Repairing Carpet vs. Repairing an Area Rug

Moving into a new home in Englewood or Denver is the experience of a lifetime, and everyone loves putting their own unique stamp on every room. Of course, there are a few “must-dos”, such as painting, moving furniture, and hiring an expert carpet cleaning company like A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning to ensure your new home’s carpet is nothing short of exquisite. 

Make a “Fresh Start”

Even if the previous homeowners were as clean as clean can be, making a fresh start is always a good idea. The carpet might look spotless on the surface, but within the pile and just above the pad may lurk dust, dirt, and dander that is overdue for removal. And what better time to take care of this than right before you begin moving all of your belongings into the house? In a broader sense, it’s a great feeling to know that the carpets in your new home have been freshly cleaned, and that you have zero worries regarding bacteria, mildew, odor, and the like.

Do It For The Kids

For homeowners with kids – especially toddlers – it’s mandatory to do a carpet deep-clean before moving in to a new house. Little ones are in perpetual pursuit of new experiences, and while they’re learning to crawl they are also learning about their surroundings while being in constant contact with the carpet. We’re definitely not suggesting that kids should be put in a bubble, because their immune systems will flourish. However, the fact that they can’t tell a thread from a piece of old dog hair means that they’re constantly putting things in their mouths, which is why it makes sense to address the carpet and give your kids a clean slate to grow upon.

Invest a Little Instead Of a Lot

No doubt there are a ton of expenses involved with a move, most of which are foreseen but some not. In fact, by the time you’re ready to move in, the last thing you may want to do is invest in having the carpets cleaned. But when you look at the situation from a financial perspective, you might warm to the idea. Cleaning the carpets before you move in requires no moving of furniture, so the process is faster and cheaper. Plus, you don’t have to endure the hassle of keeping kids and pets out of certain rooms for a time. Moreover, even minor carpet issues you spot during move-in – the kind you might shrug your shoulders at and say, “It’s not so bad” – can quickly become major issues. Rather than risk turning a small problem into a big one, and having to spend a lot more time and money fixing it down the road, it makes a lot more sense to hire a professional carpet company in Littleton to rectify any issues before you start unpacking.

Enjoy Clean Carpets In Your New Home

For some of the finest professional carpet cleaning in Denver, choose A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning. Working quickly and cost-effectively, our friendly team will expertly clean the carpets in your new home and help you make a fresh start from the ground-up.  Remember at A Personal Touch, “We don’t cut corners, we clean them.”

The post Repairing Carpet vs. Repairing an Area Rug appeared first on A Personal Touch.

It’s a modern day catch-22.

On the one hand, you want a timeless, beautiful floor that will look great for years to come.

On the other hand, you want a durable floor that can take all that your family can dish out.

What’s a homeowner to do? Consider plank tile.

What is the tile called that looks like wood?

You’ve probably seen it before and wondered what it is. Walking in, it looks just like hardwood. But once you get closer, walk on it, it’s clearly not hardwood. It feels more like tile.

Tile that looks like wood is made from either ceramic or porcelain tile, designed to give the look and feel of a hardwood floor. If often comes in plank tile format, even though it can take on many sizes and shapes.

What we love best about plank tile is how close it looks to the real thing. Many people have to get down on the floor and touch it to discover the difference. It’s that good. And if you’ve ever installed tile in your home before, you already know the benefits tile can bring to some of the most high-traffic areas. Plank tile is a great compromise when you want classic good looks, yet know your floor takes a beating throughout the year.

What are the benefits of plank wood tile?

Why are plank tiles gaining in popularity? Because of their strength and durability.

Here in Colorado, we love hardwood. Maybe it’s something about growing up with pine trees all around us. When we think about the Rockies, we think cabins and mountain retreats. Hardwood goes hand in hand with that concept.

But hardwood isn’t practical for every home, or every situation. Hardwood in an entryway or mudroom is nothing but trouble. Hardwood in a kitchen or bathroom can be more trouble than it’s worth. Hardwood isn’t designed for water and moisture, which means you’ll spend a lot of time on care and maintenance when you install them in these spaces.

