Month: November 2021

The holidays are all about gathering with friends and family. If you have hardwood flooring in your home, you want to prepare your floors for the eventful holiday season. Here is how to care for your hardwood during the holidays:

First, routine maintenance is key. Be sure to regularly dust, mop, and sweep your floors before your holiday events. This provides a good base going into the festive season. Additionally, it reduces the risk of scratches from dust and debris.

If you’re throwing a party with pets, kids, or drinks, spills are possible. If a spill happens during your holiday gathering, clean it as soon as it happens. This prevents long-term damage that discolors or warps your floors.

Rugs and mats are a great way to preserve your floors. Be sure to put a welcome mat at your front door for your guests to either wipe off or remove their shoes. Additionally, place rugs in your most high-traffic areas, such as your living room or walkways.

Moving your furniture to accommodate your guests? Make sure your floor is protected first. Attach felt pads to the feet of your tables, chairs, and couches to reduce the risk of scratches. You can also put a rug underneath your furniture for protection.

Consider establishing some rules in your home during the holiday season to keep your floors protected. For one, you can establish a “no shoes” rule for visitors. You can also trim your pet’s nails and avoid wearing heels in your home to prevent damage.

Follow these tips to keep your floors safe and protected this holiday season. If you’re looking to remodel your space, shop for hardwood flooring at Flooring.org. For assistance with your order, give us a call at (800) 689-9006 or email us at [email protected].

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

Laminate. When you hear that word as a homeowner, certain thoughts pop into your mind. Whether you’ve had experience with it or not, chances are you’ve formed an opinion about it.

Laminate flooring has only been around for a few decades. Like other home products, laminate flooring was created after a century-old company’s sales began waning, and they looked for other ideas to bring to market. The Perstorp Corporation created the first high-pressure laminate in the late 1970s, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The industry continued to morph and change, increasing strength, durability, and attractiveness. In 1994, Pergo launched its first marketing campaign in the United States, adding its click-and-lock technology as well as more sound insulation by 2000.

How today’s laminate is made

Today’s laminate flooring is a hard surface floor that offers homeowners versatility, durability, and aesthetics to match any decor. People love hardwood. Yet hardwood isn’t always the perfect choice. Laminate is a flooring product meant to give homeowners the look and feel of hardwood, yet provide a few things that hardwood can’t.

Laminate flooring consists of multiple layers, including:

• Top layer – a clear coat of extremely durable resin and cellulose designed to give the product strength while increasing the natural beauty of the visual layer
• Visual layer – a high-resolution photographic image used to replicate the texture and style of hardwood
• Core layer – a high-density fiberboard that helps provide stability and water resistance
• Bottom layer – a melamine back layer that provides a foundation for the laminate planks and increases its water resistance

When many people recall the laminate of yesteryear, they think of the hollowness sounds created once it was laid into place. It didn’t have the warmth of hardwood; instead, a hollow sound echoed as you walked across the floor.

Laminate has changed drastically over the years. A part of that is due to the underlayment that is laid into place underneath the laminate flooring of your choice.

What is underlayment?

Underlayment sits below laminate flooring. It’s created from a composite of filaments and fibers, laid together with a vapor barrier on top. These layers are designed to insulate the floor and make it warmer, protect the flooring from moisture, mold and mildew, as well as reduce the clicking noise that is commonly associated with laminate flooring.

Underlayment is a layer between the subfloor and the laminate flooring. It covers up the imperfections in the subfloor, giving the laminate more strength and durability. In some cases, laminate comes with underlayment already attached. Check with the laminate you select to see how it was produced.

However, if the laminate doesn’t have underlayment, or you simply want additional support, you might choose to consider purchasing and installing an additional product. There’s a lot to consider when making your final selection. With several different choices, which is the right product for your home?

Start with your subfloor – it’s what matters most

There are several different types of underlayment created for use with laminate flooring. The best way to determine which underlayment is suitable for your situation is to start with your subfloor.

The two most common subfloors in homes are cement and wood. They each have unique situations when laying flooring over the top.

Wood subfloors provide strength and durability underneath your flooring. It may be a little uneven or even creak from small separations between the boards, depending on the age. Underlayment should complement laying laminate over wood, and provide more benefit to handle well with age. Moving up and getting premium underlayment can increase softness and cushion, as well as provide a stronger moisture barrier.

