Choosing A Sustainable Wood Floor For Earth Day

Across the world, people are celebrating Earth Day in big ways. But you don’t have to go out into your neighborhood or community to take action. Instead, you can take action close to home, right in your favorite rooms.

Wood flooring is one of the greenest choices you can make for your home’s décor. And when done right, adding a wood floor to your home can actually be good for the environment. Hardwood floors are:

Sustainable. The average net growth for hardwoods are greater than average removal loads.

Healthy. Indoor air quality can improve quickly when installing hardwood flooring, and overall will help you make the air quality the best it can be.

Natural resources. They use less water and energy for production than any other flooring choice.

Renewable. While it takes most hardwood trees anywhere from 40 to 60 years to mature, the inventory being planted today won’t be needed for 100 years or more.

Long-lasting. When cared for properly, hardwood floors can last a hundred years or more. Which means they won’t need replacing as often as other flooring choices.

Less wasteful. Hardwood floors in general aren’t replaced as often as other flooring types. And when they are replaced, they can be burned as fuel or recycled into other products, meaning they won’t end up in the landfill.

Carbon neutral resource. Hardwoods help reduce global warming by being carbon neutral, which means they produce oxygen during its growth phase, and stores carbon during its service life.

LEED products. Wood is recognized by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program for improved indoor air quality and its sustainably sourced materials.

Is hardwood flooring the right choice for you? Stop by today and see all of your options.

Happy Earth Day!

Flooring
April 18, 2015

How To Choose Flooring For An Investment Property

There are a lot of ways to make money in the real estate market. Buy a distressed property, fix it up and flip it for a profit. Or buy a home in a good neighborhood and you may have a rental property that will bring in income for years into the future.

When you purchase a great deal, the only way to keep it profitable is if you fix it up at a reasonable cost. Which means the fix up process should make it sellable without going overboard.

Value of the property
Every home has a market value, which in turn will dictate the quality of flooring expected by the buyer or renter. While you don’t want to spend an exorbitant amount of money on installing high-end flooring, your goal should still be to impress the home’s decision maker. Buyers know they can repaint easily; flooring is something they will live with for a much longer term.

High-end homes should have equally high-end flooring choices. High-end home buyers want real wood in the main areas, not laminate. For rooms that are carpeted, a luxurious or plush carpet is always better as opposed to a builder’s grade. And for areas like bathrooms and laundry rooms, install a high-end tile or stone rather than laminate or vinyl.

For mid-value homes, choose a durable flooring that can offer a beautiful look and can take more abuse, especially if the home will be rented. Choose harder tiles for entryways, bathrooms and laundry rooms. If you are considering wood, look towards laminates or engineered hardwoods to complete the look. And if you do install carpeting, a builder’s grade may be the way to go, especially in rentals where there’s a chance you’ll be replacing it on a frequent basis.

Function of the room
As you are purchasing flooring for your investment property, keep in mind that less is more. If you can stick with one to three choices of flooring to install throughout the home, not only will you save money by being able to purchase larger quantities, you will also give the home more visual appeal.

Bathrooms, laundry rooms, entryways and kitchens all are high use areas that can take a lot of abuse. Moisture, water, spills and even humidity are all possible, so installing flooring options that can handle these conditions is best. Think tile or vinyl.

For second floor bedrooms, carpeting is always a great choice to reduce noise and provide warmth on those cold, winter mornings.

If wood is at the top of your list for visual appeal, keep in mind that while it can be installed in every room of the home, it will require more maintenance than other flooring choices. While it may be the perfect choice when selling a high-end home, if you will be caring for it as a rental property, you may quickly regret your decision.

Overall, flooring can have the most impact when fixing up a home for resell. Not only can flooring open up a space and give it more pizzazz, it can give you an edge when someone walks in for a tour and instantly says “I’m home”.

Flooring
April 16, 2015

Does It Make Sense To Replace Carpeting With Laminate In A Rental Property?

