Ben Larrabee, Author at PRO! Flooring

Area Rugs
March 3, 2022

Buying a New Area Rug? Tips For Extending The Life Before You Buy

Buyers remorse. It’s the one thing every homeowner weighs as they shop for home improvement items.

When buying a new area rug, for example, you might imagine vibrant colors and added warmth to your room’s decor. Yet when buyers remorse kicks in, you might discover the area rug has too much color, or doesn’t stand up to all your family dishes out.

Top worries before people buy a new area rug include:

Cost – will I pay too much?
Size – will the area rug look good once it’s installed in the room?
Color – will the color and pattern blend well with my decor?
Longevity – will the area rug look good and wear well for years to come?

If you’ve had any of these fears, we have a few tips for you. Ultimately, homeowners want value. An area rug that looks good and handles well over time is key.

What we recommend is spending a little time thinking about your ultimate goal before you finalize your purchase.

Where will the area rug reside?
How much foot traffic will it receive?
Will food be a constant factor, such as in a dining room?
Will pets be part of the equation?

Start with the end in mind. You may fall in love with an area rug, but if it isn’t the right material to suit your needs, you’ll hate it almost from the start.

Want your area rug to look good for years to come? Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help you extend the life of your purchase, and make you love your area rug for years.

Pay attention to the patterns and colors

Spills and stains will happen. It’s part of residing on the floor. However, you can plan for spills and stains long before laying the area rug into place.

Consider where the new area rug will be. Dining rooms have a far greater chance of being stained than something in the bedroom. Use this to direct you to colors and patterns that will handle well in each unique situation.

Most area rugs today are stain-resistant. Yet area rugs are made from fibers, and fibers will stain over time. A forgiving pattern can hide the stain better, and will ensure it looks good, longer.

Regular maintenance is key

There are many ways you can preserve the fibers. Take off your shoes at the front door. Be careful with food and drink.

Yet because an area rug will always receive foot traffic, occasional messes will frequently land on your area rug.

Vacuuming should be a part of your regular routine. Whether you pull out the vacuum daily or weekly is dependent on the kinds of messes your rug sees. Cleaning regularly allows you to pick up dust and dirt as it sits on the surface, before it has a chance to be ground into the fibers.

If you have pets or kids, your cleaning routine may be more frequent. Vacuuming a few times a week can help remove pet dander before it settles into the fiber.

You should also check with manufacturer’s guidelines. Many have specific guidelines about cleaning schedules, and will tell you what products are considered safe.

If you do spill, clean it right away. Never rub it in; blot the stain instead. The sooner you work to remove it, the better chance you have of helping it disappear from view for good.

We also recommend that you plan on rotating your rug 180 degrees at least once a year. This helps prevent wear marks or fading in certain areas of the rug.

Use an area rug pad

There are two steps to installing a high quality area rug: lay down a rug pad and place the area rug on top. A rug pad acts as a buffer between the hard surface underneath and the fibers of your area rug. The pad acts as a buffer to ensure the fibers aren’t crushed.

A rug pad also acts as a holding agent, preventing the rug from slipping as you walk.

This isn’t the time to skimp on quality. It’s as much about protecting your area rug and floors as it is giving your investment longevity. A poor quality pad will decrease your area rug’s life.

What fibers are used for your area rug production?

Just like carpet, area rugs can be woven from a variety of different fibers.

Synthetic fibers make up the majority of area rugs on the market today. There are four different synthetic fibers used: olefin, nylon, polyester, and the newest, triexta.

If you prefer natural fibers, wool is the staple used for Berber. You might even be able to find other natural fibers such as silk or cotton.

The differences between the two vary greatly.

Natural fibers are considered more eco-friendly. They are made from sustainable resources, and will have the least amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Synthetic fibers are considered to be more stain-resistant, although wool does a fairly good job at protecting the fibers.

Both can be extremely durable, especially if you get a high quality fiber and construction. Pay attention to manufacturer details, as that can lead you to an area rug that will handle well considering your lifestyle.

Size and shape matter

It may seem like an elementary point, but size and shape of your new area rug do matter.

In general, area rugs come in an array of sizes and shapes, with the most common being:

2’x3’
4’x6’
5’x8’
6’x9’
8’x10’

Of course, you’ll find many larger, and with different measurements to suit every homeowners’ needs – rectangle, square, oval, circle, even octagons and runners.

While area rugs ultimately depend on personality and your individual tastes, there are a few ground rules that help homeowners to be happier with their purchases for the long haul.

Measure your room.

Measure the space where your area rug will reside.

Have measurements of the furniture and design of the room.

Spend some time looking at design sites and magazines for direction.

It can be difficult visualizing an area rug in place before you bring it home. The more research you do ahead of time will help you prepare for the final look you’re trying to achieve.

Then bring your ideas in, and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re looking for. With our knowledge and expertise, we can help you select an area rug perfect for your location, one you’ll love for many years to come.

Hardwood Flooring
February 28, 2022

Mixed Hardwood Flooring May Be Just What You’re Looking For

Hardwood flooring can be expensive. That’s why many homeowners prefer to remodel one room at a time, adding new flooring to each room as they update.

But that causes a dilemma that’s widely debated among designers:

Is mixed hardwood flooring an acceptable design trend inside a home?
Is it okay to have two different wood floors, especially when they’re close together or touching?
Can you mix different hardwood flooring brands, and not create a mishmash appearance when moving from room to room?
What about using different planks, different materials, and different tones as you install a wood floor in your home?

What mixed hardwood flooring really means

Flooring is never an exact science. What works for one home might not work for another. What’s recommended by one designer may be shunned by the next. In design, rules exist. At the same time, rules are meant to be broken.

That’s because every homeowner has a different approach to design.

Maybe you’re building your dream home one room at a time. Hardwood is expensive; yet you know if it’s well cared for, it can last decades. Why not install one room at a time?

Or maybe you’re looking for ways to display your individuality. You love different looks, and want personality in your home. Why can’t you mix different types of hardwood?

With a little bit of research, you can find your ideal design displayed online. Using visuals as your queue, we can help you create a floor you’ll be proud to walk on every single day.