Cement subfloors provide an additional set of concerns. Cement subfloors present a greater chance of moisture problems. That’s why it’s important to install an underlayment that has a vapor barrier attached. Vapor underlayments protect your laminate flooring from any moisture that could seep up through the cement, and potentially cause floor problems.

While most people spend time looking and finding the perfect flooring to suit their needs and decor, it’s the underlayment and subfloor that set the stage for success. Without a proper subfloor and underlayment combination, the wear and stability of whatever floor you put in may have problems shortly after installation.

Three types of underlayment

In general, there are three different types of underlayment: foam, cork, and felt.

Foam is the most basic format. Foam underlayment comes in a variety of thicknesses, and comes in rolls of varying widths and lengths. Because it’s the most popular choice, you’ll find the best selection of products to complement your laminate flooring.  Many foam underlayments come with a moisture/vapor barrier already in place. It’s also one of the easiest to install, even for people who are new to laying underlayment into place.

Cork provides a natural product that’s made from the bark of a cork tree. It’s available in several thickness levels, and offers a natural moisture barrier. One of the biggest reasons people select cork underlayment is because of its natural sound absorbency. If you’re installing laminate in an upper floor room or space, a cork underlayment makes an excellent choice for absorbing footsteps. It’s sustainable, economically sound, and offers hypoallergenic properties to people wanting cleaner living space. Its antimicrobial nature also prevents the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew.

Felt is considered the premium choice in underlayment. It’s made from recycled fibers, and is significantly heavier and easier to smooth into place. This heaviness of the felt material gives it excellent sound absorption. It can muffle the sound of footsteps, and create a quieter environment. Felt also works well to add insulation to your home. If you’re worried about heating and cooling, felt can make your floors feel warmer.

What’s the best underlayment for the laminate you’ve chosen?

Different laminate manufacturers suggest different types of underlayment.

Now that you’re aware there’s more to installing laminate than simply selecting color and style, come in and ask questions about creating your perfect living space. There’s a combination of laminate and underlayment that will help you create the home of your dreams. 

The post Scared of Laminate? You Won’t Be After Learning More About Underlayment first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

It’s almost time to feast on Thanksgiving delicacies. For most families, that means welcoming guests into your home to celebrate. You may have gotten the turkey and cranberries, but is your home ready?

Your carpet lends warmth to your home environment and really does tie your décor together. You want your carpets to last and look great every time you gather with family or friends. Treat your carpets well by getting them professionally cleaned, it’s totally worth it.

In fact, without even trying too hard, we can name at least 5 benefits of professional carpet cleaning. It:

1. Extends the life of your carpet: Home carpeting will last 5-7 years on average. However, your carpeting is an important investment. You’ll want it to last much longer! Keeping your carpets dirt free is the single best way to extend the life of your carpet. Vacuum twice a week to remove non-soluble dirt. Get your carpets professionally cleaned once a year to remove the soluble spots. Your carpet needs weekly as well as professional cleaning to keep it fresh, restore its life and its original beauty.
2. May prevent illness: Our professional extraction process can help prevent seasonal allergies by removing pollens which settle into your carpet. We use 180-degree water to clean your carpeting which can kill germs and help prevent colds and flu. Our truck-mounted steam cleaning extraction method is incredibly powerful which means your carpets will also dry more quickly once the bacteria, dirt and pollens are gone.
3. Lifts tough stains: A Personal Touch carpet cleaning pre-sprays all of your carpet or upholstery with a low pH enzyme cleaning solution. The solution breaks down dirt and oils so that they can be easily flushed out as your carpets are cleaned. We apply specific spot lifting formulas to remove special stains such as ink, grease, urine, rust, tar and more.
4. Brings high-traffic areas back to life: The best way to protect your high traffic areas is to keep them clean with a bi-weekly vacuuming routine. You cannot over-vacuum your home’s carpeting. Then, once a year, you should get your carpets professionally cleaned. Most carpeting warranties require a professional cleaning at least every 18 months. Keeping up with both kinds of cleaning will revive and refresh your carpeting. To further protect your carpet, we can apply a Teflon carpet protector.
5. Eliminates stubborn odors: We all love our pets, but messes are inevitable. If your pet has an accident, blot any liquid and clean your carpet promptly to prevent the mess from soaking through to your carpet pad. It can require a lot more work from your cleaning professional to remove spills that have soaked through to the pad or been left untreated for a long period of time. Our general enzyme pre-spray and 180-degree water break down all kinds of spills and get rid of the odor they cause. Our specialized pet spill pre-spray takes the bite out of animal urine and fecal odors.

