Flooring Archives - Page 31 of 58

Flooring
April 3, 2018

Decorating Your Stair Risers

Stairs are often one of the most prominent features of your entryway, creating a statement as they rise to your second floor.

Yet if you’ve never taken the time to make them stand out, you might feel a little stuck with the potential.

While you may think of your staircase as one complete unit, there are many parts that make up the stairs. The stair riser and tread are the two major parts that make up a staircase. The stair tread is what your foot lands on as you walk up the stairs. The stair riser is the vertical support that fills the space between the tread.

Before you consider how to decorate them, it’s important that your steps are in good shape. With average wear and tear, creaks and squeaks can occur due to gaps between the riser and the tread. If you hear a squeak or see a crack, repair it before you make any improvements.

Hardwood

One of the most beautiful ways to have your staircase make a statement is by installing hardwood. Choose hardwood to match the rest of the flooring throughout your home. But the ideas don’t have to end there. Many homeowners change out the wood in order to create more personality. How about painting the riser a different color? How about using two different stains to create a unique look? Do a little investigating online, looking at home improvement sites and Pinterest to find the perfect look for your home.

Tile

When it comes to decorative risers, tile is a beautiful and durable option. With so many choices in colors and patterns, you can add a pop of color and design that adds your own personality into your decor. Because of the unique issues when dealing with tiling risers, it’s a project best left to the pros.

Carpet runners

Many homeowners love the look of hardwood throughout the home. Yet hardwood can be dangerous on staircases, especially if you have elderly or small children at home. One solution can be to install carpet runners. This gives you the ability to add softness and comfort while letting the beauty of hardwood shine around it.

Your stair risers can be a fun place to express your unique style and personality. You can make a permanent change or use fun and easy ideas to change it up on a regular basis. Either way, you can create a home that truly stands out.

Flooring
March 31, 2018

Redoing Your Stairs? What’s The Best Flooring Choice

Selecting new flooring for specific rooms in your home is fairly straightforward. With Colorado’s two-story living, many families lay hardwood on the main level to cover living space, kitchens, and dining rooms. Then they opt for softer, warmer carpet in the upstairs bedrooms.

But what about the stairs leading up from the main level to the second? Should you cover them with hardwood? Or should you cover them with carpet?

What should you consider?

Safety

While hardwood creates a sleek, modern feel to your home and can present a dramatic entry to your home, they can also be dangerous. Hardwood stairs can be slippery. And if you do fall, there isn’t any cushion. If you have children or seniors in your home, that can be a problem.

Having carpet on the stairs doesn’t necessarily prevent falls, but it will provide more traction and cushion the fall if it happens. If you carpet your stairs, look at the thickness. Carpet that is too thick can become a tripping hazard over time. Also look for a low-pile carpet to ensure safety.

You can compromise between the two and install stair treads, which are non-slip pads installed on your hardwood stairs. They provide style, safety, and functionality.

Cleaning

Wood flooring provides a low maintenance option for your home. Hardwood doesn’t accumulate dust or allergens in the same manner as carpeting, and cleaning involves occasional sweeping and mopping.

Carpeting your stairs requires more work. Since carpet can harbor dirt and dust, it is important to use a high quality vacuum on a regular basis. Stains are inevitable with carpeting, so it’s also a good idea to have a spot cleaner at hand, especially if you have an active household with pets and kids.

Wear and Tear

Your stairs are often one of the highest traffic areas in your home. Carpet can start to show that wear very quickly if you don’t select the right carpet for the job. Pick colors that can handle daily use. Darker colors can help repel dirt and make it look cleaner for the long term. Texture can also help you hide wear and tear.

While hardwood keeps its good looks for years, think about your daily activity. Pets nails can wreak havoc on hardwood, especially if they are up and down all day. And because hardwood is slippery, it can be more dangerous for pets to move around your home, especially if they are older.

Sound

Wood stairs don’t provide much sound absorption. You may hear every step being taken, no matter what time of the day.

Carpet serves as an insulator, blocking out sounds that are more noticeable. To create a quiet environment, carpet is the logical choice.

