Author: admin

Referral programs are more necessary now than ever before! While we enter an economic crisis after lockdown, prices keep going up, and every penny counts in the bank. The Carpet Guys will pay you to refer your friends and family. Read on to find out how.

Tell All Your Friends and Family for Referral Bonus

If you are a previous customer, or just had a great service experience getting your flooring installed with The Carpet Guys, we will pay you to refer your friends and family.  With our referral program, we will pay up to $100 for each qualified purchase.  That can turn into a very lucrative reward program. Realtors and home improvement specialists are included.  If you have customers that are looking for flooring and you refer The Carpet Guys, we will send you a free bonus. Resources would include co-workers, and extended family, even if you overhear someone talking in the grocery store that wants flooring. Tell them about your awesome experience and that they should use your name when they book their appointment.

Where Can I Sign Up for the Referral Program?

If you already referred someone, you could fill out this online form at The Carpet Guys Referrals. We just need your name, mailing address, email, and phone number. We will never use or sell your information. We have our own agent standing by to process your referral and it will be mailed to you within 45 days of your friend’s installation completion.

When you tell your friend about The Carpet Guys, make sure they let their Design Consultant know you referred them.  If it’s on the contract, that is how we verify that you referred them and will get money. Then, after the installation is complete, we will issue a check and put it in the mail for you.  If we don’t have your address, our agent will call you to confirm your name and mailing address. It’s that easy to be a part of this program!

What is a Referral Qualifying Purchase?

A qualifying purchase to get credit for referring your network is an actual purchase of installation by The Carpet Guys.  If they set up an appointment but don’t purchase, it doesn’t count. They must make the purchase and pay their balance in full. Once we have installed their new flooring, we will process your referral reward. There are no other requirements and no hidden fees.

It’s that easy for free money. We want to thank you for being a valued customer of our business and referring friends and family. If you are in the market for new flooring or know someone that is, tell them to call us at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or go to our online scheduling form here and we will set up a Free In-Home Estimate.

The post Referral Program appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

When you have a new build, flooring can be installed to flow from one room to the next, blending well and looking its best.

However, few homeowners get the chance to add a new palette to start fresh and make flooring match. As time and budgets prevail, most of us live with the ebb and flow of renovation, doing a room here and another one there.

And that’s where the problems begin. You have hardwood in the living room or dining room. Now you want to add in the hallway or the kitchen.

It’s logical to think that you want it to flow and blend, as if it was all installed together.

Is that possible? And if not, how can you create a unified look for your home?

The first question … Do you care?

There seems to be a designer appeal of having every room in your home match. Having one solid hardwood floor run throughout your home creates a sense of unified space with appeal.

That may be a commonly held belief, but that doesn’t make it the right choice for you.

This is about your personality, your decorating choices, and the way you view your aesthetics.

Do you care if the same hardwood flooring exists from room to room?

Do variations bother you as you piece two separate rooms together?

For some, uniformity is a must. Without a flow-through from room to room, they will hate the ambiance it creates.

For others, they simply don’t care. They enjoy design and functionality on a room by room basis. If that means changing the flooring in each space, so be it.

What makes two different hardwood choices flow well together are transitions

Can you place two different hardwood choices together inside your home? Of course. Homeowners do it all the time.

Just head out to Google and start searching for images. Or visit Pinterest and explore your favorite decor sites. You’ll quickly find homeowners that have used hardwood flooring transitions and do them quite well.

But what you’ll quickly notice is that the key to making different flooring choices work well is the transitions. You can’t install two different sizes or color choices next to each other and expect them to work well together. You have to think about the presentation, and how it will look when finalized.

This transition needs to be planned, not happen by accident.

Flooring transitions are used anytime two different floors come together. It can be used if the flooring is of other materials, has different heights, or has different thicknesses. It creates a smooth boundary as you move from one area to the next.

There are several ways to transition from one material to another. What works best for you depends on the look you’re trying to create.

T-Molding – this is the easiest method, and is a great tool for blending different wood materials. You’ll often find these in natural transition areas, such as a doorway. They work best on floors at the same height.