Keep your home fresh!  Vacuum weekly and keep your carpeting looking, feeling and smelling new with a professional carpet cleaning every 12 to 18 months. A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning Services uses cleaning methods that won’t void your carpeting’s warranty. Call us today at 720-344-2870, or use our online contact form to ask us questions or to receive a free quote.

Call us today at 720.344.2870 or use our online contact form for any questions you may have or to receive your FREE quote.

The post 5 benefits of regular professional carpet cleaning appeared first on A Personal Touch.

Caring for your wooden floor in the winter months is an important part of looking after it properly. If you want your hardwood floor to last for years to come, then you really do need to follow some simple steps. Read More

High traffic areas in homes and businesses have special needs.

Have you ever walked into a lobby or entryway where the flooring is scratched, dented, and unappealing? It sets the stage for the experience. You enter warily. You question what you’ll find as you continue to walk further. Is it clean? Is it well kept?

Is it a place you truly want to be?

If your flooring is old and outdated, your floor may simply be showing its age through wear and tear.

But if you replaced your flooring not that long ago, you might be questioning what went wrong?

It may be you picked the wrong floors for the area. Some flooring choices handle better than others. If you want longevity, selecting the right materials will make all the difference. If you want your floors to look good for years to come, be sure you choose the right flooring specifically for high traffic areas.

High traffic areas need durability and easy maintenance. Selecting water-resistant or waterproof flooring for entryways, kitchens, and other moisture-prone areas is also a plus.

But there are many things to consider before you make your final decision. This article is designed to give you the top flooring choices that will handle well no matter what type of traffic you can dish out. It’s the best way to ensure your flooring stands up to all the traffic that comes through your doors.

Defining what to look for in a high traffic floor

A lot of people start shopping based on looks without thinking about how well the floors will handle after they are installed. That’s putting the cart before the horse.

If you have a high traffic space, consider selecting flooring specifically built to handle the traffic. Focus on:

Durability – high traffic areas take more abuse because of the amount of action they receive. Pets running and sliding across it. Kids playing and dropping heavy objects. Moisture as you walk across it with wet and sloppy shoes. All of that adds up to scratches, dents, and other problem marks.

Maintenance – high traffic areas get dirty faster, which means you’ll be cleaning them on a more regular basis. Can the flooring look good with just a simple swipe of a mop? Or does it take more action?

Water-resistance – high traffic areas are almost always adjacent to entrances. That means dragging in every element that happens on the other side of the door. If flooring isn’t water-resistant – or waterproof – damage can quickly start to show.

Warmth – here in Colorado, warmth is always a factor. If you select the wrong flooring, it may handle okay, but you’ll always notice a chill in the air.

Aesthetics – many people start with style. While it’s important, be sure to combine it with functionality to truly enjoy the space you create.

Cost – what’s more important, budget or aesthetics? For different people, the choice may encourage one choice of flooring over the other. Just remember that if you select the wrong material for high traffic areas, you’ll be replacing it more frequently than other choices. That can add up to a lot more financing over time.

What type of flooring should you consider? 

As you keep all of those characteristics in mind, it’s time to shop. We’ve been helping homeowners select the right flooring for their needs for years. If you are worried about the final product you install in your high traffic areas, we suggest you look at the following:

Tile

Tile is one of the oldest and most effective flooring choices you can install inside your home. That’s because of its durability. Tile creates a hard surface area that is scratch resistant, and best of all waterproof, as long as you install it correctly. That’s why you’ll find this in entryways and surface areas in some of the busiest places in the world. Tile truly stands the test of time.

If you take care of tile, it will be around for decades looking brand new. It’s easy to clean, easy to maintain, and when you spill something on it, it’s easy to wipe away. Tile won’t develop mold or mildew, though you will have to give the grout in between a little TLC to keep it looking and functioning well. But this too is easy to clean with a mild detergent and water. And when you need a deep clean, a steam cleaner will do the job quickly.

