Selecting The Right Hardwood Floor Color For Your Space

When most homeowners shop for new flooring, they come in with a goal in mind. Maybe they’ve dreamed of hardwood, and have a vision of it throughout their living space.

Yet starting the process may be more difficult than it seems. Suddenly, multiple samples are available to you. And the more you look, the more they appear the same. Should you choose Golden Oak, Colonial Maple, Golden Brown, or Red Mahogany?

Don’t think it gets any easier once you have a hue. Coming in with “dark” or “light” in mind can still leave you scratching your head when you start to lay samples side by side.

This one has a little more red. That one has a little more gray.

Which choice should you make?

Choosing the right hardwood floor color – where to begin

Installing hardwood is a great choice for homeowners. It’s a flooring choice you’ll enjoy now and for many years to come. Hardwood is durable, easy to clean, easy to maintain, and you’ll fall in love with it a little more each day.

With any flooring you choose, your ultimate goal is to set the stage for aesthetics and decor. Your flooring is the baseline for whatever else you bring into your room.

For most homeowners, they choose a maximum of three flooring choices to use throughout the home.

• Hardwood for all main living spaces
• Carpet for bedrooms
• Tile for bathrooms

This is one of the most common game plans for remodels and renovations. There’s a reason for this: it creates a cohesive look, and offers functionality where you need it most.

You can use your current decor to help point you in the right direction. What color are your cabinets? What choices have you made with furnishings? What ambiance are you trying to create?

Whether you move towards dark, light, or middle of the road, color choices appeal to what’s deep inside of each and every one of us. When we see our “dream” home, it usually comes predetermined by colors, tones, and hues.

Middle colors of hardwood flooring

When homeowners first venture into hardwood flooring, they usually start with middle of the road colors. Think oak or pine. It’s popular and classic, and looks good no matter what aesthetics you prefer.

It won’t be so dark that you worry about the color. It won’t be so light that you’ll worry about brightness and seeing everything that accumulates in the nooks and crannies. It’s durable. And you’ll find middle colors just about everywhere you go.

What’s more, middle hues go with just about any decor. It complements almost any furniture genre, and will coordinate well with whatever color furnishing you desire.

Middle hues also give you the possibility of playing with your flooring in other ways. Want to add a bit of gray to your hardwood? Or how about moving toward reds? You’ll be amazed at how much you can change your surroundings just by moving a shade or two away from a “classic”. You might even consider mixing, selecting multi-color wood with side-by-side planks in slightly different shades. This works well, especially if you have lighter furnishings, as it will give you depth and allow the rest of your aesthetics to pop.

Dark colors of hardwood flooring

Dark hardwood floors are on-trend and have been popular in some homes for as long as hardwood flooring has been around. The old plantation-style homes are often reminiscent of dark flooring and equally classic furniture. But don’t think you need a country home to utilize this dark color hue. You’ll find it equally as appealing in a condo thirty floors up in the heart of Downtown Denver.

That’s because dark hardwood flooring works great with a variety of colors and fabrics. They’re a great choice if you’re trying to create something formal and contemporary. They’re also a great choice if you’re moving more toward rustic and casual. Because there are so many choices, you’ll find one that works well with your style and mood.

We find dark hardwood flooring works exceptionally well when you have an open concept floorplan that lets the beauty of the hardwood shine through. It may be a bit too dark for small rooms, giving them an even smaller look and feel. They also work better with larger planks – fewer seams show off the dark flooring. If you have your heart set on dark hardwood, the best way to select your color is to narrow it down to a few choices, and bring them home to see how they feel.

Light colors of hardwood flooring

Light is in abundance here in Colorado. Why not play off that light and add even more light to your home! Light hardwood floors have many favorable design aspects that homeowners love. Because their light color stands the test of time, it’s not unreasonable that light hardwood will give you decades worth of wear.

Floors with lighter finishes go with just about anything. It gives you a great choice when you’re in love with white furnishings, without truly installing white flooring. Oak and Maple maybe two of the most popular choices, but there are many more options. Ash and Hickory bring light flooring with new hues and tones, something that may be more appealing to your sense of decor.

There aren’t many spaces that aren’t created with light floors in mind – they look good everywhere. While some may feel light flooring will be harder to clean and maintain, the opposite is almost always true. It’s often harder to see dust and debris, and if a spill does occur, it’s easy to see and to clean.

What’s your shade – selecting the perfect hardwood color

Do you prefer to stick with trendy colors, giving your home a popular look and feel? Black stains, natural-looking hardwood, or planks with gray undertones are sure to meet your expectations.