That’s where plank tile has the edge. Plank tile looks like hardwood, but it acts like tile. It can be matched with any decor; installed in a variety of color choices, one that will perfectly match your style.

It never has to be refinished. It’ll stand up through spills, and messes, and moisture. And if you’re worried about having a cold tile floor on a Colorado winter morning, stop worrying. Plank tile is perfect for laying over radiant heating. That means you can have toasty warm floors you’ll love all winter long.

What is better, tile or wood?

It depends.

Flooring is a personal choice. If you really love hardwood, then by all means, install it. You’ll love it.

But if you’ve got questions about whether it’s the right choice for your home, then it may be time to look at other options. Plank tile is one of the best choices you can make when durability and strength are in question. If you know your floors take a beating from high-traffic, pets, and kids, plank tile might be the right choice for you.

It’s easy to get confused by studies that show what materials hold their value best. If you know you might be selling your home in the future, is it better to get what real estate agents tell you will help your home sell? Or do you listen to your gut and select something you know you’ll love, and will last through all you can dish out? We think it’s best to look at the big picture.

For example, a recent Consumer Reports article makes suggestions as to the best upgrades to make to boost your home’s value. If you dive down for specifics, you’ll see hardwood flooring rules. But if you back away and look at the big picture, you’ll see it’s more about the aesthetics of a room. If you have a well-designed room with classic good looks, people don’t focus on individual items. Instead, they work to picture themselves living there. And if plank tile makes sense, of course, they’ll jump at it.

Do you grout wood plank tile?

Plank tile is designed to mimic the look of hardwood floors. But if you know anything about tile, you know you install tile with grout holding each individual tile in place.

Do plank tiles need grout? It depends.

Tile typically needs grout to allow for movement and settlement. This narrow material has give, to allow tiles to continue to look good without cracking or breaking.

Yet grout is also what will make plank tile look like a tile floor rather than hardwood flooring.

The key is getting an installer who is good at installing plank tile. The best installers can install without grout, placing the tiles flush against one another for a smooth look. They can also install it with minimal grout – just enough to give your flooring a chance to move. This might be your best choice if you’ve had problems with settling in the past. Only you know how your home reacts; if you’re worried about movement, stick with the grout.

How expensive is tile that looks like wood?

The good news is there are options for every budget. Just like hardwood, you’ll find a wide variety of wood-look tiles that fluctuate according to quality, type, manufacturer, and durability. Can you get plank tile for a few dollars a square foot? Of course. Can you find it for $20 dollars a square foot or more? You bet.

Be cautious of generic plank tile that seems too good to be true. Your flooring takes a lot of abuse, no matter where it’s installed in your home. Do you really want chips, cracks, and breakage to occur in the first year after installation? We’re here to help you make the right choice to ensure high quality from the start.

Will wood tile go out of style?

When something comes into fashion, it’s natural to worry about trendiness. Will the look come and go in a matter of years?

Technology has an important part in the flooring industry. Plank tile wasn’t possible even a few short years ago. But now that it’s here, we think it’ll stay. It’s a beautiful addition to any home. It works well with radiant heating. And it’s a classic look that’s both durable and functionally, something busy households need.

If you’re ready for beautiful yet durable look of plank tile, stop by and see our full selection. It can make a welcome addition to any room in your home.

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

This is step two: Measuring Your Space. In this series, we break down each step so you can see how we do flooring installation better than anyone else. Ready to buy new flooring? The Carpet Guys have an easy ten-step process that will save you money “Ten Easy Steps to New Flooring”.  We will show you how having your flooring replaced can be the catalyst for a beautiful new space.

