Easy Ways To Protect Your Hardwood Flooring From Scratching

What’s holding you back from installing the flooring of your dreams?

Do you dream of hardwood flooring from one side of your home to the other? Do you see it adding ambiance to your home?

Are you holding back because you’re worried about it scratching?

Don’t worry; you’re not alone. It’s often one of the first questions homeowners ask when contemplating hardwood flooring installation. They’ve been dreaming about it … but they don’t want buyer’s remorse.

Hardwood flooring is something you’ve dreamed of for years.

They say hardwood flooring can last for decades. Even when they start looking a little rundown, you can sand them down and refinish them for a brand new look.

How easily will they scratch? And is there something you can do to protect hardwood flooring from scratching even before it begins?

What scratches hardwood flooring?

In order to fully protect your new flooring, it’s important to understand what the greatest risks are to stop scratching before it begins.

Footwear

Easy Ways To Protect Your Hardwood Flooring From ScratchingBy far, this can be one of the most damaging things to your floor’s finish. Take a look at the bottom of a shoe. See all of those tiny rocks stuck in there? They have the potential to scratch your floors. Running shoes aren’t the only culprits; high heels can scratch and dent. If you want to keep your floors looking their best, create a “shoes off” policy and have them checked by the door.

Furniture

Furniture is also a big culprit for scratching. If your kids bounce in the chairs and cause them to scoot across the floor, you might see tiny scratches appear over time. Before placing any furniture directly on hardwood, place pads on the bottom to avoid damage over time.

Pets

Do your pets love to play? Their nails can impact the finish of your hardwood flooring. Be sure to keep their nails well trimmed, as long nails can cause more significant damage to your floors.

What can you do to further prevent scratching?

Keeping your hardwood flooring looking great doesn’t require massive change. With just a few tweaks to your regular routine, you’ll have great-looking floors for years to come.

Take off your shoes

We can’t stress this enough. If you want great-looking floors – no matter what type of flooring you install – check your shoes at the front door.

You can encourage this by placing mats or a bin by the front door. Maybe add a bench to make it easy to sit down to zip or tie your shoes into place. You can even have a selection of slippers available to avoid cold feet. This is the easiest way to make this a habit, and your flooring will thank you for it.

Place entry mats by every door

We have it all here in Colorado – ice, snow, water, debris. How many times have you tracked in ice from the coldest days of winter? Or brought leaves and other debris when autumn sets in?

Placing mats at all entry points will allow visitors to wipe their feet before they enter your house. You can change them often to create a new look for your visitor and guests. We suggest placing entrance mats outside to give feet a chance to leave much of the debris outside. Then have another mat on the inside to leave your shoes behind. This double matting will ensure most of what you can track inside, stays far away from your hardwood floors.

Adding felt pads to everything

Many homeowners think about adding felt pads to sofas and chairs, but then forget other things that still have the potential for damage.

Bookcases, tables, desks, and hutches – if it sits on your floors, it has the potential for scratching. They make felt pads in a variety of shapes and sizes. Buy extras and have them available for when they fall off. Pay attention to quality. There are many inexpensive brands on the market, but some will do the job better than others.

Avoid rollers

Home offices are more popular than ever. But office chairs with rollers on the bottom can easily trap dirt and grit. Every time you roll across the floor, you risk having them scratch the floor.

If you have rollers on any furniture, consider placing rugs or mats to provide further protection.

Clean regularly

One of the best ways to ensure dirt doesn’t grind into your hardwood flooring finish is to sweep it up before it can cause damage. Use a soft sweeper to pick up dirt and debris and pull it away from your finish. Avoid harsh chemicals that can penetrate your floor’s finish.

Be sure to check with the manufacturer of your hardwood flooring for recommendations on products to use. Many on the market today have harsh chemicals that can dull or ruin the finish. Your manufacturer will usually provide guidelines right on their websites. Or feel free to give us a call – we’re happy to make recommendations.

Use rugs

Area rugs can be handy for keeping your floors clean. They are also a great way to improve aesthetics, and to add color and flair to your decor. If you have chairs that move frequently, such as in the dining room, an area rug can provide added protection. They also help reduce noise, which can be beneficial in an open concept home.

Be sure to get a durable rug pad to place underneath. Rug pads add to the rug’s overall comfort, durability, and warmth. It will also provide added protection to help reduce scratches even more. Some rug backings are stiff enough to scratch if they move around.

Are you still dreaming of hardwood flooring?

With the popularity of hardwood flooring, many homeowners find the risk of possible scratching worth it for the chance of having the right aesthetics inside their homes.

Don’t be afraid to install what you want. Hardwood flooring is tougher than you think.

With a bit of care and maintenance, you’ll be able to keep your hardwood flooring looking its best for years to come. And when they do need refreshing, it’s as simple as sanding them down and adding a new finish.

Are you ready to find the hardwood flooring of your dreams?

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How Do You Blend Two Hardwood Floors?

When you have a new build, flooring can be installed to flow from one room to the next, blending well and looking its best.

However, few homeowners get the chance to add a new palette to start fresh and make flooring match. As time and budgets prevail, most of us live with the ebb and flow of renovation, doing a room here and another one there.

And that’s where the problems begin. You have hardwood in the living room or dining room. Now you want to add in the hallway or the kitchen.

It’s logical to think that you want it to flow and blend, as if it was all installed together.

Is that possible? And if not, how can you create a unified look for your home?

The first question … Do you care?

There seems to be a designer appeal of having every room in your home match. Having one solid hardwood floor run throughout your home creates a sense of unified space with appeal.

That may be a commonly held belief, but that doesn’t make it the right choice for you.

This is about your personality, your decorating choices, and the way you view your aesthetics.

Do you care if the same hardwood flooring exists from room to room?

Do variations bother you as you piece two separate rooms together?

For some, uniformity is a must. Without a flow-through from room to room, they will hate the ambiance it creates.

For others, they simply don’t care. They enjoy design and functionality on a room by room basis. If that means changing the flooring in each space, so be it.

What makes two different hardwood choices flow well together are transitions

How Do You Blend Two Hardwood Floors?Can you place two different hardwood choices together inside your home? Of course. Homeowners do it all the time.