Appearance

This is where your personality comes into play. What are your preferences? What style represents your home? For homes with dramatic entryways and hardwood throughout, carpet staircases can feel outdated and out of place. If your home has a mixture, carpeting may be the better choice.

Flooring, Vinyl Floors
March 25, 2018

Is Vinyl Flooring Waterproof?

Looking for waterproof flooring? Look no further than the latest in luxury vinyl.

As homeowners, we put each room through a lot each day. But while your normal activities may take place on a countertop or a table, invariably a lot of your messes will head down to the floor. Whether you spill or drop whatever you’re doing, the floor can be a pretty messy place.

That means your flooring has to withstand it all. It has to be easy to clean. But more importantly, not absorb the potential messes it has in store.

You may not cry over spilled milk, but you will cry if it seeps into your flooring and has you replacing it because of mold or buckling of the floor.

Waterproof vinyl flooring is a luxury vinyl that is 100 percent waterproof. (Also known as WPC vinyl flooring.)

Waterproof flooring typically features a four-layer construction that includes a waterproof core. It has a:

Wear layer – this provides its stain resistance and makes it easy to clean
Luxury vinyl top layer – this is what gives it its look
High density core – this is what makes it waterproof
Underlayment – this is what provides sound insulation and makes it easy to install

Wear Layer

Just like traditional vinyl, this protects your floors. It prevents scratches, dents, etc from impacting the lower layers of the vinyl. Think of it as your buffer zone to give added protection.

The Top Layer

This is where you get your color, patterns, and style. Photographs are used to make vinyl look like natural materials like stone and wood. Often, waterproof vinyl flooring is the highest quality vinyl on the market. This means you get the most realistic looks that people will swear look like real stone/wood.

High density core

This is your most important layer. This gives the floor stability so it won’t contract or swell when it connects with liquid.

Underlayment

If you’ve ever walked on a floor without underlayment, you know it has a hollow sound. Vinyl needs underlayment for both comfort and sound absorption. With waterproof luxury vinyl, the underlayment is attached, making it that much easier to install.

Sounds good, right? The best thing is the style. You can select vinyl plank, vinyl tile, vinyl stone. Whatever you desire for the look and feel of your home, there’s a vinyl flooring option for you.

Stop by and see what we have available for your home. You’ll be surprised.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
March 21, 2018

Avoiding The Hollow Spots On Your Hardwood Flooring

What’s the most common complaint about wood flooring installations gone wrong?

Creaky, hollow sounding floors that develop quickly after the installation process is complete.

They can detract so much from the final project that you decide never to install wood floors again.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. The right installer knows how to avoid this problem long before it begins.

Hollow spots are often blamed on adhesives. That’s rarely the cause. If the adhesive were bad, it would cause problems throughout the room, not just in one spot. And most complaints about hollow spots occur in specific sections of the room.

The most common reason for hollow spots is not getting the subflooring correct. If the concrete substrate doesn’t meet industry requirements, it won’t provide the right surface for the wood floor to reside on.

The National Wood Flooring Association recommends the substrate for an engineered hardwood floor to be no more than 3/16 inch deflection or variance in the slab within a 10-foot radius of the floor. If the radius is greater, proper steps should be used to rectify the situation before installation continues. That includes grinding the substrate and/or leveling it by pouring cement underlayment to achieve flatness.

The flatness of the substrate is imperative when installing boards that are greater than ½ inch thick, or greater than 5 inches wide. The thicker or wider the board, the less likely it will conform to any deflection or variance with the substrate. This means the greater likelihood of a hollow spot.

Of course, it isn’t the only problem that can cause a hollow spot. Other problems include not applying the right amount of adhesive. If the flooring and adhesive lose contact when being installed or doing the curing process, a hollow spot will occur. Weights should be used if the wood has the possibility of rising up during the process. The installer should also use the proper flooring trowel to ensure a sufficient amount of adhesive is laid down.

For some hollow spots, removing the wood flooring, flattening the substrate, and replacing the wood is the only way to correct the problem.

In other cases, injection repair kits are available to allow an installer to inject additional adhesive under the flooring. This works when specific areas are popping up or voids have developed.

