Flooring Archives - Page 44 of 58

Carpet, Flooring
July 7, 2016

7 Mistakes People Make When Buying Carpet

Are you in the market for new carpet for your home? It can be a daunting task. It’s not a process you do on a regular basis, and with the amount of choices available to you, where do you begin?

Because it’s something you purchase infrequently, don’t make common mistakes and regret your purchase almost as soon as it’s installed. These are the most common mistakes we see people making; avoid these and you’ll love your purchase from the moment it’s installed.

1. Assuming carpet weight impacts quality

When making a major purpose, we like to find ways of distinguishing good, better, best. So when we see carpeting described by face weight, it’s easy to assume one is better than another based on numbers alone. However, when it comes to carpet, many factors play into the final decision. A 50 oz carpet isn’t necessarily better than a 40 oz one. There are many other factors to take into consideration, such as twist, density, materials, etc.

2. Choosing the wrong padding

Some will elect to place all of their money in the carpeting, assuming what’s visible matters most. Unfortunately, this is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Padding saves on wear and tear for your carpet by absorbing the impact of foot traffic. A better grade pad will feel more comfortable to walk on, and perform better for the long term.

3. Judging carpets based on looks

This holds true if you’re getting quotes from different retailers on different products and brand names. Just because they look the same doesn’t mean they are. Be sure you are comparing on the same level: are they made from the same fiber, are they the same style, do they offer the same warranty, will they be installed in a similar manner?

4. Attempting DIY carpet installation

Flooring is one of the most important parts of your home. You walk on it every day. And if it isn’t installed correctly, problems will surface immediately. Like frayed edges around the baseboards; bubbles and ripples in the middle of the rooms. Many warranties stipulate that carpet must be installed professionally in order to be valid. So make sure to do your research and plan ahead if you are going to perform the install. Or, consider spending the extra money to save time and headache.

5. Not considering your lifestyle

Yes, you love your neighbor’s light colored carpets. But with a busy family, several kids and a cat and a dog, does light carpeting really make sense? Think about your needs before you hone in on a selection. Let a carpet rep offer advice based on how much traffic your carpets will see.

6. Calculating square footage incorrectly

Taking your own measurements gives you a starting point. But a reputable retailer will want to verify those measurements for you. It’s more complicated than adding up the square footage of your rooms. A retailer will account for the width or the carpet roll, the direction of the carpet pile, the individual nuances of your room. They will know when you’ve left out important pieces, and adjust accordingly.

7. Trusting a promotion

Oh, those special deals you find on television ads or in coupons or flyers. They seem too good to be true, don’t they? Yep, they are. If someone is charging a very low price for carpeting, they are making it up somewhere else. In order to stay in business, they have to make a profit, so there must be hidden charges to make up for the offer they pull you in with. If it seems too good to be true, realize it probably is.

Flooring
July 2, 2016

Choosing The Best Flooring For A Home Theater

Today’s home theaters can be almost as good as a movie theater. There’s a lot to consider when planning your perfect room, everything from audio and visual components, to seating and décor.

But when finalizing your plans, don’t overlook the importance of flooring. Flooring can control the mood and the sound, and be the difference between a good and a great theater experience.

Your flooring choice impacts home theater acoustics. Deadening the room’s reverberation is crucial. Reverberation is the sound that remains in the room after the sound stops. If you’ve ever clapped your hands in a big, open room and heard the noise bounce around you – that’s reverberation.

In a home theater, the chance for reverberation peaks with every movie you play. Imagine a quiet scene where the actors voices blend together. Or an action scene where loud noises play out at a deafening level. Not a great experience.

Since sound waves bounce off hard surfaces, flooring is the starting point to increasing your satisfaction level in your home theater experience. When sound waves are allowed to bounce off hard surfaces, you lose audio clarity. The sound from your speakers will be muddy and noisy.

Using wood or laminate will produce sound decay and have a booming quality in the sounds as they enter your room. Think of when you played in the band in a school gymnasium. Wood and laminate are probably not your first choice for a great home theater experience.

If you use wood or laminate, pay special attention to the details. Fill in the space with high quality area rugs. Plush fibers will help eliminate the worst of the reverb.

Carpeted floors are generally considered to be the best option. Carpeting absorbs and prevents excess reverberation around the room. Wall to wall carpet will provide the best soundproofing, helping to clarify the sound from your speakers as it surrounds you as you listen.

Many home theaters are built in unfinished basements. With the possibilities of building from the ground up, you can create an idea experience in any way you choose. While electronics and décor can create the mood, remember flooring is what creates the quality sound. Let us help you choose the right flooring to create your home movie experience.

Flooring
June 28, 2016

The Best DIY Flooring Options

It’s summer time.

