Month: April 2021

Now that you have a hardwood floor–whether you just bought a home with an existing hardwood floor, or you just had a hardwood floor installed–you need to know how to take care of it. Here are some important tips for caring for your hardwood floors.

Hardwood floors are made from a single piece of wood. Each plank of hardwood floors comes from part of a tree. Engineered hardwoods are different. They are strips of wood with plywood underneath. There are many different types of hardwood flooring. The flooring is separated by color, grain and hardness. Hardwood floors require different care than other types of flooring, such as laminate.

First, if you have hardwood floors in high traffic areas, you may want to put rugs on these floors to protect them from contant strikes from shoes. You could also request family members and guests take shoes off to walk across floors.

Second, any moisture on the hardwood floors is a bad idea. If you are thinking about putting hardwood floors in your kitchen or bathroom, you may want to opt for engineered hardwoods that are less likely to absorb moisture. If you do spill something on your hardwoods, clean it up immediately.

If you need to move furniture on your hardwoods, you need to pick it up and move it rather than sliding it across the floor. You can also put scratch-resistant pads on the legs of your furniture to further protect your hardwoods. You may also want to consider sealing your hardwoods as well, because this gives your hardwoods additional protection.

When you’re ready to talk to someone about your floor, you need to contact Flooring.org. Call us anytime at 1-800-689-9006.

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Do a search online and you’ll likely find various articles on installing floors in a home with pets. But different kinds of pets present different levels of potential destruction. Arguably, cats can be one of the most destructive pets you’ll ever have in your home.

Just one cat can leave your new floors looking old and worn after the wrath of claw marks, urine, and vomit, for starters. If you’re planning on purchasing new floors, what should you look at to ensure you install cat friendly flooring?

Protection from cat claws

If you have brand new flooring, watching your cat stretch and scratch their claws across carpet or hardwood can send chills down your spine. You know instantly that your flooring will never be the same.

Declawing may not be an option for you. Many cat owners are forgoing the practice and allowing cats to live as naturally as possible. You can train them to use a scratching post, but they can still wreak havoc on your floors as they tread across the surface daily.

To avoid that, it’s easier to select the right flooring that will stand up to all your cat can dish out. What kind of flooring works well to prevent cat claw scratches? Two of the best choices today are luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP). They are created using the latest technology, designed to prevent things like scratching, scuffing, and staining.

LVT comes in the more traditional tile squares, and will give you a surface texture that resembles tile, stone, or even concrete. It can take on a realistic look, and can even be set with grout if you wish, for it to resemble traditional tile.

LVP comes in plank shape and offers you the look of traditional hardwood, albeit with many benefits not found with hardwood planks. It’s harder, more durable, and can stand up under pressure to scratching too.

Both LVT and LVP are constructed using several layers. There’s a durable wear layer, a design layer that features its classic good looks, a PVC core, and an attached backing that provides added comfort and support as well as creating a more quiet flooring underfoot. Pay attention to thickness levels as that’s where your true protection will be over time.

Protection from cat urine

Training your cat to use the litter box is high on your list of to-do’s when you bring a kitten into your home. But it takes time to train a kitten properly. Accidents will happen.

If you have an older cat, incontinence problems may also be a part of your life. Cat urine could become a major problem if you don’t have the right flooring installed. If you’ve ever walked into a home where cat urine is present, you know it’s a smell that will never go away.

To prevent this problem, we turn once again to the latest technology in vinyl flooring. LVT and LVP look like real hardwood or stone, yet is more durable and makes clean-up a snap.

LVT and LVP are waterproof – yes, waterproof. That means if your cat has an accident, you can simply wipe it away. Keep in mind that while your flooring may be waterproof, your flooring can still be susceptible to problems. If moisture seeps along the baseboards, or if cracks between planks or tiles aren’t properly sealed, there is a risk urine can penetrate down into drywall or subflooring, and become a permanent part of your home. The faster you clean it up, the better the results.

There is another type of flooring that works well in this instance as well – vinyl sheet flooring may be the perfect choice in this situation. Because vinyl sheets can often extend throughout the room without seams or cracks, it provides a surface area that can stand up to accidents even better than LVT and LVP.

