Author: admin

As a property owner, you’re involved in many decisions each day. If the heat doesn’t work in the winter, that’s on you. If the windows aren’t clean and a tenant complains, that’s on you too.

And while a lot of decisions are made spur of the moment, especially in emergency situations, with other choices, it’s more important to weigh your options wisely.

Take flooring, for example.

Flooring is a significant investment. Choose wisely, and it’ll last you for years. But if you don’t consider all of your options, it could be a pricey mistake.

Choosing commercial flooring can be challenging at best. Not only does it have to look good, but it also has to wear well in a variety of situations. Entryways, hallways, offices, and conference rooms all have different needs.

Fortunately, technology has vastly improved commercial flooring in the past decade. No matter what you have your heart set on, there are ways to incorporate it into your final design.

Carpet typically comes in two categories. Both can be beneficial in a commercial setting; it all depends on your needs.

Broadloom carpet – this is also known as wall-to-wall carpet, and is what most people think of when it comes to buying carpet. They bring it in by the roll, and piece it into your space, depending on measurements. If you go this route, it will be tacked down in a continuous flow from one side of each room to the other.

Modular carpet – this is also known as carpet tiles. Carpet tiles continue to be a good choice for commercial properties that have a lot of change. They are durable and easy to install and replace as needed. Because carpet tiles are more manageable, they can be installed seamlessly anywhere, giving you flexibility with design.

I want carpet for my commercial property. Which one?

Carpeting is one of the best choices for commercial property for a variety of reasons. But it is still important for you to think about how each space throughout the building will be used, and select the right product for each situation. It is perfectly acceptable to use different products in different spaces.

Start with evaluating what the space is used for. In every commercial property, there are certain spaces that will be used more than others. Some for business, some for leisure. Some with heavy traffic, others will barely be used.

Entryways are one of the spaces with the highest traffic levels. And here in Colorado, it also means enduring a wide array of weather conditions. People will walk in with ice and snow on their shoes and boots. You’ll have dirt break lose and stick in the fibers. That means more cleaning too.

If you head up several floors, or to the back of the building, traffic drops off considerably. That doesn’t mean you want to lower the quality. You still want a cohesive look throughout.

This is one of the reasons carpet tiles excel in commercial settings. You can replace them in high traffic situations periodically to keep them looking fresh. They’ll still match other areas of the building that won’t need replacing as often.

What you should focus on when making your final selection 

What are your top concerns when selecting carpet for your commercial properties? We know from experience these are the things you should weigh carefully:

Durability

At the top of the list is durability. The carpet you select should hold up well no matter what type of traffic it receives. You should also think about replacement – is that easy to do? Pay attention to specific areas where this will be of greatest concern.

Maintenance

If you have carpet, it will need to be cleaned regularly. Daily vacuuming will pull dirt to the surface and prevent it from settling in. Regular cleanings should also be top priority. With dirt and grime settling in, the more you clean and remove it, the longer your carpets will last. Also, consider using mats and commercial rugs on the messiest days of the year. That added protection can extend the life of your carpet by weeks, or months.

Use of space

Look beyond the general purpose of each room or space. Also, consider all traffic that moves through each location. How well does it handle with the use of carts or trolleys? Does it work well with a high number of visitors using walkers or wheelchairs? What kinds of deliveries are made each day? Is the space used in harsh conditions, or is it created more for high end use?

Appearance

While use trumps appearance in commercial spaces, it’s still important to keep in mind who is using or leasing your property. Financial institutions often want a more luxurious appearance, while medical focuses on cleanliness.

Noise

The number one reason property managers turn to carpet is for noise reduction. If you’ve ever heard the clunk, clunk of shoes down a tiled or wood hallway, you know how important this can be in some situations. Acoustics can be especially important in large, open spaces. Carpet absorbs noise, which can greatly impact the functionality where office workers may need concentration.

Health and safety

Different carpets have different properties. Commercial flooring should always have moisture barriers, and be able to handle a variety of situations. Mold is always a problem, which is why you should focus on installing a flooring that prevents buildup over time. But don’t forget to look for manufacturers that do so using low VOCs as well. If you’re leaning towards creating a greener environment, one that may qualify for LEED certification, composition may be everything.

And let’s not forget safety. Carpet provides better traction than almost any flooring option. Imagine a slick tile combined with ice and snow; that is a recipe for disaster. Which is why carpet is often the most logical choice. Especially if property visitors cover all age ranges, including people that may be at risk for falling in the first place.

Are you sold on carpet?

Have we convinced you that carpet is the best way to go in your commercial property?

