Plank Tile 101: Everything You Need To Know About Tile That Looks Like Wood

It’s a modern day catch-22.

On the one hand, you want a timeless, beautiful floor that will look great for years to come.

On the other hand, you want a durable floor that can take all that your family can dish out.

What’s a homeowner to do? Consider plank tile.Plank Tile 101: Everything You Need To Know About Tile That Looks Like Wood

What is the tile called that looks like wood?

You’ve probably seen it before and wondered what it is. Walking in, it looks just like hardwood. But once you get closer, walk on it, it’s clearly not hardwood. It feels more like tile.

Tile that looks like wood is made from either ceramic or porcelain tile, designed to give the look and feel of a hardwood floor. If often comes in plank tile format, even though it can take on many sizes and shapes.

What we love best about plank tile is how close it looks to the real thing. Many people have to get down on the floor and touch it to discover the difference. It’s that good. And if you’ve ever installed tile in your home before, you already know the benefits tile can bring to some of the most high-traffic areas. Plank tile is a great compromise when you want classic good looks, yet know your floor takes a beating throughout the year.

What are the benefits of plank wood tile?

Why are plank tiles gaining in popularity? Because of their strength and durability.

Here in Colorado, we love hardwood. Maybe it’s something about growing up with pine trees all around us. When we think about the Rockies, we think cabins and mountain retreats. Hardwood goes hand in hand with that concept.

But hardwood isn’t practical for every home, or every situation. Hardwood in an entryway or mudroom is nothing but trouble. Hardwood in a kitchen or bathroom can be more trouble than it’s worth. Hardwood isn’t designed for water and moisture, which means you’ll spend a lot of time on care and maintenance when you install them in these spaces.

That’s where plank tile has the edge. Plank tile looks like hardwood, but it acts like tile. It can be matched with any decor; installed in a variety of color choices, one that will perfectly match your style.

It never has to be refinished. It’ll stand up through spills, and messes, and moisture. And if you’re worried about having a cold tile floor on a Colorado winter morning, stop worrying. Plank tile is perfect for laying over radiant heating. That means you can have toasty warm floors you’ll love all winter long.

What is better, tile or wood?

It depends.

Flooring is a personal choice. If you really love hardwood, then by all means, install it. You’ll love it.

But if you’ve got questions about whether it’s the right choice for your home, then it may be time to look at other options. Plank tile is one of the best choices you can make when durability and strength are in question. If you know your floors take a beating from high-traffic, pets, and kids, plank tile might be the right choice for you.

It’s easy to get confused by studies that show what materials hold their value best. If you know you might be selling your home in the future, is it better to get what real estate agents tell you will help your home sell? Or do you listen to your gut and select something you know you’ll love, and will last through all you can dish out? We think it’s best to look at the big picture.

For example, a recent Consumer Reports article makes suggestions as to the best upgrades to make to boost your home’s value. If you dive down for specifics, you’ll see hardwood flooring rules. But if you back away and look at the big picture, you’ll see it’s more about the aesthetics of a room. If you have a well-designed room with classic good looks, people don’t focus on individual items. Instead, they work to picture themselves living there. And if plank tile makes sense, of course, they’ll jump at it.

Do you grout wood plank tile?

Plank tile is designed to mimic the look of hardwood floors. But if you know anything about tile, you know you install tile with grout holding each individual tile in place.

Do plank tiles need grout? It depends.

Tile typically needs grout to allow for movement and settlement. This narrow material has give, to allow tiles to continue to look good without cracking or breaking.

Yet grout is also what will make plank tile look like a tile floor rather than hardwood flooring.

The key is getting an installer who is good at installing plank tile. The best installers can install without grout, placing the tiles flush against one another for a smooth look. They can also install it with minimal grout – just enough to give your flooring a chance to move. This might be your best choice if you’ve had problems with settling in the past. Only you know how your home reacts; if you’re worried about movement, stick with the grout.

How expensive is tile that looks like wood?

The good news is there are options for every budget. Just like hardwood, you’ll find a wide variety of wood-look tiles that fluctuate according to quality, type, manufacturer, and durability. Can you get plank tile for a few dollars a square foot? Of course. Can you find it for $20 dollars a square foot or more? You bet.

Be cautious of generic plank tile that seems too good to be true. Your flooring takes a lot of abuse, no matter where it’s installed in your home. Do you really want chips, cracks, and breakage to occur in the first year after installation? We’re here to help you make the right choice to ensure high quality from the start.

Will wood tile go out of style?

When something comes into fashion, it’s natural to worry about trendiness. Will the look come and go in a matter of years?

Technology has an important part in the flooring industry. Plank tile wasn’t possible even a few short years ago. But now that it’s here, we think it’ll stay. It’s a beautiful addition to any home. It works well with radiant heating. And it’s a classic look that’s both durable and functionally, something busy households need.

If you’re ready for beautiful yet durable look of plank tile, stop by and see our full selection. It can make a welcome addition to any room in your home.

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Why Is Bamboo Flooring Eco-Friendly?

Looking for an eco-friendly flooring? Consider bamboo flooring. According to a new report, the worldwide market is expected to increase over 3.5 percent over the next five years, making bamboo flooring well over a billion-dollar industry.

Why? Because bamboo flooring is perfect for your home.

For many homeowners, they start the process by looking at bamboo as a great alternative to classic hardwood. And we agree – if you’ve always wanted oak or maple hardwood, you’ll love bamboo.

Bamboo offers so much more. We’re convinced that when you discover all the benefits of bamboo, they’ll move up to the top of your wish list. Here’s why.Why Is Bamboo Flooring Eco-Friendly?

Bamboo is eco-friendly

That’s what brought you to this article in the first place. Bamboo isn’t wood – it’s grass. Whereas trees can take decades to grow to maturity, bamboo is the fastest growing plant on earth. Bamboo can be harvested every 5 to 7 years, and because it’s a grass, it simply grows back up again. That makes it a superior choice for anyone worried about what we’re doing to the planet.

Because you don’t have to remove the plant and start all over with a seedling, it begins growing again after every harvest. In some cases, bamboo plants can grow up to two feet per day, making it a perfect crop for farmers around the globe. But like everything, there are good and bad ways to approach this crop.

