A Deeper Understanding of How Vacuuming Impacts Your Flooring

Think you understand vacuuming? Think you know how vacuuming impacts your flooring? Think again.

For most of us, we plug it in and run it over the carpet from time to time, assuming that’s all it takes.

Would it surprise you to learn there’s much more to it than that?

The importance of vacuuming

Why do you vacuum? Most would say it’s to pick up dirt and keep the floors clean. That’s only partially right.

Vacuuming is also one of the best ways to take care of the carpet and protect your overall investment. Think of it in the same manner as changing the oil in your car. You do it to provide a strong base for your overall investment. Vacuuming does a similar thing.

A Deeper Understanding of How Vacuuming Impacts Your FlooringRegular vacuuming removes the dirt and debris that can settle into the fiber and damage the structure and integrity. If the fiber wears down before its time, it decreases longevity.

Ultimately, longevity also impacts sustainability. Imagine carpeting with a lifespan of ten years that is suddenly reduced to five because of poor care. That equates to double the amount of carpet that would become waste products. In 2019, just 5 percent of carpet was collected and recycled before it hit the landfill. That’s thousands of tons of post-consumer carpet wasting away in landfills.

Realize that not all vacuums are the same. Nor are all vacuums used correctly, which can impact the care of your carpet. Some carpets need more vacuuming than others. Daily vacuuming will keep your carpet well-maintained for carpet in high-traffic areas or busy households with pets. In lighter traffic areas or places seldom used, once or twice a week for maintenance can keep it in top condition. The correct settings on your vacuum will ensure you’re picking up what you should.

How to vacuum properly

It seems almost too simplistic – can you really vacuum incorrectly? In short, the answer is: yes.

Let’s start with the type of vacuum you’re using. First, consider your home or area you’ll be vacuuming. Consider the type of carpet and how dirty they can get in a week. Canisters are better for vacuuming up messes from hard surface areas. They’re also used in difficult places such as moving up and down stairs. For rugs and carpeting in main living spaces, uprights are a better choice. Ensure the beater bar is functioning for loosening dirt and moving it to the surface for easier pick-up.

You should also pay attention to settings. Basic vacuums may have one or two options, but more sophisticated vacuums can offer you different cleaning solutions. If you use the wrong setting repeatedly, you can overwork your carpet, which can cause your carpet to wear out sooner. Pay attention to what settings you have and what you use for each floor in each room. Consult the owner’s manual if you’re unsure. Using the bare floor setting on carpet, for instance, can put too much pressure on the fibers without pulling up embedded dirt.

Check the height settings before each vacuum. This affects how it cleans and wears down the fibers. If it’s set too low, it could damage your carpet, especially with repeated use. It can also damage the vacuum, meaning it loses cleaning functionality over time. If you aren’t sure about height, there’s an easy way to tell. Start with the highest setting, gradually lowering it until you feel it pulling as you vacuum. That’s the sign it’s picking up dirt and doing its job.

As you vacuum, remember to go slowly. This isn’t a race. Push the vacuum several feet ahead of you, then pull back slowly to pick up loosened dirt and debris. Repeat the process several times to overlap areas and ensure every part of the carpet is covered. When you’re done working in one direction, repeat at a 90-degree angle for maximum cleaning efficiency.

You should also check the beater bar regularly. Engage and disengage it depending on if you’re working with hard or carpeted surfaces. This tool works hard to push debris up to the surface of your carpet. It can also become clogged or matted with hair and other debris. Clean it regularly to ensure it’s always in good working condition.

Other things to consider when vacuuming

Think you’re a vacuum expert yet? There are a few more things to consider.

When vacuuming an area rug, take a peek underneath the rug too. While it may sit securely on the floor, never moving, always in place, fine dirt and debris can slip underneath. Depending on where it sits, occasionally pull the area rug back and vacuum underneath. You should also flip the area rug over and use the upholstery attachment to deep clean the back of the area rug.

If your vacuum uses changeable filters, be sure to buy a HEPA filter. HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. It traps as much dirt, dust, dander, pollutants, and bacteria as possible. With a HEPA filter in play, you’ll know particulates actually make it into the filter trap, and not back onto your carpet.

You should also give your vacuum a little TLC from time to time. If you don’t pay attention while vacuuming, you can slam it into walls, knock parts loose, and damage various components. Don’t try to pick up large particles, as they can rattle around inside and cause damage. Avoid water at all costs. You should also empty the canister or replace the bag frequently.

How often do you vacuum your carpet?

Carpet is an expensive investment. With care and maintenance, you can expect it to last for years, and look good in the process.