Now it’s time to take the next step, and find out about your options. There are many different ways to incorporate carpet into every space in your design. You can do so and create a neutral palette, or liven things up with color and patterns.

How can we help you bring new carpet into your commercial space?

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

Starting September 1^st Laminate flooring of 200 sq ft or more is $500 off*!

Laminate is astonishingly realistic and exceptionally durable. Our brands are resistant to staining, scratches, wear and fading. Whether you want high gloss, distressed, or hand scraped texture, you are guaranteed to find all the latest styles and trends. As your flooring experts, we can help you find you the perfect laminate for your home!

Laminate is incredibly easy to install and even easier to maintain.  It is designed to replicate the natural color, grain, and texture of real hardwood. The Carpet Guys are the flooring experts and have your floors installed by our specialists! Call The Carpet Guy’s today to get a FREE in home estimate on your laminate installation!

Laminate gives the hardwood look and esthetic without the high costs. It is a very affordable solution that also can provide your home with other benefits. Some laminate options are even waterproof. Ask your Carpet Guy’s design consultant about your options! Another benefit to laminate is that it is easy to clean which means that if you or your family suffer from asthma or allergies, this may be the perfect option for you!

The Carpet Guy’s items are priced at a competitively low price every day. This limited time offer of $500 off* 200 sq ft or more is an exceptional offer additional to our amazing prices! We make this entire process as easy and stress free for you as possible! We even move your furniture for you! Worried about issues that may arise in the future? We have a lifetime warranty on all our flooring to ensure you are satisfied.

• Free In-Home Estimates
• Free Design Consultation
• Appointments Available 7-Days a Week and Evenings
• Lifetime Installation Warranty
• Interest-Free Financing Options †
• Free Furniture Moving
• Professional Installation and Expert Service
• Quality Brand Name Products
• And so much more!

$500 Off Laminate Flooring*

*200 sq ft or more. Includes basic installation, does not include extras. Valid only at the initial consultation. Offers not to be combined with any other discounts or special promotions. Cannot be applied to current or past orders. Some restrictions apply. See sales consultant for details. Sale ends 09/30/2020.

† Offer is for new applicants only and cannot be combined with other promotional discounts or special offers. Special financing subject to credit approval. Not all applicants will qualify. Minimum purchase and monthly payments required. Some restrictions apply. See sales consultant for details. Sale ends 09/30/2020.

The post Laminate Flooring Sale: Save $500 on 200 Sq Ft. or More appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

Herringbone and Chevron are very different styles and types of flooring but most of us still get them confused.  Both of them are very popular choices amongst people who want something different that will create an outstanding floor. At a first glance they do look similar as they both give a zig zag effect flooring. Read More

If we’ve learned anything so far in 2020, it’s that everything can change on a dime. Where once everyone was selling their big homes and selecting a smaller, urban dwelling instead, today we’re realizing that might be a thing of the past. One article stated that as much as one-third of Americans are considering moves to less densely populated areas. Urbanites are twice as likely to have surfed real estate websites, dreaming of changing homes.

Whether you’re looking for a new home, or are considering remodeling the one you currently own, open concept design is still as popular as ever. And there are many reasons for that.

Open concept design allows:

• Better traffic flow – without doors, people can move throughout the space unhindered
• Improved communication – family members aren’t isolated in their own spaces
• Shared light – you’ll have fewer dark spots in your living space
• Easier with kids – ever tried to watch small children while cooking dinner? It’s much easier in an open concept design
• Flexibility – without predefined walls, you can use the space however you choose – whatever works best for you

Chances are if you’re reading this, you’re already sold on the concept.

But there’s something a little more difficult about it when it comes to decorating. How do you install flooring in an open concept design?  Are you resigned to staying with the same flooring throughout? Or is there a way to section off space and incorporate different materials?

Should flooring be the same throughout the house?

This is probably one of our most asked questions. And our response is always the same: it depends.

There isn’t a design rule that says you have to use the same flooring throughout. It’s a personal choice.

• What do you prefer?
• What is lifestyle like?
• Are you creating your forever home?
• Do you care about resale value?
• What about functionality?
• What does your gut tell you to do?

That said, we do have a few design rules we share with all of our customers.

Stick with one material wherever possible 

We’ve all seen (or possibly lived in) a house with patchwork flooring. You enter to tile, follow the path to a different floor in the kitchen, wood in the family room, and carpet in the living space. Some homes love carpet so much, it’s everywhere. But to save on wear marks, they create pathways made of tile, using it to meander throughout the home.

It rarely works.

Whenever possible, stick with one flooring. The more open concept your house is, the more you should focus on using one flooring material.