Harvesting bamboo actually makes the stalks healthier. That’s because removing the tallest plants lets the light filter down to those below it, giving them a chance to rise to their full potential.

When planted correctly, bamboo plants also help with land erosion. Bamboo has long root systems. They reach down and spread across like spider webs, helping create a strong base within the planted area. This helps in areas especially vulnerable to erosion, and can improve the surrounding area over time.

Bamboo also can generate as much as 35 percent more oxygen than an equal number of planted trees. This makes it a great crop to plant when trying to improve soil facing degradation from previous mishandling.

Not all bamboo flooring is created equal

If you’ve done your research in hardwood flooring, you know that only certain manufacturers offer sustainable growing practices. The same applies to the bamboo flooring industry. Be sure to do your research to ensure that your final bamboo flooring choice is harvested from well-managed forests.

Because of the popularity of this product, new fields are being planted around the globe. In some cases, bamboo fields are taking the place of other crops, which can have a negative impact on biodiversity. Bamboo isn’t as regulated as hardwood, so it’s important to do your part and look for quality manufacturers. For the most eco-friendly bamboo flooring, look for products marked with FSC-certification to ensure it meets proper code.

You can also work with flooring dealers that are proud members of the community, have high BBB ratings, and care about the quality of every product they put out to the marketplace. If you have a question about where a flooring choice is sourced, just ask.

Look for strand woven bamboo flooring

If you’ve ever read about bamboo performing poorly once installed, it’s probably because it was one of the first phases of bamboo flooring. Now, manufacturers produce strand woven bamboo flooring, which can be as much as three times harder than hardwood.

The flooring industry uses the Janka Hardness Test to rank the hardness of various types of wood floors. When you select strand woven bamboo, it tops the scale in hardness. It also has high tensile strength, which refers to how much force it takes to pull the material apart. No matter what you dish out, bamboo flooring keeps bouncing back. (Try that with some hardwood, especially the softer woods.)

Versatility

Now that you’ve read this far, it’s easy to see why many homeowners are selecting bamboo flooring over hardwood. Because it’s more versatile in every corner of your home.

With bamboo flooring, you can lay it in places where traditional hardwood isn’t an option. Want to install it in below-grade basements, for example? Or how about on a concrete subfloor? Not a problem. Bamboo flooring will perform well. Have a high traffic area you’re not sure will stand up over time? Bamboo flooring is a great choice.

Durability 

Because of bamboo flooring’s strength, it’s considered to be a highly stable option for your home. It does well in high traffic situations, and can withstand lots of action from kids and pets. If you’ve had hardwood flooring ruined by pets’ nails before, you’re going to love the improvement you’ll see after installing bamboo flooring.

Keep in mind that you get what you pay for. Different manufacturers use different treatment processes. These processes can increase hardness, but they may also increase the brittleness and make the floors weaker by comparison. It pays to do your research and talk with a flooring consultant to ensure you install a high-quality product.

Bamboo flooring is one of the most stylish choices

Bamboo has many of the characteristics you associate with traditional hardwood. That means you can install bamboo and expect classic good looks in much the same way as you’d gain from hardwood. Like a golden oak stained hardwood? There’s a bamboo flooring choice for you. Want something more exotic – dark or light coloring? There’s a choice for you.

Keep in mind that while darker colors in hardwood signal the wood will be stronger and more durable, the opposite is true with bamboo. Bamboo is naturally a light tan color. To turn it dark, it has to go through a process called carbonization, which uses heat and pressure to turn the strands a dark, smoky color. This process weakens the bamboo and lowers the strength and durability.

Yet depending on which manufacturer you go with, there are many different options, a perfect one to suit your personality and match any decor.

Is bamboo flooring right for you?

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What Is The Most Sustainable Hardwood Floor?

Have you ever stopped to think about where all the products and materials in your home come from? Most of us no longer produce our own food, sew our own clothes, or build our own homes using materials we gather by hand from the surrounding area. Instead, we head to a local store, compare and contrast our options, then make the final selection based on our wants and desires.

Everything you use has to be sourced somewhere. And with millions – billions – of people looking for ways to stand out from the crowd and make their homes unique, it’s the forests that are paying the price.

What is sustainable hardwood? What Is The Most Sustainable Hardwood Floor?

Sustainable hardwood comes from sustainably managed forests and practices. When a person takes down a tree, they have a plan for doing so in the least damaging way possible. They are stewards of the landscape, replacing what they take down. They not only think about the tree, but also about watersheds, wildlife, and the ecosystem itself.

Sustainability also means thinking about the entire production cycle. It starts with the forest, but then quickly moves to production. Does the manufacturer have sustainable practices? How does the contractor enter this process? What happens to the hardwood after it’s removed from your home? It’s full cycle.

Yet before we consider end of life, we have to start at the beginning.

Where deforestation and sustainable forest practices are the worst

If wood is taken from an unsustainable source, it’s chopped down without thought about what it’s leaving behind. They don’t think about the bare area that’s left in its place. They don’t think about the repercussions on the environment. It’s all about profits in the now. And unfortunately, it may cost more than we can handle in the future.

One of the worst areas right now where deforestation is taking place in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Over 3,000 square miles were destroyed during a one year period between 2017 and 2018 due to illegal practices. Couple that with the damaging fires that roared through the forests earlier in 2019. The Amazon is home to one of the largest number of different tree species in the world. When we lose it, it will be gone forever.

Or course, Brazil isn’t the only nation facing illegal deforestation practices. Second to Brazil, Peru has its own share of illegal practices. Bolivia, Indonesia, Russia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Sudan, and Nigeria all round out the list.

Think about this for a moment: less than one-tenth of the world’s forests are adequately protected from destruction. This is at a time when the demand for wood products is at an all-time high.

Our houses get bigger. Our demands for the latest and greatest furnishings is insatiable. We like to redecorate all the time, thanks to the wildly popular home improvement shows. But what is that doing to our future?

And more importantly, what can you do about it?

