Ben Larrabee, Author at PRO! Flooring

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
July 24, 2020

Can You Mix Different Hardwood Flooring In Your Home?

When you think of your perfect “forever” home, what does it look like?

Most of us have at least a few ideas of things it would include.

A gourmet kitchen? Yep.

A master suite to make celebrities jealous? You bet.

But when you really sit down and start envisioning every single space, it’s equally important to start with the floors. What do you see on the floor space?

Here in Colorado, a lot of homeowners see hardwood flooring throughout. And we get it – hardwood is beautiful. But do you want hardwood in every room, on every floor?

What if you already have your “forever” home and hardwood is only in a few rooms?

What if you want something different in certain rooms? You “see” your office space different from the bedrooms.

What if you’re trying to match hardwood already in your kitchen, and it’s impossible to find?

Now what?

Can you mix different hardwood flooring and still have a house that looks its best?

The short answer is: Yes! Here’s how.

Divide your house up by rooms

Houses are rarely designed as one large open space. Instead, they are created with individual rooms assigned to separate tasks. Yes, you might love open concept living. Your kitchen, dining, and living space may all flow together. But they still provide separate duties, and function differently throughout the day.

Maybe your kitchen has large south facing windows. Maybe the family room receives streams of sunshine all day long, while the dining space is a little darker, almost cave-like.

Creating flow by using the same hardwood can work. Or you can change things up and choose wood grains according to your room location and size. Large rooms, or rooms with lots of natural light, do well with darker flooring. If you choose something like mahogany or Brazilian walnut, it can provide a contemporary, sophisticated feel.

Smaller rooms – think a mud room or a tiny interior bathroom – those may feel cavernous if you stick with a dark theme. A lighter wood automatically makes it feel larger, brighter. For smaller rooms, woods like white oak, ash, or maple may be the perfect way to lighten things up.

Doorways are the automatic divider when using different woods. Yet be careful how you transition from a hallway to a bedroom, for example. If you run planks parallel to the room’s length, it will give the appearance of being narrower. Changing grain and direction help with the transition. Run the wood in different direction to create visual appeal. It can also create a more dramatic size difference as you move from space to space.

Natural dividers – create each room separately

If you choose to use different wood throughout your home, the natural dividing line is to separate out individual rooms. It’s the easiest way to do it. You can use doorways to separate using wooden borders or even T-moldings to cross over the thresholds. Or spice things up and incorporate tile into place – something that complements your decor and adds to the aesthetics.

The good thing about the times we live in is it’s easier than ever to get ideas. Head to Google or Pinterest and type in “wood transitions.” You’ll find a wealth of ideas at your fingertips. And if you use Pinterest, you can even Pin some of your favorites. That’s a great way to bring your “dream list” into our location and show us your ideas. That gives us a way to understand your desires, and show you great ways to make your dreams come true.

Of course, not all homes have natural dividers between rooms. What if you want to divide out open spaces? Highlight specific areas by using borders. We’ve seen this done in lots of creative ways. Use contrasting wood to section off different spaces. Why not highlight an eating space by defining it with your flooring?

You can even use wood to create dramatic entrances. How about using parquet in the front entryway, before meeting with the rest of the flooring installed throughout the first floor? Complementing colors and shades are key.

Contrasting or matching – which is easier?

Homeowners often come into our showroom hoping to install a matching hardwood floor to something already existing inside their homes. That is very difficult at best because no matter how close you get, the two woods are cut from different materials, were laid at different times, and ultimately take on a different color. No matter how slight it looks when you lay a plank or two together and attempt to match, once it’s in place in your home, the difference becomes even more apparent.

The grain may be off. The color hue simply won’t match.

If it’s important to you to get the same look throughout your home, consider sanding down your existing hardwood, and refinishing it all together to make it the same. That means you can install unfinished hardwood planks in the rooms currently without, and stain them as one entire unit once it’s installed.

Contrasting becomes easier when you think of distinct zones throughout your home. Don’t focus on the look of your flooring from room to room, look up and use other features too.

For example, how about the cabinetry in your kitchen? Homes today often have two-toned wood based on upper and lower cabinets. Maybe you’ve used darker wood floors to set off lighter cabinets. How about playing off the lighter color as you move throughout the rest of your home?

Is your trim boards whitewashed, light, and airy? Mixing it up can give you a new backdrop to play with. Sometimes incorporating new colors into your decor can give you a fresh new outlook.

What does your dream home look like?

Everyone’s dream home looks a little bit different. The best place to start is by envisioning your dream home a little bit deeper.

Think beyond the “gourmet kitchen” and “master bath spa” that can make a celebrity jealous.

Instead, focus in on the things that matter most. The things that make you happy when you walk in from a long day at work. Or when you have guests over for a party.

What impression do you want them to take away? How do you want your home to look and feel?

And if that includes playing with different colors and hues, mixing different hardwood flooring throughout your home, then by all means do it.

You’re going to love the look.

Hardwood Flooring
July 21, 2020

Selecting The Right Hardwood Floor For Your Basement

Choosing flooring can be a difficult task. All you have to do is enter a flooring showroom floor and feel the anxiety kick in.

Where do you start?
How do you know which is the best flooring to choose?
Will you like it six months from now?
Will it wear well over the next decade?

Of course, you may already have specific ideas in mind. If you’re choosing flooring for your basement, and you know hardwood is the right choice for you, it might seem simple. But once you start looking around, you’ll discover it’s anything but.

Basements are problematic. For most of us across Colorado, we can’t imagine having a home without a basement. It adds valuable space.

It’s the perfect place to add more family living, a game room, an extra bedroom, or maybe a media center.

But being below ground gives special challenges. It’s cooler down there. Moisture can be a problem. And because your basement probably sits on a concrete slab, that adds to the potential for damage down the road.

Yet you want hardwood. You love your hardwood flooring through your home, and you want to continue it down into your basement. Is it possible?

The good news is – YES – you can add hardwood floors to your basement. But you have to find the right hardwood flooring to suit your needs.

It’s a basement … it’s going to be damp

Why are basements so problematic?