Just head out to Google and start searching for images. Or visit Pinterest and explore your favorite decor sites. You’ll quickly find homeowners that have used hardwood flooring transitions and do them quite well.

But what you’ll quickly notice is that the key to making different flooring choices work well is the transitions. You can’t install two different sizes or color choices next to each other and expect them to work well together. You have to think about the presentation, and how it will look when finalized.

This transition needs to be planned, not happen by accident.

Flooring transitions are used anytime two different floors come together. It can be used if the flooring is of other materials, has different heights, or has different thicknesses. It creates a smooth boundary as you move from one area to the next.

There are several ways to transition from one material to another. What works best for you depends on the look you’re trying to create.

T-Molding – this is the easiest method, and is a great tool for blending different wood materials. You’ll often find these in natural transition areas, such as a doorway. They work best on floors at the same height.

Seam binder or transition strip – it’s a thin piece of wood material you can nail down across a wood flooring to bind two flooring types together. It’s a simple solution, but often looks rougher than other transitions because it can look tacked into place.

Metal transitions – a thin straight line of metal can provide an attractive, modern look to your floors. Just 1/8th of an inch wide, they can blend two separate wood colors nicely, and give you a contemporary look.

Threshold – a flat, rectangular block that looks and blends with hardwood flooring. It may look like hardwood, or resemble other materials such as stone or marble. They can be installed to blend in, or make a statement and stand out. They’re easy to install and can be cut to any size.

If both floors are the same thickness and height, you’ll have many options to transition between the two floors. However, sometimes you end up with floors of varying sizes. If that is the case, you’ll have to be more careful with the transition you install.

If it’s significant, you may need to look at rounded edge transitions used for flooring. This provides a buffer between the two heights and creates a smooth surface without becoming a tripping hazard.

The same … or different

If you won’t be using the same hardwood flooring from room to room, there are many ways of blending two separate flooring choices together.

It’s often better to choose two contrasting colors rather than trying to match them together. Two separate wood types with the same tonal qualities will blend well without looking like they were installed by mistake. One material will be darker than the other, complementary and in the same tone range. If you want them to match, you can work with a professional who will match the original wood and stain it for you.

If you cannot find the same material, it might be time to think about other flooring. This is often where homeowners select a natural tile, luxury vinyl planks, or other flooring choice for the kitchen and bath, while using hardwood throughout the rest of the main living space. When it becomes difficult to match or have it look pleasing to the eye, it might be better to move to an entirely different selection.

You can also use the structure of your room as a guide. If you have an open concept living space where each room blends into one another, transitioning can be a little trickier than if you have distinct rooms.

We often recommend selecting the right flooring for every room in your home. A dining space has different needs than a family room or a kitchen. Some questions you can ask include:

  • Is my room big or small?
  • How much light flows in during the day?
  • What ambiance am I trying to create?
  • Do I want noticeable transitions or do I want everything to blend?
  • Do I like dark floors, or is lighter better?

Blending two hardwood floors together

Whether you’re considering adding new flooring to every room in your home, or will be installing it one room at a time, you’ll have to decide on how to transition your choices as they flor throughout your home.

Need help in making the perfect selection? Stop by today. We can help you make the right decision to suit your needs.

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The Top Questions We Get About Bamboo Flooring

Have you set your sights on installing bamboo flooring in your home? Are you a little confused by what you’ve been reading online?

You’re not alone. Depending on what resource you read, bamboo is either the best or worse material for residential flooring.

We fall into the category that thinks it makes a great addition to any home. However, like any flooring choice, you have to understand how to care for and maintain it over time to truly fall in love with it, and enjoy it for years to come.

We get a lot of questions about bamboo flooring as people are trying to narrow down their choices. We thought we’d share them with you here to help you make up your mind as you’re deciding if bamboo flooring will make a welcome addition to your home.

Are there different types of bamboo flooring?

Yes, and this is where a lot of the confusion comes from. Bamboo flooring is usually broken down into two categories: solid and strand woven.

Solid bamboo is more traditional, where strips of bamboo are glued together to make a solid and stable floor covering. It’s made similarly to a traditional oak floor.

The Top Questions We Get About Bamboo FlooringStrand woven is newer and more innovative in technology. Bamboo is shredded and woven together to create a stronger and more versatile floor. Strand woven is twice as strong as more traditional oak flooring.

Are there different kinds of strand woven bamboo flooring?

Yes! Innovation never stops, and you’ll find that once you start looking at strand woven bamboo flooring. The most common include:

Solid strand woven bamboo – this is twice as strong as traditional hardwood flooring, where bamboo strands are compressed under heavy pressure to create durable planks. They’re milled with a tongue-and-groove structure that allows them to be glued or nailed into place. Like hardwood, they can be refinished several times, giving you a long lifespan.

Engineered strand woven bamboo – this provides a thick strand woven bamboo wear layer over the top of a durable core. Like engineered hardwood, engineered bamboo gives you a tough, durable product that’s even easier to install with click-and-lock technology.

Rigid core strand woven bamboo – want an even stronger core? This may be your answer. These floors provide strand woven bamboo on the top layer, with a rigid polymer composite (SPC) core. This makes bamboo functional in places like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms where moisture may be a problem. Some rigid core products also come equipped with a padded base that serves as a vapor barrier. This means it can be floated directly over concrete subfloors without need of an underlayment. If you’ve debated about what to install in your basement, rigid core strand woven bamboo may be your solution.

Is strand woven bamboo flooring eco-friendly?

Yes! That’s what leads a lot of homeowners to look at bamboo as a flooring option.

Most of the world’s bamboo is grown in China. Bamboo is a regenerating grass, so it grows much faster than hardwood trees. That makes it more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

This regenerative grass matures within five years. Once harvested, it has self-regenerating properties that won’t require replanting.

To be truly eco-friendly, pay attention to growth and harvesting practices. Look to ensure the manufacturer follows best practices, and allows healthy harvesting and regeneration qualities. Certification by organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) will ensure best practices.

Is strand woven bamboo flooring better than hardwood?

Like all types of flooring, it’s a personal choice. Many homeowners have installed bamboo flooring and are very happy with the results. The more research you do about the product to ensure it fits your lifestyle, the better chance of being pleased with the results.

