Flooring Archives - Page 20 of 58

Flooring
July 10, 2020

What’s The Best Flooring For Stairs?

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

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

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

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

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

How to choose the best flooring for stairs

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

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

Consider maintenance

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

Safety

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

Noise reduction

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

Aesthetics

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

Looking at the best flooring options for your stairs

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

Hardwood

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

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

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

Runners

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

Laminate

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

Carpet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carpet, Flooring
July 7, 2020

Sustainable Carpet LEEDs To a Better Future

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

Is carpet really that bad?

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

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

Luckily, the carpet industry is working on sustainability too.

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

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

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

What is LEED?

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

What does sustainable mean in the carpet industry?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Look for certification

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

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

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

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

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

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

Finding sustainable carpet options

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

Where do you begin?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Flooring, Tile Floors
June 18, 2020

Using Ceramic Tile For Universal Design

There’s a new focus on finding your perfect home and staying in place.

As we age, nesting takes on an entirely different meaning. We no longer plan a home around growing a family. Instead, we want to create a home where we can live indefinitely, throughout all the trials and tribulations of getting older.

Universal design sets up all the principles of aging in place. It’s about ensuring a house is set up appropriately for everyone, no matter what their abilities. It includes things like:

Flexibility in use – providing choices and adaptability
Intuitive use – eliminate complexities
Low physical effort – easy to operate and maintain

Universal design is the process used to design a home to be accessible to everyone. Every space – from kitchens to bath, and living spaces – should be accessible to people of all ages and abilities. And it should be done in such a way that it doesn’t call out differences, but instead has a smooth, easy-to-use style that looks as good as it functions.

Do you have narrow hallways? Widening them means that a person requiring any form of assistance can maneuver them just fine.

Do you have steep staircases? Universal design eliminates staircases, putting in easy ways to move from location to location without the need for climbing stairs.

And here’s the best part: universal design will never go out of style! That’s because there are already over 108 million people over the age of 50, thanks to the large Baby Boomer generation, with another 49 million following in their footsteps from the Gen X generation. These people want flexible living as they age.

While there’s a lot of features to build into a home specifically built under universal design guidelines, it starts at the bottom – the floor. And one of the best flooring choices you can choose is ceramic tile. What’s more, ceramic tiles aren’t just for floors. You’ll find them in use in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room, on backsplashes, walls, and ceilings. Because they’re that efficient, that beautiful, anywhere you want them in your home.

Universal design and minimalism go hand in hand

The key to good universal design is: simple is better. Clutter doesn’t work. Rugs and other items you can trip over are nuisances more than helpers. Simplicity is key. That’s why ceramic tile works so well.

It’s beautiful. It’s functional. It’s one of the easiest flooring choices to maintain. And with a minimal amount of effort, it will look good for years – decades – to come.

Some designers will tell you to go big. Select ceramic tiles as large as possible in order to minimize the amount of grout needed in between. It creates a smooth, flowing look. Don’t clutter it with throw rugs – that can be dangerous. And keep furniture high off the floor – it accentuates the clean look of the floor.

Other designers will tell you size doesn’t matter; it’s the continuity of the floor that matters most. Whether you use smaller penny round tiles, or large squares two feet in diameter or more, the key in creating classic good looks is keeping it simple.

Open concept

When you open up the floorplan of your home, it naturally creates universal design. That’s because any barriers that might have impeded traffic flow are eliminated.

Does that mean eliminating wall space? Yes, wherever possible. That also means it will create rooms that naturally work together.

Take a look at your current home space. Average homes today have a kitchen, living room, family room, several bedrooms and bathrooms, hallways to connect the space, and additional rooms such as laundry rooms, home offices, or dens on the side.

Now take a look at the flooring in each of these spaces. Many homes are a hodgepodge of flooring choices.

Hardwood in the main living spaces
Vinyl in bathrooms
Carpet in bedrooms
Tile in bathrooms

How do each of these flooring choices connect? That can be a problem in two manners.

1. It can cause a tripping hazard.

2. It can create an imbalance in aesthetics.

Remember how you reworked clutter for a more minimalist look on countertops and with decor? The same holds true with flooring choices.

When you can see flooring change every few feet, from space to space, it clutters up the aesthetics. It adds chaos to the design.

Maybe now is the time to change out the different flooring choices you’ve made, and create a solid visual line from the front of your home to the back.

Some of our favorite ceramic tile choices include:

Wood Look Tile – this is growing in popularity because of its classic good looks. If you love hardwood flooring, but want the convenience of ceramic tile, look no further than wood look tile. It’s created using a design technology that at first glance, it’s easy to mistake this faux flooring for the real thing. It comes in planks, and can be many different colors, from light to dark.

Stone – want the look of stone tile in something that’s more flexible to install and maintain? Stone look ceramic tile may be the perfect choice. It’s a great way to create a smooth, uniform look, where natural tiles’ various shapes might not do.

