Flooring Archives - Page 7 of 58

Flooring
October 28, 2022

3 Flooring Options That Work Well With Modern Home Design

What does your dream home look like?

One simple question. Yet it floods your mind with ideas.

For many, they see a modern home design with clean lines, natural materials, and neutral color palettes that make you enter and say: ahhh. It takes advantage of natural light, letting it stream in and wash over the room nicely. It’s all about an open concept with as few walls as possible, letting furniture lead the way to each space.

Are you starting to see your dream home come alive? If you’re in the planning stages of a home remodel, taking modern home design as your queue, the best to start is by considering your flooring options. It’s what gives you structure to build and plan the rest of your home.

What is modern style?

When you start doing your research on style, it’s easy to get confused. Modern, contemporary, mid-century – what’s the difference?

Modern style refers to a designated time period. It began early in the 20th century, influencing modern design and architecture for decades. The original style was influential around the turn of the century as we moved into the industrialization period. Mid-century changed looks and patterns, referring to the 40s to 60s. Contemporary refers to modern day. It doesn’t refer to any specific era because it’s constantly evolving, always changing.

Modern home style is built around a specific era. It includes Art Deco, modernism, and minimalism. Contemporary is influenced by everything around us. It may take a few modern elements, and sprinkle them with today’s lifestyle. Contemporary doesn’t mind adding copper or chrome, adding stainless steel, and mixing natural furnishings with a pop of color.

Do today’s homeowners mix a little of both into something they truly love? Of course.

What many homeowners prefer is to start with flooring options, use a modern approach, then mix and match their furnishings to create a look they love.

3 modern flooring options you’ll love

Ask a designer what flooring options encompass a modern design, and you’ll likely hear three types: hardwood, tile, and carpet.

Hardwood

Hardwood is often the flooring of choice because of its natural aesthetics and earthy color palette. When you shop for hardwood, you’ll find an array of options all built around what modern style calls for. You can mix hardwood flooring with virtually any furnishings you choose and create a home and a lifestyle that works well in all circumstances.

Modern hardwood doesn’t mean standard shades. What gives it a modern appearance is its sleek lines and classic good looks. Want to go light – try whitewash. Prefer dark – how about mahogany? How you define your modern style home is entirely up to you. Still, one of the most common hardwood looks is a light, natural wood floor, from light oak to a warm honey wood, where you can see the natural grain that shows off its classic good looks.

While we say hardwood here, a lot has changed in the flooring industry. Do you love hardwood’s classic looks, but know it will never work with your lifestyle? There are still many options for you to choose from that wear differently from traditional hardwood.

Engineered hardwood adds strength and durability by using a hardwood veneer on top of a durable core.

Laminate provides an economical option that gives you the look and feel of traditional hardwood at a budget-friendly price.

Luxury vinyl planks mimic traditional hardwood in a believable way, yet offer waterproof qualities that make sense for some homeowners.

How about porcelain tile planks designed to mimic hardwood, yet give the functionality of stone? It’s growing in popularity for those who want indoor/outdoor living. It works well with radiant heating too.

Tile

Because modern style incorporates natural materials into its aesthetics, tile tops the list for many modern home designs. Tile creates clean, beautiful lines that work well in any situation.

https://pro-flooring.com/using-the-perfect-tile-for-every-room-in-your-home/

What’s more, you’ll find an almost unlimited supply of tile options. Have something specific in mind? You can create it with tile.

Natural stone is a good place to start. You’ll find natural stone tile flooring is simple and minimalist, leaving an open color palette for the rest of your decor.

While most choose to go with a smooth tile look, you’ll be able to choose from many types, including slate, marble, limestone, travertine, granite, and sandstone. Each has its own characteristics and durability features – shop around to find the best solution to suit your needs.

If you’re thinking of small, square tiles, you’ll be surprised at what’s available. Today’s manufacturers offer a world of options for you to choose from. How about tile planks that resemble hardwood? It gives you the look of traditional hardwood with the effortless maintenance of tile.

Or maybe you’re ready to go big and bold. Large format tiles offer more tile, less grout. With thin grout lines between large tiles, it gives a seamless look that emphasizes natural beauty.

Carpet

Before you settle on one of the previous two choices, don’t forget about carpet as you finalize your selection. Carpet is still one of the most popular flooring choices because of its looks, comfort, and warmth.

To stick with modern floor design, think of natural materials, simple color palettes, and low pile.

In modern design, you’ll find low-pile carpet that creates seamless transitions from room to room.

Stick with natural colors – earth-toned carpet that’s beige, gray, or brown. It provides a neutral baseline for which you can liven up the room with your furnishings and decor.

If you choose to stick with hardwood and tile, area rugs can soften up the look, and provide warmth to a room. Modern area rugs move towards natural materials such as wool or jute. Leave the color in other decor – stick with natural beiges or grays, with light patterns and textures that help take the stress away.

What’s the right modern style flooring option for you?

With so many choices to consider, sticking close to your style is your first step. Think clean. Think minimalist. Think natural and beautiful.

What’s the right flooring option for you? Only you can decide. No matter which you choose, you’ll love the look.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring, Vinyl Floors
October 24, 2022

How To Match Vinyl, Laminate, and Solid Hardwood

In a perfect world, you would install all new flooring throughout your house at the same time. Yet most of us don’t live in a world where that’s possible. Instead, we take it one remodel at a time, hoping we can match up the flooring between rooms well enough that it won’t be noticeable.

If you’ve ever walked into a home where the flooring doesn’t coordinate, you know there’s more to it than a simple install.

You’re ready to remodel the kitchen. You want it to flow into the living space you renovated last year. How do you ensure the flooring looks great from room to room?

The difference between matching hardwood and coordinating

There are two basic concepts in design: matching and coordinating. While similar in principle, they are slightly different when put into practice.

Matching is a concept we learn early in life through matching games. We put things together based on color, shape, and size. A red square goes with a red square. A right gray shoe goes with a left gray shoe. We look for things that appear to be the same, and fit together nicely in a set.

Coordinating puts items together that might not be a perfect match, but somehow fit together anyway. The color is the same, but the texture is different. Or the shape is the same, and the pattern is different. They may not be identical, but they go together anyway. You’ll find this every day in the way you dress. A light pink silk shirt coordinates well with a dark burgundy skirt.