Installation isn’t a time to skimp on materials. Always use premium grade pressure sensitive wood flooring adhesive to ensure it will remain tacky for the lifetime of your flooring.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
March 18, 2018

Don’t Make These Wood Flooring Mistakes

Having wood flooring throughout your home is at the top of most homeowners checklists. It’s beautiful. It’s durable. It matches any decor.

The good news is that installing wood flooring isn’t rocket science. With a little due diligence, an installer can create flooring that will last for years. However, if you take shortcuts, plenty of problems can surface almost as soon as the flooring is installed. Being guilty of these common mistakes will cause problems almost from the start.

Not Checking Moisture

Moisture – or lack thereof – can be a big problem after the wood flooring has been installed. Here’s how.

A contractor receives shipment of solid wood flooring from a location outside of the Denver Metro area. He stores it in his warehouse until he needs it for a project. Due to time sensitivities and delays, he brings it into a clients home and installs it right away. The flooring looks great and the client is happy with the job. A few months later, after season changes and a cold winter, the client runs the furnace frequently and starts to notice some of the boards have gaps between them.

The likely cause: the flooring wasn’t acclimated properly for the conditions.

Whenever possible, the goal should be to install the flooring at a moisture content between the extremes of summer and winter living. While gaps are a natural part of the process, they should never be large enough to cause a problem.

Not Preparing Subflooring

The subflooring in your home sets the stage for how well your wood flooring will behave. If the subfloor isn’t prepared properly, you’ll have a variety of problem with your wood flooring. Have you ever had wood floors:

A floating floor with enough deflection that things shake when you walk by
A glued down floor that is loose in some areas
A solid strip floor that squeaks in different places.

It’s not the floor; it’s the way it’s installed. It comes from not ensuring the subfloor is primed and ready for installation. It might not be flattened throughout. It might have leftover drywall, plaster, or paint from renovation. Or the subfloor may be inadequate or inappropriate, such as particleboard.

Think “clean, dry, and flat” before you ever tackle a project.

Not Enough Nails

Some less than stellar contractors do just enough to get by. But if you don’t put in enough fasteners, the problems will surface quickly. Floors without enough fasteners will be loose, which can cause them to move and squeak. They are also more prone to have gaps between the boards as they move and settle with time and the weather.

Simple rules of thumb should be:

Every board must have at least two fasteners
There should be a fastener 1 to 3 inches from the end of each board
Standard strip flooring should have fastener spacing about every 8 to 10 inches
Plank flooring should have fastener spacing every 6 to 8 inches
Always follow manufacturers guidelines

Have you ever had problems with your wood flooring installation?

Flooring, Tile Floors
March 14, 2018

How To Select Kitchen Tiles

Want to renovate your kitchen and update it with modern materials? Look no further than tile.

The kitchen is one room which can use tiles in different ways. Not only can you use tiles on everything from the floor to the counters to the backsplashes, but you can also select colors, designs, and patterns that integrate into your decor.

Tile is a long-term investment, so it should be decided wisely to avoid feeling regret as trends come and go. When you select wisely, it will ensure a high-quality look and feel that can last for years.

Cost

Most homeowners start the process with cost. While it’s important to stick with your budget, it’s also important to understand that quality is more important. It’s better to stick with a higher-quality ceramic tile, for instance, than moving up to a lower quality stone tile that causes problems over time. Talk with a flooring expert and discuss both your needs and your budget.

Installation

Are you more of a do-it-yourselfer? Do you need your new floors in a timely manner? Some kitchen tiles are easy enough for a novice to install. Just set and click into place. But if you have difficult situations – a floor that isn’t straight, for instance – it might be better to let an expert complete the task from beginning to end.

Nature Lover

Are you looking to stay as green as possible? Do you want to avoid chemicals wherever you can? Be sure to mention that to the flooring rep when you’re shopping around. Some products are eco-friendly and are formed naturally. But it doesn’t stop there. Also, ensure the backing and glue meet your specifications as well.

Traffic

Do you live in your home alone? Are you the home where the best parties take place? Different homes do better with different tile selections. Porcelain tile flooring is dense, less porous, and also less prone to moisture and stain absorption. If you have heavy foot traffic, this may be the ideal kitchen tile for you.

Upgrading your kitchen? Tile may be a perfect choice. Stop by and see all of your options today.

