Top 5 benefits of engineered wood flooring

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What’s a homeowner to do?

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

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

Tile

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

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

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

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

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

Laminate

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

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

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

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

Luxury Vinyl

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

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

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

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

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

It’s time to install – what’ll it be?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stain Removal

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

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

Low-Moisture Solutions

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

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

Superior Equipment

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

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

For Clean Carpets, Go With The Pros

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

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

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

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

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

Do: Vacuum Frequently

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

Do: Spot-Treat and Clean Stains Immediately

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

Don’t: Saturate Upholstery With Water

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

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

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

Don’t: Ignore Fading Colors

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

Trust Our Experts To Keep Your Upholstery Clean

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

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

A new season means new home design trends. This fall, there are plenty of flooring trends to look forward to. Learn more about the top fall flooring trends by reading on.

The first flooring trend is black flooring. Black is a classic and sophisticated color. If you are interested in high-class and luxurious home design, opt for black flooring. Black is also a versatile color, which you can easily match to your furniture and home decor.

The second fall flooring trend is bamboo. Bamboo is an eco-friendly flooring material that is perfect for the environmentally conscious home-owner. Bamboo is also affordable and pleasing to look at. Bamboo flooring is a twist on traditional hardwood, allowing you to stand out, without taking too big of a home design risk.

Gray is an iconic color when it comes to home design. Recently, gray has been a huge trend in the interior design community. Not only can you find gray furniture and paint for your home, but you can also find gray flooring.

Cork is one of the latest flooring trends. Not only is cork cool to look at, but it’s comfortable to walk on. Cork flooring is more padded than other flooring options, making it a top choice for kitchens and other rooms where home-owners are likely to spend long amounts of time standing.

Exotic hardwoods are a luxurious flooring trend that you can make your own. Opt for vibrant colors and unique wood grains for flooring that matches your personality and your interior design style to a T.

Another luxurious flooring trend for fall is luxury vinyl. Vinyl used to be a considerably cheap flooring option, but the new customizations and creative patterns that vinyl is available in have risen the value of this flooring option.

Shop for the perfect hardwood flooring for your home at flooring.org. We have the top flooring trends for fall available on our website, so check out our selection today If you’d like to speak with us, call 800-689-9006!

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

New for 2019, our Herringbone LVT flooring (Luxury Vinyl Tiles) range combines style and character with practicality and function, while remaining at a low price. This new range of flooring replicates the look and feel of real wood Herringbone Flooring, with the added benefits of LVT flooring.

We’ve perfectly replicated the look and feel of wooden herringbone, with all of the benefits of luxury vinyl tiles. Our Herringbone LVT features a range of different tones and colours; choices vary from warm, darker colours, such as Golden Oak, to light grey tones, such as White Rustic Oak.

 

A closer look at the Herringbone LVT flooring range

The Herringbone LVT range is practical, tough and durable; a great choice for any busy home. Below is a list of features that our Herringbone LVT includes.

• 2.5mm tile thickness
• 1.25m² coverage per pack
• 0.55mm wear layer
• 613mm tile length
• 102mm tile width
• 20 year residential warranty
• 10 year commercial warranty
• Water resistant 
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Real wood feel textured surface
• Suitable with underfloor heating

 

 

Colours

With the wide range of colours available, our Herringbone LVT Tiles will fit into your style of home easily. Herringbone flooring is one of the most popular interior trends for 2019, and now you can have it in your home with all of the great benefits of LVT.

Golden Oak

This particular shade of Herringbone LVT brings warmth and character to any room, with authentic looking wood grains and knots. This particular shade highlights the dark coloured patterns and lines, Each with their own unique style, creating a real wood effect.

“All we can say is wow. When our fitter had finished we were thrilled to say the least. It looks fantastic and feels warm to walk on.” – Sharon K.

Grey Oak

Grey Oak Herringbone Vinyl Tiles bring distinctive character and style into modern living spaces, offering numerous advantages that only the highest quality floors can provide. An ashy finish covers the flooring, with dark and distinctive patterns sprawling through each section of tile.

Light Grey Oak

A lighter tone compared to Grey Oak, Light Grey Herringbone LVT flooring is highly detailed, while defining its realistic wood knots and patterns. This makes for a great alternative to real wood flooring.

