hardwood flooring Archives

Hardwood Flooring
August 18, 2023

How to Use Hardwood Flooring to Enhance Your Home’s Aesthetics

HGTV has turned many of us into budding decorators. We watch our favorite shows, pick up design tips, and work tirelessly to morph them into our own living spaces.

That’s how we start picking up the tools we need to build homes or our own. Whether you’re starting from scratch with a new build, or are turning your current design into a masterpiece, a lot of it begins with developing your own sense of aesthetics.

For many, they start with the “must-haves.” Certain things you know from the start:

My final design includes hardwood flooring.

That’s your starting point.

Yet even with something so simple, it can be a complicated process figuring everything out.

Do you prefer a rustic look? Hardwood flooring can be a base for everything country.

Or maybe you’re more of a minimalist at heart. Hardwood is the perfect combination of clean lines and sleek looks that are perfect for a simplistic feel.

Prefer mid-century modern? This combines timelessness, charm, and unassuming style into one beautiful look.

Or maybe you’re ready to let your bohemian vibe shine through. It’s time to mix colors and patterns for a look that’s truly your own.

Hardwood flooring is there to set the stage for your design dreams.

Why install hardwood flooring in your home?

There are several compelling reasons to choose hardwood flooring for your home.

People unequivocally focus on hardwood flooring due to its classic good looks. What’s not to love? No matter what style you’re trying to achieve, hardwood sets the stage for a beautiful design.

Looks may be the first attraction, but many other factors follow close behind. Hardwood floors are incredibly durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic, making them suitable for high-traffic areas like living rooms, hallways, and kitchens. They are also resistant to stains, scratches, and wear, making them an excellent long-term investment.

Hardwood floors are easy to clean and maintain. Have a spill? Clean it up. Hardwood floors can be easily swept or vacuumed, and spills can be quickly wiped away. This makes them a hygienic choice, especially for individuals with allergies or respiratory issues.

Hardwood flooring offers a wide range of design possibilities. With numerous wood species, finishes, and textures to choose from, you can create a unique and personalized look for your home. Whether you prefer a rustic, weathered appearance or a sleek, contemporary feel, hardwood flooring can help you achieve the desired aesthetic.

Things to consider when choosing hardwood flooring

When selecting hardwood flooring for your home, there are several factors to consider. Let’s explore each of them in detail:

Type of flooring

Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood, offering unmatched beauty and durability. It can be sanded and refinished multiple times, making it a long-lasting investment. Solid hardwood is best suited for above-grade installations, such as living rooms and bedrooms.

Engineered hardwood comprises multiple layers of plywood topped with a wood veneer. This construction provides enhanced stability, making it less susceptible to moisture and temperature changes than solid hardwood. Engineered hardwood is an excellent choice for below-grade installations, such as basements, or areas with fluctuating humidity. It also works well in rooms with radiant heating systems.

Wood species

The choice of wood species greatly impacts the appearance and characteristics of your hardwood flooring. Each wood species has unique grain patterns, colors, and hardness levels. Some of the more popular choices include:

Oak – Oak is a widely used and versatile hardwood species, known for its durability and beautiful grain patterns. It comes in two varieties, red oak and white oak, each with distinct appearances. Red oak has a reddish hue and pronounced grain, while white oak has a more subtle grain and a slightly golden color.

Maple – Maple hardwood flooring offers a light and bright appearance, with a fine, consistent grain. It is highly durable and resistant to wear, making it suitable for high-traffic areas. Maple flooring can be left natural or stained to achieve different shades.

Cherry – Cherry hardwood is known for its rich, reddish-brown color that darkens with age and exposure to sunlight. It has a smooth, satiny texture and a distinctive grain pattern. Cherry flooring adds warmth and elegance to any space.

Walnut – Walnut hardwood flooring features a rich, dark brown color with a beautiful blend of straight and wavy grain patterns. It lends a luxurious and sophisticated look to interiors and is often chosen for its unique character and depth.

Hickory – Hickory is a durable hardwood species with significant color variation, ranging from pale blond to deep brown. It has a distinctive grain pattern with knots and mineral streaks, adding rustic charm to any room.

These are just a few examples; spend time looking around to find the right hardwood for you. Many other wood species are available, each with unique characteristics and appearances. Consider the desired color, grain pattern, and hardness level that align with your aesthetic preferences and lifestyle.

Appearance

Not all hardwood looks the same. You’ll have to determine how much you want your hardwood flooring to stand out or blend in. You’ll have many choices, including:

Color – Hardwood floors come in a wide range of colors, from light tones like natural maple to dark hues like espresso or ebony. Lighter colors can make a room feel more spacious and airy, while darker colors add warmth and coziness.

Grain Pattern – The grain pattern refers to the visible lines and textures in the wood. Some species have pronounced grain patterns, like oak, while others, such as maple, have a smoother and more uniform appearance. Decide whether you prefer a more distinctive and rustic grain or a sleeker, minimalist look.

Texture – Hardwood flooring can have various textures, such as smooth, wire-brushed, distressed, or hand-scraped. Smooth finishes provide a modern and polished look, while textured finishes add character and give the floor a more aged or rustic feel.