Seam binder or transition strip – it’s a thin piece of wood material you can nail down across a wood flooring to bind two flooring types together. It’s a simple solution, but often looks rougher than other transitions because it can look tacked into place.

Metal transitions – a thin straight line of metal can provide an attractive, modern look to your floors. Just 1/8th of an inch wide, they can blend two separate wood colors nicely, and give you a contemporary look.

Threshold – a flat, rectangular block that looks and blends with hardwood flooring. It may look like hardwood, or resemble other materials such as stone or marble. They can be installed to blend in, or make a statement and stand out. They’re easy to install and can be cut to any size.

If both floors are the same thickness and height, you’ll have many options to transition between the two floors. However, sometimes you end up with floors of varying sizes. If that is the case, you’ll have to be more careful with the transition you install.

If it’s significant, you may need to look at rounded edge transitions used for flooring. This provides a buffer between the two heights and creates a smooth surface without becoming a tripping hazard.

The same … or different

If you won’t be using the same hardwood flooring from room to room, there are many ways of blending two separate flooring choices together.

It’s often better to choose two contrasting colors rather than trying to match them together. Two separate wood types with the same tonal qualities will blend well without looking like they were installed by mistake. One material will be darker than the other, complementary and in the same tone range. If you want them to match, you can work with a professional who will match the original wood and stain it for you.

If you cannot find the same material, it might be time to think about other flooring. This is often where homeowners select a natural tile, luxury vinyl planks, or other flooring choice for the kitchen and bath, while using hardwood throughout the rest of the main living space. When it becomes difficult to match or have it look pleasing to the eye, it might be better to move to an entirely different selection.

You can also use the structure of your room as a guide. If you have an open concept living space where each room blends into one another, transitioning can be a little trickier than if you have distinct rooms.

We often recommend selecting the right flooring for every room in your home. A dining space has different needs than a family room or a kitchen. Some questions you can ask include:

• Is my room big or small?
• How much light flows in during the day?
• What ambiance am I trying to create?
• Do I want noticeable transitions or do I want everything to blend?
• Do I like dark floors, or is lighter better?

Blending two hardwood floors together

Whether you’re considering adding new flooring to every room in your home, or will be installing it one room at a time, you’ll have to decide on how to transition your choices as they flor throughout your home.

Need help in making the perfect selection? Stop by today. We can help you make the right decision to suit your needs.

The post How Do You Blend Two Hardwood Floors? first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

Sometimes, life can get a little bit messy. Because of the hustle and bustle, we go through on a daily basis, there never seems to be enough time to get our home in shape. The Carpet Guys would like to pass some helpful organizing tips on to you.

No matter what area of the home you are organizing and what size it is, we believe there is a way to make it a well-organized space. Take a look at what The Carpet Guys consider the top eight organizing tips:

Start Small and Take Your Time

1. Always start in one place. Don’t look at the whole problem.  To begin, break it into smaller chunks. After you complete one area, move on to the next.

2. Take your time organizing. Certainly, you don’t have to get the whole house organized in one day! If you dedicate a couple of hours a day to the job, then you can set some time aside to relax.

3. After you have organized one room, take a look at the contents of the room. If you find some things that aren’t used anymore, then sell them in a yard sale or donate them. As a result, you will open up some space.

Use Hidden Spaces to Organize

4. We suggest taking advantage of doors by adding hanging net shelves on them.  Alternatively, we suggest using over-the-door hooks or baskets. First, it will allow storage of shoes and other items. Second, it will open up some much-needed space.

5. Organize with color. If you are going to organize and possibly add shelves or other items, then have them correlate with the colors of the room.  For example: if your office is green and red, then use green office supplies so they coordinate with your decor. Or, make green folders the “completed” folders and red the “Need to Process” folders. It will coordinate with purpose.

Make Organized Items Highly Visible

6. Visibility is a key factor in organizing. Because of this, the best containers are transparent.  These will enable easy labeling and identification. If you can see the items clearly, then it will save you a lot of time when you need to retrieve items.