“I have a small single family home close to the Tech Center that I’ve rented out for years to singles and couples. Our average renter is professional and makes a good income, and they want to stay close to work as well as be close to the city. It has a lot of great benefits, but it has been a little more difficult to rent lately with all the new apartments and condos going up all over town. I’m thinking of replacing the carpeting with laminate; is that a good idea in a rental property?”

In your question, you provided a lot of the answer yourself.

You rent to singles and couples, which means they are probably not as hard on the flooring as a family would be since they are probably out working and enjoying time with friends more.
They’re professional; again, that means they tend to be in work mode a lot of their time.
And because there are a lot of new apartments being built all over town, it also means you have more competition when it comes time for them to find a new home.

So, does it make sense to replace carpeting with laminate in your rental property? The answer is yes.

Laminate is a great choice because its easier to maintain and it doesn’t get dirty as quickly as carpeting. And because laminate is easier to maintain, it can take more abuse than traditional hardwood flooring, while still giving the same beauty and aesthetic look and feel that people expect from hardwoods.

You mentioned that you have a small single family home. Laminate can work throughout the home, or you can soften the look by adding carpeting in lower traffic rooms, such as the bedrooms. Carpeting provides a level of insulation that will reduce noise as well as make the room warmer – a good thing when the temperature dips below zero.

Either way, ultimately it boils down to preferences. You know your average renters the best. If you consistently hear them making comments about the flooring, wishing for wood instead, it may be time to install laminate. It’s a great decision; one I’m sure you’ll love in the long run.

Flooring, Tile Floors
April 11, 2015

Pros And Cons Of Using Natural Stone Tile

Natural stone is one of the most stylish and fashionable materials you can use for your flooring. You can use it inside and out. You can use it in any room in your home.

But there are a few things you should know before you make your final selection.

There are four types of natural stone that are popular choices homeowners select regularly; are one of these right for you? Below you will find more details about each variety of stone including where they perform best and where they may need additional consideration. With this knowledge, you will be able to decide on the perfect stone that matches your needs.

Stone Flooring Features, Benefits, and Disadvantages

Marble: natural beauty with limits

Marble is formed when limestone crystallizes as a result of high pressure and high temperatures while underground. As it crystallizes, it becomes harder and denser. This hardness allows it to be smoothed and polished during processing. Like all natural stones, marble must have a protective sealant applied before use, and must be maintained and reapplied regularly for full protection. Marble is susceptible to staining, so its important to clean up spills immediately to avoid potential damage. Everyday substances that contain acid – alcohol, fruit juices, vinegar, tomato products, mustard, salad dressing, tea, coffee, cosmetics – all can stain or damage the area is left sitting for any length of time.

Pros: Beautiful colors and patterns, because its natural, no two tiles are ever the same.

Cons: Prone to staining, will show wear quickly from acid based products.

Granite: tough but heavy

Granite is one of the hardest natural stones, which is why its used frequently in kitchens. Granite is formed from cooling magma underground. Because the cooling process is very slow, granite builds both strength and hardness as it goes through the process. Its made up of a variety of minerals, including quartz and feldspar, which give it its granular composition and texture. However, its strength is also its weakness. Because granite is very hard and unforgiving, when installing it as flooring, the subflooring must be completely level and have the strength to support its heaviness. If the floor has bumps or even tiny valleys, granite tiles will crack easily.

Pros: Beautiful color, hard surface that takes wear and tear from normal family life.

Cons: One of the heaviest flooring choices, must have support in place.

Slate: resilient but ununiform

Slate is formed deep in the earth as shale, and under the right combination of heat and pressure. Slate tile has a duller and slightly more uneven look than its other natural stone predecessors, which also makes it the tile of choice if slip resistant flooring matters to you. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns, often providing a rustic or modern look and feel. It is more stain resistant than other stone choices, takes water well, and is highly durable. Slate can be cracked if laid on an uneven subfloor, or if a heavy object is dropped on it. Because slate is formed in layers, in rare cases it has been known to flake or peel Its important to treat with a sealant immediately after installation and maintain the sealant on a regular basis.