How about the perfect flooring to prevent cat hair and other stains?

Cats shed. You’ll find hair all over your home if you’ve added a cat to your family.

Once again, that makes vinyl a perfect flooring to simply sweep the hair away. It won’t get trapped in the fibers of carpet, and will be easy to clean daily.

Yet we also know that vinyl isn’t the perfect choice for every homeowner. Want something more natural? Something that looks as good as vinyl but has more natural qualities to it? Give linoleum a second look.

Linoleum is one of the longest lasting floor options on the market today. It’s been known to last forty years and even longer with careful cleaning and maintenance.

Linoleum has a protective layer on top that protects it from scuffing or scratching. It’s water resistant, meaning it can stand up well to those occasional accidents as long as you wipe them quickly away.

It also comes in large rolls like sheet vinyl, making it a snap to install in large rooms. Just roll it into place, and depending on the width of your room, you can hide seams in inconspicuous places.

The price of linoleum is also a plus. It’s one of the most economical choices you’ll find, making it easy to install now, and replacing it as needed without breaking the bank.

It’s all about proper maintenance

As a pet owner, extra maintenance is a part of the job. With a cat, it’s important to go into it realizing you’ll have to stay on top of daily maintenance items to ensure your flooring stays in good condition for years to come.

The good news is, if you make the right choice, you’ll have cat-friendly flooring that will last for years. Cleaning is relatively easy, have a vacuum to clean up dirt and hair, and a mop for spills and accidents. Pay attention to the cleaning products you use, to ensure they don’t strip the finish from the floors. Most manufacturers make suggestions as to which products are safe. You can always use a natural cleaner of vinegar and water to keep things fresh.

Well-known manufacturers often create products that are especially tough at handling what homeowners can dish out. If you’re worried about how your cats will damage your floors, let’s talk. We can show you which flooring products make the best choices, and show you the available options. You’ll be surprised at how durable today’s flooring lines are, and how they’ll wear even in active homes.

The only question now is: What cat friendly flooring choice is right for your home? 

The post Cat Friendly Flooring Choices first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

This post appeared first on https://pro-flooring.com

There are lots of different cleaning products on offer to keep your wooden floor looking fresh and new.  As wood is a natural product, you need to be careful about how you clean it.  Some are perfect for your hardwood whereas some can cause damage.  Here, we have explained which wooden floor cleaning products to use, and which to avoid. Read More

Since hardwood flooring is so luxurious (and expensive), it’s important to learn how to prevent scratching hardwood floors.

Hardwood flooring is known as the creme of the crop flooring product. No hardwood owner wants their floors to look worn.

Thankfully, there are a few ways to keep your hardwood floors from scratching.

How to Prevent Scratches on Hardwood Floors

Protecting natural solid hardwood flooring from scratches can be done by a couple of methods.

These methods include:

• Cleaning the outside of your home
• No shoes allowed
• Use mats in high traffic areas
• Anti-scratch felt pads on furniture legs
• Trim your pets claws routinely
• Have a floor cleaning routine

Put pads on furniture legs

Learning how to protect hardwood floors from furniture scratches isn’t too difficult. All it takes is some slip-on furniture pads (also known as chair glides) for the legs of your couches and chairs.

If you tend to scoot your chair back when leaving the table, that can wreak havoc on your floors over time. Furniture leg pads can reduce the chances of scratching the floors. It will also help you move heavy furniture around the room without tearing up your hardwood. Furniture pads or slides can be found at any hardware store and are very inexpensive.

Trim pets nails

To prevent scratches on hardwood floors from pets, trim their claws. Long nails can do the same damage as a high heel. If pet’s nails are still causing damage or a concern, we recommend looking at some high-end laminate flooring. The Carpet Guys carry many scratch and dent resistant styles of laminate flooring options.

Leave shoes at the door

Speaking of high heels, make sure you and your guests take off their shoes at the door. Debris tracked in with the soles of shoes can also scratch wood floors. Plus, who knows what you’re bringing into your home on the bottom of your shoes. Also, having a mat at the door will help keep anything brought in from the outside at the entrance of the home. It’s also a great place to leave shoes.