Porcelain Tile – while not exactly a decor choice, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention porcelain tile in this article. Why? Because it’s a great choice to lay inside and outside of your home. Porcelain tile takes ceramic tile to the next level because of its high tensile strength. It’s resistant to moisture, and comes in a wide variety of design options. What’s more, you can move your floorplan beyond your inside walls, and use it in outdoor living space too. People love the versatility when moving their kitchen space outdoors.

And if you weren’t sold on ceramic tile before, let’s talk about radiant heating. Ceramic tile is one of the best flooring choices if you desire to lay in radiant heating. Imagine warm floors on a cold winter morning. It’s possible with ceramic tiles.

Is universal design right for you?

If you’re part of the minimalist movement, if you’re planning for the future and incorporating universal design into your remodeling plans, start at the bottom. Choosing ceramic tile to run all through your home is one of the smartest decisions you can make.

Flooring
June 7, 2020

Paying Attention and Finding Non-Toxic Flooring For Your Home

Remember when selecting the right flooring for your home was as easy as pointing to the material you liked best?

No more.

Today’s homeowners are savvier than ever, knowing what they want – and what they don’t – long before they enter a store.

Increasingly, that means safety too. Is it safe to bring the flooring product into your home? Is it safe for your kids and your pets?

Or is there a better choice – a non-toxic flooring choice that will be better for everyone? We’re getting that more and more, especially with COVID-19 in our lives.

Why you should pay attention to what flooring you install

Let’s start with the numbers.

According to the World Health Organization, 4.3 million deaths were attributed to household air pollution in 2016.

One in eight deaths worldwide can be traced back to air pollution.

But of course, it’s more than that. Air pollution also increases heart disease, strokes, and cancers. It increases all sorts of problems with public health.

We need air to breathe. And if that air is filled with toxic chemicals, it impacts everything we take in.

While we have focused on improving our air supply, and paying more attention to the products we use, indoor air quality is still a problem. Because we spend the majority of our time indoors, sick building syndrome is increasingly impacting people’s lives in the western world. If you’ve ever experienced headaches, eye irritants, nose or throat problems, dizziness, fatigue, or other respiratory conditions without another explanation, it might be the indoor air quality.

While these problems can be attributed to a wide variety of products within the home, it’s important to start paying attention to every product you buy.

Is it time for new flooring? Why non-toxic flooring matters

As manufacturers listened to consumer demands, they started bringing new products to market. People wanted stain resistance, so they listened. They wanted durable materials. They listened.

The problem with that level of development was little thought was put into how chemicals impacted our health. Eventually, it couldn’t be ignored any longer. People started questioning, so manufacturers started backing away from using certain materials.

For example, recent pushback in the vinyl flooring market caused tens of millions of pounds of phthalates annually to be eliminated from vinyl flooring production. In 2015, consumers began pushing big box stores about the quality of their flooring products. Studies showed that floor tiles from some of the largest home improvement stores contained high levels of phthalates. Fifty-eight percent of all vinyl floor tiles tested back in 2015 showed elevated levels of phthalates. Four years later, the flooring sampled contained none.

That’s a good start. It’s clearing a path in the right direction towards making non-toxic flooring more common than not. Of course, it’s still up to consumers to find out more.

What is the healthiest flooring for homes?

Natural products are always going to be safer than laboratory materials. That makes some of the healthiest flooring choices predictable.

Hardwood is made from trees. True hardwood flooring is created from solid wood, and is harvested in such a way to make it both sustainable and chemical free. But you do have to pay attention to production. Avoid hardwood treated with chemicals. Choose non-toxic finishes. Avoid toxic adhesives for laying the flooring in place.

There are many products designed to compete with hardwood, laminate being one of the leaders. Laminate is made from synthetic products built to imitate hardwood. You may recall stories from several years ago about large manufacturers selling laminate flooring produced by unethical Chinese companies. They used illegally sourced wood, and contained many carcinogens, including formaldehyde in its production. This isn’t saying all laminate is bad. Instead, it’s a lesson in buyer beware.

Carpet is a popular choice, and can go both ways when trying to determine if you should bring it into your home. Natural fibers like wool and jute can be both sustainable and chemical-free. Some synthetic carpets can fill the house with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can include carcinogens like formaldehyde, benzene, and stain repellents. It’s important to ask questions before you make your final selection.

Tile is usually a safe choice to bring into your home. It’s made from natural stone, clay, and other safe ingredients to give it its style and color. However, installation can introduce toxic chemicals into your home if you don’t understand the installation process. Pay particular attention to the adhesives used to lay the tile into place, and sealers used to protect the tile from daily use.

Vinyl and linoleum are often linked together because of their similar look and feel. While we mentioned vinyl earlier, it’s important to give a shout out to linoleum too. Linoleum flooring is made from a natural, biodegradable material that includes linseed oil, cork dust, and pine resin. It’s a resilient flooring that can last up to 40 years if well cared for.

Paying attention to find non-toxic flooring for your home

This is where your choices matter most.

Many flooring manufacturers and retailers claim they carry “green” flooring, but the concept is so overused, it’s a buyer beware situation. That good deal you’re getting at a big box store might just be too good to be true.