7. Make sure to keep your items easily accessible. For instance, keep the items that you use most on the lower shelves and the less important items on the higher shelves.

8. Be flexible and select storage systems that can adapt to any changes. As a result, you can reconfigure and reuse the system for any organizing problems you may face.

Sometimes, the toughest part of organizing is getting started.  However, if you let The Carpet Guys replace your old, worn-out flooring, then it will spark a new light.  First, we will refresh your space, then your desire to organize will increase. Please call 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or  Fill out our Free In-Home Estimate form.  From here on out, our top eight organizing tips will get your home spruced up. Now, you can enjoy your well-organized, efficient space for years to come.

The post The Top Eight Organizing Tips appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

You’re ready to remodel. You’re ready for new floors.

But when you start looking around, you’re overwhelmed at how many choices there are.

What are today’s top home flooring trends? What is in style?

You might worry that what you pick won’t suit your tastes and needs even just a few short years in the future.

It’s expensive investing in new floors. And if you select materials that are too trendy, what if you have buyers remorse almost as fast as it’s installed?

Stop your worrying, come in, and take a closer look at today’s top flooring trends. These materials will stick around for a while.

Before you select flooring material, create a plan

We often have homeowners come in with one material in mind. After a little education, they selected a flooring product that wasn’t even on their list.

That’s because there are so many different types of flooring available on the market today, what’s best for you might surprise you.

Instead of focusing on a particular material, start by focusing on needs first. It can help point you to the best flooring product that will suit your lifestyle. Pay attention to:

Space – what location will you be upgrading your flooring? Is it defined by walls and doors, or is it an open space? Does it get lots of natural light, or is it dark and cavernous? What activities regularly take place there?

Style – this comes down to personality and taste. Are you country charm, traditional, or minimalist? You might automatically gravitate towards certain materials. They blend in with your preferences and lifestyle.

Maintenance – homeowners don’t place carpet in kitchens for a very good reason. Consider your lifestyle carefully as you hone in on what flooring material will be best for each room. What provides good looks with maintenance requirements that match your expectations? Do you want something that allows quick mopping? Weekly vacuuming? How about yearly maintenance?

Installation – are you looking for a DIY project, or do you want a professional from installation to maintenance? Do you want a flooring that can be easily repaired, pulling a plank up and replacing it with materials kept on hand? Keep in mind that traditional hardwood takes days to acclimate, be installed, as well as settle into place. If you’re looking for quick installation, laminate or luxury vinyl can often be a better choice.

Budget – flooring comes in all shapes, sizes, looks, and costs. Staying within budget can impact what flooring trends you’ll love. Be aware that budget can mean different things to different people. While carpet might need replacing every seven to ten years, hardwood can last decades if well cared for. Is it worth more expense today knowing you’ll have a floor that lasts a lifetime?

With a plan in place, what do homeowners want today?

Once you dive deeper into what you want from your flooring, you might be excited to start looking. We often recommend creating a Pinboard on Pinterest, or flipping through decor magazines or websites to get a good feel for what you’re looking for.

Today’s homeowners want two things: Natural and stylish aesthetics.

Natural – Without a doubt, natural is a word that pops up when most homeowners shop for new flooring. Of course, that can mean different things to different people. In general, people want flooring that’s easy to maintain, is durable, and blends well with their aesthetics. It can be carpet, vinyl, hardwood, stone, or even stretch into sustainable options like bamboo and cork. Whether it has texture, patterns, or a creative twist, a top choice will be to create a natural, blendable floor that works well with every part of your personality.

Style – There’s never been a time when we feel more creative in what we do and the spaces we create. Luckily, there are so many flooring options that can allow you to be as creative as you desire. By looking through design sites and following your desires, you’ll quickly see a look that stands out in your mind. You’ll determine different wants and desires: light, dark, clean, minimalist … you decide.

