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Natural wood, including oak, makes for a perfect building and finishing material, in both homes and offices. Wood finishing has a natural ambiance that promotes comfort, warmth, and coziness. There are many ways to use wood to finish a home, and one popular way is to use wood flooring. Using oak is an excellent choice, as it has a number of attractive features.

Natural Beauty

Oak has a naturally warm and attractive appearance, enhanced by the wood’s oils. The texture and grain of oak are appealing to the eye. And with white oak, many kinds of techniques for coloring the woodwork well. So, you can finish your home with oak as is, or change its appearance to your liking.

Maintenance

Oak is more moisture-resistant than most kinds of wood used for finishing rooms. That makes it less prone to decay and rot. It also tends to warp and twist less than other types of wood. Because oak has a prominent grain, small amounts of damage tend to blend with the wood’s pattern.

Finishes

Oak lends itself well to making engineered wood flooring; it is a thin layer of oak bound to good quality plywood. That makes for advantages in cost, installation, and choices. Engineered wood is less expensive than solid hardwood, easier to install, and is offered in more shades and hues than natural wood colors. So, if you have a specific, and hard to match, requirement for the wood flooring in your home, you may want to try engineered wood.

Walls

With oak floors, you have attractive options for the wall colors in the rooms. For red oak, yellow or apricot walls add to the warmth of oak floors. You can also use blue or even pastels. With white oak floors, especially with a bleached finish, walls can be painted charcoal, or conversely, painted to match the floor color. The goal is to either add warmth to the room, or an attractive degree of contrast to the appearance of the warmth from the oak floor.

If you would like more information, please reach out to flooring.org today by calling 800-689-9006. We look forward to working with you!

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

A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning always brings its “A game” to every project we’re involved with. Our carpet cleaning services satisfy a variety of needs for homeowners in Denver and Littleton, and they’re of particular use to those of our customers who are preparing to sell their house.

Make Your Home Move-In Ready

While there’s no chance a potential buyer will move into your home the day of your first open house, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make your home move-in ready. This is especially true for your carpet, which in most homes occupies a sizable chunk of floor space and is thus readily visible to eager buyers. A dirty, dusty, smelly carpet is a big turn-off, not just aesthetically but also because a buyer will likely have concerns regarding the cost to clean or replace it before moving in. Remedy this potential pitfall by having your carpets professionally cleaned and looking brand-new.

Eliminate Odors

Unlike stains, which are readily visible to the eye, odors are trickier because we tend to get used to them over time. The two biggest culprits here are odors related to cigarette smoke and pets, both of which can be a significant red flag for potential buyers – especially those who don’t smoke or have pets. A professional carpet cleaner can evaluate the “odor level” in your home and apply the right cleaning techniques so that your home smells fresh again.

Enhance Your Home’s Appearance

Some years back, there was a deodorant ad with the slogan, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” It’s a memorable line because it applies to many things in life, including the carpet of a house that’s for sale. A clean carpet further boosts the appeal of the various rooms in a home, and shows a buyer that the current homeowner is diligent about upkeep. If you really want to make a good first impression and wow potential buyers with your home’s appearance, don’t settle for a simple vacuuming and/or shampooing, as these implements only clean the carpet’s surface. Instead, hire a professional carpet cleaner with the equipment and know-how to eliminate even the most ground-in stains and restore your carpet’s color and vibrancy.

Strive For a “Healthy Home”

Nowadays it seems like allergy sufferers and people with respiratory issues have it worse than ever. Pollen, dust, dirt, and other particulates are ever-present, and so too dander, mold, and the various contributors to hay fever. The last thing a homebuyer wants is to step into a house in which these substances are even partially problematic – especially when children or elderly people will reside in the home. A professional carpet cleaner utilizes a healthy, non-toxic approach for remove these allergens and materials from your home, allowing everyone to breathe easier.

For a Quicker Home Sale, Leverage Our Expertise

When you’re ready to sell your home, count on A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning to deliver first-class cleaning services that will help your house shine. Also, bear in mind that carpet cleaning is just one of the many services we offer. Our team is also proficient at carpet repair, upholstery cleaning, and much more.  Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”

The post Selling Your Home? Get Your Carpets Cleaned First appeared first on A Personal Touch.