Never assume a floor is eco-friendly because an ad or a website tells you so. Do your research. Pay attention to manufacturers. And do your own research by Googling a company before you bring it into your home.

Don’t assume a floor is sustainably harvested because it’s certified. Instead, pay attention to who supplied the certification. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the only certification system that supports environmental work worldwide. They ensure things like selective harvesting of old growth trees, fair wages for workers within the industry, and energy efficiency throughout the manufacturing process, including waste product disposal. Be sure the FSC label is on every box entering your home.

And finally, pay attention to all products used within the installation process. Some sales associates will assure you the flooring materials are non-toxic. What they fail to address is how toxic other materials are, including glues and subflooring materials.

Trust your gut. If you want a cleaner house, and wish for non-toxic flooring materials to cover every inch of your home, do your legwork.

What questions can we answer about non-toxic flooring?

Flooring
June 3, 2020

How To Ensure Commercial Flooring Has A Long Life

When it’s time to update your commercial flooring, it can be difficult deciding on what’s the best flooring choice for your needs. And given the various choices on the market today, the decision process can be overwhelming at best. How do you choose one that will hold up well over time? How do you select one that looks great and attracts the right kind of tenants or customers into your place? How do you ensure longevity, so that it’s money well spent?

It all starts with a little research to learn about the best commercial flooring choices on the market, and how to consider the best choice for your needs.

How to narrow down your choices

It’s time to replace your current flooring with something new. You know you need new floors because the old no longer gives you the look or feel you need to make good first impressions. But how do you make a selection with so many different options available?

Start with looks – most commercial property owners have some ideas for what they’re looking for. You already have a general understanding of what works well in different spaces throughout your property. Start there, but be open to new opportunities. Meeting with one of our flooring experts can help you pinpoint your needs and show you several different options that would make great final choices.

Maintenance – in commercial locations, maintenance is everything. You don’t want fussy flooring materials that don’t stand up over time. That means your final selection should be easy to care for and easy to maintain day in and day out, for years to come.

Durability – this is where spending a little extra might benefit you greatly. Don’t shop on price alone. Bumping up your expectations a bit might push you into different categories of flooring that will add years of longevity to your final decision. When you select certain grades of flooring, they can stand up to active workspaces, and look well under pressure, even if that means a daily influx of heavy foot traffic.

Investment – there are many ways to look at your investment in your commercial flooring. Start with longevity – how many years can you reasonably expect from the flooring product you install? If you select something with an expected life of five years, what would it take to push it to ten? Yes, this is a numbers game, but sometimes just seeing your options can help you bring in better options.

It’s also an investment in good looks. Will it give a better first impression when clients and prospects enter through the doors? Will it add strong resale value if you’re considering a sale in the near future?

What are my best commercial flooring choices?

While there’s never a “one size fits all” pattern to selecting flooring for your commercial space, there are several materials that we see commercial locations selecting again and again. They include:

Engineered Hardwood

People love hardwood in both residential and commercial settings. But solid hardwood can be finicky when added to the wrong space. Hardwood is difficult to add to commercial settings because it’s difficult to care for and expensive to install and maintain. That’s why many commercial properties are turning to engineered hardwood and loving the results. Because it has a more durable wear layer, it gives you the looks of hardwood while being easier to care for on a daily basis.

Laminate Hardwood

Laminate hardwood is another option growing in popularity because of its classic good looks, it’s durability, easy installation, and budget-friendly pricing. Its wear layers make it the perfect choice for many different commercial applications.

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring has changed a lot over the years. While you can install durable vinyl sheet material, vinyl planks are increasing in popularity because of the realism in the looks. If you want hardwood or stone look without the cost, vinyl is an option. Vinyl planks give you the look and feel of real hardwood, stone, or other natural products.

Carpet

While it might not work in all settings, carpet is still a great choice in some areas. Commercial carpet tiles are a budget friendly floor covering with a heavy duty backing and quality construction that holds up well under pressure. Durability is key; pay attention to the manufacturer and quality to ensure a long life. Flooring tiles give you the option of changing out tiles that may be destroyed through staining or movement, giving you an easy way to keep your flooring looking great for years.

Tile

One of the hardest surfaces with the greatest longevity is tile. However, with so many choices on the market, it’s important to consider your options carefully. Focus on durability. Some require sealants to stand up well over time. Whether you select ceramic or porcelain, natural stone or a composite designed to match your surroundings, tile is a great choice in all kinds of situations. It’s worth another look if you haven’t done so lately.

What does maintenance mean?

Once you’ve invested in new commercial flooring for your business, it’s important to stick with a maintenance plan that will protect your investment.

Start with the warranty. Every manufacturer provides a warranty to ensure their product is well received. Learn the facts before you buy, and create a plan to keep your flooring well cared for.

Invest in regular cleaning and maintenance. Don’t trust any janitorial staff, ensure they can give you what you need to keep your warranty valid. In some cases, the wrong cleaning products can void the warranty.