Of course, color plays a part in it too. But you’ll see that from the moment you start looking at your options. Today’s colors lean a little towards gray-toned. Homeowners still love dark stains with their timeless appeal. Or whitewash stains with a bright, cheerful design. Can’t decide? Why not create a two-toned look. It’s more popular than ever.

It’s not about the flooring product

Are you starting to see a pattern here? We haven’t spent any time talking about which material is trending. And there’s a good reason for that.

The reason there are so many different products on the market today is that homeowners have different desires and needs. What would work for one home wouldn’t work for another.

If you love carpet, there’s a carpet option for you.

If you’re hardwood all the way, invest in new hardwood.

If you’re looking for waterproof options, something that can withstand the abuse your family dishes out, there’s an option for you too. You might just fall in love with luxury vinyl planks and tiles – yes, it’s waterproof.

What’s trending today is individuality and personality. If you find it in our showroom, it may be the perfect choice for you.

We’re seeing planks get wider in the hardwood market. Laminate, luxury vinyl planks, and engineered hardwood are all following the trend.

Patterns are growing in popularity, not just on carpets, but the way you lay in hardwood and laminate. How about chevron or herringbone floors? You can even create it with bamboo or tile. This is about letting your imagination run wild.

It’s also about creating a living environment you choose to be in. If it suits your tastes and needs, it makes the perfect choice for you.

What are the top flooring trends this year?

Glad you asked. Here’s what we know for sure.

With so many different materials, products, and styles available to you, whatever you select will be the right choice.

Whether you have something in mind, or are still exploring, stop by today and see all of your options. We’ll help you find the right flooring to suit your needs.

The post Looking For The Perfect Home Flooring Trends For 2022? first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

Scratches and dents are an inevitable part of keeping a wooden floor.  Even with a strict cleaning and maintenance routine, you are still likely to get some small scratches or marks.  Don’t let this put your off though.  These small marks and dents can actually add character, charm and authenticity to your floor.  What you will want to do, though, is make sure that you don’t get any larger or preventable scratches.  Here are some tips on how to keep a scratch free floor. Read More

We live in one of the most beautiful states in the U.S. We are fifth in education, were voted the fifth best state to live in and we are tenth in healthcare. Home values continue to rise with the median home price hovering around half a million dollars.

Perhaps you’d like to sell right now to capture all of the equity your home has stacked up over the past year. Homes are selling quickly, but how do you ensure the best offers and the quickest sale?

Home buyers love clean, well-maintained real-estate. According to Redfin, a nationwide home brokerage site, getting rid of stains and odors in your home is one of the top 11 things you should do to get your home ready for the market.

Redfin recommends walking out your front door and reentering your home like a buyer. Use all of your senses when you open your front door. What do you see? Are the floors scuffed? Is the carpet dingy? Do the stairs need some love?

What do you smell? Old food odors? Pet urine or mustiness? A buyer will notice these odors even more because they’re not used to them.

Getting the carpet cleaned

Now that you’re looking at your house with a buyer’s eyes, you may notice the stained carpeting by the dining room table. A Personal Touch can help.

We use a powerful truck-mounted steam cleaning system to remove tough stains and odors, including gum, tar, rust and pet stains and odors. After cleaning your carpets are groomed for a “new look” and can be protected with a Dupont Teflon carpet protector.

A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaner offers carpet spotters and groomers for sale too so that you can maintain your fresh carpeting right up to the moment of sale.

If you find you have unsightly wrinkles in your carpeting, we can restretch it for you. This can save you thousands of dollars in an offered carpet allowance to your buyer.

Refinishing the floors

If you have hardwood floors, think about getting them refinished. This usually means getting them sanded down to remove the original finish and stain, then restaining them and coating them with sealer. New, shiny floors are of incredible value when selling your home.

Examining the bathrooms

Looking at your bathrooms with new eyes can be a little uncomfortable. Do you see mold or mildew on the tile? Does the bathroom smell a little… used? We can help.

Depending on how long it’s been since your tile grout was last cleaned, what you smell just might be an odor associated with the tiling. Grout can absorb moisture over time, which ultimately results in the accumulation of mold and mildew – the things responsible for that gross smell.

