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Flooring
January 24, 2015

The Best Way To Measure A Room For Flooring

If you are shopping for new flooring, whether its hardwood, carpet or tile, its important that you are aware of the size of your room. Not all rooms are perfectly square. Accounting for closets, doorways and stairs takes a special knack. And if you forget to add in these small details, you might find yourself with different lot and dye numbers if you have to reorder, throwing your look of symmetry of as you move from one room to the next.

What you’ll need before you start:

A retractable tape measure, 25 foot or longer
Paper
A ruler and a pencil

When you have your supplies ready, follow these instructions:

Make a basic sketch of your room. Be sure to include windows and doors, hallways and closets. A sketch is fine; it doesn’t need to be proportional. Just make sure it’s a good representation of the room you’ll be adding new flooring to.

Measure your room by using your sketch as a guide. Use your tape measure to measure running dimensions from one side to the next. Be sure to note each measurement, and at what point is was calculated.

Measure both width and length, and incorporate measurements to include windows, doors, and other pieces of your room that will need adjustment when calculating the amount of flooring you will need.

When you have complete measurements, redraw your room if necessary. Make sure you have a good visual representation of the length and width of your room. Make sure its readable, and answers any question a contractor may have as you are searching for flooring.

Copy your floorplan to have several copies for both you and potential contractors. You can also keep them on file to help you when you are determining paint, window coverings and other décor options.

Whether you will be relying on a contractor for professional installation, or will be looking for a DIY flooring option, these measurements are your starting point for purchasing the right amount of product for your room. If you have any questions, be sure to ask.

Flooring
January 21, 2015

Want To Know What Trends Are In Flooring For 2015?

Whether you update your home’s décor on a regular basis, or this is the year you upgrade your home and give it more resell value, its hard to ignore the benefits of flooring. While paint colors can be changed easily as often as you desire, flooring is usually one option that gives your room its overall look and feel, yet isn’t something you’ll replace on a regular basis.

While its easy to stick with the basics, something neutral that will give you years of benefit, is that the best choice if you are looking at giving your home a modern look and feel? There are a few trends in flooring that will provide you with an updated look and feel, while still providing you with years of enjoyment in the future.

Wood Look Porcelain Tile

Technology has done some amazing things to the flooring industry. It gives consumers the look they love, while providing the durability they desire. And nothing provides both of these more than one of the newest entries into the flooring market, wood look porcelain tile. Wood floors continue to be one of the most sought after flooring choices for a home. But there are some rooms where wood isn’t the best choice – kitchens, entryways, bathrooms. Porcelain tiles are more resistant to moisture than traditional hardwood flooring, which means it can give you the hardwood look with increased durability in the process. A perfect choice to continue your wood look throughout your home.

Weathered Hardwood

Because people love the look of hardwood, but aren’t always crazy about its performance, another entry has made its way into the flooring market. Weathered hardwood provides a more natural look and feel to the more traditional hardwood flooring. These floors have an uneven texture – think farmhouse – that will hide scratches and other imperfections that can become glaring problems with traditional wood. It’s a perfect choice for high traffic homes, and for homes with pets and kids.

Large Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tile comes in all sizes, colors and shapes. And while you’ll find many opportunities for decorating with tile, large format tiles are currently leading the way for your large open spaces. Large tiles come in 16×16 square and larger. By installing larger tiles, you will have fewer grout lines that will show, fewer grout lines to keep clean. It makes a room feel larger, and producer a cleaner, more uniform look.

Low Profile Carpets in Light Colors

Low profile carpets mean lower maintenance. They are more durable and easier to clean than other carpet choices. By sticking with lighter colors, you can give your room an open, airy feeling that will compliment any décor. Low Profile carpet is also budget friendly, making it the perfect choice for budget minded families.

Have any questions? Stop by or give us a call. We’d be happy to assist you with all of your flooring needs.

Flooring
January 17, 2015

Waterproof Flooring For Your Basement

Here in Colorado, many homes have a basement. And when most people look at expanding the square footage of their home, they look to their basements. If you have a walkout basement, in many cases you can have a look and feel that matches your upper levels. But even if its tucked away with only a few garden windows, the usable space can still give you beautiful space you can enjoy for years.