And it’s not that difficult to choose. Here in Colorado, you can’t go wrong with hardwood. And the great thing with hardwood is you have unlimited options. Hardwood comes in more traditional styles like oak, or move to exotic with something like Brazilian cherry. If you’re worried about using hardwood in an active home, there are solutions for you. Try laminate. Today’s laminate offers a variety of pros that will make you fall in love with this product. If you want something even more care-free and durable, try luxury vinyl planks. They look so real, thanks to technology, even experts in the industry have to get up close and personal to see it’s not real.

But I really want to separate flooring materials

There may be instances that call for using two different types of flooring. In these cases, even with an open concept design, you’ll probably transition flooring due to different activities on each space. Maybe you need the durability of tile, mixed with the beauty of hardwood. Look for natural divisions of spacing, and use the material to showcase that specific space.

Yet we also invite you to dig a little deeper. Why are you hesitant to using the same flooring throughout?

One of the biggest reasons we’ve noticed is when families question using hardwood in kitchens. People almost always love hardwood throughout the living space. But they understand how difficult hardwood can be near moisture and water. With small kids, messes can be an every day occurrence. Do you really want to worry about warped wood just a few weeks after it’s installed?

Only you know your family. And if you have concerns over the durability of a material, you won’t truly be able to enjoy your living space. Voice your concerns and we can show you alternatives.

The key to transitioning well is to create a uniform look as much as you can. Stick with the same colors and hues. Luckily, with today’s product lines, you can do so, creating a similar look with tile that you can get with hardwood. We’ll show you how.

It’s about looks, it’s about lifestyle

At the end of the day, this is your home, and only you can decide your decor options.

Still, we encourage all of our customers to think about harmony as they finalize their decision. Choosing a neutral color palette allows you to play with color using other design elements. It’s easier to repaint than it is to install new flooring. It’s less expensive to buy a new chair than new flooring.

If you select neutral flooring in an open concept design, it gives you the perfect foundation you need to create any look you desire. You can be as wild and crazy as you like with rugs, furniture, and artwork, knowing you can change your mind easily at any given moment.

We also know that in every home, you’ll have some areas you use a lot, and other areas that are used infrequently. That means heavier wear in areas like the kitchen, while a formal dining room may see feet only once a week at most.

Some homeowners want two separate flooring products. They know it’s important for the way their family lives. And if that’s your case, by all means select the products that work best for you.

Other homeowners choose to use one product, and strategically place area rugs to minimize potential problems. That works too. But again, it depends on your needs.

It’s about getting the right flooring for your open concept design

We get that you only pick out new flooring a few times in your lifetime. We help homeowners just like you every day.

If you need more guidance in order to create a living space you love now and years into the future, let’s chat. Our knowledgeable team can help you choose the right flooring product for your needs.

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

Flexible flooring adhesive is a type of glue that you would use when bonding your wood or bamboo floor down to the subfloor.  It has been specifically designed to be used with both solid wood and engineered wood floors.  Read More

Are you in the market for new carpet? There are many places you can go to finalize your purchase.

Head online, and you can find some great deals. Order it, have it delivered, you can even find a handyman ready to save you money.

Or maybe you should visit your local big box store. After all, you visit there all the time. You picked up gardening supplies a few months ago, and were up there just last week for a can of paint. It truly is one-stop shopping. They have a few racks of carpet, why not go with what they have?

All of these may seem tempting. Replacing your flooring can be a significant investment. Why not save a little money where you can? But the thing is going with an expert will reveal key things you should know before you make your final selection, things places like a big box will never tell you.

But you’ll find out in the end.

Here are a few things to keep in mind before you buy new carpet.

Larger rooms will have seams

Seams – they can be problematic if not placed correctly inside your room. Yet if you don’t work with an installer with a lot of experience, this can be a nightmare down the road.

Standard carpet rolls come in standard sizes, usually 12, 13.6, or 15 feet wide. If your room is wider than 12 feet, you will have a seam running somewhere in the room. That’s where it’s important to have an expert help you, to minimize the effect.

First, if you don’t want to have a seam showing, select a darker carpet. Dark carpet colors are much better at hiding seams within the fibers.

You should also plan on where a seam would work out best. Place it away from windows, doors, skylights, and other light sources, as they shine light on where the seam is.

Do you have a specific room layout in mind? If you can put a seam under a bed or sofa, it won’t be noticed as much throughout your daily routines.

Remember, where you place the seam matters. It can impact how much carpet you buy. We can help you decide the best location, and order your carpet based on your decisions.

Looking for longevity? Focus on the padding

Many homeowners come in wanting to spend the majority of their budgets on the carpet. And we get it, it makes sense.

