Blog - PRO! Flooring

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
February 20, 2016

Use Cork Flooring In Bathrooms

Remodeling your bathroom? Debating on what floors will be perfect for your new look?

Why not give cork flooring a try.

If you’ve ever done any research on cork flooring, you know it’s one of the easiest floors to fall in love with. It’s soft under your feet. It’s warm, which can be perfect on cold winter mornings. And it’s easy to maintain.

But cork and bathrooms? Do they mix?

Have you ever watched how fast a cork stopper springs back into shape after you pull it out from a wine bottle? It retains its shape and continues to feel soft and smooth, no matter how long its been sitting in the bottle. And once removed, its easy to pop back into the bottle, moving back into position. It’s flexible.

If you drop a bottle of your favorite cologne while getting ready, you won’t have to cringe as you wait for the inevitable shatter. With hard ceramic tiles, that’s a strong possibility. But not so with cork, as it most likely will bounce.

The softness is there. But what about durability?

Cork comes in two formats, glue down tiles and floating floor. The glue down tiles are the only format suitable for bathroom spaces due to potential water and moisture damage. A cork floor glue down tile requires the same subfloor preparation as a traditional mortar or glue down floor for other flooring choices. It must be clean and dry before installation, and use either plywood or cement as a base. Once the subfloor is in place, the process proceeds in similar fashion to a ceramic or porcelain tile.

After installation, be sure to apply two coats of water based polyurethane. This will prevent water from damaging the floor.

Thinking of installing cork in your bathrooms? Whether you are looking for a DIY project, or would prefer professional installation, stop by today and find the perfect cork tiles for your next project.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
February 17, 2016

Acclimating Wood Flooring Before Installation

Ready to have wood flooring installed in your home? It’s not a buy and install in one day process.

Wood, unlike other flooring choices, has special needs when brought into your home. And because wood flooring is a major investment, it’s wise to understand all of the details before you finish installation. If you install a wood floor before it’s properly acclimated, it can potentially cause buckling or gaping, which the manufacturer will not cover as a part of their warranty.

Even though most manufacturers will provide guidelines on how to acclimate their wood flooring into your home, it’s more than just a time slot that matters. In fact, there are two important characteristics that should be used as a guide when determining the proper process.

Wood floor moisture content and relative humidity in the surrounding area are both vital to a wood floor’s success.

In a perfect world, a wood floor should be dried specifically for the climate in which it will be installed. Since logistics make that almost impossible to perform, the industry has established standards of 6 to 9 percent moisture content instead. This means that depending on where you live, it will have to adjust and perform somewhere outside of these guidelines.

And in order to do that, it has to reach the proper moisture content level in equilibrium with the surrounding environment before it is installed. Most warranties will require that the jobsite be maintained between 30 and 50 percent relative humidity and thosse conditions be maintained before, during and after installation for the life of the floor.

Yet no matter what the guidelines say, its easy assume you’re doing the right thing, and have problems appear anyway. What’s the cause?

In many homes, installing new wood flooring is a part of a remodel process. Yet remodeling can change the moisture and humidity levels of your home substantially. Image a room being taped off, re-drywalled, re-textured, and repainted. All of that change the inside conditions substantially. If you bring in wood flooring during this time period to acclimate to the conditions, it will do so under false conditions. And if installed, it may quickly begin showing gaps in the floor.

Need another example? Colorado is a dry environment, with relative humidity almost always in low range. Where does your hardwood flooring come from? If you are remodeling your home with wood that comes from a substantially more humid area, acclimation may stretch beyond the one week recommendation in order to bring it into line.

Contrary to popular belief, acclimating your wood flooring to your environment has little to do with time, everything to do with bringing it into equilibrium with the environment. If you take the time to acclimate it correctly, your hardwood flooring will give you years of beautiful results.

Flooring
February 13, 2016

A Guide To Resilient Flooring

The term resilient means:

An object able to spring back into shape after bending, stretching or being compressed. Flexible, pliable, supple.

Add another term – resilient flooring – and you’ll have one of the most popular and practical flooring materials on the market today.

Resilient flooring is a general term that is made up of flooring manufactured from vinyl, plastic laminate, linoleum, cork, and other similar materials. They provide a cushion feel beneath your feet, and are skid-resistant, quiet, more comfortable, and warmer than other materials like stone or tile.

Drop a glass of water onto a resilient floor and not only will your mess be easy to wipe clean, the glass itself may survive the fall.

Compare resilient flooring to other popular choices: wood, tile or stone. You’ll find materials that are less expensive, available in an unbelievable array of patterns and colors, and ready to take on all of your daily activities with ease.

And resilient flooring can be used in any room, take on any look, and function in an easy-to-maintain way, making your daily chore list just a little shorter.

Some of our favorites?