Finishing

Prefinished hardwood flooring is factory-finished, with multiple coats of protective finish applied. This option offers convenience as the flooring arrives ready to install. Prefinished floors often come with warranties and have a wide range of finish options to choose from.

Unfinished hardwood flooring is installed raw and requires on-site sanding, staining, and finishing. This option allows you to customize the color and finish according to your preferences. It also allows for a seamless look when matching existing hardwood flooring in your home.

You should also consider factors such as gloss level (ranging from matte to high gloss), texture (smooth or textured), and color. The finish should enhance the natural beauty of the wood while protecting against stains, scratches, and wear.

Find the best flooring expert

To ensure a successful hardwood flooring installation, finding a reliable and experienced flooring expert is essential. Start by asking for recommendations from friends, family, or neighbors who have recently had hardwood floors installed. Research local flooring companies, read reviews, and request quotes from multiple contractors to compare prices and services.

A reputable professional can provide references and show you examples of their work. Discuss your vision and expectations, and ask for their input and recommendations based on their expertise.

How can we help you?

Hardwood Flooring
November 14, 2022

6 Reasons Hardwood Flooring Will Help Sell Your Home

What do home buyers want today?

A study produced by the National Association of Realtors, found that 54 percent of home buyers are willing to pay more for hardwood flooring.

Whether you’re considering a remodel, or are getting your home ready for selling, hardwood flooring may be the perfect addition to your home. Here is some food for thought on why hardwood flooring will help sell your home.

Hardwood flooring adds value to your home

Let’s start with the most obvious. Besides being attractive and making a good first impression when potential home buyers walk through the front door, it also boosts how much money they’re willing to put down. Realtors report home prices can increase by as much as 5 percent of the asking price if they have hardwood in the main living quarters.

If you’re considering a remodel, it’s good to keep in mind that the average return on investment (ROI) for installing hardwood ranges between 70 to 80 percent.

Use this as you plan out your remodel. Will you be investing in hardwood flooring for immediate resale? Or will you be enjoying your new flooring for a few years before putting it up for sale? That may alter what type of hardwood you put in.

With today’s technology, there are many ways to get the look of hardwood.

Solid hardwood is always a wise choice. Its classic beauty can last for decades if well cared for.
Engineered hardwood gives you classic looks at a more affordable price.
Laminate provides more functionality and stands up better where traditional hardwood may have a problem.
Luxury vinyl planks mimic the best of solid hardwood, yet can offer waterproof options that are perfect for moist and humid areas.
Tile planks are growing in popularity for giving you the functionality of tile with the looks of hardwood.

Hardwood flooring is aesthetically pleasing

Hardwood flooring is the one material that remains relevant and continues to look good throughout the years.

Maybe it’s because of its flexibility. It works effectively with almost any design theme, and in any situation. Prefer a clean, modern look with minimalistic lines? Hardwood flooring works perfectly. Want country chic? Hardwood gives you just what you’re looking for. Prefer rustic, reminiscent of an old skiing lodge? Yep, hardwood works there too.

It may also be from hardwood’s ability to look even better with age. Because you can sand it down and refinish it time and again, some of the very things that give it an original look make it even better over time. You can feel the history just by walking into the room.

Of course, if natural beauty is your thing, you can’t go wrong with hardwood flooring. It’s worked in homes for thousands of years – who can argue with what works? There’s something about knowing how your hardwood flooring is sourced that can give you an added bonus of knowing you’re adding sustainability and classic materials to your home as you complete your remodel.

Hardwood flooring offers durability that lasts for years

Durability stems from providing a surface that’s long-lasting and easy to care for.

Hardwood flooring provides all of that and more. In fact, they’re so durable, they’ve lasted for centuries in some cases, and still look good.

Solid hardwood planks provide strength to a residential setting. If you focus on quality, they offer a high-quality surface area. With the right sealant, your regular household activities won’t impact the surface. You’ll sweep away dust and debris with a quick swipe of a broom. Spills will also be wiped away easily, leaving nothing but the quality shining through every single day.

And when the years go by and the shine disappears, the planks still have life in them. Just sand them down and refinish them. You can change the color, or keep it the same. Then repeat it again somewhere down the road.

What other flooring can give you all of that?

Hardwood flooring stands the test of time

Every generation has its style and fads. Think shag carpet. The colors orange, gold, and avocado green. How about Pergo?

Each style and fad is reminiscent of a certain period in time.

Hardwood, however, stands the test of time. You’ll find it in residential homes through every generation. You’ll find it used in homes in ancient civilizations.

That’s because nothing is better than using building materials right from the source. It’s one thing that will never go out of style.

Hardwood flooring offers a clean, allergy-friendly surface

Want a surface area that won’t hold dust, dirt, or other contaminants? Look no further than hardwood flooring.

Its natural qualities also mean it doesn’t bring in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It’s created and manufactured from solid hardwood.

If you suffer from allergies, hardwood won’t harbor dust mites and other pollutants the way other flooring choices may.

It also makes cleaning a breeze. A simple swipe of a broom carries potential problems away.

Hardwood flooring can be refinished multiple times without having to replace the floors

If you are living in your forever home, your idea of a “dream home” may change from time to time.