You can prevent scratches on hardwood floors easily with these tips. If you don’t have hardwood floors and are interested in purchasing, The Carpet Guys can help.

Book a Free Hardwood Flooring Estimate with Us!

If you’re ready to have beautiful hardwood flooring installed in your home, give The Carpet Guys a call at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897). Flooring is what we do, and we guarantee you will love all the assistance we offer you.

With The Carpet Guys, you’ll benefit from multiple services like:

• Stunning variations of high-quality hardwoods
• Complimentary decorating advice
• Free estimates available seven days a week
• Budget-friendly financing plans
• Free old flooring rip-up
• Free furniture moving
• And more!

Book your free hardwood flooring estimate with The Carpet Guys today.

You’re going to love the way your rooms look.

The post How to Prevent Scratching your Hardwood Flooring appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

Thinking of installing new flooring in your home? If you’ve done a little research, you’ve probably noticed that hardwood tops everyone’s wish lists.

Top designers will show you dozens of ways to bring hardwood to every room in your home.

Realtors will tell you it’s what homebuyers prefer. It’s one of the best investments you can make if you’re planning on selling your home anytime soon.

But what if you aren’t sure about hardwood? You prefer tile. It’s more durable. You love its classic good looks. And you want easy clean-up and maintenance for the life of your flooring.

The good news now is you can have both: install the tile you love with the classic good looks of hardwood. Thanks to today’s technology, porcelain planks look so much like the real thing, they can fool even trained decorators’ eyes.

Wood-look Porcelain Tile

Before you get into the advantages porcelain tile can offer your home, let’s talk about why more homeowners are considering it. Thanks to technology, wood-look porcelain tile gives you the classic looks of wood with the dependability of tile. Yet porcelain tile is often considered better because tile can be:

• Waterproof
• Stain-proof
• Dent-resistant
• Scratch-resistant
• Fire-resistant

That’s a lot of benefits, especially if you’re building your dream home here along the Front Range.

Our lifestyle demands that our flooring plays well in all kinds of conditions. You can just as easily track in ice and snow as you can dirt and mud. The weather changes quickly, sometimes in one day. Can your flooring handle all your kids and pets drag in?

And if you’ve built your dream home in a wooded area where wildfires can happen, it can increase your peace of mind knowing wood-look porcelain tiles add fire-resistance to your structure.

Still have unanswered questions? Here are some of the most popular we get when homeowners are considering installing wood-look porcelain tile planks.

Is wood-look tile durable? 

This is one of the biggest reasons people decide to install wood-look porcelain planks. It creates a flooring surface that’s one of the longest lasting within a home environment.

Porcelain tiles have been used for centuries – that’s why they’re still popular today. If you have a high traffic room or higher moisture levels, it can be a perfect choice.

While designers would be leery of recommending traditional hardwood in places like bathrooms and laundry rooms, they’ll quickly tell you why this is the technology you should consider. You won’t panic when accidents send liquids flowing across your floors.

Do wood-look planks require grout?

This is often a holdback for homeowners that don’t want grout lines to show, and instead want the close look placing wood planks together. Tile is tile – it will require grout to install the planks to your floors.

However, wood-look porcelain tile planks have what’s known in the industry as rectified edges. This means all edges are trimmed, straight, and consistent. They are designed to closely resemble the look of hardwood planks, which means it will put more emphasis on the planks, and less on the grout. One of our sales associates would be happy to show you how the final results will look on your floors.

Are wood-look porcelain tile planks truly waterproof?

The reason many homeowners prefer porcelain tile is because it’s one of the least porous flooring materials used in today’s homes. It is suitable for rooms you might traditionally be leery of installing hardwood, such as kitchens, mudrooms, laundry rooms, even basements. And depending on your outdoor living environments, some products can even extend outdoors.

Some tiles may be water-resistant; others may be waterproof. It depends on a variety of things, such as materials used, manufacturer, grout, subflooring in place, and more. If you want the benefits of a waterproof floor, speak with one of our representatives before you make a final decision.

What about longevity – will wood-look porcelain planks fade, dent, or scratch over time?

When you install a new floor, you want it to look good for as long as possible. Porcelain tile is very durable and will retain its good looks for years. It resists fading, and does well under pressure. It resists scratching under normal use.