With basement space, however, there is usually one problem that can make you think twice about finishing it: water. If water has been a common problem, and has seeped into your basement more than once, do you really want to put effort into something that may be damaged?

The most obvious spot to start with is the flooring. While other aspects of your basement are easier to save in the event of seeping water, the first area impacted is usually the floor. Is there a way to find a waterproof flooring choice, and have it be beautiful too?

The answer is yes.

If you’ve sustained water damage before, the first step is to work with a contractor to eliminate as much of the problem as possible before finishing your basement. Yet basements are under ground, which means even if you have taken every precaution, there is always a chance for future flooding. Which means finding the perfect flooring that can take water.

Some people may stick with good old fashioned concrete flooring. Concrete by far is a great choice at being waterproof and avoiding damage when contact with water is made. And with today’s choices of materials, concrete is no longer the boring choice it one was. That said, concrete is still a cold hard floor, which can make your basement not-so-livable on those cold winter evenings.

Tile is an upgrade over concrete, and with the many sizes, styles and colors available, you can quickly make your home as elegant as you choose. You’ll find tiles in bathrooms and around pool areas with good reason – they handle perfectly in wet situations. Which makes tile the perfect choice for a game room or living space in your basement.

Today’s vinyl is not like you had in the home you grew up in. Today’s vinyl is luxurious and can take on any style you choose. Want a stone look? How about hardwood? There’s a vinyl choice for you. Plus vinyl has a cushion to it, making it a softer choice in homes with kids or elderly.

Still love the look of hardwoods? Many people do. And while traditional hardwoods may not be the best choice for your basement, you do have options. Manufacturers like Armstrong make waterproof flooring options that bring the look of natural hardwood into the places you want it most – like your basement. And with its easy installation process, it can be a DIY project or have one of our installers finish your basement in no time.

Carpet, Flooring
January 14, 2015

How To Extend The Life Of Your New Carpeting

First impressions aren’t limited to people; your home makes a first impression too.

Imagine entering a home for the first time for a dinner party. The first thing you notice is worn out carpeting with stains in multiple places.

Or imagine entering a home as a potential buyer. A simple coat of paint is easy to apply. But carpeting – that can be a deal breaker if you know it’s a major expense that will be added if you make an offer.

Carpeting is a major investment. And if adding new carpets to you home is on your to-do list this year, make sure you also consider the best way to extend the life in the process.

Invest in a good vacuum

You know the vacuum you’ve been dragging with you when you move from home to home? The one that’s lasted for years? Its time to put it into retirement. It’s the small stuff that can ruin your carpets the quickest. Dirt and grime can grind into the backing and carpet pile, and will quickly show its age through wear and tear. All vacuums are not created equal. The best vacuums are those with strong suction to pick up and collect small particles that are nestled deep down into your carpeting.

Hire a cleaner

While you may have relied on your personal carpet cleaner for years, the home models rarely get out the dirt and grime a true professional can with professional equipment. Make sure you choose a solution that will not leave residue in your fibers; residue will attract dirt quicker than a carpet that hasn’t been cleaned.

Choose padding wisely

Your padding is as important as the carpeting you choose. Padding has a variety of purposes, it makes your floor more comfortable to sit and walk on, it absorbs noise, it absorbs heavy traffic, and it can cut your carpets life short if it doesn’t do its job. Talk with a flooring consultant to have the best padding for your carpet choice, and the amount of traffic in your room.

Leave shoes by the front door

Wearing shoes from outside can escalate damage to a carpet. As you walk around your community, you pick up all kinds of grit, grime and dirt. Depositing them into your carpets means your flooring will soon have a variety of things embedded deep inside.

Remove stains immediately

Accidents happen. When they do, be sure to clean them appropriately as quickly as possible. The faster you treat a stain, the less likely it will make its way through the carpet backing and into the padding. Which means you’ll have less damage overall.