Pay attention to sustainable hardwood sources

Are you ready to have new hardwood floors installed in your home? It’s one of the most popular choices homeowners make across the Front Range. You’ll love the look, you’ll love the style. But more importantly, you’ll love how long they last. If they are well cared for, you can reasonably expect them to last for decades. That’s why it’s important to spend extra time ensuring that they are made from high-quality resources properly harvested and produced.

Here in the US, we have the Forest Stewardship Council designed to ensure every tree harvested is done so in an environmentally sound way. They have established a set of 10 principles and 57 criteria they apply to FSC-certified forests around the world. They ensure things like:

  • Compliance with FSC rules and regulations
  • Indigenous peoples’ rights
  • Proper community relations and worker’s rights
  • Environmental impact
  • Long term management plan

Take the time and learn more about how we fit into this world. It will make you a better consumer and make you more resourceful at finding the right materials for your home.

What hardwood should you use for your hardwood floors?

Now comes the difficult part of finding the right hardwood to install into your home. How do you know you’re truly getting sustainable hardwood? How do you know it’s sourced from the appropriate places?

Unfortunately, you can’t just “trust” a reseller. Some dealers have unscrupulous selling strategies at best. Instead, it’s important to do your homework and verify you’re truly getting what you want.

You can do research online. It’s a quick and easy way to get results. We recommend staying on the Forest Stewardship Council’s website and using their shopping guide to help you begin your hunt for the right flooring for your home.

When you’re out shopping and looking at anything made from wood, pay attention to the label. Is it FSC-certified? If a manufacturer cares about quality and is doing what it should to manage forests properly, they will proudly display their markings directly on their products.

That’s also why it’s a good idea to stick with brand names. If a manufacturer is in business for the long run, they’ll do what it takes to ensure the trust of everyone that buys their products. They’ll pay attention to every part of the process, from where the product is sourced from to how it’s installed in your home.

If you’re looking for the best sustainable hardwood, keep these at the top of your list:

Bamboo – it’s not a wood – it’s actually a grass – but it acts just like hardwood and grows in a fraction of the time. As long as you select sustainably grown and harvested bamboo, it can be a wonderful addition to your home.

Oak – oak is one of the most popular wood choices because of its classic good looks. You’ll never tire of the way oak floors make your home look.

Mahogany – because a lot of mahogany comes from Africa and Brazil, it’s important to pay attention to the source. It’s one of the most beautiful resources you can put into your home.

Douglas Fir – this is a good resource because it’s sourced from around North America.

Before you start your final selection, have a conversation about sustainability first. It will lead you to the right choices for your home.

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What To Know About Bamboo Flooring Before You Buy

Looking for a new flooring option? Not sold on the same old hardwood floor?

There’s a new option for you … bamboo flooring.

If you haven’t considered bamboo flooring in the past, you may have heard and believed some of the rumors. It’s soft. It’s difficult to maintain. It won’t last as long as more traditional hardwood.

Don’t believe the rumors.

Bamboo flooring is one of the fastest growing materials in the flooring industry. For good reasons.

Let’s start with resale value.What To Know About Bamboo Flooring Before You Buy

You may or may not be planning on selling your home in the future. But even if it isn’t a thought, most of us like installing things that will bring us up to modern times. Sure, we want our own personalities to shine through. But we also want something that will last, and won’t look straight out of last century within a few short years of installation.

According to the National Wood Flooring Association, a poll they conducted asked real estate agents what they believe about houses with hardwood flooring:

  • 99 percent say the house is easier to sell
  • 90 percent say they can sell it for more money
  • 82 percent say it sells faster than homes with other flooring options

And while type of hardwood is always a personal choice, one real estate agent stated that bamboo floors were at the top of the list for providing greater intrinsic value.

Bamboo flooring can help produce an easier sale.

Convinced you should take a second look at bamboo flooring?

What is bamboo flooring?

While we keep referring to bamboo flooring as a hardwood, it in fact, is not wood. It’s a grass. Yet because it doesn’t fit or resemble other flooring categories – tile, vinyl, laminate – it is slotted into the hardwood category because it looks a lot like hardwood.

What makes it even better than hardwood is its renewability. Because it is a grass, it grows very quickly. It can be harvested in as few as three years, cut down to be made into flooring materials. Compare that to some exotic woods that can take as long as half a century to come to maturity. It’s easy to see why this renewable resource is becoming so popular.

Processing

You’ll often hear bamboo flooring referred to as either horizontal or vertical, or strand-woven. It’s important to understand the difference.

If bamboo is cut either horizontal or vertical, it will give you a floor that looks like actual bamboo. During processing, bamboo stalks are sliced into strips. They are boiled to remove the starch, dried, and laminated into a board format. These boards are milled into planks to create strip flooring.

These stalks can be laid either horizontally or vertically into the board, thus creating either horizontal or vertical bamboo strips. Horizontal bamboo gives a greater impression of it looking like bamboo stalks, while vertical placement creates what is often referred to as tigerwood because of its streaks.

Strand woven bamboo flooring combines smaller pieces of the bamboo shoot and interweaves them with adhesive to make a stronger flooring product. Because the bamboo is pulped and mashed up, it can be formed into many different types of flooring, taking on a variety of appearances.

Durability

Because of the way bamboo flooring is processed, it is an extremely durable product that won’t change a lot over time. That means it’s an excellent choice for active households and high-traffic areas.

Because of the processing and the addition of adhesives to the final product, it creates a hardness factor that can easily compare to some of the more popular hardwoods. The Janka Hardness Scale puts natural bamboo somewhere around 1400. Compare that to Douglas Fir with a 660, or even red oak with a 1290.

It’s just as hard, if not harder, than the most popular hardwoods. It looks just as good as hardwood. And it can cost us to 50 percent less per square foot than some hardwood choices. All of that adds up to a flooring material that seems perfect for your home.

The downside of bamboo

It’s no wonder people are turning more to bamboo flooring than ever before. But before you dive in and add bamboo to the top of your list, there are a few things you should know and watch for.

Quality

There are several hundred different bamboo species, and not all of them are up for the job of becoming flooring. Yet that doesn’t stop some manufacturers from trying to pass it off as flooring.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that most bamboo comes from China. And not every manufacturer holds itself up to high business standards. As a result, many companies put profits first and product last. This causes quality issues to vary widely throughout the product lines.

