6 Signs Your Carpet Needs Replacing

Although proper maintenance can extend the life of your carpet, every carpet will eventually need replacing. Some of the signs may be obvious; others may be subtle indicators.

If you’re looking at home maintenance projects for the fall and wondering if it’s time to replace your carpet, consider the following six signs that it may be time for an update.6 Signs Your Carpet Needs Replacing

1. Carpet Stains
The first one is always the hardest; that tough stain that made you cringe when it happened. But over the years, each spill becomes a little easier to take. And when you live in your home, sometimes you overlook the obvious; that your carpeting isn’t really looking its best anymore. Most carpets come with a stain resistant finish. But, over time, the treatment fades and eventually leaves the carpet unprotected. While professional carpet cleaners know how to remove tough stains, eventually they begin taking their toll.

2. Wear and Tear
Every home has certain places where you walk more than others. Down the hallway. Around the couch. Eventually, you try to cover up the wear marks by moving the furniture or buying a new rug. Fibers won’t last forever; eventually no matter how much you clean it or vacuum it, it won’t return to its original look. That’s when it’s time to replace.

3. Stinky Carpet
Carpet goes through a lot in a day. Your kids play on it. Your pets track in things from the outside. You walk on it with shoes. You spill. And every little thing that happened can leave a residue. You may notice a lingering smell that just won’t go away, no matter what you do. If that odor doesn’t go away even after cleaning, it may mean that the odor has penetrated deep into the carpet fibers or beyond to the padding or subfloor. It may even be an indicator of mold or mildew.

4. Carpet Padding
Your carpet doesn’t work on its own; to perform at top quality it must have top quality padding. Padding provides the support for the carpet, working as a foundation, making it comfortable to walk and lay on. It also helps insulate the room, making it quieter and warmer. As the padding takes in spills and absorbs the constant daily action your family gives it, it can begin to wear. If you’ve noticed unevenness, wrinkles, or a crinkling sound, it may be time to replace.

5. Increased Sickness
Does your family circulate through colds and allergy-like symptoms? Older carpets can catch and retain more allergens and particulates than other flooring choices. If they haven’t been properly maintained, many things can be lurking in your carpets. If you notice an increase in sickness, one source may be your older carpet.

6. Age
Is your carpeting right out of the 1970s? Do you still sport shag carpeting in some of your rooms? Have you cleaned it over and over … and over again? Carpeting won’t last forever. Even with good care, most manufacturers recommend replacement every ten years or so. After ten years, signs of wear will begin to show. And that’s when it’s time to replace.

Are you in the market for new carpet?

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Should You Install Engineered Bamboo Flooring?

Engineered bamboo flooring has become a popular choice throughout the Denver metro area. It’s durable, environmentally friendly, and looks incredible in the process.Should You Install Engineered Bamboo Flooring?

But just like all other flooring choices, there are pros and cons to using bamboo within your home. It depends on where you’ll be installing it. It depends on your lifestyle.

Is it the perfect choice for you?

Pros:

Cleaning – bamboo floors clean up easily. If you’ve ever had hardwoods in your home, bamboo requires a similar amount of work. Use a dust mop for daily cleaning. Avoid heavy cleaning products or water, as these can damage bamboo’s finish.

Easy installation – just like hardwood flooring, bamboo floors are easy to install. You can install it through a lock and click system, by nailing it or gluing it into place. How you install it depends largely on the type of bamboo you’ll install, and the subfloor it will sit on. A floating system is very easy for DIY projects.

Health friendly – engineered bamboo flooring is non-allergenic, making it the perfect flooring choice for people with medical issues, including allergies or asthma.

Green – bamboo crops can be regenerated in 5 to 7 years, making it more environmentally friendly than hardwood trees which can take 20 or more.

Cons:

Moisture – bamboo is more water resistant than hardwoods, but can still warp with extended exposure to moisture. If you spill, wipe dry immediately. If it sinks into the floor, it can warp or buckle. If selecting bamboo for kitchen or bathroom, be sure to talk with a sales representative to choose the right bamboo flooring for the location.