You may have tried bleach to eliminate mold or other internet remedies. Have you noticed the results don’t last very long?   

A Personal Touch can clean your tile and grout in with our proven process for a great price.

We’ll apply commercial-grade grout and tile cleaner to your bathroom or kitchen tile areas.

Our trained technicians will carefully scrub your tile and grout free of soap scum, water stains, mold and mildew.

We’ll apply a top-notch sealant that will keep your grout from accumulating grime in the future. Professionally sealing your tile will make the tile easy to maintain in the future—your little gift to the next owners of your fresh-smelling home.

Peeking into the kitchen

One of the biggest selling points of a house is the kitchen. Buyers love updated, spacious, well-lit and sparkling kitchens. Do you have one? We can certainly help with the sparkle.

The best way to keep your bathrooms and kitchen areas looking and smelling their best is with regular tile maintenance. A Personal Touch can help remove set-in stains, persistent odors, grime, scum and mildew. We also clean marble and granite countertops. If they have scratches or etching from acidic drinks such as orange juice, we have a company that we recommend for restoring them back to their original beauty.

Noticing the details

Redfin recommends going through your house and making a list of all the little things you would change if you were moving in. The little things count and they don’t have to cost a lot either.

Replace all of your lightbulbs, add a mirror here or there to make a small space look bigger, clean and repair your home’s gutters and paint your baseboards. Your potential buyer will love you for all of these things and your home will sell that much faster.

Calling the pros

At A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning, we can help you get ready for the big sale. We are happy to answer any carpeting questions you might have and give you a free, written estimate without cost or obligation. We would like to be the last ones in for carpet cleaning since everything falls down to the floor and into your carpets. Follow the recommendations in this article to make the house sparkle. Then contact us at 720.344.2870 or use our online form to schedule a free consultation.

The post Getting your home ready to sell appeared first on A Personal Touch.

When trying to figure out what is foot traffic, it’s important to pay attention to what activities happen in your household daily. We aren’t talking about marketing or sales foot traffic. We also don’t mean the kind of traffic that happens on your morning commute or in a shopping mall. The Carpet Guys can help you figure out if you have light, medium, or heavy foot traffic and how this will affect your flooring. Read on to find out more.

Who is in Your Home on a Regular Basis?

The first step to figuring out what kind of foot traffic your household has, you need to establish who is in your home regularly. Here is a list in order of the members that do the least damage to the most:

• Healthy adults
• Children or grandchildren between the ages of 2-12
• Teenagers
• Disabled family (using canes, walkers, or wheelchairs)
• Pets

The more family members you have moving across your floors, the greater damage they will do over time. People using devices for assistance, like a walker or wheelchair will also wear the carpet considerably. Even someone using a cane because they often shuffle their feet as they walk. This causes carpet fibers to lay flat and look matted and worn.

How Often do You Clean?

If you’re vacuuming once a week, that’s perfect according to the Carpet & Rug Institute’s carpet care instructions. If it’s necessary to vacuum more than once a week due to children or pets, that also wears down the carpet over time.  Equally as bad, is not vacuuming at all.  The dirt and particles get ground into the flooring and cause matting and wear faster.

Also, professional cleaning is required approximately once every 18 months. If you are steam cleaning your carpet more often or not at all, it causes the same amount of deterioration over time.

How Many Square Feet?

The amount of square footage your home has is also an important factor.  If you have a large home with spacious rooms, it spreads the wear-and-tear over a larger area. It will take longer for a family of 4 to matte down the carpet in a 2500 square foot home than in a 1500 square foot home.

All these factors go into play when trying to figure out if you have low, medium, or high foot traffic in your home.  If you have low foot traffic, your flooring, no matter the style, will maintain its beauty for a longer period. If your home has high foot traffic, you may want to consider hard surface floorings like wood or laminate. If you have your heart set on carpet, The Carpet Guys recommend a low pile, dense style that won’t mat as easily.  Berber is also a wonderful carpet that won’t show damage or dirt as quickly as other types of flooring. We also suggest you use a high-quality cushion under your carpet to help absorb the footfalls.