Tile is also eco-friendly. Tile isn’t made with harmful chemicals, and it won’t leak VOCs once they are installed inside your home. Just pay attention to the grout and adhesive you use for complete installation to ensure they remain safe once inside your home.

Luxury Vinyl

A lot of changes have happened in the luxury vinyl market these past few years. If you’re looking for new flooring, you won’t be able to ignore luxury vinyl. Luxury vinyl comes in planks and tiles designed to mimic the most popular flooring choices on the market today. If you’re looking for a versatile flooring that is durable, affordable, easy to install, easy to clean and maintain, and is comfortable underfoot, look no further than luxury vinyl.

Plus, it’s waterproof. Pay attention to the manufacturer you select, and you’ll find a high quality product that is resilient in all sorts of conditions. If you, your family, or your clients drag in ice, snow, and mud on a regular basis, you’ll love how easily luxury vinyl cleans up.

You can find luxury vinyl mimicking your favorite flooring. Want traditional hardwood, a whitewash design, or even reclaimed wood? You’ll find it with luxury vinyl. Want stone, marble, or granite, without the fuss of actually installing it? Luxury vinyl can help you create those aesthetics too.

Laminate

People love hardwood. If you can’t get hardwood out of your mind, yet you know you’ll regret your decision the moment it’s installed, give laminate another look. While it’s not recommended for areas where extreme moisture may be an issue, it does very well in high traffic areas that will take a lot of abuse. Plus, it looks good while being durable, affordable, and comfortable underfoot.

Laminate has a reputation for being ugly and noisy. Not so anymore. With today’s technology, it can take on the appearance of any wood you choose to install. Just be aware of where your laminate was made, as some cheaper manufacturers may have used chemicals and VOCs in the process. That’s why it pays to go with a reputable flooring dealer to ensure you get the highest quality flooring products.

Laminate is durable, affordable,  and will handle well under all kinds of pressure. Laminate is not the best choice in moisture situations. Laminate may buckle and warp when subjected to too much water over time. But if you want the look of natural wood in an area with lots of foot traffic or even where your pets will romp and play, laminate may be your flooring of choice.

What’s your choice? What flooring will you install in your high traffic area?

The post Install These Top Flooring Materials In High Traffic Areas first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

Sometimes the easiest way to change the look of your decor is to start with one project at a time. With a coat of paint and new flooring, you’ll be surprised at how different your home will look.

Are you looking for a do-it-yourself project? Painting the walls is easy; you’ve probably done it a few times yourself. But flooring – that sounds a bit trickier. Is there an affordable flooring option that’s easy for do-it-yourselfers?

Do a little bit of research and you’ll quickly find the concept of floating floors. Is it the right choice to suit your needs?

What is a floating floor?

Floating floors aren’t a particular type of flooring. Instead, it’s a way of installing flooring. With most flooring, there’s a lot of prep work to ensure the flooring stays put. You’ll have to:

• Ensure the subfloor is even, clean, and dry
• Buy or rent necessary tools for installation
• Select the right adhesive
• Or learn to use a nail gun
• Ensure underlayment is in place
• Carefully install the new flooring
• Live with the consequences if any part of the process didn’t go as planned

That’s why many homeowners leave floor installation to the professionals.

But that didn’t take away the desire for a DIY project. And that’s where floating floors came into play. Floating floor floats above the flooring beneath it without having to be permanently attached. The planks or tiles click and lock together to create a solid flooring structure over the flooring beneath. It provides you with an easy way to have new flooring quickly, in an economical way.

Because the floor isn’t nailed or glued down, each board is constructed in layers to add stability and strength. The top layer is the color or finish you’re looking for, while the layers underneath give it core strength and durability. And in some cases, water-resistance or even waterproof features.

What finishes are available?

The good news is that floating floors have grown in popularity over the past few years. Today you’ll find floating flooring created from a variety of different materials. If you have a color, style, or pattern in mind, you’ll find it in a floating floor.

The basic floating floor materials include:

Laminate

This is by far the most popular floating floor. Laminate planks are designed to imitate the most popular hardwood flooring choices at a fraction of the cost. It’s easy to install, and provides good stain-resistance. However, if you’re looking for water-resistance, think twice before installing laminate. Laminate isn’t made for bathrooms or laundry rooms, and can quickly wear down from too many spills in the kitchen.