Laminate plank flooring takes on the appearance of a hardwood floor, yet gives you easy, maintenance free living. Laminate plank flooring provides you with plank wood look and feel, easy click in place construction, and the softness and durability that comes with being a resilient floor. Perfect for family and living rooms, and kitchen spaces with lots of traffic.

Cork flooring is another favorite. Cork is growing in popularity because of its beautiful look and its incredible versatility. You can use cork in any room in your home. It’s softness makes it easy to stand on for long periods of time. And because it’s an eco-friendly product, it provides you with the benefits of being sustainable too.

And of course we can’t forget vinyl. Vinyl flooring is the perfect choice for many rooms in your home. How about the bathrooms? Or the laundry room? It’s a perfect choice when you desire a seamless look with beauty and style. It’s a perfect choice for rooms with high moisture, high humidity.

Ready to make resilient flooring a part of your home? Stop by today and see all of the options waiting for you.

Flooring
February 9, 2016

Low VOC Flooring Choices

Looking for a natural, environmentally friendly flooring choice? Want a floor that offers health benefits as well as looks great too? Chances are you’ll want to consider purchasing a floor with low VOC

VOC – volatile organic compound – are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperatures. When in flooring, after installation, these compounds begin to evaporate or sublimate and enter the surrounding air.

Over the years, as more has come to light on the damage high VOCs have on health, lower VOC options are available.

For carpets, look for natural fibers like wool, and also towards plant based fibers like jute and hemp. Also remember that VOCs don’t just live in the carpet fibers, but also behind the carpet as well. Focus in on the construction, what materials were used to produce the backing? How is the padding constructed? What type of adhesive is used to lay down the pad and/or the carpeting? All have the potential to offgas over time.

With wood flooring, the finish can be a major source of VOCs, particularly if you are using a polyurethane sealer. There are a number of water based sealers that have lower VOCs than older oil-based sealers, yet still offer high performance and durability over time.

Laminate flooring is created with particleboard and wood chips pressed together. As a part of this process, the glue has the potential to provide offgassing in greater quantities than its hardwood counterparts. Make sure it qualifies as an eco-friendly flooring choice. In many cases laminate flooring is installed with a lock and click process, avoiding high VOC adhesives altogether.

If choosing a low VOC flooring option is important to you, the best place to start is to view your options. Stop by today and see the many different styles of low VOC flooring choices available right now.

Carpet, Flooring
February 6, 2016

What Is Your Carpet Made From

The starting point of every carpet is the fiber. Look at a carpet and you’ll see fibers created from thousands of tiny threads that when combined create color and patterns and style. They define both the texture and the softness, and will determine how durable your carpets will be in the months and years to come.

Most carpets are constructed with either bulked continuous filament (BCF), which are long continuous strands twisted together to form carpet yarn, or Staple fibers, which are bulkier and shorter fibers like wool.

There are only four primary fibers used in carpeting today: nylon, polypropylene, polyester and wool.

Nylon – is a petroleum based synthetic fabric that was invented by Dupont Chemical Company as a silk alternative. Today’s nylon is engineered to be durable, wear resistant and offer resistance to stains, making it a perfect choice for high traffic areas.

Polypropylene – is a colorfast, stain resistant, moisture resistant, and low static option for carpet. It’s lightweight, won’t fade, and stands up well to strong chemical cleaning products. It’s a softer fiber, not as durable as wool or nylon, and should be used in lighter foot traffic areas, such as bedrooms.

Polyester – is a less expensive alternative to wool. It still offers the environmentally friendly factors of wool, often being made from recycled products such as plastic soda or water bottles. It’s colorfast, soft, plush and one of the most affordable carpets you can buy.

Wool – is created from sheep fiber and is often considered to be the very best carpet material available. It’s natural, durable, luxurious, soft, flame retardant, water repellant, stain resistant and environmentally friendly.

Visit a flooring dealer and you will find carpets by many different manufacturers. Think of it as you would fashion; the name brand gives an indication of the quality and the workmanship. Carpet works the same way, with name brands offering you the best quality in the business. Brand names are manufactured to strict standards, offering better performance characteristics, improved stain and static resistance, and better warranties.

Want to find the perfect carpet for your home? Stop by today and discover the perfect carpeting for your home.

Carpet, Flooring
February 3, 2016

Why Cushion Backed Carpet Tiles Are A Necessity

Doing a little research on carpet tiles? The first thing you’ll notice is the difference in the backing. Carpet tiles come with a hardback or a cushion back. Which is best? There are a number of reasons why cushion backed carpet tiles may be the winner.