Hardwood and strand woven bamboo flooring are both made from natural materials, can be refinished several times, have a similar feel and comfort level, are easy to maintain, and are installed in similar fashion.

The differences include:

  • Bamboo is made from a regenerative grass, while hardwood comes from trees
  • Bamboo matures in five years, while hardwood can take up to 60 years to reach maturity
  • Bamboo is often more affordable than hardwood
  • Strand woven bamboo usually has a Janka hardness rating of as much as three times that of traditional hardwood

Does strand woven bamboo expand and contract like hardwood?

Both bamboo and hardwood are made from hygroscopic material, which means they absorb moisture from the air in the environment. Both products do well in a balanced moisture environment.

When relative humidity decreases, there is less moisture in the air. This causes the final product to contract, which can cause gaps in the planks.

As relative humidity rises, it brings more moisture to the air. More humidity can cause buckling as the final product expands.

No matter which product you choose, acclimating it to your home’s environment is an important part of the process. If moisture is a problem, look towards engineered or rigid core.

Is strand woven bamboo flooring durable?

Yes! If you’ve grown to love hardwood, but want something even more durable, you’re going to love what strand woven bamboo brings to your home.

Strand woven bamboo is a robust and durable product. But like any flooring material, it can be damaged over time. If you drag heavy furniture across it, you’ll notice light scratches. Drop heavy pans or sharp objects, and you may notice dents. It can withstand a lot of pressure; it just depends on what hits it, and the amount of force behind it.

The key to its success is maintenance. Luckily, the process to keep it clean doesn’t take too much effort. Use a dust mop or a vacuum with soft, non-rotating bristles to keep dust and debris away. For extra dirty floors or a more deep cleaning, a simple solution will do the trick. Check with manufacturer’s guidelines before using any cleaning product to ensure it doesn’t damage the finish. Never use a wet or steam mop to ensure best results.

What questions do you have about strand woven bamboo flooring? 

If we can answer any of your questions, give us a call. Whether you’re finalizing your flooring choice, or still have general questions, we’re happy to provide you with solid advice.

How can we help you?

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Why Hard Floors Produce a Healthier Living Environment

A lot can go into selecting flooring for your home. You might start with a specific material in mind. Or have a certain color you prefer.

Thanks to the pandemic, we’re seeing more homeowners start with another request: clean flooring. Hard floors produce a healthier living environment. And that shows up in preferences. Studies consistently show hardwood tops the list of what buyers want for their homes.

Whether you’re designing a home, or remodeling your existing one, starting with a hard floor surface area provides the basis for a clean, healthy place to live.

Why are more homeowners turning to hard floors?

They’re easy to clean, disinfect, and sanitize

Homes get messy. Gravity ensures that.

But if you start with a base that’s easy to clean, those messes your family makes won’t bother you. You’ll simply wipe them away.

Hard floors give you a clean surface area that’s easy to sweep up dirt, hair, and other debris that accumulates. It’s easy to swish it away, reaching every corner effortlessly.

For a deeper clean, you can use antibacterial cleaners approved by your flooring’s manufacturer to ensure the surface area is free of pathogens and other germs. Just ask; we can provide you with the best care solutions to ensure your flooring stays looking good for years. You can also check online with your flooring manufacturer for their list of suggested cleaning products. Stick with their guidelines to ensure your flooring continues to look great, and remains under warranty.

They don’t trap dust or allergens

Why Hard Floors Produce a Healthier Living EnvironmentThe smooth, hard surface area of hard flooring ensures dust, dirt, pet dander, pollen, and other debris sits on top of the surface and doesn’t burrow down into the material. It’s easy to wipe it away. A clean environment reduces your allergy symptoms, and may lessen other respiratory issues.

They provide better air quality

Right now, Americans spend, on average, 90 percent of their time indoors. Studies show that concentrations of some pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than what you’ll typically find outdoors.

Pollutants can be found in a lot of places inside your home:

  • VOCs in building materials
  • Harmful chemicals in cleaning products
  • Chemicals released in the cooking process

These are just to start.

Yet your flooring is the basis for your home design. It can trap and harbor dust mites, allergens, and other debris as it enters and settles onto your floors.

Many hard flooring surfaces are a natural byproduct, which means they are created using healthier materials. Because they are hard, they are easier to keep clean, meaning they won’t trap the particles that can make you sick. For many, the basis of home aesthetics starts with hard floors.

Which hard floor is healthy?

As you browse through different flooring options, it’s easy to get confused by the sheer number of choices. How do you know which to pick? Which direction should you go?

We have three healthy flooring choices that give you clean living options while ensuring you love the results.

Hardwood

If you search through our site, stop by our store, or chat with one of our associates, you’ll find hardwood flooring moves to the top of the list for all sorts of reasons.

And if you’re looking for hard floors to produce a healthier living environment, hardwood remains at the top of the list. Why? Because it’s a natural product that provides classic good looks to any room in your home.

If you are considering hardwood, look for manufacturers that care about the production process. Select solid hardwood that comes with the Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC, seal. With this seal in place, you’ll ensure that the forest is properly managed according to FSCs rigorous social and environmental standards.

It stretches beyond the materials used for hardwood flooring. It also applies to the glue used to adhere hardwood to the subfloor, and the stains and seals used to keep your hardwood planks looking good for years. Many products use certification programs like GREENGUARD to reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure.

When a manufacturer uses these labels, you can feel better about the products and materials you’re bringing into your home.

Natural linoleum

While hardwood may work well for most rooms in your home, linoleum can be an option in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms. Both water-resistant and resilient, natural linoleum can be a great choice for bathrooms, laundry rooms, and even kitchens.

Linoleum is made from linseed oil, pine resin, wood flour, cork flour, limestone, and pigments, pressed and held together by a jute backing. This affordable, low-maintenance option can be installed over both concrete or wood subfloors, and only requires an occasional coat of natural wax for care and upkeep. With proper maintenance, this flooring choice can last for years.

Ceramic, Porcelain, and Glass Tile

If you’re looking for more water-resistance in your bathrooms and kitchen, ceramic, porcelain, and glass tile may be the solution. Tile can be a sustainable choice. You can look for options made from recycled materials to bump up the environmental-friendliness of the product.