When we refer to mixing hardwood flooring, we believe it can refer to two different things.

First, mixing hardwood can mean adding a particular product to each individual room, each in its own time. This allows you to remodel based on budget and time constraints, and gives you flexibility of selecting products for the project when the work is performed.

Second, mixing hardwood can also refer to using two different types or styles of hardwood planks, and using them to create a unique flooring pattern in one area of your home. If you like both a light and darker color, why not mix the two together?

Can you do that?

Why not?

The look and feel of your home’s decor should always be about what’s most pleasing to you. If you do any searching online for design ideas, you’ll find many opportunities waiting for you.

Hardwood in its natural form contains many different undertones, colors, and shades. Even if you stick with one product line, you’ll often find planks with other characteristics, personality that shines when it’s laid into place. That adds depth and character to your space, making your design truly one of a kind.

Ask yourself: Do I like uniformity? Do I prefer creativity? Am I okay showcasing differences as I move from room to room? Use this to guide you to the right choices.

Advantages of using the same flooring throughout your home

If you love hardwood and want it in a variety of rooms in your home, should you use the same product throughout? For many homeowners, it’s the only way.

By installing one product, one color, one design, you increase a natural flow throughout your home. It creates a calm and soothing image as you move from room to room.

For some fans of hardwood, this is a great way to create harmony in every room. Rather than focusing on each room as an individual, you set the stage for the personality of your entire home.

This also allows you to create your base with a flooring choice you’ll love for years to come. While it might be a bigger hit to your budget upfront, you’ll know you have a solid base to work with for years – decades – into the future. Because hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times, even if you want to change things up, you can always play with the color. This can lead to cost savings throughout the life of owning your home.

If minimalism and conformity are important to you, a uniform hardwood base may be perfect for you. It’s less time thinking about how things flow together. It creates a stunning appearance in every room of your home.

Advantages of mixed hardwood flooring throughout your home

Have you entered other homes and felt a sense of sameness that isn’t necessarily appealing? If you’ve seen one hardwood floor, you’ve seen them all. “Boring” is the only word that comes to mind as you see an endless amount of sameness throughout the open concept floorplan.

That’s not a feeling every homeowner likes. Or wants.

And that’s okay.

Mixing hardwood allows you to let your creative juices flow.

If you want to clearly define the purpose of each room, decorating each separately allows you to design based on needs. Kitchens are messier than bedrooms. Having more color, character, and texture may make it easier to hide the messes that undoubtedly will happen every time you step into the kitchen to cook. Bedrooms are meant for tranquility – maybe a calmer texture and a softer color are just what you were looking for.

Manufacturers also know that people have different tastes in design. If you stick with one manufacturer, you’ll find an array of stains and color options, yet the quality of the product remains the same. Instead of worrying about how grains and textures will match, vary the colors, tones, and materials, letting the floor be your canvas and creating a dynamic new look.

Mixing your hardwood flooring as you go along also gives you more flexibility when things go wrong/ If your child “forgets” to mention the spilled juice box for hours, you can easily replace a few planks and get right back to living. No worrying about matching – you can work in smaller areas and achieve the same results.

Can you have mixed hardwood flooring throughout your home?

Why not?

Let your creative juices flow, and create the home of your dreams.

Flooring
February 25, 2022

Why Green Flooring Can Help You With Sustainable Living

More than ever, sustainable living starts at home. Why not start at the bottom … installing green flooring sets the stage for every eco-friendly item you bring into your living space.

According to a report by the New Climate Economy, we could save as much as $26 trillion by 2030 if we move to more sustainable living.

As a population, we are only starting to realize the impact we can make even through small changes. A study by Southern Cross University found that 93 percent of all those surveyed indicated a general concern for the environment. With wildfires, plastic pollution, climate change, and more at the forefront of everyone’s minds, we all want to do what we can to make a difference.

Sometimes the best place to start is at home.

What is sustainable living?

According to Wikipedia, sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources, and one’s personal resources. It’s also known as net-zero living.

In practice, it’s about reducing their carbon footprint. It includes altering home design and transportation methods, energy consumption, and everyday living consumption.

How does this differ from green living?

Green living is a lifestyle choice. It’s about making conscious choices that preserve and conserve the Earth’s natural recourse and habitats. They are done so with an environmentally ethical, eco-friendly outcome in mind.

Green refers to environmental movements in general, while sustainability has clear-cut guidelines to put into practice. You strive for sustainability after you start bringing green living practices into your life.

How does green flooring play into all of this?

Choosing to increase green living means becoming more aware of the products and materials you bring into your home.

According to the US Green Building Council, as you’re building or remodeling a home, going green allow you to:

Increase energy savings
Increase water efficiency
Reduce CO2 emissions
Improve indoor environmental quality
Select resources based on their impact

When selecting green flooring, it means paying attention to:

How the flooring is manufactured
Where the resources come from
What production looks like
How the manufacturer approaches eco-friendly processes
The impact of the flooring once it’s brought into your home

Bamboo flooring is an excellent example of green flooring. It’s environmentally friendly because of how fast it grows. A bamboo grove can yield 20 times more timber than trees in the same location. It will also release 35 percent more oxygen in the process. And all of that can occur without the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

What to look for in green flooring choices

Before you start looking for the right flooring choice for your home, it’s important to define exactly what to look for in an eco-friendly option.

First, start with the manufacturing process used to create the flooring before it ever winds up on the retailers’ shelves. You’re looking for an option that offers natural and renewable resources.

This can be subjective, depending on your goals and desires. Bamboo is eco-friendly in that a single bamboo tree can be harvested in three to five years. Compare that to a standard tree used in hardwood flooring production, requiring 40 to 60 years before harvesting.

That doesn’t make one ultimately better than the other. It still requires research on your part to determine ethical practices all around. Trees used for hardwood flooring can be sustainable if the manufacturer cares about the process. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a certification program that ensures wood is harvested legally and sustainably. It certifies the wood comes from responsibly-managed forests. That gives you knowledge of knowing you’re selecting a manufacturer that cares about the process, and gives you a product that will stand the test of time.

