How To Use Large Format Porcelain Tile Flooring – Is It Right For You?

Sometimes clean, minimalist lines can be appealing in your home design. You love tile. Grout lines? Not so much. Wouldn’t it be great if you could get the benefits of tile in one continual flooring material?

You can with large-format porcelain tile.

Once limited to commercial spaces, large-format porcelain tile is now entering the residential scene, and homeowners love the minimalist looks it’s creating.

To be considered large-format, porcelain tile will have one edge longer than 15 inches. Because of technology, sizes continue to change. You’ll easily find the popular size of 12×24 inches. Continue looking, and you’ll find 32×32”, 35×35”, even 5 feet by 10 feet, or larger.

Why use large-format porcelain tile in your home

When you look across your living space, what does your dream decor look like? Combining functionality with aesthetics can be especially challenging for homeowners that want classic good looks.

You won’t find large-format tiles in every home in your neighborhood. And for some, that’s part of the appeal. But what makes it appealing can also leave you a little confused. Will your choice look great when it’s finally installed? We recommend using large format porcelain tile to:

Make small rooms look bigger – in small spaces, lots of grout lines can overwhelm the space. By installing large-format tiles instead, you can clean up the design, reduce the grout lines as your focal point, and leave the space feeling clean and fresh. Lighten your color choice, and you’ll brighten the room even further.

Create uniformity – no matter what flooring you choose to install in a large space, seams can always cause problems. That’s why professionals work so hard to hide them. Not only can they cause your flooring to wear faster, but it can take away the room’s aesthetics. Large-format tiles create an open concept that carries across the living space. Instead of using grout color as a separator, choose one that closely resembles the color of the tile. This will help create the illusion of a continuous tile from one side of the room to the other.

Less grout, more tile – grout is often one of the biggest reasons homeowners aren’t crazy about tile. The different colors and textures create a distinct visual impression, one that some homeowners don’t like. You can minimize that with larger tiles. By choosing the same tone, it can blend in better, and create a more minimalistic look.

Endless versatility and possibilities – every homeowner has a different idea of what a perfect home looks like. We love the fact that technology has made many more options available. If you want clean lines in your living space, if you are looking for something you won’t find in every home in your neighborhood, large-format tile may be just what you’re looking for. We can help you imagine it in your home – just stop by.

More reasons to use large-format tiles

Still not sure if large-format porcelain tiles are suitable for you? Read on. We help homeowners every day select the right flooring to suit their needs. If you love tile, and want something a bit different from your neighbor’s large-format may be the perfect choice for you.

They create a sense of spaciousness – in the design world, professionals understand that color changes the mood and impact of a space. If you want the impression of a larger space, lighter colors can do the trick. Busyness also impacts the looks. Take away grout lines, create a more uniform surface area, and you increase the visualization of more space.

It’s not just for flooring – once you start looking at what you can do with large-format porcelain tile, you’ll be amazed at the uses. Start by applying it to your kitchen, bathrooms, and living space. Continue it to countertops, work tables, and wall space. Porcelain has water-resistant characteristics that make it highly usable in various rooms throughout your home. It allows the clean lines to carry through from floor to bottom.

Cuts down the installation process – small floor tile can be beautiful when done right. But the more intricate the pattern, the longer it will take to install it. And that adds up in both labor costs as well as installation time. Large-format tiles can be installed in a fraction of the time, meaning you’ll be enjoying your space sooner.

Large-format tiles are on trend – for some people, trends matter. If you switch your decor enough that you’re always looking for the latest and greatest looks, you can’t go wrong with large-format tiles. They can be combined with many other looks to create a space you’ll love coming home to.

They are more hygienic – fewer grout lines mean these surface areas will be easier to clean. Dirt won’t accumulate in the seams, and will be easier to wipe away with a broom or a damp mop. That also means it’s easier to wipe away other contaminants, like bacteria and spills.

They work well with radiant heating – many homeowners are turning to radiant heating to keep the heat source close to the feet, making you feel warmer all winter long. You’ll love the effect with large-format tiles.

Are large-format porcelain tiles for you?

Using large-format porcelain tiles for your residential or commercial space can transform your interior space into a clean look. These oversized tiles can be the perfect addition to any space, creating the aesthetics you’ve been dreaming of. What’s more, they come in many shapes and sizes, and even more materials, styles, and looks. Want natural stone? Concrete? Or maybe something elegant like marble? You’ll find an array of choices when you stop by our retail location and see what’s in stock and waiting for you to install.