Keep staff on hand to clean up messes immediately. The longer you leave messes in place, the better chance you have of it ruining your flooring material.

Use rugs and entrance mats to keep the interior as clean as possible. You’ll be amazed at how much entrance mats can remove off of shoes before people enter your building . It ensures scratches and other problem areas are more superficial than deeply embedded. It also makes regular cleanings easier, as less debris will be tracked in.

What are your top questions as you decide on the right commercial flooring for your location?

Flooring
May 28, 2020

The Three Biggest Trends In Flooring: Vinyl, Hardwood, and Ceramic Tile

A lot has changed in the first few months of 2020.

We’ve gone from making plans for a new decade to locking down the entire world and staying in place.

We’ve become world-class searchers for toilet paper, disinfectant wipes, and bleach.

We’ve had the time to reevaluate just about everything inside our homes. We’ve cleaned. We’ve reorganized. And we’ve started to make plans to make each room even better in the weeks and months ahead.

It all starts at the bottom. The right flooring not only sets the stage for looks and decor, but it creates durability and maintenance-free living too.

No wonder trends in flooring are changing based on what we’ve been living through these past few weeks.

If you’re thinking of changing out your flooring, what should you be looking at?

Vinyl tops the trend list in new flooring

Even before COVID-19, sales of luxury vinyl were increasing while other products like laminate were falling. Sales of luxury vinyl topped $3.687 billion in 2018, while laminate flooring sales have declined.

Why? Because laminates aren’t as good at decreasing bacterial growth. The hard, waterproof plastic that tops luxury vinyl will not break down the way laminate does. Vinyl has an antimicrobial built into the finishing process that allows it to put up with any kind of cleaning process you throw at it. Cleaners, disinfectants, even bleach can be used with little impact. Of course, we suggest getting familiar with your product before you buy over the counter cleaners. The manufacturer will give you clear guidelines for the best way to keep your flooring clean.

Ceramic tile is being looked at with fresh eyes

Why do people choose ceramic tile for their homes?

Because of its looks.
Because of its durability.
Because of its longevity.

All are true. But ceramic tile is rarely sold as one of the most antimicrobial flooring products on the marketplace. That might soon change.

The very nature of ceramic tile lends itself to be one of the cleanest flooring products on the market. Its solid surface can stand up to just about anything, including steam or cleaning solutions. It’s hardness also means that bacteria can’t settle in and stay.

What’s more, thanks to today’s technology, additional products can be mixed into both the ceramic and grout products to make it even more resistant to bacteria. That’s going to be a big plus as we move forward, and look to find our houses even more resistant to problems.

What about hardwood?

If you’re like a lot of homeowners here in Colorado, hardwood may still be at the top of your list. And we get it; hardwood makes one of the most beautiful additions to any home.

But what about cleanliness? What about its ability to ward off bacteria and other contaminants? Luckily, hardwood manufacturers are thinking about that too.

For example, one recent hardwood manufacturer recently announced the inclusion of an antimicrobial protection technology into all of its wood floor coatings. That means you can have the look of hardwood running throughout your home, while knowing it’s protecting you and your family from potential health issues at the same time.

Vinyl, tile, hardwood, which should a homeowner choose?

If your mind was set on installing new flooring, and you were looking to today’s trends to select the right one, rest assured you have several choices that can help you tick all the boxes on your checklist. They each have qualities that make them the perfect choice for your home.

So how do you make your final selection? Start asking a few more questions.

Will your new flooring be installed in a high moisture area?

Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements are subjected to more extremes. Only you know your family’s living patterns. Only you know how well your basement handles under pressure. If water is a problem, and you find yourself cleaning of water messes regularly, go with a fully waterproof choice.

Do you have pets?

Pets provide unique problems for flooring. Luckily today’s trends in flooring can give you both durability as well as classic good looks. Pets can ruin flooring quickly just through daily living. If they’re messy eaters, water damage can quickly become apparent. The occasional accident can stain and strip the surface. And their nails can dig in and cause deep grooves. What does durability mean to you? Only you can decide what you’re willing to live with.

Who will install the flooring?

Some products are perfect for the do-it-yourselfer. Other products are better left to the professionals. But installation will add extra cost to your budget, so it’s important to realize the entire cost before you jump in.

Speaking of budgets, what’s yours?

Your flooring is something you’ll be able to live with for years, possibly decades. It’s important to understand your choices, and possibly up your budget by a bit to jump to the next category of flooring. Learn the differences in product lines. Evaluate what your best choice is, based on your living arrangements. Ask questions. It’s the best way to find the best choice for your home.

What’s most important?

Times change. We’ve learned that well this year. While classic good looks may always be in fashion, we’re also learning how important it is to have a flooring that’s durable and easy to clean. If low maintenance is key, be sure to invest in a flooring that not only is easy to clean, but also gives you the ability to avoid germs and other contaminants too. COVID-19 might now be around forever, but one thing is for sure: we’re more aware than ever of potential problems that can surface overnight.

What’s your flooring choice?