What to Expect When Buying New Flooring

First, you will answer a few questions. Then, we will set up your appointment for your Design Consultant to come to your home (check out “What to Expect When Buying New Flooring; Step 1”). The Designer will bring in samples of flooring for you to review.  You get to see large samples (not the swatch pieces from big box stores). Compare them in your lighting, next to your furniture, so you can decide which one you like the best.  Some things to be aware of when picking out which flooring to go with:

1. Design Consultants know our products and they will recommend which flooring will be best for your lifestyle.  For example, they will upgrade to the moisture and odor barrier pad if you have pets or small children.  Or if you are having luxury vinyl plank put in, they will want to upgrade you to the waterproof one if it’s going in a bathroom, laundry room, or kitchen.
2. If you choose a flooring that is not in stock, it will take time to order the new flooring and receive it in our warehouse.  If you want a next day installation, you will want to pick out something that we carry.  With over 43,000 square feet of warehouse space, we have plenty to choose from!

Measuring Your Space

When you have chosen your new flooring our Design Consultant will measure your space.  First, they use a laser measuring tool to get the most accurate details of your space.  Then, those measurements are uploaded to an iPad that holds one of the most advanced layout tools in the business.  Efficiently, the layout tool will place seams and the direction of the flooring for installation that will best suit the room. It also eliminates waste to help save the environment and to save you money.  If you’re looking for more information on how to calculate your square footage, check out this blog “How to Measure a Room for New Floors”.

You Get the Whole Package

Lastly, our Design Consultant will get you the best price for all that we offer:

Your personal Design Consultant who uses the most accurate tools to measure your space is just another reason to choose The Carpet Guys as your flooring experts. Contact The Carpet Guys if you’re interested in having new flooring installed at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897), or fill out our Free In-Home Estimate form.

The post Step Two: Measuring Your Space appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

The new year is right around the corner. If you are planning on remodeling your house in 2020, consider staying up to date on the latest trends in home design. To learn about five top hardwood flooring trends for 2020, just keep reading.

The first trend in flooring for 2020 is wider planks. Over the years, the width of planks has grown larger and larger. For 2020, expect to find plants that are as wide as 12 inches. Wide planks can make a room feel more grand and spacious.

The second flooring trend for 2020 is Earth tones. Earthy tones are warm, cozy, and neutral. They are elegant and easy, helping to create a comfortable and sophisticated feel in your home. You can either opt for woods that are already warm and natural in color, or you can finish hardwood with Earthy tones.

The third trend for flooring in 2020 is eco-friendly options. More manufacturers are leaning towards environmentally friendly planks to help protect the planet and please their customers. Natural flooring isn’t only good for the environment, but it is also eye-catching in any home. Some environmentally friendly flooring options you can find include cork and bamboo, which are renewable woods.

When we think of eco-friendly flooring, we typically think of flooring that is made from renewable resources. However, we may forget about how some floorings have formaldehyde and VOCs. The next trend for flooring in 2020 is air quality. Green Guard certified hardwood flooring and Carb 2 compliant flooring don’t feature harmful chemicals. Some flooring even comes with air-purifying finishes.

The final flooring trend for 2020 is distressed wood. The distressed effect is edgy and cool, but it’s also easy to maintain and rustic. If you are picking flooring for a cabin or beach house, distressed wood will fit right in.

You can find high-quality, trendy flooring at flooring.org. Shop from these trends on our website or give us a call at 800-689-9006 for more information!

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

You’ve been trying to sell your home and you did everything you thought was expected of you. You connected with a real estate agent, had professional photos taken of your house, and opened your home to numerous strangers as they paraded around your halls on private tours and open houses. But after weeks of your home being listed, not a single reasonable offer has been made. Sound familiar?

Currently, the median number of days a home sits on the market is 41 days. And, of course, the longer your home sits on the market the more control homebuyers have when it comes time for negotiations. So, take your house out of seller’s limbo by adding perceived value (and actual value) to your home. Here are nine easy home improvements you can do that will make your house more appealing to potential home buyers and help sell your home fast.

