Underlay for Wood, Laminate and Other Hard Flooring

Do I need underlay? Which underlay should I use? Is there a difference between wood flooring underlay and laminate flooring underlay? We’re here to answer these questions, and explain the importance of new underlay should you need it. 

 

When creating your dream home, it takes a lot of deliberation. Flooring, as well as which accessories to use, bear no exception. 

 

We know there’s one subject that has potential to cause confusion: underlay.  To make your decision easier, this post covers all you need to know about flooring underlay. 

Depending on your flooring type, as well as fitting method, you may or may not require underlay. If using a gluedown installation, underlay shouldn’t be used, but secret nailing and floating floors can use underlay. Extra comfort, prolonged flooring lifespan, increased insulation and noise reduction are all key benefits of using underlay. However, make sure to use new underlay with new flooring to make the most of these benefits!

 

From flooring types to fitting methods, we’ve got you covered with all the information you need – all in one place.

Do You Need Underlay?

Now, you may have been told to purchase new underlay as an essential, but whether you actually need it is another story. 

 

Flooring underlay is a soft cushioning that sits between your flooring and the surface you’re laying it on. Underlay offers a number of benefits, should you require it. 

 

We’ll run you through these benefits in a moment, but for now, we’ll delve into fitting methods and flooring types to see whether you’ll require underlay or not.

Flooring Fitting and Type

Gluedown 

As mentioned above, there are some fitting methods and types of flooring that simply do not require the use of flooring underlay. The gluedown method is one of them. 

 

This technique consists of the application of a strong adhesive (made specifically for wood) to the subfloor in small, workable sections. Glue is also used in-between each of the planks’ ‘tongue’ and ‘grooves’, and slotting them into place. 

 

This fitting process can be used on all wood flooring types including: parquet, laminate, engineered wood and luxury vinyl tiles, but is mostly used on solid wood boards. The nature of the process does not allow for the use of underlay. 

 

Secret nailing

This technique can be applied to wood flooring types such as: parquet flooring, engineered wood flooring and solid wood flooring. 

 

Secret nailing is a method that allows for underlay to be brought into the equation to reap the benefits wood flooring underlay brings. However, it is not entirely essential and the use of underlay is dependent entirely on the room you’re wanting to fit the flooring in.

 

This process works by driving nails through the ‘tongue’ of the floorboard at a 45 degree angle, and into the subfloor. This fixes the flooring firmly in place and prevents any gaps forming.

 

If your flooring is being laid on a ground level, it has less of a requirement for underlay than if it is being laid on a higher level floor. This is because there is less need for noise reduction affecting floors below. 

Floating floor

This installation technique seeks no ‘yes or no’ consideration as the floating floor method requires the use of underlay. 

 

Though not actually hovering in mid-air as the name might suggest, the need for underlay stems from the floor not being attached to the sub-floor. This leaves room for slight movement when walked upon. Good quality flooring underlay reduces this movement and adds comfort underfoot.

 

Commonly used with: engineered wood flooring, laminate flooring, luxury vinyl tiles, and Evocore360 that boasts its very own EvoCore Underlay. This is a popular method with lots of advantages, though excites some exceptions to the rule. 

 

Purchasing Evocore Essentials and Premium eliminates the need to purchase any flooring underlay at all; these ranges have underlay built in, making for an easier decision. 

 

Types of Underlay

Decisions of this nature may seem difficult, only because the options out there are plentiful. However, narrowing down your options becomes a lot easier when you’re given the knowledge to inform your decision. 

 

Below we explore the different types of underlay and their compatibility, to help you ensure you go away knowing your dream home is one step closer to completion.

 

Types of underlay	What it Looks Like	Compatibility
Fibreboard		Perfect for wood and laminate flooring underlay
Built in Damp Proof Membrane (DPM)		Perfect for wood and laminate flooring underlay
Eco-Friendly Underlay		Perfect for wood and laminate flooring underlay
Luxury Vinyl Tile Underlay		Suitable for luxury vinyl tiles and underfloor heating
EvoCore 360 Underlay		Perfect for EvoCore 360
Underfloor Heating		Perfect for wood and laminate flooring underlay
Self-adhesive		Perfect for solid wood

 

Benefits of Underlay

We’re finally at the part you really want to know. Why should you use underlay? 