Pros: Dark, earthy color pallets with a natural, rustic look. Tends to be more resilient than other stone.

Cons: Tiles can be uneven due to the layering quality of the tile.

Travertine: soft stone that feels great but wears more easily

Travertine has a similar makeup as limestone or marble, and is composed of a sedimentary rock, calcite. Travertine has been used for centuries around the world; look to the Colosseum in Rome to see it in use. Travertine is a porous stone with natural holes from formation. In order to protect it, it must be sealed prior to grouting and again after installation for protection. It will soak up liquids and will stain if left untreated. It is also susceptible to stains from acidic foods. Travertine is a softer stone, which means its also more prone to scratching and showing wear and tear.

Pros: Travertine comes in rich, earthy tones. Because it’s a softer tile, it will feel soft underfoot.

Cons: It has a tendency to scratch, and will stain if not treated.

Contact PRO! Flooring today to speak to one of our flooring experts and find which natural stone tile will work best for your project.

Related: A Guide to Resilient Flooring

About Pro Flooring Brokers

We are a one stop shop for all of your flooring and installation needs. Located in Denver, CO, we have been family owned and operated for over 30 years! Our passion is your project.

Have a Flooring Project in the Denver Area?

Commercial and residential customers love our huge selection of carpet, hardwood, porcelain tile, natural stone, luxury vinyl tile/planks, laminate flooring, and sheet vinyl flooring. Check out our products to learn more. Visit our showroom, meet our team, and let’s start your flooring project together. We offer:

Complimentary on-site measuring
Flooring estimates based on floor plans or blueprints
Installations performed by trained and qualified installers
Full one-year guarantee on all workmanship (in addition to manufacturer’s warranty)

Flooring and installation are made easy with the PRO! Flooring Brokers. Contact us, visit our showroom, or call today at 303.788.0113. We look forward to helping you.

Flooring
April 4, 2015

Flooring Choices That Are Antimicrobial and Antibacterial

For some, home is a place to unwind and relax.

For others, home can be a dangerous place.

If you have allergies, asthma, or any of the many other diseases that affect your respiratory system, home can be a dangerous place if its not clean and bacteria free. According to a nationwide survey, over half of all Americans test positive for at least some allergens, and many are of the indoor variety, such as dust, mold and pet dander.

For many people, when they think of making their home a cleaner, more breathable place to be, the first place they turn is downward to the floor, and with good reason. Your flooring is one area you can control potential from the moment of installation.

If you are looking at new flooring choices, determining which will offer you the highest levels of antimicrobial and antibacterial materials on the market today, there are many options available right now.

Leading the way is cork flooring. Unlike carpet, cork tends to repel dust, hair, dirt and dander from its surface. Cork is easier to get completely clean, and because of this it tends to promote a higher indoor air quality.

Cork also has a waxy substance called suberin. This material has the property of naturally repelling small vermin and insects. This makes cork floors more resistant to growth and colonization of these organisms, and can help promote a more healthy environment.

Cork has many other benefits that may help push it forward on your checklist. Because cork is a natural, recurring material, its one of the greenest flooring choices on the market today. Because it creates a soft surface, it can insulate and provide cushion in the rooms where you need it most. They make great choices for rooms frequently inhibited by children or the elderly because of their give. They are also easy to maintain, and when installed correctly, require a minor amount of work each week to keep them looking their best.

Next in line is vinyl flooring. While vinyl floors offer superb protection against potential bacteria, it is important to make the right choice with vinyl. When shopping and making your final selection, make sure you do your research and talk with a flooring consultant about environmentally safe vinyls. Some vinyls can produce off-gassing, which has the ability to make sensitive family members even sicker. If you choose vinyl with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, they will be more environmentally sound, and create a great barrier in your home that is both easy to clean and safe from the things that can impact your health the most.