Cool, moist air is denser than warm. That’s why it tends to sink to the basement where it sits. It condenses as it comes into contact with colder surfaces, such as the concrete used to build the foundation of your home.

Because they sit below ground, basements are also prone to water seeping in from the outside. They can enter through the concrete walls, seep in through cracks in the window casements, all of which impact the functionality of your basement. You have to consider this before you install any flooring.

If you want hardwood floors in the basement … try engineered wood

Here at Pro-Flooring, we recommend engineered flooring as one of the best choices for basements. Why? Because it looks great and does well in cool, moist situations.

Engineered flooring looks like hardwood, but it’s actually made up of multiple layers that give it more strength than traditional hardwood. Engineered floor is constructed using an inner core of anywhere from three to twelve cross layers of plywood, which is what gives it it’s added strength. These layers can be made from various hardwoods, birch, or pine. They are glued and pressed together under strength to give it it’s tight core.

An additional layer is then fused to the top. This top layer is what you’ll see once the flooring is fully installed. This is what gives it its beauty and good looks. It’s commonly referred to the wear layer, and this is where you should concentrate as you make your final decision. Different manufacturers create this product in different ways. It’s the wear layer that will determine how well it stands up over time.

You’ll usually find engineered wood floors are sold based on measurements of the wear layer. The wear layer varies from product to product. You’ll find thicknesses range from a paper thin .6mm to a thicker 4mm wear layer.

Wear layer thickness is important because it dictates how often you can sand and refinish the wear layer. This isn’t something most homeowners often do. But if you have a thicker layer from the beginning, it’s nice to know that you have the option of sanding it down and refinishing it to go with your new decor. When you’re ready to give your engineered hardwood a facelift, all you have to do is sand it and pick a new finish color. This is especially important in a busy household where you have kids and pets, and the wear layer has a variety of scratches and dents.

Engineered flooring can be glued directly to the subfloor, or nailed or glued to a plywood subfloor if you prefer. Because of their construction, they are also one of the perfect flooring choices to be installed over radiant heating.

Does engineered hardwood look like traditional hardwood? There are still a lot of myths and misconceptions over how this product handles in your home. If you haven’t looked at engineered flooring lately, you haven’t seen the possibilities. Stop by today – you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

There is another option … try luxury vinyl tile

Still, we know that not everyone is sold on engineered hardwood. And that’s okay. There’s another great choice for you. It’s called luxury vinyl tile, also known as luxury vinyl plank, or LVT.

If you love the look of wood plank floors, but want a waterproof option, look no further than LVT. Luxury vinyl planks may be one of the best basement flooring options on the market today.

They give the appearance of plank wood floors, but are made with vinyl construction that provides a waterproof, soft, cushiony, quiet, and easy to maintain floor.

Luxury vinyl planks are created by combining four main layers.

A wear layer – this is a transparent topcoat that helps the surface from staining, scratching, or fading.
An image layer – this is what gives your flooring it’s good looks. A realistic image is adhered to the vinyl core.
A vinyl core – the vinyl PVC material is what gives LVT flexibility and makes it 100 percent waterproof.
A backing layer – this vinyl backing later further enhances its ability to be waterproof, and prevents mold and mildew.

What makes luxury vinyl plank construction growing in popularity is its DIY flexibility. You’ll find LVT in both glue down and click in place technology. It’s one of the easiest options to use as a basement floor. It doesn’t require many tools or skills, and you can easily have it in place in a weekend.

You’ll love the looks and affordability. And if something does happen to a plank or section of your flooring, be sure to keep a few extras on hand. You can simply click and replace it, and continue loving your floors for years to come.

What’s the right hardwood for your basement?

With both of these options – engineered and luxury vinyl planks – you’re sure to find the perfect product for your home. Just stop by and take a look.

Either product makes a perfect flooring in a part of your home that might just need a little extra TLC to keep it looking its best year round. No matter which you choose, you’re going to love the look.

Tile Floors
July 18, 2020

Choosing A Tile For Outdoor Living You’ll Love Summer and Winter

One of the great reasons to live in Colorado is to enjoy indoor/outdoor living twelve months of the year.

The summers are gorgeous. Why not get the gang together for a barbeque?

The winters are spectacular. Why not gather around the fire pit and enjoy a few rounds of smores and hot chocolate?

That’s why more homeowners are choosing to remodel and expand their living spaces beyond the boundaries of the walls. Instead of pushing out the kitchen, or adding an extra internal room, why not create outdoor living space that’s functional year-round instead?

We’re not talking your parent’s patios here. This is way beyond a slab of cement with a charcoal grill. Instead, this is about creating truly functional space you can use no matter what the weather is like outside. And here in Colorado, that means a wide fluctuation in temperatures, as well as dealing with everything from harsh sunlight to several feet of snow.

How can you do all of that easily?

It starts with your floor. Choose a tile that works well inside and out, and will carry functionality and durability throughout, blurring the space to add continuity and style.

Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Bringing the outside in

One of the best ways to bring two spaces together is by using the same tile in both locations. This isn’t time to fall in love with indoor tile and try and make it work outdoors. Instead, pay attention to what works well outdoors, and bring it in.

Choose a tile that works well no matter what the weather is like outside. Flagstone works well. Flagstone is porous, so you will have to seal it from time to time. Just make sure you choose one based on functionality, and one that will dow well in all kinds of elements. It should hold up well to stains and other damage it might receive from being outdoors.

Mixing and matching

Just because you want to bring your indoor living outside, doesn’t mean you have to use the same flooring materials throughout. Be selective. Just make sure they blend well together.

If you’re using fold-up glass doors, the lines will already be blurred between indoor and outdoor living. Select tile that works well outside, and bring it in several feet to merge with your interior space. Then use a material you enjoy on the inside – like the hardwood you’ve always dreamed about. Transitions are everything. And that’s something we’re experts in – just ask.

Matching grains

Here in Colorado, people love their hardwood. If you’ve had hardwood in your kitchen for years, you might not want to change it. You can’t imagine anything but hardwood. But carrying the look outside isn’t possible. Wood products you use inside – oak, pine, or ash – are simply too soft to use on the outside.