Next, pay attention to the life cycle of the flooring you’re installing. Even if you install a floor made from natural materials, if it needs replacing every few years, or requires unhealthy practices for installation or removal, it can fall off the sustainable list.

In the case of hardwood flooring, for example, while it can take upwards of 60 years for the resource to be harvested, once it’s installed in your home, it can last for decades. With proper care, your hardwood can be a great flooring addition for many years. You can refinish it and give it new life when it starts wearing down. Even if you remove it, hardwood can often be recommissioned and used in other ways. It’s a product that keeps on giving.

Hardwood also has the advantage of being biodegradable. If it winds up in the landfill, hardwood breaks down naturally over time. Of course, this is dependent on chemicals used on the surface. But in its natural form, hardwood is a great green flooring option.

Finally, pay attention to the toxic chemicals in your flooring. This includes the entire life cycle. Consider toxins used in production, chemicals in adhesives or finishes, as well as harmful byproducts used in production or removal.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful both to the air quality and your health. The Department of Health lists VOCs as a large group of chemicals found in many products we use to build and maintain our homes. Common examples include benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride, tetrachloroethylene, toluene, xylene, and 1,3-butadiene.

While VOCs are found in things like carpet, vinyl flooring, composite wood products, paint, varnish, caulk, and adhesives, they are also found in everyday items like cleaning products, cosmetics, and gasoline. Once you learn more about VOCs, you can pay attention to everything you bring into your life, making better choices to protect both the air quality and the health of everyone in our communities.

Is green flooring the right choice for you?

Is green flooring in your future? Are you trying to make smarter choices with the products and materials you bring into your home?

A great place to start is by coming in and walking through our product lines. We can point you to some of the greenest, most sustainable flooring choices on the market.

How can we help you select your next flooring?

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
February 21, 2022

Decided To Install Hardwood? Here’s How You Pick The Right Color

Honey maple or golden oak? Red chestnut or red mahogany?

When you’ve finally decided to install hardwood flooring throughout your home, one of the most difficult parts of the process is honing in on the right color. It can be agonizing moving between several closely related colors. One has a little more red, the other is a bit more yellow. Which will be the easiest to live with for years to come?

Before you get to color, start with material first

Hardwood is hardwood … right? If you’ve been shopping for any length of time, you know there are big differences between different materials.

If you walk through a forest, or even take in the landscape as you travel to various regions of the world, you know different trees take on unique characteristics. An elm or ash tree looks vastly different from a pine.

Their outward appearance dictates how they will act as flooring material. The Janka Hardness Scale is designed to help you understand the qualities of individual wood. A wood’s hardness is evaluated by the amount of force needed to drive a .444 inch steel ball into the wood at half the ball’s diameter. It’s measured in pounds-force, and gives you an idea of just how hard specific materials are. While strand-woven bamboo is at the upper end of the scale in the 4,000s, a Douglas fir is at the lower end around 700.

Red oak is considered the mainstay in the industry. Because of its abundance, it is used widely as building material, including hardwood flooring planks. It carries a rating of 1290, meaning it pairs hardness with durability, making it a workhorse in the average family home.

Harder materials aren’t always better. The harder the floor, the less give it has to everyday activities. If you drop a glass, or your toddler falls, hardness may not be the best addition to your home. Harder materials are also more difficult to cut, drive nails into, or piece together for finishing work. Installation costs will be higher with more rigid materials. It’s a careful balance of personality, aesthetics, and functionality.

Color, color everywhere

As you’re finalizing your color choice, it goes without saying that your flooring color should match the aesthetics of your home. Cabinet color, appliance color, wall paint, furniture patterns – a mishmash of color will leave a room feeling chaotic at best. Your new hardwood should also blend well with other existing flooring materials inside your home.

Complementing existing colors may be necessary to create visual appeal. But you don’t always want exact matches in order to create harmony inside a room. Too much of one color can leave a room feeling flat. Instead, opt for complementary rather than identical.

In most cases, small rooms do better with lighter colors. Light colored wood floors will open up a room, leaving it feeling fresh and airy.

Exotic woods have become a trend in recent years. This includes hardwood like Brazilian Cherry or mahogany. There’s no mistaking these dark woods add sophistication and elegance to any room. But they may not be for every home. They are perfect for the kitchen, bathrooms, or even living spaces where quiet sophistication is what you choose to display.

We’ve also seen an uptick in patterned hardwood. This can be worked into your home in several ways. Parquet flooring is rising in popularity because of the intricate patterns it can add to a room. Or consider mixing different types of materials to get a unique hardwood pattern that’s all your own.

Let’s get into specifics

We’ve noticed homeowners are choosing bolder, richer colors. While standard oak finishes have become staple in homes all across America, right here in the Front Range, people are playing off our love of the great outdoors. Why not have fun with the color choices you make?

Instead of sticking with a standard color with little variance, homeowners are getting into mixed hardwood species, or using reclaimed wood blends for a unique look. Wild patterns and bold textures can make your flooring stand out, not just blend in with the surroundings.

If boldness isn’t quite up to your tastes, maybe you prefer hardwood with a natural appeal. We’re seeing an influx of gray tones mix into hardwood flooring choices. Flooring with smoky undertones adds both drama and character that can be appealing in some homes. This gives a rustic, edgy look that can lighten up any space.

Want even lighter? Bleached or whitewashed floors are also making a comeback. For contemporary, modern spaces, you can’t go wrong with the smooth, pleasing look that belaced or whitewashed flooring brings to a room. We love it because it puts the focus on natural wood grain, without making the floor look busy. It’s a great way to let the vibrancy of your home shine through.

And while many homeowners become fixed on color, you do have other ways to make your color choice shine through. Why not play with the size of the planks you install too? Plank size puts the natural grain and variance of the wood choice on display. We love wider planks because you notice the rich texture of the wood rather than the spacing between the boards. If you’re looking for a smooth, contemporary finish to bring into your space, this may be the perfect way to do it.

Final thoughts on hardwood color choices

If you stick with a standard color, standard material, it’ll never go out of style.

