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This time of year can take a lot out of you, mentally,
physically and financially.  We want to
help you hold on to your money and still have the amazing holiday your family
dreams of.  Here are some ways you can keep
money in your pocket and still enjoy this hectic time of year.

Holiday Potpourri

Make your whole house smell like the holidays you remember
as a child by boiling a pot of all your favorite spices in water (Try: 2 apples
sliced, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 lemon slice, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 4
cloves). The spices will evaporate into the air creating the potpourri that
takes you back to your childhood.  It’s
easy and doesn’t require anything other than being home to monitor it. Do this
every holiday season and you will create that same tradition for your children.

Save on Postage

Free ecards instead of mailing can save you money on cards,
postage and even time.  Just download a
free ecard app from your app store.  Most
ecard apps will allow you to utilize through Facebook, email, etc.  You can even upload pictures and create fun
layouts.

Homemade Gifts

One of the best ways to save money on gift-giving during the
holidays is to make gifts.  Homemade
gifts are much more personal and enjoyable because so many people can’t take
the time to make gifts.  Things like homemade
cookies wrapped in cute packaging, painted ornaments from the dollar store or
even “coupons” for babysitting or cleaning are greatly appreciated.

Holiday Decorating

If you’re interested in decorating for the holidays but don’t want to spend a lot of money, just add small touches.  Go to your local discount store and pick up some festive hand towels for the bathroom and kitchen.  If you put up a tree, make it small which will require fewer ornaments.  Fill your reusable soap dispenser with a festive color soap and use ribbon to make cupboards and doors look like packages. Check out our other blog For More Holiday Decor on a Budget.

Replacing Floors

Get a gift for the whole family to enjoy all year round…new flooring!  The Carpet Guys have the best deals for laminate, vinyl, hardwood, and carpet.  For the price of a cup of coffee a day you can have the floors of your dreams.  Financing makes it possible for you to keep your money in the bank earning interest and still have this amazing gift!  Be Wise, Call The Carpet Guys at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or fill out our Free In-Home Estimate Form and we will help you save money for the holidays.

The post How to Save Money and Still Enjoy the Holiday appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

Looking for a new flooring option? Not sold on the same old hardwood floor?

There’s a new option for you … bamboo flooring.

If you haven’t considered bamboo flooring in the past, you may have heard and believed some of the rumors. It’s soft. It’s difficult to maintain. It won’t last as long as more traditional hardwood.

Don’t believe the rumors.

Bamboo flooring is one of the fastest growing materials in the flooring industry. For good reasons.

Let’s start with resale value.

You may or may not be planning on selling your home in the future. But even if it isn’t a thought, most of us like installing things that will bring us up to modern times. Sure, we want our own personalities to shine through. But we also want something that will last, and won’t look straight out of last century within a few short years of installation.

According to the National Wood Flooring Association, a poll they conducted asked real estate agents what they believe about houses with hardwood flooring:

• 99 percent say the house is easier to sell
• 90 percent say they can sell it for more money
• 82 percent say it sells faster than homes with other flooring options

And while type of hardwood is always a personal choice, one real estate agent stated that bamboo floors were at the top of the list for providing greater intrinsic value.

Bamboo flooring can help produce an easier sale.

Convinced you should take a second look at bamboo flooring?

What is bamboo flooring?

While we keep referring to bamboo flooring as a hardwood, it in fact, is not wood. It’s a grass. Yet because it doesn’t fit or resemble other flooring categories – tile, vinyl, laminate – it is slotted into the hardwood category because it looks a lot like hardwood.

What makes it even better than hardwood is its renewability. Because it is a grass, it grows very quickly. It can be harvested in as few as three years, cut down to be made into flooring materials. Compare that to some exotic woods that can take as long as half a century to come to maturity. It’s easy to see why this renewable resource is becoming so popular.

Processing

You’ll often hear bamboo flooring referred to as either horizontal or vertical, or strand-woven. It’s important to understand the difference.

If bamboo is cut either horizontal or vertical, it will give you a floor that looks like actual bamboo. During processing, bamboo stalks are sliced into strips. They are boiled to remove the starch, dried, and laminated into a board format. These boards are milled into planks to create strip flooring.

These stalks can be laid either horizontally or vertically into the board, thus creating either horizontal or vertical bamboo strips. Horizontal bamboo gives a greater impression of it looking like bamboo stalks, while vertical placement creates what is often referred to as tigerwood because of its streaks.

