How To Ensure Worry-Free Carpet Installation

You walk into your room. The contractors have been there all day. You’re excited about the color. You can’t wait to start decorating. Yet there’s still one question left to think about. 

How well did the carpet installation process go?

Because it’s important to choose your carpet’s color wisely. It’s equally important to buy based on your room’s use. But if the carpet installation process isn’t everything it should be, you could face many years of disappointment. Here’s why. How To Ensure Worry-Free Carpet Installation

It’s all in the details

It seems easy enough. You want new carpet in a room in your home. You select the right carpet for you. A contractor comes in and installs it. Everything’s perfect. 

Well…

It might not be the carpet that’s the problem. The floor the carpet will reside on must be properly prepared. 

Will it sit on a cement slab? Was the previous flooring glued down, leaving residue? What kind of padding was in place – will it be removed? Is the subflooring still in great shape? 

Carpet is a good flooring choice to hide a variety of problems. Yet carpet still depends on having a good base. It’s not the carpet quality that determines how long it will last; what’s underneath plays an equally important role. 

After you select the perfect color and style, turn your attention to the padding. Also, ask about the installation process. While a small bedroom may not have a lot of issues during the carpet installation process, if you’re putting in new carpet throughout a large commercial property, it can be a little trickier. 

Every manufacturer has their own set of guidelines that must be followed in order for the warranty to remain valid. Ask about these guidelines even before the carpet enters your space. Then ensure that the policies are followed, so you don’t void the warranty even before the contractor leaves. 

Ask about experience

Have you ever walked into a room with new carpet and noticed visible mistakes? Chances are there was an amateur at work. 

Like any career, it takes time to learn the little details that make the job easy. When you’ve installed new carpet a handful of times, you might overlook simple issues. When you’ve installed new carpet thousands of times, nothing gets by you. 

Small rooms aren’t a problem. But when a room is larger than the roll of carpet, there will be a seam somewhere in the room. How noticeable that seam is depends on the contractor. 

If you work with your installer beforehand, you can talk about the way you use your room. Seams can be minimized if they’re placed underneath furniture, or if they flow with the direction of the light. 

Don’t assume because a business has been around a long time that the installers associated with that business are top-notch. Ask questions. Those big box stores may seem to be a bargain, with low prices on carpeting that looks good on swatches in the store. But it’s the installer that’s equally important. 

Where’d that fee come from?

You know those GREAT deals that promise you a house full of carpet for a few pennies on the dollar? Yeah … they don’t exist. It may seem like a great deal in the commercial, but when you finally sign on the dotted line and pay the final bill, you’ll be overwhelmed by the hidden fees. 

Before you say yes to a deal, be clear about what services and fees will be tacked on to your final bill. For example, will you be in charge of moving furniture out of the room? Will they charge to discard old carpet and padding? 

What about the baseboards and molding around your room? They have to be removed. Will the installer take care of this, including patchwork to get everything back in place? 

And if you install a different level of carpet than was installed before, the door might not clear. That means you’ll be left with another problem of having to find a way to adjust your door to open and close.

Pay attention to how much overage you’ll have. Measure twice and cut once. You should never leave this process to chance; a reputable dealer will ensure the proper measurements are taken before ordering, and before the carpet installation process. They’ll take into account the dimensions of your room, the closet floor, and the pattern that needs to be matched at the seam. 

The time and the place

A lot of homeowners choose to upgrade their carpet with an event in mind. They want new carpet for a party they’re planning. They want their homes to appear fresh and updated before relatives roll into town. 

In order for that plan to work worry-free, you should give yourself enough time for installation, and a little extra for the “unexpected” problems that may arise. Ideally, you should install new carpet after other work has been done. Paint, wallpaper, and other remodeling work should all be completed. 

To avoid even more problems, be sure the subfloor is clean. While a lot of contractors handle this part of the job, it’s a good idea to ask. 

You should also determine how long the project will last. Small rooms can easily be completed in one day. Larger projects may take longer. And what happens if the installer runs into a snag? The more questions you ask, the better prepared you’ll be for the day. 

It often takes up to 72 hours for odors to dissipate. It’s also normal for new carpet to shed. But if you see wrinkles or ripples, that’s when you need to call the retailer back immediately. 

Of course, you should never install new carpet and plan your party for that evening. Give yourself some time to adjust and live with it first. Vacuum the carpet a few times. Walk on it barefoot to adjust the fibers into place. Enjoy your carpet before your guests arrive. Ultimately, this is about how well you’ll enjoy the space you’ve created. 

Are you ready to redo your home? Wanting for a new look? The perfect way to have worry-free carpet installation is to plan for everything before you take your first step. Stop by today, and we can get you started on a worry-free process. 

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What Are The Best Flooring Options For Your Home?

For many homeowners, they ignore their flooring until they can’t. Suddenly, carpet looks stained and worn. Hardwood loses its shine, and dings and scratches become glaring reminders you have to do something soon. Vinyl is scuffed and torn. 

Of course, way deep down, we know nothing changes that fast. But as a homeowner, you tend to put off noticing how bad something is until you can no longer do so.What Are The Best Flooring Options For Your Home?

Then you’re tasked with replacing your current flooring and making an upgrade that will hopefully last for years. That’s when you have two paths to take to select the best flooring options for your home. You can:

  • Jump at a flooring choice because of the price
  • Take the time to carefully consider what’s best for each room in your home

Sounds like straightforward advice, right? And when most people read those two statements, they place themselves in the second. Of course, you think about what’s best for you. But from our experience, many homeowners put all that aside when it comes down to price. They justify a flooring option because of the sticker, and regret their decision almost from the moment it’s installed. 

