What Plank Size Should You Use In Different Room Sizes?

We see it happen a lot. Someone selects a wide plank for their hardwood floors, installs it, and hates the look almost immediately. Why does this happen?

In truth, a lot goes into deciding how wide your planks should be. As a professional installer, we look at a variety of things before making recommendations: the overall dimensions of your room, the width and the length of the room, what rooms the hardwood will be installed in, and how your rooms flow. 

So what is considered wide? How do you know what width is best for you? What Plank Size Should You Use In Different Room Sizes?

For traditional wood floors, most standard planks run between 2 ¼ to 3 inches in width. When you see a traditional oak wood floor, chances are it was installed using this width. It works well in any decor – from country to rustic, to modern. If you want clean, consistent lines, nothing can be more beautiful. 

But in the last several years, boards have been getting wider. Think 4 inches, 6 inches, 8 inches and beyond. 

When you increase the width, you’ll also have to make another decision: do you want all of your hardwood the same width? Or do you want to lay your floor using random widths? This is a personal choice; there is no right or wrong answer. All one width tends to have a more elegant look and feel, while mixing and matching widths tends to be more modern and contemporary. 

The wider you go, the fewer seams you’ll have on your flooring. If you move from a 3 inch to an 8 inch plank, you can reduce the number of seams in your room by as much as 80 percent!

Wider width creates drama throughout your room. It can turn an average room into Wow. 

Are you ready to update the hardwood flooring in your home?

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What’s Making You Sick? It Might Be Your Flooring

Feeling a little ill? For most of us, we settle into bed and wait for the cold of flu-like symptoms to fade away. But what if they don’t? For some, the symptoms linger for days, weeks, even months. Eventually, they start a hunt to find out the root cause. It may lead straight to your flooring. 

Lumber Liquidators reached a settlement for their formaldehyde filled flooring.

It’s not just laminate flooring at risk. Some vinyl flooring has been found to have high levels of phthalate, an ingredient used to make plastics more pliant. They are also known carcinogens. 

What’s Making You Sick? It Might Be Your FlooringThink carpeting is at less risk? Think again. Selecting a synthetic carpet may make your carpet more durable and stain-resistant, but it can also contain more VOCs – volatile organic compounds. These toxic fumes can put your health at risk. 

What’s a homeowner to do?

First, pay attention to what is installed in your home. Think natural instead of synthetic. Think sustainable. Think organic. 

Any time you install natural products in your home, you’re more likely to breathe a little easier. But don’t stop with your flooring choice; pay attention to the installation process too. What glues will the installer use? Keep every part of the installation process as natural as possible. 

Next, be conscious when caring for your new flooring. Don’t bring in any more chemicals than necessary. Use natural cleaning solutions. Better yet, make your own. Vinegar and water is a natural cleaning solution you can use at any time without the harsh chemical smell associated with some cleaning products. 

You should also ensure that your home has proper ventilation throughout. Be sure your home’s heating and cooling system is properly vented. Use a dehumidifier to ensure your home has proper humidity levels to prevent mold and mildew from forming. 

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Maybe It’s Time To Tile The Bathroom

If you’ve decided now is the time to upgrade your bathroom, you can’t help but notice all of the things you can do with tile. Tile isn’t just for the floors anymore. In fact, tile is the perfect material to use throughout your bath. It’s perfect to use for the floors, for the walls in your shower, even for the backsplash by your vanity. 

What tiles are the best to use in each situation? What are today’s trends, and how well will they stand the test of time?Maybe It’s Time To Tile The Bathroom

Think Large

Because tile has grown in popularity, you’ll find today’s choices are greater than ever. Instead of using traditional tile sizes, think big instead. And when we’re talking big, we mean 18×18, 24×24, or even larger for floors, and 8×24 or 10×30 for walls. These larger sizes can make your space appear bigger. And by using larger tiles, you’ll have fewer grout lines to worry about down the road. 

Concrete 

The latest rage is concrete – it’s poured as a floor, even used on countertops. Why not try concrete tile too? In a bathroom, it can give you a warm and contemporary look and feel. And the tone allows you to mix and match any earthy color combination you choose. 

Subway 

Subway tiles will never go out of style. Depending on how you use them, they can give your space a retro flair or push the edge of contemporary. While traditional white might be perfect for your home, it’s by no means your only choice. Subway tiles also look wonderful in traditional brick tones or mixed with your concrete tiles.

