Are Green Flooring Materials More Expensive?

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

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

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

What does going green mean?

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

You’re a more aware consumer.

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

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

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

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

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

What influences the cost of new flooring?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s green flooring priorities

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

No more.

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

What homeowners want today is:

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

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

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

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

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

Green flooring options you might consider

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What green flooring choice is right for you?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What the ADA says about flooring

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

From their guidance, it states:

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

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

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

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

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

What flooring choices should you consider?

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

Hardwood

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

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

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

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

Tile

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

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

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

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

Luxury vinyl tiles or planks

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

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

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

Other things to consider

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

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

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

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

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

Finding wheelchair-friendly flooring for your space

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

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

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

How can we help you find wheelchair-friendly flooring?

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

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

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

It’s OK to be a Doormat

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

(Don’t) Cut a Rug

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

Avoid Using Cleaning Products

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

Refinishing to Cross the Finish Line

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

Flooring.org

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

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

Engineered hardwood flooring is an amazing choice of flooring.  It will instantly add style and elegance and is a great investment to your home. You will not be disappointed with choosing this type of floor, it can transform any size or style of home. There are many reasons to choose engineered hardwood flooring, and here are some of its benefits. Read More

Have you set your sights on installing bamboo flooring in your home? Are you a little confused by what you’ve been reading online?

You’re not alone. Depending on what resource you read, bamboo is either the best or worse material for residential flooring.

We fall into the category that thinks it makes a great addition to any home. However, like any flooring choice, you have to understand how to care for and maintain it over time to truly fall in love with it, and enjoy it for years to come.

We get a lot of questions about bamboo flooring as people are trying to narrow down their choices. We thought we’d share them with you here to help you make up your mind as you’re deciding if bamboo flooring will make a welcome addition to your home.

Are there different types of bamboo flooring?

Yes, and this is where a lot of the confusion comes from. Bamboo flooring is usually broken down into two categories: solid and strand woven.

Solid bamboo is more traditional, where strips of bamboo are glued together to make a solid and stable floor covering. It’s made similarly to a traditional oak floor.

Strand woven is newer and more innovative in technology. Bamboo is shredded and woven together to create a stronger and more versatile floor. Strand woven is twice as strong as more traditional oak flooring.

Are there different kinds of strand woven bamboo flooring?

Yes! Innovation never stops, and you’ll find that once you start looking at strand woven bamboo flooring. The most common include:

Solid strand woven bamboo – this is twice as strong as traditional hardwood flooring, where bamboo strands are compressed under heavy pressure to create durable planks. They’re milled with a tongue-and-groove structure that allows them to be glued or nailed into place. Like hardwood, they can be refinished several times, giving you a long lifespan.

Engineered strand woven bamboo – this provides a thick strand woven bamboo wear layer over the top of a durable core. Like engineered hardwood, engineered bamboo gives you a tough, durable product that’s even easier to install with click-and-lock technology.

Rigid core strand woven bamboo – want an even stronger core? This may be your answer. These floors provide strand woven bamboo on the top layer, with a rigid polymer composite (SPC) core. This makes bamboo functional in places like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms where moisture may be a problem. Some rigid core products also come equipped with a padded base that serves as a vapor barrier. This means it can be floated directly over concrete subfloors without need of an underlayment. If you’ve debated about what to install in your basement, rigid core strand woven bamboo may be your solution.

Is strand woven bamboo flooring eco-friendly?

Yes! That’s what leads a lot of homeowners to look at bamboo as a flooring option.

Most of the world’s bamboo is grown in China. Bamboo is a regenerating grass, so it grows much faster than hardwood trees. That makes it more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

This regenerative grass matures within five years. Once harvested, it has self-regenerating properties that won’t require replanting.

To be truly eco-friendly, pay attention to growth and harvesting practices. Look to ensure the manufacturer follows best practices, and allows healthy harvesting and regeneration qualities. Certification by organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) will ensure best practices.

Is strand woven bamboo flooring better than hardwood?

Like all types of flooring, it’s a personal choice. Many homeowners have installed bamboo flooring and are very happy with the results. The more research you do about the product to ensure it fits your lifestyle, the better chance of being pleased with the results.

Hardwood and strand woven bamboo flooring are both made from natural materials, can be refinished several times, have a similar feel and comfort level, are easy to maintain, and are installed in similar fashion.

The differences include:

• Bamboo is made from a regenerative grass, while hardwood comes from trees
• Bamboo matures in five years, while hardwood can take up to 60 years to reach maturity
• Bamboo is often more affordable than hardwood
• Strand woven bamboo usually has a Janka hardness rating of as much as three times that of traditional hardwood

Does strand woven bamboo expand and contract like hardwood?

