Hardwood Flooring Archives - Page 7 of 24

Carpet, Hardwood Flooring
July 10, 2021

Carpet or Hardwood – Which Is The Better Choice For Bedrooms?

Wanting to replace the flooring throughout your home? Having trouble deciding the right flooring for each room? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. There’s an ongoing debate among homeowners as to which flooring choice is best throughout.

Living here in Colorado, you might be one of many who has jumped on the hardwood-only mindset. Coloradoans love their hardwood floors.

But does it make sense to install it throughout your home? For many people, a bedroom is their inner sanctuary, a place they retreat to for rest and relaxation. They want quiet, softness, warmth. And that’s hard to get with hardwood. Doesn’t carpet just make more sense in the bedroom settings?

Read on if you’re still in the debate.

Let’s start with hardwood

Hardwood is the flooring of choice, except for kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas where moisture is prevalent. Bedrooms are often no exception, especially if they are located right off the main living space.

And hardwood makes sense in a lot of areas in the home. The pros are hard to ignore:

Durability – hardwood is one of the most durable products on the market. When well cared for, it can last for years. And when it starts looking dull and scratched, simply sand it down and refinish it. A high quality wood floor can last for decades.

Ease of maintenance – especially with today’s technology, the surface material on your hardwood planks makes it easier than ever to care for. Use a broom or swiffer regularly to keep dirt and other particles off the surface. Vacuum weekly. A damp mop on occasion to remove any residue or spills. That’s it!

Natural surface – hardwood is one of the most natural surfaces you can install inside your home. If you care about going green and sustainability, look no further than hardwood. That also creates a hypoallergenic surface area too which can help keep sickness at bay. If you suffer allergies or asthma symptoms, hardwood flooring can be a great choice throughout your home.

Style and functionality – no matter what design personality you have, or what decor you plan on introducing into your home, hardwood is the perfect backdrop for it all. You can select hardwood flooring in all shades and colors, making it a versatile flooring choice that ages well as we move into the future.

All good reasons for installing hardwood throughout your home. But it still doesn’t answer the question: is hardwood right for the bedrooms?

Carpet in the bedrooms

Think about your bedrooms for a moment. What is the bedroom for?

A quiet place – with living rooms, family rooms, media rooms, and more, the bedroom is now a place where we retreat to for quiet time and sleep. That means unnecessary clomping across a wood floor can create heightened awareness, even anxiety as you’re moving around. Carpet muffles the sound and absorbs the noise, while adding ambiance you just can’t get with hardwood.

Warmth – here in Colorado, the temperatures can fall rapidly. Thirty degrees, twenty, ten. Even a few below zero days can leave you shivering at night. Those one in the morning trips to the bathroom can be miserable as your toes hit cold hardwood. But with plush carpet, the softness, cushion, and fibers underneath can make it just a bit easier.

Noise reduction – young children often retreat to their bedrooms for quiet playtime. But there’s nothing quiet about it if their toys consistently bounce off the hardwood. Especially in multiple story homes, you’ll notice every clunk and ping from underneath, making you wish for softness and padding of carpet to help damper the sound.

Safety – you’re more likely to be in socks in your bedroom. You’re more likely to be half asleep and not paying attention as you move around in the middle of the night. Slippery floors can be hazardous no matter what your age. Carpet provides better grip, and also a softer landing.

Do buyers prefer carpet or hardwood in bedrooms?

When you install new flooring throughout your home, often, it’s with the understanding that you’ll be placing it on the market soon. Then the question becomes: do home buyers prefer hardwood throughout, or do they still like carpet in the bedrooms?

According to real estate agents, you’ll never go wrong with hardwood. Some buyers and homeowners love hardwood enough to weave it through every room in the home.

There are others that want softness in the bedrooms. These homeowners prefer plush carpet with ample padding for softness, warmth, and creating the cozy factor inside each bedroom.

Plus, when you have a multi-level home, carpet can help muffle sound. With active bedrooms upstairs, installing padding and carpeting can act as a noise reducer, helping make the activity less noticeable from underneath.

Is carpet in bedrooms outdated?

Let’s start with your gut instinct. After reading the above advice, if you’re still worried about a house full of hardwood, if you prefer softness and warmth in the bedrooms, listen to your gut.

In 2020, carpet sales fell, thanks to stay-in-place orders and few people thinking about remodeling. But even by the end of 2020, the market was starting to rebound. Carpet is and has remained the largest flooring segment, accounting for 48.4 percent of all flooring sales.

With so many choices, you can find carpet that complements any decor, and adds richness to the surrounding area.

If you’re really not sure what to do, how about a compromise?

Add hardwood throughout. And follow it up by adding area rugs to the bedrooms. To keep your room soft, warm, and comfortable, make sure the area rug is large and covers a lot of the space inside each bedroom. Place it under the bed, and have it extend beyond the bed on all sides. You should be able to step onto it as you get out of bed. With a large bedroom, you may also wish to place smaller area rugs in critical places throughout the room. At the sides of each bed for warmth as you rise, plus in front of dressing areas, or other spots you spend time.

Carpet or hardwood – which is the right choice for your bedrooms? There really isn’t a “best” choice. It entirely depends on you.

If you need a little extra advice, stop by today. We have the answer to your questions, and can help you make a well informed decision.

Hardwood Flooring
June 28, 2021

How To Keep Hardwood Floors Looking Their Best

If you were building your dream home today, what kind of flooring would you install?

According to a National Wood Flooring Association survey, just more than half of homeowners – 52 percent – say they currently have hardwood somewhere in their homes. But when you ask them what kind of flooring they would install in their dream home, two-thirds say hardwood floors. That includes 81 percent of current hardwood flooring owners, with the most common reasons given being it’s durable, easy to clean, and attractive in every room in the home.

While those numbers are based on averages from homeowners across the country, we would bet the statistics actually rise here in Colorado. Coloradans love hardwood. Maybe it’s because we’re right at the base of the Rocky Mountains. The idea of a mountain retreat is appealing to us because it’s our normal. The scent of pinewood, the look and feel of pine throughout a home, even adding another log to the fireplace are high up on our wishlist.