If bamboo is harvested too soon, mixes toxic chemicals in with adhesives, or bonded with inferior material, it weakens the end product. This can lead to flaking, peeling, easier scratched or dented product line.

There isn’t a set standard for bamboo flooring that crosses the globe. Without set standards, buying bamboo is often buyer-beware. That’s why you should think carefully before you make your final selection, and find a reputable dealer who spends time sourcing from high-quality manufacturers.

Moisture

With set standards in place, every aspect of production would be carefully controlled. Because that isn’t the case, bamboo is produced in all kinds of factory conditions.

Even when properly processed, consistent moisture is important throughout the drying process. This is important to create a product that is stable and handles well over time. Once on the job site, it’s important to let bamboo acclimate to its new surroundings. Strand woven bamboo can take anywhere from several days to several weeks, depending on the climate.

That’s why it’s important to select a contractor who understands bamboo. This isn’t just another hardwood. You can avoid potential problems if installation is done only after testing and gauged to be ready to install.

Chemicals

From a health perspective, it’s also important to focus on the entire manufacturing process. To create bamboo flooring, adhesives are mixed with bamboo pulp to create the final product. Some Chinese factories use things like urea and formaldehyde in glues, which are known to harm health. Not only do installers run a greater risk by handling the product, but off-gassing can also cause serious health problems for everyone in the household.

We can help you make the best selection

We don’t say all of this to make you afraid of installing bamboo flooring in your house. Instead, as Denver flooring experts, we tell you this to ensure you ask questions before you make your final selection.

Bamboo flooring is a popular choice for many reasons. We love the look and durability factor.

But to ensure you get a great product, don’t trust those “too good to be true” sales where you find material at a very low cost. Spend the time to get a high-quality product you’ll love for years.

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Is Hardwood Flooring Sustainable?

Sustainable is one of those buzzwords being thrown around a lot these days. But have you ever stopped to think about what it means?

To be sustainable, it’s the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources. It supports long-term ecological balance.

The United Nations has established a blueprint to help achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. It covers goals in all areas of life, from how a person lives to what they consume.Is Hardwood Flooring Sustainable?

Goal number 15 is all about life on the land. It’s about doing our best to manage forests and halt or reverse land degradation sustainably. Forests cover about 30 percent of the Earth’s surface. Yet forests are being consumed at an alarming rate. What does that mean for our future?

This isn’t a post on forest practices. But you have to consider them if you’re going to talk about hardwood flooring.

Is hardwood flooring sustainable? Can you have what you love – hardwood floors – and still be conscious about making your home an eco-friendly place to live? Let’s start at the beginning.

What makes a floor sustainable?

When most of us think about sustainability, we go right to the materials being used. Hardwood flooring is made from wood. It starts with the forest, and the practices used to create the finished product.

But being a sustainable option considers much more than that. It also includes:

  • The manufacturing process
  • Every aspect of the supply chain and its impact on the environment
  • How natural resources are used
  • Wearability and how long the product will last
  • Recycling at end-of-life

Sustainability is more than one point in time. To truly consider the sustainability of a product, you have to look at the entire lifecycle of the product.

The manufacturing process

To be sustainable at the manufacturing levels means looking at more than the final product. It considers every step the hardwood flooring goes through from the time it’s harvested until it winds up for sale in your retail flooring store.

In many places today, tree harvesting is managed carefully. According to the National Wood Flooring Association, for every one cubic foot of trees cut down, 1.66 cubic feet are replanted. That ensures there is always room for damage and other potential problems as it takes a forest up to 60 years to mature.

As trees are harvested and brought into production, different manufacturers use different processes. What chemicals do they use during production? How much raw material is disposed of after processing? If done correctly, wood production has very little waste. Excess wood can be used in a variety of things, from wood chips to paper, and other composite products.

Still, it’s worth checking with the manufacturer you are considering to see if their processes match your sense of sustainability.

Hardwood flooring is long-lasting

Have you watched the “fix and flip” shows where they peel back the ugly carpet to reveal beautiful hardwood flooring? With a little TLC, sanding, and a little bit of finish work, they look good as new.

That’s the beauty of installing hardwood flooring in your home. With proper care and maintenance, you can easily expect them to last indefinitely. You can find historic homes that still have the original hardwood flooring in place.

Compare that with other types of flooring like linoleum or laminate. With care, you can only expect these to last 20 years, while carpet has an even shorter lifespan at ten years.

Although hardwood floors aren’t the least expensive choice you’ll find as you browse through our retail store, you can expect to save money over time. It’s nice to know you can install beautiful flooring today, and not have to worry about replacement in your lifetime.

Impact on the environment

Head back in time to your science class in high school. Trees take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. That makes them a very important part of the environmental footprint, making them carbon neutral in the way they are grown and harvested. They have a very low environmental impact. As long as you select wood from sustainably grown forests, it’s an effective way to get the products we love while protecting the environment at the same time.

It’s also important to note that if you select the right hardwood flooring, and you use an eco-friendly installation process, hardwood flooring can actually improve the air quality of your home. This is because hardwood flooring is easier to clean and harder to mask things like animal dander, dust, and biological growth.

Of course, that means you’ll have to talk with a flooring consultant about the glues and adhesives used to install the hardwood, making sure it doesn’t contain things like formaldehyde or other pollutants. But if you select the right manufacturer for your hardwood floors, they can help you create a cleaner environment for your family to live in.

Reusable

Hardwood flooring is also one of the few flooring choices that can be used more than once.

Whether you want to refine the way your flooring looks, or just want an updated color or finish, hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished multiple times.

If the wood is too damaged to continue being used as flooring, it can be ripped up and reused in other wood projects, including furniture or decorative features.

Reclaimed hardwood is popular in home improvement projects right now, especially if there are sentimental reasons to include it in your current project. Recycled wood brings out characteristics and personality you can’t find in newer wood. Plus if it comes from a place that holds meaning in your heart, it can give an added look to the aesthetics of your decor.