Both bamboo and hardwood are made from hygroscopic material, which means they absorb moisture from the air in the environment. Both products do well in a balanced moisture environment.

When relative humidity decreases, there is less moisture in the air. This causes the final product to contract, which can cause gaps in the planks.

As relative humidity rises, it brings more moisture to the air. More humidity can cause buckling as the final product expands.

No matter which product you choose, acclimating it to your home’s environment is an important part of the process. If moisture is a problem, look towards engineered or rigid core.

Is strand woven bamboo flooring durable?

Yes! If you’ve grown to love hardwood, but want something even more durable, you’re going to love what strand woven bamboo brings to your home.

Strand woven bamboo is a robust and durable product. But like any flooring material, it can be damaged over time. If you drag heavy furniture across it, you’ll notice light scratches. Drop heavy pans or sharp objects, and you may notice dents. It can withstand a lot of pressure; it just depends on what hits it, and the amount of force behind it.

The key to its success is maintenance. Luckily, the process to keep it clean doesn’t take too much effort. Use a dust mop or a vacuum with soft, non-rotating bristles to keep dust and debris away. For extra dirty floors or a more deep cleaning, a simple solution will do the trick. Check with manufacturer’s guidelines before using any cleaning product to ensure it doesn’t damage the finish. Never use a wet or steam mop to ensure best results.

What questions do you have about strand woven bamboo flooring? 

If we can answer any of your questions, give us a call. Whether you’re finalizing your flooring choice, or still have general questions, we’re happy to provide you with solid advice.

How can we help you?

The post The Top Questions We Get About Bamboo Flooring first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

With so many people spending time at home, customers are asking what is the best flooring for home gyms? The Carpet Guys can help with some great flooring options no matter what conditions your home gym will be created in. Read on to find out more.

Basement or Concrete Floor Gyms

Most home gyms are set up in a basement, garage, or other concrete floor areas. Though this is the ideal flooring to support heavy exercise equipment, it has other drawbacks. For example, it is not recommended to install hardwood or laminate in a room with high humidity. Concrete slabs or poured flooring are often where moisture seeps from the ground beneath the home. This could cause the warping of wood or laminate flooring. Luxury vinyl floor planks are better for high humidity conditions but are more susceptible to scratching and dents from fitness machinery.

Need Some Cushion?

One of the best floors for an at-home gym would be carpet tiles. They can be installed over cement and provide a cushion for exercising. It’s durable for underneath heavy equipment and easy to replace if there should be spills or damage. Carpet tiles are also noise dampening. It’s the cheapest and easiest type of flooring to install so can work within almost any budget. If installed properly, this is ideal.

Need Easy to Clean?

A second flooring type if you’re creating a gym at home would be sheet vinyl. Again, it can easily be installed over concrete and comes in a roll instead of squares like carpet tiles. This would be an easy to clean style. It withstands high moisture flooring but does not provide much padding for high-intensity workouts. Sheet vinyl is also a very low-cost flooring type.

The Carpet Guys suggest adding a fan and rubberized mat along with your flooring of choice. Call 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) to set up your Free In-Home Estimate with one of our professional Design Consultants and we can help you create your best home gym.

The post Best Flooring for Home Gyms appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

A lot can go into selecting flooring for your home. You might start with a specific material in mind. Or have a certain color you prefer.

Thanks to the pandemic, we’re seeing more homeowners start with another request: clean flooring. Hard floors produce a healthier living environment. And that shows up in preferences. Studies consistently show hardwood tops the list of what buyers want for their homes.

Whether you’re designing a home, or remodeling your existing one, starting with a hard floor surface area provides the basis for a clean, healthy place to live.

Why are more homeowners turning to hard floors?

They’re easy to clean, disinfect, and sanitize

Homes get messy. Gravity ensures that.

But if you start with a base that’s easy to clean, those messes your family makes won’t bother you. You’ll simply wipe them away.

Hard floors give you a clean surface area that’s easy to sweep up dirt, hair, and other debris that accumulates. It’s easy to swish it away, reaching every corner effortlessly.

For a deeper clean, you can use antibacterial cleaners approved by your flooring’s manufacturer to ensure the surface area is free of pathogens and other germs. Just ask; we can provide you with the best care solutions to ensure your flooring stays looking good for years. You can also check online with your flooring manufacturer for their list of suggested cleaning products. Stick with their guidelines to ensure your flooring continues to look great, and remains under warranty.