Softness – bamboo flooring is a soft surface area, which means it can be susceptible to scratches and dents. High heels, pet claws, furniture movement. can all accumulate over time and give a dull, worn out appearance. Be sure to use protective pads and rugs to increase the life.

Regulation – because bamboo flooring can come from countries that aren’t as regulated as the US, it is important to know where the product is coming from to ensure sustainable parameters are followed.

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Smart Choices For Basements

What’s one of the biggest concerns for finishing off or remodeling a basement? Moisture problems. Whether you’ve had leaks or floods in the past, or are simply considering the option as you finish your basement for the first time, moisture can be a problem in basements applications.Smart Choices For Basements

Which means it’s important to install the right basement flooring to ensure best results.

Because the floor of your basement is below grade, the lowest surface of your home, it requires special consideration before your flooring can be installed. If it is susceptible to water, addressing the problem before you lay flooring is a given. Sealing your basement from water and moisture can be a big part of your remodeling budget.

Humidity and condensation are other concerns. Moist, humid air is heavy; it sinks to the lowest part of your home. When warmer, humid air comes in contact with the cooler surfaces of your home, such as a concrete slab floor, it condenses. And if it sits for too long, it can bring about mold and mildew growth. Heating and cooling systems often are equipped with a dehumidifier that helps maintain relative humidity levels for better indoor environment. The key is addressing concerns before they cause a problem.

Then it’s decision time.

Surveys show that new basement installs use carpeting in almost thirty percent of the builds. It’s a warmer option than other flooring choices, something that is important in an already cool place of the home. It also adds soundproofing, which can be important on a cement base.

Wall to wall carpeting is the easiest to install, and a low-cost option for homeowners trying to stretch the remodel budget. If you’re still worried about moisture issues, consider a pad made to block moisture from either seeping into the carpet or seeping down to the concrete below. Cleanups will be easier, and you won’t have chronic problems in the event minor water damage occurs.

Tile can also be a great choice, especially over concrete slabs. With many styles and colors available, they can give your home a flair for fashion for years to come, while maintaining a durable flooring option in the process.

Many homeowners also lean towards engineered wood. While this can carry a hardwood theme from your upper levels down into your basement, it also gives your basement durability. Because solid wood changes dimensions with fluctuations in temperature and humidity, basements often increase the chances of warping and cracking. Laminate or engineered wood decreases those chances, adds reliability and durability in the process.

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Upgrade Your Rental With New Flooring

There’s a lot of competition in Colorado for rental units. People are moving into the Denver Metro area at record speeds. Which means if a good rental unit comes on the market, it has the chance of being rented quickly for top market dollars.

Yet people who move in are usually coming here for great jobs and better opportunity. They don’t want to rent something old and outdated. They want something sleek, modern, and showcases their unique style.Upgrade Your Rental With New Flooring

They don’t want 80’s outcasts; they want today’s top of the line.

Why not give yours a much needed update and become more in demand in the process?

Modern and sleek doesn’t necessarily mean fragile and pricey. You might be worried about using today’s most in-demand flooring options, like hardwoods, bamboo or cork. Yet even if you don’t have the desire to install these in your rental units, you can create the look with other sophisticated options

Stone and Tile

Today’s tile isn’t primitive and medicinal. In fact, today’s tile options can help you create any look and feel you desire. Try natural stone. Or travertine. Or even stone designed to give you the appearance of wood floors. And because stone is long wearing, durable, and will take almost any kind of abuse your tenants can dish out, it can be a wise investment for the long term.

Laminate

Laminate flooring is designed to give you the look and feel of real wood, while offering a more durable and less maintenance option. Laminate is easy to install and can be added in a matter of days – perfect for quick turnaround places. And if you use a basic laminate, you can easily replace sections that may be damaged by a tenant. Laminate doesn’t require waxing and sealing like hardwoods do, which your new tenants will appreciate over time.