1. Upgrade Your Mailbox

Upgrading your mailbox might seem like a rather silly thing to do at first, but if we are talking about making a great first impression to potential home buyers, the mailbox is often the very first thing someone sees before pulling in the driveway. It’s also the easiest home improvement you can do.

It could just be a new mailbox that replaces the old, weathered one you’ve had for years. And let’s face it, most homeowners don’t put much thought into what their mailbox looks like, often becoming an eyesore to your driveway. Or, you could upgrade to a “Next Generation” mailbox that allows USPS to deliver large packages to your mailbox instead of your front door. And we all know packages that are apparently visible to any passerby have a better chance of not being taken.

In fact, with more and more consumer products being purchased online and delivered to homes, you may even consider upgrading to a security mailbox that keeps your mail and packages safe from theft altogether.

Either way, upgrading your mailbox is a simple, cost-effective method of bringing perceived value to your home.

2. Paint Your House Inside and Out

This cannot be emphasized enough, but painting the inside of your home with a fresh neutral color goes a long way with potential homebuyers. For example, your kids’ rooms may have very unique colors that they had insisted upon at one time, but not every potential buyer is going to enjoy that purple room as much as your kid does. You’ll want to put a fresh coat of paint on those walls so anyone touring your home can envision themselves living in your space.

In fact, everything you’re doing to prep your home for sale is making your home look its very best and allowing potential homebuyers to envision themselves in every room of your house. You want people touring your house to think, what if I bought this house? This room could be my office, nursery, guest bedroom, etc. However, it becomes hard for potential buyers to envision themselves in a room with purple walls.

Alternatively, painting the exterior of your home may be the best solution to getting your home sold faster. If your home’s color has faded from its former glory, the paint is chipping, or your house has always been that home on the block the neighborhood kids call the orange house, you may want to consider getting your home painted a more contemporary color. Though painting the exterior of your home can be pricey, when done by professionals, the process has a very quick turnaround time and the result will be sure to leave a lasting impression on potential buyers.

3. Enhance Your Curb Appeal

It doesn’t matter if you live in Dallas, TX or Portland, OR, enhancing your curb appeal can go a long way toward making a great first impression on potential homebuyers.

First, you’ll want to look at your landscaping in front of and around your house. How does your lawn, trees, and overall vegetation look? Make sure your lawn is freshly trimmed, all dead debris (like sticks and leaves) are picked up, and 2 to 3 inches of fresh bark mulch is placed around your shrubs, trees, and plants.

Do you have hedges that line your property or some other form of fruit or decorative trees on your property? Having your hedges trimmed and your trees cut back can make your yard go from something that resembles an unruly wilderness to a well-maintained and welcoming paradise.

Also, if you don’t already have decorative plants bringing color to your front driveway and entrance, a few well-positioned potted plants are an inexpensive and inviting sight for newcomers to your home.

4. Clean, Declutter, and Stage Your Home

Nothing turns potential homebuyers away faster than an unkept and cluttered home. If you’re looking to sell your house quickly, it might be a good idea to hire professionals to get your house in order. Decluttering and staging your home is a must if you want to make your home and all its uniqueness shine its best for potential buyers.

If your closets are overflowing with winter jackets, or you have too many large pieces of furniture in your living room, your spaces will not be showcased the way they should be. People touring your home like to look not just at the larger rooms, but also poke around in closets, drawers, and other storage areas to make sure their stuff will fit. If your stuff is in the way, that makes it much harder for buyers to see themselves in your space.

Furthermore, a deep cleaning is a must before any open house or home tour takes place. If you have a cat or dog (or both), you probably don’t smell them anymore. However, people that don’t have pets are acutely aware of homes that do, simply because it’s a scent they’re not used to. If you’re looking for a quick turnaround, a professional can help eliminate odors, stains, and any number of other things you may no longer be aware of and make your home feel brand new again.

5. Fence in Your Backyard and Refinish Your Deck

It’s amazing what a refinished deck or new cedar fence enclosing a backyard can do for a home. Not only is it functional and aesthetically pleasing, but the return on investment is nothing to shy away from if you’re looking for an easy project that will help you get your home sold fast.

