you’ve settled on a particular material, then you can explore commercial materials. Commercial product lines are built stronger for higher traffic situations, more cleaning, and more wear and tear.

This isn’t a time to skimp on quality. Superior materials may cost a bit more upfront, but often provide many more years of service.

For example, many office buildings select hardwood flooring because it’s cost-effective and offers the opportunity for several refinishes. It’s a product that can withstand years of use, while providing the ambiance many companies are looking for.

If hardwood is your top choice, many items impact your final cost:

Quality and grade of the wood
Core structure – solid core or engineered hardwood
Subfloor maintenance or installation
Prep work and cleanup required

Again, staying open during this process can alert you to flooring concepts you may never have considered before. If you’re set on hardwood, have you looked at commercial-grade luxury vinyl planks? They offer durability and can even be waterproof. That can be a great addition to an office building if ice and snow are often dragged in on shoes.

Special circumstances

We understand that every property manager and business owner has different long-term goals. What are you trying to achieve in both the short and long term?

We work with a lot of commercial properties that are looking for eco-friendly materials. Some are working towards LEED certification, and are focused on creating a healthier environment.

If that’s the case, we can steer you in the right direction. There are many options for you to consider.

How about carpet? While carpet hasn’t been the most green-friendly option over the years, it is changing. Knowing there was a problem with both production and disposal, many manufacturers have prioritized green practices. Carpet tiles may be a perfect solution. Some manufacturers build padding into the backing, meaning you can place it directly over the subfloor. Because it’s tile-based, if damage occurs to one tile, you simply peel it up and put a new one in place. That’s a lot more efficient than replacing an entire carpet area. Less waste in the landfill over time. Or even better, is recycled and made into other products.

Is sustainable hardwood right for you? Hardwood is often considered an eco-friendly choice, but you do have to pay attention to the entire process. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit organization that certifies forests have sustainable management practices. It ensures the hardwood isn’t taken from regions that are over harvested. You should also look at the entire production process to ensure the manufacturer doesn’t use harmful chemicals during processing – avoid wood that has been processed with harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde.

Or maybe earth-friendly bamboo is the right choice for you? Bamboo is another great choice commercial properties are leaning towards. Its greatest feature is how fast it grows, and its sustainable growing patterns. Bamboo groves don’t require fertilizer, pesticides, or even much water. A grove of bamboo can be harvested about every seven years. Compare that to the growth pattern of trees, which takes 30-50 years. Less space and more product – that’s a win/win for manufacturers and consumers.

Find the right provider

There are many ways to go about installing commercial flooring to suit your needs. Have a maintenance team on staff? Want them to do the installation?

Yet before you move towards the installation process, it’s important to select the right flooring dealer. Yes, it matters. You can get discount products online, but you’ll end up with discount materials that don’t stand up over time.

To ensure a long life, select a reputable flooring dealer who knows how to find the highest quality commercial flooring options. They have experience in weeding through the different manufacturers, and only showcasing the ones who provide products that have long wearability.

We suggest you look at their reviews online. You can quickly piece together how well they are received in their community. You can’t hide bad reviews, any more than you can ignore finding a reputable company that stands behind their work.

We’ve been in business as a reputable commercial and residential flooring dealer for many years. Right here in the Denver-Metro area, we’re proud to be a part of this community.

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

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
June 21, 2022

What Does Tongue and Groove Flooring Mean?

Ready to install a new floor? Among the many decisions you’ll be making includes the installation system.

Whether you’re leaning towards traditional hardwood or engineered plans, these floorings have come a long way since the early days when freshly cut boards were nailed together to create a uniform walking path. Today’s wood surfaces are smoother than ever before, partially because of the production that goes into the product long before it makes it through your door.

Tongue and groove flooring is quite easy to install. Its wood planks are all created with both protruding and concave parts that ultimately fit together like pieces of a puzzle. These tongue and groove floorboards make it easy to install. One tongue fits firmly into the groove of the adjoining board, creating a flat surface with little vertical movement between them. It creates just enough space to allow for expansion and contraction as environmental conditions adjust based on seasons and weather.

What is tongue and groove flooring

Tongue and groove flooring isn’t a new concept. It was developed back in the late 1800s as manufacturers started mass-producing hardwood planks. As hardwood grew in popularity, creating a system for easy production as well as installation began to undergo transformation. Exposed nail heads were always a problem. Tongue and groove flooring hides or forgoes nails, thus creating a smoother surface.

One side of the board has a protruding tongue, while the other has a concave groove. During installation, the ridge of one side of the board is fitted into the groove of an adjacent board, creating a tight and well-fitted seam. As the floor is fitted together, you can use adhesive, secret nailing, or a floating system to hold it in place.