Large-format porcelain tiles may be just what you’re looking for for your next project.

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Owning a hardwood floor can be very advantageous. Unlike carpet which tracks in dirt and malodourous smells, a hardwood floor is durable and much easier to maintain over a lengthy period. Upkeep is essential to getting the most out of your floor, and you might have noticed a squeaking sound emanating from certain spots. It’s not the end of the world, and finding out the cause is much easier than you think.

Becoming Submissive to Subflooring

One of the most common causes of an unwanted squeak is the uneven subflooring. An uneven subfloor can lead to open pockets of spaces between it and the top floor, causing a squeak. A subfloor that’s sustained a considerable amount of water damage will not be able to function properly. A subfloor that’s beyond repair will cause noticeable creaking whenever it’s walked on.

Joint Issues and the Creaks They Cause

Underneath the subfloor is a series of joints that make up the framework and base and could be considered the foundation. If there’s a noticeable problem with the joint, unwanted movement will occur and this causes squeaks and creeks. If you suspect that there’s a problem with the joints in your floor it’s best to hire a professional to investigate. Fixing this issue can be complex and quite costly.

Tis the Season…

Like some people becoming afflicted with seasonal depression, the squeaking in your floors might revolve around the changing seasons and only occur during a certain time of year. Because your floor is made of wood, it will expand and contract with the sudden changes in temperature. Don’t be alarmed, this is a very normal occurrence.

Seeking Out Professional Help

Believe it or not, hardwood floors are more complex than they might seem and squeaking might be an indication of a problem ranging from the manageable to the serious. If you notice a squeak whenever you use your hardwood floor, a professional can evaluate the situation and if necessary, perform essential repairs.

The best working professionals in the industry today can be found with the help of Flooring.org. Visit us today for all your needs for supplies, repairs, and more helpful articles such as this one. To reach us by phone, please call 1-800-689-9006!

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Are you looking for a free carpet estimate?  Look no further!  The Carpet Guys are your one-stop shopping for all things flooring. We not only provide you with a completely free carpet estimate but all the bells and whistles to go with it.  Read on to learn more.

When you shop at a big box chain or other flooring locations, of course, they will give you a free estimate.  You travel to the location to talk to a salesperson.  The only way to pick your flooring is to be in person in a showroom or store. It’s free because they are already paying for that employee to sit in the store, and you paid for the gas to drive to the location.

At The Carpet Guys, we are always looking for ways to make our customers’ lives easier and the purchasing experience more rewarding.  We not only have a showroom where you can come view hundreds of samples of carpet, sheet vinyl, hardwood, engineered hardwood, laminate, and luxury vinyl, but we have in-home sales as well.  The Carpet Guys will send a Design Consultant to your home, on our dime.  There are appointment times as early as 9:00 am and as late as 7:00 pm every day.

What is a Design Consultant and How is it Free?

If you follow our blogs and social media (check out our YouTube page for even more tidbits of great information) then you have heard us mention Design Consultants. The Carpet Guys work with some of the most knowledgeable and capable flooring experts in Southeast Michigan. We are so confident that our customers will find flooring they love, at a price they can afford, we cover the cost of the Design Consultant.  We send a person to your home that understands what flooring will look best in your home and be the most functional for your household needs. They bring all the most popular samples of flooring with them. They are also trained to work within whatever budget you have so you can upgrade to the cushiony, pink memory foam padding for that soft as a cloud flooring feel.

Not Just the Estimate is Free

When you purchase flooring from The Carpet Guys, you do not only get a complimentary Design Consultant with your Free In-Home Estimate but you also get our White Glove Service and our unbeatable Lifetime Installation Warranty.  When the big-box chains invite you for a free flooring estimate, they mark up their installation with massive hidden fees.  And you do all the work to get the installation ordered and completed. Not to mention, they outsource their installation because they don’t employ their installers.  So do you ever really know who is coming to your home?!  No free estimate is worth that headache.  We not only have the most capable installers but they have almost 100 years of collective experience in the flooring installation business.

Now that you’re ready to get that free in-home estimate from The Carpet Guys, call 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897). We will set up an appointment time that works for you. Or you can go online to our Carpet Guys Scheduling page, and we will call you. Our completely free carpet estimate means no obligation to purchase so enjoy your shopping experience!

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Nothing can be more exciting than remodeling. You’ve lived with your current furnishings for years. You’ve been dreaming about your new rooms for years!