Whether you’re a teacher with a few weeks off to enjoy the summer, or trying to fit in several weeks of vacation for a little bit of home maintenance while the weather is warm, summer is a great time to take on a few of the DIY projects that have been lying around.

When it comes to a home renovation project, nothing makes as big of an impact as new flooring. But some flooring may be the perfect choice for a DIY project … and some may not.

Bad flooring installation not only looks bad, but it also wears bad as well. And if you hope to see your home sell in the near future, it can also cause a serious hit to the value of your home as well.

Looking for the perfect flooring to install yourself? These are the top choices for you to consider.

Engineered Wood Planks
If you want the natural beauty of real wood flooring, but not the hassle of sanding, finishing and regular maintenance, it’s hard to beat engineered wood. Engineered wood comes in wide, long planks that snap together with milled tongue and groove joints. There’s no gluing or nailing. The planks simply float over a thin underlayment. Engineered wood comes in a variety of styles, sizes, and colors. You can have everything from traditional oak to exotic Brazilian Cherry, or something in between.

Floating Vinyl Sheets
Resilient vinyl sheet flooring has been around for decades, and is still a popular choice for kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. Over the years, the product has also become DIY friendly. Today, you’ll find floating vinyl sheets that are much thicker and more durable than standard vinyl. It’s as simple to install as removing the molding from around the room, cut and lay the vinyl into place, and replace the molding once again. With small rooms below the 12 foot wide mark, no seams will be required, meaning DIY installation is a snap.

Laminate
Laminate flooring is similar in many ways to engineered wood. Both are floating floors made from tongue and groove planks that snap together. Both come in a variety of styles, sizes, and looks. The main difference is the surface of the flooring is laminate instead of wood. The biggest advantage laminate has over engineered wood is that it’s extremely resistant to stains, scratches, fading, damage and wear. Which makes it the perfect choice for your main living areas with a lot of heavy foot traffic.

Cork Planks
The popularity of cork flooring has grown exponentially in recent years. Cork is attractive, durable and 100 percent renewable, since it’s harvested from the bark of live oak trees. It also is soft underfoot, and can provide noise reduction commonly associated with laminate flooring. Prefinished cork flooring comes in both tiles and planks. While some require glue to hold it in place, new products also offer planks that simply snap together to create a floating floor. And because it readily accepts stain and topcoat finishes, the color and pattern options are many.

What flooring will you choose for your DIY project? We can help you make the perfect decision for your home, and get you started with all the supplies you’ll need.

Flooring, Tile Floors
June 22, 2016

The Benefits Of Using Wood-Looking Tile

Here in Colorado, we love the look of hardwood flooring. But no matter how much you love your hardwood, there may be places where you don’t appreciate its durability.

The bathroom, for instance.

When remodeling the bathroom, it’s easy to understand why you would like the look of hardwood to carry throughout your home. But what about moisture? What about water damage when you use the shower on a regular basis?

What if there was a way to have the look and improve durability at the same time? Wood-looking tile may be the answer. Its appearance is so realistic that it can be installed throughout your entire living space and provide the same warm appearance you’re used to with hardwoods.

But it has added benefits that hardwoods don’t.

1. It resists moisture
Wood-looking tile is made from porcelain, which means it resists moisture wherever water can go. Using grout helps seal the tiles, making them more resistant to both water and mold and mildew buildup.

2. It is easily maintained
Wood-looking tile gives you the look and feel of hardwood flooring with the durability of tile. It doesn’t require a lot of upkeep to look its best. It’s easy to clean with a bucket and a mop, and can be scrubbed to remove tough stains. Regular sweeping and mopping will keep it looking new for years.

3. It helps with room temperature
Tile is cool in the summer, and with the installation of radiant heating, can be equally as warm in the winter. This works well if you desire a spa-like feel in your bathroom, having warm flooring in a matter of minutes on a cold, winter day.

4. It has many design choices
Just like hardwoods, wood-looking tiles come in a variety of colors and patterns. From rustic to country, dark to light, there are many ways you can add wood-look tile to your décor and have it be the perfect touch to your design theme.

Flooring
June 18, 2016

Pebble Stone Perfect For Home Flooring

Instead of going with standard size tile choices for the floors in your bathroom or kitchen, spice things up a bit and personalize it with pebble stones. Pebble stones come in a variety of styles, shapes, and colors, and when used to accent or compliment your larger tiles, they create a unique finish you’re going to love.

But working with pebble stone is different than working with other tiles. And though we know you’re going to love the look, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Pay special attention to pebble floors
When designing showers made of pebble stone, it’s important to remember that they are slower to drain than other types of tiling. Increase the pitch and use epoxy grout can help with quicker dry out times between showers. Many contractors suggest at least a 2 percent pitch for pebble shower floors, or a ¼ inch per foot.