You may love the look of hardwood, but is it really the right choice for every room in your home? You might be leaning towards carpet, but are you doing so for all the right reasons? 

Here’s a list of the best flooring options and which rooms they are well suited for. 

Hardwood

Nothing creates more style and elegance than hardwood flooring. And with so many different styles, patterns, colors, and hardwoods available, making your final selection will be the most challenging process. Here in Colorado, hardwood is a part of our culture. You’ll find hardwood is used in everything from ski lodges to shopping malls, so of course, it will look great in your home. And if you’ve bought or sold a house in the last few years, you know it tops the list of items in demand. 

What’s more, hardwood flooring is easy to care for on a day to day basis. Keeping dirt off the floor with a quick sweep or vacuum is all you’ll ever need to keep them looking new. This will have to be a regular part of your cleaning routine, as hardwood can be easily be scratched if dirt or small rocks are ground into the wood when you walk. 

While hardwood looks great anywhere, keep in mind that it’s most significant drawback is its loudness. You’ll hear every step someone takes, and that can become annoying in a home with small children, especially near the bedrooms. It’s also not the best choice for rooms with high humidity or moisture issues, such as bathrooms and laundry rooms. Nothing can ruin hardwood quicker than standing water. 

Still, hardwood is a great choice for your main living spaces. Family rooms, living rooms, and even dining rooms will all look stylish with hardwood installed. And if you want to muffle the noise a bit, a rug will accomplish that and add to your decor in the process. 

Tile

There are so many ways tile can accent every room in your home, there’s no way we can cover it in one article. You’ll have to come in and see our selection to fully appreciate all you can do with today’s tile choices. 

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Tile comes in a wide variety of styles, sizes, colors, patterns, and materials. You can choose ceramic tile that is very durable and resistant to scratches. You can stay natural and go with travertine, slate, or granite. Or give porcelain tile a try. You’ll be amazed at the look and feel tile can mimic – how about tile that looks just like hardwood, only with the durability of tile? 

Every tile selection has its own level of durability, maintenance, and care. It’s wise to talk with one of our consultants long before you make your final selection. Homes with pets and small children will require different choices than a house with empty nesters. 

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Tile is one of the hardest selections you can make for your flooring. It has no give when you walk, stand, or even drop something on the floor. It can create a louder room environment, and may echo depending on your decor. It can also crack, depending on the tile and how it’s treated. 

And while some say tile is very cold, we often suggest to include radiant heating under tile to make it warm and inviting. That makes it a perfect choice for your master suite, where standing on a cold-winter morning will be something you look forward to, maybe even get you popping out of bed a little quicker. 

All of this and more makes tile one of our favorites for best flooring options. 

Carpet

No one can argue that carpet still has its place in homes across Colorado. When the temperatures dip well below freezing, you’ll be glad you took a second look at carpeting. 

Carpet not only feels soft to the touch, but it also softens the appearance of the room too. It adds depth. It adds design. And it prevents that hollow, echo-y sound associated with other flooring choices. 

Plus carpet is easy to install. If you have subflooring issues, or a home where uneven floors have been a problem in the past, carpet is the perfect solution. 

Although a lot of advancements have been made with stain-resistant fibers, carpet will still stain over time. Even if you vacuum regularly, the simple act of living in your space will mean that carpet wears out eventually. You will have to get them professionally cleaned from time to time. 

Yet even with a few downsides, nothing takes away from the comfort you’ll feel slipping out of bed in the morning. It’s also lovely in a child’s playroom, giving them cushion as they crawl and roll around. Or in a home movie theater where it acts as a sound absorber as you play your favorite movies. 

Vinyl

When we make recommendations for the best flooring options for Colorado homes, we have to include vinyl on the list. Today’s vinyl isn’t what you remember your parents installing in their homes. Today’s vinyl is wild with opportunity. 

Luxury vinyl can give you any look, style, pattern, or color you desire. Vinyl has come a long way in looks, and can even mimic wood planks or tile. It’s quite easy to install, and equally as easy on the feet. If you stand in a laundry room or kitchen for extended periods of time, you’ll love having the cushiony feel of vinyl under your feet. 

Vinyl continues to be a great choice for laundry rooms, bathrooms, or even kitchens. You’ll love the softness and the warmth it brings. 

Making Your Final Selection

We know making your final decision can be a difficult process. Because you will only install new flooring a few times in your lifetime, it’s worth some thought. It’s also worth a second look. 

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Stop by today and see all of our flooring samples. Talk with one of our specialists and consider your options. Take a few samples home and see how they look in the light. 

Our goal is to help you find the best flooring options for all the rooms in your home. 

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Why Luxury Vinyl Is The Hottest Flooring Trend

Looking for a flooring that’s durable, easy to care for, and looks great too? 

Maybe it’s time to give luxury vinyl another look. 

For many, the word “vinyl” instills memories from our parents’ homes, where vinyl was anything but attractive. The hodgepodge of colors and patterns rose up from the floor, creating a vision we’ll never forget. 

Why Luxury Vinyl Is The Hottest Flooring Trend

Luckily, “vinyl” has upgraded its look and feel, and we think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised. 

What Is Luxury Vinyl?

 

Today’s luxury vinyl is designed to mimic the look of some of today’s hottest flooring products like wood, ceramic tile, or stone. Luxury vinyl tile, or LVT, is a high-end product that is possible through technology, and is so good people are using it in all kinds of places, including luxury homes, condos, and even businesses. 