Today’s trends in flooring give you durability, cleanliness, coupled with classic good looks. Whether you want a clean, modern design, or are ready to put tradition back into your home, today’s flooring choices have you covered.

What’s your favorite flooring?

Flooring
May 17, 2020

When You’re Installing New Flooring and You Have Pets

Humans love their pets. In fact, 90 percent of us consider our pets to be a part of our family.

We bring pets into our lives for a variety of reasons. For companionship. For friendship. Approximately 66 percent of dog and cat owners buy holiday gifts for other people’s pets.

Of course, there are health benefits associated with pet ownership too. Loneliness goes down. Stress can be reduced. Bringing a cat into your life has been shown to lower the chance of a stroke by 30 percent.

No matter what the reason is you’ve brought pets into your life, once they’re in your home, things change. You’ll have to clean your home more to remove dander and pet hair. You’ll have more accidents, sometimes unnoticed for days.

And all of that can be tough on your floors. What’s a homeowner to do?

What to consider before selecting new flooring when living with pets

You may love that cream colored carpet you’ve had your eye on for a long time. It would look great in the bedroom. But how will it look after your pets have played on it for even one day?

Every homeowner has a list of things they’d love to have in their homes, but in their gut, they know it can never be. It may be the ideal choice in your heart, but your brain knows it’s a disaster waiting to happen.

First and foremost, go with your gut. Your gut usually holds strong and keeps your practical side in check. It warns you when you have a choice to make and one of them is all wrong.

Beyond your gut, there are a few other things to think about that can influence your new flooring choices.

Staining – Pets bring messes to life in your home. They may spill food and water while they eat. They drag in all kinds of things from the outside. Those muddy paw prints … And sometimes even house-trained pets have accidents. Select flooring material that is stain-resistant, whenever possible.

Durability – Dogs and cats – the two most popular pets in the country – have sharp nails that can do a lot of damage to a floor. Pets love to play and run, which can scratch hardwood and tear up carpet. Focus on flooring that has high resistance to wear damage from common pet activities.

Comfort and safety – Some floors are more slippery than others, that holds true for humans and their pets. Especially as pets age, hard floors can be hard on their joints, and not as comfortable when they lie down and sleep. Especially in areas where they love to run and play, be sure they have flooring that helps with traction, and is comfortable to their feet.

With all of that in mind, what are our top choices in new flooring for pet owners?

Vinyl flooring

If you haven’t looked at vinyl flooring lately, we suggest you come in for a closer look. Vinyl flooring today is nothing like you remember from your childhood. In fact, luxury vinyl planks often look so real, you have to get down close to see they aren’t the real thing.

Vinyl flooring is also one of our top recommendations for homeowners who want new flooring and have pets. That’s because it’s an economical flooring choice that is low maintenance as well. One of the most common problems when you own pets is scratching damage. Vinyl is resilient to scratching, even when nails are grown out, and pets are active.

There are other reasons to give vinyl flooring a second look. Vinyl flooring is resilient flooring. That means it can sustain the small problems your pet dishes out. If they are a sloppy drinker, water going everywhere, vinyl is your choice. And for the occasional accident, urine won’t soak into the flooring if wiped away quickly. It is important to catch liquid spills quickly, as even with vinyl, standing liquid can present a problem if it soaks through the top layer. It can cause both mildew and mold over time.

Vinyl also brings a comfort factor to the room. It has a slight cushiony feel when standing or walking. That also makes it more comfortable for your pet to lie on.

Vinyl is a great choice for many rooms, including the kitchen and bathrooms.

Laminate

Here in Colorado, we love our hardwood floors. Yet they often don’t make sense in busy households, especially if you have more than one pet.

Laminate flooring may be a better choice. It’s one we frequently recommend to homeowners with pets.

While it might look like hardwood, it’s stronger. That gives it the ability to resist nail scratches and hold up better under the occasional messes. Its protective layer is designed to be stronger than many flooring choices out there. Today’s technology makes the pattern layer look so real, it can fool almost anyone who enters. And the core and bottom layers build up strength and durability, making it the perfect choice for just about any room in your home.

Laminate is easy to clean, and rarely stains. Just be aware of messes, and clean them up right away. Moisture can seep through into spaces between the planks if it sits too long. Once it gets into the core or subfloor, mildew and mold can form. You’ll have to replace the plank and possibly the subfloor if that happens, so it’s a good idea to keep messes in check.

A few other tips

We can’t stress enough that when you have a pet in the home, clean-up is your best course of action. The longer any mess sits on your floor, the greater chance it has of doing permanent damage. That includes water from their bowls, urine from the occasional accident, and any other mess they track in from outdoors.

Keep your pets well groomed. That will eliminate loose hair, and prevent it from accumulating in the corners of your room. Short nails also tend to cause less damage.

If you have a flooring choice more susceptible to damage from pets, and you’re considering new flooring, we suggest you move to a more pet-friendly choice. Carpet, bamboo, and other soft flooring choices will never hold up well to all your pets can dish out. You’ll be glad you made the switch to a more durable flooring choice.