If you’re not sure what you want, call The Carpet Guys at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) and one of our knowledgeable Design Consultants will help you figure out what will be practical for your home and work within your budget at no additional cost to you. If you want to set up a Free In-Home Estimate with the Design Consultant, check out our scheduling link here.   

The post What is Foot Traffic? appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

If you’re looking for more ways to live a sustainable lifestyle, you might be invested in finding eco-friendly ways to do just about everything. As you remodel, what are the best green flooring options? Which is the right one to suit your needs?

With so many choices, it can be difficult to choose.

But as you finalize your decision, you may worry about experiencing sticker shock. Are green flooring materials more expensive? Should you really expect to pay more for doing the right thing?

What does going green mean?

Going green means doing things for the better of Mother Nature. It means changing your daily methods to become environmentally conscious with every choice you make.

You’re a more aware consumer.

For everything you buy, you consider what it does to the environment. From gathering materials, to production of the product, to disposal methods once the item has run its useful life, you consider it all before finalizing your decision.

If you choose to reduce your carbon footprint, there are many things you can do. You can choose to shop at local farmer’s markets. Food accounts for up to 30 percent of a household’s carbon footprint.

You can buy energy-efficient appliances. You can change your mode of transportation.

Once you get started looking for ways to save, it can become a bit of a challenge, looking for all the ways you can save.

But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on performance or aesthetics. There are ways to have both. And it doesn’t have to be at a higher cost.

What influences the cost of new flooring?

For any product on the market today, price is influenced by:

• Production costs
• Demand
• Labor costs
• Packaging costs
• Certification costs

The more accessibility to materials, the easier it is for installation, the more competitive pricing will be.

For many green flooring materials, the expense comes from both production and availability. Because we’re just starting to become more aware of overall impact, we’re waiting for manufacturing of green products to become more popular.

If you really want to find a sustainable flooring product, you have to consider a full array of factors when finalizing your decision.

• Can it be renewed?
• Can it be recycled?
• Is it produced with responsible manufacturing processes?
• How does transport impact the final price?
• How long will the product last?
• What type of maintenance is needed?
• What happens at end of life?

A green flooring choice may cost more upfront. But if it gives you a decade more to its lifespan, does that make it a better option? It’s up to you to decide.

Today’s green flooring priorities

There was a time when homeowners paid attention to aesthetics without regard to impact.

No more.

Today’s homeowners want a careful blend of old and new priorities, ensuring they get a product they love while having it be safe and eco-friendly at the same time.

What homeowners want today is:

Durable flooring – flooring should be able to withstand all your family can dish out. That means it takes a careful blend of high-quality materials for strength as well as ease of use for everyday maintenance.

Non-toxic flooring – a lot of talk in the industry today is about reducing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) inside the home. The EPA shows that inside air quality can be as much as ten times worse than outdoor air pollution. And given we spend the majority of our time indoors, that can be a big deal. Green flooring helps you find low or zero VOC flooring options suitable for your lifestyle.

Natural – natural is a buzzword that is growing in popularity. Why? Because not only is it good for the environment, but it looks great in your home too. Natural is getting as close to the source as possible. It’s about using wood close to home, stone quarried nearby, or other natural products that have sustainable features.

Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions? You’re not alone. It’s what today’s homeowners want.

And many green flooring options aren’t as expensive as you might fear. In fact, they can be some of the most affordable flooring options available to you.

Green flooring options you might consider

With so many green flooring options available to you, there’s sure to be one perfect for your lifestyle. The best green flooring materials include:

Cork – a naturally renewable material that is harvested from the bark of a cork oak tree. It grows back multiple times, making it a truly sustainable material. It’s softer than other materials, making it more comfortable if you stand for long periods of time. It adds warmth to thwart heat and cold, and is naturally repellent to bugs, dust mites, and mold.