Once you’ve decided to have the flooring experts at Floor Sand Crafting install hardwood floors in your home, next comes this hard question: what color do you choose for the stain? It’s normal to feel some pressure in making this decision, considering the investment and long-lasting nature of hardwood floors. But with a few considerations, you’ll choose the right color in no time.

Things to Consider 

• Your room/home’s style: Choose a stain color that enhances your home’s decor. If your style is modern, a warm, red tone might not be the best choice. Similarly, traditional rustic decor might not quite flow with a grayer color. We can help you understand how different tones can complement or clash with your home’s style. 

• The type of hardwood: Wood is a porous, live substance. Depending on the wood’s grain and pore size, the stain may absorb differently. During our first on-site consultation in your home, we can advise you on the best stain for your floors. We’ll present different stain samples on your floors, not on samples, because your floors may react differently than the sample wood.

• Maintenance levels: Lighter stains are easier to maintain because scratches, dents, dog hair, dirt, and dust don’t show as much. These lighter stains also show off the wood’s grain pattern. This can be great or not-so great, depending on the amount of imperfections in the wood. Darker stains will mask many imperfections in your wood, but may require you to clean the floors more often.

We’ll Find Your Perfect Stain Color

We firmly believe that the only way to determine the best stain color for your Indianapolis home is to test it on your floors. While color swatches and color charts may give you a general idea of the color, nothing can compare to seeing the actual color on your floors. We will sand, prep, and stain a small section of your floor. We’ll repeat the process until you find a color you are satisfied with. Typically, it only takes two or three trials until we find the perfect stain for you.

Your Hardwood Stain Experts

Floor Sand Crafting has helped thousands of your Indiana neighbors choose the perfect stain for their hardwood floors, and we can help you too! We would love to discuss your renovation or building project. Request a free quote or give us a call today at (317) 759-2575.

The post Choosing a Stain Color for Your Hardwood Floors appeared first on Floor Craft Sanding.

For carpet repair and installation, Littleton homeowners trust A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. Our customers also turn to us for advice on all things carpet-related, and one of the most popular questions we field is, “What are the most durable types of carpeting?”

When discussing carpet durability, it’s best to start with the type of fiber the carpet is made from.

Fiber Choices

Nylon

Nylon’s durability and versatility make it a natural choice for any area of a home. This is especially true for high-traffic areas, since nylon possesses excellent wear resistance and is easy to clean. Though it isn’t naturally stain-resistant, many nylon carpet varieties are pre-treated with a protective coating to ward off stains and spills.

Wool

Carpet options don’t come more natural than wool. Though it tends to be more expensive than other fiber types, wool offers a terrific suite of benefits. It’s stain-resistant, hypoallergenic, and in some variations is even flame-retardant. Plus, wool is exceptionally soft and looks great.

Polyester

Polyester stands out for its stain resistance and its natural softness. As manmade fibers go, it isn’t as durable as nylon, but significant advancements have been made over the years that have increased polyester’s durability tenfold compared to the polyester carpeting of yesteryear.

Polypropylene

Also known as olefin, the biggest upside offered by a polypropylene carpet is its lack of water absorption. This quality makes polypropylene remarkably stain and fade-resistant, more so than nylon or polyester. On the flipside, olefin isn’t as resilient as these fibers, and so its best employed in low-traffic areas of the home.

Texture Choices

After you’ve chosen a fiber, the next step is to pair it with a texture.

Berber

Arguably the most popular choice for home carpeting, berber offers the best of all worlds. It’s durable, and thus a top choice for hallways, entryways, and other busy spots. It’s also easy on the eye, because it often possesses a base color and then hints/traces of other colors running through it. In terms of feel, berber boasts a classy, comfortable texture.

Cut

A cut carpet’s defining trait is that its yarns are cut at the ends. There are several variations of cut carpet, including frieze, velvet, and the well-known shag. Every variation possesses a soft feel, and their durability depends on the amount of “twists” in the yarns. With so many colors, looks, and “twist levels” to consider, a cut carpet works anywhere in the home.