Carpet, Flooring
March 10, 2018

When Discount Carpet Makes An Excellent Choice

As homeowners, we’re always looking for great deals. Why pay full price when you can get something on sale?

That said, some decisions are more important than others when it comes to upgrading your home. A sale on paint? Sure, why not? You know the gallon you bring home meets certain standards.

But what about carpet?

Carpet is the perfect choice for many rooms in your home. It adds warmth you can’t get with other flooring choices. It adds comfort; the soft, luxurious feel is perfect underfoot. We often suggest carpet for places where coziness and comfort are important: living rooms, bedrooms, even hallways. Carpets act as a thermal insulator, so they’ll help you save money on your energy bills in the winter. That means with carpeting in the bedrooms, you can turn down the heat a notch or two in the wintertime on cold, winter nights.

Carpeting is also the best for reducing noise. Carpeting absorbs vibrations. That means you won’t hear the “clomp” or “thumps” associated with other types of flooring. It also helps produce a crisper, clearer, more transparent sound, making it perfect for your home theater or music room.

Carpet also provides the safest environment. If you have children or older adults, carpet gives you the added security of being able to brace their falls. The cushion and sponginess of carpets help reduce the risk of slipping. And if they do fall, they are more likely to bounce back up without severe damage.

Carpet can also provide durability at a lower cost. Carpets today come with a wide array of features, including stain-free treatments that make spill removal possible and make stains less penetrable within the fibers.

Sounds good, right? Are you sold on carpet? What about at a discount?

The key is sticking with a reputable dealer who will ensure the quality of the work. It also depends on the area you wish to carpet.

If it’s just one room, you can find a wide variety of options, some at deeply discounted prices.

Don’t be afraid to ask for options. If you have something in mind, a reputable dealer is willing to work within your guidelines. They know more about their product line than anyone. Ask questions and get the very best you can for your home.

Flooring, Tile Floors
March 3, 2018

What Grip Should Your Bathroom Tiles Have?

What’s the most important part of the decision when selecting tiles for your home? The final look tops the list for most homeowners.

If you’ve ever stepped on a tile and felt your feet slip out from under you, you’ve probably placed “safety” as a close second.

When it comes to safety, grip levels are important to ensure you have a safe environment for everyone who enters your home.

When you start to shop for tiles, you’ll notice some tiles have a slip rating. If they don’t, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re dangerous. It just means that the manufacturer has chosen to offer a minimum level of slip protection.

You’ll also find an array of tiles that list an anti-slip factor of R9 or R10.

It’s important to stress that no tile is completely safe. Using precautions is always a good idea, no matter what the rating of a tile is.

But some rooms need more protection than others. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, outdoor room, poolside – these locations almost always have the possibility of having water dripped onto the floor. And with the wrong tile in place, the situation can turn dangerous quickly.

If a tile has an R9 rating, it means it has a low friction level. This grip level is perfect for parts of your home that you expect to be dry most of the time. You could install an R9 tile in a bathroom where you most likely will have a bath mat present every time you get out of the bath or tub.

R10

An R10 tile mas a medium level of friction, which means the grip level is slightly higher than an R9. If you have an active house where kids and pets are always leaving wet messes in place, an R10 rating can help you stay safer. R10 can provide peace of mind.

If you’re shopping for tiles for your home, be sure to move past the color and the shape. Safety is a big concern, and if you get the wrong tile, it can lead to disaster quickly. No one knows your home as you do. If you’re consistently cleaning up wet messes, err on the side of safety and move to an R10 rating.

If you have any other questions about the tiling in your home, we’re here to help.

Carpet, Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
February 14, 2018

Is Carpet Or Wood Floors Better For Asthma?

If you have asthma, you look for ways to reduce your symptoms. And chances are you’ve looked down at the floor a time or two, wondering how it impacts your health.

The key may be in what the flooring is made of rather than a specific type of flooring. The more conscious you are about the products and manufacturing process, the better choice you can make for the flooring installed inside your home.

Carpet

Carpets can cause potential problems to live within the fibers. However, not all carpets are bad. The key is to ask a flooring specialist about the best choices for you.