If you’re changing out the flooring in your home, and wondering if hardwood is the way to go, even a little bit of research online might leave you confused and overwhelmed. Do a quick search and you’ll find articles touting all kinds of issues with installing a hardwood floor. You find articles on:

How difficult it is keeping hardwood floors clean
Why hardwood flooring is a bad choice in busy households
Why hardwood flooring is fragile, dents easily, and is a wrong choice in homes with pets and kids

Of course, it’s easy to start questioning everything when you read these words of advice.

But before you form your own opinion, especially if you’ve never lived with hardwood floors before, we suggest you stop by and speak with an expert to learn more before you make your final choice.

What can you do to make hardwood floors look their best?

Clean up spills quickly

In many cases, what turns people off of hardwood flooring is the look and feel of hardwood after spills penetrate the wood.

Because wood swells and shrinks depending on moisture levels, both on the wood itself and in the air, it’s important to keep moisture at steady levels all throughout the year. If moisture seeps in between cracks in the planks, and slips down into the subfloor, it can quickly start to damage the wood. Swelling, expanding, contracting, warping and more can occur rapidly once moisture impacts the wood.

That’s also a reason to ban wet shoes at the door. Set up a mat as soon as you enter and require all shoes to be left at the door. That creates less of a mess throughout your home, and prevents water from accumulating in small puddles without you noticing.

Water and hardwood can also cause another potential problem – slip hazards. Water puddling combined with a hard lacquer finish can make the flooring slippery. This is especially dangerous on staircases or areas where the potential of falling increases.

Sweep and dust daily

Cleaning daily may seem a bit excessive, but it’s a great way to ensure the look and feel of hardwood floors stays in top condition.

Even if you’re a “no shoes” household, dust, tiny rocks, and other particles can easily make their way into your home and onto your floors. Baking cookies? What happens when a little bit of sugar spills underneath your feet? It’s easy for fine particles to be ground into the finish, dulling the look. You might not notice one or two tiny scratches, but over time, they can have a heavy impact on the finish or your flooring.

It doesn’t take much to run a broom or swiffer across the hardwood once a day to pick up these small amounts of dust and remove them from the finish.

Then once a week, go for the deeper clean. Run a vacuum over it and pick up things you missed. Be careful about using a wet mop as too much moisture on hardwood can quickly cause damage.

Use furniture pads

Scratches are one of the biggest problems for hardwood flooring. Those tiny scratches quickly add up, and can mar the look of your floors.

While some scratches are inevitable, others are preventable. Be aware of what items in your home have the potential for causing the greatest damage.

If you have island chairs, a breakfast nook, or dining room chairs, they will be pulled out and used every day. Adding furniture pads to the legs will help buffer the potential of damage caused by daily use.

Don’t ignore sofas, tables, and other furniture with tiny wooden or metal legs. These furniture pieces may be stationary, but it’s possible to bump them and have them move even a fraction at a time. Because of their weight, they can produce severe damage to the flooring underneath, especially if you bump and move the item regularly. You’ll notice it when you move the piece and add something new, or redecorate and change things up.

Use approved floor cleaners only

You want clean floors. You find a product at your favorite market that promises clean wood floors. What could be wrong with picking up this product for weekly use?

A lot.

Many of the products on the market contain chemicals and other by-products not meant for use on wood floors – even if they state they’re safe for wood floor use. If you use the wrong product, you can damage your floors, and possibly null and void the warranty that came with your flooring.

Before you select a cleaning product, check with your flooring’s manufacturer first.

Schedule refinishing every three to five years

A single homeowner who travels a lot is different from a busy family with lots of kids and pets. Only you know how much activity your floors see on a daily basis.

With that in mind, schedule refinishing every few years to keep your floors looking good, and ensure they have a protective layer that helps prevent spills from penetrating. This will ensure the wood underneath lasts for years, and continues to look good no matter how often you change your decor.

Hardwood Flooring
June 24, 2021

These Facts Will Make You Want Bamboo Flooring In Every Room In Your Home

Flooring isn’t something you replace regularly. When you decide it’s time for new floors, you start your search in different ways.

Maybe you’ve visited your local big box store to see what’s on sale. Maybe you’ve searched online to find out what’s popular.

With those ideas in mind, you start your search. Yet if you’re relying on “truth” from those two sources, you might not have a clear picture of what’s the right flooring for your home.

Let’s look at bamboo flooring. While it’s been growing in popularity over the past few years, if you come across an older website discussing the pros and cons of bamboo as a flooring choice, you might not fully understand this resource. Bamboo has been growing in popularity because manufacturers have been getting better at turning it into a flooring choice that works well for your home.

When you really know the facts about bamboo flooring, it’s going to rise to the top of your list for every room in your home.

Fact: Bamboo is a hard, durable flooring material

Bamboo is often compared to hardwood, yet it isn’t hardwood at all. Instead, bamboo comes from grass, not a tree.

To create hardwood, it requires you to harvest trees and produce them in plank format. That process can take several decades of growth. Bamboo is a fast growing plant, and can be harvested within five to seven years. What’s even better is it is a sustainable crop, meaning once it’s cut down, it grows right back to the same height in another five to seven years. That makes it a perfect choice for people who are trying to reduce their carbon footprint, and look for building materials that add green technology into their homes.

Yet don’t let the fact that it’s a grass make you think it isn’t durable. All hardwood is sold based on a Janka rating for telling consumers just how hard the product is. The Janka test is performed on a sample 2×6 inches in size. The rating is calculated by determining how much pressure it takes to push a 0.444 inch steel ball halfway into the wood sample. Oak is ranked around 1360. Brazillian cherry is at 3650. Strand woven bamboo registers at 4000.

A lot of misrepresentation happened with the original bamboo put on the market back when it was first introduced in the 1990s. Today’s bamboo is nothing like the original building material. If you want a durable floor that will last through all your family can dish out, bamboo may be the right choice.

Fact: Bamboo is a great choice for kids and pets

One of the most common questions we have from homeowners is in finding the perfect mix between a flooring they want, and one that handles well to all their family can dish out. And we get it; your kids and pets aren’t going to stop being kids and pets just because you installed new floors.