 

You know whether or not you need underlay, and you know which underlay is for which flooring. But what exactly are you getting out of it? Believe us when we say… You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

 

1. Increased comfort – Underlay introduces a cushioned feel to the flooring. It softens your strides and alleviates any discomfort underfoot. 
2. Prolongs flooring lifespan – Underlay’s cushion helps to absorb some of the shock from playing children, to clumsy drops. Wear and tear are reduced substantially, increasing your floor’s longevity.
3. Noise reduction – Underlay for flooring adds density, and provides another layer to absorb more sound made by walking, running or any movement on the flooring above.
4. Reduces heating bills – Underlay acts as an insulating layer that helps trap heat, meaning your space is kept warmer for longer.
5. Environmentally friendly – You’ll be pleased to know that we pride ourselves in doing our part for the environment, and our new range of Eco Underlay is made from 100% recycled materials, as well as being recyclable.
6. Certain types are compatible with underfloor heating – Got underfloor heating? Not to worry, we have flooring and underlay that are compatible to ensure you still acquire the benefits of a heated floor.

 

Enough benefits for you? The practicality of underlay is invaluable; which is exactly why we recommend you take the necessary steps in finding and marrying up the perfect combination to suit your needs. 

New underlay

Underlay is important, but what’s more important is using new underlay when laying a new flooring. Why? Because as time goes on, these benefits begin to fade with natural wear and tear. To get the most out of your new flooring, make sure you pair it with a new underlay.

 

Investing in new underlay to replace your old one allows you to make the most of the benefits good quality underlay bestows. Whilst not on show to see the wear, the old stuff has been walked on just as much as the flooring you’re about to replace. Buying new will improve your experience with your new flooring purchase as well as prolonging the lifespan of it.

Wrapping Up

We’ve covered the in’s and out’s of the factors that play a part in ensuring your new flooring journey is as smooth as possible.

 

Remember the key considerations to keep at the forefront of your mind when weighing up your decision. Does the flooring fitting and type require underlay? If so, what underlay is compatible with your chosen flooring? All that’s left to do now is to start browsing for your perfect product!

 

Still not sure? Get in touch with our flooring experts today for the best advice for your new underlay. 

 

The post Underlay for Wood, Laminate and Other Hard Flooring appeared first on Direct Wood Flooring Blog.

If you or someone you live with uses a wheelchair, you want your home to be as accommodating as possible. When you are choosing flooring for your home, you want to consider the needs of yourself or your loved one. You want flooring that is safe and durable. Read on to discover what is the best flooring for wheelchairs.

Soft flooring, such as carpet, is not suitable for wheelchairs. Even though carpet is warm and inviting, it is also difficult to clean. It can also reduce traction, making it difficult for an individual to maneuver their wheelchair. Hard flooring is best for wheelchairs, but some flooring is better than others. For example, softwood and cork hardwood flooring is too soft for frequent wheelchair use.

Ceramic and porcelain are excellent flooring options for wheelchair use if you like the look of tile. Keep in mind that smaller tiles are better suited for wheelchair use because large tiles are more likely to crack under pressure. When shopping for tile flooring, pick tiles that are 2 inches in size or smaller. You also want the grout lines between the tiles to be made from a material that improves traction. Additionally, unpolished tiles are a better pick than polished tiles because they provided a more firm grip.

If you would rather pick hardwood flooring over tiles, consider luxury vinyl or engineered hardwood. If you pick a waterproof vinyl or engineered hardwood, the flooring will hold up well against frequent wheelchair use. These types of flooring are also easy to clean and hold up well against spills and moisture.

Once you’ve determined what type of wheelchair-safe flooring you want, you’re ready to shop with flooring.org. You can browse our inventory online and call us at 1-800-689-9006 with any questions.

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With so many options for flooring today, it’s no surprise that settling in on one choice can be difficult at best. Maybe you’ve already decided to purchase new hardwood floors. Maybe you have your dream flooring in mind.