Love classic good looks? You’ll never go wrong if you stick with mid-range colors, even if you move a little toward grays, whites, or reds.

Start with your gut – most homeowners have a feeling for what they want almost from the beginning. Narrow it to a few selections, and live with samples for a few days.

You’ll find yourself leaning towards one or the other.

Stop by today, and we’ll help you find the perfect selection to suit your needs.

The post Selecting The Right Hardwood Floor Color For Your Space first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

Fix and flip. Income property. Retire on passive income. Every media channel you watch nowadays is filled with advice on average people investing in rental property that will drive revenue into their pockets. And for good reason.

Renting statistics show that the nationwide average for rental properties is $2,016 a month, with the current asking rent 77.1 percent higher than the median gross rent was pre-pandemic. With 35 percent of households living in rental properties, the desire for family rental property is at an all-time high. And if you’re an aspiring property owner with the desire to make passive income from your investment, now may be the time to fix it up and get it into shape to maximize your revenue stream.

Where do you start? What home improvement projects offer the best investment? And how do you find the best flooring for maximum return? Read on to find tips to help you turn your rental property into a place renters would love to call home.

Renting – It’s still home

When you’re looking at furnishings for a rental property, you approach it differently than you would your own home. For flooring, landlords must consider how durable a product is, how easy or difficult it is to maintain, and how attractive it is when a potential renter walks through the front door.

It’s a careful balance of weighing the options to ensure a home looks like a home, yet won’t be easily damaged by renters who may not care for the flooring as you would inside your own home.

What are the best flooring materials you should consider?

Luxury vinyl – it’s one of the best things for a rental property

Luxury vinyl is an attractive flooring option that mirrors some of the best loved floorings across Colorado. Homeowners love hardwood and tile … but that doesn’t always make sense in a rental property. Luxury vinyl makes it possible to create the look and feel of expensive hardwood and tile, with a more affordable price tag that won’t cut into your rental profits.

What makes luxury vinyl so popular is current technology. Luxury vinyl is designed to mimic traditional hardwood planks and tiles that even the most discerning homeowners use in their own homes.

Luxury vinyl planks (LVP) have several layers:

• The coating layer – this gives the product its strength and durability to stand up to all your family can dish out. It protects all other layers from daily wear.
• The wear layer – the thicker the wear layer, the more durable the vinyl plank will be. The wear layer lies at the top between the printed design layer and the coating to provide overall protection to the luxury vinyl plank.
• The printed design layer – this layer is all about visual appeal. It’s the print film that gives the luxury vinyl planks their classic good looks.
• The core layer – luxury vinyl planks have either a wood plastic composite (WPC) or stone plastic composite (SPC) core. WPC is softer, warmer, and insulates better for a quieter surface area, but can dent easier. SPC is harder and provides a more durable surface area, but will be louder and less comfortable.
• Underlayment layer – this provides the insulation, moisture barrier, and stability of the overall product. The lowest end products may cut back on the underlayment layer in order to drive the cost down. This balancing layer can be especially important in areas that may see increased humidity or moisture, such as bathrooms or kitchens.

Luxury vinyl planks are a great investment because it’s a marriage between what both landlords and renters are looking for. It gives renters a desired look and feel, while landlords love the low cost and maintenance. If you haven’t looked at luxury vinyl for your rental property, stop by and see it for yourself.

Carpet – it’s still a great option for a rental property

There’s a reason carpet remains one of the most popular flooring materials available to homeowners: It’s just a great flooring material.

That makes it an especially attractive option for rental properties because of its classic good looks. Of course, that’s not the only benefit it brings to the table. Many landlords lean towards carpet because:

• It’s comfortable. That makes it attractive to renters of all ages, and works especially well in properties where you want to keep the flooring transitions to a minimum. Carpet works great in living rooms, dining areas, bedrooms, hallways, and bonus rooms.
• It’s sound absorbent. This is a great feature if you’re adding flooring to multi-units with multiple floors. If you’re trying to cut down on noise complaints, a quality carpet and carpet pad can help muffle sound.
• It’s affordable. Because of its popularity, you’ll find quality carpet at every price point. If you want to make your home more appealing to renters, replacing the carpet is a good way to earn bonus points. And with a low cost, you’ll find it easier to replace between tenants, and won’t balk over flooring issues when tenants spill or damage the fibers.

If you’re looking for an affordable, easy to replace flooring option for your rental properties, give carpet another look. It really is a great choice for single and multi-family dwellings.