You may tell them to be careful the first few days. But after a while, all bets are off – you’ve got living to do.

Older generations of bamboo were soft enough that pet’s nails and other sharp objects could easily scratch the surface. But if that happens today, it’s because the bamboo flooring you installed is of poor quality.

Because bamboo is one of the hardest surface materials, it can take all your family can dish out. With the right finish in place, it can withstand years of use, even with the heaviest of dogs walking over the floors each day.

Fact: Bamboo can be installed anywhere

Homeowners love hardwood – they want it everywhere. Yet if you’ve ever tried placing hardwood in your basement, for example, you know that is a recipe for disaster.

Yet this can be a perfect place to install bamboo. Bamboo is so versatile, it can be installed below grade on a plywood subfloor, or even right over concrete. It does well in most climate conditions; just be sure you check with the manufacturer of the product you select to ensure it meets the standards of where you’ll install it.

Fact: Bamboo isn’t automatically made with chemicals

If you read enough online, you’ll find many stories about how bad bamboo flooring can be for your health. They have high concentrations of formaldehyde, and can cause a host of problems, especially with vulnerable family members.

This simply isn’t true. Yes, you can find some materials that are made in less than honorable ways. But high quality manufacturers are going to create products that stand the test of time.

This is also an example of why you should pay attention and do your due diligence as you shop. If you find a low cost source that seems too good to be true, it probably is.

All sorts of products on the market today are created using chemicals. The more aware we become of how they are impacting our health, the harder some companies work to reduce the chemicals in their product lines.

Ask questions about the products you’re interested in. If you want truly sustainable bamboo flooring materials that are chemical free and will help you live a cleaner life, we’re happy to show you products that meet your guidelines. Can you find that on a fly-by-night resource online? Of course. But when you choose reputable dealers, you’ll be able to dig deeper into the sources to choose from, and understand your product on a deeper level.

Fact: Bamboo flooring provides a great looking floor

If you want a durable flooring product that looks great throughout your home, bamboo can be the resource you’re looking for. If you want a product that can be refinished to give it an even longer lifespan, bamboo might be a perfect choice. If you’re looking for a flooring product that comes in a variety of colors and patterns, and will work well no matter what your family can dish out, we highly recommend you give bamboo another look.

As flooring dealers, we understand that individual homeowners have a variety of wants and needs. Stop by today and we can share with you a variety of flooring products perfect for your busy lifestyle.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
June 18, 2021

Why Hard Flooring Is A Cleaner, Healthier Choice For Your Home

For many homeowners, remodeling and renovation are at the top of their lists this year. And for good reason.

After the changes we’ve made to our lifestyles over the past year, we want homes that allow more flexibility. We want space so we can enjoy the activities we do best.

Above all, we want space that’s easy to clean and healthy for our families.

For all those reasons and more, hard flooring is a logical choice.

Does flooring affect your health?

At the base of your home decor sits your flooring. It takes the brunt of everyday activities. If you drop food and don’t fully clean it, particles start accumulating. If you walk across it with your shoes on, trace contaminants can lodge into place, and impact your health.

The type of flooring you have underfoot matters. It sets the stage for how well your floors handle under normal everyday living. It’s also about how well the flooring can be cleaned.

Hardwood is one of the oldest and most widely used materials for flooring because it’s durable, easy to clean, and creates pleasing aesthetics at the same time.

People also associate the surface of harwood with being healthier than other types of flooring. If something spills, it’s easier to wipe away. If dust or other particles accumulate, you simply sweep them away.

If things like pet dander, hair, pollen, mold, and other pollutants accumulate, they have the potential to put your health at risk. It most often starts by triggering allergic reactions. If you find coughing, sneezing, and itchy eyes extend beyond the typical cold, it might be allergies.

Reducing these triggers is the most effective way to reduce allergy flare-ups. Based on many different studies, hard flooring is easier to control, and therefore is easier to manage and keep allergic reactions at bay.

In many cases, however, the focus should be put on keeping floors clean more than what material the flooring is made from. If hardwood floors, for instance, are rarely cleaned, they have an accumulation of pollutants from indoor and outdoor messes, they can still affect your health.

Beyond hard and soft – materials matter too

Reducing exposure to triggers is the most effective way to keep your family healthy. To do that means creating a surface that’s easily cleaned, and remains free of particles that increase the chances of flare-ups.

Studies show that hard surfaces are able to do that easier. Carpets, for example, can act as storage for allergens. One of the most troublesome areas is in the bedroom, where you can be exposed to these allergens every night while you sleep.

For people with asthma and other respiratory problems, it can easily exacerbate the situation. Like any flooring material, keeping it clean is the key to avoiding problems. That goes beyond regular vacuuming, and includes steam cleaning it regularly too.

When many homeowners think about carpet, they automatically assume it aggravates allergies and asthma symptoms. That’s not always the case. Like hardwood, carpeting has been around for centuries in various states. Instead of selecting synthetic materials, jute, wool, and other natural fibers can make a significant impact in keeping your home clean.

Because natural fibers aren’t created in a lab, and don’t use chemicals to create barriers between spills and your floors, you’ll have to take extra precautions to keep it looking its best. That may mean vacuuming frequently and using a steam cleaner regularly too. You might be more careful with where you place them, and change your daily habits accordingly.

But will a natural carpet be better than some hard flooring choices?

Synthetic flooring has been known to off-gas, which, when tested, have been shown to be as bad or worse than what carpets may harbor. Synthetic floors may contain volatile organic compounds – VOCs – that can aggravate symptoms and release these VOCs continually into the air supply, especially as it’s newly installed and settling into the surroundings.

It goes beyond the flooring material itself

Carpet or hardwood? Tile or laminate? Vinyl or linoleum?

If you’ve shopped for flooring, you know there are thousands of options available to you. It can be overwhelming selecting what type of flooring, and once you do, the options compound by giving you style, color, and pattern choices.

While most homeowners focus on the material and the aesthetics it creates, there’s another concern as well: installation.