But there’s a secret some in the flooring industry won’t tell you. If you want to ensure a long life for your carpet, invest a little more in the padding.

Padding is sold by weight, so you’ll look for the pound rating as a guide. A higher pound rating gives you a denser pad, which allows your carpet to wear more evenly.

The good news is carpet pad is the economical part of your purchase. To upgrade won’t cost you much more, but it can give you years more life. Some carpet warranties even require you to install certain rated padding if you don’t, your warranty is null and void.

Will some carpet retailers tell you that?

There are different ways to carpet your stairs

Installing new carpet isn’t something you do on a regular basis. Which means there are a variety of things you simply don’t know to ask for.

Like how carpet will be installed on your stairs.

Some installers will drape the carpet over each step before attaching it to the next. This gives it a waterfall appearance. But if you ask, you can also have carpet installed in a “French cap” method where the carpet is tucked under and stapled to each of the risers below. This creates a neater, crisper edge.

Let’s talk about furniture

You’ve lived in your house for years. You have sofas, and chairs, and tables, oh my. All of that furniture looks great as you enter the room, but your carpet installer will only look at it as a challenge.

In order to make the installation go smoothly, move as much of the furniture out of the room as possible. Carpet installers aren’t furniture movers, and most will charge you extra if they have to do it.

That also means some furniture may be at risk – grandfather clocks, baby grand pianos, or your grandmother’s china cabinet may all be damaged in the process. When in doubt, move it out before your installer arrives.

Installers need electricity

Are you having a section of your home remodeled? Is the electricity off for construction? Be sure to tell your installer your plans.

While installing carpet is a manual job, they will use compressors, seam irons, vacuums, and other power tools throughout the process. They can bring in a generator if they know they may be without electricity. But if you don’t warn them ahead of time, it can cost you time in the installation process. And that can be an extra charge to bring them out.

Carpet removal is not the same thing as carpet installation

Before a carpet installer lays the new carpet into place, they have to pull the old carpet out of the space, including the pad.

And while you’ve tried to keep it clean, invariably a lot of stuff gets buried into the fibers and pad that will resurface while being carried out.

If you want other rooms in your home to stay clean during the process, close them off. And if you’re going to have other rooms cleaned, it might be a good idea to wait until after the installation.

You should also check with the installer to see how they handle the removal. Some will charge for carrying your old carpeting away.

Understanding stain-resistant carpet

Carpet is made from fiber, and over time, fiber can be stained.

Carpet manufacturers have come a long way in the past few decades, creating carpet that can withstand a lot of daily activities. But in the end, carpet is stain-resistant. It’s never stain-proof. That means how you care for it will determine how well it looks from this day forward.

If your carpet comes with something like Stainmaster built into the fibers, it might require new applications every few years to maintain its effectiveness. Check with the manufacturer at the time you buy to ensure you follow their guidelines.

It can also make a difference in ensuring your warranty stays valid.

Are you ready to buy new carpet?

We can help. Stop by today, and we can help you make the right choice for your home.

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

There is nothing like the pandemic to make you want to invest in your home since we are all spending a lot of time at home these days. If you are looking for ways to invest in your home, you may want to look into hardwood flooring. Here are some reasons investing in hardwood flooring pays off.

Great for Resale Value

If you are thinking about selling your home in the future, you can’t go wrong by adding hardwood floors. That’s because the current trend is to move away from carpeted flooring. Instead, hardwood flooring is one thing that prospective buyers look for when they search for homes. Hardwood flooring goes great with many different house styles, such as farmhouse, Victorian, contemporary, and mid-century modern.

Durable

Although hardwood flooring is expensive, it pays for itself in the long run. When hardwood floors are properly cared for, they can last for decades. Think about how many beautiful old houses you’ve seen on TV that are a couple of hundred years old. We bet these houses have hardwood flooring. Once you pay for the floors, you’ll be able to enjoy them for years to come.

Variety

While you might be limited in choices with vinyl flooring, hardwood floors come in a variety of colors and styles. You can find hardwood floors in many different sizes and textures as well. No matter what kind of hardwood floors you want, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for.

We think that hardwood flooring is the most economical, beautiful choice for your flooring. Hardwood flooring can give your house the perfect touch to all of your hard home improvement work. When you are ready to buy some new flooring, we hope that you’ll think about giving Flooring.org a call. You can call us anytime at 1-800-689-9006!

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

Maybe you run a large commercial space, with offices on several floors.

Maybe you run a medium sized medical facility, where cleanliness is everything.

Maybe you have a small business, and a fresh, clean appearance attracts people to your location.