Details make the difference
With pebble stone, the look is often created in a hodgepodge sort of way. Yet it’s important to remember that focus on the detail is important. Good design and attention is placed on how the entire look comes together. That means how the pebbles fit when they come together in corners, wrap around vanities and tubs, and join together at windows and doors. This doesn’t happen with guess work. Instead, map out the way the tile comes together, allowing the grain of the tile to continue around for a polished look.

Mix up colors and styles
Tiles are meant to compliment and contrast. You don’t have to use the same tiles and patterns on floors, walls, and ceilings. Adding a second tile choice on a feature wall helps add character to a small room. It can also make it appear larger, cozier than one color can do on its own. Don’t forget to take into account water content. The heavier the mineral buildup in your water supply, the more deposits you’ll have on your pebble tile. And if it’s used throughout your shower, on floors and walls, it can cause drainage issues. Be sure to talk with a flooring expert before you make your final decisions.

Have you decided to use pebble tile in your renovation?

Carpet, Flooring
June 13, 2016

Mistakes To Avoid When Adding Carpeting To Stairs

Nothing makes a grander entrance than a beautiful staircase leading from the upstairs down into your entryway. The wood. The trim. The carpet.

Yet nothing takes away from that look more than a poorly installed carpet. And not only will it become an eyesore, but it can also be dangerous as well.

From measuring properly to attaching the carpeting firmly into place, there is a lot of room for error in making sure it’s done the right way. Whether it’s a runner or full carpeting, it requires correct installation to keep looking its best for many years to come.

Tackless Strip Mistakes
One of the most important features used to install carpeting on stairs are the tackless strips. They shouldn’t be placed right next to the corner of the stairs. They should also be completely parallel to the crotch of the stairs. A common mistake is to place the tackless strip with upward facing pins instead of leaning them towards the crotch. When using a runner, make sure the tackless strip is cut and placed so the runner extends one inch to either side of the strip.

Padding Mistakes
Never cut the padding in long strips to flow down the stairs. Instead, cut individual lengths for each riser/tread combination of each stair. Also, verify that the padding is cut to size to avoid having to stretch it too tightly. Never using padding to overlap the tackless strip. Instead, cut it so it rests right up against each strip.

Carpeting Mistakes
With a carpeting runner, a common mistake is to neglect to fold each long edge over by scoring it along the backside of the carpet. This makes sure the frayed edges are invisible. Staircase carpeting is installed in one long piece. If you precut it lengthwise, be sure to cut it accurately for the total length, including risers and treads. Another common mistake is cutting it too short, which leaves a seam in a less than perfect location. Also, be sure the staircase is clean and free of debris during installation. Anything that can cause a bubble or a less than perfect installation will show up in the final texture, providing a less than flush appearance from stair to stair. It can also be dangerous, depending on where the problems lie.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
June 9, 2016

3 Critical Issues When Selecting Flooring

Whenever you purchase new flooring, there are several critical issues to consider. It may start with selecting color and design, but you’ll quickly find many other considerations that are equally as important.

Select the right floor and you’ll be happy for years. Select incorrectly and you’ll be disappointed almost from the getgo. High traffic areas in your home need different flooring choices than low traffic areas, such as the bedrooms. Low traffic commercial locations – small business offices – require different characteristics than high traffic commercial locations – a school.

Yet regardless of which flooring material you ultimately choose, it’s important to always select the highest quality possible. Low priced products may seem like a bargain until you have stability issues soon after installation.

Choose the correct flooring for the location
Above all, flooring must fit the function. While pattern and style, color and design are important to create the look you’re going for, it’s equally important to choose characteristics that match performance.

Install it properly and according to manufacturer’s guidelines
Flooring must be installed properly by contractors or individuals who are experienced and knowledgeable about the flooring material they are working with. This isn’t a place to skimp. Fixing errors immediately after installation can be costly procedures, and in some cases can nullify your warranty altogether.

Properly maintain it
Once flooring is installed, it’s important to service and care for it according to guidelines. Every floor material has specific procedures for maintenance, from wet cleaning to sweeping, to applying finishes. If you follow the plan, your floor will have less damage potential, and remain under warranty for the extended amount of time.

Flooring isn’t a quick decision purchase; instead, it’s an investment that can last for years. If you choose wisely, you’ll be happy with your purchase and provide full life expectancy, and have the best-looking floors possible.

Have additional questions? Just call.

Flooring
June 4, 2016

Knowing The Characteristics Of The Perfect Commercial Flooring

In today’s world, we spend about 93 percent of our time indoors. And of that time, the average person spends about one-third of it in their workspace. Choosing the right commercial flooring is important will impact not only how visibly appealing your space is to potential customers, but also to the feelings and work ethics of your employees. With so many patterns, shapes and textures available, what characteristics should you be looking for?