LVT is designed in layers. The bottom layer is the foundation of the product. It’s sometimes known as the backing, and is made of vinyl or sometimes a mixture of limestone and vinyl. The top layer is a heavy film made from aluminum oxide, which is a protective layer designed to help keep the look and feel of the vinyl intact. It’s combined with a second layer of transparent film to prevent damage to the flooring. Together, they prevent things like UV rays from penetrating through, and helps keep scratches and other marks at bay. 

The middle layer is the actual vinyl layer that creates the look and feel. Designers and manufacturers create photographs and prints to mimic the real thing. Each manufacturer adds their own tweaks and nuances to give their product their own personalized touch before including in their LVT product line. 

 

Why Buy Vinyl?

People choose luxury vinyl for a variety of reasons. 

One of the top reasons is durability. You can’t beat the performance of luxury vinyl tiles. Spills are easily wiped up. Moisture isn’t an issue; luxury vinyl is waterproof and won’t ruin the subfloors with consistent humidity or water. Of course, nothing can prevent damage with standing water or flooding, but luxury vinyl offers protection where you need it most. It also gives you protection from scuffs, scratches, and scrapes. It’s one of the most versatile flooring choices on the market for high traffic, busy homes.

And if that isn’t reason enough, you’ll love luxury vinyl’s softness and comfort factor. If you’re on your feet all day, LVT helps make that a comfortable experience. That’s especially helpful for small children learning to walk, or the elderly with mobility issues. With the insulation properties of luxury vinyl, you’ll also find it helps create warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer. 

Want even more? Then consider the price. Luxury vinyl planks, tiles, or sheets give you a high-end look without the high-end price. You’ll love the wide selection of hardwood and stone looks that make it a perfect choice for any room in your home. 

Installing Luxury Vinyl

One of the biggest advantages of using luxury vinyl in your home is how easy it is to install. Instead of days or weeks of preparation that’s necessary with other types of flooring, you can install luxury vinyl in a matter of hours. It’s one of the most forgiving flooring choices on the market. 

Depending on the manufacturer you choose and the product you select, there are several different ways of installation. Your flooring consultant can help you choose the right product for your unique situation. In general, there are two types of LVT on the market: glue-down and floating. Glue-down LVT products must use adhesive to stick to the subfloor. These adhesives generally require a day or two to cure before you can return to your usual living habits. Floating LVT tiles and planks do not require adhesive, and instead, lock together and float above the subfloor. They can be used as soon as the installation process is complete. Look for:

Self-adhesive LVT – these tiles come with adhesive backing in place. Simply remove the protective covering, lay in place, and press down to apply the adhesive to the subfloor. 

Glue-down LVT – these tiles require a special adhesive glue to be applied to the subfloor before the tiles are laid into place. 

Interlocking LVT – these floating tiles use a groove and tongue system along the edges to lock tiles into place. 

Loose LVT – these tiles are backed with a high friction bottom that grips to the floor once installed. 

Luxury Vinyl Tiles – Is It For You?

We’ve covered a lot of great reasons why luxury vinyl may be the perfect addition to your home. Its durability alone is worth a second look. If you need new flooring quickly, you can’t compete with its easy installation. And its resiliency makes it the perfect choice for many rooms in your home. 

But we also like luxury vinyl becomes of its versatility. If you haven’t looked at LVT before, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the options. Whether you want the look of hardwood, prefer the look of natural stone, or simply have a ceramic tile design in mind, you’ll find it in today’s luxury vinyl. Manufacturers understand that today’s homeowners no longer will sacrifice good looks for ease of use, and with LVT, they didn’t disappoint. 

What’s more, luxury vinyl is one of the easiest flooring products to replace. Glue-down tiles will take a little more work, but with the other three LVT products – self-adhesive, interlocking, or loose LVT – you can remove the tiles quite easily. That means the renovation process will be a snap whenever you choose. 

Think luxury vinyl is for you?

Then the best place to start is by stopping by today. Not only can we show you our complete line of luxury vinyl products, but we can cover design ideas too. 

We realize you might not want LVT in every room in your home. We can help you create the perfect way to transition the resiliency of luxury vinyl with any other flooring product you may wish to install within your home. 

You’re going to love what luxury vinyl does for your home. 

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Which Tile Material Is Best For Your Home?

Tile is one of the most versatile materials you can use for the floors in your home. 

But if you’ve ever visited a flooring store for ideas, you were probably overwhelmed at the possibilities. You’ll find every color of the rainbow. Patterns – yep, you’ll find a huge selection. Tiles come in a wide variety of sizes too. 

Where do you start?

How do you decide?Which Tile Material Is Best For Your Home?

Tile is a great choice for the high-traffic areas of your home. Tile can last for years with proper care and maintenance. And durability? We can’t say enough about how easy tile is to maintain. It’s a great choice in a busy home. 

But before you pick on color or pattern alone, there are a few things you should know about tile material. In general, tile can be placed into three different categories: clay (porcelain and ceramic), stone, and glass. 

Clay Tile

Think of clay tile as the workhorse of the industry. This is where you’ll find high-quality tile at economical prices. This is also where you’ll find the widest selection. 

Clay tile is made of clay. Manufacturers quarry clay, press it into a mold, apply extreme pressure, and heat it to a high temperature to seal it into size. Clay tiles are a great choice for high moisture areas of your home, including the kitchen, bathrooms, entryways, and laundry room. They are one of the most durable materials to install, and offer water-resistance where you need it most. Plus you can’t ignore the colors, patterns, shapes, and sizes that make clay tiles the perfect product to install throughout your home. 

You’ll find clay tiles listed as ceramic or porcelain. 