You’re looking for light and airy today. You prefer dark and dramatic tomorrow.

With hardwood, that’s okay.

When you’re ready for a change, skip buying and installing new flooring. Instead, you can sand it down and refinish it to give you the fresh appearance you’re looking for. Sanding it down takes it back to a smooth surface area. New stain and sealant give it its new appearance.

And you’ll fall in love all over again.

Are you ready to make your house more sellable?

Then it’s time to install hardwood.

While traditional hardwood is always a good choice, it’s not your only choice. Let your preferences and lifestyle lead the way to finding the perfect hardwood flooring to make your house a home.

And create a house that will be a future buyer’s dream come true too.

Flooring
May 14, 2021

Softwood or Hardwood – Which Is Better For Your Flooring?

Thinking of adding new flooring to your home? Have you settled on hardwood floors?

It might surprise you to know your hardwood flooring choice might not be hard at all.

Softwood flooring – never heard of it? You won’t find home improvement stores selling “softwood flooring” anytime soon. It doesn’t really appeal to a homeowner that wants a long life from the flooring they select.

Yet different wood species have different hardness levels. That means some wood flooring choices will have more durability, while others will require more maintenance throughout their lifespan.

What’s the difference?

The difference between softwood and hardwood flooring

When you’re attempting to determine if a wood is soft or hard, it comes down to the physical structure and makeup of the material.

In general, hardwood comes from deciduous trees. These are trees that lose their leaves in the fall, and produce seeds with a protective covering. Maple and oak fall into this category.

Softwood, on the other hand, are gymnosperms, which means they are seed-producing trees that produce uncovered seeds, and are evergreen, such as conifer trees.

Hardwoods will be slower growing, which makes them denser, sturdier, and more difficult to cut through. Softwoods tend to be the opposite, though there are always exceptions to the rule. Yew trees fall into the softwood category because they are conifer, but they produce a strong, tough wood.

Both woods can be versatile in home building, and can be used for a quality flooring cover. Though you’ll tend to find hardwoods in more abundance for flooring covers, both offer opportunity to a homeowner for getting the look you’ll love.

What is a hardness scale?

Because different types of wood offer different strengths and hardness, industry leaders developed a way of measuring the different qualities to let you know, the consumer, where specific woods fall on the scale.

The scale was developed to show hardness tests of each different type of wood. The test uses a 2”x2”x6” piece of wood and a 0.444” steel ball to determine the force needed to push the ball halfway into the wood. The results are included in the results known as the Janka Hardness Scale.

It starts at zero, with this option being the softest wood. The rating moves to 4,000, with any wood nearing this ranking being at the hardest end of the scale. A wood falling at zero with scratch and dent with ease, while one falling at 4,000 would be almost impossible to cut and install as a flooring material. That means most choices fall somewhere in between.

A deep dive into softwood

If you shop for hardwood and have your eye on pine, fir, or cedar, all of which are popular throughout North America, you’re looking at a softwood flooring product. These all make excellent flooring products because they tend to grow and mature faster than other species of trees. That makes the wood abundantly available, and easier to farm and harvest than other choices. Because of their abundance, you’ll never have to worry about locating sustainable or eco-friendly products.

These softwoods have been used for years – decades. That’s because they’ve been installed in homes across the US for equally as long. They’ve come to be synonymous with classic good looks inside our homes and offices. It’s friendlier to the environment because just as easily as you can install them, they will decompose faster at the end of life as well.

The one drawback is that its rapid growth also means it’s a softer, less dense wood. That decreases the durability factor, and makes it more susceptible to damage. In high traffic situations, or in commercial applications, softwood may not be the perfect choice.

A deep dive into hardwood

Hardwood will never go out of style. Because it’s one of the most durable flooring products on the market, you’ll find hardwood installed just about anywhere. Look down in your favorite store. Notice the floors when you head into the office. Chances are there is hardwood down there.

Because hardwood is produced from different resources, you’ll never find the same look and feel between species, or even from board to board. That’s part of the allure. You can install any type of hardwood you desire, then pick the stain and finish that best suits your tastes and needs. The look is unique and individual as you are.

Of course, hardwood’s appeal is that it produces a hard, dense surface area. And that takes years to grow. Typically hardwood will be more expensive, especially as you move into exotics. It also takes more work to install to ensure it looks good, as well as more maintenance once it’s installed and you’re living with it.

You can get hardwood in both solid and engineered format. Solid hardwood is created from solid logs, with one piece of wood being milled directly from the log. Engineered has multiple layers and added composite materials to create the plank and overall look.

So which is better, softwood or hardwood?

It may seem like the best choice for your home is a hardwood floor. But there’s more to it than that. It’s not only what the wood planks are made of that should sway your decision. Maintenance comes into play too.

A homeowner that uses a softwood flooring that is conscious about how well it’s maintained each day, and treats it with care throughout its life will enjoy the look and feel of their choice.

A homeowner that selects a hardwood flooring, but has an active lifestyle that means they rarely clean up after themselves may find their hardwood floors look battered and old after just a few short years. They need replacement long before the household with the softwood installed because of the way they cared for it.