Strand woven bamboo flooring combines smaller pieces of the bamboo shoot and interweaves them with adhesive to make a stronger flooring product. Because the bamboo is pulped and mashed up, it can be formed into many different types of flooring, taking on a variety of appearances.

Durability

Because of the way bamboo flooring is processed, it is an extremely durable product that won’t change a lot over time. That means it’s an excellent choice for active households and high-traffic areas.

Because of the processing and the addition of adhesives to the final product, it creates a hardness factor that can easily compare to some of the more popular hardwoods. The Janka Hardness Scale puts natural bamboo somewhere around 1400. Compare that to Douglas Fir with a 660, or even red oak with a 1290.

It’s just as hard, if not harder, than the most popular hardwoods. It looks just as good as hardwood. And it can cost us to 50 percent less per square foot than some hardwood choices. All of that adds up to a flooring material that seems perfect for your home.

The downside of bamboo

It’s no wonder people are turning more to bamboo flooring than ever before. But before you dive in and add bamboo to the top of your list, there are a few things you should know and watch for.

Quality

There are several hundred different bamboo species, and not all of them are up for the job of becoming flooring. Yet that doesn’t stop some manufacturers from trying to pass it off as flooring.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that most bamboo comes from China. And not every manufacturer holds itself up to high business standards. As a result, many companies put profits first and product last. This causes quality issues to vary widely throughout the product lines.

If bamboo is harvested too soon, mixes toxic chemicals in with adhesives, or bonded with inferior material, it weakens the end product. This can lead to flaking, peeling, easier scratched or dented product line.

There isn’t a set standard for bamboo flooring that crosses the globe. Without set standards, buying bamboo is often buyer-beware. That’s why you should think carefully before you make your final selection, and find a reputable dealer who spends time sourcing from high-quality manufacturers.

Moisture

With set standards in place, every aspect of production would be carefully controlled. Because that isn’t the case, bamboo is produced in all kinds of factory conditions.

Even when properly processed, consistent moisture is important throughout the drying process. This is important to create a product that is stable and handles well over time. Once on the job site, it’s important to let bamboo acclimate to its new surroundings. Strand woven bamboo can take anywhere from several days to several weeks, depending on the climate.

That’s why it’s important to select a contractor who understands bamboo. This isn’t just another hardwood. You can avoid potential problems if installation is done only after testing and gauged to be ready to install.

Chemicals

From a health perspective, it’s also important to focus on the entire manufacturing process. To create bamboo flooring, adhesives are mixed with bamboo pulp to create the final product. Some Chinese factories use things like urea and formaldehyde in glues, which are known to harm health. Not only do installers run a greater risk by handling the product, but off-gassing can also cause serious health problems for everyone in the household.

We can help you make the best selection

We don’t say all of this to make you afraid of installing bamboo flooring in your house. Instead, as Denver flooring experts, we tell you this to ensure you ask questions before you make your final selection.

Bamboo flooring is a popular choice for many reasons. We love the look and durability factor.

But to ensure you get a great product, don’t trust those “too good to be true” sales where you find material at a very low cost. Spend the time to get a high-quality product you’ll love for years.

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

Setting the perfect table isn’t something we do every
day.  Therefore, it’s nice to have a
reminder of what it takes to impress our guests.  Here is how to set a perfect table for those
special events according to The Carpet Guys.

Choose a Theme

To narrow down the very broad spectrum of the perfectly decorated table, chose a theme.  Being as specific as possible will help.  Not just “Thanksgiving” but what kind of Thanksgiving?  You can pick a harvest theme with bundles of corn, pumpkins, and fun-shaped squash.  Or choose a color scheme for your holiday like blue and silver.  Then you can use your everyday dishware but accent your place settings with colors or décor for your theme.

• 

• 

Veer from the Formal Place Settings

If the table looks too formal (unless you’re having a black-tie event), it can make your guests feel uncomfortable.  Instead, go with a more layered effect.  Still, put your fork on the left and knife and spoon on the right.  Put your dinner plate, then your bread plate and your soup/salad bowl stacked in the center of each place.  Fold your napkin in a way that goes with your theme and put it in the bowl.  This will add a texture to a sometimes-benign table setting.  Glassware is often to the right of the plates but give some thought to creating convenience for your guests by putting glassware close to the drinks so they can serve their own as desired.