Tongue and groove or non-grooved planks

If you’re new to tongue and groove technology, you might be asking: what if you install non-grooved planks?

Non-grooved planks would simply be hardwood planks the same height and width on every side of the board. Tongue and groove flooring was introduced because of the problems it solves:

Shrinkage
Warping
Working loose over time
Nail heads showing and creating uneven surfaces

Because the individual floorboards interlock, they’re less likely to heave or show gaps as they expand and move based on shrinkage and swelling, which wood has a tendency to do as the environment changes over time. The grooves are enough to keep planks in place, and handle well over time.

That makes them the preferred choice in hardwood planks, one that is used almost exclusively for both traditional and engineered hardwood.

Tongue and groove or click and lock – what’s the difference?

Click and lock technology is much newer to the marketplace. It takes the puzzle layout of tongue and groove one step further, and gives you the ability to lock the individual planks together, creating a smooth surface area that holds together.

You won’t need any other mechanism for holding the planks in place. Adhesive, nails, even staples won’t be necessary. The individual planks lock together as they feed across the surface, from one side of the room to another.

Click and lock is a do-it-yourselfer’s dream. It has a similar layout to the traditional tongue and groove mechanism. It differs because it has an interlocking profile around the edge that makes it easy to click and lock together. Because it holds together without attaching to a subfloor, it makes it easy to install, even over existing flooring.

It can be installed directly over many other flooring products, which means you won’t have the added expense of ripping out old flooring. This only works with flooring with a smooth surface area already in place. Carpet still must be ripped out, as well as uneven problematic flooring.

Click and lock has been extended beyond traditional and engineered hardwood to include laminate and vinyl planks that resemble hardwood. That gives do-it-yourselfers many options.

Advantages of tongue and groove flooring

Why did tongue and groove become the standard in the hardwood plank industry? Because of the smooth surface area created once the planks are fitted together.

The biggest advantage to a tongue and groove floor is the tight fit created as the boards come together. This tight seem lessens the chance of seepage in between, meaning the floor will hold up and look newer longer.

This tight fit also means the installation process is easier. It will require a minimal amount of nailing or gluing to ensure the floorboards stay in place.

Because tongue and groove planks are the norm, you will find them in both pre-finished and site-finished plank flooring products. If you opt for site-finished, the sealant will provide a protective coating over the entire surface area, blocking out potential problem areas between the planks. This can make many hardwood flooring surface areas water-resistant, standing up better to all your family can dish out.

Disadvantages of tongue and groove flooring

As you’re weighing your options for what flooring choice will best suit your needs, keep in mind that tongue and groove flooring does have a few disadvantages.

Before you install it, it’s essential to properly acclimate it to your home’s surroundings. If the boards are swollen due to humidity or moisture, the tongue and groove system can be difficult to implement. The boards might not join together.

When you push, trying to force the joints together, the tongues can easily break off. This renders them useless, and will require you to purchase more material to finish the installation.

The tongue and groove system is almost always considered one-time use. After the tongue and groove mechanism is joined, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to pull them back apart. If you attempt to force them apart, you will almost always experience significant breakage.

Is tongue and groove flooring right for your home?

Whether you select traditional or engineered hardwood flooring, tongue and groove mechanism will most likely be in place. This creates a smooth, functional surface area that will provide you with the best results over time.

Have additional questions about flooring? Stop by, or give us a call today.

Flooring
June 18, 2022

What Waterproof Flooring Really Means

Every time you drop something on the floor, you might find yourself dreaming of waterproof flooring.

Do a little research and you’ll find waterproof flooring is alive and well in the marketplace. But what does that really mean?

Living with waterproof flooring in rooms where messes often occur sounds perfect. But is waterproof flooring really a thing?

Every homeowner knows that water can be one of the most destructive forces you’ll ever deal with. It’s an invasive resource that can start small and bring surmountable damage as it moves along a path. It can compromise roofing, siding, drywall, and flooring. If you don’t catch it, it will damage pretty much everything.

That makes waterproof flooring sound perfect. But is it?

Waterproof or water-resistant? What’s the difference?

This is one of the most misunderstood marketing claims you’ll find on flooring products. And different manufacturers use these terms almost interchangeably in some cases. They are not equal terms.

In the simplest terms, the two terms are fairly easy to understand.

Water-resistant means the material can withstand or resist water for a period of time. Eventually, it will be damaged by standing liquid or water.

Waterproof is impervious to water. It will stand up to water indefinitely, and remain in its original shape without damage.

This is where things start getting a little tricky. The flooring itself may be waterproof. But what’s around it may not. If moisture seeps down into the subfloor, which is not waterproof, the damage could occur from the bottom up.