Linoleum – linoleum is made from linseed oil, which is produced naturally from flax plants. It’s widely available, and highly renewable. The harvesting process is becoming even more sustainable, with disposal being one of the most eco-friendly options. At the end of a long lifespan, it can be composted with other materials.

Bamboo – bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants and can be harvested in three to five years. Pay attention to where you source your bamboo flooring, as transportation costs can cause the final price to rise. Be aware of production, ensuring it’s truly a sustainable resource.

Carpet – yes, carpet can be a great green flooring material. Look for natural fibers such as wool, jute, and seagrass. Pay particular attention to production, ensuring backing is also made from eco-friendly materials.

Hardwood – hardwood is a resource that can be easily renewed. Be sure to choose hardwood from forests certified and well managed by the Forest Stewardship Council. Also pay attention to stains, finishes, and adhesives to ensure they remain green too.

Stone – stone is a natural product that is continuously being produced and harvested from the earth. It doesn’t harm the environment and can be recycled for other uses. Pay attention to import practices depending on where the stone is harvested from.

What green flooring choice is right for you?

With so many options available, which flooring is right for you?

Green flooring isn’t expensive – green flooring is a sustainable way of life.

If you’re ready to change your home environment and reduce your carbon footprint too, stop by and find the perfect solution for you.

The post Are Green Flooring Materials More Expensive? first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

Are you renovating a home for someone with a disability? Are you making the home accessible for someone in a wheelchair? Hard, smooth surfaces are generally easier for people with mobility issues.

If you’re looking for wheelchair-friendly flooring, you have many options available to you. While material is important, it isn’t the only thing. Read on to discover the right flooring choice to suit your needs.

What the ADA says about flooring

ADA requirements for public and commercial spaces aren’t the same as what you can do with residential spaces. But using their requirements as a guideline can help you make better choices.

From their guidance, it states:

Floor and ground surfaces shall be stable, firm, and slip-resistant.

If you’re installing a floor that will be used regularly by someone in a wheelchair, it’s a good idea to create flooring that’s:

Slip-resistant – flooring should provide adequate traction for the wheels as they move without slipping or skidding underneath. Textured flooring can offer a slip-resistant space even in locations prone to moisture, such as the bathroom.

Smooth – flooring should have some texture for ease of movement. Having too many bumps or transitions can be difficult to navigate over. Pay particular attention to transitions from room to room.

Stable – flooring should be attached securely to the subfloor to prevent movement underneath. It shouldn’t dent or compress as the weight of the wheelchair moves over it.

What flooring choices should you consider?

We have a few suggestions for flooring materials that work well for wheelchair movement. While some you may expect, others may be new to you.

Hardwood

Hardwood has been around for centuries for a very good reason: they stand the test of time. No matter what you can dish out, they continue to give back, and look their best.

Hardwood has the added benefit of extending its life by refinishing it. When it’s scuffed and worn, simply sand it down. Then reapply new stain and finish, and you’ll instantly have updated flooring. You can do this repeatedly, depending on the quality of the wood. This is where it benefits you to pay attention to quality. This will give you the ability to extend the life of your floors.

Plus, they are fairly easy to maintain. An occasional cleaning means wiping away dust and debris, and possibly running over it with a damp mop for bigger messes. Hardwood isn’t water-resistant, so don’t allow moisture to puddle.

For added traction and keeping your floors looking their best longer, consider what texture you install. A hand-scraped or distressed texture not only adds slip-resistance, but it can stand up to more abuse too.

Tile

Tile provides one of the hardest surfaces available for residential flooring. It provides both traction and a smooth surface area for wheelchairs to move freely about.

However, it is important to pay attention to transitions. If grout lines are too pronounced, it can cause friction as the wheelchair moves over it.

Be sure to install a textured tile that provides a surface area that’s easy to maneuver. Certain tiles like ceramic might be too slippery for easy movement. And if a person transfers between a wheelchair and a walker, the surface area may not be conducive for easy movement.

Yet if you work with an associate, we can suggest a variety of options that make this a viable choice. Large tiles placed close together may be perfect for your area.