A lot of this comes down to preference and personality. It’s important to consider how you live before you make your final selection. Be honest with yourself. People rarely change, even if they make an attempt when their floors are first installed. Most fall immediately back to old patterns.

What’s the best choice for you?

Would you like to know your options, and find the right wood floor for your home?

Stop by, or give us a call today.

Hardwood Flooring
March 14, 2021

Can You Save Hardwood Flooring After A Flood?

Water. It’s not something we think much about here in Colorado.

When hurricanes ravage coastal communities, or large storms dump record-breaking amounts of water in a community in short periods of time, we may be grateful for our dry climate. Even river damage isn’t a big deal for most homeowners across the Front Range.

But that doesn’t make homes immune from potential damage from a flood.

Many homeowners have walked into their homes and found several inches of standing water. If a pipe freezes and breaks, the water can quickly build. If a dishwasher breaks, water will flood everywhere. Even a simple bucket of water that leaks over time can do extensive damage.

While certain types of flooring fare better than others to water, hardwood can be impacted quickly. If you have hopes of saving your hardwood, speed is key.

What you do in the first twenty-four hours is critical. The longer water stands on hardwood surfaces, the worse the damage will be.

It’s more than water removal. It’s also about proper drying. Only if the hardwood remains intact can you sand them down and refinish them. How do you approach water removal? How do you save hardwood flooring after a flood?

What happens to hardwood as it absorbs water?

Your hardwood floors can get wet from a variety of situations. A leaky toilet. The dog carrying in rain and snow from outdoors. A broken water heater. An overflowing bathtub. A high water table that forces water into your crawl space or basement.

Wood naturally absorbs water. Think of how your trees work outside in your landscaping. A tree soaks up water to live and thrive. It carries that quality even after it’s processed because of its natural fibers and material. When wood gets wet, it soaks in the moisture and starts to expand. With too much water, it eventually starts to warp or cup as it presses up against other planks in the floor.

While your hardwood floor planks come finished, and will take time to absorb the water, depending on how your flooring was installed determines how quickly the water filters through the cracks between the planks. And as it soaks down, it starts impacting other parts of your flooring. The sub-floor. Even deep down into the base of your home’s structure. Water can easily move along joints and connections, snaking over large areas rapidly. What started as a small leak can quickly escalate and impact large areas of your home.

The quicker you remove the problem, the more likely you are to save your flooring. It’s not just the wood, it can be potential mold and mildew problems too. Mold can start forming in as little as 48 hours. And once it takes hold, it can grow steadily throughout the structure of your home.

Just a quick note about insurance

Whether or not your insurance will cover your damage depends on the type of insurance plan you have. Overall, less than 20 percent of homeowners have flood coverage. Especially here in Colorado, it’s not something most homeowners consider. That means if water enters from outside, your insurance probably won’t cover the damage.

If, however, the water damage came from within – a frozen pipe or a broken water heater – there is a good chance you have coverage. Be sure to speak with your insurance agent before you proceed with work.

Steps to take for removing water and repairing the damage caused by the flood

Step 1: Stop the problem at the source

Before you start assessing, it’s important to find the root cause of the problem. If the flood is coming from inside your home, find the shutoff valve and stop the water from flowing. Each major appliance should have its own shutoff valve. Or you can find the water main valve and turn off the water that feeds into your home.

Step 2: Remove all wet items

Clutter and personal assets should all be removed from the area. This includes furniture, plants, stacks of books, area rugs, and anything else that could hold moisture close to your hardwood floors. If the items are wet and you hope to save them, move them to a dryer section of your home. Be sure to put down a waterproof barrier, so you don’t add additional problems to other rooms in your home.

If you have carpets or large area rugs on top of the hardwood, remove that quickly. The fibers will absorb water and tend to get musty and moldy first. If you have tack strips in place holding it down, remove those as well. They can be very sharp and hurt you or others as they work in the area. Plus, they can also be impacted by the water and rust, adding more problems to the situation.

Step 3: Suck up the water

Remove standing water as quickly as possible. If the flood impacted a large portion of a room or your home, it might benefit you to hire a mitigation company. They understand more about looking for problems that settle in deep into your home. They will be well versed in extracting water and ensuring your home is returned to original condition, remaining a safe place for your family to live.

For smaller areas, you might be able to do it with a wet vacuum. Be sure to get all traces of water, spending extra time at baseboards, cracks, and even along plank lines. Wet vacuums can continue to work even after it appears you’ve removed the moisture. You may also have to remove baseboards if the water has soaked beyond the dimensions of your room.

Step 4: Clean and disinfect

Once all water has been removed, you’ll need to clean the area thoroughly. It’s equally important to ensure mold doesn’t form.

Step 5: Dry out the space

Place a dehumidifier in the center of the room. This is where professional mitigation companies might benefit you, especially with larger floods. These powerful pieces of equipment should run for 2 to 3 days or even longer to ensure the moisture is gone from your home. Also install large fans to increase circulation and ventilation, and dry out moisture to stop further impact.

Step 6: Check for signs of damage

Only when everything is dry should you check for visible signs of damage. Remember that problems can occur underneath the structure too. If you have any doubts, it’s better to check with an expert before you move forward with refinishing. Mold and other damage can fester for weeks – months – before turning into a visible problem.