Whatever type of facility you’re operating, you have a desire to match carpet to your facility’s needs.

And that’s important. But even in your own facility, you may have different needs throughout the building, on every single floor. How do you know what type of carpet to invest in?

Profiling your facility to determine what it needs

The first step in any project is to define your needs. And when it comes to selecting carpet, the more clearly you define specific requirements, the more you’ll be happy with your selection.

We have a few things for you to consider:

What type of facility do you operate? 

Different businesses require different needs. A medical building might have cleanliness as one of their top concerns. A large financial institution may make aesthetics a priority – they want to shine anytime a client comes to visit. Consider your priorities and decide what’s most important for you.

What activities take place inside? 

Some facilities depend on durability and maintenance-free functionality. Others are more concerned with how it looks to the general public. Heavy foot traffic will track in more dirt and debris. If you use a lot of liquids, or have a manufacturing process of any kind, it may be more important to focus on toughness.

Where will the carpet be laid into place? 

Carpet installed in entryways will require more maintenance than carpet in a conference room on the twentieth floor. Coordination may be a factor if you’re trying to tie every room together, but you should still pay attention to the daily living the carpet will be receiving.

How much of a life cycle do you expect? 

Do you change out the carpet frequently, or do you want the carpet to last? Some facilities rotate carpet regularly and have a budget for it each year. Others want to select wisely so their carpet choice will last for years.

What is tracked into the facility? 

Here in Colorado, ice and snow is a given? But if your tenants are from the construction industry, for example, will dirt and mud also show up regularly? It’s not only what the visitors will be wearing as they walk across the carpet, but also what exists on the bottom of their shoes as they move around.

Are you replacing or adding something new? 

If you’re moving from tile to carpet, for example, the subfloor could also need to be changed out. Or maybe the subfloor will have to be accessed from time to time – does maintenance need to get under the floor? That can make the difference between needing carpet tiles or bringing it in on a roll.

What type of furniture will be in the build out?

Different facilities house different levels of business. Will you place heavy office furniture and leave it set for years? Or will the furniture and supplies be under constant rotation, moving around your facility from time to time? Carpet squares may work well to prevent wear marks and replace small sections as you change out the space.

Finding the right carpet for your facility’s needs

People’s knowledge of carpet almost always stems from what they install in their homes. And residential carpet is entirely different from commercial-grade carpet. Yes, you’ll still have a wide variety of choices in style, fiber, pile, color, and patterns.

Just like residential choices, carpet in the workplace will give you personality. If you want a formal look for a bank or financial institution? There’s carpet for you. If your needs are solely based on maintenance and ease of use, there’s a carpet for you too.

 

There are so many different options when deciding which carpet to choose. You should consider:

Carpet construction – what it’s made of will ultimately determine how well it handles over its lifespan.

Color selection – you can go with natural to blend in, or dye it your corporate colors to stand out.

Style – carpet tiles make it easy to change out sections as needed. Of course, more traditional carpet can be laid into place and provide an elegant look and feel.

Performance – a high-quality carpet will give you years of service. In commercial carpet, it’s always better to focus on functionality and how it will handle under the stress your facility will give it.

Insulation and sound absorption – carpet is a natural noise reducer. How much depends on the carpet chosen and the backing or padding added underneath. It’s a great way to help reduce noise where you may need a quiet environment, such as a sound recording studio. Just pay attention to anti-static properties as well.

Cushion – standing on wood or tile all day can be hard on the feet and back. But with the right carpet, you can avoid workplace injuries and keep your tenants or salespeople doing their best.

Other considerations when matching carpet to facility needs

Depending on the goals of your business and what you’re trying to achieve with your facility, green building may be high up on your list. Green building is more than using materials that help the environment; they are designed so they won’t harm health too. Research now suggests that if people work in green environments, possibly LEED certified, they are more productive and healthier than working in buildings that aren’t.

There are many options available if this is something you’re striving for. The key is going into the purchase process with these goals in mind. Carpet tiles and more traditional carpet options are all available in green-friendly options. Ask from the beginning, and you’ll achieve the look and quality you want.

Impressions matter

When it’s time to choose new carpet for your facility, keep in mind that first impressions matter. The look you’re trying to achieve says it all from the moment anyone enters your facility.

If you skimp and downgrade your selection, you’ll pay in both looks and quality. By keeping aesthetics and overall design top of mind, you’ll install a carpet that is sure to please.

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

When it comes to interior design, accessibility is a key consideration. It’s important to ensure safety and ease of mobility around any home. In this blog, we’re going to offer advice on the best flooring types for wheelchair users with reduced mobility, to help make the most of living spaces.