Easy To Install
Certain types of cushion backed carpet tiles have a open cell cushion backing which is non-reactive. This means the backing won’t react to traces of adhesive that may be left on the sub-floor and cause problems with the adhesion process. A non-reactive back means less time in clean up from the old carpeting, less time in preparation to lay the new. And because you won’t have to prime or seal the floor, you’ll reduce your labor and installation costs throughout the process.

Durability
Most people focus in on the carpet when deciding on a carpet. Yet if long-wearing and durability is your ultimate goal, look towards the backing as well. Cushion absorbs the impact of foot traffic, not the fibers. Which means that by upgrading to a cushion backed tile, you can add as much as 50 percent lifespan to your carpet life.

Reduce Noise
In many cases you’ll be adding carpet to reduce noise. By adding cushion backed tiles, you’ll have a quieter space, with the cushion absorbing as much as 50 percent more noise than that of other products. Less noise, less stress, happier surroundings.

Control Moisture
Do you have moisture problems? High humidity levels? Issues with mold or mildew? Cushion backed carpet tiles may be your solution. Open cell cushioning prevents mold and mildew better than any other backing. It allows carpet to breathe and enables moisture to escape through the seams rather than staying trapped between the floor and the carpet. Some carpets can be installed in areas with relative humidity levels as high as 85 percent; be sure to check with the manufacture to ensure the carpeting meets your specifications.

Cushion backed carpet tiles may be the perfect solution for you. If you want a great looking floor that can provide comfort and well-being for everyone in the space, look no further. To discover the many options available to you, stop by today.

Flooring, Tile Floors
January 30, 2016

Want Low Maintenance? Try These Flooring Tiles

Why are flooring tiles a great choice for your workspace? Because of their versatility. With regular cleaning and maintenance, you can ensure a great looking floor for years to come.

To help you choose the right tiles for your situation, consider these maintenance routines for each of these popular flooring tile options.

Carpet Tile
Carpet tiles require daily cleaning by running a vacuum over the area. Daily vacuuming helps remove dust, dirt and debris that could otherwise sink into the carpet fibers and destroy the backing. In addition to regular vacuuming, carpet tiles also require periodic deep cleaning. When choosing a deep cleaning method, opt for waterless cleaning methods. Dry powder cleaning uses micro-beads to attract and absorb dirt and debris. Once the powder is brushed into the carpet, a simple vacuum can remove the powder and the dirt along with it. Hot water can linger in the carpets even after extraction, loosening the adhesive and impacting the overall strength of the tile. If water is left in the tile, dirt and debris will continue to accumulate.

Vinyl Composite Tile
Vinyl composite tile provides a smooth, hard surface that’s easy to clean and easy to maintain. Like other hard surfaces, vinyl composite tile requires daily sweeping and mopping to remove dirt and debris. In addition, it requires regular waxing and polishing to help protect it from scuffs, scratches and discoloration. The process is relatively easy, stripping off the old layer and reapplying a new one. The number of times the process is needed over the year depends on the amount of foot traffic in the area.

Luxury Vinyl Tile
A step up from vinyl composite tiles are their luxury vinyl tile counterparts. What makes them different is their no wax maintenance schedules. Luxury vinyl tiles use a thick, transparent layer and a polyurethane coating on the surface to protect the tiles. This coating provides an excellent resistance to stains, scratches and scuff marks, while eliminating the need for waxes, polishes and other harsh chemicals. This results in a maintenance schedule that’s less labor intensive than other types of vinyl flooring. Over its lifetime, a luxury vinyl tile may only require a single refinishing. Daily sweeping and mopping still apply.

Which is the right choice for you? Your personality and organizational requirements will help define. In any case each of these flooring tile options will give you an easy way to make your workspace look great, and be easy to maintain too.

Flooring, Tile Floors
January 25, 2016

Using Marble Tile: What To Consider

Choosing new flooring for your bathroom? There are plenty of reasons why marble tile may be the perfect choice for you. Not only has marble been the inspiration behind home design for centuries, its also a versatile material that will leave your bathroom in beautiful condition for many years to come.

Yet not all marble is the same. How do you choose the right marble for you?

Consider veining levels
Marble comes in many colors with varying degrees of veining. Veining refers to the movement or pattern woven throughout the final piece you select. It can range from subtle to high; no two stones are ever the same. It’s best to investigate a wide variety of marble choices before making your final selection to get a feel for all the options available to you.

Choose the right finish
When selecting marble tile for the bathroom, it’s important to keep in mind that not all tiles are the same. It is essential to choose tile that can withstand high humidity conditions, and one that will withstand heavy foot traffic without being slippery. Marble for bathroom floors must be compatible for wet conditions; not all marble is. Marble with honed or low-gloss finishes will offer the best results. Always talk with a flooring consultant before making your final selection to ensure the marble you select is the right choice for the conditions.