What other questions do you have concerning your hardwood flooring?

Hardwood Flooring
October 7, 2020

It’s The Best Season To Install New Hardwood Flooring

People all across the Rocky Mountain region dream of having hardwood floors in their homes. They are one of the most popular flooring choices you can make.

Whether you’re renovating and selecting hardwood floors replacement, or are moving into a new home and are choosing your flooring material for the first time, hardwood flooring offers a versatile, natural appeal that can complement any decor.

They are always in fashion.

But here in Colorado, you have another thing to worry about during the installation process: weather. Summers can quickly escalate well above the 100-degree mark. Winters can easily drop below zero and keep falling. And in the spring and fall, extreme highs and lows can all occur on the same day.

While that can be tough on our human bodies, imagine what it does to the hardwood for your new flooring.

Hardwood isn’t forgiving like carpet or vinyl tiles. Hardwood planks are rigid when laid into place. Even though they are a living, natural material, the give they have is minimal at best.

Does a weather change impact how well hardwood flooring is laid into place?

The best time to install hardwood floors

Winter, spring, summer, or fall? Which is the best season to install new hardwood floors?

Winter – winter seems like the perfect time to install new flooring. It’s dark, cold, with not much else to do. Why not redecorate, and spend the time you’re closed inside in a productive way?

Here in Colorado, winter is one of the driest times of the year. Winter naturally has less moisture than other seasons. On the coldest days, your furnace runs, and runs. That makes your living space dryer than any other time of the year. That lack of moisture leads to dryer skin and chapped lips. Now imagine what it will do to new hardwood. If wood isn’t acclimated correctly before installation, it can cause planks to dry out and crack or become distorted after installation. That can lead to costly repairs.

Another problem can be with the adhesives used to install hardwood planks. Most adhesives state they won’t work well in situations under 70 degrees. If your home is too cold, the glue won’t adhere to the planks correctly, meaning the hardwood can shift and move after installation.

Spring – spring here across the Rockies can also be a challenging time of year to install new hardwood flooring. During these few months of the year, temperatures can vary greatly, as well as how much moisture we receive. It can remain a colder, low humidity time of the year, or it can warm up and move straight to summer.

Both dry and wet conditions can be problematic for hardwood flooring. Low or high humidity levels can cause newly installed planks to swell, contract, and warp. Acclimation is key to ensuring your installation process goes well. Also, pay attention to the weather conditions when you install them.

Summer – once the summer is here, Colorado residents come out of hibernation. We move outside, prefer to do all kinds of activities outside, and determine what home projects to take on.

Summer seems like the perfect time for a new flooring installation. It’s easy to plan a staycation around your new addition – or head out of town altogether.

Yet the summer months can bring on the hottest days of the year. When your home regularly moves to 80 degrees and beyond, it can give your flooring adhesive a battle for bonding to the subfloor.

And if you happen to hit one of our endless rainy seasons, the increased moisture and humidity levels can play into how well your flooring is installed.

Fall – autumn is the perfect time of the year for all sorts of activities, including hardwood flooring installation. It tends to have the optimal mix of temperature and humidity levels for weeks at a time.

When you have extremes in heat, cold, or moisture, it can lead to various problems with newly installed planks, including cracking, warping, and cupping. Any damage will have to be repaired, which can be a costly endeavor so soon after your installation.

Here across the Front Range, autumn is usually temperate conditions with the lowest levels of moisture. You can leave your windows open, and enjoy the fresh air and breezes. That ideal climate makes it the perfect time for installing your new hardwood floors.

Pay attention to the type of hardwood installed

When you visit our store, you’ll find a wide array of choices, even when you know hardwood flooring tops your list. Hardwood flooring is available in strips, planks, and parquet. Strips come in three pre-established widths but a variety of thicknesses. Planks come in a variety of widths, while only two set thicknesses. Parquet are wooden slats held together to create geometric patterns.

You can select hardwood that is prefinished or unfinished. While prefinished adds ease to the installation – install it and you are done – unfinished gives you the advantage of selecting any finish you desire, and sealing it all in when you’re complete, including the spaces in between.

No matter what time of year, prepare the wood

While it’s important to be aware of the type of wood you select, how it will function in your home, and how you seal it into place, pay attention to the preparation process too. Wood is a natural substance that changes over time. If it’s shipped in from a location with higher humidity levels, it will need to acclimate to Colorado weather.

Before you install the planks into place, allow them to sit in your home for a few days to adjust to your environment. An indoor humidity level between 45 to 65 percent is best. Take them out of the packaging and lay them out where they’ll be installed for 5 to 7 days.

Are you thinking of remodeling your home? Want new floors in place? If you want new floors, ensure you select the best season to install hardwood flooring, and you’ll enjoy them for years to come.

Hardwood Flooring
July 3, 2020

Looking For A Biophilic Design? Try Hardwood Flooring

Why are humans so attracted to hardwood flooring? Why do Coloradans make it their number one flooring choice again and again? Why do you consistently see hardwood flooring in the top homes in the region?

It might be because of biophilic design.