For ceramic tile, materials such as shale, gypsum, and sand are combined and molded together, then are worked into a material called bisque. Once molded, they are fired in a kiln at extreme temperatures; the higher the temperature, the stronger the tile. Yet ceramic tiles are porous right out of the kiln. A glaze is applied before they are placed back into a kiln and fired again. 

This molding process gives ceramic tile its versatility. If you can dream up a color, pattern, style, or size, chances are there’s a ceramic tile option to fit your needs. 

Porcelain tile is a form of ceramic tile that meets higher moisture standards. According to the Porcelain Tile Certification Agency, porcelain tile is ceramic tile that has a water absorption of 0.5 percent or less. The clay used in porcelain tiles is more refined. It’s fired at higher temperatures. It’s manufactured under greater pressure than its ceramic counterparts. 

That also means porcelain tile has more flexibility in the manufacturing process. If you want the looks of natural stone with the benefits of clay tiles, porcelain is your answer. 

Stone Tile

It’s hard to ignore the natural beauty of stone. It combines rustic good looks with strength and durability. 

Natural stone is quarried in different places throughout the world. It’s slabbed, finished, and cut to size. Because stone is natural forming, they vary in size and strength, depending on the material you select. 

Granite

Granite is a popular choice for countertops and backsplashes. It also makes a great choice for flooring. People select granite because of its strength and durability. It can be polished to resist scratching, and is completely waterproof when sealed. When people select granite for their countertops, they choose it based on color variances and unique veining. When you apply granite to flooring, these unique patterns can be carried throughout the home in beautiful ways. 

Marble

Marble tile offers many of the same benefits as granite. You’ll find the colors, shapes, and sizes can give any room in your home a personalized touch. However, marble is more porous than granite, which means it’s more susceptible to stains and scratches. If you install marble in your home, especially in high traffic areas, proper maintenance and sealing will be required on a regular basis. 

Limestone

If you’re looking for an earthy, natural look, you can’t go wrong with limestone. While color and pattern choices are minimal, if you’re looking for an earthy, unique texture, you can’t ignore limestone. Limestone is less dense than both granite and marble, and is easily stained and scratched. Regular maintenance is mandatory to keep limestone tile looking its best. But if your goal is to create a natural look throughout your home, give limestone a second look. 

Slate

Slate is also a durable stone tile that adds a dark, modern look to your home. Depending on how it’s quarried, it can take on a textured look, or honed and smoothed for a softer finish. Its hardness means its water resistant, making it an excellent choice for high traffic areas in your home. 

Sandstone

Like limestone, sandstone is a softer stone that comes in lighter shades of brown, tan, red, and gold. It’s beautiful in the right area, but it’s porous and will stain and scratch easily. It’s also softer underfoot than other stone choices, making it a good choice if you’re looking for smooth surfaces with natural beauty. 

Glass Tile

When you’re looking to add uniqueness and a punch of color to a room, it’s hard to ignore the possibilities glass tile brings to the market. While glass tile made its way to design centers a few decades ago, it’s never lost its reputation for being able to bring a little bit of fine and whimsy to surfaces throughout your home. 

Keep in mind that glass tiles can crack under pressure. You’ll most likely find splashes of glass tiles built into backsplashes and used as accents. They are usually smaller in size, and allow you to create unique patterns by installing one tile at a time. 

What’s Right For Your Home?

If you’re remodeling your home and looking for the perfect tile to include in your design, the best place to start is by stopping by our showroom and start comparing your options. With a little bit of thought and planning, the sky’s the limit with what is possible with this material. You’ll find every color, size, pattern, and shape you can think of, and even some you didn’t know existed. 

Stop by today to see our entire tile selection today. 

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Looking For Green Flooring For Your Home?

Remember when the first wave of “green living” fans started making their way into headlines? The rest of us thought green living was … a little strange. Eco-friendly was anything but friendly. Who wanted natural materials that had no place in modern decor?

Well, times changed. And if eco-friendly living is one of your top demands in everything you buy for your home, you now have a lot of choices. Green living isn’t only “cool” but has a lot of advantages. What’s more, you can use green materials into almost everything you do. Looking For Green Flooring For Your Home?

Like green flooring. 

Green flooring is no longer only for environmentally savvy homeowners. Now green flooring is on everyone’s wish list, it includes some of the most in-demand materials in the world, and is being used to create beautiful living arrangements. They’re durable. They’re long-wearing. They’re perfect for every room in your home. 

Here are our favorites. 

Cork

What do you think of when you think of cork? Maybe you picture an old bulletin board you used in school. Or perhaps as a bottle stopper for your favorite wine. 

Cork has been used in a variety of ways throughout the years. Only lately as flooring.

Cork is harvested from the bark of fast-growing cork oak trees commonly found throughout the Mediterranean. This is a sustainable process. The cork tree isn’t chopped down. Instead, the bark is harvested, and will grow back every three years. That makes this a renewable resource you can be proud to put on display in your home. 

Cork has antimicrobial properties that help reduce allergens inside your home. Cork is also naturally fire retardant, making it the perfect choice for homes throughout Colorado. It’s also easy to maintain, and has natural insect repellents built into it too.

Today’s cork flooring isn’t the same as cork flooring from even a few years ago. You’ll be surprised at the durability. You’ll also be impressed with the colors and patterns. Like wood, cork can be finished with paints and stains to compliment any decor or color scheme. If you maintain it properly, it can easily have 20 to 30 years of life. 

Bamboo

Not sure about cork? Why not try a second look at another green flooring option – bamboo. Bamboo looks and feels like wood flooring, but it’s not made from wood at all. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that shares similar characteristics to the hardwood flooring choices you’ve come to love. 