Carpet gives you a soft, warm, comfortable flooring that works well in bedrooms. Carpet padding sets the stage for how well the carpet performs, so it’s equally as important as the flooring you choose.

Tile comes in a variety of sizes, colors, and patterns, but it’s the glue that holds it in place that will ultimately determine wearability and how long your tile functions and looks good.

Hardwood can be securely glued to the subfloor, or use click and lock technology, so it floats above the subfloor.

Flooring choices are important, but equally important is how the flooring is secured to the subfloor.

If you use adhesive, it can contain just as many VOCs as synthetic flooring, making your natural flooring choice just as volatile. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has stated that the key to creating a healthier home is to pay attention to everything that goes into creating the home you live in. Pay attention to what triggers symptoms, and reduce their use. That includes keeping your home clean, and paying attention to the products you use to clean it with.

Everything matters in creating healthy indoor air quality. From the materials you use to build your house, to the personal items you bring into your home. Question anything that can be considered toxic, and make wiser choices.

Is hard flooring healthier for your family?

Hard flooring is only healthier if you pay attention to how you’re introducing it into your home. Synthetic hard flooring may be more symptomatic than natural carpet, for example. In this case, it would come down to your cleaning patterns, and how well you care for your home.

Only you can make the right choice for your home. To create a healthy environment for your family, stop by today and see the many different flooring choices available to help you create the environment that keeps you happy and safe for years to come.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
June 14, 2021

What’s Better For The Environment – Hardwood, Cork, or Bamboo?

When a lot of homeowners decide to upgrade their interiors, the first place they start is with the flooring. After all, it’s one of the easiest ways to make a big impact in your home.

Here in Colorado, hardwood remains ever-popular. It’s where many homeowners start, especially for the main living spaces inside the family home. But if you have the desire to improve the sustainability of the materials you choose, and to reduce your carbon footprint, you start paying attention to the material and how it’s sourced. You love hardwood, but is it your best choice?

That may just give you a push to look at other sustainable products. You’ll find both bamboo and cork have many of the same qualities as hardwood, yet either can give you even more environmentally friendly aspects you’ll love bringing into your home.

Which should you consider? Start by understanding the pros and cons that each offers to your home.

What does environmentally friendly mean?

Before we get into what material is the most environmentally friendly for use in your home, it’s important to have a greater understanding of what it means to be environmentally friendly.

To live eco-friendly means to focus on preventing as much harm to the environment as you can through your daily intentions. It means selecting eco-friendly products that promote green living and prevent air, water, and noise pollution. They don’t drain the resources in the environment, while at the same time prevent human health deterioration.

To build a life around eco-friendly choices, it takes time to learn what’s out there, discover how it impacts the carbon footprint you create through your daily life, and support others who are also working to reduce emissions and create a more sustainable lifestyle.

The reason the three materials mentioned here – hardwood, bamboo, and cork – are closely associated with eco-friendly living is because of how they are produced as well as their popularity in the marketplace.

Bamboo and sustainability

One of the reasons bamboo has grown in popularity is its ability to mimic the looks of hardwood. It’s available in a wide array of colors and patterns. Leave it in its natural state to bring out aesthetically pleasing qualities. Or look for a broader range of options to match any design preferences.

One of the things that attracts people to bamboo is its sustainability. Bamboo isn’t actually a hardwood, and isn’t a product made from trees. Instead, it’s created from a rapidly growing grass that rejuvenated itself regularly from rhizome stock. It can be harvested annually once the plant reaches full maturity, which can occur within five to seven years.

If bamboo is well managed, it grows rapidly in areas that require little work to create a dynamic stock. It requires neither pesticides nor fertilizers to grow, and works to prevent runoff into rivers and lakes. It’s important to check out the supplier carefully, to ensure the manufacturer is sourcing the product from well managed resources. This ensures they care about the material they are selecting, the process used in manufacturing, as well as creating the best product for your home.

If you select wisely, bamboo will be just as durable as other hardwood options. Bamboo can be as hard as red oak, and offer moisture-resistance that makes it a great choice for many rooms in your home. Care for it well, and it can easily give you 20 to 25 years of life or more.

Cork and sustainability

What do you think of when someone mentions cork? For many, it brings up wine bottles and bulletin boards they may have used in school. But cork flooring doesn’t resemble either of those. Instead, it’s a different flooring alternative with a lot of benefits you’ll find in other choices, such as hardwood or bamboo.

Cork flooring is sourced from the cork tree that is native and abundant in Portugal. Instead of chopping down the tree to use the internal wood, cork is taken from the tree’s bark, ground up, and processed into large sheets. It’s then baked in a kiln to achieve hardness, and brought into homes or commercial buildings for use.

Like bamboo, cork isn’t a “once only” product. Instead, cork can be harvested once every nine years from mature trees over 25 years old. When you remove the bark, it doesn’t harm the tree; it simply grows back. That means you can continually harvest it for years to come without destroying the crop.

Cork flooring has been used for hundreds of years and is found in homes throughout time. It’s both a sustainable and renewable resource that captures large amounts of carbon dioxide. If well cared for, cork can last for decades, meaning you won’t have to replace it multiple times as you update your home.

Hardwood and sustainability

Hardwood has been a popular flooring choice, and continues to be one of the most in-demand on the market today. But is it sustainable?

Wood is a renewable resource if you select from a manufacturer that focuses on sustainable practices. Like other crops, wood can be harvested without damaging the environment if its carefully managed with sustainability in mind. Hardwood growers realize that it can take a tree up to 60 years to mature, so they manage their resources by planting more trees than they harvest. That ensures a growth rate that can always step up to date with demand. You can use the American Hardwood Export Council’s interactive map to learn more about the types and locations of where wood is harvested from.

Being environmentally friendly isn’t just about where the product is sourced from. It’s also about lifespan. If a product lasts for 60 years, it can be more environmentally friendly than one that needs changing out every 20.

It also depends on recyclability. Can the product be used again after removal? Can it be recycled into something else, without being deposed into the landfills?

Hardwood is a product that can continue to be used again and again, for projects like furniture, decorative features, or even accent walls.

What’s your preference?