Where to install waterproof flooring

There is no end to where waterproof flooring will be beneficial inside your home. That said, there are specific rooms where waterproof flooring will be a welcome addition.

Any place that sees a lot of traffic, and has the potential for messes and spills is a good candidate for waterproof flooring. Bathrooms, mudrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, entryways, even basements are the perfect place to install waterproof flooring. Instead of jumping at the first sign of moisture, or worrying about a spill your kids tried to cover up, you’ll have peace of mind knowing it’ll return to normal simply by wiping it up. That can be a big plus for busy families with lots of traffic.

Here in Colorado, many homes are built with basements below ground. While it’s great to add the extra space, it can be worrisome trying to pick out the best flooring. There’s always potential for a flood. With waterproof flooring, you’ll have less worry. And if water does seep in, you might be able to act fast, pull up the waterproof flooring, fix the leak and the subfloor, and put the waterproof flooring back in place. Being waterproof can make it savable if you act fast.

What types of waterproof flooring are there?

Because the benefits are clear, manufacturers are spending more time and energy developing waterproof flooring options than ever before. What’s more, you don’t have to skimp on beauty in order to achieve a waterproof living space.

Tile

There’s nothing stronger and more durable than tile. It’s stood the test of time for centuries, and continues to be a great waterproof choice in our modern world. When installed, grouted, and sealed properly, water can sit on the floor indefinitely without any issues. You can find tile at any price point, and create a good looking space in every room in your house. That’s why you’ll find tile being used in residential and commercial applications.

Step into any bathroom, and you’ll find tile used in many design elements. It often moves from flooring to shower walls, and even across the vanity.

If you want natural tile, consider travertines or granites. Tile is being used in kitchens, family rooms, and even moving to indoor/outdoor living spaces. It’s a great way to continue the continuity throughout your home, whether you spend time with your family indoors or out.

Vinyl

Moving quickly up the ladder of popularity is vinyl. This isn’t the vinyl product you remember from your youth.

Luxury vinyl is built to resemble the most popular flooring choices on the market. You’ll find luxury vinyl planks that look just like hardwood, and luxury vinyl tile that resembles natural stone. The only difference is it’s waterproof and more durable than the materials it mimics.

And because it’s at a lower price point, it makes sense when you’re trying to stick to a budget. If you want a simple solution that you can install yourself if you choose, luxury vinyl may be the perfect product.

Don’t forget sheet vinyl; it’s waterproof too. And because it comes in rolls up to 12 feet wide, there are fewer seams when you have a smaller room. This provides fewer opportunities for moisture to seep into the subfloor. You’ll find sheet vinyl in many different colors, patterns, and styles. Whether you want to stick with subtle or move into a bright pattern that has you reminiscing about childhood, you’ll find it in sheet vinyl. It’s one of the most economical flooring choices available today.

Laminate

Nothing beats the look of hardwood. That’s why so many products mimic it, trying to look like the real thing. Luxury vinyl planks have grown in popularity for this very reason.

But when you want to move even closer to the look and feel of hardwood, laminate might be a perfect choice. Keep in mind that not every laminate is the same. Some may be waterproof while others are only water-resistant. Be sure to do your research well to ensure you purchase what you truly desire.

While not the strongest waterproof product on the market, it does a pretty good job for everyday messes. While it will easily stand up to kitchen messes and a dropped glass of water, a flooding dishwasher may force laminate beyond repair. This is where it’s important to know your lifestyle, and understand the product most likely to give you the results you’re looking for.

Want waterproof flooring?

There’s a flooring product for you. Stop by today and see all of your options. We’ll help you make the right decision to suit your needs.

Flooring
June 14, 2022

Need Cheap Flooring? These Are The Best

Sometimes only the best will do.

Other times you go bargain hunting, looking for a better deal. That’s how many owners start searching for “cheap flooring.”

Maybe you’re shocked at the prices you see when you start shopping. You’re looking for economical flooring options to complete a project you’ve been working on. Yet even though your mind says “cheap,” you still want a product that will stand the test of time. You may be willing to cut back on some characteristics, but durability and good looks aren’t it.

Luckily, there are many great options for you, whether you’re remodeling a space in your home on a budget, or are looking for options for a rental.

Even if money isn’t an issue, with today’s innovations, some of these choices are so good, everyone is giving them a second look.

Where should you start?

Carpet

There’s a reason carpet stays at the top of flooring choices to consider: Its price and its availability. While studies show carpet sales have fallen since 2020, it still remains the largest flooring segment, accounting for 48.4% of the overall 18.969 billion square-foot flooring market in 2020.