In fact, the national average in 2019 for recouping the cost of a wood deck addition on a home is 75.6%. So, although you may take a small hit financially by adding a wood deck onto your house, you would recoup most of the cost and potentially sell your home faster because of the added feature.

Likewise, adding a fence to your property can do wonders for your home in a relatively short period of time. And according to a 2018 survey by the American Pet Product Association,”67% of U.S. households own a pet,” meaning over half the people touring your home have a fuzzy little friend, and a fenced in backyard is a bonus to some homebuyers but a must for others.

6. Fix Your Light Switches and Update Your Fixtures

So it’s true, people touring your home will play with your faucets, open your drawers, and test ALL your light switches. If you have a light switch that doesn’t work (or an electrical outlet), now is the time to get it fixed. Light switches that do not work signify to homebuyers that your house may have electrical issues, when in fact, it may be something much more simple. Nonetheless, at that point, you’ve already lost that potential offer.

You’ll also want to replace all your burnt out light bulbs to make sure every room in your house is bright and inviting. Furthermore, all your interior lights should be the same color temperature for consistent lighting throughout your house.

Updating your light fixtures, ceiling fans, and even your hardware on doors and cabinets is an easy and cost-effective way of increasing the perceived value of your home. If you already have an electrician fixing your light switches, they could also replace your dated brass light fixtures with ones that have a more contemporary feel. Beyond making your interior appear more modern to homebuyers, you can take this opportunity to find fixtures that can help brighten your home and make it stand out among other homes for sale in your area.

7. Upgrade Your Garage Door

Installing a new garage door is one of the simplest and quickest ways to give your home a much-needed facelift and impress potential homebuyers. New garage doors recoup nearly all the money invested into them, and, in some areas like the west coast, a new garage door actually recoups more than its initial investment at 123.8% on average. Meaning your new garage door could actually put money back in your pocket.

There are several styles and designs to choose from, just make sure that you go with a style that fits the look of your house. Especially if you’ve recently painted your home a more contemporary color, a new garage door can be that easy home improvement that pushes home lookers into actual offers.

8. Get a New Front Door

Give others entryway envy by upgrading your front door and transforming the character of your home. Over the years, front doors see a lot of abuse and begin to look worn and tired. Luckily, a new front door is quick to replace and a very cost-effective way of making your entryway unique and aesthetically pleasing to anyone stepping up onto your doormat.

Solid wood doors are always a classic style for homes not to go out of style anytime soon. They’re solid and typically last much longer than alternative materials like fiberglass. Additionally, front doors with inlaid glass can also give your entryway more natural light for the interior of your home. Either way, a new door is a quick and easy way to impress homebuyers.

9. Update Your Kitchen Appliances for a Fresh Look

If you’re looking to sell your home quickly, updating your kitchen with modern and timeless stainless steel appliances is a great way to go. Though this can be costly, new appliances really appeal to first-time homebuyers, and as a result, you could see more competitive offers.

Furthermore, there is a good possibility your appliances probably need to be updated anyway. Typically, larger appliances like fridges and stoves should be replaced every 10 years, while smaller appliances it’s recommended to be replaced every 5 years. Nonetheless, updated appliances are a safe bet if you’re looking to sell your home fast.

Originally published on Redfin

The post 9 Easy Home Improvements to Help Sell Your Home Fast! appeared first on A Personal Touch.

We have an amazing new range of engineered oak flooring.  It’s called the Engineered Charnwood Oak Range and, at the moment, includes three beautiful colours.  All three have a brushed and UV oiled finish.  This means that the surface of the planks of flooring have been lightly brushed to expose the natural qualities and charm of the Oak. Read More

When configuring your space for new flooring, you need to take all the measurements into account.  At The Carpet Guys, we want to educate you on how to measure a room before you pick your favorite flooring.