Table Centerpieces

Now that you have your theme picked out and your table set, you know how much space you have to work with for centerpieces.  For a small space, delegate a long, narrow platter or tray for your items because you will most likely have to move it when it’s time to bring the food out to the table.  This makes it easier to relocate if it is self-contained.  For a larger space, use narrow candles of different heights or short flower arrangements so that your guests can still see over them to converse. Want to know how to do this on a budget?  Check out our other blog How to Decorate for the Holiday on a Budget

New Flooring

Your perfect table needs to sit on the perfect flooring.  You’ve wanted to replace your flooring since you moved into that home.  The Carpet Guys have the ultimate financing options so you can have NEW FLOORING NOW!!  Our Design Consultant will show you all the options available in laminate, vinyl, hardwood, and carpet.  Our installers can install most contracts within one day so you can have it done in time for your guests.  Be Wise, Call The Carpet Guys at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) and prepare to WOW your family and friends at your special event!

The post How to Set the Perfect Table for the Holidays appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

Engineered wood flooring is a great choice for many reasons.  It is a great investment and will instantly add a natural warmth and feel of luxury to your home.  There are many reasons why we think you should choose it, but here are the top 5 benefits of engineered wood flooring: Read More

Nothing is better than finally remodeling your home and getting everything you want.

That new kitchen you’ve been dreaming about? It’s pure perfection.

The living space designed with your lifestyle in mind? Of course.

And beneath it all is the best flooring for your rooms. It looks elegant from the moment you walk in.

Then your four-legged friend comes running in from outside. He’s a bundle of energy, and flies through your rooms as if the chase was on. He makes hairpin turns, runs around and around your kitchen island. And when he finally stops, and you assess the damage, you see wear and tear on your brand new floors.

How could you have avoided all that? What’s the best scratch resistant flooring?

Pets are one of the hardest toughest forms of punishment for any flooring choice. They don’t understand your goals of keeping your flooring looking new. Their muddy paws will track in all kinds of problems. And their nails are one of the biggest potential problems.

Even if you keep their nails trimmed on a regular basis, they can still cause a lot of damage. They can gauge marks into hardwood, or snap carpet fibers into an unsightly mess. You can try and keep it clean, but getting out stains and smells often make the situation worse. Do you really want to drag in industrial-strength cleaners to do the job well? The harmful effects are the last thing you want to subject your family and pets to.

What’s a homeowner to do?

Is there a right choice for giving you the looks you want, while providing a safe environment for your pets, so they won’t make a mess the moment your flooring is installed?

Luckily, there is. You’ll love the choices you have for installing the best scratch resistant flooring into your home.

Tile

One of the best materials to use for your flooring if you have pets and high-traffic areas is tile. And because of today’s technology, you have more options than ever before.

Ceramic tile is one of the most popular types of tile for the home. You’ll find ceramic tile in kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways because it’s easy to install, durable, easy to clean, and comes in many styles, colors, and patterns. If you’re remodeling on a budget, ceramic tile is a great choice.

Porcelain tile gives you an elegant finish with the ability to emulate just about any look you desire. That’s why it’s grown in popularity over the past few years. If you’ve seen tile floors that look like natural stone, brick, or hardwood, it’s porcelain tile that gives it its good looks. It’s also perfect for inside/outside living as it won’t freeze, fade, or crack.

If you’re looking for natural, there are many options you can choose from. However, keep in mind that many natural stones like limestone and travertine are beautiful but softer than other tiles. They may be more susceptible to scratches and stains, something your pets dish out on a regular basis.

If you’re dreaming of the look or hardwood but have put it off because of your four-legged friends, it’s time to rethink your look and consider wood-look tile instead. You’ll love that it wears well in all kinds of situations, and in many cases, you have to get down on the floor to determine it isn’t the real thing.

Laminate

If your heart is set on hardwood, consider laminate instead. It’s an artificial wood product that’s both durable and resilient.

Laminate flooring is a multi-layer product that is fused together by a lamination process. The bottom layer is designed to give it strength. The inner layer is usually a melamine resin and fiberboard used for durability. The photographic layer gives it its classic good looks. The top layer is a clear-coat protection so that the photographic layer stays protected.

Laminate has grown in popularity for a variety of reasons. It’s easier to install than hardwood, being able to be laid with a click and lock into place construction system. It floats over the subfloor rather than have to be nailed or glued into place.

That makes it more forgiving when being installed, being able to be applied over a variety of subfloor situations. It requires less skill, meaning it can be a DIY project if you’re looking to save even more. There are also several hygienic brands on the market that can provide you with a safer, cleaner flooring choice if you’re worried about your family’s health.