What biophilic design is … and isn’t

Biophilic design connects you to nature. It’s the art of using things that naturally occur in nature, and work to build them into the overall architecture of your residence.

Biophilic design has five distinctive characteristics:

1. An emphasis on adaptation to the natural world. Items that over time have been proven as instrumental in helping people’s overall health, fitness, and well being.

2. It’s not the inclusion of just one thing. Instead, biophilic design depends on repeated and sustained connections with nature.

3. The elements woven throughout a residence will comprise of various complementary elements, reinforced throughout the design, and interconnected as a whole. This isn’t about inserting a plant and having it exist out of context.

4. It fosters emotional attachment to the surroundings. By creating a calming effect, you’re more likely to feel motivated, satisfied, and have overall better performance.

5. If you use biophilic design well, it creates connections and positive interaction between people and their environment. It enhances the surroundings, and gives a sense of membership to the community.

Why does all this matter? Because it creates a more calming, more effective place to live.

Growing evidence shows that patients go home faster if their hospital rooms are designed with biophilic characteristics. Children can boost concentration simply by walking and being in nature. And spending time in natural settings can lower stress and blood pressure while boosting immune function.

We’re spending as much as 90 percent of our time indoors. Shouldn’t we make the spaces we live in better places to live?

How wood floors can help us return to nature

Coloradans understand the beauty of hardwood floors. Maybe it’s because we live in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Maybe it’s because we have this innate sense of wanting to be out in nature. Skiing, biking, hiking – it’s a way of life for many of us who choose to call Colorado home. And because of that, we want to bring some of that back indoors.

Hardwood floors literally allow you to do that. When you select hardwood for your flooring, you’re bringing nature back in.

Yet most of us rarely think about just how much space the flooring takes. It’s the foundation of your design. You use it to plan the decor of the rest of your home.

Choose a light oak? The rest of your home might be bright and airy.

Choose a dark walnut? Your home might focus on dramatic, sophisticated design.

And that’s the goal. You’re using hardwood flooring to bring nature in, and use it to connect with nature for years to come.

Hardwood flooring – start by selecting the right color

So you want new hardwood flooring. Where do you start?

If you walk into our design center, you’ll find one of the first choices you’ll have to make is the color. Color is important; you want a flooring you’ll love for years to come. Select the room color, and you’ll have to refinish it sooner.

Color for hardwood flooring isn’t about red, blue, and green. Instead, it’s about light to dark. Each hardwood flooring color provides you with a different experience. This is how they compare with maintenance and cleaning.

Dark wood flooring – dark wood flooring has been a popular choice for several years. That’s because it works well in a variety of situations.

Have bright furnishings or a strong sense of modern design? Dark wood works well. Want neutral surroundings? Starting with dark wood on the floor is the best way to set it off.

While many assume dark wood equals formal, that’s not the case. It can create a rustic, aged look that’s perfect for country charm or a mountain retreat.

Dark wood will show more than lighter choices. If you have pets, kids, and a busy household, expect to see signs of wear earlier. But for some, that’s part of its charm. You might have to dust more frequently to pick up pet hair and crumbs, but the dark wood allows you to see where to swiff your broom more easily.

We’ve found a couple of places we don’t recommend using dark wood. In tiny rooms, it can make the room look even smaller. And when selecting dark wood planks, wider is better. Fewer seams mean a more continuous look, which is something you’ll enjoy for years inside your home.

Light wood flooring – light wood has been popular for decades. And in some cases, the lightness has only intensified as we bring more options to market. Like the whitewash look? You’ll find choices. Want something more exotic, something you won’t find in your neighbor’s home? You’ll find that too.

With custom solutions and finishes, you can go as light as you desire. But keep in mind, just like extreme dark wood, light wood has it’s problems too.

To create a light, almost white look, takes special processing. A contractor may have to combine stain and paint to lighten up the flooring. To seal it in means adding a clear finish, and that might be required regularly to keep its light, good looks.

The finish you select is equally important. Oil based finishes might be clear going on, but they can yellow over time. Talk in detail with your flooring contractor to learn how well your choices will stand the test of time.

Light hardwood flooring choices are almost always a good choice for every room in your home. They hide dust and dirt well, and can even mask surface level scratches.

How are you going to bring the outside in?

No matter what color you choose, by selecting hardwood flooring, you’ll be bringing nature in. With a little thought and planning, biophilic design can help your home be a more relaxing, calm, and beautiful place to live.

And isn’t that what we all want anyway?

Hardwood Flooring
June 21, 2020

5 Reasons To Buy Hardwood Flooring For The Health Benefits

You love the idea of installing hardwood floors throughout your home. Now, maybe there’s another reason to give them a second look. There are health benefits for installing hardwood flooring too.

The problem with indoor air quality

Americans today spend far more time inside than they do outside. The EPA estimates that on average, people spend as much as 90 percent of their daily lives indoors.

That means the air pollution outside impacts your health far less than what exists inside your house.

What causes indoor air pollution?

Tobacco products
Fuel-burning combustion appliances
Household cleaners
Moisture that can contribute to mildew and mold
Building materials that include asbestos, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and more
Chemicals such as radon and pesticides

Indoor air pollution enters the home in a variety of ways.