To ensure it’s the healthiest on the market, focus on low-VOC production, adhesives, and sealants. GREENGUARD-certified products can point you in the right direction. Also, use cement-based grout, which doesn’t emit harmful VOCs.

Hard surfaces last longer

For many homeowners, it’s a constant juggle of keeping the aesthetics fresh and new, while ensuring updates and care fit within your budget.

If you don’t want to be replacing your flooring every few years, hard surfaces give you the longest life possible.

Ceramic, porcelain, and glass tiles can last 20 years or more. The grout may need scrubbing and resealing every five years or so, but with proper maintenance, it’ll continue looking good for years.

Linoleum can last for decades with proper care. Keep the surface clean from dirt and debris, as this can mar the surface area. Moisture, spills, and harsh chemicals can be hard on the surface. Be sure to use manufacturer-approved cleaners, and wipe up messes quickly to avoid damage.

Hardwood has the added bonus of being refinished. Depending on the hardness and size of each plank, you can refinish it several times. This adds to its longevity. Instead of replacing the entire flooring, refinish it to make it look brand new. You can update based on trends, or as your preferences change.

Is now the time you update your flooring for a healthier living environment?

Start with hard floor surfaces. You’ll love the results.

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Mixed Hardwood Flooring May Be Just What You’re Looking For

Hardwood flooring can be expensive. That’s why many homeowners prefer to remodel one room at a time, adding new flooring to each room as they update. 

But that causes a dilemma that’s widely debated among designers:

  • Is mixed hardwood flooring an acceptable design trend inside a home? 
  • Is it okay to have two different wood floors, especially when they’re close together or touching?
  • Can you mix different hardwood flooring brands, and not create a mishmash appearance when moving from room to room? 
  • What about using different planks, different materials, and different tones as you install a wood floor in your home?

What mixed hardwood flooring really means

Flooring is never an exact science. What works for one home might not work for another. What’s recommended by one designer may be shunned by the next. In design, rules exist. At the same time, rules are meant to be broken. 

That’s because every homeowner has a different approach to design. 

Maybe you’re building your dream home one room at a time. Hardwood is expensive; yet you know if it’s well cared for, it can last decades. Why not install one room at a time? 

Or maybe you’re looking for ways to display your individuality. You love different looks, and want personality in your home. Why can’t you mix different types of hardwood? 

With a little bit of research, you can find your ideal design displayed online. Using visuals as your queue, we can help you create a floor you’ll be proud to walk on every single day.

When we refer to mixing hardwood flooring, we believe it can refer to two different things. 

Mixed Hardwood Flooring May Be Just What You’re Looking ForFirst, mixing hardwood can mean adding a particular product to each individual room, each in its own time. This allows you to remodel based on budget and time constraints, and gives you flexibility of selecting products for the project when the work is performed.

Second, mixing hardwood can also refer to using two different types or styles of hardwood planks, and using them to create a unique flooring pattern in one area of your home. If you like both a light and darker color, why not mix the two together?

Can you do that? 

Why not? 

The look and feel of your home’s decor should always be about what’s most pleasing to you. If you do any searching online for design ideas, you’ll find many opportunities waiting for you. 

Hardwood in its natural form contains many different undertones, colors, and shades. Even if you stick with one product line, you’ll often find planks with other characteristics, personality that shines when it’s laid into place. That adds depth and character to your space, making your design truly one of a kind. 

Ask yourself: Do I like uniformity? Do I prefer creativity? Am I okay showcasing differences as I move from room to room? Use this to guide you to the right choices. 

Advantages of using the same flooring throughout your home

If you love hardwood and want it in a variety of rooms in your home, should you use the same product throughout? For many homeowners, it’s the only way.

By installing one product, one color, one design, you increase a natural flow throughout your home. It creates a calm and soothing image as you move from room to room. 

For some fans of hardwood, this is a great way to create harmony in every room. Rather than focusing on each room as an individual, you set the stage for the personality of your entire home. 

This also allows you to create your base with a flooring choice you’ll love for years to come. While it might be a bigger hit to your budget upfront, you’ll know you have a solid base to work with for years – decades – into the future. Because hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times, even if you want to change things up, you can always play with the color. This can lead to cost savings throughout the life of owning your home. 

If minimalism and conformity are important to you, a uniform hardwood base may be perfect for you. It’s less time thinking about how things flow together. It creates a stunning appearance in every room of your home. 

Advantages of mixed hardwood flooring throughout your home

Have you entered other homes and felt a sense of sameness that isn’t necessarily appealing? If you’ve seen one hardwood floor, you’ve seen them all. “Boring” is the only word that comes to mind as you see an endless amount of sameness throughout the open concept floorplan. 

That’s not a feeling every homeowner likes. Or wants. 

And that’s okay. 

Mixing hardwood allows you to let your creative juices flow. 

If you want to clearly define the purpose of each room, decorating each separately allows you to design based on needs. Kitchens are messier than bedrooms. Having more color, character, and texture may make it easier to hide the messes that undoubtedly will happen every time you step into the kitchen to cook. Bedrooms are meant for tranquility – maybe a calmer texture and a softer color are just what you were looking for. 

Manufacturers also know that people have different tastes in design. If you stick with one manufacturer, you’ll find an array of stains and color options, yet the quality of the product remains the same. Instead of worrying about how grains and textures will match, vary the colors, tones, and materials, letting the floor be your canvas and creating a dynamic new look. 

Mixing your hardwood flooring as you go along also gives you more flexibility when things go wrong/ If your child “forgets” to mention the spilled juice box for hours, you can easily replace a few planks and get right back to living. No worrying about matching – you can work in smaller areas and achieve the same results. 

Can you have mixed hardwood flooring throughout your home? 

Why not?

Let your creative juices flow, and create the home of your dreams. 

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Decided To Install Hardwood? Here’s How You Pick The Right Color

Honey maple or golden oak? Red chestnut or red mahogany?

When you’ve finally decided to install hardwood flooring throughout your home, one of the most difficult parts of the process is honing in on the right color. It can be agonizing moving between several closely related colors. One has a little more red, the other is a bit more yellow. Which will be the easiest to live with for years to come?