And if all else fails, you can always use wood as fuel. Since hardwood is biodegradable, in some cases you can burn it and use it to stay warm.

Is hardwood flooring sustainable? It may be one of the best flooring choices for your home to help reduce your carbon footprint and create a more eco-friendly environment for you and your family.

Stop by today and see our entire selection of hardwood floors. You’ll find the perfect choice for your home.

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What’s The Best Direction To Install Hardwood Flooring?

Thinking of installing hardwood flooring throughout your home? Congratulations. You’re going to love the look.

However, selecting the right hardwood flooring is more than deciding what tone or hardwood shade. It’s also about determining what direction to install your hardwood flooring.

It might seem like an easy decision at first. We’ve found many customers haven’t even given it much thought. But how you install it will set the stage for decor and ambiance. And you’ll be living with this choice for a long time.What’s The Best Direction To Install Hardwood Flooring?

Before we get into deciding the best direction for your taste, let’s define them first.

Straight or Vertical

The most common installation method for hardwood flooring is straight, or vertical. You choose to have your hardwood flooring installed according to the length or width of your room. This is a classic pattern because it’s one of the easiest to install. It works in any home, any room, because it has a contemporary feel. And since it works with the flow of your room, it’s also one of the easiest, least expensive ways  to install.

Horizontal

Whereas straight or vertical installations run the length of a room, a horizontal installation plays on the narrower section of your room. This can help in a room that feels closed in, where it’s narrower than it is long. By installing the wood horizontally, it draws the eye from side to side, adding depth.

Diagonal 

Instead of staying with the length or width of a room, a diagonal installation will add uniqueness and elegance with just a tweak to the classic straight direction. Diagonal floors are laid at a 45 degree angle to the room. That means boards will run across your room at an interesting angle, giving style and ambiance in a unique way.

Herringbone

It’s hard to miss the sophistication of a herringbone design. This is where planks are laid diagonally in a zigzag pattern to add more whimsy to the design.

Custom

The great thing about hardwood installation is there are an infinite number of ways to do it. Try mixing different widths together. Or mix different shades, styles, or materials. While this might not be something you try as a DIYer, if you’re open to ideas, one of our consultants can help you imagine big. Doing something with a twist off the norm, and give your space even more appeal.

Now that you know there are many different possibilities for laying your hardwood flooring into place, what should you consider as you make your final selection? There isn’t a right or wrong direction to install hardwood flooring. But there are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind.

Where are your room focal points?

Every room has one feature that stands out from the rest. It might be a large fireplace that commands attention. Or a wall of glass windows. Or even an archway that leads to the next room. Chances are you commented on it when buying your home. To make the most of that focal point, have your hardwood planks lead to that spot. They should lead right into the fireplace, or guide you through the opening.

What are your light sources?

Does your room play off natural light? Or do you rely completely on artificial? Think about the direction of light and the way it flows throughout the day. Depending on how you play with the light, and the direction of your hardwood, will determine the visual impact of the room. It can help lengthen your room, make it feel more wide open. Or it can help shorten and add coziness factor to the room.

One room or many?

Will you be laying hardwood in one room, or extending it through multiple rooms in your home? There are a few things to keep in mind before ordering and scheduling your installation.

If your room is one large area, lying it straight from end to end can create sweeping views. If you have nooks and corners that lend to breaking up the flow, laying hardwood straight is a little more difficult. You can use thin strips to break up the pattern and give dimension to each room. This also allows you to change direction, when necessary, to create a pleasing look. You can also consider diagonal or herringbone pattern to further add ambiance and to take the emphasis off problem areas that might not be easy to attach.

How should you handle hallways? 

Hallways are the narrowest places in your home. When you install them the long way, outward from the openings, it will add dimension to your space rather than leaving a choppy appearance. It’s also easier for the installation process, to use your hardwood planks in the most efficient way.

What about structural issues?

Every house is different. That’s why it’s important to talk with a flooring consultant before you finalize your decisions to ensure you have thought of everything you’ll need to do the job the right way. Your wood floors should always be installed perpendicular to your floor joists. This makes your flooring structurally sound and will prevent your hardwood planks from having structural damage later on, such as sagging, buckling, or separating.

Consider your subfloor as well. You’ll need different installation methods depending on if you’re installing over concrete or wooden subfloor. Nail down is different than floating planks.

You should also lay out your floor plan in detail before you shop. Keep in mind special circumstances that will influence your installation process, such as closet space, uneven walls, staircases, and anything else that makes your home unique.

What about design?

There are certain parts of your home that lend to more creativity than others. Want to create an elegant, formal dining room? Why not use direction to create the right ambiance? You can change colors, or add mosaics or other patterns to clearly define the space. Or how about adding flair to your kitchen? You can play with direction, especially as you move around islands or into breakfast spaces.

Need more ideas to select what direction to install your hardwood flooring? Stop by today. We can give you all the tips you need to create the home of your dreams.

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Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring May Be The Perfect Choice For Your Home

Thinking of installing new flooring throughout your home? Maybe it’s time to give bamboo a second look.

But if you’ve looked online for more information about bamboo flooring, you’re probably left a little overwhelmed. Is bamboo a good choice? Will you love it as much as other hardwood choices? And what about the newest bamboo flooring option that’s making waves online – is strand woven bamboo flooring a good choice?

Strand woven bamboo combats many of the problems people had with the pressed, composite bamboo planks. It’s still renewable, still a beautiful addition to your home, and is one of the most desirable green flooring choices on the market today.Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring May Be The Perfect Choice For Your Home

Should you consider it for your home?

Is Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring The Best Bamboo Flooring

The first thing to understand about bamboo is it’s not hardwood; it’s grass. When you see bamboo competing with other hardwood flooring choices, understand it won’t act exactly like many of the most popular hardwood choices, like oak or cherry.

Instead, strand woven bamboo flooring is made by compressing bamboo fibers together. Think of bamboo as resembling a banana. The fibers are stripped from the plant, layer by layer.

Strand woven bamboo takes the strongest fibers from the plant, and fuses them together with a glue composite that makes them stronger than before. Traditional bamboo floors created flooring more like hardwood, layering bamboo together either horizontally or vertically. The difference is noticeable right from the beginning, with strand woven bamboo floors far superior in standing the test of time.