Engineered wood

While some people have problems with the sound and look of laminate, they may easily prefer engineered wood to create a more cohesive look. Engineered wood looks like traditional hardwood because it has a hardwood veneer as its top layer. Yet it’s priced lower and easier to install because it’s designed with several core layers that increase durability. Want a click and lock system for a DIY project? You’ll find many options with engineered wood. Because of its popularity, you’ll even find the latest trends, such as recycled or reclaimed hardwood.

Luxury vinyl planks and tiles

Luxury vinyl has been growing in popularity because of all it offers. Want marble flooring? Want hardwood? Love the look of natural stone, but don’t want the time or mess it takes for installation? Look at tile floating floors instead. This can be the perfect choice for areas where you want a little elegance, but might not be conducive for tile. Worried about a less-than-perfect subfloor? Floating floors won’t be impacted. Plus, floating tile flooring can be the perfect thing to install in your bathrooms over radiant heating. If you choose a brand that’s waterproof, it’ll last for years without giving up on its good looks.

Cork

Cork is increasing in popularity because of what it can add into your home. Want something that absorbs sound? Want something that’s soft underfoot? You’ll love what cork has to offer. It’s also popular because it’s natural and offers sustainability improvements to your home. Install cork flooring, and you’ll feel the difference right from the beginning.

Tile

Some homeowners love the look of tile, but don’t want the mess that normally comes along with it. If that describes you, you’re in luck. Floating tiles look and feel like their counterparts, but they are easier to install than conventional tiles. You won’t need mortar. They come with automatic tile spacing guides, so you won’t have to worry about spacing problems. Pricing may be a little higher than traditional tiles; go with a cheaper option, and you may pay the price with an inferior product. But if you want a DIY approach with the classic good looks of tile, this may be the right choice.

Are floating floors the right choice for you?

If you’re looking for an easy floor to install, whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a professional, floating floors ensure you’ll have a quality floor installed in less time. The interlocking system means there’s no fuss with getting the subfloor perfect, adding adhesive, or nailing the flooring in place.

What’s more, fixing problems is easy too. Invest in extra flooring and if you have a problem – a spill, a stain, a dent, or a scuff – you simply remove the old boards and replace them with new. This can eliminate the need of having to replace the entire floor for one damaged floorboard.

Floating floors are also less expensive than other flooring options, meaning you’ll be able to replace or remodel without having to worry about the cost.

And if you’re looking for style, color, or pattern choices, you’ll be amazed at your options with floating floors. In many cases, the color ranges extend way beyond what you’ll find with traditional products.

If you want water-resistant, stain-resistant, or even waterproof flooring, the options are almost endless in floating floors.

Want to view all your options? Stop by today.

The post Want Affordable Flooring? Take a Look at Floating Floors first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

We love this fantastic new cleaning product for your hardwood floor.  The new Bona Premium Spray mop is incredibly versatile and provides ultimate care and protection for all types of wooden floors. Read More

Renovating your home is a lot of work. Aside from the toil of the job, there’s planning, budgeting, getting the right team together, acquiring the proper permits, and what material you’ll be using to make your vision come true. When it comes to installing a hardwood floor, different types of wood have unique aesthetics and characteristics that make them ideal for different locations. Let’s find out the differences to help you decide what you “wood” choose.

Oak

Oak remains the most popular choice for hardwood floors. When factoring material costs into your budget, it’s important to remember that oak is easily affordable at $2 a square foot. Comprised of a hard grain, the floor stains easily, allowing you to manipulate the color scheme to your liking. The proper stain can also accent the knots in the floor to add a unique texture to its appearance.

With proper upkeep to its surface, an oak floor can last for up to 25 years. Much of this depends on the quality of the wood, as some have lasted for over a century. Oak is naturally resistant to fungus and insect infestation and is the perfect match of both quality and cost.

Maple

Lighter in color than oak, maple comes with a slightly lower price tag. As the quality of the wood is concerned, maple is extremely durable and can withstand heavy traffic and use. Its light blonde tones are ideal for a contemporary location, especially one like a basketball court or dance floor. While maple is practical, it lacks the bold aesthetic that some people want to achieve in their living space. Maple doesn’t stain evenly and is better suited for heavy-use items and projects.