Natural Oak

The perfect tone between a rustic feel and a neutral tone, Natural Oak Herringbone LVT offers an extremely realistic look and feel, with a textured surface to recreate the feel of real wood.

Vintage Oak

A perfect choice if you are looking for a dark, rustic looking wood, Vintage Oak Herringbone Vinyl Tiles offer a striking and bold appearance, while providing a real wood look and feel.

White Rustic Oak

The lightest option of Herringbone LVT flooring we offer. White Rustic Oak is perfect for light, neutral coloured rooms. Darker wood patterns and knots create a beautiful contrast against the light tone of the rest of the flooring.

 

Read more or order free samples

Golden Oak	Natural Oak	Vintage Oak
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Grey Oak	Light Grey Oak	White Rustic Oak
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Where can Herringbone Luxury Vinyl Tiles be fitted? 

Our Herringbone LVT Tiles can be fitted in most areas of your home as it is resilient, water-resistant and easy to clean. However, it is not suitable for areas of your house where the temperature can exceed 27°C, therefore we recommend you don’t lay Herringbone LVT in conservatories.

 

How does it compare to a herringbone wood floor?

Compared to herringbone wood flooring, there are a range of both advantages and disadvantages. These can be a bigger factor depending on what room in the house you are placing the flooring in, as well as how busy your home can get.

 

Advantages compared to Herringbone Wood Flooring

• LVT Flooring is water resistant, which makes it perfect for areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.
• Luxury Vinyl Tiles are considerably cheaper when compared to real wood, this makes them more accessible due to its budget-friendly price tag.
• As one of the toughest flooring options out there, LVT flooring is a great option for busy family homes where there is a lot of foot traffic.
• Unlike solid wood flooring, LVT is suitable for use with underfloor heating.

 

Disadvantages compared to Herringbone Wood Flooring

• You will not have the completely authentic wood feel, which is available only with real wood flooring.
• You don’t have the option to sand and refinish LVT flooring.

 

 

How to fit Herringbone LVT Tiles

This particular range of LVT flooring is glue down, which means an appropriate adhesive is required to lay this flooring.

Before laying your Herringbone LVT flooring, we advise you to leave them in the room for 72 hours prior to installation. This gives the flooring time to adjust to the room’s temperature and humidity levels. 

Make sure your subfloor is level and dry, this is to ensure your flooring is even, and has a solid surface to be laid on. When laying Herringbone Vinyl Tiles, place each tile at a 90-degree angle, with the tiles pointing towards the middle of the room and work your way from the centre outwards. 

Be sure that you are applying the adhesive to the subfloor and no the tile itself. Also, be sure to Score and snap tiles in order to cut them to size.

You also have the option to enhance the look of your flooring using feature strips, which creates a border around your room or between individual planks. 

While click LVT flooring fits together using a click-lock system, glue down vinyl tiles need to be adhered directly to the subfloor.

Click is ordinarily fitted as a floating floor, and can be used with underlay.

Our Herringbone vinyl tiles are glue down due to their distinct pattern, giving you more control over the design of your flooring.

 

Why choose herringbone vinyl tiles?

LVT flooring, in general, is very durable and much more budget-friendly. Our Herringbone LVT flooring has numerous beneficial factors, which make them many people’s preference over real wood.

 

The average price of LVT is cost-effective and a fantastic alternative to real wood. Luxury vinyl tiles are especially effective if you are looking to lay flooring in your kitchen or bathroom, as LVT has the additional benefit of being water-resistant.

 

Conclusion

Our new range of Herringbone LVT offers strength and water resistance. As well as this, the wide variety of colours can fit in nicely with any room in your home. This is a fantastic option if your looking for the appearance of wooden flooring, but wanting more functionality and benefits. 

To find out more about our new range, be sure to head over to our product page where we go more in-depth on every option that we provide. Click here to view the range and order your free samples.

Additionally, if you’re looking for a beautiful herringbone flooring, but in laminate instead of LVT, our range of Herringbone Laminate Flooring has you covered.

If you have any questions or queries, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 03308 088 777.

The post Herringbone LVT – New 2019 Range appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

The finish of the wood flooring that you choose is extremely important.  It can mean the difference between your floor looking and feeling natural, glossy or even distressed. A wood flooring finish can also slightly alter the texture of the surface of your floor. Read More