There are a range of suitable flooring’s for wheelchair users which allow ease of mobility. These include: engineered wood, EvoCore, and LVT to name a few, with thick pile carpets, low quality vinyls and slippery tiled surfaces being amongst the few that are less suitable. 

There are key factors to consider to ensure safety and mobility are optimal as possible:

 

1. Durability
2. Grip
3. Comfort
4. Room Type
5. Transitions

 

Firstly though, we’re going to look at the different flooring types, and their suitability for wheelchair users.

Flooring Types

 

Different types of flooring will cater for wheelchair use better than others, with them being made with materials. Real wood, laminate and vinyl planks are the most suitable flooring types for ease of movement when it comes to wheelchairs users, and below we’ll look into why. 

 

 

Real Wood Flooring

 

Wood flooring, such as engineered wood and solid wood, provide a great surface for wheelchair users. 

 

With a hard surface, this allows for smooth and comfortable movability, avoiding any restrictions and slipping. These surfaces are highly durable, and solid and engineered wood can also be refinished if any cosmetic damage occurs. Scuffs or scrapes are no problem; the flooring can be brought back to life with ease.

Laminate

 

Laminate flooring is a top contender when it comes to manoeuvrability, and header-wearing construction. 

 

However, we recommend buying a high grade laminate to ensure flooring’s longevity, which also prevents the need for early replacement.

 

An AC rating of AC3 or above would make a suitable flooring for wheelchair users, with a recommended rating of AC5 for bathrooms and kitchens to ensure they meet suitability needs. 

Vinyl Planks 

Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT)

 

LVT makes for one of the best flooring options for wheelchair users. It’s highly durable, and suitable for any room of the home. For ease of movement and access around the home, Luxury Vinyl Tile is a great option. Click LVT features a thicket board which aids in providing more durability. 

 

EvoCore

 

EvoCore is another one of the best flooring’s for wheelchair users. This eco friendly option offers durability and home-wide suitability, meaning safety, confidence and mobility are optimal, as well as providing bespoke eye catching designs. EvoCore features scratch resistant surfaces and high durability. Perfect for facilitating the motions of a wheelchair. 

Flooring Types to Avoid

 

• Thick pile carpets – reduces or halts movement.
• Tile – Glossy finish tile can present slippery surfaces, leading to skidding, alteration of speed, or reduced effect of a brake.
• Vinyl Roll – Whilst not all vinyl roll should be avoided, lower grade options should be avoided where possible, as durability may provide future cosmetic issues resulting in the need to replace. 

 

Key Flooring Considerations for Wheelchair Users

Safety and manoeuvring will be front of mind when choosing the best flooring.. 

 

Whilst design and appearance are nice-to-haves, they may be secondary to ensuring you’re confident in mobility in your own home.

1. Durability 

 

First on the list is durability. As expected, wheelchairs can often be heavy on flooring, particularly motorised ones. 

 

Flooring should be practical in its ability to cater for this, as well as being able to handle manoeuvring to prevent cosmetic damage such as scuffs, scratches and lifting. 

 

Considering safety first, flooring wouldn’t be practical in its purpose if it did not cater for these needs. 

 

Damage to its appearance as a result of wheelchair presence is avoidable by considering high-durability flooring options. Experiencing comfort within an interior, as well as having mobility without the need for constant caution, sounds like a win-win scenario. 

 

This can be achieved with flooring such as EvoCore or engineered wood, being easy on the eye and offering extremely high durability. 

 

EvoCore

 

EvoCore Essentials and Premium are both made of a combination of 7 different layers to create an extremely resistant and durable flooring. It’s scratch resistant surface and textured surface makes for a great foundation for wheelchair users, whilst looking amazing in any room of the home, offering a wide array of designs and styles. 

 

 

Whatever range opted for in terms of compatibility for wheelchair users, EvoCore can withstand the test of time offering wear resistance, the ability to manoeuvre with ease whilst looking amazing in the process.  

 

Engineered Wood 

 

With engineered wood, this can be finished with a lacquer or oil, adding not only a natural charm but a protective layer to aid in durability. 

2. Slippery Surfaces

 

Another key consideration when it comes to the best flooring for wheelchair users is slippery surfaces. Traction is an important part of offering ease of movement, and this is something that smoother surfaces don’t tend to account for. 

 

Glossy finishes and ceramic tile are just some of the surfaces that can reduce wheelchair movement, alter speeds, or affect the efficiency of a brake due to the lack of traction. 

 

To allow safe and easy movement around a home, flooring options such as LVT, engineered wood, or a low pile carpet that isn’t too dense, usually loop piles rather than twist or Saxony as it offers smoother traction.