Yet remodeling can be the start of overwhelm too. Where do you begin? What should you start with? Is there a room order for replacing flooring? Do you start with the floors … or paint the walls first? So many questions …

Luckily, we have answers.

Top to bottom, where do you start?

You have a new room in mind. Remodeling can be as easy as installing new flooring, to a complete renovation of the entire room, top to bottom. Want new cabinets and countertops in the kitchen? Want new colors and decor? Your flooring will set the stage for all to come.

The first part of any project is to remove the old from the worksite. If you’re taking out old cabinets and countertops, that’s the best place to start.

But as you’re adding new materials back in, it’s often best to start with the floors. That’s because floor removal can be dirty work. Pulling out old hardwood, ripping up vinyl, or removing old carpet can pull up dirt, dust, contaminants, and more. It can damage baseboards, scrape up new paint, and leave debris in the path.

Depending on what flooring you’re installing, it can also be a messy process. Installing hardwood may mean sanding down the boards and placing a protective coat in place. It’s better to do this first than to add the finishing touches, only to redo it again.

Bottom up is often the best place to start.

What room should you start in?

You’re ready for a change in a big way. A new kitchen. New living space. Even a new bedroom.

But it all can seem a bit overwhelming. Where do you start?

The best room order for home remodeling is first to start with the high-traffic areas. This ensures you finish the most popular areas of the home first before tackling projects in areas used less often. Once these areas are completed, it’s time to move to the bedrooms and bathrooms next.

It’s equally important to think about flow. How does your floorplan lay out as you walk in the front door?

Designers often recommend no more than three flooring materials within a home. Too many changes can disrupt the flow, and make it too hard to transition.

What does that mean for you? Start with your main living space. Do you imagine hardwood throughout? Do you want something easier to maintain?

Because main living spaces are most subjected to wear and tear, this is a time for you to think and plan for what your household needs most. Are you an empty nester who likes to throw parties? Do you have a growing family filled with kids and pets? Let that help you decide on which material is the best.

Main floor living

Living room. Dining room. Family room. Kitchen. These areas see the bulk of your time together as a family.

That means the flooring should stand up to all your family can dish out. Consider your daily routines and activities.

Of course, main floor living spaces often include even more. Mud rooms. Laundry rooms. Media rooms. Home offices. While a door may separate each room, flow is still important to create a conducive living space.

Hardwood often comes out as the clear winner in these spaces. But even the concept of hardwood has changed a lot over the years.

Traditional hardwood is always a great choice for residential living. Not sure about the upkeep and maintenance requirements? There are other ways to get the same look, only giving you additional benefits for ease of use.

How about engineered hardwood? While engineered hardwood is at its core hard wood, it offers a special protective veneer that gives it added strength and durability.

How about laminate. While it’s made from composite materials, its strength sets it apart. This isn’t the laminate of yesteryear. You’ll love the look. And if you’re worried about durability, this may be the perfect compromise.

Looking for something waterproof? Give luxury vinyl planks a try. These products are growing in popularity because of their function and good looks. Even experts have to take a second look to determine it’s not natural hardwood.

There is even an opportunity to lay tile on your floors and still have the look of traditional hardwood. It can be a perfect addition over radiant heating as a way to liven up your bathrooms or laundry space.

Secondary spaces – bedrooms and basement

When you step into your bedroom late at night, you want a different vibe than what you have in your living space. Softness. Peaceful. A quiet retreat. What feels natural in the kitchen or family room wouldn’t work as well in the bedroom.

That’s why carpet still reigns in the bedrooms. There’s just something about getting out of bed and wiggling your toes in natural fibers. On a cold winter morning, nothing feels quite as good.

This is your space. It’s a chance for you to let your creativity shine. Want to go a little bolder? A bright color may be just what you’re looking for. A bright blue, green, or red may accent your personality perfectly.

Basements present a specific challenge in that they are subjected to below-grade living. Is water a problem? Has your home settled in the past? Hardwood may buckle and warp. Carpet can easily be saturated.

Below grade makes flooring choices like laminate or luxury vinyl planks perfect. They stand up better to moisture, and are better at preventing things like mold and mildew.

Of course, it’s wise to pay attention to the subfloor too. Adding in moisture barriers can help your flooring stay better, longer.

What’s the best flooring to suit your needs? 