What’s the best choice for environmentally friendly living – hardwood, bamboo, or cork? They each have their own unique characteristics that make them a great addition to any family home.

What’s your preference?

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
May 24, 2021

Why Now Is The Perfect Time To Install Exotic Wood Floors

Remember when hardwood floors were fresh and new? You didn’t see them everywhere you went. The colors were a bit more vibrant. They made every room they were in pop.

Fast forward to today’s world, where 52 percent of homeowners say they have hardwood somewhere in their homes. Two-thirds say hardwood is the only thing they’d install in their dream homes.

There’s a good reason for that. Hardwood is a great choice for flooring throughout your home.

It’s durable, and can last for decades if well cared for
It’s one of the most attractive flooring materials you can install
It’s easy to clean – vacuum or sweep up each night, and it will always look its best
It’s affordable – because hardwood is so popular, you’ll find an option in every price bracket
It’s eco-friendly – if you pay attention to the manufacturing process
It adds value to your home – with two-thirds saying hardwood is the only thing they want in their dream home, there’s a good chance that the buyer looking at your home will love your hardwood flooring

Whatever your reason for installing hardwood in your home, you won’t be disappointed with the results.

But for some homeowners, the idea of installing the same old hardwood can leave them feeling underwhelmed. Maybe you want hardwood … but you want something more.

Maybe exotic wood floors would be better for your home.

What is exotic wood flooring?

If you start looking around at wood flooring, you’ll see certain types over and over again. Oak, birch, pine, these species of wood are ever-popular because they do well as flooring. They look good, they are easy to maintain, and they are easy to grow and harvest to turn into building materials. That also is what gives them affordability.

Exotic wood comes from harder to reach places. They are sourced outside of America, and typically grow in places that require a tropical climate. You’ll find exotic wood often comes from places like Asia, Africa, or South America.

When you move into species that grow in more tropical locations, you’ll also find the appearance of the wood changes its look. The grain tends to be wider and more pronounced. The color is usually more vibrant, often coming in shades of red, yellow, or purple.

Of course, when you source these exotic woods from faraway locations, you can also run into ecological issues. That’s why it’s important to shop wisely when looking for exotic flooring. Because many of these regions don’t have the laws and policies we do, some of these woods can be sourced using less than desirable practices. Be sure to look for things like the FSC accreditation on the label to ensure they use eco-friendly guidelines.

There’s also a cost issue. Because exotic hardwood is sourced from different regions of the world, it will cost more to harvest and bring it to market. Expect to pay more than flooring made with domestic woods.

I want exotic wood floors. What are the benefits?

If you want exotic wood floors, you’ll have to do your research. Just like other flooring choices, each comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. You may know how to live with domestic hardwood, but bringing a different species of hardwood can change things up a bit. It’s better to do your research early than to make a mistake and hate your floors from the moment they’re installed.

People enjoy exotic wood floors for many of the same reasons as domestic wood flooring.

They’re extremely tough, often tougher than domestic woods
That makes them even more durable on your floors
They require little maintenance and can look good for years to come
They have a unique natural beautify that’s unparalleled in any other wood on the market
They come in a vibrant range of colors and looks
They are a great investment and can give you an edge if you’re selling your home

Before we get into the types of exotic woods, it’s important to understand the Janka Hardness Scale. The scale was developed as a way of displaying the results of the Janka hardness test. The test uses a 2x2x6-inch piece of wood and a 0.444-inch steel ball to determine how hard the wood is. The test measures how many pounds per square inch of force are needed to push the steel ball halfway into the piece of wood.

If you have an idea of what the Janka rating is for the exotic wood you’re looking at for your home, you’ll understand better how much wear and tear it will be able to handle over the years before it needs repair or replacement. A good Janka rating will only be an indication, because every hardwood in every home is put to different use, depending on the needs and lifestyle of the homeowners.

For a closer look at how different species of wood rank on the Janka scale, you can look at hardness tests to see where the species you’re considering lies. Brazilian Olivewood and Bolivian Cherry fall towards the hard side, while White Pine and Douglas Fir are in the softer range.

What are some of our favorite exotic hardwood species?

When you start looking at exotic hardwood, you’ll fall in love with the vibrant shades, the deep grains, and the unique looks. You’ll never find this in every house in your neighborhood – that’s what makes it so desirable.

While there are many different options, start by looking at:

Acacia Wood – this is one of the hardest and most durable woods in the flooring market. It works well in high traffic areas, such as hallways, dining rooms and living spaces. You’ll love the distinctive beauty with its unique grain patterns, and the color ranges that vary from golden tans to deep, rich browns.

Jatoba Wood – this is also known as Brazilian Cherry, and can be sourced from Brazil, Peru, or Mexico. It’s a tough wood that can be sanded down and refinished many times throughout its lifespan. It has a luxurious look and feel that many homeowners love.

Teak Wood – teak wood continues to grow in popularity because of its versatility. It’s sourced in many areas, including Burmese, Africa, and Indonesia. It has an elegant color with a luster to it that many find appealing. It has a high water resistance, which can give it an advantage in rooms with higher moisture, such as bathrooms.

Of course, these are just a few of the many exotic wood flooring choices on the market today.

Want to see our full line? Stop by today.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
May 7, 2021

Why Floor Boards Creak and Squeak

Creak. Squeak. What’s that sound?

If you hear a noise when you walk on certain floor boards throughout your home, they might be trying to tell you something.

Although noise floors are most common in high traffic areas, they can be caused by a variety of things, and exist anywhere where you have flooring. They may be most common in older homes, but if a house wasn’t built right, you can find it in brand new homes that you’ve just moved into.

There are several things that could be making floor boards squeak.

Movement

When every piece is placed into your home during construction, it’s like a giant puzzle where every piece should fit snugly into place. For your flooring, that means each wood piece fits closely together. Floor joists are the large wooden beams that exist as a part of your subfloor, and they bear the weight of the suspended floor boards that sit beneath your flooring. They run perpendicular to give it strength, and are secured using nails. When there is a gap between the joist and the subfloor board, it allows movement to occur. That pressure can cause that creak or squeak sound you hear.

Subfloor … or floor?