3. Comfort 

 

Where comfort is concerned, there are multiple flooring options for wheelchair users. Comfort is an each to their own factor, and when it comes to those who rely on the use of a wheelchair, there are physical factors to consider. 

 

With some wheelchairs being manual, this can have a physical effect on the body. Physical comfort should not be disregarded, and flooring can impact this. 

 

To prevent making mobility a strenuous activity, laminate flooring, LVT or engineered wood will make manoeuvring around your home a breeze. 

 

Thick carpet is another surface that will affect comfort. For more reasons than one. 

 

Carpets can cushion any falls and slow down speed, however thick-piled will reduce movement, and more energy and strength to push and rotate the wheels of the wheelchair. It’s important to consider which of these are most important before making a decision.

 

4. Room Type

 

Certain flooring’s go better in certain rooms, that’s just a fact. 

 

With different requirements for different rooms of the home, needs coupled with suitability can make options more limited as a wheelchair user.

 

In bathrooms and kitchens, popular choices for these rooms of the home are tiled flooring’s. However, some tile flooring’s are finished with slippery surfaces that could affect mobility. If this is your desired design, not to worry. Some flooring’s offer slip resistant surfaces and tiled patterns, providing the design you want with the suitability you need. Flooring’s such as slip resistant vinyl and EvoCore 360 will do the job perfectly. 

 

 

Kitchens

 

When it comes to kitchen flooring’s, a popular choice is tile. However, some tile flooring’s are finished with slippery surfaces that could affect mobility. If this is your desired design, not to worry. If this is your desired design, not to worry. Some flooring’s offer slip resistant surfaces and tiled patterns, providing the design you want with the suitability you need. Flooring’s such as slip resistant vinyl and EvoCore 360 will do the job perfectly. 

 

Bathrooms

 

Bathrooms are another room of the home that tiled flooring’s are often desired in. Similarly to kitchens, this room of the home requires flooring that will need to suit the everyday functions that occur there, as well as catering for wheelchair access. Again, like the kitchen, flooring’s such as slip resistant vinyl and EvoCore will suit these needs. 

5. Transitions

Transitioning between rooms in a wheelchair is another thing to consider when it comes to finding the best surface for wheelchairs. This is because when moving from room to room, surfaces can alter. Laminate to carpet, carpet to solid wood, whatever the surfaces of your home, having varied surface textures can cause exhaustion, especially if transitioning from surfaces that allow ease of movement, to ones that don’t. Where possible, having the same or similar flooring types that offer ease of wheelchair movement such as laminate or LVT, is something to consider when it comes to creating the flooring suitable for wheelchair users. 

 

Another thing to consider is keeping room transitions level to prevent getting stuck. Mini ramps can help with this. 

 

All Flooring Types and Their Suitability

 

Flooring Type	Suitability
Solid Wood	Suitable due to durability, however not suitable for kitchens and bathrooms due to temperature fluctuations.
Engineered Wood	Home-wide suitability and highly durable makes for a suitable flooring for wheelchair users.
Laminate	Laminate with an AC rating AC3 or above would make a suitable flooring for wheelchair users, with a recommended rating of AC5 for bathrooms.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)	LVT makes for one of the best flooring’s for wheelchair users, being highly durable, and suitable for any room of the home.
Vinyl Roll	Vinyl roll is suitable providing you have ensured it comes with slip resistance. However, durability in some cases isn’t always a strong suit.
Tile	Whilst some tiled flooring can be used, ensure the slip resistance where possible as certain finishes such as glossy, or ceramic tile can cause skidding and slipping.
Carpet	Low pile carpets can make a great flooring for those confined to a wheelchair. However, carpets with a thicker pile can hinder movement and be strenuous.
EvoCore	EvoCore is another one of the best flooring’s for wheelchair users. Again offering durability and home-wide suitability.

 

Hopefully this blog has answered your questions on recommendations when it comes to suitable flooring for wheelchair users. However, should you need more information, our team of experts would be more than happy to answer any questions, get in touch now. 

The post Best Flooring For Wheelchair Users appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

The year 2020 will go down in history as the time when everything changed. Working remotely is becoming the new norm. Shopping moved almost completely online. And cleaning – we look at that in an entirely new way.

It’s no longer acceptable to run a dust cloth over your personal items and call it a day. What else lurks in the corners of your room? We’ve taken cleaning to a whole new level.

It’s one thing to wonder how to clean a shelf in your living room. But what about the floors? They have to be the dirtiest places in your home, right?

If you have laminate flooring, you might be wondering what to do. You installed laminate for all the right reasons. You wanted a flooring that looked as good as hardwood, but stands up better to everyday living. And the coronavirus has definitely challenged what “everyday living” means.