Wood Tiles

Yep, it’s hard not to get into the newest look for tiles: wood plank. So many homeowners have tried to put hardwood in the bathroom, only to be quickly disappointed. Now you can, thanks to wood tiles. They have a distinct look that are inspired to carry on your wood theme into the most difficult rooms in your home. Whether you like traditional hardwood, prefer an updated whitewash, or settle on reclaimed wood-look, you’re going to like wood tiles. 

Don’t Forget The Details

When you’re installing tiles in the bathroom, details count. Luckily there are unlimited possibilities when putting together the final touches to your bathroom decor. In the shower, you can mix and match tile to cover the floor, the walls, drains, storage areas for bottles and soap, benches, even create eye-appealing trim running around your fixtures. You can make tile stand out or let them blend in. 

Your idea potential is unlimited. And you’re going to love the results. Just be sure you select an installer who is experienced in working with tile. Bathrooms experience high levels of humidity and moisture. For that reason, make sure the job is done the right way the first time. 

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Wood Plank Flooring – Surprise, It’s Tile

Here in Colorado, we love our hardwood. But in some places throughout the home, hardwood just doesn’t make sense. 

Try putting it into your master bathroom; how well does it stand up to the moisture and wet conditions? 

How about in the basement? A damp basement may be the perfect place to warp the hardwood. 

And outside living spaces? Sure, you may be able to use your covered space many months of the year. But hardwood? Nope, there’s no way you’d ever consider it. Wood Plank Flooring - Surprise, It’s Tile

Which is why hardwood plank tile maybe just the thing. 

The first thing to understand about wood plank tile is it comes in many sizes – just like hardwood. Whether you want 24, 30 or 40 inch lengths, there’s a wood plank tile for you. Prefer a more standard 6 inch width, or want a more distinct look by moving to 8, 10, even 12 inch width or more? You can find what you’re looking for. 

And when it comes to color, you’ll find tile mimics traditional hardwood in every way. Whether you want light or dark, a standard oak look or something more unique like reclaimed wood, you’ll find it in today’s tile choices. You can even mix two shades together to create a look that’s all your own. 

What’s best, is you can install them anywhere. They can withstand moisture. They can handle outside conditions. They’ll quickly become your favorite flooring throughout your home. 

And if you’re worried about them feeling a little cold on a winter day, consider radiant heating. Install this heating system before you lay your tile, and you’ll find warmth for your feet no matter what the temperature readings are for the day. 

Are you ready to install wood plank tiles in your home?

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Is Buying White Carpet A Recipe For Disaster?

We had an interesting question from a woman shopping for carpet for her bedroom. 

I’ve always dreamed of having a light, bright, clean look in my bedroom. I’ve had my eye on white carpeting for a long time, but the idea of keeping it clean has always held me back. Still, you can buy white carpeting, so someone must be buying it. Should I invest in it? Or select another color?

Carpeting isn’t something you can change out as easily as you do the sheets on your bed. For some, they will only invest in new carpet a few times in their lifetime. So it is a big decision. Is Buying White Carpet A Recipe For Disaster?

And while the color does matter somewhat, other things are more important to the decision making process. 

Choosing The Right Carpet For Your Lifestyle

Should someone invest in white carpet? If her lifestyle is such that white carpet works in her life, then it might be the perfect investment. If you live alone, white carpet can be a beautiful addition to a bedroom environment. If, however, you have a busy family with small children and several pets, a white carpet may be a disaster waiting to happen. Only you can decide what the risks are. 

Carpet Quality Isn’t All The Same

When you walk in and start evaluating different carpets, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. With so many choices, which is the best? That’s where an expert can help. A lot goes into making carpet. Fibers, backing materials, cuts, style, even warranties differ greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. A carpet expert can help you understand the differences and select the right carpet that will meet your expectations. 

Move Past The Deals

It’s easy to get sucked into the deals you see on television or find in a flyer mailed to your home. Why not jump at the chance of having your whole house carpeted for $99? Quite simply – it isn’t true. They get their profits in some other way. They tack on hidden fees, sell you on added services, or move you towards other products when the promised one can’t be delivered. Focusing on cost puts you immediately at a distinct disadvantage because you’re looking at today’s investment rather than how much it will cost you over a lifetime. If it wears out in half the time, was it really a good deal? 

Don’t Skimp On The Things That Mean The Most

Many people push the limits of their budget with the carpet selection, only to skimp on the padding underneath. This is one of the worst mistakes. The padding is what keeps your carpet looking its best for years to come. It’s what takes the punishment every time you walk on it. It protects the backing and the fibers from wear and tear. 

Should you invest in white carpet? Our answer is: it depends. If your heart is set on it and the conditions are right, then it may be the perfect selection for you. 