But all that can be thrown out the window when you walk into our showroom and see all of your options. Even if you have a style or pattern in mind, just seeing the many different options can leave your head spinning. Why is this such a difficult decision?

It is until you remember one thing: walking across a great hardwood floor will give you pleasure for years to come.

And really, that’s all there is to it.

Don’t be wow’d by the options. There are dozens – hundreds of options because every homeowner is a bit different. But it’s fairly easy to settle in on your choices when you keep a few things in mind.

Let’s start with the hardwood – what does that mean?

If you’ve looked at flooring at all, you know there are a lot of different products available.

If you’re sold on hardwood, your first choice is between solid hardwood and engineered wood flooring.

Solid wood is as the name implies. It’s created from one solid piece of hardwood. Because of this, it pays to know the manufacturer you’re trusting when you purchase. Some companies pay attention to the overall structure of the timber, while others attempt to use every piece of wood that comes through their manufacturing plant. If you have envisioned keeping your flooring for decades, this can be a major factor in how well it holds up over time.

Engineered wood is created from multiple component layers, giving you an exact thickness and wear level. Engineered wood is often perceived as more stable, because every single layer is created based on manufacturers guidelines. Every piece is created equally to ensure stability of construction. Yet what is stable in one environment might not work well in others. Because it isn’t solid, it can also run the risk of wearing faster than a high quality solid hardwood plank.

When it comes to deciding the right flooring for your unique situation, lay all the facts on the line. One of our consultants would be happy to help you determine the right choice for your needs.

What do you want your flooring to look like?

For some homeowners, they see a solid surface area where the wood blends harmoniously together. For others, they see their flooring as a work of art; they’re looking for ways to stand out from the norm.

https://pro-flooring.com/why-are-hardwood-floors-always-popular/

That’s what we love to share with people who come in ready to purchase new hardwood floors.

In today’s world, you don’t have to settle for a neutral color with single planks all running in a row. Instead, the sky is the limit on potential.

Why not go with an exotic wood? You can create a color palette anywhere from the lightest to darkest woods.

Or how about changing it up with a larger plank size? Two to three inch oak boards might have been the norm once upon a time, but no more. Instead, you’ll find six, eight, even ten inch width planks or wider. That can really make your great room pop, or your bedroom to be just a little bit more luxurious. All because you changed it up a bit and made it unique to you. Those boards create drama in all the right ways.

Light or dark, it’s up to you 

Light or dark wood? It seems like an easy enough choice. After all, you probably have your preferences on the tip of your tongue.

We’ve all walked into a kitchen before and felt the “love it or hate it” from the moment we walk in. Do you like light, white, and airy? Or do you prefer the drama of dark wood and sophisticated lines?

The same thought process goes into selecting the right hardwood floors.

Often, you can just see yourself living with one or the other. Your ideal picture clearly comes with light or dark wood.

Dark wood floors have been popular for some time now. You can select many different shades of dark, or with unfinished hardwood installation, custom stain it as dark as you wish.

Dark wood works great with modern furniture and lots of color. It makes the color pop.

Dark wood also is a great choice if you desire to move towards a more rustic and casual feel. In some cases, you can find dark wood floors that bring out an aged look. That can blend in quite nicely with your farmhouse, country charm look.

Dark brings out the coziness wherever it’s laid into place. Picture a dramatic ski lodge in the heart of winter. Don’t you just want to light a fire and snuggle down for the evening?

Of course, dark wood does have a few drawbacks. You’ll see everything on the floor much easier with the darkness as a backdrop. And dark wood floors are more sensitive to the appearance of wear. While that can be perfect if you’re going for an aged look, it might not work so well with clean, modern lines. That’s where it pays to take your family and your lifestyle into consideration before making a selection.

Light wood, on the other hand, creates a light palette you can build from to show off a variety of looks. It makes the space look larger, brighter.

What we love about light wood is it goes with almost any decor. If you go with the more traditional oak or maple, it blends in well with whatever designs you create. Or you can go as light as possible – how about ash – and make your light hardwood center stage.

Just remember lighter hardwood often requires a little more maintenance, including the right sealer to prevent spills from turning into stains. And because light wood hides dirt a bit easier, that can work to your disadvantage if you really need a clean location.