Bamboo is a durable flooring that is easy to maintain. It comes in a wide variety of patterns, colors, styles, and choices. While bamboo itself is a light color, it varies in hue and grain, and takes quite well to customization. 

Like cork, bamboo is a sustainable flooring choice. It’s made from natural vegetation, a fast-growing grass that typically matures in about three to five years. Compare that to popular hardwood choices that can take twenty years or more to grow to maturity. 

Linoleum 

What do you think of when you hear the term: linoleum. If you’re like many, your mind probably drifts to vinyl options that have graced our homes for the past few decades. 

In truth, vinyl and linoleum have very little in common. Vinyl is made from synthetic petrochemicals that are anything but sustainable. Linoleum is created from linseed oil, cork dust, tree resin, wood flour, and ground limestone. All natural materials that produce a growing-in-popularity green flooring material. 

It offers homeowners a great choice when looking for durable, easy to maintain flooring. It’s flame resistant. It’s also water resistant. If properly maintained, it will hold up to years of wear and tear. 

While linoleum fell out of fashion in the 1940s when vinyl was introduced, it’s been making its comeback as homeowners continue to ask for green flooring choices. While linoleum does take a little more work to apply new sealers every so often, the work is worth it when you see the results. This is a great option for rooms where vinyl may have been your preferred choice once upon a time. 

Wool Carpet

Carpet has been a popular choice for decades, especially in low traffic areas like bedrooms. It’s soft, comfortable underfoot, and comes in a wide array of colors, patterns, and styles. 

It’s only recently that we’re starting to become aware of more traditional carpet materials and how they impact our health. Over the years, some carpet selections were made with volatile organic compounds (VOC) and toxins that are continually being proven to be harmful to the environment and to our health. That’s why many homeowners are returning to more natural options. 

Like wool carpet. 

Wool carpet is a natural resource made of wool. It’s spun into thread, woven into fibers, and tightly bound to create beautiful carpets to match any decor. 

Wool carpet is one of the original flooring options, you’ll find it all throughout history. If taken care of properly, it can quite easily last for centuries. In some families, wool carpets were passed down through the generations as a family heirloom. 

Hardwood

If you still have your heart set on good old fashion hardwood, never fear. There is a green option for you. 

Deforestation is a problem. But if you’re aware of it before you shop for hardwood, you can consider your options. When you visit with one of our flooring consultants, ask to see hardwood labeled FSC certified. This designation is given by the Forest Stewardship Council for a manufacturer that promotes the use of responsible management of forests. They ensure that the manufacturer adheres to both high social and environmental standards throughout the process. 

Another option is to use reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood reuses existing hardwood resources that have been used in many ways before. They are often salvaged from other projects; it can be a great way to use and reuse materials from other places in your home. 

Are you ready to find the perfect green flooring choice for your home? If going green is on your list of to-do’s this year, work with one of our flooring consultants to find the perfect look for your home.

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7 Things That Destroy Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors are a thing of beauty. And here in Colorado, they’ve become the norm. 

When you purchased your current home, it’s probably one of the first things you noticed as you walked through the front door. Hardwood creates the right amount of ambiance. It sets the stage for the way you decorate your home. 

7 Things That Destroy Hardwood FloorsIt doesn’t matter if you go with traditional oak, you select an exotic cherry, or lighten things up with a modern whitewash, nothing compares to hardwood. 

That’s also why you’ll cringe when you find the first scratch, and feel the pain when you notice the first stain. You wish your hardwood floors would last forever. And in many cases, they can last for a very long time. But there are some things that will destroy your hardwood floors quickly, and cause repair and replacement bills to escalate. 

Sharp Objects

The quickest way to destroy your hardwood floors is with sharp objects. And it doesn’t take you long to figure that out. One pull across the floor with a dining room chair will teach you that. One game of chase with your pet will clue you in. 

All of a sudden, your hardwood floor has a line across the planks, and your love for your flooring choice begins to wane. 

The best way to avoid this is to make conscious choices long before they become problems. 

  • Keep your pets’ nails short and neatly trimmed
  • Be sure to put felt pads on the legs of chairs, sofas, and other furniture
  • Avoid wearing high heeled shoes
  • Leave shoes by the door to avoid tracking in dirt and small rocks

A little preventative maintenance goes a long way. 

Rugs

While you may love the look of hardwood flooring throughout your home, chances are you’ll want to add a pop of color, or warm up the rooms you use most with decorative rugs. Whether you use small rugs for accents, or stretch them out to room-size – underneath a dining room table, for instance – to help protect your flooring, rugs are a great accent to every room. 

However, it’s equally important to think about what’s underneath the rug too. If you select a rubber-backed mat, or a rubber mesh pad, they can easily dull your floors finish. If left in place too long, they can cause discoloration that might not even go away if your restain. For full protection, be sure to use a combination of felt and rubber pad to keep your rugs in place. 

Sunshine

Colorado boasts well over 300 days of sunshine a year. And if your house accentuates the sun with big, beautiful windows, the heat can feel great especially on a cold, winter day. 

But as much as we love the sunshine as Coloradans, your hardwood floors do not. As the sun streams across your hardwood floors day after day, it can cause a change in the color of the wood. 

The best way to combat this is to be aware of how the sun flows into your home. Keep in mind it changes throughout the year. Keep blinds closed when the sun is the strongest. Be sure to limit exposure to limit discoloration and drying out of the wood’s finish. 

Vacuuming

Today’s vacuums are designed for every flooring you have throughout your home. With the touch of a button or a twist of a knob, you can adjust the brush’s rotation to pick up dirt on carpet, and just as quickly change to clean up messes on your hardwood. 

Or so the manufacturers say. 