Start with the highest traffic areas if you’re ready to remodel your home. It’ll give you a sense of accomplishment as you see the final touches fall into place.

Flooring is a personal choice. What you choose should be based on your needs.

If you have any questions about finalizing your choices, give us a call today.

The post What’s The Best Room Order For Replacing Flooring? first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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A new year often brings changes in mindset and offers a fresh start for people and a new floor is a great idea!  Many people make new years resolutions or change something in their lives for the better.  Re-decorating or renovating your home is one of the many things that people choose to do.  It can help to bring clarity and calmness to your home, and a fresh start is always a good thing to do in the new year. Read More

The years have flown by. Your carpet is ten years old. You know it might be time to replace it, but every time you walk into a room, you see something different:

• The grape juice stain from your child’s birthday party
• The red wine stain from your big celebration
• And let’s not forget the mess that your four-legged friend made when she was a puppy

You know your carpet is reaching the end of life. Your carpet is ten years old. But is it really time to replace it?

What is the average lifespan of carpet?

The best place to gain information is heading online. But if you head to Google and try to figure out how long carpet will last, you’ll get a wide array of answers. Five years, ten years, fifteen years, and more. What’s considered average? How do you know when it’s time to shop for something new?

A good indicator is to ask the companies who make carpet themselves.

Mohawk carpet offers up to a 25-year warranty on abrasive wear and texture retention for one of its carpet lines.

Shaw carpet offers up to a 20-year warranty on the quality of the fibers and the backing material.

Residential carpet goes through a lot in a year, especially when you have an active family. If a carpet manufacturer offers up to twenty-five years of warranty protection, they have faith in the fact that their product can stand the test of time.

Of course, replacing carpet is a personal choice. There isn’t a specific date in time when it’s mandatory to replace it. But carpets will give a few telltale signs that it might be time to start planning.

Signs it might be time to replace your carpet

Where is your first one? The very first stain that appeared on your carpet? That’s the one that made you cringe. That’s the one that had you scrubbing relentlessly, trying to get the original color back again.

Carpet manufacturers promise stain resistance, but there is only so much they can do for protection. Eventually, things will happen, and your carpet will show the effects. You’ll it’s time to think about replacing when:

Too many stains

The first stain you can move the furniture a little to the left to cover it up. The second, you might be able to rearrange the table so it’s not as noticeable. Carpet cleaners have a lot of tools of the trade to try and flush out deep stains. But even their tools can only remove so much. Sometimes stubborn stains just won’t go away. And if you scrub too hard, you risk damaging the fibers. That can be worse. Before you buy a carpet cleaning solution from your favorite big box store, or hire a carpet cleaning service for a deep clean, check with your manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure you keep your warranty intact. They offer specific guidelines to help keep your carpet well maintained while protecting the carpet’s structure.

Wear and tear

You know when your carpet has seen better days. When you put rugs down to cover threadbare spots, or rearrange your furniture to try and reroute traffic, it may be time to replace. Every home has a basic track you move each day. From the kitchen to the living room, or from the hallway to your home office, notice the areas that look worse than others. Those are your problem spots. Those are the spots to pay attention to. Keep in mind that different fibers will wear differently over time. Polyester carpet fibers are known for matting. Nylon carpet is more resilient and handles the pressure of consistent traffic. It stands up to carpet cleaning better over time. While that might not matter in a bedroom, in high traffic areas, it could. Assessing your carpets now can help you make a better decision when it is time to replace.

Smelly carpet

Do you notice a smell every time you walk into a room? Or maybe you notice it when you open the front door, only to find it worse as you come closer to the carpet? That’s a sign of odors so deep into the fibers, there’s no getting them out. Odor penetration can happen in a variety of ways. Pets can do extensive damage. Wearing shoes can grind in dirt and debris. And once odors set in, they can take over fibers, backing, even penetrate deep into the carpet pad, or even into the subfloor material. And once that happens, replacement is the only way to get rid of the odor once and for all.

Carpet padding

Just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it might not be the biggest problem. What many homeowners don’t realize is that bad padding puts your carpet at greater risk. Think of a carpet pad as the pillow between the subfloor and the carpet. With a high-quality product, it provides more protection when connecting with the subfloor. But as that weakens, it can cause more friction to the carpet backing. Once the carpet is compromised, the only way to fix it is by replacing it. When given a choice, select a lower level carpet and a higher level pad – you won’t be sorry with your choice. It’ll give you added protection in the daily life of your carpet, which gives it a better chance at a longer life.