Choose the right color
Marble comes in a variety of colors, with an equal amount of veining options as well. You can stick with a subtle white marble background with varying shades of veining, or go with a darker, richer shade to add a bit of elegance to your space. Try complimenting your bathroom floor with your countertops, shower space or backspash. Together they will create a space you will be proud to live with for many years to come.

Consider the different cuts
While marble provides natural beauty to whatever space you choose, there are different ways of cutting it, which will play into the way it’s designed. A vein-cut marble is cut to enhance the movement that occurs through the stone, and produces a consistent veining pattern across the slab or tiles. A cross-cut marble is cut at a 90 degree angle to the position that would have been used for vein-cut marble. This exposes more variety in patterns of the veining, and gives you a more dramatic look and feel.

Whatever your choice, whatever your selection, marble tile is the perfect way to enhance the beauty of your bathroom for many years to come. Ready to see your choices in marble flooring? Stop by today.

Flooring, Tile Floors
January 23, 2016

The Best Tile For A Water Resistant Bathroom

The bathroom. It’s not a place to experiment with inferior building materials.

Choose wisely and you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor for many years to come. Go with a substandard material and you’ll be paying the price.

Bathrooms need water resistant materials. And tiles are one of the best ways to achieve it. Just remember that selecting tile for your bathroom is a big deal. Before you install tile, whether on the floor, the shower walls, or the backsplash around your vanity, it’s important to make a choice that will not only look great, but will wear well no matter what you do.

Bathroom Floor Tile
The bathroom floors will have to withstand all kinds of moisture. From floods and tidal waves when the kids bathe, to daily steam from the shower, your flooring can take a lot of abuse.

Porcelain and ceramic tiles have long since been favorites of homeowners throughout Colorado. Both come in a wide array of colors, patterns and styles. And with today’s modern twist, you can incorporate the look of cement or even wood into a tile that will provide wear-resistance while keeping up with the latest trends.

Bathroom Shower Tile
Think shower tile. Think inspiring. Choosing tile that handles well in a shower doesn’t have to mean you settle for boring. There are many different tiles that can inspire the senses while giving functionality throughout the day. The color and pattern can be anything you choose. Make the right selection and you’ll avoid chips and scratches that can come from everyday activities.

Not only does a fully tiled wall give you added moisture resistance, it can make a stunning statement as well. Consider using neutral colors, natural stone is a great choice. Granite or marble can also be applied for a unique application.

You can also use tiles to spruce up any location. A backsplash made of glass tiles can add to your décor while preventing damage to the surrounding area. Choose metallic tiles to add a touch of class. Change up the size to create an even different look; tiles come in all shapes and sizes, and with a little planning, can add beauty just about anywhere.

Ready to add bathroom tile to your remodel? Start the process be seeing what’s available now. Stop by today.

Flooring, Tile Floors
January 17, 2016

Fix or Replace Your Cracked Ceramic Tile

Nothing says old and outdated more than a cracked tile in the middle of your room. Whether its on your wall in the shower, or on the floor in your kitchen, that small little crack can quickly escalate, and not only provide you with an eyesore, but also with the potential to further the damage.

Is there a way to fix a broken tile and not have it stand out amongst the rest? Is it possible to repair? Or is the only way to have your wall or floor look shiny and new once again to replace it all and start with new?

In many cases, fixing your cracked ceramic tile is possible.

Where is the crack located?
Some cracks are easier to fix and not have it noticeable. Is the crack in the middle of the kitchen floor? Is it next to a wall? Is it center stage in your shower stall? Evaluate where the cracked tile is and how noticeable it will be when fixed.

Do you have extra tiles?
Whenever you install tile, make sure you hold on to a few extra for replacing cracked and damaged tile in the future. This provides you with an exact match, color and size.

Do the tiles match up with the rest of the surrounding area?
Tiles aren’t always in the same color stock, or of the same size as its counterpart. If you have a spare tile you can use for replacement, align it and see how it will look if the swap is made. Happy with the look? Then its easy to replace.

Is there damage behind the crack?
How long has the crack been in place? Where is the crack located? In many cases, a crack can lead to bigger problems. For instance, a cracked wall tile in the shower can allow water to penetrate behind the tile and seep into the wallboard. Even the tiniest of problems behind one tile can quickly escalate behind many more.

Are your tiles dingy and dull?
How long have your tiles been in place? Years of wear and tear can leave them dull and dingy. Replacing a cracked tile with one from the original die lot can quickly escalate the wear and tear. If tiles are well worn, replacing one will only show off the wear. It may be time to replace and try something new.

Are you ready for a new look?
Have you hated your blue shower for years? Is the tile in your kitchen more of a pain than an enjoyment? A cracked tile may be the best “excuse” you’ve had to try something new. Come in and see the many new options in today’s flooring, and you’ll quickly find a new look that’s perfect for you.