That doesn’t mean you can’t use the same concepts in both locations. Change up the color. Use decking material outside, and mimic the size and plank orientation, so it flows directly into your indoor living space. You might even be able to invest in tile planks, which often do a very good job of mimicking hardwood. You can use it to transition from one location to another. Or use it to blend the looks into something you truly desire.

Stay simple

In many cases, the reason you elect to build glass walls that can open up to the outside is to take in a breathtaking view. Focus on the view by staying simple with your choice of flooring material. As you’re choosing a tile, go with neutral colors that blend rather than stand out. It’s a perfect way to allow the natural beauty of the surrounding area to create just the ambiance you’re looking for.

We love staying light when we go neutral. Choose a soft sand, beige, or tan color. This allows you to mix and match color choices as you desire. Of course, this is also where your own design options can come into play.

How about a darker color – a dark gray that is less likely to show muddy footprints from your four legged friends? Travertine and slate are always great options, both inside and out. Their durability makes them high in demand. Just be conscious of manufacturers’ guidelines. Some require sealants to ensure they are well protected from stains and damage.

Mixing materials

What makes some living spaces so special is their uniqueness. They don’t stay within the mold, they destroy it. And that’s the beauty of redoing your living space today … anything is possible.

What we often recommend to our customers is to dream a bit before they start their design work. It may sound silly – after all, dreaming is what made you want to remodel in the first place. But sometimes people don’t dream big enough before they start shopping. What we’re talking about here is developing a pinboard on Pinterest, or even a vision board where you cut out pictures from magazines and attach them to a posterboard where you can see your ideas on display.

Use these concepts to really see what your design style is like. You’ll start to see trends. You’ll discover what features really excite you, and scream “install me” every time you look at them.

Don’t listen to proper design etiquette. Some of the most unique designs in the world incorporate different materials together. Concrete, wood, steel, tile, glass – it can all add character to your overall design. Choose what suits you best, and rely on a designer to make suggestions to make it work.

Choosing a tile – we’re here to help

What’s your preference? What kind of space are you creating for your indoor/outdoor living? No matter if the temperatures hit record highs or extreme lows, whether it’s the heart of the summer, or the darkest of winters, isn’t it nice to know you have the perfect spot for your family gatherings?

Choosing a tile doesn’t have to be difficult. You just have to rely on someone who can help you make the right choice. We’re here to help.

Hardwood Flooring
July 14, 2020

Navigating The Purchase Of New Hardwood Floors

With so many options for flooring today, it’s no surprise that settling in on one choice can be difficult at best. Maybe you’ve already decided to purchase new hardwood floors. Maybe you have your dream flooring in mind.

But all that can be thrown out the window when you walk into our showroom and see all of your options. Even if you have a style or pattern in mind, just seeing the many different options can leave your head spinning. Why is this such a difficult decision?

It is until you remember one thing: walking across a great hardwood floor will give you pleasure for years to come.

And really, that’s all there is to it.

Don’t be wow’d by the options. There are dozens – hundreds of options because every homeowner is a bit different. But it’s fairly easy to settle in on your choices when you keep a few things in mind.

Let’s start with the hardwood – what does that mean?

If you’ve looked at flooring at all, you know there are a lot of different products available.

If you’re sold on hardwood, your first choice is between solid hardwood and engineered wood flooring.

Solid wood is as the name implies. It’s created from one solid piece of hardwood. Because of this, it pays to know the manufacturer you’re trusting when you purchase. Some companies pay attention to the overall structure of the timber, while others attempt to use every piece of wood that comes through their manufacturing plant. If you have envisioned keeping your flooring for decades, this can be a major factor in how well it holds up over time.

Engineered wood is created from multiple component layers, giving you an exact thickness and wear level. Engineered wood is often perceived as more stable, because every single layer is created based on manufacturers guidelines. Every piece is created equally to ensure stability of construction. Yet what is stable in one environment might not work well in others. Because it isn’t solid, it can also run the risk of wearing faster than a high quality solid hardwood plank.

When it comes to deciding the right flooring for your unique situation, lay all the facts on the line. One of our consultants would be happy to help you determine the right choice for your needs.

What do you want your flooring to look like?

For some homeowners, they see a solid surface area where the wood blends harmoniously together. For others, they see their flooring as a work of art; they’re looking for ways to stand out from the norm.

https://pro-flooring.com/why-are-hardwood-floors-always-popular/

That’s what we love to share with people who come in ready to purchase new hardwood floors.

In today’s world, you don’t have to settle for a neutral color with single planks all running in a row. Instead, the sky is the limit on potential.

Why not go with an exotic wood? You can create a color palette anywhere from the lightest to darkest woods.

Or how about changing it up with a larger plank size? Two to three inch oak boards might have been the norm once upon a time, but no more. Instead, you’ll find six, eight, even ten inch width planks or wider. That can really make your great room pop, or your bedroom to be just a little bit more luxurious. All because you changed it up a bit and made it unique to you. Those boards create drama in all the right ways.

Light or dark, it’s up to you

Light or dark wood? It seems like an easy enough choice. After all, you probably have your preferences on the tip of your tongue.

We’ve all walked into a kitchen before and felt the “love it or hate it” from the moment we walk in. Do you like light, white, and airy? Or do you prefer the drama of dark wood and sophisticated lines?

The same thought process goes into selecting the right hardwood floors.

Often, you can just see yourself living with one or the other. Your ideal picture clearly comes with light or dark wood.

Dark wood floors have been popular for some time now. You can select many different shades of dark, or with unfinished hardwood installation, custom stain it as dark as you wish.

Dark wood works great with modern furniture and lots of color. It makes the color pop.

Dark wood also is a great choice if you desire to move towards a more rustic and casual feel. In some cases, you can find dark wood floors that bring out an aged look. That can blend in quite nicely with your farmhouse, country charm look.

Dark brings out the coziness wherever it’s laid into place. Picture a dramatic ski lodge in the heart of winter. Don’t you just want to light a fire and snuggle down for the evening?