Old carpet

Sometimes aesthetics are everything. When you look at old carpet, you know it’s time to replace it. That carpet has been around “forever” and you’re ready for something new. It’s often time to replace a carpet when you’re ready for a change. Flooring is a great way to set the stage for greater things.

After ten years, even well cared for carpet can start to show signs of age. Wear in major walkways, and matted down tufts that just won’t stand up.

If you’re ready for a change, stop by today. We’ll help you find the perfect carpet to suit your needs.

The post My Carpet Is Ten Years Old – Is It Time To Replace? first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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Carpet pros and cons are not a mystery for a company that has been in the flooring business for over 11 years, like The Carpet Guys. There are several applications that may not warrant carpet and some that carpet is best for.  Let The Carpet Guys help you decide.

The Pros of Carpet

There are plenty of pros to having carpet, and very few cons. That’s one reason we decided to go with the name The Carpet Guys. Being a provider of all things carpet

It’s inexpensive – One of the best options for price in flooring is carpet.  Price per square foot, carpet is lower than all other flooring options.  If you’re looking for a square foot calculator, click here. This will help give you an idea of how much it will cost to carpet your room.

It’s softer and quieter – Hard surface flooring is just that…hard.  Carpet, even a tightly woven Berber, is still going to be softer underfoot than hardwood or laminate. If you include a pad upgrade like The Carpet Guy’s pink memory foam, it’s even softer. The quiet can be best portrayed by all libraries…carpet.

It’s faster to install – When installing any roll product like carpet or sheet vinyl, the roll is precut by the company per the measurements of the customer’s home.  It is then laid out by the installers and trimmed to fit the room.  The hardest part of the installation is deciding where to put the seams in a room if it is larger than 11.5 feet. The best installers can do this quickly and “seamlessly”.

It hides dirt – One of the best things about carpet is that it hides dirt for those unexpected visitors. If choosing a flecked carpet, the only way you will know it’s dirty is when you empty the vacuum.

The Cons of Carpet

It shows wear and tear – Frequently, we are asked to replace the carpet in high traffic areas of people’s homes because the carpet shows wear and tear.  Each footfall can compress the fibers and if the flooring is not properly cared for, it won’t last forever.  See the next point for proper carpet maintenance.

It needs maintenance – In order to maintain your carpet’s valuable warranty, you will need to vacuum once a week with an approved machine by the Carpet and Rug Institute.  They are the leaders in all things carpet.  Check out their maintenance and cleaning page here. It’s also important to have the carpet professionally cleaned every 12-18 months and maintain your receipt.  By maintaining your flooring with the proper care, its beauty will last longer.

It needs to be replaced periodically – This, unfortunately, applies to all flooring types and styles.  Nothing lasts forever.  Whether your carpet is worn, or you just want an upgrade, The Carpet Guys can fix it.

If the pros outweigh the cons, schedule a Free In-Home Estimate with one of our complimentary Design Consultants by clicking here.  We can bring our showroom of samples to your home so you can decide which carpet would look best in your home and next to your furniture.  If you feel the cons are weightier, then make sure to call 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) and schedule an appointment with a Design Consultant that can give you some other options like laminate, hardwood, luxury vinyl, or sheet vinyl.  All options that The Carpet Guys can install.

The post Carpet Pros and Cons appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

There’s a problem with most flooring choices – they last for a very long time.

• Carpet can last between 5 and 15 years.
• Luxury vinyl planks can last between 10 and 20 years with proper care.
• Hardwood can remain in place for up to a century with proper maintenance and occasional refurbishing.

That makes it worth time and thought before you make your final decision.

Rather than fads or trends, it pays to think about timeless flooring choices. This ensures you have a high-quality flooring material that you’ll be happy with for years to come.

Colors, styles, and patterns

Before we get into specific materials, it’s important to note that neutral stands the test of time over all else. Think back to the wild colors we’ve seen come and go over the past few decades.

Orange. Gold. Avocado green. Sunshine yellow.

They all have one thing in common: their bright shades and tones.

If you want a timeless, classic design, neutral is always better. If you can find it in nature, your chances of longevity are better. Think white, beige, and brown. If you see the same color, pattern, and style running from product to product, it’s more likely to stick around.