With proper care, you can easily expect your flooring to last for decades. What’s more, because your floors will be built with planks, it’s easier to replace individual pieces or small sections in the event of a problem. Be sure to order more tiles than you need to have extra on hand.

What about cold – tile is cold, especially here in Colorado where temperatures can fall below zero?

We hear you; that’s one reason hardwood is ever more popular than tile in residential homes across the Front Range.

Still, there’s another reason to move wood-look tile to the top of your list. Tile is the perfect flooring to install over radiant heating. Tile may be cold to the touch, but it’s made from clay harvested from the earth. That makes it a natural conductor of heat, able to hold warmth for long periods of time. When you add that to a radiant heating system underneath, it can ensure your floors are warm no matter what the temperature is like outside. And because heat rises, you’ll feel warmer as your heat source starts from the lowest point.

What about slip-resistance? Will porcelain tiles be slippery when wet?

If you want to have your flooring flow throughout your home, installing wood-look planks is a great way to add cohesiveness throughout your rooms. Some tiles are known for their slippery surfaces, not so with porcelain tile. Of course, it depends on the manufacturer. Some tile companies add additional materials during production to cut back on potential falls.

This is where it pays to speak with a professional who knows their product line. Don’t trust a sales clerk making minimum wage at a big box store.

When you work with a flooring company, all we do is think about flooring. We know the various product lines. We get to know the manufacturers well. We stay in touch with our client base, and learn how families live with the various products.

If you have a question, we have an answer.

Just ask!

The post Love Porcelain Planks? Should You Install Them Instead of Hardwood? first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

This post appeared first on https://pro-flooring.com

Hardwood flooring trends tend to change year on year, although the wooden floor still remains classic and timeless. When you imagine a wooden floor, you probably think of a plank style oak flooring with golden and neutral tones.  In reality, there are so many more options to choose from.  Choosing the right style, colour and type of floor can really make an impact on your home and transform the area completely. Read More

Once you’ve decided that hardwood floors are the way to go for your home, there are a few more things you must consider. To make sure you’re picking the perfect flooring for your home, here are eight factors to consider:

First, solid hardwood vs. engineered hardwood. Solid hardwood flooring is flooring made from a single piece of hardwood, cut into planks or strips. Solid hardwood is heavier and more expensive than engineered hardwood. Engineered hardwood is made from a piece of wood, with plywood on the bottom. Engineered hardwood flooring is more suitable for rooms that may be exposed to moisture because of the plywood bottom. If you want to refinish your flooring, solid hardwood is a good pick because it can be refinished several times, while engineered hardwood cannot.

Next, prefinished or site-finished. Hardwood flooring needs to be finished in order to withstand use. You can pick from prefinished hardwood, which is finished at the time of purchase, or you can select site-finished, which is finished during the installation process. Pre-finished floors are easier because they require less steps to install, but site-finished hardwood allows you to be more involved in the customization process.

Hardwood flooring comes in countless colors. You can shop from natural or stained floors to get the perfect color for your home. Decide if you want a natural look or a stained look before settling on a hardwood flooring option.

The length, width, and thickness of your planks are more significant than you may realize. Wide and long planks can make a space feel larger, but these planks are more difficult to install. Additionally, the thicker a plank, the more opportunities for pre-finishing.

Next, consider your lifestyle. How much traffic will be flowing through your home? The more traffic, the stronger your hardwood needs to be.

The next thing to consider when selecting hardwood flooring is the decor of your space. What style is your home? If you’re going for something rustic, pick flooring to match. If you’re leaning more towards a modern feel, opt for a more modern hardwood flooring option.

The price must be right when selecting hardwood flooring for your home. Hardwood prices can range from easily affordable to extremely expensive. Consider your budget before you start shopping to make sure you stay within your price range.

No matter what type of flooring you pick, you should consider getting professional help. Installing hardwood isn’t always easy, but a professional can make the process quick and trustworthy.

Discover the best flooring for your space at Flooring.org! For more information or answers to any questions you may have, please give us a call at 800-689-9006.