Luxury Vinyl

Luxury vinyl is also growing in popularity because of its looks and durability. This isn’t your mother’s vinyl. Instead, it’s designed with both fashion and durability in mind.

Why so popular? Because you can choose luxury vinyl to mimic hardwood planks, yet be more functional and affordable in the process.

The biggest advantage vinyl plank flooring has that makes it so popular is because it is 100 percent water resistant. That means any surface spills won’t affect the flooring. That’s a pretty big benefit when dealing with pets. If you know you can wipe away any mishap without a problem, it pushes it up the list.

If you have a lot of traffic or are worried about the effects your pet can dish out, you can upgrade to commercial grade, to ensure your flooring is even more durable. No matter what your final selection is, you’ll know it’s easily maintained with regular sweeping and an occasional swipe of a mop.

When most people think of vinyl, they tend to think of the soft floors from their parents’ era. While vinyl is still more friendly for standing and walking on, advances have also made the core level more rigid for a stable, sturdier construction. If you choose a thicker material, it’s more forgiving when installed on the subfloor. If you have small problem areas, luxury vinyl might just cover them up. It’s important to talk with your flooring consultant before you make your final selection to ensure it’s a perfect fit for your conditions. That will ensure you have a long lasting product that will look great throughout the years.

It’s time to install – what’ll it be?

Are you ready to put scratch resistant flooring into your space? Which choice will it be?

Tile, laminate, and luxury vinyl are all perfect additions to any home with pets. Whichever you choose, you’re going to love your flooring for years to come.

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

Hardwood floors are an investment, and you want to care for them as best you can. However, you may actually be damaging your hardwood flooring when you think you are caring for them. Are you ruining your hardwood floors? Read on to learn more.

One of the ways you may be damaging your flooring is by using the wrong cleaner. Some hardwood floor cleaners actually hurt floors, instead of helping them. Some citrus-scented floor cleaners can actually strip finishes. Before using a cleaner, check to make sure it is compatible with your flooring.

Another way you may be hurting your flooring is by not having a welcome mat. Sure, a welcome mat may seem like just a decoration, but a welcome mat can actually help you keep dirt and debris from coming into contact with your hardwood. Without a welcome mat, your floor can start to feel like sandpaper at the bottom of your feet. Not only is this uncomfortable and dirty, but it can also lead to damage.

Do you have a pet? If so, untrimmed pet nails can scratch up your floor. Make sure to maintain your pet’s nails for their health and the condition of your flooring. If you can hear your pet’s nails tapping the floor when they walk, it is time to cut their nails. Similarly, unprotected furniture legs and high heels can scratch up your floors. Consider adding padding beneath your furniture legs and removing your heels when you’re walking indoors.

When vacuuming your flooring, make sure you are using a hardwood-safe vacuum head. Some heads, especially metal heads, can scratch your floors. While you think you are caring for your floor by removing dirt and debris, you are actually scratching your floors.

Now that you know how not to damage your floors, you’re ready to shop at flooring.org. Check out our inventory to discover the perfect flooring for your home and give us a call at 800-689-9006 with any questions!

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

A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning in Englewood suggests deep-cleaning your carpet at least once a year. Of course, the first question every homeowner asks themselves is, “Should I hire a professional or do this myself?” If you want the job done right and you’re interested in saving money, we recommend using a professional carpet cleaning company – and here’s why.

Stain Removal

The carpet cleaning profession is constantly evolving, with new treatments and equipment always in development to better treat the toughest stains. And although you may have experience tending to spills of several types, chances are you’re not overly interested in the carpet business. Hiring a pro means being able to take advantage of the latest innovations, designed to save homeowners time and money.

Another reason to go with a professional is to avoid the very real risk of making a stain worse by not using the right cleaner, using too much/too little water/cleaner, or misidentifying the carpet fabric. Such mistakes can end up costing big money, but they’re easily avoidable simply by hiring an experienced cleaning company.

Low-Moisture Solutions

One of the most common DIY carpet cleaning mistakes is the overuse of water, resulting in a soaked carpet. The fact that a watered-down carpet will take days to dry is actually the least of your problems – the bigger issue is the likelihood of wicking and the increased chances of a mold/mildew problem. Wicking is the process by which water rises to the surface of the carpet while bringing with it much of the dirt and dust residing in the carpet’s deeper regions. At best, an oversaturated carpet is a big headache – at worst, you’ll need completely new carpet.

These problems vanish when you hire professional carpet cleaners. A company like ours uses low-moisture cleaning equipment and is proficient at “dry” cleaning techniques that require a minimal amount of water. The result is a carpet that costs less to maintain, dries out quickly, and stops mold and wicking in their tracks.