Traditional bamboo floors weren’t as resilient as hardwood

While the first phase of bamboo flooring was marketed as a competitive alternative to other hardwoods, people were often disappointed almost immediately after installation. They scratched easier than hardwood. They dented easier than hardwood.

Strand woven bamboo, however, is much stronger because of the glue composite woven into the bamboo strands. This binds the strands together and makes them more resistant to wear and tear. Think of it as woven rope laid together instead of individual strands of thread.

Traditional bamboo floors were more susceptible to biological growth

One of the most concerning aspects of traditional bamboo was its susceptibility to biological growth. Bamboo must be treated with a borax solution in order to prevent mold from growing. If this process wasn’t performed correctly, mold could continue to grow after installation, causing visual problems as well as health issues for anyone living in your home.

Strand woven bamboo improves on this because of the process used to combine with the glue composite. Any mold that may have attached itself to the bamboo will be cured in the process.

Traditional bamboo floors couldn’t be sanded and refinished

This, of course, depends on the manufacturer. But in general, original bamboo floors were too thin to be sanded and refinished again and again. When you sand a lower grade bamboo floor, you may see signs of fraying of the strands, which shows in the refinishing process.

Because strand woven bamboo flooring is stronger, it can take the sanding and refinishing process a number of times over the years, giving you added longevity in your flooring choices. However, keep in mind that nothing is comparable to a solid hardwood floor.

Traditional bamboo flooring wasn’t water resistant

Bamboo is a grass. Most people think it’s water resistant and resilient because of the structure of grass blades. While it can have some water resistant qualities, traditional bamboo flooring could be damaged quite easily with spills. It was important to clean any water or other moisture from the area as quickly as possible. That made the original bamboo floors not a good choice in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.

Once again, by adding the glue composite to strand woven bamboo flooring, it made a stronger surface area that can withstand more moisture and humidity levels. Only you can know the way your family functions, and if bamboo is a good choice for the rooms in your home.

If you do install bamboo flooring, be advised that you should follow certain safety measures to keep your floors in good condition.

  • Avoid spills as much as possible
  • When spills happen, clean them as quickly as you can
  • Place doormats at the entry if you’re using it at entry points and in hallways
  • Leave boots and other shoes from outside, especially if they are wet, off the bamboo floors
  • Do not install bamboo in bathrooms, especially with showers and tubs

What Styles Are Available For Strand Woven Bamboo Flooring

One of the best reasons to choose strand woven bamboo flooring is because it comes in just about every shade of wood. If there is a hardwood color you’ve been dreaming of installing in your home, you’ll find a strand woven bamboo flooring option to match.

Walnut, cherry, oak, and ash – from the lightest to darkest colors, you’ll find it for your bamboo flooring. But that’s not the only choice you’ll be able to make. Would you like laminated or not? This changes the level of shine on the surface area of the floor. If you like muted, with no shine, there’s an option for you. If you want the beauty of a high sheen, there’s a choice for you too.

Some manufacturers also integrate patterns into the final product. This gives you the option to further customize your final look and feel. Want a tiger stripe? Want multiple colors woven together? Consider some of the more exotic bamboo selections to install in your room; you’ll find one of a kind looks that can please just about any homeowner.

Of course, the more exotic you go with your final selection, the higher priced flooring option you’ll have. Still, it’s nice to know that this is an eco-friendly option, that will last for years to come.

Strand woven bamboo flooring does take a labor intensive installation process, and isn’t something the average DIYer can do. Some variations can take as long as 30 days for acclimation, and you can’t cut corners if you want it installed the right way the first time.

But if you are ready to have this one-of-a-kind flooring installed in your home this year, we can help you make it happen. Stop by today and find the perfect bamboo flooring for your home.

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How Wide Should Hardwood Floors Be?

Do you love watching home improvement shows on HGTV? The ones where the hosts walk into truly ugly homes, rip it all apart, and build it back up again from the ground up?

Me too.

It’s a great way to get ideas from some of the top interior designers in the country. You can see the “in” colors for the year. Learn how to mix and match colors, styles, and patterns. And even take note of specific manufacturers, gaining valuable insight when it comes time to remodel your own home.How Wide Should Hardwood Floors Be?

If you watch them as much as I do, I’m sure you’ve noticed there’s a trend in hardwood flooring. And it’s probably led you to ask a question if you’re thinking of redoing your own home:

How wide should hardwood floors be?

Because the trend is definitely moving upward in width.

In most cases, traditional hardwood planks are 4 inches in width. A narrow plank floor would range somewhere between 2 to 4 inches in width. You’ll find wide plank flooring starts at about 5 inches, and goes up from there, depending on the wood and the manufacturer.

Is one width better than another? Is there an easy way to make the perfect choice for your home? Let’s start with one of the first questions we receive when someone is considering hardwood flooring.

Are wide plank floors trendy?

One of the biggest reasons people hold back from selecting something new and different is out of fear. How will it look in the future? How will it hold up over time?

Wide plank flooring isn’t for every home. That’s where consulting with one of our flooring experts can help. We can assess your room size, your current decor, and even your personal taste. Wider planks can take center stage, adding grandeur across a wide open space. Go with a lighter shade and it can create a sleek, yet modern appearance.

The wider the plank, the more it tends to show the characteristics of the wood. You’ll see knots and grain. You’ll see more of the imperfections. Wider plank brings a lot of the focus back down to the floor. It helps give the room a one-of-a-kind appearance.

Plus wide planks mean you’ll have fewer seams between the boards. That means less interruptions of the natural lines both in the wood and the way the room flows.

Of course, you wouldn’t want to put them in a busy room, it can make the room feel cramped. And if clean and polished is your thing, the busyness of the wood can sometimes be a distraction. Those imperfections really stand out, especially if you use darker woods.

What does all this have to do with being trendy? It’s our way of saying – no way!

The purpose of flooring is to provide a foundation your decor can grow on. And if you love the way it looks, if it suits the flow of your rooms, why not make wide planks your final choice?