Before you get to color, start with material first

Hardwood is hardwood … right? If you’ve been shopping for any length of time, you know there are big differences between different materials.

If you walk through a forest, or even take in the landscape as you travel to various regions of the world, you know different trees take on unique characteristics. An elm or ash tree looks vastly different from a pine.

Their outward appearance dictates how they will act as flooring material. The Janka Hardness Scale is designed to help you understand the qualities of individual wood. A wood’s hardness is evaluated by the amount of force needed to drive a .444 inch steel ball into the wood at half the ball’s diameter. It’s measured in pounds-force, and gives you an idea of just how hard specific materials are. While strand-woven bamboo is at the upper end of the scale in the 4,000s, a Douglas fir is at the lower end around 700.

Decided To Install Hardwood? Here’s How You Pick The Right ColorRed oak is considered the mainstay in the industry. Because of its abundance, it is used widely as building material, including hardwood flooring planks. It carries a rating of 1290, meaning it pairs hardness with durability, making it a workhorse in the average family home.

Harder materials aren’t always better. The harder the floor, the less give it has to everyday activities. If you drop a glass, or your toddler falls, hardness may not be the best addition to your home. Harder materials are also more difficult to cut, drive nails into, or piece together for finishing work. Installation costs will be higher with more rigid materials. It’s a careful balance of personality, aesthetics, and functionality.

Color, color everywhere

As you’re finalizing your color choice, it goes without saying that your flooring color should match the aesthetics of your home. Cabinet color, appliance color, wall paint, furniture patterns – a mishmash of color will leave a room feeling chaotic at best. Your new hardwood should also blend well with other existing flooring materials inside your home.

Complementing existing colors may be necessary to create visual appeal. But you don’t always want exact matches in order to create harmony inside a room. Too much of one color can leave a room feeling flat. Instead, opt for complementary rather than identical.

In most cases, small rooms do better with lighter colors. Light colored wood floors will open up a room, leaving it feeling fresh and airy.

Exotic woods have become a trend in recent years. This includes hardwood like Brazilian Cherry or mahogany. There’s no mistaking these dark woods add sophistication and elegance to any room. But they may not be for every home. They are perfect for the kitchen, bathrooms, or even living spaces where quiet sophistication is what you choose to display.

We’ve also seen an uptick in patterned hardwood. This can be worked into your home in several ways. Parquet flooring is rising in popularity because of the intricate patterns it can add to a room. Or consider mixing different types of materials to get a unique hardwood pattern that’s all your own.

Let’s get into specifics

We’ve noticed homeowners are choosing bolder, richer colors. While standard oak finishes have become staple in homes all across America, right here in the Front Range, people are playing off our love of the great outdoors. Why not have fun with the color choices you make?

Instead of sticking with a standard color with little variance, homeowners are getting into mixed hardwood species, or using reclaimed wood blends for a unique look. Wild patterns and bold textures can make your flooring stand out, not just blend in with the surroundings.

If boldness isn’t quite up to your tastes, maybe you prefer hardwood with a natural appeal. We’re seeing an influx of gray tones mix into hardwood flooring choices. Flooring with smoky undertones adds both drama and character that can be appealing in some homes. This gives a rustic, edgy look that can lighten up any space.

Want even lighter? Bleached or whitewashed floors are also making a comeback. For contemporary, modern spaces, you can’t go wrong with the smooth, pleasing look that belaced or whitewashed flooring brings to a room. We love it because it puts the focus on natural wood grain, without making the floor look busy. It’s a great way to let the vibrancy of your home shine through.

And while many homeowners become fixed on color, you do have other ways to make your color choice shine through. Why not play with the size of the planks you install too? Plank size puts the natural grain and variance of the wood choice on display. We love wider planks because you notice the rich texture of the wood rather than the spacing between the boards. If you’re looking for a smooth, contemporary finish to bring into your space, this may be the perfect way to do it.

Final thoughts on hardwood color choices

If you stick with a standard color, standard material, it’ll never go out of style.

But if you want to bump up your selection, add more personality to your home, and move to something a bit more edgy, that might leave you stuck on what to do.

Trendy styles and colors will help sell a home in the short turn. If you’re thinking of selling, and are remodeling to get the most bang for your buck, select what current designers are showcasing. Right now, that includes super dark flooring colors, planks with undertones of gray, or natural-looking floorboards that look like you pulled them directly from nature.

Classic looks will never go out of style. If you’re having trouble deciding, worried about how you’ll feel in a few years, we often recommend erring on the side of classic. You’ll never be sorry when you stick with tones that have been around for years.

And if you’re really worried about which selection to make, go with your gut instinct first.

Whether you love light or dark, want earthy tones, or love bright colors, chances are you find yourself walking up to similar color patterns again and again. There’s a reason for that.

That’s your personality shining through.

Trust your gut. Select a hardwood color choice that resonates with you.

That’s the color that’ll look good in your home. One you’ll love for many years to come.

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Laminate or Hardwood – Which Is Right For Your Remodel?

Thinking of remodeling your home? Want to upgrade your living space for better workability? For many, it starts with the question: Laminate or hardwood, which is better suited for my needs?

Selecting the right flooring material is one of the most important questions you’ll ask yourself in any remodeling project. Flooring sets the stage for your entire design. Get it wrong, and you’ll regret your decision for years to come.

A study by Houzz, an online redecorating resource, found that 75 percent of homeowners planning on remodeling listed flooring as one of the top projects they planned to take on.

Where should you begin?

Laminate or hardwood – an overview

When most homeowners start thinking of remodeling, their minds often turn to hardwood flooring. But in today’s world, even the concept of hardwood is blurring.

Many different flooring options are taking on the appearance of hardwood. You can install luxury vinyl tiles, or even porcelain tiles that take on the appearance of hardwood. Want the “real thing” with more flexibility? Laminate remains ever-popular.

For some, only “real” hardwood will do.

Laminate or Hardwood - Which Is Right For Your Remodel?Solid hardwood flooring consists of solid hardwood from top to bottom. The boards average ¾ inch thick, with grooved edges that interlock for a smooth surface area. Most solid wood floors are blind-nailed into place. They can be installed prefinished – select your stain before you install – or site-finished, meaning the floorboards are sanded, stained, and sealed once they are laid into place.