Luxury vinyl tiles or planks

While traditional vinyl is considered too soft for easy wheelchair movement, today’s luxury vinyl tiles or planks may be perfect for your spaces. They are an affordable alternative to hardwood, and provide a hard surface area that’s easy to get around on.

Luxury vinyl tiles or planks take on the appearance of the most loved flooring options on the market today. You’ll have difficulty telling the difference between luxury vinyl tiles and stone tiles, or luxury vinyl planks and hardwood planks. They look that real.

Yet their hard surface area creates a durable flooring option that works well in all kinds of residential situations. What’s more, it’s a great choice for places you usually wouldn’t put hardwood. Like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens.

Other things to consider

In general, any type of flooring that provides a cushion to your step won’t work well with wheelchairs or even walkers. Many homeowners consider carpet because it’s soft. But it’s challenging to move around on, and makes it easier to trip and fall.

If you use carpeting in the bedrooms, go with a low-pile option, such as Berber, and stick with a dense pad for added stability. Wheelchairs will also bring in added dirt and debris, so it’s a good idea to go with a darker color, possibly patterns that will easily hide stains.

Floor transitions are equally as important as the flooring itself. ADA has special guidelines in place to ensure people can move freely from one area to another.

• Vertical height – transitions between flooring types should be kept under ¼”.
• Beveled height – if a transition is between ¼” and ½”, it shall be a beveled transition with a slope not steeper than 1:2.
• Ramp height – anything greater than ½” high needs to be ramped.

Before you purchase new flooring, especially if combining it with flooring already in place, ensure you have the proper transition material ready to ensure a safe space.

Finding wheelchair-friendly flooring for your space

Finding the best flooring for wheelchairs is pretty easy to do. With ADA requirements in place, the options available to you have never been as flexible.

Understand what works best for you as you remodel your home. Look for future potential as well as what will work right now.

Remember, this is about aesthetics as well as functionality. And with today’s flooring options, you can easily have both.

How can we help you find wheelchair-friendly flooring?

The post Wheelchair-Friendly Flooring – These Materials Are Best For Your Home first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

Hardwood floors can be an excellent addition to any home. Aside from granting your living space the style and cozy aesthetic that so many homeowners long for, they’re durable, can improve the air quality, and can add to the pre-existing value of your home should you ever decide to sell. With old man winter leaving for another year and the spring bunny hopping around without a care in the world, spring cleaning is approaching. Taking care of your hardwood floors is important to maintain their integrity. We’ve compiled a guide to help this season.

It’s OK to be a Doormat

If you’ve ever owned carpeted flooring, then you’re probably aware of all the unsightly items that get tracked into the house from people and pets. While stains and other things of the sort don’t usually get tracked in with a hardwood floor, you still have to be on the lookout for scuff marks and spills. One of the best ways to combat this is the use of doormats. Taking a few seconds to wipe your feet or remove your shoes before walking around will alleviate the issue.

(Don’t) Cut a Rug

While doormats can certainly lower the amount of ugliness that gets tracked into your home, the traffic that crosses your floor every day is another thing to think about of you own a hardwood floor. One of the best ways to combat this problem is by placing some strategically placed rugs throughout your house, especially in the high traffic areas to minimize scuff marks.

Avoid Using Cleaning Products

Despite the clever advertisements from many companies promising the various benefits of using their products, it’s important to remember that cleaning products are best kept away from hardwood floors. Bleach and ammonia-based cleaners have chemicals that do more harm than good and can even cause irreversible damage resulting in costly repairs.

Refinishing to Cross the Finish Line

Refinishing your hardwood floor is one of the best ways to take care of unsightly scuff marks and abrasions. You’ll find that doing so will have them looking as good as new. Depending on who you use, it’s good to do it once every one to two years. It’s recommended that you hire a professional and don’t attempt to take care of it yourself.

Flooring.org

When it comes to hardwood or laminate floors, Flooring.org is the last place you’ll ever need. From supplies, info, and much more, we have it all. For more information, visit our website or give us a call at 800-689-9006.

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