Measuring the Room

In the perfect world of flooring, every room would be a perfect square.  Unfortunately, not every room is a perfect square and they often have oddly shaped cuts that need to be made.  When you’re figuring out the square footage of your room, remember to consider the doorways, any closets, and odd-shaped walls.

In order to figure out your room size, if it’s a rectangle or square, you can multiply the length measurement times the width measurement.  That gives you the square footage of your room.  If you have a closet or other oddity, you can break those down into smaller rectangles and add that square footage to your larger measurement.  Once you have your total square footage you can figure out how much flooring you will need.  Check out our handy Square Foot Calculator that will do the math for you.

Measuring for Carpet or Sheet Vinyl Sizes

Carpet and sheet vinyl comes in rolls.  The standard roll width is 12 feet. If your room is over 12 feet, you will have a seam.  Also, carpet has a “nap” which is the direction that the carpet fibers go in and should be installed in the same direction for look and durability of the flooring.  Vinyl usually has a pattern that you also want to maintain in the installation.  It is best to place seams in low traffic areas.  So, not in doorways or hallways but in the back of a room or under large furniture.  Also, rolls of a product are sold in square yards, not square feet.  When you have measured and figured out how many total square feet your room is, divide that number by 9 to figure out how many square yards you need.

Measuring for Laminate, Hardwood or Luxury Vinyl Plank / Luxury Vinyl Tile

Hard surface materials are sold in boxes of product.  Every product has a different square foot coverage amount.  A box of 10 planks that are 3 inches wide will cover less square footage than a box of 10 planks that measure 7 inches wide.  Once you figure out your total square footage, you can figure out how many boxes you will need.

Proper Calculations and Installation

The best way to ensure that you have all your calculations correct is to have a professional put in your new flooring.  At The Carpet Guys, we not only measure your room with a state of the art laser tool, but we also take care of every step of the process for you.  Check out our 10 Easy Steps to New Flooring blog.  We use programs that lay out the flooring and create the least amount of waste.  We have an entire department that is dedicated to making sure our cuts are precise and the flooring is laid out in the best possible way before the installers even begin.  And our warehouse crew makes almost 100 cuts a day!  Every step of the process is handled for you.  Be Wise, Call The Carpet Guys at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or fill out one of our Free In-Home Estimate form.

The post How to Measure a Room for New Flooring appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

Is there a best time of year to upgrade your flooring? Like most home improvement projects, the answer is: yes.

The great thing about flooring is it isn’t something you have to rush to make a decision about. You can weigh your options, compare your choices, and make an informed decision.

Flooring is all about lifestyle. What works for one homeowner isn’t necessarily the best choice for another. Whether you’re thinking of installing carpet, hardwood, or tile, your ultimate goal is to get the best deal possible. That stretches far beyond monetary; it also includes ensuring you get a product that will last, and deliver the results you are looking for.

If you’re ready to renovate your home, and want to know the best time of year to upgrade the flooring, we have a few things to consider:

• When you can get the best deals on flooring
• How the time of year impacts installation
• How installation affects your health

When you can get the best deals on flooring

For most homeowners, there’s a fine line before need and desire. If you have champagne taste on a beer budget, you know what I mean. You have a strong desire to install the best, most luxurious flooring on the market, but your budget tells a different story.

The key to getting the best deal is to focus on what’s most important. Chances are if you’re reading this, you have a strong desire for a particular material. Maybe you want to rip up old carpet and lay hardwood throughout your living space. Or perhaps you want a fresh new color in the bedrooms, carpet that’s plush and soft to the touch.

When you start shopping, don’t walk into the first store and fall in love. Take your time to look around.

Also, don’t shop the big box stores and assume they buy in big quantities and get the best deals. It’s simply not true. They have less selection because they demand certain profit levels on every product they sell. They select products they know they can sell, and charge the most they can get for each selection.

As a flooring expert, we have a wide selection. That means we can help you get the best product for your money, as well as make suggestions based on your needs and desires. We can also steer you to comparable products that provide the same wearability, yet might be easier on your budget.