It can come in every time you open a door or window, leave your shoes on as you walk through your home, or through daily activities – cooking not only uses fuel-burning appliances such as a gas stove, it can release toxins in the air depending on what and how you cook.

What flooring does to add to indoor air pollution

Now that you know how pollutants can enter the home, let’s talk about how flooring contributes to it.

Flooring can impact your indoor air quality in two ways:

1. It can harbor problems brought into your home, increasing the volatility of your air supply

2. It can be manufactured with harmful chemicals and products that add to indoor air quality problems

That’s where hardwood flooring can help clean up your air supply – if you know what to look for.

Allergens are everywhere. Some of the most common allergens we bring indoors are dust mites and animal dander.

The best way to eliminate them from your home is with frequent cleaning – dusting, vacuuming, washing, and scrubbing. If you select a surface more conducive to these methods of cleaning, it will create a healthier living environment.

Certain types of flooring, like carpet, are simply going to be gathering places for small microorganisms, while flooring like hardwood makes it easier to clean.

Of course, hardwood itself can add to the problem if you don’t pay attention to where it’s harvested from, and how it’s produced. Is it treated with chemicals at any point during the manufacturing process? Is it finished with harmful products? Does it adhere to the floor with toxic adhesives?

There’s a lot to think about when trying to clean up your indoor living environment. It’s not as easy as going to the store, and picking up the first flooring product you see.

Let’s focus in on the health benefits of hardwood flooring

You already know that hardwood flooring is wildly popular, looks great everywhere it’s installed, and can last for years if you maintain it correctly. Homebuyers know this too; it’s one of the most in-demand products they look for when shopping for a new home.

But what you might not have considered is how hardwood floors add health benefits to your living space. Here’s how:

Hardwood doesn’t trap allergens – we’ve already talked about how hardwood helps eliminate allergens. That’s because hardwood is a hard surface, and things like dust and dander sit on the surface, making it easy to sweep away.

Hardwood is a carbon-neutral product – hardwood comes directly from trees. Trees take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen as they age and grow. What you might not know is that a wood stores carbon even after it’s cut down and manufactured into planks for your floor.

Hardwood is considered hypoallergenic by the EPA – which gives it a huge advantage for people with respiratory issues. Because hardwood flooring won’t take in microorganisms and pesticides like other flooring choices will. It also minimizes the accumulation of things like dust, mold, and other harmful items.

Hardwood is easy to disinfect – don’t worry about lugging in cleaning machines in order to keep the surface area clean. Hardwood floors are easy to clean with a damp mop and a manufacturer-approved anti-bacterial cleaner. Check with the manufacturer before you put anything on your hardwood floors, or you might void the warranty.

Hardwood is a natural product – unlike some flooring choices that are made in a laboratory, hardwood flooring is created from a natural resource. Hardwood is one of the best earth-friendly materials you can choose. However, be sure you understand the source before you make the purchase. Not every product is harvested in the same way. Hardwood flooring can come with certification from groups such as the Forest Stewardship Council, or meet criteria set forth by organizations such as the GREENGUARD Certification Program. This gives you assurance that it isn’t coming from a manufacturer with illegal or highly questionable practices.

What to do to keep hardwood floors clean

Now that your hardwood floors are installed and in place, how do you ensure they stay clean without impacting your health for the life of your floors? Luckily hardwood flooring is one of the easiest floors to take care of.

Remove shoes at the front door – have you ever thought about all of the things you pick up on the bottom of your shoes? Chemicals, dirt, germs – you can pick up a lot of things as you move throughout your busy days. Instead of tracking that in and letting it fall off onto your floors, remove them at the door. Consider having a mat or basket to place them, and a few pairs of slippers to keep your feet comfortable.

Keep mats at all entrances – this gives you and your pets the opportunity to wipe your feet before entering. Even just walking across it will remove a good amount of dirt.

Use a microfiber dust mop – instead of using a traditional mop, invest in one with microfiber. Microfiber has less chance of leaving dust and germs behind, and cleans better and leaves less residue than more traditional cotton. Water should never be left sitting on hardwood; use damp cloths where the residual dries quickly.

Keep a regular schedule with your cleaning routine – don’t let dust and germs settle in on any surface in your home. Life can get hectic, but the more frequently you give every surface a good cleaning, the less chance you have of letting the indoor air quality build enough to impact your health.

Invest in hardwood floors today

We’ve learned one thing this year – it’s more important than ever to keep our homes clean to have a healthy living environment. There are many reasons to buy hardwood flooring, for the health benefits is just one of them. Give us a call today and we can answer all of your questions, and help you make the right choice for your home.

Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
October 2, 2019

Is Hardwood Flooring Sustainable?

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

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

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

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

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

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

What makes a floor sustainable?

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

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

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

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

The manufacturing process

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

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

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

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

Hardwood flooring is long-lasting

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

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

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

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

Impact on the environment

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

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

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

Reusable

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hardwood Flooring
August 7, 2019

How Do I Choose Hardwood Flooring

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

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

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

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

Where do you start?