Laminate – it’s the next best thing to hardwood for your rental property

Home dwellers love hardwood. It tops every list of “dream home” wishes, whether people rent or buy. But for many landlords, it’s difficult to justify installing hardwood in rental properties because of the cost and maintenance.

For some of your rental units, laminate may make perfect sense. Laminate is beautiful and relatively maintenance-free. It perhaps isn’t quite as durable as luxury vinyl, but it comes in a close second.

Laminate is a hybrid floor covering created from a particleboard wood base topped by an image layer mimicking the look of traditional hardwood. They are a popular floor covering perfect for living spaces, dining areas, kitchens, bedrooms, hallways, and other areas not subject to excessive moisture.

As an added benefit, laminate is an easy flooring option to install. It can often be installed directly over an existing flooring product, saving landlords money on having to rip out and dispose of old flooring.

Which is the best flooring for your rental property?

With several of the best flooring options to choose from, which will be the right choice for you?

From luxury vinyl to carpet, to laminate flooring, select any of these for easy installation, maximum durability, and increased cost savings. You’ll love what any of these best flooring options do for your rental property.

The post Give Your Rental Property The Best Flooring first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

Choosing flooring is a critical decision for both design and functionality. When a homeowner decides to remodel a room or renovate an entire house, flooring sets the stage for personality and lifestyle.

Of course, you have different options. You may love the stone tile you’ve seen in your local decorating magazine. Or have loved the new carpet installed in a friend’s new media room. But is it the right choice for you? Will it serve all of your needs?

For homeowners today, there are a plethora of choices when it comes to buying and installing new flooring. But only one stands above the rest as one of the most requested and well-loved flooring choices: Hardwood.

If you’re dreaming of new hardwood floors in your home, the choices don’t stop once you’ve set your eye on the target of hardwood. All hardwood flooring isn’t created equally. Yes, color will be an essential choice. Yet durability and performance are equally important.

Where do you start? And what’s the best season to complete your flooring project? What should you know before you say “yes” to new hardwood floors?

Let’s start with when – What’s the best season for new hardwood floors?

Ask four people about the best season for installing new hardwood floors, and you’ll likely hear four different answers. And in most cases, they’d all be right.

For many reasons, fall is the best season to install new hardwood floors. That’s because autumn is the start of new beginnings. Most homeowners wind down their outdoor summer projects, and start looking for indoor activities. You have weeks until holiday festivities begin, which means a little more downtime. The kids are in school, projects at work seem steady and stable. Autumn is a great time for getting your rooms fixed up and ready for holiday company.

If autumn doesn’t work for you, don’t let timing hold you back. The main thing to watch out for is dry environmental conditions. Colorado tends to be dry throughout the year, which means humidity levels can be low inside your home. No matter when you decide to install new floors, it’s important to introduce the hardwood planks before installation day, and let them acclimate to your indoor environment. That ensures they are properly conditioned before they are placed inside your home.

Choosing new hardwood floors

Now that you’ve settled on the ideal time to install new hardwood floors, it’s time to choose the right materials.

Traditionally, hardwood floors were created from thick solid planks of timber. Today, you’ll have a variety of choices when selecting your final flooring.

Solid hardwood is still widely acceptable – it’s a choice many homeowners can’t imagine living without. Still, solid hardwood isn’t always the best choice for your situation.

Many companies now offer engineered hardwood that is equal to more traditional flooring choices. Engineered hardwood is created from planks with a thinner top layer of hardwood, bonded to other layers that provide strength and durability. It also offers options when hardwood flooring might not be the most logical choice.

Colorado homes almost always have basements. If you’ve ever had a flooring expert talk you out of hardwood planks, it’s for a good reason. Basements, condos, and apartment buildings are often built with concrete flooring. Traditional hardwood planks are typically installed over one or two subfloors, which raises the height of the flooring and can interfere with doors. Engineered flooring can be glued directly to concrete, meaning you won’t have to raise the existing flooring in order to have a subfloor to lay traditional planks down.

Engineered hardwood is also perfect for radiant heating. If you’re looking for a new way to heat your rooms, radiant heating is an efficient way to keep heat near the flooring. It’s also perfect for rooms where you might be hesitant on hardwood because you worry about stepping on it and bare feet in the cold winter months.

If you choose engineered hardwood, be careful with the width of the top layer. Some manufacturers create the top veneer level so thin that it can’t be sanded and refinished in the future. While engineered will never give you the longevity of traditional hardwood planks, higher quality engineered planks can be sanded and refinished several times, giving you a flooring choice you’ll be able to live with for many years.