Thinking of installing new flooring? What are the top choices you’re considering to keep your pets healthy and happy?

Flooring
May 7, 2020

What Office Flooring Will Look Like After The Coronavirus

Are you working from home right now?

According to a recent study by MIT, it showed as of April 2020, 34 percent of people that previously worked in office settings are now working from home.

Of course, some jobs are impossible to do from home. It also showed that approximately 37 percent are still commuting to their daily jobs.

No matter which side you fall on, one thing is for certain: jobs of the future are changing forever.

What does that mean for your office environment? Only time will tell.

But we can make predictions about where we’re going from here. Companies are already jumping at future designs, take a look at the 6 Feet Office.

Businesses are going to increase the air filtration systems. They’ll redesign floor layouts to be sure people can always maintain the six feet apart rule. Surfaces will be rethought to make things cleaner and more hygienic.

And that includes the flooring.

Our prediction for office flooring as we move back to offices

The right commercial office flooring today must be a blend of aesthetics and functionality. Of course, budget is always a consideration. But now more than ever, it’s important to keep tenants and employees safe and secure.

Cleanliness will be everything as we file back into commercial spaces. That requires a flooring material that stands up well to regular cleaning, and continues to look good throughout the process.

While that might eliminate some choices from your consideration, it also doesn’t mean there’s a right choice for every situation.

Start by asking yourself a few questions?

How many people enter the commercial property every day?
Who works there? Who visits?
Are certain areas more high traffic than others?
What look are you trying to convey?
How is the office cleaned?
What functions occur within the complex?

A dentist’s office has different requirements than an insurance broker. A retail space has different needs than a co-working space.

Remember, living and working with new rules and policies is new to everybody. The more you talk about it, the more you learn about your options, the better you can design the space you’re living with to please everyone.

Break down your needs by areas and floors

If you’ve replaced your office flooring before, you know there isn’t a “one size fits all” option. Instead, take into consideration what different places throughout your office need, and choose your office flooring accordingly.

We typically break down commercial space into four distinct areas:

Lobby and reception space

Whether people enter from outside the building, or enter into your office space by riding up in an elevator, durability and first impressions are everything. When people enter, they usually look at the decor and base ideas around aesthetics. Now, they’ll also be evaluating how much thought and care is being presented to keep people safe. Say no to busyness, and say hello to simplification.

Wood finishes create a bold expression when a visitor walks in. Luxury vinyl tile may also be a great way to create a pleasing environment, while having a flooring material that’s easily cleaned and sanitized. It’s one of the only flooring choices that’s waterproof too.

Open office spaces

While offices will still have kitchens and break rooms, they will be used differently. No more gathering and accumulating. Lots of space will have to be available for people to sit down.

That also means focus will have to be on creating a space that’s easily cleaned. No more storing boxes and stacking food or water bottles for future use.

Luxury vinyl tile is a waterproof option that allows you to create and look and feel, and gives you durability and functionality too. Linoleum is also water-resistant, and gives you a natural option. Tile can also work well and give you options for creating a beautiful yet functional workspace.

Conference rooms

Everyone gathering around the conference table is going to change. Large meetings will become a thing of the past as we leave space in between, and use virtual technology more than ever before.

Where conference rooms were once viewed as a showcase for a company’s product or service lines, less focus will be placed on space. Because you have less foot traffic, you also have more options to meet your cleaning and durability requirements. Wood is always in fashion. Luxury vinyl tile can continue your look throughout your office space. Stone is a good way to add elegance to any office space.

What we recommend for your office space

Now that you’ve evaluated your needs, and are starting to define what flooring products would work well in your office space, let’s look at a few of our favorites.

Wood

Wood has been a favorite in both residential and commercial applications for decades. While that will continue to be popular in the future, we see people turning to other wood products beyond hardwood.

Have you looked at engineered hardwood? It’s an environmentally friendly option to hardwood flooring, and depending on the processing, it can be easier to clean, more durable for office spaces, and give you more water resistance in the process.

Luxury vinyl tile

Want the wood look without the fuss of real hardwood? More people are turning to luxury vinyl tile than ever before. That’s because it’s one of the most durable, waterproof flooring options on the market. And thanks to technology, you can get it in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and styles, including mimicking hardwood plank. It makes it the perfect choice for creating an environment where cleanliness is key.

Tile

If you’ve ever looked at tile, you know the options are almost endless. Ceramic, porcelain, stone – you can install colors, sizes, and styles to create any look you’re going for. It’s a perfect choice for heavy traffic, and it’s one of the most durable flooring choices on the market. Whether you use it in only in your high traffic areas, or carry it all the way through your office space, you’ll love both the performance and the look.

What’s the perfect office flooring for your commercial space as we move forward and back into work?

With so many options, it might be a little confusing to finalize your decision. Give us a call, and we’ll help. We’re learning right along with you, and discovering the best flooring products as we move forward. And we’re happy to share our new findings with you.

Flooring
May 2, 2020

Where Do You Start When Preparing For A Kitchen Floor Remodel?