How matching and coordinating helps you with flooring

Now let’s return to selecting flooring. You installed hardwood in a room last year, and this year it’s time for a new remodel. You have a space in mind. You’ve picked out the decor, and the paint has been purchased. But what to do with the floors?

Matching would give you the same flooring as you flow from one room to another. Matching would mean that with every installation, the new floor is the same color, texture, and size. Planks would be the same width. The stain would match in color. When everything is installed, it would appear that it was all done simultaneously.

Coordinating would allow you to create harmony throughout your home in different ways. It may contain hardwood in one room, vinyl in another, and laminate in a third. What ties them all together is the ability to live in harmony. Comfort instead of chaos. The colors would blend, the shades would go together, and you’d tie it all in with the decor.

Matching hardwood to hardwood

One of the most common requests we receive is installing hardwood in a new room and matching it to another already in place.

The existing hardwood has been installed for a while. It’s been walked on, worn, even faded from the sun. If you placed a new plank on top of it, you’d be surprised at the color change. Is there any way to match the two up?

If this is the case, it’s best to try and match the tones from one floor to another. Ensure you purchase new hardwood that is closest to the color. It might not be the exact same shade. You may have to select a slight variation to ensure it flows freely. Consider your decor as well to ensure it coordinates well. If you have red undertones, for example, you wouldn’t want to introduce grays.

Custom staining is also an option. Instead of trying to select prefinished hardwood, the installer would custom-mix the stain to match the flooring already laid. Be sure to use a professional with experience in custom mixing colors, and understands how to match colors already in place.

Matching hardwood to vinyl

Hardwood is a great choice for living space. When you move to the bathroom, it may not be your best choice.

When considering your options, it’s hard not to fall in love with vinyl. Today’s luxury vinyl planks mimic hardwood so closely, it often fools even professionals who work with it regularly.

What makes luxury vinyl planks so impressive is they are durable, and can be waterproof. That makes them the perfect choice for moisture-prone rooms like the bathroom.

But is it possible to install vinyl against hardwood?

That’s where coordinating comes into play. The key to great flooring is to pay attention to the transition. Transition strips connect two different types of flooring together, so they blend well as you move from one to another. It’s a board between the two floors for a smooth transition. It can be nailed in, screwed in, or laid with adhesive.

This is where coordinating comes in handy. Select colors that coordinate well, have the same tones or qualities. This is where a color palette can help. Stick with the same undertones – grays, reds, or browns. Think of the lighter shirt complementing the darker skirt.

Matching hardwood to laminate

Laminate provides a different quality than traditional hardwood. Many homeowners prefer laminate in places like the kitchen because they stand up to heavy traffic better, and won’t be impacted by moisture in the same way as hardwood. Want to match your hardwood and laminate for a cohesive look? Make sure the appearances are similar so the transition will be seamless as you move from one to another.

To coordinate the two effectively, a lot of professionals use transition strips. This is where it pays to have a professional who has done this many times. They’ll understand how to blend colors, and ensure a seamless look.

What’s the best flooring for your remodel?

What’s holding you back from installing new floors? If you know hardwood isn’t right for your space, but you want it to look good with the hardwood already in place, why not coordinate it with vinyl or laminate? Each type of flooring offers different benefits and options. Why not pick the right flooring to suit your needs?

https://pro-flooring.com/a-step-by-step-guide-to-choosing-flooring-for-your-remodel/

Transitions are easy when you work with a professional. You can have the best look, working together with different products and textures.

What’s the best flooring choice to suit your needs?

Flooring
October 18, 2022

Give Your Rental Property The Best Flooring

Fix and flip. Income property. Retire on passive income. Every media channel you watch nowadays is filled with advice on average people investing in rental property that will drive revenue into their pockets. And for good reason.

Renting statistics show that the nationwide average for rental properties is $2,016 a month, with the current asking rent 77.1 percent higher than the median gross rent was pre-pandemic. With 35 percent of households living in rental properties, the desire for family rental property is at an all-time high. And if you’re an aspiring property owner with the desire to make passive income from your investment, now may be the time to fix it up and get it into shape to maximize your revenue stream.

Where do you start? What home improvement projects offer the best investment? And how do you find the best flooring for maximum return? Read on to find tips to help you turn your rental property into a place renters would love to call home.

Renting – It’s still home

When you’re looking at furnishings for a rental property, you approach it differently than you would your own home. For flooring, landlords must consider how durable a product is, how easy or difficult it is to maintain, and how attractive it is when a potential renter walks through the front door.

It’s a careful balance of weighing the options to ensure a home looks like a home, yet won’t be easily damaged by renters who may not care for the flooring as you would inside your own home.

What are the best flooring materials you should consider?

Luxury vinyl – it’s one of the best things for a rental property

Luxury vinyl is an attractive flooring option that mirrors some of the best loved floorings across Colorado. Homeowners love hardwood and tile … but that doesn’t always make sense in a rental property. Luxury vinyl makes it possible to create the look and feel of expensive hardwood and tile, with a more affordable price tag that won’t cut into your rental profits.

What makes luxury vinyl so popular is current technology. Luxury vinyl is designed to mimic traditional hardwood planks and tiles that even the most discerning homeowners use in their own homes.

Luxury vinyl planks (LVP) have several layers:

The coating layer – this gives the product its strength and durability to stand up to all your family can dish out. It protects all other layers from daily wear.
The wear layer – the thicker the wear layer, the more durable the vinyl plank will be. The wear layer lies at the top between the printed design layer and the coating to provide overall protection to the luxury vinyl plank.
The printed design layer – this layer is all about visual appeal. It’s the print film that gives the luxury vinyl planks their classic good looks.
The core layer – luxury vinyl planks have either a wood plastic composite (WPC) or stone plastic composite (SPC) core. WPC is softer, warmer, and insulates better for a quieter surface area, but can dent easier. SPC is harder and provides a more durable surface area, but will be louder and less comfortable.
Underlayment layer – this provides the insulation, moisture barrier, and stability of the overall product. The lowest end products may cut back on the underlayment layer in order to drive the cost down. This balancing layer can be especially important in areas that may see increased humidity or moisture, such as bathrooms or kitchens.

Luxury vinyl planks are a great investment because it’s a marriage between what both landlords and renters are looking for. It gives renters a desired look and feel, while landlords love the low cost and maintenance. If you haven’t looked at luxury vinyl for your rental property, stop by and see it for yourself.