That rotating brush can be very abrasive to the finish of your hardwood floor. While you can use a vacuum, just be aware of what makes contact with the finish. Avoid using harsh rotating brushes with stiff bristles that beat against the floor. Look for hardwood attachments that use softer processes for picking up dirt and debris. 

While it is important to pick up dirt and dust particles quickly, if you use the wrong tools for the job, the cleanup can be worse than the mess. 

Mopping

Our natural reaction to cleaning up a mess is to use water and a cleaning solution to really get it clean. But your hardwood floors don’t need it. Unless they get a lot of foot traffic, and your family brings in a lot of dirt and debris, vacuuming will keep them clean. Spot cleaning messes will take care of the floors just fine. 

Mopping can actually do more harm than good. Every time moisture comes in contact with hardwood, it runs the risk of seeping into the fibers of the wood. Water and hardwood don’t mix; it can quickly dry out and even warp the finish. When in doubt, don’t use water. 

Floor Cleaner

If you shop at the big box store looking for the perfect home cleaning solutions, you’ll find a lot of products promising to be gentle on hardwood floors. Don’t believe them. 

Floor cleaners have chemicals in their solutions. Even the ones that promise “natural” products or “gentle” solutions can be harsh and abrasive to your floor’s finish. 

Just like you should avoid mopping and using water as much as possible, continue that avoidance on to using chemical solutions. We’re happy to make recommendations for the perfect cleaner to use when things get a little messy around your home, and water just won’t do. 

Steamers and Professional Cleaners

Have you ever received an ad in the mail, promising a sparkling shine if you use professional cleaning or steaming on your hardwood floors? We’ve seen the ads too. While they might be believable, as flooring specialists we know they simply aren’t true. 

Steam and hardwood don’t mix. Water and wood flooring causes problems.

Like water, steam adds humidity directly to the wood. The longer steam is applied, the more it can penetrate the fibers. And that means your wood floors can suffer anything from discoloration to warping of the planks and boards. 

When in doubt, don’t to it. Simple is always better to keep your hardwoods looking new. 

Now that you know what not to do with hardwood flooring, we hope you’re excited about the opportunity of adding this wonderful flooring choice to your home. Nothing says Colorado more than hardwood flooring. Nothing adds warmth and elegance more than wood planks. And no matter what color, pattern, or style you’ve been dreaming about, we have a solution for your home. 

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Should You Invest In Traditional Hardwood Plank Floors or Tile Planks That Look Like Hardwood?

Here in Colorado, we love hardwood. And nothing gives your home more style and ambiance then installing hardwood plank floors throughout your home. 

Yet even though it’s a classic look, one that is popular throughout the Rocky Mountain region, it’s not necessarily the right choice for everyone. 

Do you have pets that live and play inside your home? Do they race around chasing one another? Do they love to play catch with a ball? Should You Invest In Traditional Hardwood Plank Floors or Tile Planks That Look Like Hardwood?

A few hours of that on a traditional hardwood plank floor will leave you regretting your decision to add this flooring choice to your home. 

Or maybe you have small children learning to crawl, walk, and jump. They drop their toys. They love to bang things together just to hear the noise. 

How well will your hardwood floors hold up to all of this action? Only time will tell. 

Luckily, there’s a new option in town. And it’s an option we really think you’re going to love. 

It’s tile flooring that looks like wood. If you’ve never seen it before, we think you’re going to be pleasantly surprised. 

It’s exactly what it sounds like – porcelain or ceramic tile that looks like traditional hardwood plank flooring. It comes in a variety of patterns, styles, and colors. It includes wood grain look with all of its perfect imperfections. You get all that and more – without the hassle and maintenance of traditional hardwood plank floors. 

Of course, there are pros and cons to both. There isn’t a “right” choice for every home. Only you can know which is the best choice for your situation. That’s why we’ve devised a little “pro and con” list to help you make your decision. 

Pros To Traditional Hardwood Plank Floors

Let’s start with the obvious. Hardwood plank flooring has been around for a very long time. It’s the most popular choice in homes all across the Denver Metro area, including homes up in the mountains. Can you imagine an elegant home in Evergreen with glorious views without hardwood flooring? 

Hardwood floors are timeless. They’re beautiful. They have a natural glow that you can’t duplicate. They are universal, and will never go out of style. 

And that means if you have hardwood plank floors throughout your home, it will improve your home’s value as well if you ever decide to sell. And because hardwood can last for decades if it’s well maintained, it’s the perfect investment to make when you’re remodeling your home. 

If you’ve ever walked on hardwood flooring, you know it’s also one of the most comfortable flooring choices. It stays warmer in the winter, it’s softer when you stand in place. That’s because wood has a little give in it. And that can be a good thing at the end of a very long day. 

And let’s not forget that because hardwood has been around for a long time, it’s also easier to match. Do you already have hardwood in your entryway? Or maybe a dining room? Or your kitchen? If you choose to extend hardwood plank flooring throughout your home, chances are it’s an easy match. 

Cons To Traditional Hardwood Plank Floors

If you have hardwood floors throughout your home, expect to spend time properly maintaining them. They don’t take water well, which means you’ll have to jump every time there is a spill. 

If you drop something, or have pets tearing through your home, expect scratches and dents to form quickly. 

You should also be aware that in some homes, hardwood flooring simply isn’t doable. Do you live in a condo built on a cement slab? Solid hardwood flooring needs proper subfloors, and there might not be clearance to make it all fit. If the floor rises too high, it may be impossible to open doors. And the sound may be something you (and your neighbors) simply can’t stand. 