But if you want to bump up your selection, add more personality to your home, and move to something a bit more edgy, that might leave you stuck on what to do.

Trendy styles and colors will help sell a home in the short turn. If you’re thinking of selling, and are remodeling to get the most bang for your buck, select what current designers are showcasing. Right now, that includes super dark flooring colors, planks with undertones of gray, or natural-looking floorboards that look like you pulled them directly from nature.

Classic looks will never go out of style. If you’re having trouble deciding, worried about how you’ll feel in a few years, we often recommend erring on the side of classic. You’ll never be sorry when you stick with tones that have been around for years.

And if you’re really worried about which selection to make, go with your gut instinct first.

Whether you love light or dark, want earthy tones, or love bright colors, chances are you find yourself walking up to similar color patterns again and again. There’s a reason for that.

That’s your personality shining through.

Trust your gut. Select a hardwood color choice that resonates with you.

That’s the color that’ll look good in your home. One you’ll love for many years to come.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
February 18, 2022

Laminate or Hardwood – Which Is Right For Your Remodel?

Thinking of remodeling your home? Want to upgrade your living space for better workability? For many, it starts with the question: Laminate or hardwood, which is better suited for my needs?

Selecting the right flooring material is one of the most important questions you’ll ask yourself in any remodeling project. Flooring sets the stage for your entire design. Get it wrong, and you’ll regret your decision for years to come.

A study by Houzz, an online redecorating resource, found that 75 percent of homeowners planning on remodeling listed flooring as one of the top projects they planned to take on.

Where should you begin?

Laminate or hardwood – an overview

When most homeowners start thinking of remodeling, their minds often turn to hardwood flooring. But in today’s world, even the concept of hardwood is blurring.

Many different flooring options are taking on the appearance of hardwood. You can install luxury vinyl tiles, or even porcelain tiles that take on the appearance of hardwood. Want the “real thing” with more flexibility? Laminate remains ever-popular.

For some, only “real” hardwood will do.

Solid hardwood flooring consists of solid hardwood from top to bottom. The boards average ¾ inch thick, with grooved edges that interlock for a smooth surface area. Most solid wood floors are blind-nailed into place. They can be installed prefinished – select your stain before you install – or site-finished, meaning the floorboards are sanded, stained, and sealed once they are laid into place.

Laminate is increasing in popularity.

Laminate flooring is manufactured with multiple layers for strength and durability. It starts with several layers of wood byproducts as a core. A printed design layer is placed on top to resemble wood and other materials. A protection layer finishes it off, offering scratch-resistance and durability to prevent it from common household mishaps. These boards often have click in place edges that allow them to snap together and hold in place. That means they’re easier to install than hardwood, no nailing or gluing required.

Which is right for you?

Laminate or hardwood – pros and cons

While both laminate and hardwood can give you a floor you’ll love for years to come, they each have distinct advantages and disadvantages when installed inside your home.

Appearance

It’s hard to deny that solid hardwood gives you a look that’s impossible to replicate. The strong lines, grains, and finishes create a rich quality that can give your home aesthetics and appeal. Style and color can be found to match anything you desire. From standard materials like oak to exotic choices like Brazilian cherry, you’ll have numerous options when designing your rooms.

Because laminate is created using life-like imagery, it can take on a wide variety of appearances you might not find in nature. Looking for something lighter or darker than you’ve seen in hardwood? You might find it with laminate. What people usually find with laminate is a more standard approach to patterns. If uniformity is important to you, you’ll find common threads throughout laminate materials. It lacks some of the originality you’ll discover when laying a floor made with natural hardwood.

Longevity

When maintained properly, hardwood floors can last for decades. Hardwood has the distinct ability to be able to be sanded down and refinished when the surface scratches, dents, or even stains. That makes it an investment that keeps on giving for many years to come. Keep in mind that hardwood is susceptible to warping and damage when it comes in contact with moisture. Hardwood isn’t a product that should be installed in places like bathrooms or basements. When moisture is ever-present, hardwood isn’t the best choice.

Many people think laminate can be a better choice where hardwood is questionable. That isn’t necessarily the case. Laminate takes on many of the same qualities as hardwood. The core is susceptible to damage in moist conditions. It has the added issue of having a top image surface instead of real hardwood, which means it can’t be sanded down and refinished. Laminate must be replaced if it’s damaged, warped, or scratched. But thanks to its cost, it makes a welcome addition to many homes who are looking for appearance in the short term.

Green, eco-friendly design

Want a green, eco-friendly material to improve sustainability inside your home? There are many ways to make solid hardwood more sustainable. Reclaimed hardwood is growing in popularity. This is repurposing existing wood previously used in building. Many forests are now sustainably resourced and farmed as a crop. That means for every tree that is harvested, new trees are planted and maintained. Just look for seals like Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to ensure your hardwood is sourced using sustainable guidelines.

Many assume laminate wins in the sustainability race because it isn’t sourced from forests. This isn’t necessarily the case. Laminate is created using composite processes of mixing wood products with resins and glues. This can increase VOCs and create off-gassing. This is where it pays to do your research. Ensure you select high quality manufacturers who develop products without questionable material. We can help you find the right product to suit your needs.

Installation

Installing hardwood isn’t a process that happens overnight. It’s also not a good choice for installers who wish to have a DIY project. Solid hardwood takes time to install. It must acclimate to your surroundings for a few days before it’s installed. Nailing or gluing means it takes experience to understand the process. If you don’t have expertise in finishing work, the surface area may not look like a quality finish. Prefinished planks aren’t as fussy as site finished, but it still takes expert guidance to lay each plank into place.

Laminate is very easy to install – it’s the perfect choice for a do-it-yourselfer. Laminate comes in click and lock technology, which means the surface area floats over the subfloor. It’s more forgiving if you make mistakes, and can even be taken up and reinstalled if you have a problem. That also means laminate can be used below-grade in basements if you don’t have a high moisture issue. If you want a floor installed quickly, laminate may be your choice.

Laminate or hardwood – what’s your choice?

There is never a right choice for every homeowner. It depends on your needs, your style, and what you’re looking for.