Of course, sticking with neutral doesn’t have to be boring or blasé. In fact, quite the opposite can take place. It can set the stage for strong, powerful lines. It can make the rest of your decor pop. And because flooring is often one of the more expensive items in any remodel, selecting wisely means it will last for years to come. Paint the walls. Buy new pillows. It’s nice to know your flooring will still be looking good.

With color and styles in mind, here are several timeless flooring materials we’ve seen selling well throughout the years.

Hardwood

Nothing is more beautiful than hardwood. That makes it top the charts of flooring lists year after year.

Here in Colorado, hardwood is also a classic design. It’s been used in mountain lodges, and the most sophisticated homes across the Front Range.

Hardwood creates a soft surface area that makes it comfortable enough to walk on with your bare feet. It’s warm enough to keep you comfortable even on the coldest nights.

While many homeowners might think twice once they look at the cost, it makes it one of the most economical investments you’ll make in your home when you factor in longevity. Hardwood can last for years with proper maintenance. And when it shows wear, it can be sanded down and refinished to add even more life to the material. Select wisely, and it can be refinished up to ten times!

Don’t forget about engineered hardwood. Engineered hardwood may be the solution if you’re having trouble justifying hardwood in a room because of your lifestyle. It has the classic good looks of hardwood because it is hardwood. The hardwood veneer on top provides you with timeless looks, while the core structure makes it even more durable than hardwood. That gives you a flooring choice that will continue to look good throughout the years.

Luxury vinyl

If you’re looking for something more cost-effective that still gives you long life, you can’t ignore luxury vinyl.

It still sets the standard for places where moisture is a problem. Bathrooms. Laundry rooms. Mudrooms. Even kitchens. Plus, there’s an added benefit today from the classic good looks.

Luxury vinyl has come a long way since your grandmother’s time. Thanks to today’s technology, you’ll find luxury vinyl so closely mimicking hardwood, stone, and tile, you have to get down to touch it to notice the difference.

Choose wisely, and it has an added benefit: It’s waterproof. That makes it a flooring of choice for rooms where water may be a problem. Let the kids splash away. Don’t worry about the tub overflowing.

No matter what style or pattern you choose, if you make luxury vinyl your choice for timeless good looks, you won’t be disappointed.

Carpet

Travel back in time and you’ll find evidence of rugs dating back 4,000 years or more. That’s because we’ve long since loved the feel of soft fibers between our toes. Whether you walk across it, sit down and enjoy its comfort, or simply want to add warmth to your room, carpet is often the best way to go.

Wall-to-wall carpet is a newer addition to homes, but it’s still one of the most popular choices. While you might not want it in your high-traffic areas, nothing can beat it for comfort. That plush feeling you get when stepping out of bed in the morning can’t be initiated by any other product.

This is the one product where staying neutral can set the stage for your decor. Add a pattern in the fibers, and it won’t showcase traffic marks or surface dirt. Carpets today are also designed in ways that won’t attract stains, grime, and other messes. With good maintenance habits, your carpet will stay looking new for years to come.

Tile

Can you imagine a bathroom without tile? Neither can we. It’s been a staple in bathroom projects for decades. It’s one of the most timeless materials available.

Ceramic tiles can be crafted in an almost unlimited supply of patterns, colors, and styles. Stick with one or combine several for a truly unique look.

Thanks to today’s technology, tiles can mimic natural wood too. It’s a great way to bring the look of hardwood to places you might not be able to install it. Think bathrooms, laundry rooms, or basements.

Another benefit is they pair well with radiant heating. Slip the heating material underneath tiles, and you’ll never have a cold floor again. It can be a great addition to your master bath. You might like it well enough you extend it to other rooms in your home. Tile is a natural heat conductor, which means it’ll warm up faster and stay warm longer.

What’s your choice for a timeless flooring material?

If you stick with the basics, something that’s been around for years, you’ll love what you have installed.

It will be a great addition to your home for years to come.

The post Timeless Flooring Choices That Will Never Go Out Of Style first appeared on PRO! Flooring.

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It snowed! We celebrate, not only for our ski areas, but because our recent temperature drop brings much-needed moisture to Colorado. Our hearts are with our neighbors in Boulder County who recently suffered catastrophic fire loss.

Unfortunately, our colder temperatures also firmly place us in the heart of cold and flu season.