Hickory

There’s a reason why the nickname “old hickory” was used to describe General Andrew Jackson’s toughness. Hickory is dependable, strong, and comparable to a bottle of vintage wine. Hickory goes through a 200-year aging process to properly mature. This means that hickory comes with the heaviest price tag, which is comparable to its durability. Hickory requires little to no maintenance in terms of wear and tear and is water-resistant. If you want an investment rather than a project, hickory will be your ideal choice.

Supply and Demand

As you might have learned in class, the governing rules of economics are supply and demand. This not only applies to economics but the selection and quality you’ll find at www.Flooring.org. We understand better than anyone the demand for the highest quality and selection when it comes to placing the perfect floor in your house.
Visit our site for inventory and a constant stream of incredible deals. Online ordering is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We’ll be glad to help you get the floor you’ve always dreamed of.

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

Are you shopping for new hardwood flooring? You may have noticed that oak hardwood is overwhelmingly one of the most popular species on the market.

Why is oak hardwood so popular?

Oak is one of the most abundant hardwoods for lumber in the United States today. It’s native in North American and can be found all across Canada and the United States. Most red oaks grow over 150 feet in height and up to 6 feet in diameter before harvest. White oaks reach 80 feet in height and up to 6 feet in diameter.

What makes oak hardwood popular

Oak hardwood flooring is used throughout American homes because of its hardness, strength, and durability. Because oak trees grow in abundance and are readily available here in the States, it’s easy for harvesters to keep up with demand. That keeps prices low while quality remains high, meaning it’s a great option for homeowners. It’s supply and demand.

Of course, the only reason it continues to be in demand is because it works well as flooring. If homeowners didn’t like its durability, it would fade from use. Overall, homeowners choose oak flooring because of its:

Character – most homeowners start with looks. And you can’t go wrong when you select oak flooring. Oak has a natural character that’s accentuated when it’s turned into planks. You’ll notice the knots, streaks, and other blemishes that give it its unique look.

Versatility – if you want a timeless look that goes well with any decor, look no further than oak hardwood. You can use oak as your base, from country charm to traditional decor, and create classic good looks. It isn’t easy to find that with any other species of hardwood flooring.

Hardness – hardwood makes great flooring. But it’s still wood, and with wood comes the possibility of marring the finish. With too much pressure, you can scratch, dent, or even buckle the planks. That’s all determined by how hard the species of wood used is during production. That’s why oak flooring remains popular. The Janka hardness test is used to measure the hardness of wood floors. The higher the Janka rating, the more pressure required to dent the floor. The Janka score for a Northern Red Oak will be 1,220-foot-pounds. Compare that to Maple at 1,010, or Knotty Pine at 690. White oak flooring isn’t the hardest wood, it does well with most of what homeowners can dish out.

Home value – while homebuyers have specific desires in mind while they shop, they don’t want too much personality already existing inside potential homes. They want hardwood – but may be cautious if it’s too exotic for their tastes. A well maintained oak flooring will allow a homebuyer to check off that on their wish lists without giving it another thought.

The difference between red and white oak

Oak flooring is the most popular hardwood for flooring in America. But what a lot of people don’t realize is there are two separate types of oak commonly used for flooring – red and white.

If you are installing new hardwood floors, either red or white oak will do a great job over time. Which wood you select ultimately will determine what style and color you prefer. Both are durable and rank well on the Janka scale. Even the pricing can be similar depending on the market you’re in. What’s the difference then?

Color – if you install your oak flooring with a natural finish, red oak tends to have a pinkish tint. It will also be brighter than white oak. White oak tends to have warmer brown tones, and finishes darker than its red counterpart. When you stain it, red oak will continue to have red undertones, especially with stains in the lighter hues. White oak will take well to browner undertones, creating a darker look. The darker the stain, the more this difference disappears.

Grain – traditionally, red oak will have a more robust grain pattern. That means you’ll have more variance in the look of your floors. White oak is smoother and has more continuity; it’s great if you desire a uniform look. If you prefer grains to help hide scratches and marks, red oak may be better suited for your living environment. If you are minimalist and want clean lines, white oak may give you exactly what you’re looking for.

Having a house built means you can go with any type of wood and create continuity throughout your home. But if you’re replacing specific sections of your home, and want to match what already exists, knowing what’s already installed becomes a bigger challenge.