Opt for short fibers rather than long
Be conscious of the fiber the carpet is made from. Natural fibers such as wool can provide a clean environment. You can also select hypoallergenic synthetic fibers designed to stay cleaner over time.
It’s often the chemicals used in the fibers, padding, or adhesives that cause problems. Look for Green Labels to choose better options.
Clean your carpets regularly. Also, have a no-shoe policy to avoid tracking in dirt and other contaminants.

Hardwood

Wood flooring is a good choice for asthma sufferers because its smooth surface does not trap dust mites or pet dander in the fibers.

Be sure you install it without your loved one around. Dust from sawing and sanding can linger in the air for quite some time. Be sure you clear out your home before entering once again.
Dust frequently with a static dust mop to remove dust.
Select a low volatile organic compound (low VOC) sealer, as this won’t emit fumes that normally come from other types of sealers.
Wood laminate can also be an option, but only if the laminate materials are bound together with high VOC content.
Offgassing can occur from formaldehyde and other chemicals used in the process. Ask about the entire process if you are concerned.

More Choices

Keep in mind that there are other choices that may be better suited for your lifestyle. They include:

Cork – naturally resists water, mold, and mildew, making it a natural choice that’s good for you and the environment.

Ceramic Tile – the hard, durable surface can be a great option, especially in high traffic areas. They are easy to clean and maintain, just avoid high VOC adhesives when you install.

Linoleum – this is made from natural materials (linseed oil, pine resin, and powdered wood) and offers a durable option for any room in your home. Just be sure you select low VOC options for both the adhesive and the linoleum products.

Have allergies? Let us help make the right selection for you.

Flooring
February 7, 2018

Safer Cleaning For Your Floors

How much time do you spend down on the ground, sitting on your floors? As adults, we often spend very little time. But for your kids and your pets, it’s an everyday occurrence.

They lie and sleep on the floor. They play on the floor. They may even eat directly from the floor (yes, your kids too.)

And all that time playing invariably makes a mess. All of which require cleaning up.

There’s a right and a wrong way to do so. Commercial over-the-counter cleaners may state they are safe, but are they really? If you can’t read the labels, or a warning is printed right on the bottle, do you really want that near the family members you hold near and dear to your heart?

If you do use a commercial cleaner, dilution is very important. Be sure to keep everyone out of the room until the floors are clean and dry. When used correctly, the residue left behind will be minimal.

There are also other safer methods using all-natural solutions that can do the job just as well using ingredients from your pantry.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of the most versatile products you have in your home. It’s known for its odor absorbing and mild abrasive qualities, and can clean just about any mess you have in your home. Sprinkle some on your carpet, wait 30 minutes, vacuum, and you have a natural deodorizer. When you mix it with equal amounts of warm water and salt, it becomes a thick paste that can scrub everything from dishes to stained countertops and sinks.

Vinegar

For a quick all-purpose cleaner, combine ½ cup vinegar to a gallon of water, pour into a spray bottle and use as needed. This inexpensive solution cuts through grease and grime and will clean most surfaces easily. And because it’s natural, you can safely use it on a variety of things, including your dog’s toys, grooming tools, and other non-porous surfaces that need a little freshening up. You can store the mix in the bottle between uses.

Lemons

If the smell of vinegar is a little too strong for your tastes, use a little lemon juice instead. Mix three cups of hot water with two tablespoons of baking soda and lemon juice. The baking soda cuts through grime while the lemon juice has natural enzymes that break down organic matter. Plus the fresh, clean scent is an added bonus. You can use it safely on a variety of surfaces and feel good about what it leaves behind. Check with manufacturers guidelines first, or test on surfaces to ensure resiliency and colorfastness.

Carpet Stains

Accidents on carpet can be a nuisance. Before you pull out the chemical-laden cleaners, try something natural instead. For light carpet stains, two tablespoons of salt mixed into ½ cup of white vinegar may do the trick. Be sure the salt completely dissolved before using. For heavier carpet stains, add in two tablespoons of borax, making sure both the salt and borax dissolve before using. For tough, ground in stains, mix one tablespoon white vinegar with one tablespoon cornstarch until a thick paste forms. Rub it into the stain with a dry cloth and let it sit for up to two days. Vacuum.