Carpet – it’s still a great option for a rental property

There’s a reason carpet remains one of the most popular flooring materials available to homeowners: It’s just a great flooring material.

That makes it an especially attractive option for rental properties because of its classic good looks. Of course, that’s not the only benefit it brings to the table. Many landlords lean towards carpet because:

It’s comfortable. That makes it attractive to renters of all ages, and works especially well in properties where you want to keep the flooring transitions to a minimum. Carpet works great in living rooms, dining areas, bedrooms, hallways, and bonus rooms.
It’s sound absorbent. This is a great feature if you’re adding flooring to multi-units with multiple floors. If you’re trying to cut down on noise complaints, a quality carpet and carpet pad can help muffle sound.
It’s affordable. Because of its popularity, you’ll find quality carpet at every price point. If you want to make your home more appealing to renters, replacing the carpet is a good way to earn bonus points. And with a low cost, you’ll find it easier to replace between tenants, and won’t balk over flooring issues when tenants spill or damage the fibers.

If you’re looking for an affordable, easy to replace flooring option for your rental properties, give carpet another look. It really is a great choice for single and multi-family dwellings.

Laminate – it’s the next best thing to hardwood for your rental property

Home dwellers love hardwood. It tops every list of “dream home” wishes, whether people rent or buy. But for many landlords, it’s difficult to justify installing hardwood in rental properties because of the cost and maintenance.

For some of your rental units, laminate may make perfect sense. Laminate is beautiful and relatively maintenance-free. It perhaps isn’t quite as durable as luxury vinyl, but it comes in a close second.

Laminate is a hybrid floor covering created from a particleboard wood base topped by an image layer mimicking the look of traditional hardwood. They are a popular floor covering perfect for living spaces, dining areas, kitchens, bedrooms, hallways, and other areas not subject to excessive moisture.

As an added benefit, laminate is an easy flooring option to install. It can often be installed directly over an existing flooring product, saving landlords money on having to rip out and dispose of old flooring.

Which is the best flooring for your rental property?

With several of the best flooring options to choose from, which will be the right choice for you?

From luxury vinyl to carpet, to laminate flooring, select any of these for easy installation, maximum durability, and increased cost savings. You’ll love what any of these best flooring options do for your rental property.

Flooring
October 7, 2022

Have a Family? You Probably Need Resilient Flooring

Resilient flooring. It sounds a bit vague; a catch-all phrase that can include all sorts of flooring products.

If you look up the term “resilient” in the dictionary, it means:

Capable of returning to an original shape or position
Flexible
Able to recover readily

For many homeowners, that’s exactly what they are looking for when selecting a new flooring material. That’s why resilient flooring is trending upward in the marketplace.

Still, if you’re a homeowner in the market for new flooring, what does that really mean?

Resilient flooring explained

When you picture resilient flooring, you may think of flooring that:

Is comfortable with a little give
Bounces back no matter what your family can dish out
Is easy to care for
Continues to look good year after year
Is easy to maintain
Is a good value for your hard-earned dollar

Resilient flooring is all that and more. It has more “give” than you’ll find in hardwood planks, stone, or ceramic tile. It has more support than you’ll find with carpet. It has the physical strength and flexibility to withstand nearly anything your family can spill, throw, or drop on it. In short, it’s what many homeowners are installing right now as they remodel and renovate their homes.

Does it sound perfect for your home?

Types of resilient flooring

If you find resilient flooring interesting for installing inside your home, you’ll find several floor covering types available for consideration.

Vinyl

Vinyl encompasses a variety of different flooring products, each with its own benefits for including them inside your home. Considering vinyl makes up about 80 percent of the resilient flooring market, it’s worth digging in and learning more about if you’re looking for resilient flooring.

Vinyl composition tiles (VCTs) top the list for strength and durability, often used in commercial applications. It’s strong enough to stand up to the abuse it receives in healthcare, schools, and even supermarkets. It’s a low cost, durable option that many DIYers are turning to because of the strength of the product. VCT manufacturers often fuse VCT chips into large sheets before cutting them into smaller tiles, making for easier installation. These VCT chips contain things like natural limestone, color pigments, polymers, and filler materials. They require several layers of polish after installation to keep them from being susceptible to stains and water damage.

Flexible luxury vinyl tile (LVT) has increased in sales the last few years because of its incredible design capabilities. If you’ve had your eye on some of the most popular flooring options – granite, marble, stone, hardwood – and can’t justify the cost, LVT may be the right choice for you. The designs have become so well created, many guests can’t tell the difference between the LVT product and the real thing. It’s highly durable, and is water resistant. Maybe that’s what’s driving its current popularity – it’s user-friendly in homes with active families.

Rigid luxury vinyl tile is often called rigid core flooring, and provides all of the advantages of flexible LVT … plus a few more. If you’re looking for a product with underfoot comfort, look no further than rigid LVT. It combines a rigid surface plus a multilayer core that provides added warmth and better sound absorption. If you want even greater resistance to water, humidity, and environmental changes, rigid LVT ups what’s possible in a flooring product. Some manufacturers offer waterproof flooring – you get great looks and the benefits of standing up to standing water too. Just be aware that nothing can withstand a flood. While this product does well if your kids forget to mention the puddle of water on the floor, water damage can occur if the entire room floods, and the water seeps into the baseboards and down underneath the tiles.

Sheet vinyl has been around for decades, and continues to be a great choice for some rooms in your home. Today’s sheet vinyl typically comes in a 6-foot, 12-foot, or greater width roll that allows you to easily lay down flooring and provide excellent moisture protection. Today’s sheet vinyl is better than anything you may remember from your parent’s or grandparent’s home. It mimics the aesthetics of other popular flooring choices, such as hardwood or stone. It combines lasting performance, low maintenance, softness underfoot, and an economical way to bring beauty into your home. From laundry rooms to bathrooms, it remains an economical choice for many homeowners.

Linoleum

For some homeowners, they want to expand beyond vinyl and return to a flooring product that is more natural, sustainable, and eco-friendly. For those families, we love to recommend linoleum. Made from natural, rapidly renewable ingredients, it offers an economical choice for families looking for resilient flooring. Linoleum is made from linseed oil (derived from flax plants), and is combined with limestone, pine resin, cork, wood flour, and dye. It’s rolled onto a jute backing, and offers a flooring choice built to withstand heavy traffic, standing up to scratches, and more.