Pros To Tile Plank Floors

If you’re ready to make the switch to tile plank floors, you’re going to love the durability. No more worrying about your pets destroying your flooring. No more worrying about your kids denting the wood. You also won’t have to cringe every time a guest scrapes a dining room chair across the floor. 

What’s more, when you spill a glass of water onto the floor, you won’t have to be concerned about the damage it causes. And if your kids “forget” to tell you about the bathtub overflowing? No worries; it won’t damage tile plank floors. (If water sits too long on any flooring, it can penetrate baseboards and seep down into the subfloor.)

If you haven’t looked at this new line of tile plank flooring, you’re going to be pleasantly surprised. They are stylish, and have more color options than anything you’ll find in wood. Why? Because some colors are easier to make in a factory. Hardwood is a natural product, and you can’t change its makeup. But with tile, the whites will be whiter, the whitewashed look will give you exactly what you’re looking for. Even the graining may be more “perfect”, giving you the ability to create any look at all. 

And tile plank floors can be installed anywhere. No more worries when placing it in your bathrooms, your laundry room, or the basement. 

Cons To Traditional Hardwood Plank Floors

Tile can be cold on the feet. You can solve that problem by installing radiant heating too. But that adds additional cost. 

And tile is harder than traditional hardwood plank flooring. You can’t change that. 

Installation may be more expensive, as the subfloor may need more work. Because of how tile is installed, you need to make sure the subfloor is perfectly installed. Tiles will crack and break if the floor is uneven, so precautions need to be made to ensure its flat. 

There’s also the chance that tile plank floors will become outdated and no longer the top choice for home remodels. We have no idea what future technology will look like, or what will be possible in the decades ahead. 

What’s Your Preference? 

With all that said, you’re probably starting to see a clear winner in your mind. What will it be? The timeless beauty of hardwood plank floors? Or the versatility of tile plank floors?

We have them both. Stop by today and see the difference. 

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Flooring Trends You’re Going To Love Installing In Your Home

Installing new flooring in your home is a big decision. It’s not a remodeling task you take on every day. So of course, you do your research and spend days – weeks – trying to decide the best choice for your lifestyle. 

You pay attention to current flooring trends to determine what other homeowners are installing in their own homes. You read home improvement magazines, maybe even start a Pinboard on Pinterest to track your favorite looks. 

While you want to choose a flooring trend that adds value to your home, you don’t want to get too trendy and have your final choice go out of style almost as quickly as it came in. Flooring Trends You’re Going To Love Installing In Your Home

What should you do?

Our suggestion is to pay attention to two things:

1. Your lifestyle – the easiest way to be disappointed with your flooring selection is if it isn’t easy to maintain. If you have pets and kids, you’re going to need a more versatile flooring selection than if you’re an individual living on your own. 

2. Your personality – don’t let anyone convince you to stay neutral or make your final selection based on resale value. You have to live with your choice. If your gut tells you to make a certain choice, that’s why there are thousands of different flooring choices on the market today. 

With those two things in mind, here are top flooring trends we see staying around for a long time. 

Fumed Hardwood Floors

Here in the Rocky Mountain region, we love our hardwood floors. Maybe it’s the mountains calling to us telling us to stay as natural as possible. Maybe it’s the ease – hardwoods are perfect no matter if it’s a snowy or sunny day. In any case, hardwood flooring and Colorado homes have always gone hand in hand together. 

But for some homeowners, they want a more unique look. Skip the staining; they want to see the beauty of the natural wood. That’s why fumed hardwood floors are growing in popularity. 

Fuming is a process of placing hardwood planks in a closed environment, and allowing airborne ammonia into the air to react with the wood to change its color. The ammonia is never applied directly to the wood, as that can weaken the wood fibers. The longer the ammonia is left in the air, the more the wood’s color and characteristics shine through. Just like other coloring options, no two pieces will ever be the same. That’s what gives fuming its unique look. 

For many, fumed wood floors have a richer, more luxurious look than the traditional staining methods used before. If you are interested in this latest flooring trend, stop by today and let us show you how it looks. 

Bleached Hardwood Floors

Not every homeowner prefers the dark hardwood look. Some prefer a lighter, more open look. That’s why the softer, bleached hardwood floor is peaking in popularity too. 

To get the bleached hardwood floor look, hardwood undergoes a blanching process that involves placing a chemical solution onto the surface of the planks to get rid of the color. Blanching gives the wood a whitewashed look while the natural grain still shines through. 

You don’t lose the charm of the natural wood planks you’ve chosen to install. They just shine in a lighter, more natural way. 

While some homeowners try and achieve this look with their current hardwood flooring, it can be an expensive and tedious process. Selecting ready-made blanched wood planks is often an easier choice. We’d be happy to show you a selection to help you make your final choice. 

Hardwood Porcelain Tiles

Colorado homeowners love the look of wood. Unfortunately, traditional hardwood isn’t always the right choice for every situation. 

That’s why we’ve fallen in love with hardwood porcelain tiles, and know they will be a flooring trend that’s going to be around for a very long time. You get the beauty of hardwood and the durability of tile – what can be better than that?

That makes hardwood porcelain tiles the perfect choices for rooms you might not think of installing traditional hardwood. Like bathrooms. Or the laundry room. Or basements. 

What’s more, by adding hardwood porcelain tiles to your living space, you can install them directly over radiant heating. No more cold floors in the morning when you rise from bed. Nice warm flooring in your living space on a cold winter day! That alone makes this flooring trend worth a second look. 

Wood Flooring and Patterns

Unless you have a fully customized home that was built for you, chances are your flooring was installed with a “lay it quickly” mindset. Subdivisions were created by duplicating processes over and over again. And that means your flooring looks like your neighbors, looks like your neighbors … You get the picture. 