Use rugs and carpet runners

In places with exceptionally high traffic, such as stairs, hallways and entryways, its important to add further protection with carpet runners and rugs. Easy to clean runners allow you to isolate dirt into one area, and clean it in an easier way. Its easier to wash a rug or shake out the dirt then it is to clean your entire carpet.

Carpet, Flooring
January 10, 2015

How To Select The Best Quality Carpet For Your Money

We all have made purchases we regret. That bright red blouse that you bought for a bargain, for instance. It looked great on the rack; not so much when you got it home and hung it in your closet.

There is a big difference between regretting your decision to buy a bargain shirt that was bought on a whim, and something as large as recarpeting several rooms of your home. You can’t take new carpeting back. And because of its cost, it can easily be one of the biggest mistakes you’ll have to live with for years.

Carpeting is an expensive endeavor. And if you will be recarpeting several rooms of your home, the cost can rise exponentially. Its easy to understand why we go searching for a great deal. But because of the implications of having to live with this “deal” for a long time, its more important that you get the best quality for your money, not just the best “cost”.

When you’re carpet shopping, look for these things:

Room Choice

Some rooms receive more traffic than others. A family room will receive more wear and tear than a guest bedroom. A room frequented by children and pets must be more durable than a master retreat. Think about the type of traffic your room will receive, and the daily activities that will take place there.

Fiber Type

Nylon is strong and durable, making it the perfect choice for high traffic areas. Polyester is stain resistant and retains its color when exposed to sunlight. Olefin is inexpensive and is often used in indoor/outdoor situations. Wool is luxurious and very soft, is crush resistant and stain resistant. Each are best suited for specific needs and uses.

Fiber Style

Carpet fibers are woven in different ways. Looped carpet has the yarn attached to the carpet backing in small loops. It makes it very durable in high traffic situations. Cut pile has a smooth pile where the individual strands of yard are left standing up. It gives a traditional look and a versatile style. Twist carpet twists fibers in may directions, giving it a casual look and feel. You’ll also find patterned carpet that combines several fiber styles together to give it a distinct look that can hold up to the toughest of situations.

Density

The density of a carpet refers to how much yarn is used in a square inch of carpeting. High density carpet has more yarn than a low density carpet. The more yarn, the less space between them. This means carpet will not mat as easily, and will retain a new look longer. However, low density carpet is typically softer to the touch, making it the perfect choice for jumping in and out of bed on a cold winter morning.

Is there a right or wrong choice? No – it depends on your style, your preference, and your budget. The best place to start is to talk with a flooring consultant who can help you make the perfect choice for your home. Stop by today.

Carpet, Flooring
January 7, 2015

Selecting The Best Neutral Color For Carpeting

In remodeling and choosing new carpeting for our homes, we usually play a little back and forth game to determine the best color.

“What’s the best color for my décor?”

“What’s the best color for resale value?”

Even if we have no immediate indication that we will sell our home’s in the future, there’s always this little voice inside that says to think about the possibility and choose wisely.

Which is why you’ll find the vast majority of carpeting options available in beautiful neutral colors.

The color you choose will impact the final look and feel of the room. It has the ability to make the room larger or smaller, open and airy or enclosed and cozy. It can be bright and vivid, or calming and restful. And while your décor will ultimately command a great deal of attention to the overall effect, its your carpets that will set the stage.

We have a few favorites that do well in every home.

Think taupe. Taupe is a tan color that is natural and earthy. It starts with a tan base and adds just a hint of gray. You can also move into a taupe tweed, which will combine the tan-gray color with random specs of color, giving off just a hint of blues, greens or other colors.

Think oatmeal. Oatmeal offers a sandy tan color that is surprisingly low maintenance. It can be warmed by adding touches of honey-coloring, or remain more neutral for a warm glow. It will also help brighten even the smallest of rooms because of its light color.

Never rely on a name or a color from inside the store. Ask to take a variety of samples home, and place them in the room you are remodeling. Then view the samples throughout the day to see its appearance in different situations. Morning light is different than afternoon light. Full sunlight is different than the appearance from artificial lighting at night. The key is how color looks both to your eyes, and to match with your overall décor.