They don’t trap dust or allergens

The smooth, hard surface area of hard flooring ensures dust, dirt, pet dander, pollen, and other debris sits on top of the surface and doesn’t burrow down into the material. It’s easy to wipe it away. A clean environment reduces your allergy symptoms, and may lessen other respiratory issues.

They provide better air quality

Right now, Americans spend, on average, 90 percent of their time indoors. Studies show that concentrations of some pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than what you’ll typically find outdoors.

Pollutants can be found in a lot of places inside your home:

• VOCs in building materials
• Harmful chemicals in cleaning products
• Chemicals released in the cooking process

These are just to start.

Yet your flooring is the basis for your home design. It can trap and harbor dust mites, allergens, and other debris as it enters and settles onto your floors.

Many hard flooring surfaces are a natural byproduct, which means they are created using healthier materials. Because they are hard, they are easier to keep clean, meaning they won’t trap the particles that can make you sick. For many, the basis of home aesthetics starts with hard floors.

Which hard floor is healthy?

As you browse through different flooring options, it’s easy to get confused by the sheer number of choices. How do you know which to pick? Which direction should you go?

We have three healthy flooring choices that give you clean living options while ensuring you love the results.

Hardwood

If you search through our site, stop by our store, or chat with one of our associates, you’ll find hardwood flooring moves to the top of the list for all sorts of reasons.

And if you’re looking for hard floors to produce a healthier living environment, hardwood remains at the top of the list. Why? Because it’s a natural product that provides classic good looks to any room in your home.

If you are considering hardwood, look for manufacturers that care about the production process. Select solid hardwood that comes with the Forest Stewardship Council, or FSC, seal. With this seal in place, you’ll ensure that the forest is properly managed according to FSCs rigorous social and environmental standards.

It stretches beyond the materials used for hardwood flooring. It also applies to the glue used to adhere hardwood to the subfloor, and the stains and seals used to keep your hardwood planks looking good for years. Many products use certification programs like GREENGUARD to reduce indoor air pollution and the risk of chemical exposure.

When a manufacturer uses these labels, you can feel better about the products and materials you’re bringing into your home.

Natural linoleum

While hardwood may work well for most rooms in your home, linoleum can be an option in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms. Both water-resistant and resilient, natural linoleum can be a great choice for bathrooms, laundry rooms, and even kitchens.

Linoleum is made from linseed oil, pine resin, wood flour, cork flour, limestone, and pigments, pressed and held together by a jute backing. This affordable, low-maintenance option can be installed over both concrete or wood subfloors, and only requires an occasional coat of natural wax for care and upkeep. With proper maintenance, this flooring choice can last for years.

Ceramic, Porcelain, and Glass Tile

If you’re looking for more water-resistance in your bathrooms and kitchen, ceramic, porcelain, and glass tile may be the solution. Tile can be a sustainable choice. You can look for options made from recycled materials to bump up the environmental-friendliness of the product.

To ensure it’s the healthiest on the market, focus on low-VOC production, adhesives, and sealants. GREENGUARD-certified products can point you in the right direction. Also, use cement-based grout, which doesn’t emit harmful VOCs.

Hard surfaces last longer

For many homeowners, it’s a constant juggle of keeping the aesthetics fresh and new, while ensuring updates and care fit within your budget.

If you don’t want to be replacing your flooring every few years, hard surfaces give you the longest life possible.

Ceramic, porcelain, and glass tiles can last 20 years or more. The grout may need scrubbing and resealing every five years or so, but with proper maintenance, it’ll continue looking good for years.

Linoleum can last for decades with proper care. Keep the surface clean from dirt and debris, as this can mar the surface area. Moisture, spills, and harsh chemicals can be hard on the surface. Be sure to use manufacturer-approved cleaners, and wipe up messes quickly to avoid damage.

Hardwood has the added bonus of being refinished. Depending on the hardness and size of each plank, you can refinish it several times. This adds to its longevity. Instead of replacing the entire flooring, refinish it to make it look brand new. You can update based on trends, or as your preferences change.

Is now the time you update your flooring for a healthier living environment?

Start with hard floor surfaces. You’ll love the results.

The post Why Hard Floors Produce a Healthier Living Environment first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

If you are looking for options for your kitchen flooring, then we have some advice on the best choice for you.  You will want a kitchen floor that is durable, hard wearing and able to cope with heavy footfall. Your kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in your home so you will ideally want something that is practical and stylish. Read More

With the last vestiges of winter dissipating, the feeling of springtime fills the air. This is a time for rejuvenation and rebirth, not to mention thoughts of sprucing up the homestead with the chore of spring cleaning and other various DIY projects. Of these, the thought of installing a new floor might be on your mind. A new floor can create an aesthetic that instantly turns your house into a home and gives you that warm, comforting feeling that so many homeowners want to experience.