If you have questions about laminate, hardwood, or what’s the best choice to suit your needs, we can help you finalize your decision, and pick the perfect flooring for your home remodeling project.

Flooring
February 14, 2022

Whitewash Flooring – Choosing The Right Level of White

For some homeowners, white is the ultimate color in home decor. White cabinets. White walls. White furniture. White floor.

That’s just one of the reasons why whitewash flooring is growing in popularity.

According to Pantone, the leading authority on color, white is the expression of “quiet calm.:

“White is a symbol of calming influence in a frenetic society that is rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection.”

In our fast-paced, chaotic world, sometimes it’s nice to come home to peace and serenity. Loud colors can be too bright. Patterns can add more chaos to an already busy life. But white offers peace and tranquility, a place to sit back and relax.

No wonder whitewash flooring is making a comeback.

What is whitewashing?

Whitewashing has been around for a long time. Originally, whitewashing was a way to protect wood from moisture, mold, and mildew. Homeowners would whitewash the wood around the homestead to give it protection from the elements throughout the year.

It’s similar to painting wood. Instead of paint, whitewashing is a combination of lime and water. Lime is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and resists mold and mildew. Once mixed, it can be applied directly to wood, producing a chalky white liquid that smooths on.

You’re likely to see whitewash flooring in colonial homes, or homes on the seaboard. The whitewashed look is also a mainstay in Scandinavian design.

What makes whitewash so popular is the light, bright appearance it gives to any room. If you’re trying to open up space and make it appear larger than it actually is, whitewash is a great look.

Are whitewashed floors popular?

You may remember Tom Sawyer whitewashing the fence in the beloved book by the same name. Whitewashing was ever-present during that time period because of its protection to homestead design features. It preserved wood and made it last longer, giving homeowners freedom and flexibility to spend time on other things than floor maintenance.

But over time, we as a society began inventing new flooring materials, and implementing new processes that made flooring more durable and easier to maintain. Why add whitewashing to your to-do list when a floor could remain in good condition for years without the process?

But there’s still something about the whitewash look that brings back classic charm.

If you want a traditional design, whitewashing may be your best choice.
If you want light, minimalist looks, whitewashing may give you what you desire.
If you prefer shabby chic, whitewashing may enhance your design by incorporating your own personality into your home.

Luckily, whitewashing flooring of today isn’t anything like it was one hundred years ago. You can choose to paint your existing hardwood flooring to achieve the look. Or you can install whitewash prefinished flooring for a classic look without the fuss.

The problem with DIY whitewashing techniques

If you do a quick search online, you can find a wide variety of sites showing you ways to achieve a whitewashed look using do-it-yourself strategies. There are a variety of resources you can find that will show you ways to complete the look with a bit of elbow grease on a small budget.

The problem with a lot of these strategies is they don’t work, and they may cause permanent damage to your hardwood floors.

A lot of sites recommend painting your floors to achieve your desired results. In theory, it sounds like a good idea. How many home projects have you completed with a bucket of paint? But there are many reasons why this is a bad idea.

Paint covers up the wood, which separates the wood from the top coat you’ll ultimately apply. Whereas stain penetrates the wood, paint creates a protective covering. Without the proper sealants, it’ll be easy for your painted floors to chip and peel, meaning you’ll be repairing your flooring more frequently.

Paint also has the right consistency to run and move anywhere it can. Instead of sitting on the top surface, it’ll seep between the cracks and move to the sides and underneath the planks. When you decide to refinish your floors again in the future, you won’t be able to sand this trace paint away. You’ll be able to see the white paint no matter what you do. This means the only way you’ll ever eradicate it is to rip them out and install new hardwood flooring.

Best options for whitewashing floors

If you already have hardwood flooring in place, and are interested in achieving a whitewashed look, your best course of action is to select a white stain. You can also use a white tinted sealer, which gives you added protection for your floors.

If you’re looking at remodeling your home and want to install new whitewashed floors, there are a number of ways you can do this.

If traditional hardwood is a priority, work with your flooring consultant to purchase a light hardwood that will work well with a white stain. Keep in mind that different materials will provide different results. Do you prefer red tints or yellow? Are you looking for as light as possible, or do you want other tones shining through? White oak, pine, or elm all start with classic light hues that will only be further enhanced by a whitewashing look. But don’t discount darker materials – even walnut can lighten up dark undertones to provide a unique look.

Other flooring materials can also give you the classic whitewashed look.

Today’s luxury vinyl planks come in many different colors and hues. Plus they add durability and waterproof qualities that make it a perfect choice where traditional hardwood may be more problematic. Want it in your basement, bathrooms, or renovated home office? Luxury vinyl planks may be just what you’re looking for.

Laminate can also give you the appearance of hardwood with more durable qualities. Think of this as an easy way to get the look you love, while adding durability to your home design too.

Are you ready for whitewash floors?

Whitewash flooring may be the perfect addition to your home. Easy to achieve, easy to live with, easy to clean, you’re going to love the look.

Are whitewash floors the right choice for you?

Hardwood Flooring
February 10, 2022

5 Reasons Why Hardwood Flooring Is Perfect For The Kitchen

One of the most high-traffic areas in your home is the kitchen. That’s probably why you hear so many experts tell you hardwood flooring in the kitchen isn’t a good idea.

But is that true?

Think about all the action that happens in the kitchen. You cook. You bake. You eat. Food and liquid hit the floor on a regular basis.

At dinnertime, it’s one of the busiest, dirtiest places inside the house.

That’s why flooring choice is so important.

You want to couple durability with aesthetics, giving you a room you’ll love to spend time in, and one that functions well too.

Hardwood is one of the most popular flooring choices. According to a National Association of Realtors Remodeling Impact Report, 78 percent of consumers who installed wood flooring had a greater desire to be in their home. And as an investment, new wood flooring had 106 percent cost recovered when selling a home.

So why not the kitchen?

If you dig deep into what designers really think, you’ll quickly discover that hardwood in the kitchen isn’t as taboo as you might think. In fact, there are many benefits to using hardwood in the one spot your family spends countless hours in.