If you have questions, talk with your flooring consultant to help you make your final decisions. Keep in mind that all carpeting is dyed in lots – color can change slightly from one roll of carpet to another. The difference is usually minor, and in most cases barely detectable. Carpet color will fill your room, and can alter the entire mood of the room, especially if you are drastically changing colors.

But because trends often change, and color is the one thing that can date a house like no other, neutral colors can bring about its own natural beauty, one you’ll be happy with for years to come.

Carpet, Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
January 3, 2015

How To Select The Right Transition For Your Flooring

If you are like many homeowners, your home doesn’t have the same flooring type in every room. You may transition from hardwoods in the living room to tile in the kitchen. Or carpeting in the bedroom to vinyl in the bathroom.

Having a home with multiple types of flooring is the norm; which means that having the right transition from room to room will either make or break the ambiance of your final décor. Without a little planning, and doing it just to get done will only create a floor that is destined for failure. Transitions will make your final look more appealing, and give you the longevity of each flooring option to its fullest value.

There are several issues when determining the best transition:

Elevation – the final elevation of each type of flooring needs to be taken into consideration to determine the best transition
Location of transition – will the transition take place in a door opening or in an open entryway?
Special transitions – stairways pose their own unique set of issues

Elevation

Elevation changes are fairly common in remodeling projects. Because a home is originally designed with one specific flooring in mind, and that flooring may have changed numerous times over the years, you may have flooring of different thickness. Some flooring requires different types of subflooring – large tile, for instance, takes a special underlayment to handle the weight and stability of larger tile. Therefore one flooring may wind up being higher than its counterpart, making a smooth transition necessary for movement between rooms. In this case, a transition molding may be the way to go to connect the two flooring choices together.

Location of transition

Transitions between flooring often depends on where the transition is occurring. If it occurs at a door opening, make sure you know the position of your door so you can install the transition of make sure only one flooring is visible when the door is closed between the two rooms.

Special transitions

Stairways need their own special moldings in order to create a finished look. Stairways often incorporate several looks into one: a hardwood main level, may transition into hardwood stairs with a painted siding, and transition into a carpeted upper level. The key is attention to detail. Lay everything out before final installation to make sure they transition from one position to another. A reputable flooring contractor can help you make the best decision not only for the type of flooring you are laying, but also keeping your taste and budget in mind.

Carpet, Flooring
December 31, 2014

How Often Can You Stretch A Carpet?

“I moved into my home three months ago. The carpet appeared to be okay when we bought the house, but now I find myself tripping over the carpet in the hallway several times a week. I occasionally see a small roll in the carpet, but it doesn’t appear to be that bad. Can this be stretched? Or is it time for new carpet?”

Carpet can develop humps and rolls after years of wear and use. But that doesn’t mean your carpet is ready for the landfill once you find these in your most lived-in areas.

Re-stretching a loose carpet pulls the slack out of the carpet, and allows it to lay flush against the floor once again.

Loose carpeting most commonly occurs in older carpeting. Over time, carpeting may begin to lose its elasticity and begins to stretch and move out of its original shape. The problem worsens if the adhesive used to attach it to the floor loses its strength, or if the carpeting begins to pull up from the corners or edges where it has been tacked down.

Loose carpeting also often occurs in very large pieces of carpeting. Because there may be less support holding it in place, it comes up in places as it begins to wear down. Depending on the size of the carpet, a specialized tool may be used to help take up the slack and hold it in place while it is trimmed and refastened.

And when carpet begins to roll, its not only an unsafe hazard, its also an unsightly problem that takes away from the ambiance and the value of your home.

Overall, stretching is not a process that is required in all carpets. If a carpet is of good quality, properly installed and properly maintained, it should stay in place and not need stretching. However, if you do see rolls and decide to stretch your carpet rather than replace it, it should never be stretched more than once. If you see rolls again, its time to replace the carpeting.

If you are stretching your carpeting, and you either tear the carpet in the process, or discover the padding is damaged underneath the problem area, its also an indication that it is time for replacing both padding and carpeting.