Carpet sticks around in the marketplace because it works well in so many situations. With a variety of styles, materials, patterns, and colors, it can be a perfect choice for many rooms in your home.

Carpet works well in lower traffic situations. You would never install carpet in an entryway, but it can be the perfect choice for a bedroom. It adds comfort that few flooring choices do. Digging your toes between the fibers on a cold morning feels great. It can also act as a sound barrier. That makes it a perfect choice in kids bedrooms, muffling the sounds of dropped toys and make-believe play.

While you can find carpet at every end of the cost spectrum, even the lower end provides comfort and added protection. Just because it’s a “cheap flooring” option doesn’t mean it won’t serve you well. Carpet is built to be stain-resistant and is easy to clean, providing you attack potential stains soon after accidents happen.

If you want a budget-friendly flooring choice, carpet may be the perfect solution.

Luxury Vinyl Planks or Tiles

Homeowners love the look of real hardwood and stone. It’s a top flooring choice for a reason.

That love holds tight no matter what budget you’re trying to stick to. Luckily, there’s an option for you, even if you know you’re looking for the “cheapest” flooring around.

Luxury vinyl planks and tiles provide a realistic finish designed to look like the most popular flooring choices on the market today. If you love hardwood, or want a marble finish in specific areas of your home, you’re going to love luxury vinyl.

Luxury vinyl has undergone an upgrade from what you remember from your parents or grandparents home. Vinyl planks are some of the strongest floors on the market, and if you’re looking for durability, look no further. Luxury vinyl planks have grown so popular, they are often used in commercial applications too.

Because of their popularity, manufacturers have used upgraded technology to increase the benefits for you. In some products, you’ll find the planks are waterproof – yes, they can withstand as much as your family can dish out. You’ll never worry about these in a laundry room or bathroom. Just be aware that standing water is harmful in any situation. If a flood allows water to seep behind baseboards and into the subfloor, it will cause damage.

But luxury vinyl planks and tiles can be great additions in many situations. With their click-and-lock technology, it may be just the DIY project you’ve been looking for (making them even more budget-friendly!)

Laminate

Laminate is another product that’s had a lot of growth and transitions over the years. Laminate has long since been a way for homeowners to get the look of hardwood on a budget-friendly payment plan. If you want the look of hardwood, laminate is often the way to go.

Because the laminate market continues to grow and change, you’ll find laminate flooring has kept up with traditional hardwood’s look and feel. If you have a specific look, style, color, or pattern in mind, chances are you’ll find just what you’re looking for with a laminate floor. Because the look is created with a photograph instead of actual wood, colors may even present a wider selection thanks to technology.

While laminate may not be water-friendly, what it lacks for in withstanding moisture, it makes up for in durability. Some manufacturers do a pretty good job at making water-resistant laminate. Its strength means you’ll never have to worry about what your kids or pets can dish out.

And you can find laminate at all price points, meaning you’ll be able to find the perfect look to fit your budget. Laminate is installed as a floating floor, meaning it uses click-and-lock technology to lay it into place. It’s fairly quick to install it and have it ready to walk on soon after.

Tile

Another flooring choice that covers all spectrums and price points is tile. You’ll find bargains that can suit any budget, as well as customized pieces that can add an elegant touch.

The key is to look at the strength scale when looking for durability. The Porcelain Enamel Institute has created a PEI scale to help you understand industry standards, and ensure you install tile best suited for your needs. Choose one too low, and you’ll find it’s too thin and brittle to stand up to any kind of wear and tear.

But choose correctly, and you’ll have a flooring that can last for years.

Tile is so durable, you’ll see it all over town. Airports, hospitals, commercial applications, and retail stores all use it because of its strength. Tile is the number one choice in residential bathrooms. It works so well, you’ll often find it in shower stalls, walls, vanities, and backsplashes.

Just be sure to install it correctly to ensure a good fit with the subfloor. When adhesive, grout, tile, and sealers are applied correctly, this is one flooring choice that will handle well for years.

What “cheap flooring” is best for you?

While you may have thought “cheap flooring” at the beginning of your search, chances are you’re thinking a bit differently now. With so many options, a budget-friendly floor doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice durability or good looks.

With so many choices for you, your toughest decision will be to make a decision.

How can we help you select the right floor to suit your needs?

Tile Floors
June 10, 2022

Using The Perfect Tile For Every Room In Your Home

It’s easy to fall in love with tile.

In fact, most homeowners do at some point. Any time you browse through a magazine, or stroll through your favorite home improvement store, it’s easy to find examples of tiles in gorgeous colors and patterns.