This post appeared first on http://www.flooring.org

When an appointment is set for a Free In-Home Estimate with The Carpet Guys, we send a Design Consultant to your home with our showroom of samples.  After a discussion of your family’s daily routine, the Design Consultant will ascertain what the best flooring will be.  Some circumstances recommend a Berber style carpet.  Read on to find out more about what Berber carpet is.

What is Berber Carpet?

Berber describes a weaving style of rugs and fabric made by the indigenous Berber people in North Africa.  It is a looped and knotted, natural fiber through a backing and not trimmed that gives it the traditional Berber look.

Today, Berber is still woven in the loop-style with a low profile.  Frequently, its strand has multiple colors to give it a “natural’ looking fleck design. This resembles the wool that was used in the classic Berber rugs.  Also, Berber is now made with a wide variety of materials.  Most commonly being Olefin which is a fiber known for its strength, resistance to staining, mildew, abrasion or fading.

Why is Berber Carpet Better?

Often Berber is recommended to our busy customers.  Because it is low profile, it doesn’t show wear and tear as quickly.  High traffic areas benefit from a sturdy carpet design.  Plush carpet shows wear patterns quickly in hallways and on stairs where heavy footfalls crush high pile.  Also, Berber is recommended for those customers that need handicapable flooring if they have their heart set on carpet.  Wheelchairs and walkers will be easier to propel on a loop style than a plush carpet.

Berber is naturally resistant to mold and mildew.  For this reason, it is often recommended in basements and lower levels of the home where moisture may be an issue.  It’s also naturally stain resistant which helps if your finished lower level will be a play area for children or teens.

When is Berber NOT Recommended?

Berber is excellent for most installation situations.  The Carpet Guys do not recommend this style with pets that have nails.  Cats that scratch the flooring could easily snag this loop style carpet.  But if you keep your pets’ nails trimmed or your cat is declawed, it is an excellent choice.  It’s easy to keep clean of hair with a vacuum and as mentioned earlier, it is stain resistant.

Call us for questions or to see what Berber style carpets we carry. We’re waiting to help at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or set up a Free In-Home Estimate and we will send someone to your home.  Berber style carpets can have flecks, light colors and dark colors, and even beautiful designs woven within. Also, we carry plenty of plush carpet styles, textured carpet and even laminate, vinyl and hardwood.  With The Carpet Guys, the possibilities are endless!

The post Why Choose Berber Carpet? appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

Think about what you considered to be the coolest home in the neighborhood when you were a kid. It was the house where they had all the toys. Where you could play continually and never run out of things to do.

Maybe that’s why homeowners today are installing game rooms – it’s where all the action is. It can also make you the most popular home on the street.

Game rooms are typically away from other areas in your home. You’ll find them in the basement. Or in a bonus room on the second floor. Or maybe even in its own separate wing.

You want it away from bedrooms, so your fun can continue long after the kids go to sleep.

Yet putting it in its own area might create design questions. How should you decorate? Should it blend in with the rest of your home? Can it stand out?

Before you start making choices, start at the bottom – your flooring. What’s the perfect flooring for your new game room?

Start with a few questions

With so many options available to you, where do you begin? Start with a few questions.

• What aesthetics am I trying to create?
• What flooring options will I consider? Are some off the table?
• Do I prefer a solid floor like hardwood or laminate?
• Is carpet an option?
• What activities will take place? Are certain types of flooring more advantageous in those situations?

For some families, game night is a quieter activity. It might involve video games and the television. It might be board games at a table.

For others, it possibly might turn into a wild party. There might be a bar in the corner, and there definitely will be wine and beer. Not only do you care about durability, but you want something to stand up to moisture and stains.

Classic good looks of your flooring is one thing, but if it doesn’t stand up to what your family and friends can dish out, you’ll be unhappy with your choice almost from the beginning.

More than a game room

The concept of a game room can change from family to family. One might prefer action games such as billiards and ping pong, while another will never get off the sofa – it’s video games all the way.

Gaming additions are often additional space in the home. And that may mean something different to the family members who live in the home. Maybe one prefers video games, while another wants to watch classic movies. Maybe one prefers classic arcade games, while another prefers to store wine bottles for future use.