Of course, dark wood does have a few drawbacks. You’ll see everything on the floor much easier with the darkness as a backdrop. And dark wood floors are more sensitive to the appearance of wear. While that can be perfect if you’re going for an aged look, it might not work so well with clean, modern lines. That’s where it pays to take your family and your lifestyle into consideration before making a selection.

Light wood, on the other hand, creates a light palette you can build from to show off a variety of looks. It makes the space look larger, brighter.

What we love about light wood is it goes with almost any decor. If you go with the more traditional oak or maple, it blends in well with whatever designs you create. Or you can go as light as possible – how about ash – and make your light hardwood center stage.

Just remember lighter hardwood often requires a little more maintenance, including the right sealer to prevent spills from turning into stains. And because light wood hides dirt a bit easier, that can work to your disadvantage if you really need a clean location.

What’s the best hardwood floor?

With dozens of choices, the purchase of new hardwood floors can seem intimidating at first, until you realize that deep inside you already know what you want.

Trust your instinct. Whether you want light or dark, wide planks or more traditional, there’s a right hardwood flooring waiting for you.

Flooring
July 10, 2020

What’s The Best Flooring For Stairs?

When you bought your home, curb appeal set the stage. As you drove up, you assessed the looks in a matter of seconds.

But once you said “yes” to curb appeal, your next opinion was formed based on opening the front door. Was it closed in? Did it set a dramatic stage? Was it dark and ugly? Was it wide open and inviting?

A lot of that was formed on the staircase. And while most people never list the staircase as their number one remodeling project, with just a little creativity, it can change the entire layout of your home.

The architectural details may give you your floor plan for decorating, it’s the flooring itself that transforms the room. Your choice can also make it easier or more difficult for individual family members to move about. Have small children? Pets? Elderly family members? Your final choice for your stair flooring matters.

Like every room in your home, what you install on your stairs is a personal choice. But we do have recommendations for the best flooring for stairs, depending on your needs and desires.

How to choose the best flooring for stairs

If you have a staircase in your home, it connects the different rooms together. To move from living space to bedrooms, you take the stairs. As you do laundry and clean up messes, you use the stairs. If you counted it up, your family might use them dozens of times each day.

Stair use isn’t the same as how flooring is used in a family room or bedroom. It takes more wear and tear. It’s on display more than other rooms. It also has a safety factor. That makes finding the right flooring more important than ever.

Consider maintenance

Like other rooms, you’ll have to maintain the flooring on the stairs frequently. A stain resistant carpet will ensure you don’t track things as you move from one level to another. Hardwood floors will be prone to scratching if you don’t clean up dust and debris frequently, or install a runner to help reduce it from accumulating. Laminate is often a good choice because it stands up to scratches, stains, wear, and fade-resistance better than other types of flooring.

Safety

In many cases, you’ll move up and down the stairs quickly. And with your hands full, it’s also one of the most potentially dangerous places in your home for accidents. Think about slipping as you make your final choice. Hardwood and socks can be a dangerous combination.

Noise reduction

Have you ever been in a place where it echoes as you walk across the floor? That’s the last thing you want in your home, especially if you’re trying to keep small children asleep, or you work from home. The flooring you choose can aid in how much you hear each step your family makes. Carpet is one of the first choices in flooring for noise absorption, the padding will take in the sound and muffle it well. Laminate alone can create a noisy environment. However, you can install underlayments that will help hide sound reasonably well. That often is why homeowners select laminate and match it up with their hardwood located on the first and second floors. However, if you want to keep your hardwood in place, adding a runner may be the perfect choice for your needs.

Aesthetics

No matter what vision you hold for the stairs in your home, aesthetics is always important. Transition between the different levels should be smooth no matter what flooring choice you decide on. If you’re a wood person and you’re concerned about looks if you don’t carry it throughout your home, stop worrying. There are many ways to create a continuous look while increasing safety and comfort at the same time. Just ask – we’re here to help.

Looking at the best flooring options for your stairs

Now that you have a better understanding of what’s required to care for your stairs and keep your family safe as they move up and down, let’s look at the pros and cons of the different flooring choices.

Hardwood

There’s no denying that hardwood on stairs creates a timeless beauty. If you’re a fan of hardwood and have used it throughout your home, chances are you’ll want hardwood flooring on your stairs as well. Hardwood is easy to care for, easy to clean. Adding hardwood to your stairs can give you beauty as well as ease of use for years to come.

Just keep in mind that hardwood can also be dangerous with non-slip treads. If your family is most often found running around in socks, it could be a potential hazard, especially for kids and elderly. You’ll have to use runners to add more traction, or change your family’s habits and convince them to wear slippers with traction or hard-soled bottoms.

You should also keep in mind that hardwood stairs will be noisier than other options. You’ll hear every footfall, especially as you pound up and down the staircase in a hurry. You’ll also notice every creak as they appear.

Runners

For many homeowners that desire hardwood, the easiest way to reduce the downfalls is to install a runner down the middle. There are many beautiful, low cost options to adding a soft surface that will make them safer as well as cut down on the noise. What’s better, runners are easy to change out as you upgrade your decor.

Laminate

If you’re stuck on the idea of hardwood to match the aesthetics of your home, but want something a little easier to care for, the solution may be to install laminate on the stairs. It’s not as long-lasting as hardwood, but it’s less expensive, which means it’s easier to replace and still stick to a budget.

Carpet

There are a lot of reasons why carpet is a great choice to add to your stairs.

It’s budget friendly
It’s soft underfoot
It reduces the noise throughout your home
It’s safer, reducing slippage and the potential of falling

When you add carpet to your stairs, be sure you keep a good handheld vacuum nearby to help clean up the dust and dirt that will fall into the nooks and cracks as you go about your busy days. You should also be prepared to replace your carpet frequently to keep it looking good, especially if it’s creating a grand entrance from the moment you walk in. Be sure to discuss this with one of our associates, and we can show you the most durable materials for stair use.

Create a stunning look by selecting the right flooring for your stairs

Your stairs are one of the most important, high traffic surfaces in your home.

If you want good looks as well as high functioning materials, stop by today and let us help you create your desired look. We have the perfect solutions for your staircases just waiting for you.