Yet using tile in your home can be a little overwhelming when you finally decide to remodel. What looks beautiful in someone else’s home can be difficult to plan on your own. Where do you start? How do you select tile you love in the store, and still love it once it’s installed in your home?

Benefits of tile flooring

When it comes to home improvement projects, adding new flooring can have a dramatic effect. No other material can change your design structure more thoroughly.

Tile is one of the oldest building materials used for home decor. The earliest use of decorative tile was found in ancient Egypt more than 6,000 years ago. Romans and Greeks wove tile together to make mosaics, murals, and more.

The design potential is unlimited. Stick with a single color for minimalism at its finest. Or mix patterns and colors for a totally customized look and feel.

Plus they make one of the easiest floors to take care of. You can wipe away dirt and grime with a simple swipe of a broom or cloth. By using a high-quality grout and sealant, tile will be protected in all kinds of situations. If one cracks, keep a few extras around the house and it makes repair easy.

Overwhelmed with tile design? Read on for more tips

Whether you’re installing tile in your kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, or all of the above, we realize selecting tile can be hard to visualize from a few tiles on display to incorporating it throughout your home. While you can customize to your heart’s content, keeping a few general rules in mind may help make your selection process a little easier.

Tip #1: Start with a color palette

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to start your decorating process with a color palette of 2 to 3 color choices. Anything more can take away fluidity and make your home look more thrown together without continuity in place. Colors evoke feeling and emotion, so it’s important to select with a gut feeling about the appearance of your room. Play with the color wheel, and ensure your final selections are complementary colors.

If you use a patterned tile or one with multiple hues, it’s a good idea to use that as your starting point, and select single color tiles the same shade. This pulls the colors together and carries them throughout your space. You can use this in other decor features, from the paint on the walls to accent pieces you place throughout.

Tip #2: Choose grout carefully

Many homeowners spend most of their time selecting tile, leaving grout choices as an afterthought. The right color and thickness will impact how visible your tile is. A light tile with heavy, dark grout will make the dark color pop. Likewise, if you make it lighter, it can put emphasis on the tile’s shape or pattern.

When selecting tile, ask for grout recommendations. How would an installer you’re considering use grout in your situation? You may gain advice you’ve never considered, which can further enhance the tile’s overall look and feel.

Tip #3: Form or function, pay attention to both

Different tile, grout, and finishes will create different ambiance and texture. Ever walked into a room and had to touch because the texture stood out? That isn’t always a good thing.

Tile is often installed with pure functionality in mind. You have a desire for water-resistant living with increased durability, and tile fits the bill. Yet there are many ways to dress it up and make it uniquely your own. How about a glaze with a shiny finish? Prefer matte with a subdued look? Special finishes can provide a host of tile finishes with varying texture and appeal.

Like color palette, make conscious choices about how many textures you introduce to your space. Too many and you’ll create a disheveled appearance. Also be aware that certain textures can decrease functionality, making flooring slippery or even more attractive to dirt and grime. Address any of your concerns with a tile expert before finalizing your choices.

Get ready … Here are your choices

Most homeowners have a certain look in mind when they think about tile. Yet as you shop, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how many choices are available to you. You might be familiar with ceramic or porcelain tile, but have you ever considered glass? The most popular tile choices include:

Ceramic – this tops the list in both affordability and durability. If you can dream of a color or pattern, you’ll find it with ceramic tile.

Porcelain tile – porcelain is a finer clay ceramic tile with extra strength and durability because they are fired at a higher temperature. Technology has given these tiles the ability to resemble some of the most in-demand flooring choices such as marble or hardwood planks. Selecting porcelain tile can provide you with a flooring that will last for decades.

Glass – you’ll see glass increasingly being used in shower stalls or backsplashes. It has the highest level of stain resistance, but it is easier to crack or chip.

Marble – more expensive than other options, incorporating marble into your design can give your home a luxurious feel, adding into the ambiance. This natural stone may not deliver unlimited color combinations, but you will find unique grains and designs as natural colors shine through.

Granite – not just for countertops, granite is incorporated into flooring too. It’s relatively waterproof and won’t absorb most stains. It’s a great way to set the stage in an entryway.

Are you using tile in your home?

Do you have your design all worked out? The good news about tile is there are unlimited ways to incorporate it into your flooring, whether you use it in one room or throughout.

How can we help you select the right tile to suit your needs?

Hardwood Flooring
June 7, 2022

Is It Okay To Have Two Different Hardwood Floor Colors?

With all of the hotly debated topics in the world today, it may surprise you that the home decor industry has one of its own.

Can you install two different hardwood floor colors in your home?

People have strong opinions one way or the other.