Prefinished or site finished

Hardwood planks can be purchased in one of two ways: prefinished or site finished.

With prefinished planks, what you see is what you get. You’ll select the type, style, and color based on what you find on the showroom floor. You’ll be able to choose the finish with the stain and topcoat already in place, which means no surprises with a finished look you didn’t plan on.

By going with prefinished, your project will be completed in a shorter time period. Once the prefinished planks are installed into place, you’ll be able to get back to living immediately.

With site finished, unfinished hardwood planks will be installed. Then the stain and finish will be applied once all of the hardwood planks are installed into place. The advantage of site finished is the entire surface area receives stain and finish after installation. Because an installer can mix different colors together, the possibilities are endless for how your finished floors will look. This is the perfect way to do it if you’re trying to match another color.

Site finished also gives you the advantage of installing sealant after all planks are in place. This creates a tighter seal, protecting between the planks as well as the planks themselves. This can be especially important in a busy household where more messes become commonplace. While hardwood will never be waterproof, with the proper sealant, it can offer years of protection, keeping your floors looking good no matter what you or your family members dish out.

It’s here – the perfect season to install new hardwood floors

If you’re ready to install new hardwood floors, make today the day you move forward and do something about it.

While some would argue there’s a perfect season to install new hardwood floors, we’d say that the best time is when you’re ready for a change in your home.

How can we help you select the perfect hardwood floors?

The post Fall Is The Best Season To Buy and Install New Hardwood Floors first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

With 2022 on its way out and a new year appearing on the horizon very soon, it’s time to think about kicking off this transition with a renewal of sorts. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to turn your house into a home, but you just don’t know where to start. Consider having a hardwood floor installed in your bedroom. You’ll enjoy the advantages and benefits that come from a hardwood floor, and we’re going to go over them today.

Fewer Allergens, Better Air Quality

One of the disadvantages of carpeting is the number of allergens and bacteria it collects over time. If you have carpet in a high-traffic section of your home, mites, dust, pollen, and other unwelcome items can accumulate inside your home. Particularly if you have pets. Hardwood has the exact opposite effect. Not only will the number of allergens in your home be less, but hardwood can actually improve the overall quality of air in your home.

Investing in the Long-Term

When looking at the cost of a hardwood floor, think of it less as a purchase and more of an investment. Hardwood floors can last several decades if they’re properly taken care of. As a result, having one installed will also increase your home’s property value should you ever want to sell.

Easier to Clean

Maintaining a carpeted floor can be a very labor-intensive project. Constant vacuuming and shampooing at least once a year, not to mention the unsightly stains that are incredibly difficult to remove. Hardwood floors don’t have this issue. As long as they’re swept occasionally, they’ll maintain their appearance just fine. Having them treated after installation can ensure their look and longevity.

Style & Aesthetic

Part of turning any house into a home is creating that unique aesthetic that provides your living area with an atmosphere. A hardwood floor can complement any room that it’s made part of. So, what are you waiting for? Isn’t it time you turned your house into a home with the addition of a hardwood floor?

Flooring.org

Now that you’ve learned about the wonderful advantages that a hardwood floor can bring you, it’s time to visit Flooring.org. From unfinished and finished flooring to stair parts and everything else in between, we’ll Mae your hardwood dreams a reality! Visit us online or give us a call at
1-800-689-9006.

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

Every home has them – high traffic areas with lots of foot traffic and activity. Entryways come to mind here, as well as kitchens and hallways. High traffic areas tend to get dirtier than other areas of the home, and if those areas are carpeted, the carpeting can look grimy and worn down in no time.

So how can you keep carpeting in high traffic areas clean and in good condition? Here are a few tips that will help.

Use Door Mats and Area Rugs

Be sure to use door mats at all doors and entryways – they can help catch much of the dirt, debris and germs that can be tracked in from the outside. Otherwise the dirt that gets brought into the house will get trapped in the carpet fibers, and in high traffic areas that dirt will be ground in especially deep and will be difficult to get out. Oh, and pets can bring in dirt from outdoors, as well – wipe their feet after bringing them inside.

Area rugs can also help prevent dirt and debris from getting into carpeting. A few strategically placed rugs can help prevent premature wear and tear of carpets and keep them cleaner.

Take Off Your Shoes

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – not wearing shoes on your carpeting is the best way to keep it in tip-top shape. Leave your shoes at the door and go barefoot, or walk around in your socks or a pair of indoor slippers. And make sure your guests follow this rule, too – who knows what kind of grime they have on the bottom of their shoes!