Superior Equipment

Many DIY carpet cleaning jobs rely on rented carpet cleaning equipment. Unfortunately, depending on the rental source, you’re liable to find that the solutions available for rental today are holdovers from 1997. Also, each renter has their own approach when it comes to upkeep and parts replacement – but since this type of equipment isn’t their main business (i.e. a grocery store), they typically invest the bare minimum.

The equipment used by our local carpet cleaning company is far superior to anything you’ll find on the rental market. Sure, it may cost more, but it makes more sense to pay once for a great job than pay twice for a subpar job that still might not meet your expectations. And from a functional point of view, utilizing our services eliminates the need for you to free up space in your home for storage of self-purchased cleaning supplies and equipment.

For Clean Carpets, Go With The Pros

Although DIY carpet cleaning might seem like a good idea from a short-term/cost perspective, in the long run you’re much better off going with the pros at A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. Call us today for a professional carpet cleaning quote. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”

The post How Professional Carpet Cleaners Can Save You Money appeared first on A Personal Touch.

If you want to glue wooden flooring over concrete, here is what you will need to know. You can fit both engineered wood and solid wood flooring over a concrete subfloor.  A solid wooden floor needs to be glued down to the concrete. An engineered wooden floor can either be glued down or laid over an underlay. Read More

Wood flooring type depends on the different structures, profiles and size of the flooring.  It is really important to choose the correct type of flooring for your project.  Remember that the species of wood determines the colour and grain pattern that you will see.  Read More

When you work with a Littleton company like A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, you get the kind of top-flight expertise that only comes with decades of experience. Keeping your upholstery spotless is one goal of our cleaning company serving Englewood, and our expert team adheres to a specific set of dos and don’ts.

Do: Vacuum Frequently

Don’t wait until crumbs, dust, dirt, and other particulate is heavily entrenched in your couch, loveseat, or easy chair. Instead, vacuum frequently – daily, if necessary – and ensure that your furniture’s arms, cushions, and crevices are crud-free. Left unaddressed, these materials can cause discoloration and foul odors, yet another reason to keep your vacuum handy. You can also count on our local furniture cleaners to apply the latest, eco-friendliest protective polishes and stain preventers.

Do: Spot-Treat and Clean Stains Immediately

All of us have spilled something at some point in our lives, and some of these substances have been acidic furniture-damagers like wine and coffee. It’s important to spot-clean these spills right when they happen in order to avoid permanent damage to your furniture. An off-the-shelf cleaning product should be enough to stem the tide (depending on what was spilled, and how much) until our team reaches your house and can assess the issue first-hand. For large stains and/or stains made by a highly acidic or toxic product, we’ll address the problem with professional-grade cleaning solutions and high-powered stain removal equipment.

Don’t: Saturate Upholstery With Water

It’s natural for a homeowner to want to attack a stain or spill with water, especially when the spill is made of something notorious for causing long-term damage. However, using too much water can lead to its own set of problems. When excess water soaks furniture, the moisture seeping into the upholstery often causes ripples and/or buckling in the fabric, which can be hard to remedy. In fact, extreme cases might necessitate replacing the item with a new piece of furniture.

If the spill affects your furniture and the surrounding carpet, it’s equally important not to soak the carpet. Too much water can cause wicking, which happens when moisture penetrates deep into the carpet and then rises back to the top, carrying with it any deep-rooted soil and spill residue. But the “wick” is akin to an iceberg, with the surface-visible residue connected to unseen detritus nestled deeper in the carpet.

Carpet wicking, as well as upholstery ripples and buckling is best avoided by using a gentle, low-water approach to cleaning.

Don’t: Ignore Fading Colors

Sunlight, usage, and airborne/product-based chemicals all contribute to furniture losing its color. Fading begins gradually, but soon you’ll see that one area of your couch isn’t as “colorful” as another. Although this is a natural byproduct of furniture ownership, it doesn’t mean your only recourse is to let the fading continue. Our local cleaning company has the expertise to restore the original colors to your furniture and upholstery. At the very least, we recommend consulting us anytime you think it’s time to replace a faded piece of furniture with something new.

Trust Our Experts To Keep Your Upholstery Clean

For professional upholstery cleaning near Englewood, trust A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. With our help, your furniture will remain clean, vibrant, and stain-free for years to come. Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”

The post The Dos and Don’ts of Upholstery Cleaning appeared first on A Personal Touch.