But with today’s flooring options and technology, individuality and personality can be added to your decor like never before. That’s where your Pinterest Pinboard can help you create a look all your own. Why design a floor like everyone else’s? Try creating a pattern in any room in your home. 

We love the Chevron or Herringbone patterns. We’ve seen them installed nicely in kitchens and bathrooms. 

Or how about combining tile and hardwoods to create a look that’s creatively your own?

Why not lay tiles along the baseboards of a room and add hardwood in the middle? It’s a pleasing way to give your home a customized look, and you can add a pop of color anywhere with this easy strategy. 

The best way to create a house you’ll love is to let your imagination run wild. 

And the best way to do that is to stop by and see your options today. Come in with an open mind, and we’ll help you narrow down your ideas and bring a few samples home. Once you see how they add life and ambiance to your room, you’ll find the perfect selection for you. 

How can we help you make the right flooring choice for your home? You can never go wrong with the current flooring trends sweeping the nation. 

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How To Ensure You’ll Love Your Flooring Years From Now

Adding new flooring to your home is one of the biggest home improvement projects you can take on. Without ripping apart a room, or gutting your entire house, you can instantly change the decor and add beauty at the same time. It takes time, energy, and money, especially if you’re thinking of changing out the flooring in more than one room.

With so many different flooring options available, where do you begin? How do you know your choice will be something you’ll love for years to come?How To Ensure You’ll Love Your Flooring Years From Now

Before you start the selection process, ask yourself a few questions first.

• Do you have kids?
• How many pets do you have?
• Are you the “relax and chill” kind of family, or are dinner parties more your style?

Your answers should help influence your final decision. Some flooring choices are more durable than others. Some flooring options look good while being easy to care for at the same time. When in doubt, talk to a flooring consultant about your wants and desires, and listen closely – you might change your mind and go with a solution even better suited for your needs.

Hallways, walkways, and entryways
These rooms are the highest traffic rooms in your home. They are usually small and have one clear pathway. They are more susceptible to dirt, and can show wear and tear more than other areas in your home.

Because of these problems, your best choices are resilient flooring or tiling. The good news is that even if you love hardwood and desire to have it run throughout your home, resilient flooring is designed to mimic the look and feel. It’s a stylish and durable option for the highest traffic areas in your home.

Kitchens
Kitchens are also high traffic areas, and tend to be some of the messiest rooms in your home. Resilient flooring or tile is always a great choice because its durable and can take all you can dish out. Depending on your family and your needs, you can also install hardwood. It’s a beautiful and timeless look for any kitchen throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

Bathrooms
Bathrooms are also high traffic areas, but must sustain more humid and damp conditions than other rooms in your home. Tile and resilient flooring choices are also some of your best choices. They take damp situations well, and are easy to clean. If you want to add radiant heating underneath, tiles are the perfect choice to enjoy a warm floor on the coldest days of the year.

Living and Family Rooms
These are the gathering places of your home. They are often the largest, and also must sustain wear marks from large furniture and pathways. These are the gathering places of your home, and should look as good as they wear. If you love hardwood, this is the perfect place to add it and create a beautiful touch. Resilient flooring is also a great choice, especially if you have kids and pets. Consider adding area rugs to break up patterns and to add warmth and ambiance to your room design.

Bedrooms
These are the lowest traffic areas of your home. They are also the rooms where you want warmth and comfortable living. If you like carpeting, these rooms are the perfect place to select with style. Carpet also has noise-reducing qualities that can help keep your home quiet all throughout the day.

What’s your style? What flooring choice is right for you? Let one of our design consultants help you make the perfect choice for you.

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What Flooring To Use In Your Kitchen Remodel

For most homeowners, a kitchen remodel is something they dream about for months – years – until finally, they take the plunge. Remodeling your kitchen allows you to make it the way you want it to be. 

Add your dream countertops. 

Select the wood for your cabinets. 

And don’t forget about the kitchen floor. 

Before you make your final selection, ask yourself three questions. What Flooring To Use In Your Kitchen Remodel

  • What will you have to do to maintain your kitchen floor selection?
  • How well does this type of flooring handle under spills and moisture?
  • What styles are available to look great in your final design?

Durability is the name of the game. The more action in your household, the more you’ll want to select a floor that can handle the pressure. Three of the best choices are tile, hardwood, and resilient. 

Tile

Tile is one of the long-time favorites for kitchen flooring choices. They are practical yet beautiful at the same time. 

Of course, you can go with more traditional ceramic or porcelain. But with today’s technology, you might be surprised at the wide range of styles, colors, sizes, and patterns available. How about choosing a tile floor that looks like granite? Or how about selecting tile planks that mimic hardwood? This will allow you to spend more time enjoying your kitchen, and less time cleaning it. 

Hardwood

Hardwood gives you a timeless look that you’ll love for years to come. If you have hardwood throughout your living space, why not continue the look into your kitchen as well. While they do need a little bit more maintenance than tile, with regular cleaning they will continue looking great for years to come. 

Resilient

Are you looking for the looks of hardwood, without the upkeep or maintenance required to keep them looking great for years? Look no further than resilient flooring. 

Resilient flooring is also called luxury vinyl. It’s versatile, affordable, and will last a long time if properly maintained. This isn’t your mother’s vinyl. Instead, it’s made from waterproof composite material designed to give you the look of hardwood and tile without the fuss or worry. It’s easy to care for, scratch resistant, stain resistant, and waterproof. Perfect for busy households with pets and kids. 

So what’s the right flooring choice for your home? Need some help deciding? We’re happy to help; stop by and see our full selection today. 

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