Keep a shoe rack by each entryway as a reminder to remove your shoes before coming inside. And if for some reason you need to keep your shoes on indoors, at least try to keep a “no shoes on the carpet” policy. You can also set aside a pair of indoor-only shoes to wear around the house if you need extra support for your feet and can’t go barefoot or wear slippers.

Vacuum Daily

Vacuum high traffic areas once a day, if at all possible. We know it’s a task most people don’t enjoy, but it will really help keep your carpet cleaner. If you have area rugs, be sure to vacuum both them and the carpeting beneath them. You’ll want to shake your area rugs outside first to loosen up any dirt and debris, then vacuum thoroughly.

Clean Up Accidents Immediately

Spills on your carpeting? Dirt tracked in on your shoes? Clean it up right away! If you wait too long, the stains can set in and become harder to get out. This is especially important for high traffic areas, since foot traffic can grind the dirt deeper into the carpet fibers. These spot removal tips can help prevent stains from sticking around in your carpeting permanently.

Rearrange Your Furniture

Channel your inner interior designer and move your furniture around every so often. This will create new high traffic areas and give your old ones a break from the constant foot traffic. It will also ensure that your carpeting will wear more evenly.

Get Professional Carpet Cleaning

A professional cleaning can bring those high traffic areas in your carpeting back to life. We offer both carpet and area rug cleaning throughout the Denver metro area. Our powerful truck-mounted steam cleaning system removes tough set-in stains and odors, and can help your investment last longer. Contact us today to schedule a professional cleaning and we’ll have your carpeting looking as good as new in no time!

The post Tips for Carpet Protection in High Traffic Areas appeared first on A Personal Touch.

Durability. It’s a word we frequently hear from homeowners searching for carpet. After all, you don’t want buyers’ remorse from the moment you lay your new carpet into place. And if you use the wrong carpet, it will show up almost instantly.

If you lay carpet in a guest room used infrequently, it might last for years, looking almost as good as the day you installed it. For other rooms, it depends on how much foot traffic it sees in a day. If you want the best carpet for high-traffic areas, how do you ensure you’re buying the right carpet?

Certain areas naturally see more foot traffic. Living rooms, hallways, and stairs all receive vast amounts of traffic on a daily basis. If you don’t want to replace your carpet regularly, it’s best to find carpet that holds its shape over time. It typically depends on:

• Fiber type
• Construction
• Stain resistance
• Density

What is the best carpet for high-traffic areas? Here are things to look for.

Carpet fibers

When it comes time to select a new carpet, most people run their fingers through it to feel its softness. They settle in on the right color to match the decor inside their homes.

While that’s an excellent place to start, it also benefits you to pay attention to the carpet fibers used. When carpets are made, they are constructed from thousands of fibers attached to a sturdy backing material. These fibers are stitched into closed loops, also known as loop carpet, or can be cut to create a plusher texture. Loop carpet will retain the loops, creating a dense material. Cut pile will be closer together and have a luxurious feel when touched.

Low pile loop carpets are smooth and firm, which makes them more durable. High pile cut fibers will be taller, and have a looser look with a softer feel.

How it’s cut and woven together is the starting point for durability. But it also is determined by the fiber material. There are four basic fibers to choose from:

https://pro-flooring.com/comparing-carpet-fibers/

• Nylon
• Olefin
• Polyester
• Wool

While other fibers exist, these tend to be the broadest categories of residential carpeting available to homeowners.

Nylon fiber – is one of the most popular carpet materials used because of its functionality. When properly treated, it’s durable, stain resistant, and comes in an almost infinite range of colors and patterns. It keeps its shape well over time, and is well protected from spills, pet stains, and other household messes.

Olefin fiber – olefin is used for both indoor and outdoor carpet options, made of a synthetic material that delivers both longevity and durability. It’s designed to be stain-resistant and moisture-resistant. It’s reasonably durable, and falls in second place on the list for use in high-traffic situations.

Polyester fiber – like olefin, polyester is a reasonably well-functioning carpet that handles well in many rooms in the home. It’s designed to balance cost-efficiency with performance. While it may perform better in medium traffic situations, a lot depends on the level of traffic throughout your home. It can be a perfect choice for empty nesters who don’t spend a lot of time at home.

Wool fiber – wool is ever-popular because it offers homeowners a durable, natural alternative. You’ll find it used in every room in the home, including living rooms and stairs. It’s a traditional favorite because it’s been used for thousands of years. It also has natural warmth factors that help warm a chilly home in the dead of winter.