Create a uniform floorplan

A lot of homes across Colorado utilize an open concept floorplan, which has been popular for many years. Instead of closing off every room with a door, openings and entries allow you to flow naturally from room to room. Living rooms, dining space, kitchens – they all flow together to allow easy living. And as such, it only makes sense to install the same flooring throughout.

If using hardwood in other areas, only to transition to tile or vinyl in the kitchen has left you cold in the past, now is the time to rethink your flooring strategy. With the advancements made in hardwood flooring technology, there’s no reason to stop hardwood at the starting point of your kitchen. It disrupts the flow and creates a choppy design – that’s not the way to create appealing aesthetics throughout.

Hardwood is one of the most durable floors you can install

Why do so many people install hardwood flooring? Because it can last for decades if well cared for.

People are even seeking out reclaimed wood that was recovered from old barns and structures, refurbishing them and using them to add personality to their homes.

When you bring hardwood into your home, and use a protective seal to protect it, you’re giving your floors strength to withstand all your family can dish out.

In the kitchen, that can include dropped pans, leaky containers, and the occasional food spill that causes a sticky mess. Today’s sealers offer enough defense to make any cleanup easy, and prevent it from doing further damage.

Think hardwood can’t stand up to all your family can dish out? Check the warranties of many of today’s top lines. They offer years worth of protection. If they provide the warranty, isn’t that one more reason for you to consider hardwood in the kitchen?

It’s easy to clean

Kitchens get messy. There’s no avoiding it.

It isn’t a place to worry about every time you drop a spoon. Luckily, you don’t have to.

Today’s finishes and sealers protect against a variety of daily mishaps. With a damp cloth and quick action, you can prevent staining and damage just by wiping it up. That’s all it takes for daily maintenance.

You can vacuum the floor weekly to ensure all crumbs are picked up and pushed from the corners. If you prefer to mop, do so with it carefully wrung out – excessive moisture isn’t good for hardwood, especially if it’s allowed to sit.

And when the time is right, hardwood gives you another advantage – it can be refinished multiple times. A professional can come in and sand it down, fix any damage, and apply a new coat of stain and sealer. Then you’re ready to go once again, and can enjoy your hardwood flooring all over again. It’s the one floor that keeps on giving throughout the years.

It’s easy to install

Hardwood flooring has been used in homes all across the world for decades. That means installers have a lot of experience with installing hardwood, and understand how to blend it with other flooring materials inside your home. Whether you choose to match it up with hardwood already in place, or remove old flooring and start with a clean slate, a hardwood specialist will be able to create the look you’re striving for.

It’s environmentally friendly

Going green may be a buzzword in the home renovation business, but if you’re striving to make your home cleaner, more chemical-free, hardwood may be just the thing to install.

Natural versus human-made – the closer you can get to nature, the more assured you’ll be of the impact it has on your family. Pay attention to the entire life cycle; does the manufacturer use sustainable processes throughout? This included production, manufacturing, and what happens to materials at end of life.

Is hardwood flooring in the kitchen right for you?

We’ve had clients wait years to install hardwood throughout their living space out of fear of what would happen in the kitchen. They installed vinyl and hated it. They’ve laid tile into place only to turn around and tear it out. When they finally settled on hardwood, matching it to the floors in their living room, dining room, and family space, that’s when they felt their homes were complete.

If you’ve been stalling on adding new flooring to your home because you weren’t sure if hardwood was the right choice for your kitchen, put your doubts aside.

Hardwood is more than doable in any kitchen with today’s product lines. And you’ll love the results.

Isn’t that what home design should be?

The chance to let your personality shine, and create the look that’s perfect for your tastes.

Don’t be afraid of hardwood. It might just be the best material you’ve ever installed in your kitchen space.

Hardwood Flooring
February 7, 2022

Prefinished or Site Finished Hardwood – Choosing What’s Best For You

Are you ready to add new floors inside your home? Have you been dreaming of hardwood for years, and are finally ready to have them installed? Before you make your final selection, there’s another decision: Do you want prefinished or site finished hardwood flooring?

While it might seem better to select prefinished, picking out what you want inside the store, each choice has pros and cons. Before finalizing your decision, pay attention to the differences to discover what truly is the right choice to suit your needs.

What is prefinished hardwood flooring?

Prefinished hardwood flooring takes the “what you see is what you get” philosophy to flooring design. It allows you to shop manufacturers and supplies inside the store, knowing exactly what you’ll get once you bring it into your home.

When prefinished hardwood planks are created in manufacturing, they are cut to size, stained, and sealed with a polyurethane topcoat before being shipped to your local flooring dealer. The boards come fully intact with a highly durable and scratch-resistant coating.

Because this method is ever-popular, you’ll be able to find prefinished hardwood planks in many different materials, stains, finishes, and sizes, all ready for you to take home and start installing.

What is site finished hardwood flooring?

While site finished flooring may have been the norm years ago, it’s making a comeback among homeowners and designers. Site finished hardwood flooring is precisely what it sounds like – it installs hardwood on your floors before the finishing process, with staining and sealing performed after the planks are installed.

Installers will lay unfinished wood planks down first, sand the floor, and then apply stains and sealants to finish the flooring. While this is historically how hardwood has been laid into homes for generations, there are still benefits to doing so today.

The pros and cons of prefinished hardwood flooring

For some homeowners, only prefinished hardwood flooring will do. There are lots of benefits to selecting prefinished hardwood.

What you see is what you get – if you’re a visual person, selecting prefinished hardwood planks is the perfect choice to suit your needs. You can pick the material – oak, hickory, or maple – and select the stain – light, medium, dark. You don’t have to visualize it from a tiny square on a paint chart. Instead, you can get sample planks, bring them home, and live with them for a few days. See how the different styles feel with your surroundings, and choose the right look for your lifestyle.

Faster installation – Because the boards have already been stained and sealed, you won’t have to wait for the sanding, staining, and sealing process. Once the boards are laid into place, you’ll be able to move your furniture back in and get on with life.