What’s the best hardwood floor?

With dozens of choices, the purchase of new hardwood floors can seem intimidating at first, until you realize that deep inside you already know what you want.

Trust your instinct. Whether you want light or dark, wide planks or more traditional, there’s a right hardwood flooring waiting for you.

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

When you bought your home, curb appeal set the stage. As you drove up, you assessed the looks in a matter of seconds.

But once you said “yes” to curb appeal, your next opinion was formed based on opening the front door. Was it closed in? Did it set a dramatic stage? Was it dark and ugly? Was it wide open and inviting?

A lot of that was formed on the staircase. And while most people never list the staircase as their number one remodeling project, with just a little creativity, it can change the entire layout of your home.

The architectural details may give you your floor plan for decorating, it’s the flooring itself that transforms the room. Your choice can also make it easier or more difficult for individual family members to move about. Have small children? Pets? Elderly family members? Your final choice for your stair flooring matters.

Like every room in your home, what you install on your stairs is a personal choice. But we do have recommendations for the best flooring for stairs, depending on your needs and desires.

How to choose the best flooring for stairs

If you have a staircase in your home, it connects the different rooms together. To move from living space to bedrooms, you take the stairs. As you do laundry and clean up messes, you use the stairs. If you counted it up, your family might use them dozens of times each day.

Stair use isn’t the same as how flooring is used in a family room or bedroom. It takes more wear and tear. It’s on display more than other rooms. It also has a safety factor. That makes finding the right flooring more important than ever.

Consider maintenance

Like other rooms, you’ll have to maintain the flooring on the stairs frequently. A stain resistant carpet will ensure you don’t track things as you move from one level to another. Hardwood floors will be prone to scratching if you don’t clean up dust and debris frequently, or install a runner to help reduce it from accumulating. Laminate is often a good choice because it stands up to scratches, stains, wear, and fade-resistance better than other types of flooring.

Safety

In many cases, you’ll move up and down the stairs quickly. And with your hands full, it’s also one of the most potentially dangerous places in your home for accidents. Think about slipping as you make your final choice. Hardwood and socks can be a dangerous combination.

Noise reduction

Have you ever been in a place where it echoes as you walk across the floor? That’s the last thing you want in your home, especially if you’re trying to keep small children asleep, or you work from home. The flooring you choose can aid in how much you hear each step your family makes. Carpet is one of the first choices in flooring for noise absorption, the padding will take in the sound and muffle it well. Laminate alone can create a noisy environment. However, you can install underlayments that will help hide sound reasonably well. That often is why homeowners select laminate and match it up with their hardwood located on the first and second floors. However, if you want to keep your hardwood in place, adding a runner may be the perfect choice for your needs.

Aesthetics

No matter what vision you hold for the stairs in your home, aesthetics is always important. Transition between the different levels should be smooth no matter what flooring choice you decide on. If you’re a wood person and you’re concerned about looks if you don’t carry it throughout your home, stop worrying. There are many ways to create a continuous look while increasing safety and comfort at the same time. Just ask – we’re here to help.

Looking at the best flooring options for your stairs

Now that you have a better understanding of what’s required to care for your stairs and keep your family safe as they move up and down, let’s look at the pros and cons of the different flooring choices.

Hardwood

There’s no denying that hardwood on stairs creates a timeless beauty. If you’re a fan of hardwood and have used it throughout your home, chances are you’ll want hardwood flooring on your stairs as well. Hardwood is easy to care for, easy to clean. Adding hardwood to your stairs can give you beauty as well as ease of use for years to come.

Just keep in mind that hardwood can also be dangerous with non-slip treads. If your family is most often found running around in socks, it could be a potential hazard, especially for kids and elderly. You’ll have to use runners to add more traction, or change your family’s habits and convince them to wear slippers with traction or hard-soled bottoms.

You should also keep in mind that hardwood stairs will be noisier than other options. You’ll hear every footfall, especially as you pound up and down the staircase in a hurry. You’ll also notice every creak as they appear.