It might not be your subfloor that’s doing the talking. If you have hardwood in place and haven’t provided proper maintenance over the years, it could be your hardwood planks telling you they need a little attention. Over time, hardwood can move, expand, and contract many times. That can create small gaps between the planks, and as they move they can squeak and creak. Remember that hardwood flooring does best with little change in the surrounding area. Keep your home at a comfortable temperature, somewhere between 60 and 80 degrees is ideal. Hardwood also likes a comfortable relative humidity between 25 and 55 percent. If you notice a lot of creaks and squeaks, it might be time for a little TLC, and possibly refinishing work.

Change in weather

Suddenly, the temperature spikes to well over 100 degrees. Or maybe it plunges to 10 below, with wind chill moving well past that. So you run the air conditioner or furnace more. A lot more. That can change both the temperature and humidity levels inside your home. In the peak of winter, your floor will naturally be drier. More dry air circulating through your home means drying out would, which creates shrinkage and gaps between the planks. If you haven’t updated your HVAC equipment in a while, and haven’t installed a whole house humidifier, it could make your home dryer than it should be. Pay attention to the inside conditions. It’s impacting your floor boards more than you know.

When two boards meet

Every single day, your house settles just a bit. The subfloor might move. The wood planks might adjust. The sun streams in from the windows. You turn up the heat to feel warm. Life impacts the way your house sits, moves, and adjusts. It’s just a fact. What didn’t exist yesterday may very well be there today. And that can mean two boards suddenly touch and make a sound. Creak. Squeak.

Of course, you can put up with it. That squeaking sound is a sign of age and longevity. It’s the way your house changes over time. It might not impact your home at all … for a while.

But that creak or squeak in your floor boards is trying to tell you something. There’s a difference in the way your house sits, and it’s causing a problem. Please fix me – because it will be a problem over time.

Ultimately, what’s causing your creak or squeak comes down to one of several things:

An incorrect nail or screw was used to secure the floor boards to the joist
The nail or screw weren’t fitted correctly and have wiggled out of place
A gap exists between the joist and the subfloor
There’s an issue with the way the supporting joists connect with the boards underneath

There might be a simple solution, or it could be the impact of several. If a nail comes loose, for example, it might cause a gap between the boards.

In any of these circumstances, hiring a professional will allow them to get to the heart of the problem, and fix it at its root cause.

How do you find out what’s causing the creak or squeak?

The first step is in pinpointing where the squeak originates. You might notice it as you walk across the floor, but spend a few minutes pressing down and determining exactly where it is. Look for movement in the floor. Listen to where the sound is the greatest.

Once you have determined the exact location, you can assess what might be causing it. Look for loose floor boards. If you have access to the space underneath, from a basement or crawl space, you can see if there is movement or shifting.

Keep in mind that if you don’t get to the root cause, and attempt to fix something yourself, you could make the squeak or creak worse.

The best way to ensure a tight fit

Homes today are built to be safe and secure from all kinds of elements. But even in the best of situations, everyday events cause things to break down.

Your best course of action as a homeowner is to always ask questions.

Make sure you understand the best method for installing new items into your home. When you bring in new flooring, for example, it takes a bit to acclimate before you can install it. Hardwood expands and contracts, especially when it moves from a warehouse to your home. Placing it in your home for a bit will help it get ready for your environment.

Maintenance can also mean regular cleaning. Things like vacuuming, dusting, and mopping may seem simple to keep your home in pristine condition. But don’t forget to ask questions about the products and services you select. Will they do more harm than good? What chemicals are used in the formulas? How will it impact your home?

Do you have additional questions about the flooring in your home? We’re here to help. Just ask.

Hardwood Flooring
April 28, 2021

Adding Texture To Your Hardwood Floors

Have you ever walked through a home or commercial space and wondered why their hardwood floors look a bit different? They might have texture added to their hardwood floors.

When most homeowners shop for hardwood, they pay attention to color, style, or pattern. But there’s another option you should think about that will impact both looks and longevity over time.

Texture is all about how your hardwood floors will feel once they are installed. When you reach down and touch, is it a smooth surface?

This also lends to how your hardwood floors look. Any type of texture can dramatically change the appearance, which in turn can change the aesthetics of your room. This is especially important if you have different ideas for your living space or kitchen, when compared to the bedroom.

Hardwood floor texture – what’s available?

When you visit a flooring dealer, you’ll find several different types of wood floor textures available.

Smooth – this is the most basic form of hardwood. This is where all discrepancies have been sanded away to make a smooth piece of wood. Smoothness gives it uniformity in appearance, and gives you a solid look from one side of the room to another. This is often what designers mean by giving your home a clean look. It’s also what gives a floor a somewhat unrealistic wood look. Wood without knots and blemishes? For some people, it’s not the best look.

Aged – aged wood floors have the appearance and charm of wood that has aged through time. It highlights imperfections rather than covering them up. However, this look isn’t created with age. Instead, it’s carefully manipulated, with the effects being placed in the wood floor planks either by hand or machines. The wood isn’t old, but instead is cut recently and carefully crafted to have an old-world appearance. The difference is it’s made with today’s technology and resources in mind. It’s a great way to go if you love old-world charm but want safety and security from the newest technology.

Reclaimed – want one of the most eco-friendly wooden floor options on the market today? You can’t ignore reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood flooring uses wood from old buildings and structures, repurposing them as material for use in remodels or new homes. It’s a stunning way to get a one-of-a-kind look. What gives this wood a unique look is no two boards are ever the same. They are battered, dented, and worn through years of use. This can be an inviting look in some homes, especially if you’re going for a vintage or historic look.

Brushed – a brushed wood floor is created by using a metal brush on every board to develop deep, pronounced grain. This also makes wood floors a little more resistant to scratches as it already has natural blemishes. If you want uniqueness and character, give brushed wood a second look. This type of texture will be aesthetically pleasing in more traditional or classic homes.

Adding texture to hardwood floors – why should you do it?

The problem with having hardwood flooring grow in popularity is you’ll find it everywhere. It’s one of the most popular flooring choices you can make, and statistics show it will continue to rise in popularity in the coming years.