It starts with having a good vacuum and using it regularly.

If you haven’t thought much about the way you vacuum before, spend a few minutes today getting to know it a little better. It’s one of the easiest ways to make the most of your investment.

How can we help you select high-quality carpet you’ll enjoy for years to come?

Read More

Who Sells Flooring Near Me?

Are you in the market for new flooring? What kind are you in the market for? There are a variety of choices you can select from to improve the looks of your home.

How about hardwood throughout? Or maybe new carpet to keep your floors warm. Want to try something new? You’re going to love today’s luxury vinyl tile; it looks so real you’ll swear it’s hardwood plank, stone, or granite.

No matter what kind of flooring you’re considering, you have a lot of options for making your final selection. But who should you trust?

If you’ve been asking – who sells flooring near me – you have a lot of choices. Let’s look at how you should make your final decision.

Many start with an online search

Chances are if you’re reading this article, you’ve already started your search online. You might have even found us through a search like: Who sells flooring near me?

Google today is a very sophisticated program. No matter what you type into Google, it has the structure to deliver you results you expect to see. It knows what city you reside in. It understands your preferences. It will give you lots of options: from recommendations, to maps with potential locations, to other questions people ask related to your search. You’ll be able to click and learn as you go.

You may even be able to find online retailers that offer really good deals. In fact, this may be one of the cheapest ways to buy flooring. Online retailers buy in very large quantities, which means they can pass the savings on to you. But cheap prices come at a cost.Who Sells Flooring Near Me?

  • They may buy huge quantities to lower the cost, but shipping it to you isn’t easy, and in most cases, you’re going to pay the price.
  • If you have a question, you may have to rely on an automated response system to answer your question. At best, a customer service rep might be there from 9 to 5, but chances are they know little more than selling and billing.
  • They don’t care about the installation process. Their entire goal is to sell you product. If you have a problem with installation, or ruin material because you aren’t sure what to do, it’s your issue.
  • You can’t see what you’re buying until it’s delivered. And what you see online isn’t always what you’re going to get. Depending on policies, you might not have much recourse.

Selecting the right flooring is a complicated process. While buying online work for some industry experts who know how to navigate and what to pay attention to, this isn’t easy for most homeowners looking for flooring that will last for years.

How about buying from big box stores?

As you cruise through the aisles of your local big box store – think Home Depot or Lowe’s – you can find just about anything for your home, including flooring. There’s an aisle of tile, a rack filled with carpet samples, and several shelves of hardwood planks. You’ll even find laminate and vinyl tucked into a corner.

But what you won’t find are a lot of choices. Or a lot of expertise.

If you happen to get lucky, you might find someone working who actually knows about flooring. But it’s a hit or miss – you can’t depend on it from store to store, or every hour of the day.

Big box stores also look for great deals on what the average consumer wants to buy. That’s why their selections aren’t huge. Because they also buy in bulk to satisfy the needs of shoppers in every store across America – or the world – they can get very low costs on the few products they do buy.

If you’ve ever found “deals of the month” at places like Costco, you know your choice dwindles even further, to one. They have stacks and stacks of laminate, for example, for a coupon shopping best deal. You can choose that – or move on.

Do these have their place in our society? Of course.

But if you aren’t sure what you want, or have something in mind that is a little different than what you see in all of your neighbor’s homes, you’ll only find that by working with an expert flooring retailer.

What we do differently

What happens when you shop with a local independent flooring shop like ours?

Let’s start with the “feel good” side of our business. We’re local. We’re a small business that opened up to do something we loved, and to be a part of our community. We treat our employees differently than they do at the big box stores because they’re more like family. We only have the need for a small number of people, so they really have become a part of our family.

We strive to ensure we offer the best products and materials to the people who buy from us. We do our research, know our product inside and out, and care about everything that leaves our shop with our name on it. We’re not in this for the quick buck; we’re in this for our full time income, and will be for many years into the future.

Plus, it’s nice knowing you’re keeping your money with someone who’s a neighbor, who shops the same stores as you, whose kids go to the same school as yours.

And when you come in and talk flooring with us, you’ll find we know more about flooring than just about anybody. Every single person you’ll come in contact with here is educated about flooring. There’s nothing they won’t know; know questions they’ll leave unanswered. And if by chance that can’t answer your questions, they have many other people right here in our store they can call upon to help.

They are also more invested in their jobs. When people come to work for us, it’s because they love this industry and truly want to be here. They are in service, wanting to help every customer who walks through our doors.

We all know we wouldn’t survive without customers like you. So we take our jobs very seriously.

Who do you want to do business with?

If you’re trying “who sells flooring near me”, we suggest you give us a try.