Have additional questions about how you can upgrade your rental unit in an affordable way? Give us a call today.

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A Guide To Flooring Adhesives

When a new floor is installed into your home or your place of business, most people spend a lot of time thinking about the floor, and not a lot of time thinking about how its installed. Flooring adhesives serve many purposes, with the main one being to hold your floor in place. Yet all adhesives have additional features as well; such as adding flexibility with an urethane adhesive to allow a hardwood floor to expand and contract over time.

Use the wrong adhesive with your flooring type and you’ll know it immediately. Even when choosing an adhesive formulated for the flooring you are installing, it’s good to know you are getting the best features available, to ensure your floor will serve you well now and into the future.A Guide To Flooring Adhesives

Adhesives in general are made up of different things.

  • Polymer – a compound used in within the adhesive. If can be a natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) or neoprene.
  • Binder – a substance that holds the adhesive together. common binders are rubber resin and latex resin.
  • Resin – are usually a solid or semi-solid material that are natural or synthetic. They improve adhesion, improve tack, and improve the strength.
  • Fillers – fillers are added to lower the cost and also improve the characteristics of the adhesive. Fillers can control stickiness or add in strength. They can help control moisture, keep away the bugs, or stabilize the surface.

When choosing adhesive for carpeting, consider the backing, the traffic, the maintenance schedule, and the quality and the lifecycle of the carpet. Carpet in a commercial office space will have different requirements than a bedroom in a home. The majority of today’s carpet installations rely on the use of SVR based adhesives because of their excellent grabbing and holding capabilities.

When choosing vinyl for sheet and vinyl tiles, it’s imperative that quality adhesive is used to prevent problems down the road. Be sure to consider the specific usage of the room when choosing adhesive. If you will have heavy loads and lots of movement, a harder setting adhesive may be required to keep the flooring in place and looking good over time.

Hardwood flooring comes in many options, each with it’s own installation needs. The adhesive needed for engineered wood is different than solid wood planks. For engineered wood, a water based adhesive is a good choice because of its excellent bonding characteristics. Urethane based adhesives are excellent choices for solid wood products, giving them strength and flexibility for the long term.

Tiling requirements vary greatly as well. Adhesive needed for tiling on a shower stall is different than one chosen for a kitchen floor.  There are two types of ceramic adhesives – Type I and Type II, one used for walls and ceilings in wet requirements, and two used in dry or with limited water exposure.

Have additional questions? Let us know; we’d be happy to answer any of your questions.

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Choosing Flooring When You Have Big Dogs

If you’re in the market for new flooring, you’ve probably had many thoughts on what type of flooring is best for you. A lot goes into making the final decision. What’s the best selection for the room? What will have the best wearability? What is your personal preference?

But if you have big dogs, dogs that are 100, 125, even 150 pounds or more, there is a lot more to consider before making that final decision.

What’s the best flooriChoosing Flooring When You Have Big Dogsng for big dogs?

While personal preferences still reign, there are a few recommendations we can make based on what we’ve heard from fellow big dog owners.

Hardwood

As much as Coloradans love hardwood flooring, if you have big dogs, its something to consider. Most hardwoods have softer textures, meaning they are easier scratched than other flooring choices. When a 150 pound dog walks across the floor day in and day out, you will begin to notice the evidence rather quickly. If hardwood is still your choice, factory finishes do offer a level of protection. When refinishing, make sure you use several layers of polyurethane as a coating – you can get a similar finish that will match what is used with laminates. While not perfect, they do protect better than other types of finish.

Laminate

Laminate tends to be one of the best choices for big dogs, if you want to keep the wood look throughout your home, because of its hardness and its protective coating. It has scratch resistance built in, and is a very durable and easy to maintain product. However, keep in mind that laminate does have a slippery surface, which can make it difficult for big dogs – especially older dogs – to get up off the floor. Warping can also be an issue if your dog splashes water from the dog bowl, or drools throughout your home and the water isn’t cleaned up in a timely manner.