Create the look you’ll love for years to come today.

Carpet, Flooring
July 7, 2020

Sustainable Carpet LEEDs To a Better Future

If you do a search online to help find the best flooring for your needs, carpet may come up as a flooring choice to avoid. Dirt can bury deep into the fibers. It can show stains quickly if not well cared for. And what about indoor air quality?

Is carpet really that bad?

Despite the negative press, carpet is here to stay for a variety of reasons:

It’s affordable
It’s soft to the touch
It’s warmer than other flooring choices
It reduces noise
It’s beautiful and adds to any decor

Luckily, the carpet industry is working on sustainability too.

Today, indoor air quality matters. It’s increasingly becoming more important, especially as people find out about harmful materials and what it can do to the air supply.

In 1992, the Carpet and Rug Institute launched a Green Label program to test and determine levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in different products. The Green Label program raises the bar on what manufacturers produce, and lets you know as a consumer where a product falls. In this case, it helps you find carpet with the lowest emitting VOCs on all levels, including carpet, adhesive, and cushion products.

This is important, no matter where you’re installing carpet. It’s even more important if you are trying to become LEED certified.

What is LEED?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It provides a framework for creating a healthy, highly efficient, and cost effective design. It’s also a globally recognized symbol of sustainability, one that can be used for all building types and building phases. For many commercial properties being built today, it’s not just a wish, it’s a requirement.

What does sustainable mean in the carpet industry?

To create a truly sustainable carpet, it moves beyond the actual product and goes into the entire production and manufacturing process. This means it’s important to look beyond the carpet, and consider the company and supplier as well.

It means focusing on how well the company does with environmental issues. Do they use environmental policies and practices at every level of the manufacturing process?

Sustainable development means a company pays attention to the people at all levels of the process – from employees creating the product to consumers who install and live with it for years to come.

It also means environmental protection. It ensures materials are sustainably sourced, and that every part of the process is performed while caring for the environment.

At the end of the day, the economic portion is only as important as ensuring the product is created for the right reasons. Yes, a company has to make a profit to stay in business. But a sustainable company will ensure it does so for the right reasons, ensuring profit is secondary to all other considerations.

You’ll find sustainable carpet is made from sustainable or recycled raw materials. The company will source energy from sustainable technology such as wind or solar power. They will consider all aspects of the process, from production to what happens to excess waste, including how the product will be disposed of years from now.

Look for certification

Because sustainability and green living are growing in the consumer market, you can find a lot of industry buzzwords that may throw you off track. Sure, a company may list a product as “natural”, but what does that truly mean?

Instead of focusing on buzzwords, pay attention to certifications instead.

We mentioned the Green Label program above, and that’s a good place to start. But it isn’t the only sustainable carpet certification program out there. Others include:

Cradle to Cradle – products are assessed for environmental and social performance across five sustainability categories, including material health, material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.

NSF/ANSI 140 Sustainable Carpet Assessment – it’s built on life cycle assessment principles covering five different categories including public health and environment, energy and energy efficiency, bio-based content, manufacturing, and end of life management.

BRE Environmental Assessment – is a third party certification program that looks at an asset’s environmental, social, and economic sustainability performance.

Finding sustainable carpet options

Are you sold on installing sustainable carpet? Are you ready to find the perfect eco-friendly carpet for your next project?

Where do you begin?

As a project manager, you have dozens of items on your to-do list. Picking carpet is difficult enough without adding even more pressure to the task. But it doesn’t have to be that hard.

First, start by trusting a flooring expert that can help you make the right decision. It’s not enough that you purchase something online from a discount broker, or even stop by your local big box store and buy whatever is on sale. They focus on profit and getting their products sold. They don’t have time to dig deep and answer all your questions. And that’s the only way you’re going to get what you really want.

Second, learn your brand names. There are many carpet companies out there that offer eco-friendly products. Take responsibility to do a little homework and discover what their processes are. Companies like Mohawk and Shaw work hard to ensure they deliver some of the most sustainable products in the industry. From using recycled materials to reclaiming old carpet, to reducing greenhouse gases and more, by spending a few minutes researching your choice companies, you can quickly feel good about your purchase, And ensure it meets all qualifications in your journey to becoming a sustainable, LEED project.

So what’s your flooring of choice? Have you made the decision to install new carpet as you remodel and refurbish?

No matter what you read online, carpet is still a great choice for many buildings. It offers a great solution for warmth, comfort, and good looks.

If you’re trying to get LEED certified too, pay attention to how sustainable your final selection is. We can help you choose the right carpet, and love what you install well into the future.

Hardwood Flooring
July 3, 2020

Looking For A Biophilic Design? Try Hardwood Flooring

Why are humans so attracted to hardwood flooring? Why do Coloradans make it their number one flooring choice again and again? Why do you consistently see hardwood flooring in the top homes in the region?

It might be because of biophilic design.

What biophilic design is … and isn’t

Biophilic design connects you to nature. It’s the art of using things that naturally occur in nature, and work to build them into the overall architecture of your residence.

Biophilic design has five distinctive characteristics:

1. An emphasis on adaptation to the natural world. Items that over time have been proven as instrumental in helping people’s overall health, fitness, and well being.

2. It’s not the inclusion of just one thing. Instead, biophilic design depends on repeated and sustained connections with nature.

3. The elements woven throughout a residence will comprise of various complementary elements, reinforced throughout the design, and interconnected as a whole. This isn’t about inserting a plant and having it exist out of context.

4. It fosters emotional attachment to the surroundings. By creating a calming effect, you’re more likely to feel motivated, satisfied, and have overall better performance.

5. If you use biophilic design well, it creates connections and positive interaction between people and their environment. It enhances the surroundings, and gives a sense of membership to the community.

Why does all this matter? Because it creates a more calming, more effective place to live.

Growing evidence shows that patients go home faster if their hospital rooms are designed with biophilic characteristics. Children can boost concentration simply by walking and being in nature. And spending time in natural settings can lower stress and blood pressure while boosting immune function.

We’re spending as much as 90 percent of our time indoors. Shouldn’t we make the spaces we live in better places to live?