Laminate is increasing in popularity.

Laminate flooring is manufactured with multiple layers for strength and durability. It starts with several layers of wood byproducts as a core. A printed design layer is placed on top to resemble wood and other materials. A protection layer finishes it off, offering scratch-resistance and durability to prevent it from common household mishaps. These boards often have click in place edges that allow them to snap together and hold in place. That means they’re easier to install than hardwood, no nailing or gluing required.

Which is right for you?

Laminate or hardwood – pros and cons

While both laminate and hardwood can give you a floor you’ll love for years to come, they each have distinct advantages and disadvantages when installed inside your home.

Appearance

It’s hard to deny that solid hardwood gives you a look that’s impossible to replicate. The strong lines, grains, and finishes create a rich quality that can give your home aesthetics and appeal. Style and color can be found to match anything you desire. From standard materials like oak to exotic choices like Brazilian cherry, you’ll have numerous options when designing your rooms.

Because laminate is created using life-like imagery, it can take on a wide variety of appearances you might not find in nature. Looking for something lighter or darker than you’ve seen in hardwood? You might find it with laminate. What people usually find with laminate is a more standard approach to patterns. If uniformity is important to you, you’ll find common threads throughout laminate materials. It lacks some of the originality you’ll discover when laying a floor made with natural hardwood.

Longevity

When maintained properly, hardwood floors can last for decades. Hardwood has the distinct ability to be able to be sanded down and refinished when the surface scratches, dents, or even stains. That makes it an investment that keeps on giving for many years to come. Keep in mind that hardwood is susceptible to warping and damage when it comes in contact with moisture. Hardwood isn’t a product that should be installed in places like bathrooms or basements. When moisture is ever-present, hardwood isn’t the best choice.

Many people think laminate can be a better choice where hardwood is questionable. That isn’t necessarily the case. Laminate takes on many of the same qualities as hardwood. The core is susceptible to damage in moist conditions. It has the added issue of having a top image surface instead of real hardwood, which means it can’t be sanded down and refinished. Laminate must be replaced if it’s damaged, warped, or scratched. But thanks to its cost, it makes a welcome addition to many homes who are looking for appearance in the short term.

Green, eco-friendly design

Want a green, eco-friendly material to improve sustainability inside your home? There are many ways to make solid hardwood more sustainable. Reclaimed hardwood is growing in popularity. This is repurposing existing wood previously used in building. Many forests are now sustainably resourced and farmed as a crop. That means for every tree that is harvested, new trees are planted and maintained. Just look for seals like Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to ensure your hardwood is sourced using sustainable guidelines.

Many assume laminate wins in the sustainability race because it isn’t sourced from forests. This isn’t necessarily the case. Laminate is created using composite processes of mixing wood products with resins and glues. This can increase VOCs and create off-gassing. This is where it pays to do your research. Ensure you select high quality manufacturers who develop products without questionable material. We can help you find the right product to suit your needs.

Installation

Installing hardwood isn’t a process that happens overnight. It’s also not a good choice for installers who wish to have a DIY project. Solid hardwood takes time to install. It must acclimate to your surroundings for a few days before it’s installed. Nailing or gluing means it takes experience to understand the process. If you don’t have expertise in finishing work, the surface area may not look like a quality finish. Prefinished planks aren’t as fussy as site finished, but it still takes expert guidance to lay each plank into place.

Laminate is very easy to install – it’s the perfect choice for a do-it-yourselfer. Laminate comes in click and lock technology, which means the surface area floats over the subfloor. It’s more forgiving if you make mistakes, and can even be taken up and reinstalled if you have a problem. That also means laminate can be used below-grade in basements if you don’t have a high moisture issue. If you want a floor installed quickly, laminate may be your choice.

Laminate or hardwood – what’s your choice? 

There is never a right choice for every homeowner. It depends on your needs, your style, and what you’re looking for.

If you have questions about laminate, hardwood, or what’s the best choice to suit your needs, we can help you finalize your decision, and pick the perfect flooring for your home remodeling project.

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5 Reasons Why Hardwood Flooring Is Perfect For The Kitchen

One of the most high-traffic areas in your home is the kitchen. That’s probably why you hear so many experts tell you hardwood flooring in the kitchen isn’t a good idea.

But is that true?

Think about all the action that happens in the kitchen. You cook. You bake. You eat. Food and liquid hit the floor on a regular basis.

At dinnertime, it’s one of the busiest, dirtiest places inside the house.

That’s why flooring choice is so important.

You want to couple durability with aesthetics, giving you a room you’ll love to spend time in, and one that functions well too.

Hardwood is one of the most popular flooring choices. According to a National Association of Realtors Remodeling Impact Report, 78 percent of consumers who installed wood flooring had a greater desire to be in their home. And as an investment, new wood flooring had 106 percent cost recovered when selling a home.

So why not the kitchen?

If you dig deep into what designers really think, you’ll quickly discover that hardwood in the kitchen isn’t as taboo as you might think. In fact, there are many benefits to using hardwood in the one spot your family spends countless hours in.

Create a uniform floorplan

A lot of homes across Colorado utilize an open concept floorplan, which has been popular for many years. Instead of closing off every room with a door, openings and entries allow you to flow naturally from room to room. Living rooms, dining space, kitchens – they all flow together to allow easy living. And as such, it only makes sense to install the same flooring throughout.

If using hardwood in other areas, only to transition to tile or vinyl in the kitchen has left you cold in the past, now is the time to rethink your flooring strategy. With the advancements made in hardwood flooring technology, there’s no reason to stop hardwood at the starting point of your kitchen. It disrupts the flow and creates a choppy design – that’s not the way to create appealing aesthetics throughout.

Hardwood is one of the most durable floors you can install

Why do so many people install hardwood flooring? Because it can last for decades if well cared for.

People are even seeking out reclaimed wood that was recovered from old barns and structures, refurbishing them and using them to add personality to their homes.

5 Reasons Why Hardwood Flooring Is Perfect For The KitchenWhen you bring hardwood into your home, and use a protective seal to protect it, you’re giving your floors strength to withstand all your family can dish out.