Hardwood looks great in just about any room in your home. It adds beauty, character, and has an appeal everyone loves. No matter what your taste in decor, hardwood floors are sure to complement it perfectly.

But when everyone selects the same finish, houses start to take on a replicated feel. One home is like another, and you lose some of that personalization you might be looking for.

If you use a textured look like brushed or reclaimed, it can give you an authentic look. Depending on your other design choices, that can add resale value, giving it a higher class look.

Another advantage is giving yourself wiggle room on damage control. With brushed wood, for example, the deep grain hides scratches better than other hardwood choices. If you have a busy family where action is the norm, this may be the perfect compromise to satisfy your sense of design along with your maintenance-free lifestyle. If you have pets or kids, this may be the perfect way to go.

Yes, there are drawbacks to using textured wood

Are you sold on installing textured wood flooring in your home? We agree; it’s a great way to add your own character to your final design. But we would be remiss if we didn’t go over a few of the drawbacks to help you finalize your choice.

One of the biggest potential issues is the fact that textured floors are more difficult to clean. Textured grain can collect dust, dirt, and other debris much easier than a smooth floor. If you obsess over clean floors, or if you hate cleaning regularly, you might want to think twice before installing textured floors.

Another disadvantage is maintenance. If you have a potential problem on most hardwood flooring planks, you can sand it out, repair it, then apply finish and have your old floors back. Textured wood isn’t smooth. If you sand out a problem spot, you’ll create a smooth finish that will no longer mesh with the rest of your flooring. That can make small repair work difficult at best, and give you more reason to either sand the entire floor, or replace it with something new.

If you choose the sanding route, keep in mind that you might have to take the wood down a lot to achieve a uniform look. Especially with brushed wood where the indents may be fairly deep, it will cut back a lot of the wood within each plank. That means the lifespan of this type of flooring will be much shorter than a more traditional hardwood floor.

What’s your choice?

It’s difficult to ignore the beauty of textured wood floors. It’s one of our favorite looks.

But like any flooring, this is a personal choice. If textured wood floors are calling to you, stop by and take a closer look.

Hardwood Flooring
March 21, 2021

How Do You Choose The Right Color Hardwood Floor?

Should you go with an oak or walnut?

Should you select a warm or cool tone?

How about color, true color, white or black?

Just when you think you’ve made a major decision and are ready to install your new hardwood flooring, the choices get even tougher. Hardwood isn’t one size fits all. You won’t walk into the store and find one choice waiting for you.

Instead, you can peruse aisle after aisle of choices, with confusion mounting the more research you do. One resource will tell you to avoid dark hardwood. You’ll hate that it shows every crumb dropped to the floor. The next says stay away from light hardwood. You’ll see every mess more, and you’ll worry constantly about staining.

Which is true? What should you believe? Let’s dive in and help you decide the right color hardwood floor for your needs.

What determines color

You might think the color of the hardwood is easy to come by. The manufacturer selects a color and that’s what you’ll see. It’s not as easy as that.

The final color you see is determined by two factors:

1. The grain of the wood

2. The finish or stain applied to the wood

When you head out into nature, it’s easy to see that different trees have different characteristics. Pine trees grow tall, with needles remaining intact all year long. A maple has a distinctive shape with large leaves that turn brilliant colors in the fall.

No one would argue that all trees are alike – they each have distinctive looks as they grow.

It’s the same when they are harvested. Every wood produces different characteristics as plank wood you install in your home.

With so many different types of trees, it’s no wonder there are equally as impressive amounts of options when you visit your hardwood flooring dealer.

Red elm will naturally be darker than red oak. White pine will be lighter than white oak. Want darker? Go with a mahogany. Want close to black? A Brazillian ebony may just do the trick.

These different hardwoods naturally take on different shades and tones. They absorb finish and stain differently and will ultimately give you different results, depending on your final choice.

But there’s another variable too. Grain patterns allow each hardwood type to accept surface treatments differently. They absorb stain in unique ways, and provide final patterns based on its core design elements. You can work harder to change the color, but why not let that natural beauty shine through!

Let undertones shine through

Have you ever stood in front of a paint selection in a big box store mesmerized by the varying colors of paint? Want white paint – it’s not that easy. Do you want grey undertones? Or how about a shade of red? Maybe yellow to warm up the place, or blue undertones to create a sense of coolness.

Hardwood works in the same manner. You can change the look of the hardwood based on the type of stain and finish you apply. Designers will often warn you to stay away from drastic color tones. If you apply a wood finish that moves too far into the orange or red tones, for example, it can feel dated over time.

But that doesn’t take into account your preferences, your aesthetics, or your decor. Trends should always take a backseat to your design style. Ever walked into a home that breaks all the rules … and it works? That’s because the homeowner has a strong sense of personality and designs around things they love.

If you’re drawn to a specific tonal quality, go for it. Just be sure it works with your furnishings, and it fits your personality for years to come.

And then there’s upkeep

There are two factors that matter in upkeep:

The hardness of the wood
The color of the wood

Where are you installing hardwood? In the bedroom? Throughout your home? Will it be in entryways and hallways? In an area where you frequently throw parties?

Harder woods do better in high traffic situations where they will face a daily barrage of activity. Oak, for example, is a common addition to homes because it handles well in many different situations. That’s also why you’ll find hardwood like walnut in home office space and bedrooms, because it’s better suited for lower traffic situations.

We also receive a lot of questions about installing a dark hardwood. “Will it be difficult to keep clean?” Dark flooring will be less forgiving with the spills your family creates. And as your dog sheds, you’ll be more likely to see those little furballs accumulate in the corners.

But don’t think the Scandinavian-style light wood floors are easier. It, too, will showcase more of the messes your family creates. You’ll have a more regular schedule for sweeping up the messes and scrubbing those little mistakes off the floor. But if a few minutes of cleaning every day isn’t a bother for you, then these light-colored floors may be the perfect installation for your needs.

Think about your needs

Before you commit to anything, bring home samples and swatches and see how it lights up your room. Lay those samples down in the middle of your room and watch them for several days. How does it look in the morning light? How about in the evening? What does natural light do for the color? How does it look when you switch on your lamps?