Runners

For many homeowners that desire hardwood, the easiest way to reduce the downfalls is to install a runner down the middle. There are many beautiful, low cost options to adding a soft surface that will make them safer as well as cut down on the noise. What’s better, runners are easy to change out as you upgrade your decor.

Laminate

If you’re stuck on the idea of hardwood to match the aesthetics of your home, but want something a little easier to care for, the solution may be to install laminate on the stairs. It’s not as long-lasting as hardwood, but it’s less expensive, which means it’s easier to replace and still stick to a budget.

Carpet

There are a lot of reasons why carpet is a great choice to add to your stairs.

• It’s budget friendly
• It’s soft underfoot
• It reduces the noise throughout your home
• It’s safer, reducing slippage and the potential of falling

When you add carpet to your stairs, be sure you keep a good handheld vacuum nearby to help clean up the dust and dirt that will fall into the nooks and cracks as you go about your busy days. You should also be prepared to replace your carpet frequently to keep it looking good, especially if it’s creating a grand entrance from the moment you walk in. Be sure to discuss this with one of our associates, and we can show you the most durable materials for stair use.

Create a stunning look by selecting the right flooring for your stairs

Your stairs are one of the most important, high traffic surfaces in your home.

If you want good looks as well as high functioning materials, stop by today and let us help you create your desired look. We have the perfect solutions for your staircases just waiting for you.

Create the look you’ll love for years to come today. 

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

Chevron flooring is often confused with herringbone or parquet block flooring. It does create a similar pattern, but the blocks of flooring have a slightly different profile. The chevron pattern created can only be done with this particular type of floor. It is a beautiful flooring design that is quickly coming back into fashion. Read More

If you do a search online to help find the best flooring for your needs, carpet may come up as a flooring choice to avoid. Dirt can bury deep into the fibers. It can show stains quickly if not well cared for. And what about indoor air quality?

Is carpet really that bad?

Despite the negative press, carpet is here to stay for a variety of reasons:

• It’s affordable
• It’s soft to the touch
• It’s warmer than other flooring choices
• It reduces noise
• It’s beautiful and adds to any decor

Luckily, the carpet industry is working on sustainability too.

Today, indoor air quality matters. It’s increasingly becoming more important, especially as people find out about harmful materials and what it can do to the air supply.

In 1992, the Carpet and Rug Institute launched a Green Label program to test and determine levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in different products. The Green Label program raises the bar on what manufacturers produce, and lets you know as a consumer where a product falls. In this case, it helps you find carpet with the lowest emitting VOCs on all levels, including carpet, adhesive, and cushion products.

This is important, no matter where you’re installing carpet. It’s even more important if you are trying to become LEED certified.

What is LEED?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It provides a framework for creating a healthy, highly efficient, and cost effective design. It’s also a globally recognized symbol of sustainability, one that can be used for all building types and building phases. For many commercial properties being built today, it’s not just a wish, it’s a requirement.

What does sustainable mean in the carpet industry?

To create a truly sustainable carpet, it moves beyond the actual product and goes into the entire production and manufacturing process. This means it’s important to look beyond the carpet, and consider the company and supplier as well.

It means focusing on how well the company does with environmental issues. Do they use environmental policies and practices at every level of the manufacturing process?

Sustainable development means a company pays attention to the people at all levels of the process – from employees creating the product to consumers who install and live with it for years to come.

It also means environmental protection. It ensures materials are sustainably sourced, and that every part of the process is performed while caring for the environment.

At the end of the day, the economic portion is only as important as ensuring the product is created for the right reasons. Yes, a company has to make a profit to stay in business. But a sustainable company will ensure it does so for the right reasons, ensuring profit is secondary to all other considerations.

You’ll find sustainable carpet is made from sustainable or recycled raw materials. The company will source energy from sustainable technology such as wind or solar power. They will consider all aspects of the process, from production to what happens to excess waste, including how the product will be disposed of years from now.

Look for certification

Because sustainability and green living are growing in the consumer market, you can find a lot of industry buzzwords that may throw you off track. Sure, a company may list a product as “natural”, but what does that truly mean?

Instead of focusing on buzzwords, pay attention to certifications instead.