In the kitchen, that can include dropped pans, leaky containers, and the occasional food spill that causes a sticky mess. Today’s sealers offer enough defense to make any cleanup easy, and prevent it from doing further damage.

Think hardwood can’t stand up to all your family can dish out? Check the warranties of many of today’s top lines. They offer years worth of protection. If they provide the warranty, isn’t that one more reason for you to consider hardwood in the kitchen?

It’s easy to clean

Kitchens get messy. There’s no avoiding it.

It isn’t a place to worry about every time you drop a spoon. Luckily, you don’t have to.

Today’s finishes and sealers protect against a variety of daily mishaps. With a damp cloth and quick action, you can prevent staining and damage just by wiping it up. That’s all it takes for daily maintenance.

You can vacuum the floor weekly to ensure all crumbs are picked up and pushed from the corners. If you prefer to mop, do so with it carefully wrung out – excessive moisture isn’t good for hardwood, especially if it’s allowed to sit.

And when the time is right, hardwood gives you another advantage – it can be refinished multiple times. A professional can come in and sand it down, fix any damage, and apply a new coat of stain and sealer. Then you’re ready to go once again, and can enjoy your hardwood flooring all over again. It’s the one floor that keeps on giving throughout the years.

It’s easy to install

Hardwood flooring has been used in homes all across the world for decades. That means installers have a lot of experience with installing hardwood, and understand how to blend it with other flooring materials inside your home. Whether you choose to match it up with hardwood already in place, or remove old flooring and start with a clean slate, a hardwood specialist will be able to create the look you’re striving for.

It’s environmentally friendly

Going green may be a buzzword in the home renovation business, but if you’re striving to make your home cleaner, more chemical-free, hardwood may be just the thing to install.

Natural versus human-made – the closer you can get to nature, the more assured you’ll be of the impact it has on your family. Pay attention to the entire life cycle; does the manufacturer use sustainable processes throughout? This included production, manufacturing, and what happens to materials at end of life.

Is hardwood flooring in the kitchen right for you? 

We’ve had clients wait years to install hardwood throughout their living space out of fear of what would happen in the kitchen. They installed vinyl and hated it. They’ve laid tile into place only to turn around and tear it out. When they finally settled on hardwood, matching it to the floors in their living room, dining room, and family space, that’s when they felt their homes were complete.

If you’ve been stalling on adding new flooring to your home because you weren’t sure if hardwood was the right choice for your kitchen, put your doubts aside.

Hardwood is more than doable in any kitchen with today’s product lines. And you’ll love the results.

Isn’t that what home design should be?

The chance to let your personality shine, and create the look that’s perfect for your tastes.

Don’t be afraid of hardwood. It might just be the best material you’ve ever installed in your kitchen space.

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Prefinished or Site Finished Hardwood – Choosing What’s Best For You

Are you ready to add new floors inside your home? Have you been dreaming of hardwood for years, and are finally ready to have them installed? Before you make your final selection, there’s another decision: Do you want prefinished or site finished hardwood flooring?

While it might seem better to select prefinished, picking out what you want inside the store, each choice has pros and cons. Before finalizing your decision, pay attention to the differences to discover what truly is the right choice to suit your needs.

What is prefinished hardwood flooring?

Prefinished hardwood flooring takes the “what you see is what you get” philosophy to flooring design. It allows you to shop manufacturers and supplies inside the store, knowing exactly what you’ll get once you bring it into your home.

When prefinished hardwood planks are created in manufacturing, they are cut to size, stained, and sealed with a polyurethane topcoat before being shipped to your local flooring dealer. The boards come fully intact with a highly durable and scratch-resistant coating.

Because this method is ever-popular, you’ll be able to find prefinished hardwood planks in many different materials, stains, finishes, and sizes, all ready for you to take home and start installing.

What is site finished hardwood flooring?

While site finished flooring may have been the norm years ago, it’s making a comeback among homeowners and designers. Site finished hardwood flooring is precisely what it sounds like – it installs hardwood on your floors before the finishing process, with staining and sealing performed after the planks are installed.

Installers will lay unfinished wood planks down first, sand the floor, and then apply stains and sealants to finish the flooring. While this is historically how hardwood has been laid into homes for generations, there are still benefits to doing so today.

The pros and cons of prefinished hardwood flooring

Prefinished or Site Finished Hardwood - Choosing What’s Best For YouFor some homeowners, only prefinished hardwood flooring will do. There are lots of benefits to selecting prefinished hardwood.

What you see is what you get – if you’re a visual person, selecting prefinished hardwood planks is the perfect choice to suit your needs. You can pick the material – oak, hickory, or maple – and select the stain – light, medium, dark. You don’t have to visualize it from a tiny square on a paint chart. Instead, you can get sample planks, bring them home, and live with them for a few days. See how the different styles feel with your surroundings, and choose the right look for your lifestyle.

Faster installation – Because the boards have already been stained and sealed, you won’t have to wait for the sanding, staining, and sealing process. Once the boards are laid into place, you’ll be able to move your furniture back in and get on with life.

Durable – prefinished hardwood has the advantage of being created in a plant, meaning they have perfect controls to ensure every hardwood plank is curated according to specific specifications. The top layers can have one of the most durable sealants applied – no worries about how fumes and chemicals will impact those around during the processing. They can also use UV lights for curing, making the topcoat one of the most durable on the marketplace.

More options – because prefinished hardwood is growing in popularity, you’ll have a wide array of colors, styles, and sizes to choose from.

Less customizable – while prefinished hardwood may give you an array of colors and styles to choose from, you’ll never be able to match what site finished offers. If you have a specific color in mind, finishing the flooring on-site allows the installer to mix and match products to achieve exactly the look you’re going for. No more choosing between a too light and too dark stain – you can mix it to your specifications.

More difficult to sand and refinish in the future – while prefinished makes your first install a snap, it can increase the difficulty for future refinishes. Hard coating installed in the factory can be more difficult for refinishing in the future. It can also be tougher to fix damage without ripping up the entire floor.

The pros and cons of site finished hardwood flooring

While prefinishing gives you a variety of options, site finished makes just about anything possible.