 Carpet threats

The main threat to a carpet’s lifespan is caused by wear by heavy foot traffic. The more foot traffic, the more potential for damage.

• Spills from kids dropping food or juice
• Stains from red wine or other challenging liquids
• Crushed fibers from repeated wear
• Wear marks from natural patterns of the home
• Pet stains

Any one of these can be a big problem for new carpet. Add several of them together, and you have the potential to shorten the lifespan of your carpet.

Durability is typically divided into two categories:

• Stain resistance
• Resilience

Stain resistance refers to the ability of the fibers to resist permanent staining from dropped food or drink, or ground in dirt. This is most often determined by the type of fiber it’s made from.

Out of all the fiber types, treated nylon and polyester tend to have the most stain resistance qualities. Polyester offers a natural stain-resistant repelling quality that prevents spills from seeping below its surface. Nylon is inherently stain-resistant, but most manufacturers also take the time to add stain-resistance qualities to prevent spills and stains. Many come with stain-resistant protection, such as Stainmaster, so ask about what features are most important to you before you finalize your purchase.

Resilience is the ability of the fibers to resist crushing as they are walked on. It’s the likelihood of the fibers bouncing back after every footstep.

This is where style comes back into play. Loop pile tends to be more durable because the loops hold their shape better than cut fiber. They usually form a shorter pile, which stands up better to foot traffic.

Resilience also depends on density and face weight. While less obvious than fiber and style, they are both equally important when it comes to durability.

Density is determined by how close the fibers are tufted together. Face weight is determined by the weight of the fibers within one square yard.

In most circumstances, the higher the face weight and the higher the density, the more resilient the carpet will be. You’ll find many high-quality nylon carpets treated with stain-resistant protectors take it further and also have high-density and face weight values too.

https://pro-flooring.com/carpet-density-what-you-should-know/

For a further breakdown of what makes the best carpet in high-traffic situations, stopping by and seeing samples can help you narrow down what’s available, and what makes the best choice for your home.

It’s time to choose – what’s the best carpet for you? 

Carpet is always best chosen according to your personality, your desires, and the room you’re buying for.

Most homeowners instinctively know that a white carpet in a high-traffic room is a set-up for disaster. But choosing a neutral color between nylon and olefin fibers, for example, might be a tougher decision.

That’s where we can help you finalize your decision. Stop by today and see our complete selection of carpet. We’ll help you narrow down your choices, and make the best decision for your lifestyle and situation.

How can we help you find the best carpet to suit your needs?

The post This Is How You Select The Best Carpet For High-Traffic Areas first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

Some types of laminate flooring are waterproof, so it is always best to check before you buy. Waterproof laminate flooring is a great addition to any area of your home, especially wet spaces like bathrooms and utility rooms.  In recent years, laminate flooring has really become a better quality with more realistic patterns and designs.  If you choose a good quality floor, then you can also benefit from a stain guard and scratch resistant surface. Read More

Resilient flooring. It sounds a bit vague; a catch-all phrase that can include all sorts of flooring products.

If you look up the term “resilient” in the dictionary, it means:

• Capable of returning to an original shape or position
• Flexible
• Able to recover readily

For many homeowners, that’s exactly what they are looking for when selecting a new flooring material. That’s why resilient flooring is trending upward in the marketplace.

Still, if you’re a homeowner in the market for new flooring, what does that really mean?

Resilient flooring explained

When you picture resilient flooring, you may think of flooring that:

• Is comfortable with a little give
• Bounces back no matter what your family can dish out
• Is easy to care for
• Continues to look good year after year
• Is easy to maintain
• Is a good value for your hard-earned dollar

Resilient flooring is all that and more. It has more “give” than you’ll find in hardwood planks, stone, or ceramic tile. It has more support than you’ll find with carpet. It has the physical strength and flexibility to withstand nearly anything your family can spill, throw, or drop on it. In short, it’s what many homeowners are installing right now as they remodel and renovate their homes.

Does it sound perfect for your home?

Types of resilient flooring

If you find resilient flooring interesting for installing inside your home, you’ll find several floor covering types available for consideration.

Vinyl

Vinyl encompasses a variety of different flooring products, each with its own benefits for including them inside your home. Considering vinyl makes up about 80 percent of the resilient flooring market, it’s worth digging in and learning more about if you’re looking for resilient flooring.