Likewise, vinyl flooring comes in many styles and colors, and like cork, can provide a softer, more insulated flooring choice that makes it good for both kids and the elderly. With many of today’s luxury vinyl choices, you can create any look you are trying to achieve – why not choose a wood, tile or stone pattern? Vinyl is only limited by your imagination, proving once and for all that style, health and safety can all move hand in hand throughout your home.

Have any other questions about choosing the right antimicrobial and antibacterial flooring option for your home? We’d be happy to answer your questions and show you your options. Give us a call today.

Flooring
April 2, 2015

Why Your Flooring Sets The Tone For Your Home

Your flooring sets the scene for how well your home functions. It can instantly portray your lifestyle, blend flawlessly into your décor, even give your family more time and freedom to do the things they truly like to do.

With that much riding on it, its no wonder making changes to your flooring is a big decision.

Ideally, its important to consider flooring choices for your entire home at one time. Its good to have a seamless flow from room to room. Many decorators will tell you a good rule of thumb is when you are standing in any one place in your home, its best not to see more than three different flooring materials in your view. More than three is simply too busy; less is always better to keep the flow. And if you do change, make sure you keep your choices cohesive, blending well and making sense as they change from room to room.

When most people are ready for a change, it usually stems old fashioned flooring that doesn’t meet today’s standards. The linoleum is looking a little tired. Or maybe you’re tired of scrubbing grout lines or carpet stains. If either sounds like you, hardwood flooring may be the right choice.

While a lot is written about the durability of hardwoods, overall hardwood flooring has stood the test of time. Its easy to clean, comes in a wide array of colors and finishes, and can provide the strength and performance you are looking for in every room in your home.

Whether you have an older home with a small layout, or a wide open main level with rooms that flow, continuing hardwoods throughout the living space will create a continuous flow and make your home feel larger.

Because hardwood is ever-popular, there really is a look and feel for you. Lighter palettes have a way of opening up your home: try hickory, maple, oak, or bamboo in a natural or whitewashed shade. Darker shades can add depth and glamor to a room, but keep in mind the darker the shade, the more maintenance it will require.

If you have an active family, you may be worried about how a hardwood floor will hold up over time. A new trend is distressed and hand-scraped wood. Each plank is hand scraped and shaped one at a time. No two planks are ever alike, giving the overall look uniqueness and character.

If you love the look of hardwood but aren’t sure about the durability, you can even create a wood-look with one of many products on the market today. Try tile. Or engineered wood. Or even luxury vinyl can provide the hardwood look without the maintenance of real hardwood flooring.

And if hardwood simply isn’t your thing, don’t worry, there are hundreds of choices available to suit your every need.

Want to know what the right choice is for you? The best place to start is by stopping by and taking in a few of the selections. You’ll quickly start to discover your likes and dislikes, and begin focusing in on the perfect choice for your home. Stop by today and let us show you the best flooring for you.

Carpet, Flooring
March 21, 2015

4 Easy Steps To Measure For Carpet

Ready to buy new carpeting for your home? Before you head out and start narrowing down your choices, it’s a good idea to know approximately how much carpeting you’ll need. Carpeting comes in a variety of sizes and widths; knowing your room sizes ahead of time can be a big help in making the right decisions.

Though nothing will take the place of having a professional installer make the final measurements, start with a few measurements yourself.

Step One: Draw a diagram of your home.
Include all the rooms that will be carpeted in the process. It doesn’t have to be completely to scale, or even look like it was created by a professional architect. Its simply a guide to help you measure and keep notes. Using graph paper can sometimes help you in your process, or use a simple computer program to help you add in the details.

Step Two: Measure
Once you have your rooms in place, its time to pull out your measuring tape and start measuring. Round each measurement to the nearest ½ foot mark, so a room that is 14 feet 3 inches would be rounded to 15 feet 6 inches, or 15.5 feet. This little bit of extra carpet will make sure you have enough. Mark each measurement on your diagram in the appropriate room, and add in notes if you have questions. Rooms should always have two measurements, length and width, and should end up with a final measurement something like this: 15.5 x 14.