Loop

Loop carpet, notable for its yarns that are looped and uncut on the carpet surface, is naturally durable and an excellent dirt-concealer. Moreover, a loop carpet’s formidable strength and unique construction allow it to turn foot traffic into an asset: the more wear that a loop carpet endures, the deeper and richer its colors appear. A byproduct of this quality is that loop carpet doesn’t require as much vacuuming as other carpet types.

Shop For Carpet With Confidence

If you’ve been searching online for a “carpet cleaner near me”, contact A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. Not only do we offer a variety of carpet cleaning and repair services, our experienced team will help you assess your durability needs when it’s time to choose new carpet.  Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”

The post The Most Durable Types of Carpeting appeared first on A Personal Touch.

In the event that you’ve recently spent a fortune installing new carpet in your home or office, you have to analyze a couple points of interest to ensure your handyman did the job right. Carpet installation can be a dubious strategy, particularly on staircases and in rooms where the carpet flooring Arizona moves to another ground surface material like hardwood or tile.

[Tweet “It may be best to put on a speculative trench coat and get a larger than usual magnifying glass to examine whether the carpet installation phoenix is introduced well or whether you have to begin a carpet examination.”]

Wrinkles or Folds:

Inspect the surface of the carpet for wrinkles or folds that cause the carpet to look distorted or rippled. On the off chance that carpet installation phoenix hasn’t sufficiently pulled and extended the carpet flooring Arizona over the carpet tacks, the surface will crease. Step delicately on the wrinkle to check whether it quickly vanishes. In the event that it does, there may have been a little wrinkle in the cushioning that is no more a problem. On the off chance that it doesn’t vanish instantly, the carpet wasn’t installed well.

Seams as Border/Walls:

Review the seams where the carpet meets the walls, baseboards, entryways or different sorts of flooring. In the event that you see frayed or loose edges that aren’t flawlessly tucked under the wall, floorboards or transitional carpet strips, the carpet isn’t installed well according to phoenix carpet stores. Carpet installers frequently secure edges with extra tacks, carpet tape, move strips or cements to lessen the probability of carpet isolating from the wall or disentangling at the corners. Contact the installer to repair any unattractive seams.

Unleveled Carpet Surface:

Lie on your stomach and view the carpet from the side. Reposition your body to look at the carpet in another heading. On the off chance that you don’t see dips, buckles or divots in the surface of the carpet, your carpet installation was done nicely, suggests phoenix carpet stores. A carpeted surface ought to be smooth and level. On the off chance that you see troublesome areas, the cushioning underneath the carpet may have clasped. It’s likewise conceivable that you have a twisted or harmed subfloor that isn’t the installer’s flaw. Be that as it may, the installer ought to have told you of critical irregularities in the subflooring before installing the carpet.

Stair liners:

Carpet is glued to the edge of the stair to guarantee it is fixed in place. Inspect the opposite side of the stairs, the uncovered side that ordinarily supports the stair railing. Ensure the carpet wraps safely around the handrail and rails without any gaps or loose ends. In the event that the side appears to be like the closures of a conveniently wrapped present, the carpet is installed properly.

The post How Do You Know If Your Carpet is Getting Installed Properly appeared first on Express Flooring.

Flooring is an essential part of the house. Choosing the perfect flooring for your house takes a lot of time given the number of varieties available in the market. Most of these flooring are easy to maintain but you need to clean them nonetheless to make them look new always.

All the floorings are required to be cleaned in a different way. For some floorings are easier to clean while others are not. In order to ensure your flooring makes your house look better, you need to maintain it from time to time. Here are a few tips using which you can clean your flooring without much hassle.

How to clean Ceramic or Porcelain Floor

Ceramic or Porcelain tiles are the easiest to clean and maintain. If something has spilled over the floor or there is a stain, then all you need to do is wipe it using a wet mop. You can use a neutral floor cleaner once a while for cleaning the floor. All sorts of mops work great but the best mop is the good old string mop. One needs to ensure that the grout lines between the flooring are also cleaned properly and nothing is stuck between them to make your flooring look new as ever. Also, make sure not to use abrasive cleaner on the floor otherwise it will scratch the glaze.