We’re happy to help you determine what you have in place. This becomes especially important if you’re butting up against hardwood stairs. Overall, red oak is used more frequently in stair treads, banisters, and other transitions. If you have them in place and won’t be replacing them, chances are good it’s red oak. They are both beautiful and will handle well over the years as you enjoy your new hardwood.

Red or white oak hardwood – which should you choose for your flooring?

If you’re in the market for new hardwood flooring, either red or white oak hardwood will do. Either species stands the test of time, and will give you a beautiful base for any decor you choose.

If you’re just starting the process of looking for flooring, start by asking yourself some questions.

• What are you looking for in flooring?
• What colors and hues do you prefer?
• Are you looking for easy maintenance?
• Will you be selling your home in the near future?
• And finally: What is your budget?

While there are many different species and types of hardwood on the market today, few have the chance of taking the place of oak. Both red and white oak are here to stay because of their availability and durability. If you install an oak hardwood flooring today, you won’t regret it in the coming weeks and months.

Nothing says beauty quite the way hardwood does. And if you install oak hardwood in your home, you’ll never go wrong.

How can we help you find the perfect oak hardwood to suit your needs?

The post Deciding On Hardwood? Is Oak Still Popular? first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

Is part of your carpet rippled or wrinkled? Have these “speed bumps” in your living, dining or media room become an eyesore or hazard in your house?

Ninety-eight percent of the time your carpet have ripples in them is from poor installation. Because carpets have a poly-propylene backing that’s glued together with glue means your carpet will relax over over 3 to 5 years after installation if the installer did not use a “power stretcher” to make sure the carpet is “drum tight” right from the start.  Since it is very flexible, installers just use a knee kicker to get it tight enough to last for up to 3 years. It is a faster way of installation, so that’s why they do this. Rest assured it is NOT from over-vacuuming or over-cleaning.  (We cleaned a customers’ carpet twice a month for 4 years and it never rippled, because it was installed correctly from the start.)

The good news: Your carpet can be fixed without costly replacement!

What’s happening to my carpet?

If the ripples are left to grow tall enough to be tripped over then delamination can occur. In short, the glue that holds the plastic backing to your carpet can dry out. The backing can pull away from the carpet fibers. This is called delamination. Delamination causes the ripples or wrinkles. If there is delamination in the ripples or wrinkles then they can never be stretched tight again.

Our extreme weather in Colorado speeds up the process. Humidity in the spring and summer helps the glue on your carpet to relax. This can also happen if your carpet is improperly cleaned with too much water and not dried thoroughly.

When we all crank up our heat in the winter, hot, forced air causes the glue to dry out and delamination occurs. Sometimes, you’ll see ripples in your carpeting shrink with weather changes. If they don’t shrink and you can’t push those ripples back down, you’ll need to get your carpet stretched to fix it.

When do I get my carpet stretched?

Everyone wants their home to be snug, cozy and safe for the holidays. It’s the number one time of year to clean our homes, decorate with holiday cheer and get ready to welcome family and loved ones. We don’t want to worry about warning everyone to avoid the carpet wrinkle hazard by the dining table!

Plus, if your carpet is rippled, walking over it can cause further damage because delaminated carpet doesn’t flex up and down when you use it. Don’t let carpet wrinkles cause injury or damage your carpet. Best to get your carpet repaired and stretched as soon as you notice permanent wrinkles.

What is involved in the repair and stretching process?

Our professional carpet installers will remove your carpet from the tack strips that hold your carpet down. We will assess your carpet and make repairs where possible. Then, our technicians will professionally stretch and reattach your carpeting with specialized equipment. This process will remove wrinkles and renew your carpet; you won’t have to spend a lot of money on new carpeting and installation.

Get your repairs done by technicians who care

A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning has been in business for over 30 years. Our technicians are certified by IICRC – The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. The IICRC is the guardian agency of the carpet cleaning and repair industry.

Each one of our team members is courteous and friendly. They are also IICRC trained which means they are dedicated to their work, uphold the highest standards and receive ongoing education about the latest repair and cleaning techniques throughout their careers.

We would be happy to answer any of your questions about carpet repair and stretching. Call us today at 720-344-2870 for a free estimate or simply schedule an appointment.

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