Vinyl composition tiles (VCTs) top the list for strength and durability, often used in commercial applications. It’s strong enough to stand up to the abuse it receives in healthcare, schools, and even supermarkets. It’s a low cost, durable option that many DIYers are turning to because of the strength of the product. VCT manufacturers often fuse VCT chips into large sheets before cutting them into smaller tiles, making for easier installation. These VCT chips contain things like natural limestone, color pigments, polymers, and filler materials. They require several layers of polish after installation to keep them from being susceptible to stains and water damage.

Flexible luxury vinyl tile (LVT) has increased in sales the last few years because of its incredible design capabilities. If you’ve had your eye on some of the most popular flooring options – granite, marble, stone, hardwood – and can’t justify the cost, LVT may be the right choice for you. The designs have become so well created, many guests can’t tell the difference between the LVT product and the real thing. It’s highly durable, and is water resistant. Maybe that’s what’s driving its current popularity – it’s user-friendly in homes with active families.

Rigid luxury vinyl tile is often called rigid core flooring, and provides all of the advantages of flexible LVT … plus a few more. If you’re looking for a product with underfoot comfort, look no further than rigid LVT. It combines a rigid surface plus a multilayer core that provides added warmth and better sound absorption. If you want even greater resistance to water, humidity, and environmental changes, rigid LVT ups what’s possible in a flooring product. Some manufacturers offer waterproof flooring – you get great looks and the benefits of standing up to standing water too. Just be aware that nothing can withstand a flood. While this product does well if your kids forget to mention the puddle of water on the floor, water damage can occur if the entire room floods, and the water seeps into the baseboards and down underneath the tiles.

Sheet vinyl has been around for decades, and continues to be a great choice for some rooms in your home. Today’s sheet vinyl typically comes in a 6-foot, 12-foot, or greater width roll that allows you to easily lay down flooring and provide excellent moisture protection. Today’s sheet vinyl is better than anything you may remember from your parent’s or grandparent’s home. It mimics the aesthetics of other popular flooring choices, such as hardwood or stone. It combines lasting performance, low maintenance, softness underfoot, and an economical way to bring beauty into your home. From laundry rooms to bathrooms, it remains an economical choice for many homeowners.

Linoleum

For some homeowners, they want to expand beyond vinyl and return to a flooring product that is more natural, sustainable, and eco-friendly. For those families, we love to recommend linoleum. Made from natural, rapidly renewable ingredients, it offers an economical choice for families looking for resilient flooring. Linoleum is made from linseed oil (derived from flax plants), and is combined with limestone, pine resin, cork, wood flour, and dye. It’s rolled onto a jute backing, and offers a flooring choice built to withstand heavy traffic, standing up to scratches, and more.

Linoleum comes in several types:

• Glue down tiles that require adhesive during the installation process
• Click and lock tiles that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle, ensuring a secure connection between the tiles or planks
• Sheets are similar to glue-down vinyl, and are ideal for large spaces, such as halls and entryways

Rubber

While many homeowners rarely think of rubber when it comes to a flooring choice, that’s changing as rubber moves more into the mainstream. Yoga spaces, workout rooms, and home gyms are often fitted with rubber to create a softer space for your workout routine without losing its shape.

But don’t let the thought of being for gyms or workout spaces hold you back; we’re seeing people move it to playrooms, nurseries, children’s bedrooms, and even family rooms as they realize the benefits it brings.

Cork

A final product that homeowners are turning to brings a touch of eco-friendliness to the product. Cork comes in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Because it is harvested from the cork oak tree, it brings a sense of sustainability. Rather than harvesting the tree, cork is removed from the bark, meaning the tree can produce multiple times.

It’s softer than you’ll find with some of the more rigid resilient flooring options.

It’s sustainable, which can give it an edge if that matters to you.

It’s durable and easy to maintain. That alone makes it a great choice for any room in your home, able to withstand anything your family dishes out.

So what’ll it be? Which resilient flooring is right for you?

There isn’t a wrong choice. If we’ve listed it here, it has a number of benefits that can make it a great option for your home.

Resilient flooring is perfect for homeowners who want to strike a balance between comfort, cost, and durability.

How can we help you find the right resilient flooring to suit your needs?

The post Have a Family? You Probably Need Resilient Flooring first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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

Parquet block flooring is a great addition to any home.  It has many benefits, and you will love the different patterns and styles that you can create.  Parquet block flooring is sure to add sophistication and character to any home. Read More

When you install new carpet in your home, it can reasonably last a decade or longer.

If you install it today, will you still love it ten years from now? Or will the color appear trendy, and the style be long gone?

When we invest our hard-earned money in decor, we want it to last as long as possible. More than that, we hope we’ll love it as much at the end-life as we did when we first picked it out.