Let’s talk wide plank hardwood humidity levels

If you’ve done any research on installing wider planks in your home, you’ve probably noticed a lot of talk about how humidity levels can impact the structure of your floor. Considering we live in a very dry Colorado climate, it’s important to take this into consideration.

Depending on the manufacturer you choose, not all hardwood planks are created the same. When deciding how wide hardwood floors should be, you can’t overlook that wider planks will be impacted by dryness and moisture. Humid August weather patterns will affect it one way, while continually running the furnace in the dead of winter will dry everything out.

Wider planks quite obviously use more wood per plank. And therein lies part of the problem.

Inexpensive wood flooring is cut from every part of the tree. These manufacturers will use limbs, branches – any piece where they can get what they need to create a plank.

The wider the plank, the more surface area a manufacturer will need to create the plank. Most lengths run one foot to six feet, coupled with a wide width means the manufacturer will use only the thickest part of the tree.

Better wood means better results.

Yet you should still pay attention to how much humidity is in your home. Especially upon installation.

A reputable hardwood flooring installer knows it takes time to acclimate the hardwood to your home before it’s installed. Professionals will leave wood to acclimate to your home’s conditions before the installation process begins.

Why does this matter?

Let’s say your floor is installed using glue-down method. Wood floors maintain their structure when your home is kept somewhere in the 28 percent to 48 percent range of humidity. But if moisture levels drop considerably, parts of the floor might not contract if the glue holds firmly in place, especially if the wood isn’t high-quality and has more movement in its structure. This can cause what is called “dry cupping.” Your floors can warp and bow.

Sometimes putting humidity back into the home can help. Sometimes it takes overhauling the wood, sanding it down and refinishing it once again, fixing any areas that were damaged in the process.

Unfinished vs Pre-finished

All hardwood flooring comes in both unfinished and pre-finished product lines. This is a matter of personal choice when you’re installing it for the first time.

Pre-finished allows for the fastest installation. With the hardwood already finished in the factory, it’s a matter of lining up the planks and putting in the finishing work.

Unfinished allows you to finish your floors on site. While it takes more time and is a bit messier, the benefits are you can finish it in any color you choose. You don’t have to stick with what the manufacturer produces.

Unfinished also means the entire surface area is covered and coated. Even the seams in the floor will be covered, making it even more water-resistant that pre-finished.

If you are considering wide plank hardwood flooring, start by giving us a call. We can help you craft the hardwood floors of your dreams. Something you’ll be proud to have in your home for years to come.

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How Do I Choose Hardwood Flooring

Want to take on a project that adds beauty and resale value to your home? Look down … the answer may lie with your flooring.

The average ROI for installing hardwood flooring is somewhere between 70 and 80 percent. Hardwood flooring can add up to 2.5 percent more to the price you charge for your home.

But even if you’re not ready to sell, and you have no immediate plans to do so in the future, the best reason to install hardwood throughout your home is for the sheer beauty of it.How Do I Choose Hardwood Flooring

Yet not all hardwood is created equal. There’s more to it than simply picking out your favorite color. You have to mix in aesthetics and performance to ensure you gain flooring you can live with for years.

Where do you start?

Engineered or solid hardwood

When most people think of hardwood flooring, they think of solid planks taken straight from the tree. In our modern times, you have a lot of different options. Solid hardwood still makes an excellent choice in many homes. But engineered flooring can be the perfect choice in certain circumstances.

Solid hardwood flooring is installed over one or two layers of plywood. That can raise a flooring level up and interfere with some floorplans. If you’re already dealing with a drop ceiling and you can’t raise a door frame, you might not have enough clearance for solid hardwood installation.

Engineered flooring can be glued directly to concrete or a soundproofing mat. It’s also the best choice if you want to install over radiant heating.

If you are going to install engineered wood, choose carefully. Engineered wood is created in several layers. In some cases, manufacturers create the top layer so thin, you can’t sand it down and refinish it in the future. That means your engineered floors won’t have the longevity of other hardwood options. It may be less expensive today, but you’ll pay for it down the road.

Of course, for some homeowners, nothing beats the feel of real wood. You can feel the difference. You can also hear the difference – solid hardwood makes a quieter living environment.

Prefinished or site finished

Hardwood flooring can be purchased unfinished that is laid into place and finished after installation, or prefinished, which arrives with stain and topcoat already in place. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

With prefinished hardwood, what you see is what you get. When you walk into our showroom, you can see the different colors, styles, grains, and patterns. You can match the color to your existing decor. You can coordinate it with the rest of your fixtures and appliances.

Prefinished also takes less time from beginning to end. If time is a factor, this is the way to go. Once the boards are laid into place, you’re ready to go. You won’t have to wait and stay off site as the boards are colored and sealed.

On site finishing may take a bit longer, but for some, the customization means the sky’s the limit for choices. You can mix and match and color. You can select your level of stain and sheen. With on site finishing, the boards are nailed into place unfinished. Then the unfinished flooring is sanded, stained, and sealed as a continuous plane. The advantage of that is sealant covers the spaces in between. It provides a stronger moisture barrier, which can be a great advantage in some areas of your home.

Wood type

If you’re trying to decide what type of wood to install, you can’t ignore oak. Here in America, oak is king in the hardwood flooring market. It’s a very durable wood that handles well in an active household. It also has appealing color and grain that mixes and matches well with other aesthetics in a home. Especially here in Colorado where hardwood rules, oak can be a welcome addition to any decor. And because of its popularity, it’s also one of the most affordable hardwoods on the market.

Of course, you don’t have to stick with oak. If you’re looking for something to set you apart from your neighbors and friends, there are a lot of choices for you. Walnut, maple, cherry, or ash – the choice comes down to preferences and taste.

If you’re looking at prefinished, what you see is what you get. But with unfinished wood, keep in mind that certain woods create darker finishes when the process is finalized. If you’re looking for a specific shade, be sure to talk over your desires with one of our consultants to ensure you get what you want.

Finish type

There are many different types of finishes for hardwood, but in general, they fall into one of two classes: oil or polyurethane.