Carpet, Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
December 26, 2014

Carpets or Hardwood, Which Is The Better Choice For Bedrooms?

Whether you are building a new house, or renovating the flooring throughout your home, you may be considering your options when it comes to hardwood floors. Nothing is as beautiful as hardwoods; why not install them in every room of your home?

Yet something may be holding you back. Is it wise to install hardwoods in every room of your home? Is it the best choice for your bedrooms? Flooring isn’t a decision you can easily replace in a few weeks if you don’t like the looks and functionality. And if you make a decision you don’t like, it can be a costly mistake you’ll regret for years in the future.

Bedrooms are typically thought of as our own personal sanctuaries. We want peace, warmth, comfort and style. Above all, we want a place we can retreat to and feel comfortable with, every day of the year. Will hardwoods be a mistake when it falls below freezing? Will carpet be a regret if you choose the wrong color or style? Overall, your final choice should be made based on your personality and your desires. But there are a few things that can help steer you towards one choice over another.

Benefits of hardwood floors:

Hardwood adds a sense of luxury. With its old world charm and appeal, you can have a prestigious look that compliments any décor.
Hardwood will last and last. Especially in the bedroom where you’ll never have a high level of traffic, hardwood flooring can last indefinitely.
Hardwood are always in demand, and will add in to the resell value of your home.
Hardwood is easy to maintain. With a damp mop, you can have clean floors in a matter of minutes.
Hardwood will help alleviate allergies, especially important if you have a family member with allergies or asthma.

Benefits of carpeting:

Carpeting can add style and color to your décor. With thousands of choices, its an easy way to help with your decorating plans.
Carpeting is an affordable choice, with options only constrained by your pocketbook.
Carpeting is easy to care for. With a simple vacuum every week, and an occasional steam clean to go in depth, you’ll have a flooring choice that will last for years.
Carpeting adds warmth. Nothing feels as good on a cold winter morning as carpet between your toes.
Carpeting adds both a softness and a sound barrier to your home. Something that works well with small children.

So which is the best choice for you? Let lifestyle and personality direct you towards the right flooring choice. There is no right or wrong answer; either way, you’re sure to enjoy your new flooring now and well into the future.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
December 24, 2014

Maintaining Your Hardwood Flooring The Green Way

Remember the beauty of your hardwood flooring when it was first installed? Nothing could take the place of that shine and pristine look.

Yet in a matter of weeks, life got in the way and things started to change. A spill here, a scratch there, and before you know it that beautiful shine in the beginning has turned into a dull, well used floor.

While its only natural to have floors fade under normal every day living conditions, there are a few things you can do to prolong the process as long as possible, ensuring the beautiful floors you fell in love with in the beginning.

Choose The Right Flooring

While you may love the exotic, soft wood floor on display at your local flooring dealer, is it appropriate for the way you live? A single executive living in a high rise in the city will use space differently than a family of six in the suburbs. Before you select a wood, start with your needs first. Hard woods are more durable than soft woods. A distressed or hand scraped wood won’t show wear as easily as a more uniform plank. Be completely honest with the way your family lives, and trust the flooring contractor you work with to point you in the right direction for your needs.

Prevention Is The Best Medicine

Its always easier to prevent a problem than it is to recover from it. If you have pets, brush them to avoid clumps of hair accumulating easily, and keep their nails trimmed and well manicured. Clean spills as soon as they happen. And if possible, avoid wearing shoes inside as much as possible – those tiny heels can pack a lot of pressure and dent your flooring easily. Also, clean regularly using a damp mop with no cleaning solutions. If you prefer to use cleaning solutions on occasion, check with your local flooring dealer for the best remedies.

Attack Damage Immediately

Instead of waiting for a severely damaged floor before refinishing, repair even the smallest problems as soon as they happen. Small problems can quickly escalate; by stopping them early you can add more life to your floor overall. Your flooring contractor will have options for simple repairs to small scratches. For deeper scratches or stains, it may require professional care. Once your floors are in need of refinishing, be sure to talk with your contractor about using no or low VOC stains to keep your family out of harms way.