What’s the busiest room in your home? We’re betting you said the kitchen. It’s where you gather at the end of the day to cook a home-cooked meal. It’s where the kids do their homework. It’s where you share a glass of wine with friends and family.

One of the hardest working fixtures is your kitchen floor.

Remember that jar of pickles you dropped? Yep, there’s still a trace of sticky residue.

Remember the pan you dropped from the stove? The dent is still there; you feel it when you step on it.

If you want to make a dramatic change to your kitchen, but don’t have the budget for a complete remodel, one of your best choices would be to focus on your kitchen floor.

What any kitchen floor choice should have

As a homeowner, your primary request might be to have an aesthetically-pleasing environment. You have your heart set on a particular flooring choice. In the kitchen, looks are important. But there are several other things you should consider.

Durability – Let’s go back to that jar of pickles. Think it won’t happen again? Because the kitchen is the busiest room in your home, it’s also the room where accidents frequently happen too. Focus on a flooring that can withstand all you can dish out. And realize a family with small children will need to focus on lifestyle changes as your kids move into their tweens and teens, bringing home friends, working through science experiments, and increasing the amount of traffic in your home all the time. Your future lifestyle should dictate your choices as much as the present.

Maintenance – How often do you currently clean your flooring? Think that’ll change? The busier your kitchen is, the more you’ll pull out the broom or mop to keep it clean. It extends beyond general cleaning too. If you make the wrong flooring choice, you might be dealing with dents, cracks, tears, yellowing, stains, or other unsightly messes. What’s your plan for damage control? In some cases, the only way to fix the problem might be to rip out the flooring and start all over.

Moisture – From an overflowing sink to a dropped pot of water, spills will happen from time to time. How will your flooring stand up to each of them? While no flooring can withstand a flood or standing water, some flooring choices are considered resilient and can stand up to moisture problems more than others. The right selection will ensure your kitchen floor stands up to whatever you dish out.

The good news is today’s flooring manufacturers offer a wide selection of materials that offer each of these characteristics and more. Keep an open mind when shopping for a new kitchen floor. Your final selection might just surprise you.

Here are just a few of our favorite choices.

Porcelain Tile

Why we like it: It’s beautiful, durable, waterproof, stain-resistant, and lasts for years.

If you want durability, porcelain tile has to be one of your top considerations. Though it looks a lot like ceramic tile, porcelain tile is fired at higher temperatures, which means it’s stronger and will hold up better to all your family can dish out. Plus, the options you’ll find today give you almost unlimited possibilities when it comes to creating a polished look.

Porcelain tile comes in six inch squares, all the way up to eighteen inch planks that resemble hardwood. Depending on your final selection, it can add substantial weight, so it’s a good idea to consider your layout and determine if your subfloor can take the extra weight before finalizing on this selection. It also makes a great choice if you’re considering adding radiant heating underneath. That can make the holiday baking season extra nice when your feet stay nice and warm.

Engineered Vinyl Plank

Why we like it: It’s waterproof, it’s easy enough to install for a DIYer, and it can resemble even the most popular flooring choices including hardwood plank.

One of the up and coming flooring choices include engineered vinyl plank. These resemble hardwood planks, only they offer an upside – they are completely waterproof. You’ll find the top layers include a luxury vinyl that can mimic just about any surface area. It can even stretch beyond, offering even more exotic color choices.

You snap it into place using a click and lock system. That makes it easier to install, and is more forgiving depending on the flooring you already have in place. And because it has a cushion backing, it’s softer underneath than you would get with traditional hardwood or tile. That can be a big bonus if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen.

Stone tile

Why we like it: It’s a natural kitchen flooring choice, one that adds one of a kind beauty to any design.

If you’re looking for luxury, you have to give stone tile a second look. It’s a natural material that gives you flexibility in your decor while giving you durability and easy maintenance at the same time.

This isn’t a DIY task unless you’re familiar with laying floors. Stone tile takes a special underlayment, and it’s important to be exact with the process as any unevenness in the subfloor can make the stone tiles pop off.

What makes these so beautiful is they are one of a kind. Quarried from natural stone, you’ll never find two stones looking exactly alike. This gives any kitchen an aesthetically pleasing feel, while making it stand up to all your family can dish out.

The good news is there are so many different stone varieties to choose from.

Travertine – its smooth, non-slip qualities make it the perfect choice for a kitchen

Marble – it’s one of the hardest materials, and can be polished to a high sheen

Slate – it’s a great choice because it’s slip-resistant and very durable

Granite – it’s hardness makes it a great choice for high traffic areas

So many options …

These are just a few of the options available to you when selecting a new kitchen floor.

What’s the right choice for your home? The best way to find out is to give us a call.

Stop by our retail location and consider your options. You’ll be surprised at all the kitchen flooring choices available to you.

Your perfect kitchen floor is waiting for you. What are you waiting for?

Flooring
April 28, 2020

New Flooring To Reduce Your Chances of the Coronavirus

As we continue to move forward as a society in the midst of the coronavirus, one thing is for sure: we don’t have a great understanding of prevention methods. Of course, this will change over time. But right now, when you want to do right by your family, it’s difficult to know what to do. It’s hard to separate fact from fiction, and rely on the right resources for the information you need now.