How the time of year impacts installation

Now that you’re comfortable with the deal you got on your flooring product, what about installation? Is there a best time of year to install your flooring?

In general, spring and fall are the best seasons for adding new flooring to your home for three reasons.

First, installing new floors takes a lot of work on the part of the installation crew. They have to rip out the old flooring before installing the new. They have tools to bring in and out to get the job done. They have to bring the new product into your home.

That means the doors will be open a lot. If you do this on a cold day, your furnace will be running excessively to compensate for the temperature difference. In the summer, your air conditioner will work overtime to keep up with demand.

Next, you’ll want the option of leaving your windows open for ventilation. No matter what flooring choice you select, there will be fumes and odors that come along with the process. Depending on the flooring you choose, you may have offgassing from the materials, floor adhesive odors, fumes from adhesive removal materials, stains, and sealers. Being able to leave your windows open and create cross-breezes for ventilation means you’ll eliminate the smells faster.

Finally, it’s also important to pay attention to temperatures and humidity levels, depending on what flooring you’re installing. While temperature and humidity can impact all flooring installations, it’s especially crucial for hardwood and laminate. Both need to acclimate to the environment before they are installed. This is easier to do when the temperatures stay between 50 and 75 degrees, and you don’t need to turn on the furnace or the air conditioner.

If you install flooring without the acclimation process, it can dry out your flooring. In winter, running your furnace regularly can suck moisture out of the air. In summer, your air conditioner acts as a dehumidifier. When your wood floors dry out, they can crack, shrink, warp, or even pull apart.

A good rule of thumb is to have materials acclimate for 7 to 14 days before the installation process. Rely on your flooring consultant for what’s best for the flooring product you select.

This can impact when you make your purchase, as well. If you’re planning a holiday party, or want your home to look good for a summer event, be sure to give yourself plenty of time.

How installation impacts your health

If you focus on bringing a sustainable, low VOC product into your home, you might think you’re at lower risk for having chemicals released into the air supply. While it is a good idea to make conscious choices for how they impact your health, the truth is all new products produce some offgassing when they are introduced into your home. You can’t avoid that new product smell, no matter what choices you make.

Some of it can dissipate quickly, especially when you can leave doors and windows open. By letting the fumes and odors release out of your home, that means they aren’t accumulating in every room in your home, impacting your health.

For this reason alone, we often suggest the best time of year for installing new flooring is fall and spring. Of course, here in Denver, we can have spring and fall-like weather almost twelve months of the year. It’s always a good idea to let fresh air into your home whenever possible.

So when is the best time to upgrade the flooring in your home? It depends on a variety of things, including the material you select your lifestyle.

If you have any questions about how to select the best flooring for your situation, or just want to compare your options, stop by today. We’ll provide you with honest feedback and help you make the right decision for you.

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

Wood effect laminate is an extremely popular choice of flooring. In recent years the quality of laminate flooring has improved, and the styles and designs look more authentic than ever.  It is important to remember, that although laminate can look like wood flooring, it is not a real hardwood floor. Read More

Buying residential carpet isn’t something a homeowner does all the time. Carpet doesn’t come with an expiration date when you install it, nor does it give off a warning signal when it’s reaching end of life.

But there are signs that it might be time to replace your carpet. Stains, odors, threadbare areas, and stretch marks can’t be taken away with a vacuum or a carpet cleaner. At some point, it will be time to replace the carpeting in your home.

How old is your carpet?

When it comes to making a decision about keeping or replacing carpet, age matters. While you can’t mark a date on the calendar based on when you purchased it, you can use it as a guide for when it’s time to replace.

Carpeting has a lifespan of anywhere from five to fifteen years. The difference comes from the quality of the construction, and the amount of foot traffic it has on it each day. A carpet installed in a guest bedroom that is rarely used will have a longer life than carpet installed in a family room you use every day. Yet even if a carpet isn’t walked on daily, the carpet fibers and padding material start to break down over time. As this happens, you’ll start to feel lumps and unevenness underfoot.