That’s the beauty of adding a game room to your home. It can be interpreted in any way you desire. But before you throw in a few chairs and a television, think and plan for the future. What have you dreamed about inside your home? What rooms would get the most use over time?

If you can’t envision it now, work with a designer who can. They may be able to come up with suggestions that can tie all of your needs and desires together.

Pick a theme

When it comes to the kitchen, living space, or bedrooms, people love to incorporate their own personality into the final design. You can do that even more with a new game room.

Take cues from the games you most enjoy. Do you love classic arcade games? Incorporate your favorites throughout. How about using faux bricks, stone, or other material to carry the theme from a video or board game into your home?

Of course, elegant lighting should also enhance the ambiance. Light up the areas you’ll use most, and you’ll find people gravitate to the area.

Then set it all up by laying the perfect flooring into place.

Hardwood can be a great choice for classic good looks.

Carpet is always a good choice, as it adds softness, warmth, and helps quiet the noise.

Luxury vinyl planks bring a waterproof feature to your room. If the parties get a little crazy, give this option a second look.

Tile – it’s an easy way to keep the good looks

There are many different types of tile flooring, everything from ceramic and porcelain, to carpet and more. What makes tile so popular in action-packed rooms is their ability to look good from the start, and stay looking good for years to come. If you need to replace one, it’s a matter of taking out the section and replacing – no need to install a new floor.

Beyond functionality, it’s also one of the easiest ways to create any design you choose.

How about a checkered floor design using square tiles in two of your favorite colors? With today’s technology, you can even customize tiles to personalize it further – how about your name, brand, or logo? You can even use a few tiles to showcase a personal work of art.

Keep in mind that tile doesn’t just mean cold, hard surface areas. Try vinyl, carpet, or cork tiling to soften the place up and give it a warmer look and feel. How about rubber? Or resilient tiling?

Like any other flooring you’re considering, it’s important to pay attention to your needs first. What flooring will work best with your lifestyle overall? With clear goals in mind, it’s time to let your imagination run wild.

Where to begin

We often recommend creating a pinboard on Pinterest to see where your interests and desires meet. By pinning a variety of ideas, you’ll start to see different concepts coming together.

Then when you’re ready, when you’ve pinpointed exactly what you want from your game room, you can bring in your ideas and start putting them into action.

When we see what you’re trying to create, we can show you your options, and help you select the right flooring to suit your needs.

The post The Perfect Flooring For Your New Game Room first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

This post appeared first on https://pro-flooring.com

From toilet accidents to unclipped claws, these can all cause damage to your floor. That is why it’s best to find the flooring that works for your home and your pet. In most cases, an LVT floor will work best. But read our quick guide below to see how all the options stack up.

LVT Flooring

LVT or Vinyl Click Flooring is the most pet-friendly flooring. This is because it can resist scratches and any unforeseen toilet accidents. Available in both stone and wood effects. LVT flooring is 100% waterproof and features a soft vinyl top, which ensures that it is easy to clean and maintain. And the vinyl top provides a much better grip than a stone tile floor stopping your pet from skidding as they run. It is also quieter under-paw than a wood or laminate floor.

Laminate flooring

If you are worried about scratches and scuffs, look for a laminate floor with a high AC rating. The higher the AC rating the more hard-wearing and durable the floor will be. Some laminate floors are also waterproof or water-resistant, which makes cleaning up after your pet that bit easier! Our range of laminate is available in both wood and tile styles. And our popular Signature parquet range has a water-resistant barrier.

Carpet

If you fancy a soft and warm carpet but have pets, choosing the right type will be crucial. Look out for a carpet with a low pile and twisted yarns. Loop and Saxony style carpets can catch your pets’ claws and are generally a higher pile – making them more appealing to chew! Many carpets are now bleach cleanable which makes cleaning up after any accidents a breeze.

Wood flooring

A solid or engineered wood floor is naturally beautiful. But not ideal for pets. Their claws can easily scratch the wood. But you can overcome this to some degree by trimming their nails short. Wooden floors also don’t react well to liquid. It can cause staining, or, depending on how much water (or worse) gets onto the floor it can cause damage with the boards swelling.

The post What is the best flooring for pets? first appeared on Discount Flooring Depot Blog.

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