Every industry, every niche, is scrambling to figure out the best direction to go. Flooring is no different. We’re continually evaluating the impact of the coronavirus and how it can be distributed between people.

What we do know

The best course of action is to follow the advice from leaders who make it their business to learn more about taking action.

The CDC has general guidelines for how to clean and disinfect different items in your home.

For hard surfaces – non-porous surfaces:

Wear disposable gloves while cleaning and replace them after each cleaning. If you use reusable gloves, be sure to clean and disinfect them immediately after use.
Clean all surfaces before you disinfect.
Use an EPA registered cleaner to ensure appropriate cleaning and disinfection. Use them according to guidelines to avoid health problems.

For soft surfaces – porous surfaces:

This includes things like carpet and rugs. Clean with an EPA-registered cleaner according to manufacturers guidelines.

At this point in time, we’re still not sure how long the coronavirus can remain on various items throughout your home. It depends on the surface structure – is it porous or non-porous? Studies show it can survive anywhere from 2 hours to a couple of days, depending on the surface.

Of course, it’s important to restate that at this time, we just don’t know.

Which makes cleaning your surfaces and installing the right materials in your home that much more important.

Porous vs Non-Porous Flooring

There are many ways to separate out flooring. When you think about cleanliness and the ability to keep it clean, thinking in terms of porous and non-porous flooring can help you determine the right flooring choice for your home.

A non-porous floor stops soil and moisture from penetrating within. These would include things like glazed ceramic tiles, glazed porcelain tiles, and vinyl.

Porous floors would include materials including non-glazed tile, carpet, and hardwood.

A non-porous floor is easier to clean. That’s why they are commonly found in commercial applications, especially warehouses, medical facilities, and schools.

Porous flooring is often found in residential settings because of its ease of use and comfort features.

Will we start to rethink our flooring choices because of the coronavirus? Only time will tell.

But if you’re considering new flooring for your home, and the idea of installing non-porous options are piquing your interest, we have a few choices in mind.

Vinyl

When many of us think about vinyl flooring, we picture the stuff we found in our grandmother’s bathroom. It was yellowed, curling around the edges, and frankly, not very aesthetically pleasing.

Even today, if you walk the aisles of your local big box store, you might see large rolls of sheet vinyl and think: Nope, not for me. It’s so … clinical. It just doesn’t look very good.

That means you haven’t taken a good look at what today’s vinyl flooring really looks like.

Vinyl is created with synthetic polymer, essentially a plastic that will hold up well in your home. Vinyl is made up of several layers to give you a product that looks great and lasts well too. It has four layers that include:

A backing layer made from felt or fiberglass
A core layer made from plastic
A decorative layer that can imitate some of the best flooring products on the market
A protective layer also made from plastic, called the wear layer

In the luxury vinyl tile market – LVT – these flooring choices can imitate stone, tile, hardwood, and more. In some cases, they appear to be so real that even people in the business have to take a closer look to see that it’s not the real thing.

And they handle better than the real thing in a lot of situations.

They’re waterproof – they stand up to water and spills, meaning you can clean them well.
They’re stainproof – that nonporous surface means common staining items can’t penetrate the surface.
They’re comfortable – vinyl has give, making it a comfortable choice if you stand a lot, especially in places like the kitchen.
They’re budget-friendly – if you’re looking for an economical way to upgrade your room, look no further than LVT.

Glazed tile

Ceramic tile may be the one flooring choice that looks good in every room in the house. Here in Colorado, you’ll often find it in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens. But we predict that it will soon be spreading to other rooms in the home as homeowners contemplate their flooring choices.

Glazed tiles have a hard surface that will not attract or hold on to dust, dirt, pollen, or other allergens. That’s a big plus for homeowners where a family member has a compromised immune system. It’s also a plus for homeowners concerned with how easily they can wipe down every fixture in their homes.

Tile is also one of the most versatile flooring products, one that can take on almost any look you desire. Keep it subtle with a neutral color. Go bold with something dark or bright. Create a mosaic effect by mixing colors and sizes. Or create elegance by using modern technology to mimic hardwood.

Yep, that’s possible with today’s technology. Select them in plank style and lay them in similar fashion as your hardwood, and you’ll have the good looks you demand combined with functionality that can last for decades to come.

What’s more, many homeowners are giving this trend a second look because you can install them over radiant heating. If you thought tile was too cold for our Colorado winters, you’ll love having toasty flooring to step down onto even on the coldest of mornings. And because heat rises, what better way to keep your home better temperature-controlled than by having the heat start at the bottom?

What’s the right choice for you?

While none of us know what the future holds, one thing is for sure: we’ll be changing the way we look at our homes.

If your home needs new flooring, and you want a floor that’s both durable and can be cleaned easily no matter what is tracked into your home, consider nonporous flooring – tile and vinyl might make the perfect choice for you.