Linoleum comes in several types:

Glue down tiles that require adhesive during the installation process
Click and lock tiles that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, ensuring a secure connection between the tiles or planks
Sheets are similar to glue-down vinyl, and are ideal for large spaces, such as halls and entryways

Rubber

While many homeowners rarely think of rubber when it comes to a flooring choice, that’s changing as rubber moves more into the mainstream. Yoga spaces, workout rooms, and home gyms are often fitted with rubber to create a softer space for your workout routine without losing its shape.

But don’t let the thought of being for gyms or workout spaces hold you back; we’re seeing people move it to playrooms, nurseries, children’s bedrooms, and even family rooms as they realize the benefits it brings.

Cork

A final product that homeowners are turning to brings a touch of eco-friendliness to the product. Cork comes in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Because it is harvested from the cork oak tree, it brings a sense of sustainability. Rather than harvesting the tree, cork is removed from the bark, meaning the tree can produce multiple times.

It’s softer than you’ll find with some of the more rigid resilient flooring options.

It’s sustainable, which can give it an edge if that matters to you.

It’s durable and easy to maintain. That alone makes it a great choice for any room in your home, able to withstand anything your family dishes out.

So what’ll it be? Which resilient flooring is right for you?

There isn’t a wrong choice. If we’ve listed it here, it has a number of benefits that can make it a great option for your home.

Resilient flooring is perfect for homeowners who want to strike a balance between comfort, cost, and durability.

How can we help you find the right resilient flooring to suit your needs?

Flooring
September 14, 2022

The Best Flooring Aesthetics For Your Stairs

For some homeowners, the staircase sold them on the home. You enter to a dramatic, sweeping staircase that carries you up to the second floor. It’s the centerpiece for the entryway, which adds to the aesthetics of your space.

Yet no matter how much you love your stairs, sometimes the idea of selecting the best flooring product can be a bit intimidating. What’s the right flooring for your stairs? Should it match the lower level, or feed into the upper level?

The material you use for your stairs is incredibly important to your home’s overall functionality and durability. It’s more than looks alone. Here are a few points to keep in mind while finalizing your decision.

Foot traffic

Families need and require different things to ensure a well-functioning home. Selecting flooring should be determined by how many people use the stairs each day, and how they will stand up to that traffic over time.

Kids race up and down as they play between floors
Adults move up and down between home offices and common areas
Elderly may need more safety features
Pets need soft spaces, especially as they age

Some homeowners install flooring based on what was on the stairs before. We feel you should base your decision on what best suits the functionality of your home. Softly moving up and down each step is entirely different than the constant pounding of teenagers flying up and down multiple times per day.

Noise

Typically, main levels have living space, kitchens, and entryways to the outside. Second levels have bedrooms, home offices, and reading nooks.

Do you have light or heavy sleepers? Do you have early risers or people that stay up all night? A mixture inside a home requires flooring that best suits those who live there. If a teenager is thumping up and down the stairs all night, it might be difficult for a light sleeper.

Keep in mind that there are many different ways to get the look you want and combine it with noise level reduction too. Want hardwood? Consider stair runners for a sophisticated look. That’s where working with one of our flooring experts can help you find the right solution.

Safety

How many stairs are included in your staircase, five, ten, fifteen? While stairs can create a sweeping, dramatic look, they can also create a hazard. Take steepness into mind when finalizing your flooring options for the stairs. Slipping can be shocking and dangerous.

A lot of flooring materials are designed specifically to help with safety. Look at these materials, and find a way to incorporate them into your final design. Carpet is always one of the safest materials for stairs, as they provide traction as well as soften falls. Even if you’re looking for a way to carry your flooring throughout your home – you have hardwood everywhere you can – there are still ways to make your stairs safer with additional features. Again, a carpet runner may be ideal in this situation, as it adds safety and a pop of color.

Durability

High-traffic areas are always some of the most difficult areas to finalize flooring decisions for. You want classic good looks, but for longevity, you have to select the best materials.

Hardwood, by nature, is hard; it will be more durable than soft fibers of carpet. Even in the best conditions, carpet will last 7 to 10 years, whereas hardwood can last for decades. Hardwood may cost more, but may be a better solution when you factor in longevity. It all depends on your needs.

If you choose carpet, and there are great reasons to use it, spend time selecting one that will handle well in high traffic areas. This will increase durability and help it look better over time.

Comfort

If you’ve ever stood on a hard surface all day, you know how it can impact your overall comfort. Hard surfaces like concrete or stone are notorious for longevity and durability, but if you’ve stood on them with your socks on for any length of time, you know just how uncomfortable they can be.

Now add that uncomfortable feeling when you’re traveling up and down the stairs all day, even pounding up and down as you forget things. It can add a lot of pressure to your well-being.

Softer materials may be a more comfortable choice in busy households. It can also add color and patterns to the aesthetics of the surrounding environment. Of course, this should blend in with the overall ambiance of your home.

Cleaning and maintenance

Stairs are usually one of the most high-traffic areas in your home. Because there’s usually only one way up and down, the center part of the stairs will receive a lot of foot traffic. That means you’ll be cleaning the stairs regularly. Hardwood is easier to wipe clean. You can vacuum dust and debris, and wipe down messes easily. Carpet will accumulate debris in its fibers over time. Lower quality carpet may mat easier, and require updating before the rest of your carpet shows wear.

No matter what you choose, be sure you have the appropriate cleaning tools available to make the job easy. A brush attachment can help pick up debris in the corners, further protecting the flooring material over time.

Budget

If you’ve ever priced installing new flooring to stairs, you know there are additional material and labor costs to consider. That may be enough to sway you one way or another when finalizing your decision.

The good news is almost any type of flooring material will work on stairs.

Whether you have an idea in mind, or have avoided upgrading your flooring out of uncertainty as to how to handle the stairs, we can help you finalize your decision and pick a material you’ll love for years to come.

Conclusion

If you have any additional questions about selecting the best flooring material for your stairs, stop by our showroom or give us a call today. We’ve helped families all over the Rocky Mountain region select the right flooring material to suit their needs. We’re happy to help you finalize your choice.

Flooring
September 7, 2022

A Step-By-Step Guide To Choosing Flooring For Your Remodel

Planning a remodel soon? Choosing flooring is more complicated than selecting based on looks.