 

How do you clean it? Better yet, how do you disinfect laminate flooring to ensure it not only looks good, but is safe for your family to live with?

Taking precautions with your laminate flooring

When you install new floors, you do so mostly for the beauty of the floors. You have a certain style in mind. You are creating aesthetics that will blend with your personal decor.

You might even take a second look at how well your flooring choices will do under pressure. Are they easy to clean? Are they easy to maintain over the years?

There’s a difference between cleaning and disinfecting. We’ve also become manic about ensuring everything is safe, sanitized, and doesn’t harbor germs that can make our families sick.

I was doing a few searches the other day in Google. Did you know people right now are searching things like:

• How do you kill germs on laminate floors?
• Can you use Lysol on laminate floors?
• What cleaners are safe for laminate floors?

Yep, this is front and center of every homeowner’s mind.

So what is the answer?

It starts with paying attention to what the manufacturer suggests.

When the manufacturer created the product currently residing in your home, they did so knowing it could sustain certain types of wear. It depends on what the laminate is made of, what topcoat is put into place, how it’s installed in your home. If you do things according to guidelines, it’ll wear well for the life of the product. If you follow the rules, whatever warranty is in place will ensure you are covered for the entire time frame.

The manufacturer knows best.

Some tips hold true no matter what product you choose:

Less water is better. Laminate might be better than hardwood when it comes to standing up against moisture, but it still isn’t made to have standing water in place. Water can soak in and cause extensive damage. It can peel and separate the layers. And it takes surprisingly less than you would imagine.

Never use bleach. Bleach may be the king of getting rid of germs, but it’s not a friend to laminate flooring. Laminate is porous. That means the bleach will soak in and cause a wide array of problems. It will often take the shiny finish off the floors first, before soaking into the color layer and dulling the look of your laminate. As it penetrates deeper, it can warp and curl your floors.

Avoid “promise” products. There are a lot of floor cleaners on the market today that make an array of promises. “Protected shine,” for example, promises to keep your floors radiant no matter how much your family can dish out. But what it’s really doing is filling in the tiny scratch and scuff markets with a filler product. Over time, this product can build, dull the finish, and create a filmy residue that’s difficult to get clean. It may make your floors look good in the beginning, but it will quickly disappear.

Your first step: Keeping dirt at bay

The key to great looking laminate flooring is to keep it clean and dirt-free. Dirt builds over time. By removing the dirt quickly, it means your flooring will stay cleaner naturally.

That means quick clean up when things happen. That’s why you should keep the proper tools right at hand, to be able to get rid of dirt quickly. Swiffer products make it easy to pick up messes fast. Invest in a small vacuum you can use whenever needed. Dust mops are good at picking up surface dirt and pulling them off of your floors. Use a dust mop daily at a minimum, more if your family is busy.

Always have a mop at hand

Sweeping and dusting are your first line of defense in keeping your flooring clean. But even if you dust daily, you aren’t removing the hidden grime that settles into your floors. And that’s where bacteria can live.

Dusting is your starting point. But from there, mopping provides you with a deeper clean.

Always use a soft mop so you won’t hurt the finish on your laminate floors. Not all mops are the same, so it’s wise to find one that works well with the product you have in place.

Keep a towel handy to dry any wet spots that remain after mopping. Excessive moisture – even small residue – can be enough to damage the finish. That means your floors may be impacted by things like swelling or warping.

And always pay attention to the chemicals in the floor cleaner you are selecting. Chemicals might promise to kill bacteria, but many do more harm than good. Avoid harsh chemicals, and refer to your warranty to ensure you’re using products the manufacturer recommends.

You should never use detergent-based cleaning products, as they will leave behind a sticky residue. And never pour any type of cleaning product directly on your floors. Make sure the mop or rag you use is thoroughly rung out, so it’s damp, and rub gently over the surface, ensuring no moisture is left behind.

Now it’s time to disinfect

Cleaning your floors is half the battle. The key to ensuring your floors are disinfected is to use an EPA-approved cleaning agent.

The CDC has issued guidance on what to use on porous materials. Use these guidelines to find a product that works well for your needs.

As always, before trying anything new, use a small amount of product in an inconspicuous place, to ensure it doesn’t leave a mark. If you’re getting down on the floor, be sure to wear gloves to keep your hands safe from harm, and dispose of them after, or wash them and hang them to dry.

All disinfectants can be harmful or fatal to people and animals, so keep the products away from your kids and pets.

Clean floors can give you peace of mind during these trying times. How have you been disinfecting your laminate flooring?

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