Designers will often tell you it’s one of the biggest faux-pas in the industry. They’ll tell you two different species, styles, or hardwood colors will be a decorating nightmare.

Yet some homeowners don’t mind at all.

If you move into an older home, the previous owners may have installed hardwood in select rooms. It’s in good shape, and you want to keep it. Yet matching it isn’t possible. The grain pattern no longer exists, and you can’t find the exact plank size and width. They don’t want to scrap quality hardwood for the sake of sameness throughout the living space.

And that’s where opportunity rises.

Different species mean different opportunity

Throughout the years, the hardwood industry has had standard manufacturing practices in place. The most common species for hardwood flooring include:

Ash
Black walnut
Beech
Cherry
Hickory
Maple
Red oak
White oak

Chances are if you have hardwood already in place, it’s from one of these species of trees.

Of course, there are many other species available. Exotic hardwood has been an industry specialty for as long as hardwood flooring has been popular.

If you go back twenty, forty, or even sixty years ago, processing was different. What manufacturer you chose and the installer’s beliefs all dictated how your final flooring appeared. Each choice created its own unique characteristics and appearance, and it’s challenging to change that today without ripping it out.

If that’s not an option, you’re automatically on the road for having a different look and feel as you move from room to room.

Advantages of using the same hardwood throughout

In many cases, it makes sense to change out all of your flooring at the same time. It creates transition, flow, and provides a color palette soothing to the eye.

It’s a great way to harmonize everything about your living space.

It also creates less of a mess. Installing hardwood isn’t an “in and out” process. The planks will need time to acclimate to your home. Depending on whether it’s prefinished or unfinished, you may need additional time for staining, finishing, and curing. It’s much easier to do this all at once, get in, and spend the time necessary to do it right the first time.

It can also lead to cost savings by buying in bulk. In many cases, you’ll get a better price for ordering more product. The installer is there anyway; why not have them get the entire job done?

It’s hard to argue with these advantages. Which is why you’ll find a strong argument for sticking to one hardwood palette throughout your home.

But it doesn’t always make sense.

Two different hardwood floor colors can make a lot of sense

Just because you can find a lot of arguments about why one color, one floor, makes sense, doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for you.

It’s your house!

And that alone is reason enough to use your own judgment when installing flooring.

The most common reason why people end up with more than one hardwood color and pattern in their homes is due to the cost. It can be expensive to install hardwood throughout your home. If that’s your ultimate goal, it often makes more sense to install it room by room.

That decreases the likelihood of being able to match up your flooring choices.

Hardwood fades as it acclimates to your home. Even buying the same brand, color, and pattern can be slightly off from lot to lot.

If the colors won’t match up, doesn’t it make more sense to move towards complementary colors instead of trying to match?

Tips for using more than one hardwood flooring style

If you’re adding to existing hardwood, instead of worrying about matching, use these tips to place two or more colors together.

Dark and light together

Instead of sticking with the same color hue, go to opposite ends of the spectrum instead. Dark hardwood can add intimacy to a room. It might be the perfect choice for a master suite. For a child’s bedroom, err on the side of light hardwood and light wall color to create a fresh, open appearance anyone will be comfortable “hanging out” in.

Complementary instead of match

People often take a selection of colors home, attempting to match existing hardwood as closely as possible. Choose a complementary color instead. Lay them side by side and determine which is most pleasing to the eye. Then use T-molding or wooden borders to separate rooms where it makes most sense – doorways are great options.

Change direction

People are acclimated to running hardwood planks parallel to the way the room runs. Instead, what if you ran it diagonal across the space? Move away from a constant direction from one end of the house to another. Changing directions can be enough of a change to pull your eye away from the different colors, and focus more on the room design itself.

Refinishing

If you have a specific hardwood in place, you can use the same species, and refinish it to match the new flooring you lay into place. While it still doesn’t guarantee to absorb the new stain and finish in exactly the same manner, it’s the best way to attempt to gain the same color tone for all the rooms that have hardwood.

What’s your preference?

Ultimately, what you choose to install inside your home is a personal choice, and completely up to you.

https://pro-flooring.com/can-you-change-the-color-of-hardwood-floors/

If you’re not quite sure what to do, come in and use any of our sales associate’s knowledge to help you create a living environment you’re proud to call home.

With so many selections on the market today, there are easy ways to create the home of your dreams.

How can we help you select the right hardwood flooring for each room in your home?

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
June 4, 2022

Don’t Make These Mistakes When Selecting Hardwood Flooring Species

As a homeowner, if you’re looking at home improvement projects, installing new flooring can be a worthy project. It gives you a unique design palette to live with, and can add value to your home for years to come.