Step Three: Calculate your final amount
Once you have measured all rooms, make a list of each of the measurements. Multiply each room’s length by its width to come up with the total square feet of carpeting needed for that room. Add up the final measurements for every room you will be carpeting to determine total amount of carpeting needed for the job. Don’t forget to add in hallways, closets, and other areas that may be hidden or forgotten during the process.

Living room     20 x 22.5 = 450
Hall                 15 x 4.5 = 67.5
Bedroom         15 x 14.5 = 217.5
Bedroom         14 x 12 = 168
Total = 903 square feet

Step Four: Add in for safety
When professional carpet installers work on a project, they may need additional carpet for seam allowances and for other needs of the job. Its always important to add in a little extra for safety sake. A good rule of thumb is to add in 5 percent extra to make sure you have enough for the entire job. Take the final number you calculated in step three, and add in 5 percent. This will provide you with the total square feet needed for the job.

903 + (5%) 45 = 948 square feet

Most carpeting is sold by the square yard. To calculate square yards from your final square footage total, simply divide your total number by 9.

948 / 9 = 105.33 square yards

That’s it – this gives you a good estimate of how much carpeting you will need to complete your project.

Carpet, Flooring
March 18, 2015

What To Know Before You Buy New Carpet

What To Know Before Buying New Carpet in Denver, CO

Home maintenance and remodeling projects can be exciting; after all, they can make a room go from ho-hum to WOW with just a little bit of work.

Yet in most cases, each project we take on isn’t something we do every week (or even every year in most cases). We head out shopping for a few upgrades, and quickly become overwhelmed with all the choices presented before us.

And some projects are bigger and more costly than others, making it equally difficult to settle in on a final choice, not wanting to make the wrong decision and having to live with it for years.

Choosing carpeting falls into this category. Buying carpet can be quite confusing and it takes quite a bit of time to learn all about the choices out there, and deciding on which is the best for you.

Here’s a quick checklist to help you make your final selection.

Before you buy new carpet:

Fully research different types of carpeting to select the one best for your lifestyle
Want to stay with natural fibers? Today’s carpets offer you many options, including green options
Spend time thinking about the right color and comparing your options
Paint the walls a few weeks before. This will give the paint plenty of time to dry and cure before the carpeting is installed.

During the carpet buying process:

Shop for the best carpet for your needs; work with a flooring consultant to help you narrow down your choices
Take several carpet samples home and view them in your rooms at different times of the day to get a good feel for how it will look
Fully measure your room and take into account where seams will have to go
Choose a performance based carpeting that best fits the requirements of your home, traffic and family
Take your time in choosing. Don’t be pressured to purchase the first selection you like. Compare types, styles and colors until you are confident with your choice.
Spend time comparing padding and select the right carpet pad for your room
Learn all you can about the company you will be doing business about – its more than just the carpeting you choose. Do they have a good reputation throughout the area? Have they been in business for awhile? Are they bonded and have liability insurance?

On Installation day:

Make sure your home is fully prepared for installation in every room that will be getting new carpet
Have all furniture moved, if possible. Have nick knacks removed and stored for safety.
Make sure kids and pets are out of all areas and will remain out of the way throughout the process.
Make sure all rooms are pre-heated at 70 degrees for at least three hours before installation.
After the installation is complete, walk around and inspect the job. Make sure all questions are answered before he or she leaves.
Get warranty information before making the final payment. Don’t pay until you are fully satisfied.

Flooring
March 14, 2015

Flooring With Aging In Place In Mind

Many of today’s baby boomers are choosing to remodel instead of leaving the family home behind. And as a part of the process, they are choosing to remodel with aging in place in mind.

Aging in place is the concept of making a home user friendly, no matter what the physical condition of the home’s occupant. All rooms needed to function are on one level – having access to a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living space, plus easy access in and out the entrance are important. Its equally important to make all rooms safe in the process, making things accessible or changeable to meet changing needs.