Engineered or solid hardwood

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

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

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

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

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

Prefinished or site finished

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

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

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

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

Wood type

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

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

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

Finish type

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

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

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

Plank width

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

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

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

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

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

Hardwood Flooring
July 10, 2019

The Best Affordable Alternatives To Hardwood Flooring

Want to make a statement in your home? Don’t worry about costly remodels. You can make big changes without spending weeks or renovation. Instead of picking out new cabinets or gutting a room, look down to the floor instead.

Changing out your flooring can make a big impact on your home’s decor. But what if you aren’t sold on hardwood? What if you’re looking for alternatives to hardwood flooring? Hardwood flooring isn’t the perfect choice for everyone. It’s one of the more costly flooring choices. And hardwood isn’t durable in high traffic areas, or where moisture can be a problem.

Yet you still like the look of hardwood. You want flooring that’s stylish and functional. What are your options?

The good news is you have a wide variety of alternatives that are perfect for your lifestyle. Here are just a few of our favorites.

Bamboo

Bamboo is a great alternative to hardwood flooring because it has a similar appearance to hardwood, yet it offers so much more.

One of the things we like best about bamboo is its eco-friendly origins. Bamboo is a fast-growing material that makes it more environmentally friendly than other types of hardwood.

Bamboo is denser than other types of hardwood. And because of how it is pressed and stacked together, it provides a denser floorboard that can withstand more of what your family can dish out. Today’s bamboo isn’t what you may read about bamboo from even a few years ago. Technology has improved this product to wear bamboo flooring is now a great choice in every room in your home. Whether you choose to install it with natural color, or stain it to match your decor, you’re going to love how bamboo handles throughout your home.

Cork

Love the idea of installing environmentally friendly flooring, but not sold on bamboo? Then maybe it’s time to look at cork flooring.

Cork is softer than hardwood, which makes it an excellent alternative for busy homes. If you have small children who like to play on the floor, or elderly who are at risk of falling, cork may be the choice for you.

Cork is also an excellent choice for homes that care about clean living. Cork is a natural product that won’t bring unwanted chemicals into your home. Just be sure to talk with your flooring expert about the installation process, to avoid harsh chemicals in the adhesives. Cork is naturally resistant to insects, mold, and mildew. It’s also a great insulator – creating a music room? You’ll love the qualities of cork.

Laminate

When people start looking for alternatives to hardwood flooring, one of the first places they often turn is to laminate. That’s because laminate has the same great look as hardwood, yet it’s more durable and less expensive.

Laminate is made up of four layers that give it its strength and appeal.

Back layer – the bottom layer responsible for protecting against moisture and giving the planks their strength

Core layer – a durable, high density board that increases strength and moisture protection

Design layer – a high resolution photograph that mimics the floor’s surface layer

Wear layer – a topcoat made of aluminum oxide that protects the surface and makes it durable

Laminate is great at resisting moisture and stains. If you’re looking for an alternative to hardwood for your basement, kitchen, or bathroom, the colors, patterns, and styles will delight you. You’ll find laminate that mimics every type of hardwood, and even stone and other natural materials.

Vinyl Planks

Sometimes the best choice for your flooring comes from the least expected materials. If you haven’t looked at vinyl in a while, you’ll be surprised by its looks. This isn’t the vinyl your parents used in their homes. Vinyl planks imitate hardwood beautifully, yet give you all of the benefits of hardwood flooring.

Vinyl plank flooring, also called luxury vinyl flooring, has both a glue down and interlock plank tile that lets you install your flooring in an easy way.

What gives vinyl an advantage over many other flooring choices is its water resistance. All forms of vinyl are made with materials that are waterproof. This means they are perfect in places where water and moisture can be a problem – think bathrooms and laundry rooms.

While vinyl planks may be somewhat limited in their color choices, the pros far outweigh the cons when using vinyl planks in your home. This durable and easy to clean flooring choice is one you’re going to love.

Porcelain Tile

Think tile isn’t the right choice for your home? Maybe it’s time to give tile another look.

For many Coloradoans, tile floor is synonymous with a cold floor. And in the darkest days of winter, stepping onto a cold floor isn’t something that sounds like a lot of fun.

But tile is the perfect choice if you’re considering adding radiant heating to your home. Then you can have toasty flooring anytime you choose – how does that sound on the coldest day of the year?

Porcelain tile gives you the option of installing any look, feel, style, color, or pattern into your home. And thanks to today’s technology, porcelain tile also mimics the look and feel of hardwood flooring too.

You’ll love the colors, from whitewash to the darkest wood, the grain often looks so real, you have to get down on your hands and knees to see it isn’t real.

Tile is more durable than hardwood, it’s easier to clean, and is water resistant. That means it’s the perfect choice for every room in your home. Including outdoor living. If you’re expanding your kitchen outside, and creating living rooms that give you more access to the great outdoors, why not carry your flooring outside too? Try that with hardwood – nope, can’t be done. But porcelain tile means you can carry the look anywhere, inside and out.

What’s the right choice for you?

If you aren’t sold on hardwood, yet know you want an alternative to hardwood flooring that has the same look and appeal, yet with more durability and at a lower cost, we’ve got many options for you.

The best place to start is to stop by our retail location and start considering your options. We can guide you to our favorites, and help you select your favorites too. You’ll love what any of these marvelous products can do for your home.