One of the many choices you’ll be faced with is what material to use. While some are pricier than others, the quality you receive in return is well worth every penny spent. Two options that present themselves during any replacement are engineered wood flooring or laminate. Both have their individual advantages and understanding what makes them both unique can help you make a proper and informed decision.

Engineered Flooring

Based on the name alone, one might assume that engineered flooring is just that — man-made and engineered in a factory somewhere. However, this is not the case. Engineered flooring is composed of several strands of authentic hardwood creating a durable substance. It’s three times stronger than a normal hardwood floor and can last much longer. They tend to be more durable in damp conditions and high traffic areas. Engineered flooring can be installed in a variety of ways and last several decades.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring sometimes has the appearance and consistency of a hardwood floor but is artificial in its composition. Normally made of various fibers and resin, the planks are coated with a protective layer to prevent scratches and abrasions. They tend to be popular with people undertaking various DIY projects because they’re relatively easy to install. However, laminate flooring tends to be easily damaged in damp conditions and scuff marks cannot be smoothed out like in hardwood and engineered materials.

Choosing the Flooring That’s Best for You

Choosing between laminate and engineered flooring is a choice that tends to depend upon if your plans are for the short term or long term. Engineered flooring can last for several decades, so if you plan on selling your home at some point, it can greatly increase the resale value. Laminate flooring is ideal for DIY projects and can be very fun to install over the course of a weekend. However, you might need to replace it at some point.

Flooring.org

Choosing the proper materials for your new floor can sometimes be a difficult choice. At Flooring.org, we can make it easier and provide the supplies you need. Prefinished or unfinished, we have it all. Visit our page at www.flooring.org for all your flooring needs.

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

Colorado weather can be so unpredictable. In the spring, the sun comes out, crocuses poke their little heads above the earth, tulips brighten our yards with pops of color and we get lulled into thinking that summer is here.

Oh, but wait, we’re on the high plains. That means Chinook winds, air flowing from the Pacific over the Rockies’ western slopes, can blow harsh conditions in seemingly from nowhere.

Yup, snow or torrential rains may be waiting in the wings! And with each comes wet ground and, unfortunately, mud.

Maintenance matters

Ugh. Mud. Worse, still, it’s complicated mountain mud!

Most Colorado residents know that there is clay, or Bentonite, mixed in with our beloved soil here. The sticky stuff not only creates issues for avid gardeners, it can wreak havoc on indoor carpeting.

That’s why it’s more important than ever to make sure you’re vacuuming your rugs and carpets regularly (once or twice a week) to remove the clay before it degrades your carpet fibers.

It’s also best time of year to refresh your carpeting and upholstery with professional steam cleaning.

Why? Not only is steam cleaning great for your carpet’s health, and your family’s health, chances are people will soon be coming to your house to see you. You’ll want to greet them with a tidy home.

How do we know? Are we clairvoyant? Nope, we just read a lot.

A study in the New York Post revealed the average American is 31% more likely to socialize in the summer than in the winter. During the colder months, we hunker down inside, binge shows and eat hot meals from the crock pot like irises gathering nutrients into our rhizomes.

Then spring comes, and boom, we bloom. To get untwisted from the metaphor, that means we want to see people again. And you want to be ready to bloom, right?

Court the clean

Yes, ok. Enough with the flower imagery. There are issues with the comparison. After all, unlike flowers, most people really don’t like to be surrounded by dirt!

We like our houses to smell fresh and be deeply clean.

Professional carpet cleaning with powerful truck-mounted steam is the only way to go. It’s the easiest, best way to get rid of deep stains in your carpets and upholstery.

Steam cleaning also sanitizes your surfaces to neutralize germs and banish allergens that become trapped in your carpet fibers.

Your home’s carpeting is an important investment. Home carpeting can last 10-15 years on average. With tender care, it can last longer.

A Personal Touch can sanitize your chairs, ottomans and couches as well. Our trained technicians are knowledgeable about many different kinds of upholstery

Spring into action

The takeaway? Get your carpets professionally steam cleaned at least once a year to remove the soluble spots. Vacuuming weekly as well as cleaning your carpets professionally will keep the weather at bay and ensure you have a welcoming, happy house for friends and family to enjoy.

Call A Personal Touch, the best carpet cleaning company in Denver, at 720-344-2870, or use our online contact form to ask us questions or to receive a free quote.

The post Got mud? Your carpet may need professional cleaning appeared first on A Personal Touch.