If you choose the wrong material, you’ll hate your floors from the moment they are installed.

Where should you begin? Follow this step-by-step guide to ensure you reach the best flooring decision right for your needs.

Step One: Is moisture a problem?

While this seems like a simple “yes or no” question, it’s also one of the most important you can ask. You may love hardwood and want it throughout your home, but if you put it in a high-moisture area, you’ll have a variety of problems associated with it.

If you are remodeling a kitchen, bathroom, or even the basement, keep in mind that moisture may be a problem in the future. You can use this to guide you in making a decision that will be based on lifestyle, and not just looks.

Step Two: Dive deeper into the room’s purpose

Different rooms have unique requirements. While there are a variety of different flooring choices available for each room type, it helps to think about your lifestyle and what you consider “normal activities” within the room you’re remodeling.

The concept of a kitchen is unique to every family. Some families barely enter the kitchen, using the refrigerator mainly for storing leftovers. Others consider the kitchen a pivotal room in the home. They create meals together. They work there. They host parties there. They’re active multiple hours of the day.

By considering your daily activities, you can work with a flooring expert to come up with several different flooring types, and finalize it to suit your individual needs.

Step Three: Who do you live with?

You may love white carpet, but if you have three young children and four furry friends, a white carpet wouldn’t be a great choice.

Have elderly relatives living with you? While thick, plush carpet may cause a tripping hazard, a cement floor is hard to stand on, and even more dangerous if they fall.

Flooring provides the base for whatever your family needs most. Dreams and wish lists should be considered, but don’t forget to look at your lifestyle realistically as well.

The good news is there are many flooring choices designed to mimic well-loved choices. Love hardwood but know it’s not practical? Luxury vinyl planks may be just what you’re looking for.

Step Four: Different types of flooring

Depending on when you last replaced flooring, you might not be aware of some of the latest technology available for your home’s remodel. Today’s flooring is more durable and easy to clean than ever before. Whether you’re looking for natural, eco-friendly, stain-resistant, or water-resistant, you’ll find it in today’s flooring.

A few of the most common ones that homeowners love right now include:

Hardwood – people can’t resist this classic flooring material. Yet if you’ve had it in the past and aren’t sure about durability, give it a second look. This makes a great choice for many rooms in your home.
Tile – this is one of the most cost-effective flooring choices available today. Plus with an almost unlimited color and pattern supply, you’ll be able to create any look you’re going for. Manufacturers have also duplicated other classic good looks, such as hardwood and stone, giving you an option when the more traditional options won’t work for your situation.
Luxury vinyl – this isn’t what you remember from your mother or grandmother’s homes. Today’s luxury vinyl comes in plank and tile format, giving you a beautiful design with things like water-resistance or waterproof to go along with it.
Carpet – it’s still a good choice when softness and acoustic insulation are required. And with today’s technology, stain-resistance will give you years of quality behind it.

Step Five: Define your budget

With every flooring choice you’ll consider for your remodel, you’ll find a product in an array of costs and qualities. Still, it’s a great idea to define your budget early and adjust your expectations to match what you can afford.

Don’t forget to leave money for underlayment, subflooring, and installation too. They will likely add more to the bottom line, impacting the total dollar amount you’ll spend.

Low price – for homeowners with a tight budget, easy to install options can help you save money and time. Laminate and vinyl are often good choices for quick installations.

Medium price – you get a great quality product at reasonable prices. You’ll have great choices in every category of flooring.

High price – if uniqueness is important to you, you can look for customized flooring choices. Exotic hardwood will show off your personality, or look for premium tile, luxury vinyl, or carpeting.

Step Six: Professional installation or do-it-yourself?

When some people remodel, they look for ways to get involved. Paint a few walls … sure, why not?

For do-it-yourselfers, click-and-lock technology is a great way to go. You’ll find that technology on things like laminate or luxury vinyl planks.

https://pro-flooring.com/everyones-talking-about-luxury-vinyl-is-regular-vinyl-still-a-thing/

For more complicated jobs, hiring a professional is the only way to go. Traditional hardwood is easy to mess up if you aren’t sure of the installation process.

Know your limits, and select based on your needs. Because your flooring is the base for everything in your room, it’s the one thing you should be guaranteed and feel comfortable about. Ensure your flooring will stand the test of time.

Step Seven: Maintenance

Once your new flooring is installed in your remodel, what level of maintenance would work best for your situation? Do you want daily hands-on care? Or would you prefer a lay-it-and-leave-it approach?

Some floorings are more sensitive to daily care than others.

This is where resilience comes into the picture too. Any form of resilient flooring such as vinyl, tile, or even laminate works well because of its hands-off approach. A quick sweep, and you’re set to go.

Yet other things may come into play too. Wall-to-wall carpet may require you to replace the entire room if an accident occurs. With luxury vinyl planks or even carpet tiles, you can replace sections without having to install a new floor.

Final thoughts

Use this step-by-step guide to help you define the perfect flooring choices for your remodel.

With so many options available, there’s more than one choice that will perfectly suit your needs.

How can we help you finalize your selection?

Flooring
August 24, 2022

Why Your Flooring Purchase Should Start With A Little Research

Homeowners usually make a flooring purchase for one of two reasons:

1. They remodel their homes and need new flooring out of necessity.

2. They notice their current flooring is worn out or out of date.

That’s when the process begins, and homeowners start noticing flooring around them.

This is when your flooring research should begin. And how you should go about it may surprise you.

Start with dream boarding flooring choices

When most homeowners are ready for new flooring, they start with definite ideas in mind. They want hardwood. They love carpet. Only dark colors will do.

But your initial ideas might not be your best choices. Because you haven’t looked at flooring in a while, it benefits you to start noticing what’s currently on the market. What’s trending.

We suggest homeowners do this in two ways.

Start by pulling decorating magazines and find what draws in your attention. Rip out pages, start a “vision board,” and see where your ideas lead you.

You can also watch home shows and see the latest trends. What do you fall in love with based on what you’re seeing installed in other homes?

This will lead you online, where you can further your research. Why not create a pinboard on Pinterest, where you can save all of your research? This will help you go back through your ideas, as well as share it with our sales team so we can learn more about your goals and desires.

Go deeper with your research

You want hardwood. You want carpet. You want resilient flooring.

You’ve seen the looks, colors, and styles. Now it’s time to go deeper with your research.