If you walk into a home improvement floor, it’s easy to feel the pull of hardwood flooring. It remains one of the most loved flooring choices, one homeowners have moved to the top of their wish lists.

But what many don’t realize when they first start out is just how many choices there are. Selecting a hardwood flooring species can be difficult when you see all the color and pattern choices available to you. How do you make a choice?

Domestic versus exotic – what’s the difference?

When you start shopping for hardwood, you’ll quickly learn it comes in a variety of formats. Different species provide you with different results. Hardness, appearance, and price point will all be determined by your final selection.

Domestic species of hardwood flooring include:

Birch
Cherry
Hickory
Oak
Maple
Walnut

Domestic hardwood flooring provides you with a traditional appearance you’ll most likely see in both commercial and residential settings. It’s the most affordable option, one you’ll likely have the most availability for no matter where you are shopping.

Homeowners often select domestic species because it’s readily available. They offer decent durability, and will acclimate well to your home’s environment. Because the tree is often from your area, it is less susceptible to change with the daily living environment.

Domestic species tend to have fewer patterns and variances, but can feature a wide range of stains and textured effects. If you have something specific in mind, you can achieve it with these classic good looks.

Exotic species of hardwood flooring include:

Brazilian cherry
Brazilian walnut
Jatoba
Kempas
Sapele mahogany
Tigerwood

Homeowners are often drawn to exotic species because of their dramatic color appearance and striking grain patterns. If you want a one-of-a-kind look, you’ll love what you find with exotic hardwood.

Most exotic hardwoods have higher Janka hardness scores, making them some of the most durable flooring choices on the market today. That makes them great for the most popular areas of your home, even hallways and entryways. They scratch and dent less, and will remain good-looking for years to come.

Because they are harder to find and source, you’ll most likely find them in limited widths and profiles. This may not be a problem, but if you’re planning on wider planks, or have a larger room, you may not have the options available in domestic species.

Have a particular hardwood species in mind? Don’t make these mistakes.

As you start to navigate your options, and find hardwood species you love, it’s easy to focus on its looks and forget to ask the most important questions that will determine the longevity of your floors.

Mistake #1 – Buy from unscrupulous retailers

We all love good deals. The power of the internet has given us easy access to find the best deals in the marketplace.

If you’ve ever received an order only to find it didn’t meet your expectations, you know one of the biggest drawbacks from ordering online.

While a shirt or a bowl is easily replaced, your flooring is something you’ll have to live with for years to come. Not all retailers select the highest quality products. Even your local discount or home improvement store buys in bulk, from a lower grade than what you’ll find with a flooring specialist.

Lower quality hardwood means the entire production process might not have been top-notch. Cutting, sanding, finishing – every step may have cut corners, meaning it won’t stand up as well under normal circumstances.

When you buy from a supplier who investigates where the product line comes from, you can anticipate the highest quality artistry on the market.

Mistake #2 – Durability can wane

When you install domestic hardwood, the wood may be harvested right from your own community. The final product adjusts easily to your home environment.

Exotics have more trouble. They can be extremely reactive to changes in the environment, which can cause expansion and contraction as it adjusts to your home.

Higher quality manufacturers understand this, and take the necessary precautions. They know how to work with the product throughout production, and understand what it takes to install it inside your home.

Many exotic hardwood species retailers will recommend acclimating the planks for a much longer time period than with a domestic floor. Build that into your time schedule so you don’t have problems down the road.

Mistake #3 – Chemicals and toxic reactions

Do you have allergies? Do you react to certain reactors out in nature? While you might understand your reactions to common hardwood species, you may not have an understanding of how you’ll react to an exotic species. Some people can find certain species highly reactive and cause mild or even severe reactions to the chemicals and makeup of different materials.

Why? Certain species have different chemical makeup that can trigger different responses. Brazilian walnut and teak, for example, are known to occasionally cause a reaction. If you aren’t sure, it’s a good idea to apply a small amount of wood dust to your skin with a bandage for a day and see if you have a reaction.

Not all processing is the same. As you make your final selection, you can work with a sales associate to understand the entire production cycle, to ensure you or a family member won’t suffer a reaction.

Mistake #4 – Hardness

Many homeowners move to exotic species to install a harder floor. While a harder floor can be more durable, it also has the potential for installation problems.

Be sure you hire an installer who works with exotic hardwood regularly. Nailing can be more challenging to ensure the planks are set into place. With the hardest species, pre-drilling is often necessary to ensure a clean look and a tight fit.

It’s also something to remember when you refinish your flooring down the road. Exotics may need a finer grit when sanding it down. They may need a different finishing process to ensure a high quality look.