How wood floors can help us return to nature

Coloradans understand the beauty of hardwood floors. Maybe it’s because we live in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Maybe it’s because we have this innate sense of wanting to be out in nature. Skiing, biking, hiking – it’s a way of life for many of us who choose to call Colorado home. And because of that, we want to bring some of that back indoors.

Hardwood floors literally allow you to do that. When you select hardwood for your flooring, you’re bringing nature back in.

Yet most of us rarely think about just how much space the flooring takes. It’s the foundation of your design. You use it to plan the decor of the rest of your home.

Choose a light oak? The rest of your home might be bright and airy.

Choose a dark walnut? Your home might focus on dramatic, sophisticated design.

And that’s the goal. You’re using hardwood flooring to bring nature in, and use it to connect with nature for years to come.

Hardwood flooring – start by selecting the right color

So you want new hardwood flooring. Where do you start?

If you walk into our design center, you’ll find one of the first choices you’ll have to make is the color. Color is important; you want a flooring you’ll love for years to come. Select the room color, and you’ll have to refinish it sooner.

Color for hardwood flooring isn’t about red, blue, and green. Instead, it’s about light to dark. Each hardwood flooring color provides you with a different experience. This is how they compare with maintenance and cleaning.

Dark wood flooring – dark wood flooring has been a popular choice for several years. That’s because it works well in a variety of situations.

Have bright furnishings or a strong sense of modern design? Dark wood works well. Want neutral surroundings? Starting with dark wood on the floor is the best way to set it off.

While many assume dark wood equals formal, that’s not the case. It can create a rustic, aged look that’s perfect for country charm or a mountain retreat.

Dark wood will show more than lighter choices. If you have pets, kids, and a busy household, expect to see signs of wear earlier. But for some, that’s part of its charm. You might have to dust more frequently to pick up pet hair and crumbs, but the dark wood allows you to see where to swiff your broom more easily.

We’ve found a couple of places we don’t recommend using dark wood. In tiny rooms, it can make the room look even smaller. And when selecting dark wood planks, wider is better. Fewer seams mean a more continuous look, which is something you’ll enjoy for years inside your home.

Light wood flooring – light wood has been popular for decades. And in some cases, the lightness has only intensified as we bring more options to market. Like the whitewash look? You’ll find choices. Want something more exotic, something you won’t find in your neighbor’s home? You’ll find that too.

With custom solutions and finishes, you can go as light as you desire. But keep in mind, just like extreme dark wood, light wood has it’s problems too.

To create a light, almost white look, takes special processing. A contractor may have to combine stain and paint to lighten up the flooring. To seal it in means adding a clear finish, and that might be required regularly to keep its light, good looks.

The finish you select is equally important. Oil based finishes might be clear going on, but they can yellow over time. Talk in detail with your flooring contractor to learn how well your choices will stand the test of time.

Light hardwood flooring choices are almost always a good choice for every room in your home. They hide dust and dirt well, and can even mask surface level scratches.

How are you going to bring the outside in?

No matter what color you choose, by selecting hardwood flooring, you’ll be bringing nature in. With a little thought and planning, biophilic design can help your home be a more relaxing, calm, and beautiful place to live.

And isn’t that what we all want anyway?

Hardwood Flooring
June 28, 2020

How To Match Exotic Wood Floors To Your Staircase

Don’t you just hate the cookie cutter lifestyle? One house looks like all the others in the neighborhood. You park your car in the parking lot, only to have trouble finding it because there are dozens just like it.

That’s not what you want. You want to create space that’s uniquely your own.

And you can do that … by personalizing the interior of your home.

That’s why many people have turned to exotic wood floors. And what’s not to love? Even saying it – exotic wood – it does something to you. It feels sexy, a little wild. It gives you a chance to let your true personality come to light.

But there’s a bigger problem with using exotic wood throughout your home. It’s your stairs. How do you match exotic wood floors to your staircase, and create the impression from the moment you walk through your doors?

Exotic wood floors – what are they?

If you’re still contemplating what flooring to install throughout your home, let’s start by defining what exotic wood floors are.

While there isn’t an exact definition set to industry standards, if you look at all the flooring manufacturers, you’ll find that they place exotic hardwood into a group that is defined by the following criteria:

Hard wood – this seems like a trick characteristic – aren’t all hardwood floors hard? Not necessarily. All wood falls somewhere on the Janka Hardness Scale. The Janka Hardness Scale starts at zero and moves up to a final score value of 4000. The lower it is on the scale, the softer the wood. If you go with a softer wood, it will be more easily dented and scratched. The higher the number, the harder the wood. However, you’ll never find hardwood flooring ranked around zero or 4000. Zero would be too soft to be functional, and 4000 would be so hard, it would be difficult to cut and lay into place. Instead, you’ll find all hardwood flooring materials scattered out somewhere in the middle.

Janka ratings show Douglas Fir to be ranked around 660 while Brazilian Cherry is at 2350. White oak is around 1360, while Santos Mahogany is at 2200.

When manufacturers are creating their exotic wood flooring line, they tend to place the hardest of wood floors – things like Brazilian Cherry and Santos Mahogany – into the exotic category. If you want a harder flooring for more resistance, focusing in on exotic will give you what you want.

Rich grains – it’s not just the hardness factor; it’s also the grain. If you’re looking for something with more character, more grain, more personality, look no further than exotic wood flooring. You’ll find their makeup to be more pronounced, creating a richer feeling once installed into your home.

Vibrant color – while softer woods tend to be more calm and subtle, you’ll find exotic woods tend to peak on the wild side. The colors are a bit bolder. The grain a bit more pronounced. The contrast can blend from light to dark, all on the same board. You won’t be able to ignore an exotic wood floor. It will say “look at me” from the moment you walk through the door.

Congratulations! You have a beautiful floor. Now what do you do with the stairs?

We have a lot of homeowners spend days – weeks – finalizing their decisions around the perfect wood for their flooring. Yet as soon as they settle on their final choice, a new problem comes to light.

What about the staircase? Can you use exotic hardwood on the stairs?