Not all flooring materials are the same.

It’s easy to get sucked in with price when you find a “good deal” at your local big box store. They have one brand, one style, one color. But the price …

There’s a reason it’s such a good deal.

Manufacturers will never sell a high-quality product line at a bargain price. They make exclusive offers they’re willing to sell at lower prices. It’s an entry-product they do to reach a new market.

Is that what you want in your home? In some circumstances, the answer may be: yes. But if this is your “dream home,” settling is never the right answer.

Dig deeper into manufacturing processes

What’s important to you?

Sustainability
Eco-friendly
Resilient
Carefree maintenance
Durability
Water-resistance

What’s available today may surprise you.

As you start your research, you’ll find many organizations that help create strong manufacturing processes, better products for consumers, more ethical products for our environment.

National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) is an international not-for-profit trade association representing all segments of the hardwood flooring industry, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, installers, importers/exporters, inspectors, and consultants. Their goal is to strengthen the wood flooring community through technical standards, education, networking, and advocacy.

Choosing manufacturers and dealers who subscribe to NWFA helps strengthen the industry, as well as give you some assurances as to the ethical integrity of the company you’re doing business with.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has provided 25 years of experience in sustainable forest management. They use our expertise to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests, bringing together experts from the environmental, economic and social spheres.

They help ensure companies are in compliance with all laws and regulations, maintain satisfactory workers’ rights and employment conditions. They manage forest resources for both environmental and social concerns. They manage all processes from production through disposal.

Of course, these are just two of the many resources available to ensure ethical guidelines within the industry, and educational resources for a better understanding of the products.

Whatever direction you’re heading with your own flooring choices, there is sure to be a wealth of information online about finding the best resources. Just do simple Google searches to find out all you can about the flooring you’re thinking of installing.

What’s the difference between flooring retailers and hardwood stores?

As a consumer, you might find your local hardware store appealing. After all, it’s a one-stop shop based on all of your needs.

When you’re dreaming, it’s easy to head in and get all of your ideas in one place. Visit the paint section, look at lights, find appliances, and settle on flooring.

But as you walk around the aisles, notice the choices presented to you. Want carpet? There’s a handful of options, probably from just a few select manufacturers.

Or maybe tile is more your style. There are several sizes and colors to choose from. Who needs more? More just adds to the confusion.

While that line of thinking may seem right, one big thing these big box stores are missing: customized professional help.

If you ask a sales associate at a local big box store for help, they may be able to offer limited guidance. They have knowledge of the product in the store. They are there just putting in their eight hours. They don’t have a thorough understanding of the flooring industry. They can’t provide a wealth of information that will help you make an informed decision.

That comes from a true professional in the industry. That’s what you get when you enter a professional flooring retailer.

They thoroughly understand how to help you find the flooring best suited for your needs. They have expertise in all types of flooring, and have the experience necessary to help you pick the right flooring for your lifestyle.

They also have a special relationship with the most popular manufacturers in the world. They purchase superior products that give you increased lifespan. They provide more colors to give you even more options.

But don’t think this adds to the confusion. The sales associate knows how difficult this choice can be, and is ready with questions to make the process seamless.

And let’s talk cost. Think you’re saving money at the big box store? You’ll be surprised at the comparison. Big box stores often have inferior products, meaning you’ll need flooring replacement a lot sooner than you would with a higher-quality product.

Still convinced a quick choice is the best choice?

Before you make your decision, how about stopping by and looking at our wide selection? No pressure. Just good advice. You’ll be able to see the difference.

And we’ll help you make an informed decision. Find flooring perfect for your situation.

Flooring
August 21, 2022

Select Flooring To Reduce Slips and Falls

Have you ever slipped, tripped, or fallen to the ground because of something in your path?

According to the National Safety Council, falling is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death, with over 42,000 people dying in 2020 at home and at work.

While work environments have their own safety rules, if you’re redesigning a room, safety may be a factor. Maybe you’re trying to create an environment where mom has less risk of slipping, or where the surface area reduces the impact of a fall.

Two step process

There are two aspects to creating a living environment that prevents slips and falls.

First, find flooring that reduces the chances of slipping. If you’ve ever walked across a slippery tile and felt your feet slide across the surface, you know how dangerous it can be. Slipping can be a big problem at any point in life, but especially as you age. The risk of injury escalates.

Second, find flooring that softens a fall if it happens. Concrete is a hard surface that can cause damage if you land on it. Carpet provides a soft surface that softens the blow.

Of course, there are many types of flooring in between. The American National Standards Institute has created a Test Method for Measuring Coefficient of Friction of Hard Surface Flooring Materials. It evaluates flooring based on five categories:

Interior, Dry
Interior, Wet
Interior, Wet Plus
Exterior, Wet
Oils and Greases

Using these categories as a guide, you can find flooring choices rated effective in whatever room you’re considering. It can help you make smarter choices for the flooring you choose.

Flooring choices to avoid

When you consider the best flooring to install to avoid slips and falls, sometimes it’s easier to start with floors you should avoid. This is especially true if a senior lives alone and help may not be readily available.

The key is to make any surface area as risk-free as possible. That means avoiding tripping hazards that can cause someone to trip. Be especially conscious of transitions between different types of flooring, or as you move from room to room.

Area rugs should be avoided. The height difference could be challenging for some individuals. The material could shift and move as they walk across it.

Hard surfaces can be more challenging when a fall occurs. Concrete has zero give when a person lands on it. Stone tile is similar, with hard surfaces that can cause extensive damage after a fall. Polished stone adds a smoother surface area that can be more conducive to slipping, especially when wet. Ceramic and porcelain tiles look great and have many patterns and styles, but their slippery surface can be dangerous when wet. Wide grout tracks can add unevenness to a floor, and increase susceptibility to tripping.

Carpet makes a great choice

There’s a reason carpet is still a popular choice in homes across the country. It’s one of the best forms of flooring for both avoiding slipping hazards as well as cushioning a fall.

When selecting carpet, the key is selecting the right choice for easy walkability. This isn’t the time to look for a plush shag you can dig your toes into. That can work against shuffling feet, and prevent walkers or wheelchairs from having easy access.

Move to a short pile with a sturdy surface area. Padding is equally important as the carpet itself; it provides a base for keeping the carpet sturdy and in place.