Does carpet fiber matter?

When you start to shop for new carpet, you’ll start to notice the vast selection you have to choose from. Not only are there many colors, styles, and patterns, but fiber and materials are also different between brands.

If you take your hand and rub it over the fibers, you’ll quickly notice a difference. They just feel different. Some are plush to the touch, while others are stiffer, feel a bit more susceptible to damage.

That’s because carpet is designed with different things in mind.

Inexpensive apartment-grade carpet is designed for short lifespans, cheaper costs, and lower quality. Because landlords typically replace carpet in rental properties quickly, they design with lower grade materials that don’t handle well under pressure. You’ll be on the shorter end of the five to fifteen year expected lifespan.

High quality manufacturers put more energy into making the best carpeting possible. They use fibers and construction processes that push longevity towards fifteen years, with some brands increasing potential to up to 25 years or more. It all depends on the quality, the traffic in your home, and how you maintain it over the years.

Carpet is installed as a flooring material to provide a soft, cushiony, warm surface underfoot. To get that depends on the type of fiber used during construction, and the pile – how the loops of fiber are attached to the backing.

In general, types of fibers used to create carpet include nylon, polyester, polypropylene, acrylic, and wool. Nylon is the most popular because it’s inexpensive, resists stains, and is easy to create and dye. If well cared for, you can expect in upwards of fifteen years of life. Wool is at the other end, a natural and luxurious material that can last for years.

You’ll also find loop and cut pile carpet has different expected wearability. Loop pile is created using the entire yarn loop intact. It’s extremely durable, and won’t leave trails from vacuum marks of footprints. Cut pile is leveled off to leave exposed fibers, creating a soft, easy to clean carpet. It comes in different lengths and thicknesses, giving texture to hide wear and dirt. Though it’s more popular than loop pile, it isn’t as durable for the long term, and will have to be replaced more frequently.

Does flattened fiber matter?

It doesn’t matter if you choose loop or cut pile, if your carpet once stood tall but now looks flat no matter what you do to add “life” back into it, it’s a sign it’s past its prime.

It’s often the easiest to see in high traffic areas. You’ll see certain areas of a room looking worn, flat, matted more than others. Even with some of the most durable carpets on the market – Berber, for example – those looped fibers can succumb to matting over time.

When you vacuum, and your carpet won’t bounce back into place, it’s a sign that it’s time for new carpet. If a carpet looks stretched and out of place from its original shape, it’s a sign that it’s time for replacement.

What do threadbare carpets mean?

No matter how high-quality your carpets are, at some point, they eventually wear out. In the most used areas, you’ll start to see the backing through the fibers. You’ll see fraying along the edges. You’ll see thinning areas in different places. This is all a sign your carpet has reached the end of its useful life.

Another sign might be carpet pests. If you notice balding patches, particularly around the edges or in the corners, it could be an infestation of carpet moths, carpet beetles, or silverfish. They eat away at the fibers, lay eggs deep within, and the entire process starts all over again. Eventually, you’ll see these balding spots grow bigger. You may see evidence of them with tiny black or white spots near the carpet. While regular cleaning can ensure this potential problem is kept at bay, it can quickly cause enough damage that the only way to make your carpets look good again is to replace them.

What about how carpet looks and smells?

What’s that odor when you walk into a room? If you notice a musty smell, it might be your carpet. Carpet traps dirt, dust, and allergens, and over time, those smells become more challenging to remove.

Most carpet comes with stain resistance built in. While that might work for the first spill, it becomes harder to hide stains when they happen multiple times. If you’re placing your furniture around your home to keep stains hidden, it’s a sign that it’s time to replace your carpet.

Do you see your carpet in any of these scenarios? If so, stop by today and see our entire selection of carpet. No matter what your desires, what rooms you want to upgrade, or how much carpet you need, we have the perfect choice for your needs.

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