Ceramic

Ceramic tile is another great choice for big dog owners. Ceramic tile provides a hard surface that will withstand all kinds of daily abuse. When choosing ceramic tile, make sure you take into consideration how much time your dog will spend on the surface. Tile can be slippery when getting up and moving around, so its important to pick a tile that has a duller and easier to grip surface. Dogs do love the cool surface of tiling when the weather turns warm.

Carpet

Carpet and dogs have their issues. However, especially with an older big dog, carpeting is soft to the touch, easy to lie on, and easy to get up and move around on. If you do use carpeting in a room frequented by your big dog, keep in mind that you will have to clean it more frequently than you would in normal circumstances. A daily vacuum run will pick up debris and dirt tracked in from paws. A regular cleaning schedule will get rid of odors and stains that can grow rapidly simply from daily use. And keep in mind that you will be replacing your carpets on a much sooner time schedule than you would under normal conditions.

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The Pros and Cons to Laminate Flooring

Exotic-Specialty-Hardwood-Flooring-angicoLaminate flooring is quickly becoming one of the most popular types of flooring today, and for good reasons. Not only is it friendly on your budget, laminate flooring is easy to install and looks great too.

But, like any building material, laminate floors are not perfect. Do the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to choosing laminate flooring for your home? Let’s take a look.

Pros of laminate flooring

It’s durable. One of the most durable floor choices, laminate flooring is known for its toughness. It boasts scratch-resistant qualities and it will not fade if it is exposed to sunlight.

It is stain resistant. Laminate floors are resistant to most stains, and they are also water-resistant if spills are quickly wiped.

It’s easy to install. Laminate flooring does not require any nailing or gluing to a subfloor. Most flooring planks can be easily attached and snapped together.

It looks great. Because laminate flooring looks like real wood, it can give your home a polished look that can’t be beat.

It’s available in many designs. Modern laminate flooring comes in tile and hardwood designs, and there is sure to be one that fits your home’s style.

Cons of laminate flooring

It is difficult to repair. While real wood floors can be refinished many times over, laminate flooring is more difficult to repair because it can’t simply be sanded. Instead, a damaged or worn laminate floor needs to have its damaged planks removed and new ones installed in order to restore the appearance of the floor.

It’s prone to damage from moisture. Laminate is more susceptible to moisture damage than wood. If laminate wood is exposed to standing water, it can break down and expand. The floor will then require a replacement.

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Which Is Right For You: Glue Down or Floating Hardwood Floors

Exotic-Specialty-Hardwood-Flooring-angicoMaking the decision to install hardwood floors means that you will soon have gorgeous flooring in your home.

However, simply making this decision is not all that you have to do. Now that you know you want hardwood flooring in your home, you have to decide between glue-down floors or floating floors. Understanding the difference between both types of flooring will help you decide which one is right for you.

Glue-down floors are just that – they are the kind of floors that must be glued down in order to secure them. These types of floors cost a bit more than floating floors. They are thinner and require a moisture barrier to keep moisture at bay.

With this type of flooring, you lay the planks down and glue them to the underlying floor. If a plank ever needs replaced, you only have to remove the damaged plank and replace it with new.

Floating floors differ from glue-down floors because they are not attached to the underlying floor. You will not need any glue or nails with floating floors. Instead, the planks attach to each other and the floor “floats” above the underlying surface.

These types of floors are cost-efficient, so if you are on a budget, this might be the best choice. However, if one of the planks ever needs repaired, you will have to remove a large section of flooring to replace the damaged plank.

When deciding between floating floors and glue-down floors, it is important to keep your budget in mind, as well as your long-term usage. You want a quality floor that will last for many years. With glue-down floors, you can sand and re-finish the floors after a few years of use. With floating floors, you do not have that option, but they are more affordable than glue-down floors up front.

Ultimately, choose the type of flooring that best fits your needs and personal preferences.

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