In many ways, carpet tiles lead the way. They range from 18 to 36 inch squares, planks, hexagons, diamonds and everything in between. They have various textures and designs that can create just about any look you desire. And because carpet tiles are the most highly engineered textile flooring in the industry, their attributes give you everything you need for longevity and wear. And while they offer provide years of wear, there’s something nice about knowing you can replace individual tiles if and when accidents do happen. It makes it economical in high traffic areas.

While carpet tiles tend to top most commercial flooring lists, it’s by no means the only flooring choice you have. Besides carpet tiles, numerous hard surface materials can help create an environment conducive to your workplace. Try luxury vinyl tiles or planks, ceramic, or wood. You can also move into marble, granite, polished concrete, rubber, or a variety of wood options that will add life to your commercial location.

When choosing a floor for commercial locations, pay attention to acoustical considerations. The last thing you want is a loud clicking sound as your employees walk down the hallway, again and again. And while wood may look nice, it can quickly turn into disappointment if it dents or scratches as desks, chairs and high heels navigate it every day. Choosing something like porcelain made to mimic the characteristics of wood may be a wiser choice to add stability and performance.

Have questions about what commercial flooring choice is right for your business? The best place to start is with a call. We’d be happy to help you select the right flooring for your needs.

Flooring, Tile Floors
June 1, 2016

Why Travertine Tiles Are Perfect For Indoor Use

Trying to decide on the perfect tile for your home? Want to update your bathroom or remodel your kitchen? Travertine tiles may be the perfect addition to your floors.

Travertine tiles have increased in popularity for use within the home for many reasons.

Versatility – travertine is natural material that has been used for centuries in home design. Go back to Roman times and you’ll find travertine in place on their walls, floors, even countertops and more. Because of their aesthetically pleasing colors and styles, they can pull together any home décor.

Durability – travertine is a stone that is part of the limestone family, and is one of the most durable substances used in flooring. In ancient times, it was used as roads and can take a great deal of foot traffic. When installed correctly and maintained on a regular basis, you don’t have to worry about decay, breakage or other issues.

Beauty – natural stone is always pleasing to the eye and never goes out of style. Unlike other tile options, travertine has been used in homes for generations and maintains its looks for years. It blends well and adds the perfect background for any design theme you choose. It can be incorporated into many areas, including your hallways, shower and tub design, as well as your countertops and backsplashes.

Flowthrough – Travertine can be used in both indoor and outdoor applications, which makes it the perfect choice to add to your outdoor rooms. Travertine can be the perfect look to tie your décor together, both inside and outside of your home.

Natural stone tiles will always be in demand, adding value to your home from the moment you lay them in place. Talk with one of our professional designers and you’ll quickly gain ideas that will help you incorporate travertine into any of your remodeling plans.

Flooring
May 24, 2016

Best Floors For A Home With A Wheelchair

Remodeling your home to make it a safe place to live for every member of your family? Choosing a flooring material that is both safe and secure for a family member in a wheelchair can be tricky.

There are many things you should avoid:

High transitions from room to room
Slippery surfaces
Loose carpeting or rugs

Durability is also an issue, as wheelchairs are heavy and can quickly wear down some flooring choices.

Hardwoods and Laminates

Hardwoods are a great choice throughout your home. Not only are they ADA-compliant, but attractive and in high demand. When choosing hardwood, make sure you pay attention to the hardness of the wood. Softwoods such as pine and fir dent easily, while hardwoods such as maple and hickory can sustain the bumps and marks of daily wheelchair traffic.

Laminates are also a good choice. Because laminates are manufactured and produced to be harder than most woods, they can sustain a good deal of traffic before showing wear. It resists dents and scuff marks come off easily without marring the finish.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are water resistant, which makes them good options in both the kitchen and the bathroom. However, large tiles are fragile and crack easier under the weight of a wheelchair. If choosing ceramic tiles, pay attention to the slipperiness factor of the tile, and choose smaller tiles around two inches square. This provides a small enough size to be durable, without creating potential grout issues for both scuffing and cleaning problems.

Vinyl

Vinyl is water resistant choice that’s perfect for the bathroom and kitchen. It’s less expensive and easier to install, meaning it’s also easier to replace on a more frequent basis. Pay attention to the slip resistant factor, as different types of vinyl are more appropriate for being ADA-compliant. Also, be careful of luxury vinyl that provides too much cushion to be durable under the weight of daily wheelchair traffic.

Carpet

Thin pile carpeting is also slip resistant. Thick carpets are difficult to navigate in a wheelchair, and shouldn’t be used in main traffic areas. If you are using carpeting, make sure the maximum pile length is ½ inch. Shorter pile makes propelling the wheelchair easier. Also, make sure it is firmly attached to the subfloor to avoid slippage, where ripples can form and cause movement problems.