How to clean Vinyl Floor

Vinyl flooring is available in a lot of varieties these days. The most popular amongst it is the vinyl planks and vinyl tiles. These flooring as very easy to maintain and clean and do not take much time also. If you have spilled something on the floor, then you can clean it using a wet mop just like for ceramic or porcelain flooring. Even while washing the floor, make sure that you use a neutral floor cleaner and not an abrasive one to ensure that the flooring does not get spoiled. If after moping you can see streaks on the floor, mop it again using a solution of white vinegar and water. Do not pour water directly over the floor or it will loosen the adhesive and increase the chances of floor damage.

How to clean Wooden Floor

Hardwood flooring is not as easy to maintain as other types of flooring options but if cleaned regularly, no damage will be done to the flooring and it can remain new for a really long time. If you want your floor to shine to give it a polished look for a long time, just vacuum your floor and then apply liquid floor cleaner over it using a dry wax applicator. This will keep your floor new as ever for a long time.

Make sure to clean you flooring properly to intact the beauty of your house.

The post How to Clean Different Types of Flooring appeared first on Express Flooring.

It is imperative that we have perfectly laid floors and perfectly done walls. there are a lot of things you need professional assistance for and luckily enough vinyl installation Arizona is not one of them. When choosing flooring and there are many vinyl flooring options that you can go through before you make a final decision. Once you have gone through all vinyl flooring options and selected the one that suits you best then the next question you arrive at is just as crucial as selecting the flooring is, laying. There are a lot of people who will do the job of vinyl installation Arizona for you. But if you have decided to get involved and do it yourself here are a few tips that might be able to help you with that. Sheet vinyl flooring needs a few things to be checked, like first off you need to lay the floor in position. When working with Sheet vinyl flooring you will be able to see how easy it is to do this job yourself. The next thing you need to do is fold the sheet of flooring and remember that even the best quality sheets are not extremely flexible so do not over bend to avoid any cracks or breaking.

If you have looked at vinyl flooring options, you would have gone through a whole lot of options before you decided on the one. Be sure to choose a vinyl sheet that is premium in quality and also that your sales guy is giving you a warranty and a guarantee period.

While getting Sheet vinyl flooring get a template of the room that you will be installing it in. This way you will have precise measurements to work with which implies lesser room for error.

Another important tip to remember while doing vinyl installation Arizona, is to prepare the subfloor. Make sure that it is completely leveled and free of any things that may be a potential hindrance in the perfection of the laying.

A lot of people complain of chipping or tearing after vinyl installation Arizona. To avoid that put the sheets in the room and leave them for 48-72 hours, this way it will absorb the natural moisture of the room and the likelihood that might tear off or peel is low.

Another major win for Sheet vinyl flooring is that most of them come with the adhesive pre applied to the back. That way it becomes very easy to apply it all you need to do it cut the sheets in measurements that suit the room that you want it in.

Wait several hours before restoring the molding and trims. You do not want you hard work to go it vain, so let it dry off perfectly.

If you follow the instructions on the package and also kept these tips in mind vinyl installation Phoenix can be done with great ease.

The post How to Install a Sheet Vinyl Floor – Tips appeared first on Express Flooring.

It is a very tedious job to refinish a wooden floor. The first and foremost aspect one has to figure out is what kind of wood is used, is it oak maple or heart pine? When compared heart pine and maple are harder to refinish than oak. Floors that are made of engineered wood cannot be refinished, as they have a thin layer of veneer on the top and when we try to sand it, it will come right off.

A minimum 1/8 inch of wood should remain above the tongue for the floor to be refinished. If your floor is in good condition then you can refinish and make it a beautiful floor to be able to walk on.

Things you will need to refinish a hardwood floor:

• Mainly you will need to rent a drum sander or a belt sander. It is wiser to choose a belt sander as it is easy to control and you can change the belts easily as well. The problem with a drum sander is, if you don’t keep it moving it can make grooves on your floor that cannot be repaired. Moreover the drum sander is heavier.
• You will need an edge sander. This will make it easy to sand the edges and the corners of a room.
• Buffer
• Orbital/palm sander
• Vacuum
• Tack cloths
• Dust masks
• To protect ears
• Goggles
• Knife or scraper
• Natural bristle brush/foam applicators

Refinishing hardwood floors is a 6 step process:

Preparation: Remove everything from the room. Pull out the staples and nails that have been used to put down a carpet/ plywood. Sweep the floor thoroughly and dust mop. Keep the floor as clean as possible.