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Have you Fallen For These Carpet Myths? It Might Be Time To Buy New Carpet

Carpeting. It’s something we take for granted until something happens. Maybe your child spills chocolate ice cream on the floor. Or a guest drops a glass of red wine. Suddenly all of your attention moves to your flooring. Now what?

A quick search will bring up a plethora of ideas on what to do next. 

  • Use vinegar.
  • Use baking soda.
  • Use ammonia.
  • A little dish soap will do the trick.
  • Or try hydrogen peroxide; that works in some cases.

The thing is, they might work. With most spills, the most important part of cleaning it up is to act quickly. Have you Fallen For These Carpet Myths? It Might Be Time To Buy New Carpet

If you remove the stain before it sets in, you have a better chance of removing it all from the fibers. 

The longer it sets, the less likely it will be that it will all come up. 

Yet the more you use different cleaning products on your carpet, the more it wears out the fiber. 

Dish soap, for instance, is designed to remove grease and grime from cooking utensils. But when you use dish soap, you scrub a dish or pot clean, then rinse the residue away. 

You can’t do that with carpet. When you use it and rub it into the fibers, it sets in deep into the threads. You can’t rinse the residue away. So it often makes a bad situation worse. 

It’s the same with many of the popular cleaning methods you’ll find online. Sure, they might work. But use them again and again and you’ll likely see your carpets grow dingy, dull, and worn. 

And don’t think it’s just the DIY methods that cause the problem. Even many commercial cleaning products or services can cause more harm than good. 

Many of today’s top commercial products include harsh chemicals, contaminants, and toxins that are harmful to your carpets. And when you use them in enclosed spaces, they can offgas and cause problems to your family’s health. 

Want better advice? Sometimes it helps to go straight to the source. We work with different carpet manufactures and understand the best way to keep your investment clean and in good condition. 

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Is Summer Humidity Ruining Your Wood Floors?

Humidity in Denver? That’s probably the last thing on your mind when it comes to installing wood floors throughout your home and caring for them so they’ll last for years. 

Yet it’s true. Even here in the dry state of Colorado, summer brings in more humidity to your home than any other time of the year. Is Summer Humidity Ruining Your Wood Floors?

When you run your furnace, it dries out your living environment. When you flip on your air conditioner, it adds moisture back into your home. And if you’ve ever been around where we get brief, afternoon showers, you know after it leaves and the temperatures rise once again, muggy is the only way to describe it. 

That doesn’t just impact you. It impacts your floors too. 

Wood is a living organism. It contracts when it’s dry. It expands when it’s moist. And if it receives too much moisture, it quickly rots away. 

When you install hardwood into your home, the best place to start is with the acclimation process. The time frame depends on your home, and whether you’re installing natural wood, engineered wood, or laminate. Anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks should do the trick. It’s also important to give your wood floor a chance to breathe after it’s installed, before you apply stain and sealants too. 

Studies show that the ideal atmosphere is somewhere around the 50 percent level for moisture content. If you let it drop below, the wood can dry out. And if it gets a lot more moisture, it can warp and change. This is why wood is not good for bathrooms where humidity levels can be much greater. 

Humidity can come in many forms. If your floor continually gets wet from condensation, moisture, or even puddles of water, it can seep into your wood floors causing them to expand over time. Without a place to go, you’ll find cupping or crowning between the planks. 

Cupping occurs in the middle of the board with both sides rising. Crowning creates the center of the board to rise higher than the edges. Both are caused by moisture impacting the wood from underneath. As the floor dries, it separates and causes the planks to have gaps. 

Thinking of installing hardwood in your home? Stop by today. We can help you select the right hardwood flooring for your home. 

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Want New Flooring To Cool Down In Summertime?

Does it feel like there’s a lot more summer than winter across the Front Range these days? Are you looking for ways to stay cool as the temperatures rise? Instead of looking up for a ceiling fan, maybe it’s time to look down and replace your flooring instead. 

Stone, tile, and wood all have a way of feeling cool underneath your feet. These dense materials reflect heat, allowing it to bounce off and dissipate back into the air. Carpeting and rugs insulate, meaning they hold heat better in their fibers. This is why plush carpeting feels good on your feet on a cold winter morning. Pockets of heat are trapped within the fiber.  Want New Flooring To Cool Down In Summertime?

Stone, tile, and wood have no place for heat to hide. That’s why it’s a colder material to walk on, especially with bare feet. That’s why you’ll find your pets laying belly down to the ground on a hot summer day. It feels cool!