Durable – prefinished hardwood has the advantage of being created in a plant, meaning they have perfect controls to ensure every hardwood plank is curated according to specific specifications. The top layers can have one of the most durable sealants applied – no worries about how fumes and chemicals will impact those around during the processing. They can also use UV lights for curing, making the topcoat one of the most durable on the marketplace.

More options – because prefinished hardwood is growing in popularity, you’ll have a wide array of colors, styles, and sizes to choose from.

Less customizable – while prefinished hardwood may give you an array of colors and styles to choose from, you’ll never be able to match what site finished offers. If you have a specific color in mind, finishing the flooring on-site allows the installer to mix and match products to achieve exactly the look you’re going for. No more choosing between a too light and too dark stain – you can mix it to your specifications.

More difficult to sand and refinish in the future – while prefinished makes your first install a snap, it can increase the difficulty for future refinishes. Hard coating installed in the factory can be more difficult for refinishing in the future. It can also be tougher to fix damage without ripping up the entire floor.

The pros and cons of site finished hardwood flooring

While prefinishing gives you a variety of options, site finished makes just about anything possible.

Customize to your heart’s content – if you’ve ever walked into a paint store and looked at your options, you know there are many different colors for you to choose from. Prefinished planks are created based on customer preferences. They select the colors and stains that people buy the most of. That can lead you to accepting something less than perfect. With site finished planks, any color goes. You can get richer, deeper color combinations. You can mix and match and come up with any style you choose.

Solid surface and no beveled edges – prefinished planks are designed for quick production and installation. They have beveled edges to make installation a snap. Not sure if you like the look? Then site finished will give you a smooth look. This means it can be sanded to a smooth surface with little or no separation between the planks. This also gives you better coverage, with stain and sealer spreading across the entire surface, meaning even the seams will have protection.

Refinishing is easier in the future – because stain and sealant are installed across your entire flooring, the smooth surface will make it easier to refinish down the road. Solid wood floors last for years. But knowing you can sand it down and start over whenever you choose to update your look makes it even more worth it today.

Timing – the biggest drawback to site finished hardwood flooring is its time for installation. Every piece of production is performed inside your home. Installing the planks, sanding it for uniformity, staining it your desired color, and adding sealant and topcoat for protection – it’s all performed on site. With curing and drying times, be prepared to wait between each step. This isn’t a process that can be rushed.

Which is the right choice to suit your needs?

Prefinished or site finished – what’s best for you? Luckily, both options are available to allow you to select what’s right for you.

Both can give you the floors of your dreams. It’s just a matter of which is better suited for your lifestyle.

How can we help you make the right choice for your home remodel?

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
February 3, 2022

Reclaimed Wood or Sustainable Wood – What’s The Difference?

Are you shopping for new flooring? Are you looking for green materials?

Are you confused by some of the terminologies in today’s flooring industry?

We get it. We see words like “reclaimed wood”, “sustainable wood”, even green flooring used in ways that leave us scratching our heads.

When what you want is flooring with a lower carbon footprint, materials that don’t harm the earth, and have it look great in your house too, what should you do?

Let’s look at the industry as a whole, and what these words mean and how they’re used in the marketplace today.

How sustainable flooring became a marketing trend

When homeowners first started installing flooring in their homes, they looked to natural materials to make their floors warmer, more comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing. Over time, manufacturers looked for ways to improve production, get flooring products faster into the marketplace, and materials that were easy to produce and use for consumption.

That pushed a variety of materials out there, not all of them healthy for the environment. Or for people.

As we recognized that, the concept of sustainable living grew.

Sustainable flooring is produced from sustainable materials. It also uses a sustainable life cycle. This includes harvesting, production, use, and disposal.

As awareness grew, various organizations stepped in to assure practices were truly sustainable and offered benefits to society as a whole.

The USGBC (US Green Building Council) was established to transform how buildings were designed, constructed, and operated. Their goal is to ensure buildings and communities use environmentally and socially responsible materials that improve the quality of life.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the rating system used by the USGBC during all levels of project production. It utilizes a variety of tools and point-based systems to help every team member throughout the life cycle make wise choices about the materials they use.

BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software measures the environmental performance of building products at all stages of life. It’s a way to help people select cost-effective, environmentally-friendly building products for a project.

The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sets standards for responsible forest management. This helps bring lumber to market now while preserving solid, healthy forests for a viable future.

Green Seal is a universal symbol of health and environmental leadership. It’s a way of recognizing those companies that use a safer, more sustainable way of delivering products and services to the market.

These are just a few of the many organizations that are doing their part to ensure a healthier world. Pay attention to where your flooring material comes from to learn more about the best practices used by individual manufacturers.

What is sustainable wood?

When you’re looking for hardwood flooring, sustainable means wood that comes from sustainable management practices.

It starts with forest management. Is the wood harvested in a healthy way to ensure the forest has sustainability for generations to come? That’s where markings from organizations like the FSC can help you recognize the ethical behavior of a particular manufacturer. Going with a reputable source will ensure the company sticks within certain guidelines. In the online world, trusting a “generic” source for cost only could get you less-than-stellar results with questionable business practices.

VOC (volatile organic compounds) are emitted as gasses from certain solids or liquids. They include a variety of chemicals, some of which can be harmful to human health. When flooring materials such as wood are created in unethical manners, they often use the cheapest materials and production processes to get the product to market. This means those harmful chemicals can live in your flooring, releasing gasses inside your home. By paying attention to the manufacturer and what organizations they belong to, you can reduce the potential harmful production methods a company uses to create a product or material.

How is sustainable wood different from reclaimed wood?

Reclaimed wood is also sometimes referred to as antique wood. It’s a high-quality wood taken from a variety of resources, ready to be reused. The wood is usually taken from existing structures that are in the process of being demolished or removed. Instead of being disposed of in landfills, the wood is upcycled and reused to create new building materials.

Because the original resource is important, you should also pay attention to where the reclaimed wood comes from. FSC has guidelines on reclaimed wood use too. Reclaimed wood can come from a variety of resources, but many come from old buildings that are beyond repair, primarily barn and rural structures before the 1930s.

Hardwood, in general, can last for decades. Even when not properly cared for, as is the case in old abandoned structures, it still has a sound design that, with a bit of care, can bring it back to life.