Before you begin, do a walk through and carefully inspect that there are no loose boards or anything that needs repair.

1st sanding: Sanding a floor tends to raise a lot of dust. Make sure to cover everything like vents and doorways with plastic to keep the dust to get into them. Be sure to wear the safety gear, as sanders can get very loud. It is common for a nail or splinter to fly up on to your face when using a sander. Fit your sander with a course grit paper (20-36). Try an area that is less visible, to get a hang of it. Start the sander away from the floor and then slowly lower it onto the ground.

Be very careful as it is very easy for the sander to make a swirl mark or scratch the floor. Sand from wall to wall forward and backward along the grain for each row. First sanding removes the finish that was previously on it but does not resurface the wood floor. Make sure to check the sanding belt and change if needed. You can only remove up to 85% of the finish in the first step. Once you are done with the main part of the room, sand the edges using the edge sander. Sand the part next to the baseboard and work towards the area that just completed. Semi circular motion from left to right should be used.

2nd sanding: Sanding for the second time basically removes any scratches made by the previous sanding and removes any leftover finish and marks. Use an 80 grit paper and repeat what you did previously. The only thing is, start from the opposite end of the room. Once the floor is completely sanded, use the edge sander again with an 80 grit paper to sand the edges of the room. After this is done, the floor should look like planks that are freshly milled.

Final sanding: Install a 100 grit paper and begin sanding your room from the same place that you started the first sanding. This final sanding is to remove all the scratches left from the previous sanding. Sand up to the base boards and then blend the edges into the main floor.

Buffing: After you are done with the sanding, the next step is to buff your floor. Use a 100 grit sand screen on a buffer. Moving the buffer back and forth will help even out the scratches. Make sure not to hurry this step. Never leave the buffer in one place for too long as it can cause scratches. Use a random orbit sander with a 100 grit paper to finish up the buffing. Lastly the baseboards need to be sanded to blend it with the main floor.

Apply the finish: Firstly you have to decide what kind of a finish you are looking for. Two types of finishes available, water based or oil based. Using these you can either have a gloss, semi gloss or a satin finish. Mostly satin finish is preferred as it is good at hiding imperfections on the floor. If you are looking for a traditional look with a glow then oil based finish is the way to go but the only issue is the fumes are very toxic and you have to be sure you ventilate the room well. On the other hand the water based polyurethane will dry clear and doesn’t give a yellowish look for your floor.

Another kind of finish is the OSMO hard wax oil, it is an Eco-friendly option that resists humidity and can be used in bathrooms and kitchens. It is considered to be safe to use in children’s bedroom and there furniture.

Once the decision is made, use the natural bristle brush or a foam applicator to cut in along the edges and corners. Make sure the layers are not too thick and it doesn’t drip. Apply a thin even coat. Start applying from the inside of the room to the outside, so that you don’t get stuck inside. When the finish is still wet, blend in the brush marks with a foam applicator or a lamb’s wool. Be sure you give it 24 hours to dry. Before you start the last coat, use a soft damp cloth and drag it along the floor to clean out any dust particles. After the last coat is completed give it 24 hours to a week if possible for it to dry out completely. Do not mop the floor for at least a couple of weeks.

The post Step By Step Guide to Refinishing Wood Floors appeared first on Express Flooring.

Commercial flooring options are many, but there is nothing like carpet tiles. Commercial Carpet tiles have come about recently, leaving behind traditional carpet with their usefulness and handiness. Carpet tile installation is way easier than installing traditional carpet. Hence it is preferred in commercial and even domestic spaces. There are a few guidelines that one must follow while installing commercial carpet tiles. Money can be saved by not hiring professional services for installation. The process is easy but requires precision in order to have a perfect and beautiful floor. The following is a guide on how to install commercial carpet tiles.