We’re a great fit for people who know they want new flooring, but aren’t quite sure which to choose. You might have some ideas, but want help to finalize your decision.

We’re here when you’re ready to make the right flooring choice for your home.

Read More

How To Ensure You’ll Love Your Flooring Years From Now

Adding new flooring to your home is one of the biggest home improvement projects you can take on. Without ripping apart a room, or gutting your entire house, you can instantly change the decor and add beauty at the same time. It takes time, energy, and money, especially if you’re thinking of changing out the flooring in more than one room.

With so many different flooring options available, where do you begin? How do you know your choice will be something you’ll love for years to come?How To Ensure You’ll Love Your Flooring Years From Now

Before you start the selection process, ask yourself a few questions first.

• Do you have kids?
• How many pets do you have?
• Are you the “relax and chill” kind of family, or are dinner parties more your style?

Your answers should help influence your final decision. Some flooring choices are more durable than others. Some flooring options look good while being easy to care for at the same time. When in doubt, talk to a flooring consultant about your wants and desires, and listen closely – you might change your mind and go with a solution even better suited for your needs.

Hallways, walkways, and entryways
These rooms are the highest traffic rooms in your home. They are usually small and have one clear pathway. They are more susceptible to dirt, and can show wear and tear more than other areas in your home.

Because of these problems, your best choices are resilient flooring or tiling. The good news is that even if you love hardwood and desire to have it run throughout your home, resilient flooring is designed to mimic the look and feel. It’s a stylish and durable option for the highest traffic areas in your home.

Kitchens
Kitchens are also high traffic areas, and tend to be some of the messiest rooms in your home. Resilient flooring or tile is always a great choice because its durable and can take all you can dish out. Depending on your family and your needs, you can also install hardwood. It’s a beautiful and timeless look for any kitchen throughout the Rocky Mountain region.

Bathrooms
Bathrooms are also high traffic areas, but must sustain more humid and damp conditions than other rooms in your home. Tile and resilient flooring choices are also some of your best choices. They take damp situations well, and are easy to clean. If you want to add radiant heating underneath, tiles are the perfect choice to enjoy a warm floor on the coldest days of the year.

Living and Family Rooms
These are the gathering places of your home. They are often the largest, and also must sustain wear marks from large furniture and pathways. These are the gathering places of your home, and should look as good as they wear. If you love hardwood, this is the perfect place to add it and create a beautiful touch. Resilient flooring is also a great choice, especially if you have kids and pets. Consider adding area rugs to break up patterns and to add warmth and ambiance to your room design.

Bedrooms
These are the lowest traffic areas of your home. They are also the rooms where you want warmth and comfortable living. If you like carpeting, these rooms are the perfect place to select with style. Carpet also has noise-reducing qualities that can help keep your home quiet all throughout the day.

What’s your style? What flooring choice is right for you? Let one of our design consultants help you make the perfect choice for you.

Read More

Nylon or Polyester Carpet – Which Should You Choose?

Nylon or Polyester Carpet – Which Should You Choose?Shop around for new carpet and you’ll quickly discover that the most used carpet fiber materials are nylon or polyester. Both have their own characteristics. Both can make excellent choices. Which is right for you?

While nylon and polyester are quite different in feel and performance, they do share a few characteristics.

Both, for example, are petroleum based synthetics. Nylon was invented as a silk substitute. Polyester was developed as an alternative to wool.

While both products are derivatives of petroleum, they are produced in different ways.

Nylon is an engineered fiber made in a factory from petroleum. About 65 percent of all carpet created today is produced from nylon that is newly created, with only a select amount of nylon made from recycled nylon.

Polyester used for carpet is made from recycled products such as plastic soda or water bottles. That makes polyester fibers more environmentally friendly than many nylon options.

Nylon is very hard, which is why it’s a durable product for carpet and rugs. When dirt gets into carpet, the sharp edges can cut into carpet fibers. Because of nylons hardness, it slows the process considerably. Nylon also has a better bounce-back feature than polyester. Walk on it and you’ll find the fibers return to their upright position easier. And if you find marks after furniture has been sitting in the same spot for some time, they will be easier to get rid of with nylon.

While polyester isn’t nearly as durable as nylon, what it makes up for is found in the softness level. Polyester carpets are easy to sink your toes in, providing warmth and comfort.

Both nylon and polyester come in a wide variety of color and style options. You’ll find both kinds of carpets offer easy cleaning and easy maintenance, with a variety of stain repellent options. And both types of carpets can be recycled after use.

Which is better for you, nylon or polyester carpet?

Read More

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.

Read More