A professional installer will ensure a tight, wrinkle-free material that will give you great wearability for years to come. Be sure to avoid clutter, vacuum regularly to pick up dirt and debris, as well as keeping allergens down to not exacerbate existing health problems.

Cork works well in living space

Cork is growing in popularity because of its functionality and good looks. Unlike stone, tile, or even hardwood, cork has a natural give to it that’s softer to the touch. It makes it easier to stand on for any length of time, and provides a softer surface for both walking and sitting on.

The softer surface area can be a problem with pet nails or hard, sharp objects. Talk with a flooring consultant before deciding on cork if you’re leaning in that direction. They can help you find the right product to suit your needs.

It’s both sustainable and hypoallergenic. Cork comes from the cork tree, and is harvested by removing the bark at maturity. It doesn’t kill the tree, but leaves it to continue reproducing bark to be harvested again.

Cork is also an all natural product that doesn’t collect pollen, mildew, or other contaminants known to increase allergies. It makes an excellent choice for helping to keep a clean home.

Luxury vinyl is a great choice

If you’ve been looking at new flooring for any length of time, it’s hard not to take a second look at luxury vinyl. That’s because manufacturers have taken what people love about other types of flooring such as hardwood and stone, and put it into an amazing product that works well in situations where hardwood and stone don’t.

Luxury vinyl comes in both tile and plank formats designed to look like other flooring choices you love. Luxury vinyl planks mimic hardwood, and come in a multitude of styles, colors, and patterns. Luxury vinyl tiles can look like natural stone, porcelain tile, or even marble or granite.

Yet the surface area is soft and smooth, with a little give as you walk across it. It might not have the same give as cork or even rubber, but it can be a great alternative, and provides a well-rounded option for both aesthetics and functionality.

Luxury vinyl is also budget-friendly, durable, and easy to maintain. You’ll never worry about leaving a mess behind with luxury vinyl in place. Simply wipe it up and you’ll be back to enjoying life.

What’s the right flooring choice for you?

If you’re in the market for new flooring to help reduce slips and falls, any of these choices can make a great addition to your home.

What’s the best choice for you? Stop by and compare them all. We’ll help you choose the perfect flooring material to suit your needs.

Flooring
August 14, 2022

Here’s How To Pick The Right Flooring For Every Room In Your Home

Thinking of remodeling your home? One of the best places to start is with new flooring.

If the thought of selecting a new floor has you a little overwhelmed, we have advice on how to pick the right flooring for every room in your home.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all flooring choice made to work in every home. That’s why there are so many choices available to you. It depends on a variety of things: your preferences, your budget, and your lifestyle.

Where should you begin before you finalize your selection? How can you ensure you fall in love with your flooring from the moment it’s laid into place?

Consider your lifestyle

It’s easy to fall in love with a look when you watch your favorite home improvement show, or create a dreamboard while surfing online. But in reality, if the flooring that catches your eye doesn’t work with your lifestyle, you’ll have buyer’s remorse almost from the moment it’s installed.

The best place to start when you’re considering new flooring is to ask yourself a few questions first.

Where will I be installing the new flooring?
What activities take place in each room?
Do I have pets?
How often do I want to clean the floor?
How often do I want to replace the flooring?

There isn’t a right or wrong answer. Where homeowners run into trouble is by following their hearts instead of looking realistically at their lifestyles. Some flooring choices just aren’t suitable for families with kids and pets. You’ll be worried about the functionality, and constantly be cleaning up messes.

Likewise, if you have a room used by seniors where tripping may be a problem, focusing on smooth surfaces and shock absorption in case of a fall may be more appropriate as you finalize your choices. Hard natural stone would not be an appropriate choice.

Consider future value

This may be your forever home, but studies show that the average duration of homeownership is right at 13 years.

If you look at your flooring choice through the eyes of a home buyer, does your flooring choice make sense?

Here in Colorado, some flooring choices make more sense than others in different rooms in your home. While porcelain tile is often used throughout a home in warm climates, it can feel rather cold in our environment. Hardwood has remained at the top of homeowners’ wish lists because it adds warmth to any room.

While you should remodel and install new furnishings to suit your lifestyle and needs, keeping an eye out for future value can help you make better choices with the flooring you install. A flooring choice may be more expensive, but if you know it can last for decades, and adds resale value too, it might be worth the stretch.

Select based on room function

Every room has different functionality and requires its own unique furnishings. Just like you’d never place a bed in the living room, placing the wrong flooring in a room will create problems from the beginning.

Kitchens should use flooring that allows for safety, cleaning, and high traffic as people cook and move about. Vinyl, tile, and laminate all make good choices.

Living spaces require comfort and style as you spend time there with family and friends. Hardwood is a popular choice, but it isn’t the only one. Laminate, engineered hardwood, and luxury vinyl planks can all bring more functionality while imitating traditional hardwood at the same time. Carpet can bring warmth into the space, and remains ever-popular.

Bedrooms are a space for relaxing and snuggling in, especially during the long winters. Hardwood or laminate can give it an intimate appeal, while carpet adds warmth, especially for those cold mornings. Kids are likely to lay on the floor playing with their toys; carpet can provide added comfort.

Entryways and hallways are high traffic areas that need durable flooring options. Consider tile, which is easy to clean and maintain, and won’t show track marks in a short period of time.

Bathrooms are high humidity areas. This is where resilient flooring works best. Whether you choose vinyl, tile, or luxury vinyl tiles or planks, water-resistance is key.

Let your personality guide you

If we had a dime for every time a homeowner comes into our showroom and says: “I want a bold color, but everyone around me says to stay neutral.”

Neutral flooring is ever-popular when it comes to selecting flooring. Neutral flooring allows you to add pops of color with your wall color and home furnishings. Sometimes it makes sense to stay neutral; after all, it’s one of the biggest investments when you remodel a room.

But that doesn’t make “neutral” the best choice for everyone.

Only you can see your vision of a room. You have to live with it. If you want bold colors, let your personality guide you into the right flooring for you.

Stay consistent

It’s tempting to want to change out different flooring options in every room in your home. With so many colors, styles, and options, why stick with the same? Yet that can create a chopped up appearance, and be an eyesore as you move through the space.

In general, designers follow the “Rule of three.” The rule of three says that you should never use more than three types of flooring material throughout the home. This means you may use hardwood in your living space, carpet in the bedrooms, and tile in the bathrooms. All of it is in the same color hue, and blends well as your eye moves throughout your home.