Reclaimed wood will almost always have an old, rustic look to it. Because it uses wood taken from places with older production processes, you’ll see different characteristics in the wood supply. That can be a welcome addition to many building projects, both commercial and residential.

Reclaimed wood is sustainable. But sustainable will not always be reclaimed.

What’s right for you – sustainable or reclaimed wood?

You’ll find sustainable wood choices in a variety of flooring options. Thanks to technology, many are easy to work with, easy to install, and make great additions to any building project you may be working on. They provide a smaller carbon footprint than other resources, meaning you’ll know you’re getting a product that can help you achieve whatever goals you’re looking for.

Reclaimed wood has many of the same benefits as sustainable wood. Since the wood is taken from older projects, you can also get character and personality you might not find in other building products. It can truly create a visually appealing look and feel to wherever you install it.

No matter what material you choose – sustainable wood or reclaimed wood – be sure you trust the resource where you buy it. That way, you’re ensured to get a high-quality product that will work well in your space for years to come.

Hardwood Flooring
January 28, 2022

I Like Bleached Hardwood – Is It The Right Choice For Flooring?

We like to keep our finger on the pulse of the flooring industry, and we can’t help but notice that bleached hardwood is trending.

But what is it exactly?

When people express interest in bleached hardwood floors, what they really are looking for is hardwood void of color. They want a white, natural look without the dark colors or stains.

Is bleached hardwood flooring for you? Let’s dig a little deeper into this trend.

Bleached, whitewashed, and natural – what’s the difference?

When homeowners visit our retail location, they will describe this look in several ways. However, it’s a good idea to understand the different nuances of lighter wood floors to ensure you get what you’re looking for.

Bleached hardwood completely takes out the color. This will bring the hardwood down to a white color, and strip away the browns. It’s best performed with an already light wood, such as white oak floorboards. If you use it on stronger, more prominent patterned wood such as exotics, it can cause discoloration, which may not produce the look you’re trying to achieve.

Whitewash is created by using a white wood stain. Whitewash or white stain will seep into the wood and change its appearance. White stain will lighten the hardwood, but won’t hide color from hardwood such as red oak or exotics. You may still have brown color tints shining through.

Natural hardwood brings out the beauty of whatever hardwood flooring planks you’re installing. You apply a clear sealer and several coats of natural polyurethane to bring out the natural beauty in the quality of the wood.

Do-it-yourself bleaching

Do a quick search online, and you’ll find many sites that instruct you through the process of bleaching out your flooring. Take note: this is more difficult than it seems. And it can damage the hardwood.

Bleach has become a staple in cleaning. But when used to strip down to the surface of hardwood planks, it can do more than clean the surface area.

Chlorine bleach destroys lignin. This is the part of the wood structure that hardens and strengthens the cell walls. It’s what gives hardwood its integrity.

If you use too much bleach and it seeps into the wood, it destroys the integrity of the hardwood plank, making it resistant to whatever you put on the surface area.

Even with bleached flooring, you still need surface coats to protect it from day-to-day living. And without having a bondable surface, you’ll never be able to use it as flooring.

How do you achieve a bleached hardwood flooring look?

The simplest and most effective way to create a bleached hardwood floor is to buy prefinished hardwood already bleached to the color you prefer.

Prefinished is as the name implies – it’s prefinished and ready to install. When you select a prefinished hardwood plank, you can settle on the exact color you’re looking for. Keep in mind that with most prefinished hardwood planks, they’ve achieved the look through whitewashing or color enhancement. But what you see is what you get – and it can allow you to select exactly what you want for your home.

Prefinished is produced and sealed, topped with a polyurethane coat before it’s boxed up and delivered to your home. That means it’s one of the strongest hardwoods you’ll be able to install for your flooring. Plus, if you order an extra box, it’s easy to replace damaged planks if the situation arises. You won’t have to try and achieve the same look with a bottle of bleach and a scrub brush. You’ll have the planks ready for replacement.

What about site bleaching?

For many homeowners, they prefer hardwood to be sealed and finished after installation. This ensures sealant gets between the floorboards, and creates a more water-resistant topcoat that protects against daily living. If that’s the case, site bleaching will be done after your hardwood is installed. This process is best left to the professionals to ensure you achieve great results.

Professionals can perform several different processes to achieve the results you’re looking for. Lime washing can give the appearance of a seaside beach house. Ammonia bleach removes the stains and dyes but will not alter the original hardwood color. It brings out the natural beauty of the wood.

What’s the right choice for you? It depends on what look you’re trying to achieve. Create a pinboard of ideas and options to see what truly motivates you in your final design.

Once your bleached hardwood floors are in place

Integrity is everything. No matter which method you choose for getting the right color hardwood for your home, maintaining the proper finish is what gives you longevity over time.

Hardwood can be one of the most durable flooring choices you’ll install inside your home. But quality matters.

First, ensure you select hardwood that stands the test of time. By choosing a high-grade hardwood, you’ll have the ability to refinish the surface area multiple times, changing the look based on your current desires.

Pay attention to Janka ratings. What matters most to hardwood is the hardness of the species itself. No matter what manufacturing process is used, if you don’t start with quality wood species, you’ll never end up with a durable hardwood plank.

Janka ratings run from zero to around 4,000 pounds. Balsa wood is extremely lightweight, and is often used for crafts. Moving to the other end would be Brazilian walnut, which is often used in decks and furniture. Once crafted, it can take a high degree of wear and tear before it starts to show its mark.

A good ranking often falls in the middle. A popular choice is oak – both the red and white varieties do well under normal living conditions. With a specific species in mind, selecting the one that will perform best for your desired effects will create a flooring choice you’re happy to live with for years.

Once you’ve achieved the color you desire, sealing and protecting it will create a surface area that works best for your lifestyle. This will protect it from stains, spills, and accidents that are a part of daily living.

Are you ready for a change? Are you remodeling your home, with new flooring at the top of your list?

Bleached hardwood flooring may be the perfect choice to set the backdrop for your new furnishings.

What questions can we answer about bleached flooring?

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