The best ways to prevent illness

Why are colds and flu so common in January and February? As you know, when it’s chilly outside, we retreat indoors, crank up our thermostats and close our windows. We hang out more with our family and friends. Our physical closeness passes around germs in enclosed spaces. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), this is especially true if we:

1. Don’t stay away from others when we are sick: Gone are the days of “powering through” a cold or sickness. Stay home when you feel rotten and don’t gift your crud to others. Also, rest and let yourself truly recover. Your immune system will thank you by staying strong.
2. Touch our faces a lot: This one got hilarious meme treatment early in the pandemic, but frequently touching your face, nose and mouth for whatever reason (mask, itchiness, fidgeting) is a serious habit to break NOW.
3. Forget to wash our hands often: Plain old soap and water (yup, for 20 seconds) are still the best defense against sickness. Use hand sanitizer when you cannot access a sink.
4. Don’t cover our mouths and noses when we sneeze or cough: This is disrespectful to others and gross.
5. Neglect other good habits: The CDC recommends getting enough sleep, exercising, eating right and ensuring our living spaces are properly cleaned and sanitized.

Reduce infections at home

Which brings us to our main subject. As Sir Isaac Newton discovered in 1665, what goes up must come down (AKA don’t sit under a fruit tree in the autumn). Gravity enables all those viruses and bacteria to drift down and eventually settle into our carpets and upholstery.

Some viruses, like norovirus (think nasty stomach bug) can stay in carpeting and upholstery for up to a month if not removed, according to the National Institutes for Health (NIH). Thankfully, studies show the COVID-19 virus does not typically cause infection from soft surfaces after 72 hours. According to livehealthily, the flu virus sticks around for 24 hours and the jury is out about just how long strep bacteria can survive on a surface to make you sick.

Fear not. Our houses help us out and there are things we can do to reduce infections!

Carpets are actually our friends. According to the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), carpeting “plays the role of an air filter: carpet traps dust, pollen and other particles, taking them out of the breathing zone until they can be removed easily…”

Regularly vacuuming your home, 1-2 times per week, as well as routinely cleaning and disinfecting your upholstery and carpeting can help keep your family well during the cold and flu season.

Fight the flu and other bugs with steam

A Personal Touch Carpet Cleaning recommends steam cleaning your carpets every 18 months with a reputable high-temperature, truck-mounted steam cleaning service.

One of our own employees testifies that regular carpet cleaning keeps his family healthier, “I have 5 kids and 2 dogs and now 5 grandkids. We don’t get colds and flu like other families.”

But, don’t take our word for it. Recent studies like this one at the NIH report steam cleaning works to minimize germs in carpets. The NIH reports, “…our results support a previous finding that steam vapor can reduce viruses beyond the EPA standard in short contact times…”

A Personal Touch can sanitize your chairs, ottomans and couches as well. Our trained technicians are knowledgeable about many different kinds of upholstery from canvas and corduroy to silk, lace and leather. They will clean your upholstery’s fragile trim and piping with care. Upon request, they can apply a special fabric protector to help extend the life of your furniture.

Stay healthier during cold and flu season. Call us at 720-344-2870 for a free estimate or simply schedule an appointment.

The post How can regular carpet and upholstery cleaning help you through the cold and flu season? appeared first on A Personal Touch.

The new year is here. With a new year comes new trends in home design. Discover the 2022 hardwood flooring trends:

The first 2022 hardwood flooring trend is an unusual flooring design. Visually interesting and eclectic flooring is growing in popularity for the new year. Designs like chevron and herringbone are two examples of this. Herringbone is a type of hardwood that interlocks with itself in a diagonal direction, as opposed to straight planks that line up next to one another. If you want to try something different in your home, think about this type of hardwood flooring.

Another 2022 flooring trend is wide plank floors. Typically hardwood floor planks are narrower in size, but this can look busy to the eye. That is why wide plank hardwood floors are growing in popularity. These floors are both subtle and interesting, helping to spice up your home in a casual way.

If you’re looking to add a more rustic feel to your space, consider switching up your hardwood. Rustic flooring is on-trend for 2022. Rustic hardwood includes things like natural textures and colors, which can give a calming feel to a space.

Maybe you’re going for a more contemporary or modern feel in your home. If this is the case, select bleached or whitewashed floors for your space. This 2022 trend helps a room feel fresh. Whitewashed floors can also open up a space and help it feel larger.

On the other hand, rich and varied colors are also on-trend for 2022. If light, white tones aren’t your style, consider selecting rich tones of hardwood to help your space feel vibrant and cozy.

To shop these 2022 hardwood flooring trends, visit Flooring.org. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us by giving us a call at (800) 689-9006.

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