Do your due diligence throughout its life, and you’ll love your hardwood flooring for as long as they are in place.

Flooring
May 28, 2022

Here Are The Questions To Ask A Flooring Consultant Before Buying New Flooring

Home improvement projects can be expensive. Even simple tasks can become overwhelming when you see costs grow right before your eyes.

The average cost of new flooring today can range anywhere from $3 to $22 or more per square foot. That adds up to thousands of dollars, depending on the size of your room and the flooring choice you make.

How do you ensure you don’t have buyer’s remorse from the moment it’s installed?

Buying new flooring is a big decision. Even if you have a flooring type in mind, it’s best to head to your flooring dealer with a few questions in mind, to ensure you select a product best suited for your lifestyle.

As flooring consultants, we love helping homeowners select flooring they’ll love for years to come. When we advise flooring clients, we ensure they’ve thought about these questions and more.

Is this the right flooring product for my lifestyle?

We can’t tell you how often homeowners have come in with a particular product in mind, only to install something they’d never considered before. That’s because it’s easy to fall in love with a floor when you view it online or in home improvement magazines, only to discover it would be a disaster inside your own home.

If you have a busy household with kids and pets, a white carpet probably isn’t on your list. Yet there are different flooring choices that might be better suited to your busy lifestyle.

Before we even get into looking at flooring choices, we like to gain a better understanding of what a home is like. Where will you be placing the new flooring – kitchen, living space, or bedroom? We also ask questions about an average day in the room you’ll be replacing. Take a kitchen as an example. Do you use it simply to warm up leftovers? Or are you in there morning, noon, and night, whipping up creations to present to family and friends? Messes are commonplace, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Flooring type doesn’t necessarily determine final looks. With today’s flooring products, even if you love hardwood yet know it wouldn’t handle well in your home, there are other products that can satisfy all of your needs and desires. How about luxury vinyl planks? Or tile that takes on a hardwood appearance?

Instead of coming in with specifics in mind, sometimes an open mind will lead to a better product that will be perfect for all of your family’s needs.

What are the hidden costs?

Have you seen the ads on television that promise to install new flooring into a room for a very low price? Something inside tells you it’s too good to be true.

It is.

These companies market to bring you in with a low price. But once they meet you in your home, they start adding on additional costs. And depending on how far along you are in the process, it can be a little unnerving to see just how high the final price grows.

Before you say “yes” to anything, it’s important to understand all of your costs first. That includes the cost for the flooring product, installation fees, underlayment charges, delivery charges, discarding old flooring materials, and any other handiwork needed to install your final flooring product.

You can ask this question in different ways:

What other costs may be charged during the entire process?
What unexpected items may be added to my final bill?
What isn’t included in the cost listed here?

You can also use these questions to get a better understanding of the ethics of the flooring consultant you’re talking to. A reputable company will give you complete answers and bring up concepts you may not have thought about. If they are hiding something, you’ll feel it as you dive deeper into asking questions.

Trust your gut when buying new flooring – you’ll know if you’re working with a reputable company after spending even a little time with them.

What about warranties and guarantees?

A lot of places with prices “too good to be true” won’t stand behind the work they do.

New flooring products come with warranties from the manufacturer. This protects you from any defect within the product itself.

Reputable flooring retailers will also stand behind the products they sell and install. They want to make sure you’re happy with your flooring and the way it’s installed.

Get all warranties and guarantees in writing, and ask questions if you don’t understand. This is the best way to stay protected in the weeks and months to come.

What about the installation process?

Did you know hardwood floors need time to acclimate to your home before installation? That adds time to the full installation process.

Or did you know that some flooring choices are better suited with different types of subflooring? If you have a concrete subfloor, that can influence the final product you install.

Because you don’t install new flooring regularly, you might not understand the full installation process. If you have certain expectations about how fast the installation occurs, this can impact what product you select.

A reputable dealer will be able to walk you through the entire process, so you understand it from beginning to end. This also gives you a chance to ask about additional costs if something pops up along the way.

What about maintenance?

We find a lot of people ask questions about products and installation, but forget to ask about maintenance for the years to come. This can shorten the life of your flooring product, or even null and void the warranty.

Different manufacturers require different maintenance items to keep the product in good condition. For instance, some manufacturers have specific cleaning processes for daily maintenance as well as deep cleaning. Knowing this ahead of time can ensure you keep the proper tools on hand, and aren’t tempted to grab cleaning solutions that might harm the floors.

Is new flooring in your future?

If you’re in the process of buying new flooring, focus on what questions to ask before you settle on a product.

The more you know about the flooring you choose, the happier you’ll be once it’s installed.

How can we help you find the right flooring for you?

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