Look at other items before you settle on a flooring choice, such as lighting, furniture placement, or even natural light from windows. It all can play into how flooring transitions throughout your home.

Longevity

Are you looking for a flooring that will last as long as you own your home? Or do you prefer remodeling every few years, and are more flexible in your design requirements?

Durability may not be a factor if you know you’ll replace it in a few years. You might get more creative with your choices, knowing you’ll replace it as you grow bored with the color or texture.

It can also help you stick within your budget. Would you rather spend more upfront, knowing it’ll last for years? Or do you want an inexpensive flooring option, knowing you’ll replace it sooner rather than later?

What’s the right flooring for your space?

There isn’t a perfect choice for everyone. When it comes time to pick the right flooring for your home, let your personality be your guide.

With so many options available to you, whatever you choose will be a beautiful addition to your home, one that allows your own unique personality to shine.

How can we help you make the right flooring choice for your home?

Flooring
August 10, 2022

Is It Fake Wood? Or Is It Beautiful Flooring?

There’s a negative connotation with the term “fake.” Fake means: not genuine, something that is not real, or is an imitation designed to entice someone into thinking it is real or original.

This is why the term “fake wood” can leave a homeowner wondering what to select when choosing new flooring.

Every year, traditional hardwood flooring tops the list of wants when people design or remodel their homes. That’s because it’s beautiful, warm, and can last for decades. When you install traditional hardwood flooring, you know you’ll have a flooring that performs as well as it looks, one you’ll enjoy for many years to come.

But here’s the thing; traditional hardwood doesn’t always make sense. No matter how much a homeowner desires to install it inside their home, they know it’s a mistake before they ever sign on the dotted line. That holds them back from replacing existing flooring, wondering what they should do.

Traditional hardwood doesn’t work for every homeowner. It’s not the best choice for certain rooms in your home. That’s where mixed feelings start bubbling up to the surface.

What are your options?

We get it. If you’re a diehard hardwood lover, anything but traditional hardwood may feel like you’re cheating. Anything but traditional hardwood may feel like you’re installing fake wood.

But what’s really happening is you’re putting your lifestyle first. Manufacturers understand that homeowners love hardwood. That’s why they’ve worked diligently to create some incredible products that mimic hardwood, yet serve you better based on your needs and desires.

In most cases, “fake wood” usually refers to several products designed to mimic classic hardwood. They include:

Engineered hardwood
Laminate
Wood-look tile
Luxury vinyl planks

Manufacturers have worked hard at creating products that look like the real thing, yet offer functionality a homeowner could never get by installing classic hardwood.

Engineered hardwood

Whereas traditional hardwood is constructed with a solid piece of wood, engineered hardwood is created from layers of hardwood and plywood. Each layer is positioned in a different direction for added strength and durability. This unique construction prevents the engineered hardwood from bowing and warping as traditional would may in moist situations. It can stand up better in higher traffic situations.

Engineered hardwood’s advantage over traditional wood is that its solid construction will allow it to be installed in many more places inside the home where traditional hardwood may be a problem. If you want hardwood below ground, engineered hardwood may be your choice, with a protective moisture barrier installed first.

People often prefer engineered hardwood because it’s as close to the real thing as possible. That’s because the top layer is a natural wood veneer that gives the same natural wood beauty as you’d expect from classic hardwood. It’s easy to care for and maintain, and comes in all the looks and style you’d expect from traditional hardwood.

Laminate

Laminate floors are a hybrid of particleboard wood topped with a realistic image layer, followed by a wear layer that can extend the life of your flooring. While people often think of the Pergo line put out into the flooring industry several decades ago, today’s laminate is a product many homeowners fall in love with.

Laminate floors have a smooth surface area that makes them easy to clean and maintain. A broom or a mop is all you’ll need to keep this fake wood flooring product looking good for years. Its strength and durability make it a perfect choice for homes with high-impact, where high traffic, kids, and pets stay active all day long. It’s well suited for being scratch-resistant, and will stand up to the games of chase your kids and pets can do all day long.

It’s also at the lower end of the price scale, making it a great choice for homeowners on a budget. It gives you the chance to have your “dream” flooring, with better functionality and cost features.

Wood-look tile

Homeowners may have fallen in love with natural hardwood for some areas of the home, but chances are their second choice is tile. Porcelain tile is another product that can last for decades when well cared for, and provide a quality flooring product that looks great and is easy to maintain.

So when manufacturers created porcelain tile that looks like hardwood, it was considered a win/win for everyone. These products closely mimic natural hardwood, and do it so well that even the experts have to take a second look.

What’s even better is porcelain tile works in every room in your home. If you’ve always wanted hardwood in your master bathroom or even the kid’s bath, now you can have it. It gives water-resistant qualities to places hardwood never made sense before.

What’s more, wood-look tile also makes a great addition over radiant heat. If you’ve been looking at the benefits of using radiant heating inside your home, combining it with wood-look tile may be just what you’re looking for.

Luxury vinyl planks

One of the newer entries into the “fake wood” market is luxury vinyl planks. Yet being new doesn’t take away from its popularity. People are falling in love with luxury vinyl planks because of their durability and classic good looks.

When people think of vinyl, they tend to think of the sheets installed in their parents’ homes. Luxury vinyl planks are completely different from that product line. Luxury vinyl planks are narrow strips resembling hardwood planks. They are created in layer format for strength and durability.

The first layer is the wear layer, designed to prevent scratching and scuffs
The second layer protects from more severe tearing and ripping
A design layer adds the realistic quality of hardwood
A backing layer of rigid vinyl adds thickness and durability

They are considered to be semi-rigid, in that they maintain their shape in much the same way as traditional hardwood. Instead of needing adhesive or nails to hold the product intact, they come with click-and-lock technology that makes them easy to install.

Why luxury vinyl planks are growing in popularity is that some product lines are waterproof. That makes them the perfect addition to every room in your home – you’ll never worry about the kids splashing too much in the bath with this product installed.

It’s also an affordable option, making it great for any homeowner trying to stick to a budget.

Still think fake wood isn’t for you?

While the concept of fake wood may seem a bit off-putting, don’t let the benefits hold you back.

Traditional hardwood doesn’t make sense in every situation. But if you still want the look of hardwood, there are many other options waiting for you.

How can we help you find the perfect flooring for your home?