The answer, of course, is anything is possible. But with a higher Janka rating and a more pronounced look and feel running through the wood, it can make things a bit tricky.

Your staircase shouldn’t stand out – not for looking out of place. You want it to have that wow factor from the moment you walk inside. Yes, it needs to blend in with your flooring on both levels. But it also needs to showcase strength and contour, stating from the moment you see it that it’s high quality and a thing of beauty. Ever walked up to a staircase that looks rickety and old? Were you nervous to climb it? That’s the difference. A grand staircase always sets the stage for a beautiful home.

Now it’s time to decide what’s right for your staircase. Do you use exotic wood floors on both levels of your home? Are you trying to blend hardwood with another flooring – maybe carpet on the second level?

Only you can decide the right transition for your home.

Just a few things to keep in mind. Hardwood stands up well to years of abuse. But your stairs will be one of the most abused areas of your home. You’ll be running up and down many times a day. That hard surface can take a lot of pounding. But if you have young kids or elderly family members, a hardwood surface can be more of a challenge. They can be a little slippier. They can also do more damage in a fall. That’s when covering your stairs with a runner might be your best course of action.

If you’re looking for a little separation, we love using risers in a different tone or color.

For some homeowners, they prefer sticking with two shades of wood. Use the exotic flooring from your main level for the top of each stair, then coordinate it with a lighter wood for the riser.

Or maybe you prefer paint. If your second level is lighter, softer, consider contrasting the riser with a shade of white. This can make your exotic hardwood flooring pop even more.

This isn’t the only way to separate your stairs from the risers. Some homeowners put on their design caps and really create personality. How about contrasting hardwood stairs with tile risers? The sky’s the limit when you start creating your own patterns with color. Other designers will go all out and get creative with their paint skills. If you’re creating a special look, why not create a one of a kind look by hiring an artist to stencil in something unique?

The good news is anything is possible. Start by scouring the internet and finding something that says “wow” to you.

Then talk with one of our designers. We’ll point you in the right direction, and help you make the right choice for your home.

Hardwood Flooring
June 25, 2020

5 Decisions To Make When Selecting Hardwood Floors For Your Home

I was watching one of those design shows the other day. They talked about doing a complete home remodel from top to bottom – the house was in really bad shape.

When they got to the floors, one sentence was used to explain it all:

And we’ll lay hardwood floors throughout.

Yep, that’s it. And unfortunately, we hear that a lot when we speak to customers about their plans for adding new flooring to their homes. They often come in with one thing in mind: installing hardwood. But what they quickly discover is it’s a lot more complicated than that.

What type of hardwood flooring are you going with?

There may have been a time when hardwood was hardwood, but that day has long since past. Today, the lines are blurred as to what hardwood really is. Yes, you can still install traditional hardwood, often made from oak, pine, or ash. But other options are almost endless.

How about exotic hardwood? You can go as light or as dark as you wish.

When traditional hardwood isn’t right for your space, you may do better with laminate wood. Laminate is a wood product made of several layers to add strength and durability, where a more traditional hardwood plank may not be the best choice.

How about luxury vinyl tile? Thanks to modern technology, luxury vinyl tile can now be purchased in plank, and have such realistic looking graphics, it’s difficult to tell it’s not the real thing. This is a perfect choice for rooms where hardwood doesn’t hold up well, such as laundry rooms or bathrooms.

If you prefer something more sustainable, why not give bamboo a try? Technically, bamboo is a grass, not a wood product. But it still performs just like hardwood, and has classic good looks you’re going to love from the moment you install it.

What about tile? Even tiles are being manufactured in plank format, giving you the look of hardwood with the durability of tile. It can be the perfect choice for bathrooms and kitchens, where you’re looking for something more durable than traditional hardwood.

What is the driving factor for purchasing your new flooring?

We all enter into a purchase with an ulterior motive. For some, it’s all about budget. For others, it’s about satisfying a lifelong dream of creating the perfect home.

Why are you changing out the floor in your home? That can easily dictate the type of flooring product you invest in.

For example, if you shop with a budget in mind, start with that as your goal. Hardwood and bamboo are going to be more expensive than products like luxury vinyl tile. If you’re fixing up a home and turning it into a rental, luxury vinyl tile may be the perfect choice to add style for renters, yet stay reasonably priced, knowing you’ll be replacing it more frequently than in other living conditions.

What is your everyday lifestyle like?

Can you imagine white carpet is you have small children and several pets? Nope.

Yet few people consider lifestyle before they purchase and install hardwood. Hardwood is a classic, everybody loves it. But in some homes, it just doesn’t make sense.

Let’s say you’re a dog person. Not only do you have dogs, but you also breed them. Your home doesn’t have a dog or two; you have up to a dozen or more running throughout your home on any given day.

Solid hardwood can be a finicky flooring material. It doesn’t stand up well to constant cleaning. It can easily warp if it gets too wet. And it can scratch easily, something that’s almost guaranteed to happen with dozens of little paws running across it on a regular basis.

Take the time to truly evaluate your lifestyle. Don’t ignore it, or look past your reality. Instead, focus on getting a fully functional flooring that suits your needs … and looks great in the process. There’s never been a better time to marry the two together.

What are my long term goals?

Are you designing your forever home, a place you see yourself living for decades to come? Is this a stepping stone – you’ll live here for a few years before you’re off and on the next great adventure?

Each of those goals can lead you to a different type of flooring material.

If you’re designing your dream home, by all means, select your dream flooring material. Choosing hardwood floors can be the perfect choice to give you years of pleasure.

Yet if you know you’ll be leaving this home and moving in the foreseeable future, you can select flooring with other things in mind.

What about resale value? Ask any realtor and they will tell you that one of the best flooring choices is hardwood. It can give you up to an 80 percent return on investment, as new home buyers love to walk into a home with a beautiful wood floor.

What about sustainability and environmentally friendly materials?

Are you conscious about the environmental impact of every product you bring into your home? Then you’ll have a variety of options available to you as you’re choosing hardwood flooring.