Customize to your heart’s content – if you’ve ever walked into a paint store and looked at your options, you know there are many different colors for you to choose from. Prefinished planks are created based on customer preferences. They select the colors and stains that people buy the most of. That can lead you to accepting something less than perfect. With site finished planks, any color goes. You can get richer, deeper color combinations. You can mix and match and come up with any style you choose.

Solid surface and no beveled edges – prefinished planks are designed for quick production and installation. They have beveled edges to make installation a snap. Not sure if you like the look? Then site finished will give you a smooth look. This means it can be sanded to a smooth surface with little or no separation between the planks. This also gives you better coverage, with stain and sealer spreading across the entire surface, meaning even the seams will have protection.

Refinishing is easier in the future – because stain and sealant are installed across your entire flooring, the smooth surface will make it easier to refinish down the road. Solid wood floors last for years. But knowing you can sand it down and start over whenever you choose to update your look makes it even more worth it today.

Timing – the biggest drawback to site finished hardwood flooring is its time for installation. Every piece of production is performed inside your home. Installing the planks, sanding it for uniformity, staining it your desired color, and adding sealant and topcoat for protection – it’s all performed on site. With curing and drying times, be prepared to wait between each step. This isn’t a process that can be rushed.

Which is the right choice to suit your needs? 

Prefinished or site finished – what’s best for you? Luckily, both options are available to allow you to select what’s right for you.

Both can give you the floors of your dreams. It’s just a matter of which is better suited for your lifestyle.

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

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Reclaimed Wood or Sustainable Wood – What’s The Difference?

Are you shopping for new flooring? Are you looking for green materials?

Are you confused by some of the terminologies in today’s flooring industry?

We get it. We see words like “reclaimed wood”, “sustainable wood”, even green flooring used in ways that leave us scratching our heads.

When what you want is flooring with a lower carbon footprint, materials that don’t harm the earth, and have it look great in your house too, what should you do?

Let’s look at the industry as a whole, and what these words mean and how they’re used in the marketplace today.

How sustainable flooring became a marketing trend

When homeowners first started installing flooring in their homes, they looked to natural materials to make their floors warmer, more comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing. Over time, manufacturers looked for ways to improve production, get flooring products faster into the marketplace, and materials that were easy to produce and use for consumption.

That pushed a variety of materials out there, not all of them healthy for the environment. Or for people.

As we recognized that, the concept of sustainable living grew.

Sustainable flooring is produced from sustainable materials. It also uses a sustainable life cycle. This includes harvesting, production, use, and disposal.

Reclaimed Wood or Sustainable Wood - What’s The Difference?As awareness grew, various organizations stepped in to assure practices were truly sustainable and offered benefits to society as a whole.

The USGBC (US Green Building Council) was established to transform how buildings were designed, constructed, and operated. Their goal is to ensure buildings and communities use environmentally and socially responsible materials that improve the quality of life.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the rating system used by the USGBC during all levels of project production. It utilizes a variety of tools and point-based systems to help every team member throughout the life cycle make wise choices about the materials they use.

BEES (Building for Environmental and Economic Sustainability) software measures the environmental performance of building products at all stages of life. It’s a way to help people select cost-effective, environmentally-friendly building products for a project.

The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) sets standards for responsible forest management. This helps bring lumber to market now while preserving solid, healthy forests for a viable future.

Green Seal is a universal symbol of health and environmental leadership. It’s a way of recognizing those companies that use a safer, more sustainable way of delivering products and services to the market.

These are just a few of the many organizations that are doing their part to ensure a healthier world. Pay attention to where your flooring material comes from to learn more about the best practices used by individual manufacturers.

What is sustainable wood?

When you’re looking for hardwood flooring, sustainable means wood that comes from sustainable management practices.

It starts with forest management. Is the wood harvested in a healthy way to ensure the forest has sustainability for generations to come? That’s where markings from organizations like the FSC can help you recognize the ethical behavior of a particular manufacturer. Going with a reputable source will ensure the company sticks within certain guidelines. In the online world, trusting a “generic” source for cost only could get you less-than-stellar results with questionable business practices.

VOC (volatile organic compounds) are emitted as gasses from certain solids or liquids. They include a variety of chemicals, some of which can be harmful to human health. When flooring materials such as wood are created in unethical manners, they often use the cheapest materials and production processes to get the product to market. This means those harmful chemicals can live in your flooring, releasing gasses inside your home. By paying attention to the manufacturer and what organizations they belong to, you can reduce the potential harmful production methods a company uses to create a product or material.

How is sustainable wood different from reclaimed wood?

Reclaimed wood is also sometimes referred to as antique wood. It’s a high-quality wood taken from a variety of resources, ready to be reused. The wood is usually taken from existing structures that are in the process of being demolished or removed. Instead of being disposed of in landfills, the wood is upcycled and reused to create new building materials.

Because the original resource is important, you should also pay attention to where the reclaimed wood comes from. FSC has guidelines on reclaimed wood use too. Reclaimed wood can come from a variety of resources, but many come from old buildings that are beyond repair, primarily barn and rural structures before the 1930s.

Hardwood, in general, can last for decades. Even when not properly cared for, as is the case in old abandoned structures, it still has a sound design that, with a bit of care, can bring it back to life.

Reclaimed wood will almost always have an old, rustic look to it. Because it uses wood taken from places with older production processes, you’ll see different characteristics in the wood supply. That can be a welcome addition to many building projects, both commercial and residential.

Reclaimed wood is sustainable. But sustainable will not always be reclaimed.

What’s right for you – sustainable or reclaimed wood?

You’ll find sustainable wood choices in a variety of flooring options. Thanks to technology, many are easy to work with, easy to install, and make great additions to any building project you may be working on. They provide a smaller carbon footprint than other resources, meaning you’ll know you’re getting a product that can help you achieve whatever goals you’re looking for.

Reclaimed wood has many of the same benefits as sustainable wood. Since the wood is taken from older projects, you can also get character and personality you might not find in other building products. It can truly create a visually appealing look and feel to wherever you install it.

No matter what material you choose – sustainable wood or reclaimed wood – be sure you trust the resource where you buy it. That way, you’re ensured to get a high-quality product that will work well in your space for years to come.

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