We mentioned the Green Label program above, and that’s a good place to start. But it isn’t the only sustainable carpet certification program out there. Others include:

Cradle to Cradle – products are assessed for environmental and social performance across five sustainability categories, including material health, material reuse, renewable energy and carbon management, water stewardship, and social fairness.

NSF/ANSI 140 Sustainable Carpet Assessment – it’s built on life cycle assessment principles covering five different categories including public health and environment, energy and energy efficiency, bio-based content, manufacturing, and end of life management.

BRE Environmental Assessment – is a third party certification program that looks at an asset’s environmental, social, and economic sustainability performance.

Finding sustainable carpet options

Are you sold on installing sustainable carpet? Are you ready to find the perfect eco-friendly carpet for your next project?

Where do you begin?

As a project manager, you have dozens of items on your to-do list. Picking carpet is difficult enough without adding even more pressure to the task. But it doesn’t have to be that hard.

First, start by trusting a flooring expert that can help you make the right decision. It’s not enough that you purchase something online from a discount broker, or even stop by your local big box store and buy whatever is on sale. They focus on profit and getting their products sold. They don’t have time to dig deep and answer all your questions. And that’s the only way you’re going to get what you really want.

Second, learn your brand names. There are many carpet companies out there that offer eco-friendly products. Take responsibility to do a little homework and discover what their processes are. Companies like Mohawk and Shaw work hard to ensure they deliver some of the most sustainable products in the industry. From using recycled materials to reclaiming old carpet, to reducing greenhouse gases and more, by spending a few minutes researching your choice companies, you can quickly feel good about your purchase, And ensure it meets all qualifications in your journey to becoming a sustainable, LEED project.

 

So what’s your flooring of choice? Have you made the decision to install new carpet as you remodel and refurbish?

No matter what you read online, carpet is still a great choice for many buildings. It offers a great solution for warmth, comfort, and good looks.

If you’re trying to get LEED certified too, pay attention to how sustainable your final selection is. We can help you choose the right carpet, and love what you install well into the future.

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

Why are humans so attracted to hardwood flooring? Why do Coloradans make it their number one flooring choice again and again? Why do you consistently see hardwood flooring in the top homes in the region?

It might be because of biophilic design.

What biophilic design is … and isn’t

Biophilic design connects you to nature. It’s the art of using things that naturally occur in nature, and work to build them into the overall architecture of your residence.

Biophilic design has five distinctive characteristics:

1. An emphasis on adaptation to the natural world. Items that over time have been proven as instrumental in helping people’s overall health, fitness, and well being.

2. It’s not the inclusion of just one thing. Instead, biophilic design depends on repeated and sustained connections with nature.

3. The elements woven throughout a residence will comprise of various complementary elements, reinforced throughout the design, and interconnected as a whole. This isn’t about inserting a plant and having it exist out of context.

4. It fosters emotional attachment to the surroundings. By creating a calming effect, you’re more likely to feel motivated, satisfied, and have overall better performance.

5. If you use biophilic design well, it creates connections and positive interaction between people and their environment. It enhances the surroundings, and gives a sense of membership to the community.

Why does all this matter? Because it creates a more calming, more effective place to live.

Growing evidence shows that patients go home faster if their hospital rooms are designed with biophilic characteristics. Children can boost concentration simply by walking and being in nature. And spending time in natural settings can lower stress and blood pressure while boosting immune function.

We’re spending as much as 90 percent of our time indoors. Shouldn’t we make the spaces we live in better places to live?

How wood floors can help us return to nature

Coloradans understand the beauty of hardwood floors. Maybe it’s because we live in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Maybe it’s because we have this innate sense of wanting to be out in nature. Skiing, biking, hiking – it’s a way of life for many of us who choose to call Colorado home. And because of that, we want to bring some of that back indoors.

Hardwood floors literally allow you to do that. When you select hardwood for your flooring, you’re bringing nature back in.

Yet most of us rarely think about just how much space the flooring takes. It’s the foundation of your design. You use it to plan the decor of the rest of your home.

Choose a light oak? The rest of your home might be bright and airy.

Choose a dark walnut? Your home might focus on dramatic, sophisticated design.