Bamboo flooring may be the perfect choice because of its sustainability in growing. It’s a grass, not a tree, and can reach full maturity in a matter of years rather than decades. If you select the right manufacturer, you’ll be guaranteed they use sustainable harvesting methods, and make conscious choices for how the material is processed.

Keep in mind that it’s not just about the flooring product you choose. You can spend a lot of time researching the perfect hardwood, learning where it’s harvested from, and follow the certification for the manufacturing of the final product. But if you install it with an adhesive with high (volatile organic compounds (VOCs), you’re defeating the purpose.

If being environmentally friendly, or selecting sustainable products is at the forefront of your mind, let’s start there. If we know that going in, we can make a variety of suggestions to ensure you stay true to your goals throughout the process.

So what’s your perfect flooring? What questions do you have about choosing the right hardwood flooring for your home?

Hardwood Flooring
June 21, 2020

5 Reasons To Buy Hardwood Flooring For The Health Benefits

You love the idea of installing hardwood floors throughout your home. Now, maybe there’s another reason to give them a second look. There are health benefits for installing hardwood flooring too.

The problem with indoor air quality

Americans today spend far more time inside than they do outside. The EPA estimates that on average, people spend as much as 90 percent of their daily lives indoors.

That means the air pollution outside impacts your health far less than what exists inside your house.

What causes indoor air pollution?

Tobacco products
Fuel-burning combustion appliances
Household cleaners
Moisture that can contribute to mildew and mold
Building materials that include asbestos, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and more
Chemicals such as radon and pesticides

Indoor air pollution enters the home in a variety of ways.

It can come in every time you open a door or window, leave your shoes on as you walk through your home, or through daily activities – cooking not only uses fuel-burning appliances such as a gas stove, it can release toxins in the air depending on what and how you cook.

What flooring does to add to indoor air pollution

Now that you know how pollutants can enter the home, let’s talk about how flooring contributes to it.

Flooring can impact your indoor air quality in two ways:

1. It can harbor problems brought into your home, increasing the volatility of your air supply

2. It can be manufactured with harmful chemicals and products that add to indoor air quality problems

That’s where hardwood flooring can help clean up your air supply – if you know what to look for.

Allergens are everywhere. Some of the most common allergens we bring indoors are dust mites and animal dander.

The best way to eliminate them from your home is with frequent cleaning – dusting, vacuuming, washing, and scrubbing. If you select a surface more conducive to these methods of cleaning, it will create a healthier living environment.

Certain types of flooring, like carpet, are simply going to be gathering places for small microorganisms, while flooring like hardwood makes it easier to clean.

Of course, hardwood itself can add to the problem if you don’t pay attention to where it’s harvested from, and how it’s produced. Is it treated with chemicals at any point during the manufacturing process? Is it finished with harmful products? Does it adhere to the floor with toxic adhesives?

There’s a lot to think about when trying to clean up your indoor living environment. It’s not as easy as going to the store, and picking up the first flooring product you see.

Let’s focus in on the health benefits of hardwood flooring

You already know that hardwood flooring is wildly popular, looks great everywhere it’s installed, and can last for years if you maintain it correctly. Homebuyers know this too; it’s one of the most in-demand products they look for when shopping for a new home.

But what you might not have considered is how hardwood floors add health benefits to your living space. Here’s how:

Hardwood doesn’t trap allergens – we’ve already talked about how hardwood helps eliminate allergens. That’s because hardwood is a hard surface, and things like dust and dander sit on the surface, making it easy to sweep away.

Hardwood is a carbon-neutral product – hardwood comes directly from trees. Trees take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen as they age and grow. What you might not know is that a wood stores carbon even after it’s cut down and manufactured into planks for your floor.

Hardwood is considered hypoallergenic by the EPA – which gives it a huge advantage for people with respiratory issues. Because hardwood flooring won’t take in microorganisms and pesticides like other flooring choices will. It also minimizes the accumulation of things like dust, mold, and other harmful items.

Hardwood is easy to disinfect – don’t worry about lugging in cleaning machines in order to keep the surface area clean. Hardwood floors are easy to clean with a damp mop and a manufacturer-approved anti-bacterial cleaner. Check with the manufacturer before you put anything on your hardwood floors, or you might void the warranty.

Hardwood is a natural product – unlike some flooring choices that are made in a laboratory, hardwood flooring is created from a natural resource. Hardwood is one of the best earth-friendly materials you can choose. However, be sure you understand the source before you make the purchase. Not every product is harvested in the same way. Hardwood flooring can come with certification from groups such as the Forest Stewardship Council, or meet criteria set forth by organizations such as the GREENGUARD Certification Program. This gives you assurance that it isn’t coming from a manufacturer with illegal or highly questionable practices.

What to do to keep hardwood floors clean

Now that your hardwood floors are installed and in place, how do you ensure they stay clean without impacting your health for the life of your floors? Luckily hardwood flooring is one of the easiest floors to take care of.

Remove shoes at the front door – have you ever thought about all of the things you pick up on the bottom of your shoes? Chemicals, dirt, germs – you can pick up a lot of things as you move throughout your busy days. Instead of tracking that in and letting it fall off onto your floors, remove them at the door. Consider having a mat or basket to place them, and a few pairs of slippers to keep your feet comfortable.

Keep mats at all entrances – this gives you and your pets the opportunity to wipe your feet before entering. Even just walking across it will remove a good amount of dirt.

Use a microfiber dust mop – instead of using a traditional mop, invest in one with microfiber. Microfiber has less chance of leaving dust and germs behind, and cleans better and leaves less residue than more traditional cotton. Water should never be left sitting on hardwood; use damp cloths where the residual dries quickly.

Keep a regular schedule with your cleaning routine – don’t let dust and germs settle in on any surface in your home. Life can get hectic, but the more frequently you give every surface a good cleaning, the less chance you have of letting the indoor air quality build enough to impact your health.

Invest in hardwood floors today

We’ve learned one thing this year – it’s more important than ever to keep our homes clean to have a healthy living environment. There are many reasons to buy hardwood flooring, for the health benefits is just one of them. Give us a call today and we can answer all of your questions, and help you make the right choice for your home.

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