Oil penetrates the wood and gives a soft glow that keeps the wood looking natural. But because it penetrates the wood, it leaves it more vulnerable to damage. Oil finishes scratch easier, but the very nature of an oil finish also makes it easier to cover them up. You can fix them on a spot by spot basis.

Polyurethane creates a hard topcoat that makes it more resilient to wear. This is often a better choice for busy households with kids and pets coming and going. Yet polyurethane is also harder to repair. In most cases, you’ll need to buff out problem areas, then reapply the finish to the entire section of the floor.

Plank width

In years past, hardwood planks came in traditional sizes, usually two to three inch strips. No more. Today you can select hardwood planks in a wide variety of widths, which can add luxury and personality to any home.

Wider plank widths work well in larger rooms. Have an open air concept, where the kitchen, dining, and living space all roll into one another? Wide planks can give the space its own unique look.

Four, five, six, seven – really, you can go as wide as you choose. If the space can handle the expansiveness of the wood, why not give it a go? Wider planks mean fewer seams. That means less opportunity for damage from seepage between the planks. However, it also means you might see more movement as wood expands and contracts. Because there aren’t as many boards to distribute the movement, you may notice it more in what’s installed.

Still, it’s hard not to notice the beauty in a floor that isn’t the “same” as everyone else’s.

So what’s it going to be? What hardwood flooring is perfect for your home? If you want to finalize your decision and add new flooring to your home, why not stop by and see your options today?

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Is Cork Flooring Good For High Traffic Areas?

Thinking of putting in new flooring in your home? Although cork flooring has been around for decades, it’s only recently started making waves in the flooring industry. New technology has made a viable flooring choice for just about any situation.

Why do people like cork flooring? One of the top reasons is it’s a “green” renewable resource you can install and feel good about your choice. If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint, select only sustainable materials for your home, and not have guilt about where the product comes from, cork is your choice.Is Cork Flooring Good For High Traffic Areas?

While hardwood can take years to mature enough for harvest, cork is a quicker growing product. Cork comes from the bark of a cork oak tree, and is harvested from living trees rather than chopping them down. Once harvested, cork is ground up, compressed, and bonded into sheets using resins.

Does that make it a wise choice for use in high traffic areas?

Let’s talk durability

Cork isn’t a product that is new to the market. Cork was a well-loved flooring choice in Europe at the turn of the twentieth century, and many of those floors are still in use today.

What makes cork so durable is that it’s a movable flooring material that compresses and jumps back to its original position. When you walk on it, it has “give.” As you move away, it returns to its original shape.

Cork is also waterproof and is the only wood product that has this feature. That makes it a better choice in areas where water and spills are greater risk. When harvested, cork bark contains a waxy substance called suberin that gives it its unique waterproof characteristics. It also makes the material fire-proof, insect-resistant, and antimicrobial.

Cork is considered a wood floor. And like all wood floors, they can be damaged in different circumstances. Cork floors have a wear layer that provides a defense against daily wear and tear. These flexible polyurethane layers are well-suited to cork, but they do wear down over time. Like most wood floors, they will need occasional updating or refinishing, anywhere from three to seven years is a good rule of thumb.

But where hardwood is hard and is more prone to scratches and marks, cork’s softness means it’s more susceptible to dents and dimples. When someone walks across a cork floor in high heels, for example, those tiny pressure points can penetrate down into the cork and mark the flooring permanently. Because of cork’s resiliency, some of these dents can be “ironed” out with steam or a hot compress. Add a hot towel to the area for a few minutes, and you might be able to pull the dent out.

Like other wood products, there is a “quick fix” solution for tiny imperfections. If you have a scratch or dent that deters from the look of your cork flooring, you can create a patch. Using a sharp knife, a ruler, extra cork, and wood glue. Use the knife and ruler to remove the damaged section. Creating a small, squared off area means it will be easier to replace. When purchasing cork flooring, be sure to purchase and store a few extra feet of material. Then cut the new square in direct proportion to the piece removed. Fit it into place and secure it with wood glue. You can reapply a small layer of polyurethane finish to the surface to further seal the area and protect it against further damage.

It’s not just about wear and tear

When most people think about flooring choices for high traffic areas, they consider durability only. But there are other considerations too.

Depending on what you have in the area now, the room may be noisier or colder than you desire.

Cork is made up of tiny air-filled pockets. These act as barriers against noise production, and make any room quieter. If you’re tired of the echo sounds of laminate or hardwood, cork may be the perfect choice for your area.

Those tiny pockets of air also make it an excellent insulator. Just like it reduces sound from being transmitted down and throughout the room, it acts as a barrier against heat transfer as well. That means it keeps your home cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter, and the amount you pay on utilities each month lower than other types of materials.

If you have a family member sensitive to dust mites and other allergens, cork flooring is also a great choice for installation. Unlike carpet that can harbor dirt, dust, and other pollutants, cork tends to repel it. That means it’s easier to wipe away through regular cleaning. Because of this, cork flooring is often associated with a higher indoor air quality.

And because of the waxy substance called suberin that’s a natural part of cork production, cork floors are natural repellents to insects and other small vermin. That also makes cork floors more resistant to biological growth such as mildew and mold. And if these tiny organisms can’t grow, it can help you create a cleaner, healthier environment for you and your family.

Cleaning is a snap. When installed correctly, it will have a water barrier in place. Start the cleaning process with regular sweeping and vacuuming, taking care to remove dirt and grit that can damage the flooring as you walk on it. While you should always wipe up spills and messes as quickly as possible, you won’t have to worry about seepage because of the moisture barrier. However, depending on the spill and the length of time on the floor, it can be stained. Those grape juice and red wine spills can stain the flooring if left in place for too long.

Is cork flooring the right flooring for you?

Yes, there are a lot of advantages to installing cork flooring into your home. It can be the perfect choice for every room – kitchen, living space, bathrooms, and bedrooms – providing you understand the care needed to keep it looking its best.

Can cork flooring be the perfect choice for your high traffic area? Yes … as long as you understand the product and are willing to provide the proper care. It’s one of the most time-tested, beautiful choices you can make for your home. And the colors and options available will soon have you saying “yes” to new cork floors.

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