Commercial Carpet Installation Guide:

While buying the tiles make sure that are of the color and shade that you want and all the tiles are uniform. It is necessary that the carpet tiles are kept in the room’s temperature so that they acclimatize to it. The humidity must never fall below 30% as this can cause gaping between the tiles. Carpet tiles can be installed over any surface that is wax free such as laminate, vinyl or even hardwood. If it is a concrete floor, make sure the surface is sealed properly. The surface must be cleaned thoroughly. Get rid of every speck of dust and dirt for a firm carpet installation. Remove any blotches or stains with a damp cloth. Allow the surface to dry thoroughly before you begin your procedure.

When you start, decide on a pattern. You can either have straight or Checker board. For a checker board pattern, you have to turn every alternate tile 90 degrees. Measure the length of each side of the wall and divide each by 2. This will give you the mid-point on each wall. Take a tile, measure its length and find the mid-point of the tile too. Place the tile near the wall in such a way that the midpoint of the wall lies exactly where the mid-point of the tile is. Mark the two ends of the tile that touch the wall. Repeat this process for the all walls. Now draw lines from one wall to the opposite where you had marked the ends of the tile. You should have two parallel lines running across the room between two walls. You will end up with a cross hair.

Place a tile at the centre, where all the lines meet and form a space for the tile. This will be your starting point from where you can start laying your tiles. Place the first row of tiles without adhesive so that you can adjust the ends of the tiles. The last tile that meets the wall must be of the same length as the one on the opposite wall. Make adjustments accordingly.

If the tiles have an adhesive backing then go ahead and peel and stick. Else you could apply adhesive to a portion of the floor with a roller and stick the tiles carefully on it. It is advised to lay tiles in one quadrant first so that it is easier to move. To work around doors, vents or irregular corners you can use a utility knife and a carpenter’s square to cute the tile accordingly. Once you are done with the entire floor, use a dry roller to roll over the floor and make sure all seams are perfect. Get rid of excessive glue with a damp cloth and allow the floor to dry.

Allow the floor to rest for 5-7 days before allowing traffic on it. Enjoy your newly installed commercial carpet floor!

The post How to Install Commercial Carpet Tiles appeared first on Express Flooring.

Click lock floor is basically a type of floating floor, which is made of planks that join together near the sides and gets locked. For the click lock flooring, no nails or glue is used. Planks interconnect when one plank is angled and then laid down next to the other plank. Click lock flooring requires gap of ¼ in around the edge of the room. If the gap is not provided then expanding and contracting can cause damage to the floor boards.

As there are no nails or glue involved, the best way to fix a plank that is damaged is to unclick it, remove it and place the new board in its place.

You will need:

• A pry bar.
• A circular saw.
  
  

Here you can find the step by step process on how to repair the click lock floor.

Step 1: First and foremost, locate the area where the boards are damaged. Next find the wall that is parallel to the direction of the boards. Now you will need to remove the boards from that wall to the area where it is damaged to replace with new boards.

Step 2: With the help of a pry bar remove the baseboard from the wall that is near the area of repair and put it aside. As the boards have to be removed, first remove the baseboard that is concealing the edge of the flooring. After you finish with the new boards you can reinstall that baseboard again.

Step 3: Next you will have to examine the area where the planks meet the wall. Try to get a hold of the edge of the planks with your fingers, if there is not enough place for your fingers, you can try to place the edge of the pry bar into the gap.

Step 4: Now lift the plank that is closest to the wall, this will help the plank slide down to the floor at an angle and it will help to disengage the lock on the floor. To remove the planks slide it backwards. Continue doing this till you get to the damaged area. Once removed discard the damaged boards.

Step 5: Replace all the boards that are damaged with new ones leading back to the wall. Hold the board at an angle and 5-6 inches above the ground level, so that the edges of the two boards meet. Before lowering the planks to the ground push the two boards together till they lock. Repeat this process till you reach the wall.

Step 6: Before you finish, make sure you leave a gap of ¼ inch in between of the wall and the last plank. In case, the last board is too big and is not allowing a gap use a circular saw and cut the plank to the appropriate width needed and then install.

Step 7: The baseboard that you removed in step 1 can be replaced now to cover the gap.

Phoenix Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood Installation Tucson

The post How to Repair Click-Lock Flooring [Quick Guide] appeared first on Express Flooring.