As you are remodeling your home, its easy to become overwhelmed at the number of options you have. With today’s technology, virtually anything is doable. Remember, every room starts from the bottom up; having a safe floor should be your first decision.

Start with a theme
By placing more rooms on the main living level, and giving them a natural flow, its equally important that the flooring is a part of that flow. Transitions between rooms and between product – between carpeting and tile for instance – must be flush without having a trip factor. Different heights can cause shuffling feet to stumble, and can be difficult for wheelchairs to flow freely.

Instead, develop your home’s ambiance by choosing and sticking with a standard look and feel. While you don’t have to stick with the same flooring choice, make sure you choose smooth transitions to continue the flow from room to room.

Find softness
Falling is the number one cause of injury related deaths among our senior population. When designing a home with aging in place in mind, its important to choose a floor that minimizes the possibility of tripping, and softens the blow if it happens. The first place to start is with transitions; the second is with softness.

Vinyl is softer than tiles; carpeting is softer than wood. While it isn’t necessary to go with carpeting in every room of the house just because of its softness factor, it is an important concept to keep in mind. If you like the look of tiles in the bathroom, can you incorporate vinyl flooring with wall tiling to create the look your are going for? Can you use one of the newer products on the market – cork for instance – to provide softness and give while staying stylish in the process?

Change it up
While its important to think ahead, its equally important to be happy with your final selection. If your remodel involves installing hardwoods throughout your living space, you may soften the look and feel with area rugs. Area rugs can be changed out as needs arise, or even as décor preferences change. Its an easy way to bring your personal style into a room, even if it changes on a regular basis.

Flooring, Tile Floors
March 10, 2015

Choosing The Safest Bathroom Floor

Remodeling your bathroom? Nothing can be more fun then taking on a home project. Adding new trends, new décor, can not only make you happier with your home, it can also add resale value as well.

Yet as you are looking at all of the options available to you, its important to keep in mind safety as well. According to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the most serious problems we face are the effects from a fall. In fact, with the senior population, it’s the leading cause of fatal injury. And a great deal of those falls occur in the bathroom. Which means choosing the right floor isn’t just about looks and ambiance, its about safety too.

There are several flooring choices that offer safety features to young and old.

Ceramic Tile
Tile is probably one of the most popular choices for bathrooms, and for good reason. Ceramic tiles look great, last for a long time, are easy to clean and maintain, resist scratches, are resistant to mold and mildew, and come in an infinite amount of color and pattern combinations.

Ceramic tiles come in a variety of styles. While some can be safe and perfect for bathroom use, just as many exist that are slippery and very dangerous. Couple a floor with slip tendencies with a floor that becomes wet on a regular basis, and it’s a sure sign for potential problems. When choosing tiles, make sure you choose slip resistant tiles that meet the ADA standards for slip resistance.

Vinyl
Most vinyl flooring combines slip resistant with the softness of a cushion backing, giving plenty of give as you move around the bathroom. If a fall does occur, the vinyl backing can provide a little give in the process.

Today’s vinyl offers an unlimited amount of options. If you have a particular look or style you prefer, chances are you can find vinyl to match the look. Vinyl can be found to mimic wood flooring, tiles, even more sophisticated products like reclaimed wood, and more. Vinyl is available both in sheet and tile format, making it the perfect bathroom choice, no matter how big or small your room is.

Cork or Bamboo
Both cork and bamboo are increasingly popular bathroom floor choices because they are attractive, slip resistant, and a renewable resource. Because both absorb moisture, its important to get the right cork or bamboo product for your bathroom – be sure to mention it when talking with a flooring consultant. Many of today’s products are specially treated with mold and mildew resistance, and can be anti-microbial, allergen and VOC free.

Given the potential hazardous situation a bathroom can bring on, its important to choose wisely as you make your final decisions. Safety first; beauty second. But in today’s world with today’s options, why settle for one when you can have both? Stop by today and see the many options available to you.