Of course, that’s not the only way you can make your home a little cooler as the temperatures climb up and up. Color plays an important role too. How you perceive your surroundings can sometimes help change how hot you feel. Bright red or orange screams heat. Sea greens and blues, or a gray-blue slate help you think cool. Just walking into a room that’s built around a cooler color helps your mind stay calm. 

You can also use tiles to convey cooler temperatures in other ways. 

How about a glass backsplash using cool colors as part of your decor? Glass tiles work well in both the kitchen and the bathroom. And if you use a color that contrasts your floors, you can play even more into creating a look that will cool you down. 

Sold on installing a floor perfect for the summer heat waves that are quickly coming our way? Nervous about how your flooring will make you feel when a cold snap heads our way?

Stone, tile, and wood also an advantage of being installed over radiant heating. This gives you an opportunity to enjoy the cool feeling in the summertime, while being able to heat your home with this effective and efficient technology when the first snowflakes start to fly. 

Are you ready to install new flooring to help you stay cool this summer? Stop by and let us show you all the ways you can do that … beautifully. 

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Felt or Fiberglass Vinyl Floor Backings?

For some rooms in your home, vinyl is a perfect choice. And when you walk into your local flooring dealer, you might be surprised by the many options available when it comes to installing vinyl in your home. 

But did you know that selecting the right backing is equally as important as the color, style, and pattern? Sure, you’ll have to live with the design and be happy with the look. But if the performance is off from the beginning, you’ll regret your choice no matter how beautiful it is. Felt or Fiberglass Vinyl Floor Backings?

The right backing adds durability, water-resistance, and determines how your flooring will wear. It also determines how it will be installed. Let’s talk about two of the most popular types of backing available on vinyl floors. 

Felt

If your vinyl flooring has a felt backing, it must be installed with permanent adhesive so it will stick to the subflooring. Otherwise, it may start curling on the ends over time. 

The installation process is a little more tedious as the subfloor must be primed and ready to go. The proper amount of adhesive must be used to ensure they vinyl is properly attached to the subfloor. Tiles will also be a little more difficult to remove. 

Because felt backed tiles will adhere to the floor, it is important to acclimate them to your home before installation. Leave them to sit for at least 24 hours to allow them to adjust to room conditions. 

Felt backed tiles are not recommended for basements or any room where they will come in contact with consistent moisture or water. 

Fiberglass

Fiberglass vinyl is growing in popularity due to its simpler installation process. It can be installed with releasable adhesive or no adhesive at all, making it easy to lay and replace towels if they become wet or damaged. Fiberglass doesn’t have the curling problem associated with felt back vinyl. It also won’t shrink, crack, or warp with exposure to varying elements. 

Fiberglass is also known for its muting qualities. It’s softer underfoot because of its thickness, which also adds to its noise-reducing qualities. That makes it a perfect choice for rooms you might not have considered before, such as living spaces. Fiberglass is helping redefine how you think about vinyl flooring and gives it a step up in desirability for installation in your home. 

If you have any questions about vinyl flooring, give us a call and talk with one of our representatives. 

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What Flooring To Choose If You Want Silence

Have you ever tried to creep up the stairs, only to hear a squeak loud enough to wake up the entire home? 

Your flooring might not truly be that loud, but in a quiet home, every noise it makes can have you cringing. If you’re looking for noise reduction, it’s time to take another look at carpet. 

Wool carpet has some of the greatest noise reduction properties in the industry. Wool carpet is beautiful, durable, fire retardant, stain resistant, hypoallergenic … and offers some of the best noise reduction in the industry. 

Wool naturally captures air within its fiber, allowing it to absorb more sound deep within. Wool carpet can help eliminate walking sounds as well as up to 80 percent of other sound emission from other sources. That’s what makes a big difference, especially in homes with lots of action, working environments, even in multi-story buildings where sounds travel up and down between floors. 

The benefits of this noise reduction doesn’t stop there. Studies show that increased exposure to noise impacts your health in many ways. It can impact your sleep patterns. It can cause high blood pressure. It can impact your hearing over time. It can have cause negative psychological impact, increasing your stress levels. While complete soundproofing isn’t possible, using noise reduction techniques in certain situations can help you improve the circumstances. And wool carpets are an easy, beautiful way to accomplish that. 

Looking for noise-reduction but still love your hardwood floors? 

Then look for ways to decrease the noise levels by selecting wool rugs. 

Just like wool carpet, wool rugs offer the same durability, classic good looks, and noise reduction qualities. You can even customize your look to get the exact color, shape, and size you need. And because many wool carpet and rug selections are from sustainable sources, you’ll be proud to display it in your home, knowing you’re home is as green as possible. 

Would the noise-reduction qualities of wool rugs and carpet be a good choice for your home? 

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