That’s a lot to ask for any product. But it’s your dollars at work. How do you ensure you select carpet that will always be in style?

Fall in love with carpet – make it the right choice

One of the first things we do with new customers is to find out a little about their lifestyle. What are they looking for in flooring? Is carpet the best choice?

If you’ve had another flooring choice in mind and are settling for carpet, you may be disappointed with the results. But if you lean towards carpet because it’s something you really want, that’s where you’ll find a product you love.

Carpet works well in living rooms, bedrooms, home offices, and entertainment spaces where you spend a lot of time as a family, and want warmth, comfort, and sound absorption as one of the qualities. Imagine movie night as a couple; carpet helps muffle the sound from surrounding areas, keeping the noise away from kids’ bedrooms.

Carpet isn’t designed for high-traffic situations. You wouldn’t want to place it in entryways, bathrooms, or kitchens. Carpet has a tendency to mold and mildew when exposed to moisture. Humidity from daily showers, or constant spills in a kitchen would wear down carpet long before its time.

What room are you considering? Is carpet the best choice?

Modern carpet styles

When most homeowners settle on installing carpet in their homes, they usually have a desire for one of two options.

Wall-to-wall carpet allows you to add carpet to completely cover a room. You’ll feel the warmth as it covers the subfloor completely, adding an extra layer of insulation.

Area rugs also offer warmth and protection, without being a permanent addition to your aesthetics.

Here in Colorado, carpet is often chosen to add warmth, mitigate noise, and help lower utility bills in the winter. If you’ve ever stepped out on a cold floor on a winter morning, you’ll appreciate the aesthetics of what carpet provides.

Step into a flooring showroom, and you’ll discover popular colors, patterns, and styles. If it’s currently available, it’s in style.

But the question might be: How long do you want it in style? Are you planning on selling your home in the future?

Bring your answers in when you finalize your selection. We can use it to guide you to the right selection.

As flooring experts, we often recommend a few tips to ensure it stays in style for years to come:

• Select mid to short pile carpeting. This always stays in style, and will never become the “shag” carpet of tomorrow.
• Choose neutral colors. If you look back over time, you’ll find neutrals never go out of style. If you think of colors like oranges and greens, you can date them back to specific decades. Beiges, tans, and other neutral colors will be just as classic in ten years as they are today.
• Stick with subtle patterns with low contrast. If you want a pop of color or anything more complex, do it with accessories that are easier to change out.

Getting down to the most important carpet choices

What makes a carpet classic, gives it longevity, and ensures it never goes out of style? Many homeowners would tell you it’s carpeting that continues to maintain its quality year after year.

That doesn’t come from color, patterns, or plushness. Instead, it comes from selecting a carpet that will wear well year after year.

Natural fibers will always be in style. Wool tops the list of natural fibers, and is known for its wearability. It holds dye well, and cleans up easily. If you’re trying to be a little more eco-friendly with your purchases, wool is the way to go. Many homeowners are moving towards wool carpet because of its warmth and durability. While it has one of the longest longevity marks in the carpet industry, it may pile occasionally – think of your favorite wool sweater.

Synthetic fibers are created in a lab, and offer you a variety of benefits. Acrylic replicates wool, and resists stains and sun bleaching. Nylon is one of the most popular because it resists stains and static electricity. Polyester is another popular choice that handles well in direct sunlight. Olefin is a great choice in high traffic situations.

With longevity in mind, it’s also wise to go beyond the carpet you select. Padding is primarily meant to give your carpet the support it needs as you live on it. It adds protection to everything you do. From walking to enduring all your home environment can dish out, it’s the padding that sets the stage for how well it will perform overall.

Is it time for you to fall in love with carpet again? 

Congratulations! You’re remodeling your home. You’re leaning towards carpet, and you’re wondering if it will always be in style.

Keeping up with the latest furnishing trends can be an exhausting job. Home improvement stores are designed to push what’s the latest trend. In order to do that, they have to select something new every year.

But if you watch the design sites, or take in your favorite show on the home network, you’ll discover what they continue to show over time are trends that you can live with.

Neutral will never go out of style. Neither will classic good looks.

If it’s an appealing color to you, something you look at repeatedly, there’s a good sign you’ll be in love with it tomorrow, and continue to love it for years to come.

Wall-to-wall carpet will never go out of style. Neither will quality. Err on the side of selecting high-quality, and it’ll never lose its appeal.

Whatever choice you fall in love with today, you’ll be in love with it tomorrow too.

How can we help you finalize your selection?

The post Select Carpet That Will Always Be In Style first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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