You can also see how each sample plays out with your decor. Do you prefer an undertone of red, or do you prefer the cooler tones of blue? If you’ve already selected your wall paint, be sure you match the tone with your hardwood flooring selection. Your home will feel “off” if one has warm undertones, while the other has cool.

Need a little help? That’s what we’re here for. While you won’t find decorating help at your local big box store, when you visit our flooring experts here, we can help answer every question you have about installing your new hardwood floors.

What questions do you have about choosing the right color hardwood floors?

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring, Vinyl Floors
March 18, 2021

7 Questions To Ask Before Buying LVP For Your Home

Are you looking to replace existing flooring in your residential or commercial space? After extensive research, are you leaning towards luxury vinyl planks – LVP? Great choice. There are many reasons to consider this product for your next project.

1. What is LVP and why should I consider installing it?

Where did you start researching your new flooring? For most, it’s a combination of:

Seeing what your neighbors are installing in their remodeling projects
Looking through websites and television shows to see what’s popular
Discovering flooring options as you wind through the aisles of your favorite big box store

If you’ve done even just one of the three, chances are you’ve come across LVP. It’s trending as a great alternative to traditional hardwood floors because it adds several characteristics not available with hardwood. It’s easy to install, making it a great do-it-yourself project. It’s waterproof – yes, waterproof. And it’s hard to ignore the cost.

2. What should I pay attention to when making my final selection?

Let’s talk about the LVP flooring wear layer.

When luxury vinyl planks are created, they are designed with several layers. There is the base, or core layer for strength and endurance. You’ll have the print layer that gives LVP its classic good looks. You’ll also have a wear layer, which gives added protection between the printed design of the vinyl plank and the finish that goes on the very top. This is what protects your floors from things like scuffs, scratches, and dents. Choose wisely and you’ll ensure longevity for your flooring choice.

You’ll find the planks will be listed and sold with a mil thickness level. Don’t mistake this for millimeters. In general, the higher the mil level, the more durable the wear layer will be on your LVP.

With standard residential spaces, we recommend selecting 12-mil or thicker. High traffic spaces will do better with a 20-mil or thicker level plank. And if you’re installing this in commercial spaces, move to the 28-mil or thicker level. Remember, these are guidelines. When we chat about your project, we’re happy to make suggestions based on what we’ve seen in the past. We have experience with multiple manufacturers and varying product lines, and understand what products handle best in different situations.

3. What about longevity – how long will LVP last?

When you’re installing a new flooring, looks may be what you focus on in the beginning. But very quickly, your thoughts will turn to longevity. Installing new flooring isn’t something you want to do frequently. The longer the product can exist within your space and look good in the process, the better.

Luxury vinyl is a highly durable product. If you install it correctly and maintain it over time, you can easily expect to get ten to twenty years of life. Depending on the manufacturer you select, you may even find warranties up to 15 years, protecting you from problems that might come from the wear layer.

Of course, results may vary. That’s why it’s important to be honest with yourself about your expectations. LVP is a great resource for the high traffic areas you spend most of your time. LVP is growing in popularity in living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens. Plus the waterproof feature means you can extend the look beyond and into your bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements. That’s one of its greatest benefits – you can keep the same product in every room in your home if you choose.

4. Let’s talk about style – will LVP really give me the look of hardwood?

When you start looking at LVP, you’ll discover there are three different categories of vinyl plank flooring.

The first is LVP. These vinyl planks are created with a rigid construction that is durable and higher quality than the typical vinyl flooring products you might be used to. The focus on this product line comes with its rigid construction. These planks can stand up to much of the abuse your family can dish out. Have pets, kids, and high traffic rooms? Not a problem. They are built with multiple layers that stand up over time.

The second is waterproof planks, sometimes listed as WPC vinyl flooring. This product is 100 percent waterproof and can be installed basically anywhere inside your home. Worried about your basement? Not a problem. Have an imperfect subfloor or one made of concrete that has caused problems in the past? Install it and love it. This product typically has four-layer construction that includes a waterproof core. When installed correctly, it can give you a base you’ll spend less time worrying about and more time loving.

Third is rigid core vinyl planks, sometimes sold as SPC vinyl flooring. These can also be 100 percent waterproof. The difference is in composition. Rigid core vinyl flooring has a stone-plastic composite core that is practically indestructible. That elevates this product and makes it installable in high traffic areas, even commercial locations, and stands up well over time.

5. What other options are there? Does it just mimic hardwood?

Just by the description, you can see that LVP makes the perfect addition to your home because of how closely it resembles hardwood. If there’s a color you’ve been dreaming of, you’ll find it. If you want exotic wood without exotic prices, you’ll find that too.

But LVP isn’t just for hardwood. You’ll find stone-look flooring products that resemble ceramic plank flooring too. Concrete, travertine, and slate are growing in popularity in the LVP product lines. It produces a unique look that may be the perfect choice for your home.

6. What about installation? Should I attempt this myself?

Does the thought of installing hardwood sound difficult and tedious? It can be. You want to ensure hardwood planks are installed correctly to avoid common problems such as warping and cupping. Install it incorrectly, and you may void the warranty too.

But with LVP, its interlocking installation uses a tongue and groove method of installation that makes it easy to install. Want a do-it-yourself project? Look no further than LVP. It’s a great way to add high quality products to any remodeling project, no matter what budget you have in mind.

7. Why go with a flooring dealer instead of a big box store?

If you’ve looked at your local big box store, chances are you’ve seen a small selection of what’s available on the market today. Why not just shop there – the price fits your needs?

Bog box stores buy on margin. They have specific price points they purchase at, and often the manufacturers design products exclusively for their needs. Are they the best products available? Well …

Flooring companies buy differently. If you’ve been afraid the prices will skyrocket because we specialize in flooring, stop. We have every end of the spectrum, and can often match or beat the prices you’ll find at those stores.

Plus you’ll get a fuller array of products, higher quality service, and better knowledge on what you’re installing. Really, it’s a win/win all the way around.

What are you waiting for? Stop by today.