And that’s the goal. You’re using hardwood flooring to bring nature in, and use it to connect with nature for years to come.

Hardwood flooring – start by selecting the right color

So you want new hardwood flooring. Where do you start?

If you walk into our design center, you’ll find one of the first choices you’ll have to make is the color. Color is important; you want a flooring you’ll love for years to come. Select the room color, and you’ll have to refinish it sooner.

Color for hardwood flooring isn’t about red, blue, and green. Instead, it’s about light to dark. Each hardwood flooring color provides you with a different experience. This is how they compare with maintenance and cleaning.

Dark wood flooring – dark wood flooring has been a popular choice for several years. That’s because it works well in a variety of situations.

Have bright furnishings or a strong sense of modern design? Dark wood works well. Want neutral surroundings? Starting with dark wood on the floor is the best way to set it off.

While many assume dark wood equals formal, that’s not the case. It can create a rustic, aged look that’s perfect for country charm or a mountain retreat.

Dark wood will show more than lighter choices. If you have pets, kids, and a busy household, expect to see signs of wear earlier. But for some, that’s part of its charm. You might have to dust more frequently to pick up pet hair and crumbs, but the dark wood allows you to see where to swiff your broom more easily.

We’ve found a couple of places we don’t recommend using dark wood. In tiny rooms, it can make the room look even smaller. And when selecting dark wood planks, wider is better. Fewer seams mean a more continuous look, which is something you’ll enjoy for years inside your home.

Light wood flooring – light wood has been popular for decades. And in some cases, the lightness has only intensified as we bring more options to market. Like the whitewash look? You’ll find choices. Want something more exotic, something you won’t find in your neighbor’s home? You’ll find that too.

With custom solutions and finishes, you can go as light as you desire. But keep in mind, just like extreme dark wood, light wood has it’s problems too.

To create a light, almost white look, takes special processing. A contractor may have to combine stain and paint to lighten up the flooring. To seal it in means adding a clear finish, and that might be required regularly to keep its light, good looks.

The finish you select is equally important. Oil based finishes might be clear going on, but they can yellow over time. Talk in detail with your flooring contractor to learn how well your choices will stand the test of time.

Light hardwood flooring choices are almost always a good choice for every room in your home. They hide dust and dirt well, and can even mask surface level scratches.

How are you going to bring the outside in?

No matter what color you choose, by selecting hardwood flooring, you’ll be bringing nature in. With a little thought and planning, biophilic design can help your home be a more relaxing, calm, and beautiful place to live.

And isn’t that what we all want anyway?

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

Bamboo is an eye-catching, sustainable, and durable flooring material choice. If you picked bamboo flooring for your kitchen, there are some care tips you want to follow to maintain the stunning appearance and high quality of your flooring. To learn about these tips, keep reading.

Any type of flooring can undergo damage when exposed to water, especially if the water sits on the surface for a long time. However, bamboo is notably more durable when exposed to water than other hardwood flooring options. Bamboo doesn’t absorb moisture and expand quite like other hardwood flooring does. A bamboo floor can resist water for about 30 hours. If you clean up spills as soon as they happen, you shouldn’t have to worry about damaging your bamboo floors. When cleaning your floors with water, be sure to dry the surface when you are done.

Kitchens are one of the messiest rooms in any home. Fortunately, bamboo can stand up against dirt and spills because bamboo is easy to clean. When removing crumbs and dirt, use a vacuum cleaner that doesn’t have a beater bar (this bar can scratch bamboo). If you spilled any liquids, a mop can get the job done. Just be sure any cleaning product you are using is pH neutral. A pH neutral product will protect the finish of your bamboo flooring, while more acidic cleaners will eat away at the surface and leave unsightly spots.

Now that you better understand how to care for bamboo flooring, you’re ready to pick the perfect flooring for your kitchen. Bamboo is available in solid, engineered, or strand woven options. You can also pick from countless colors and tones. To see your options for yourself, shop with Flooring.org! For more information about our bamboo flooring, call us at 1-800-689-9006 today!

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If you have or want to use underfloor heating with a hardwood floor you must use engineered wood.  Underfloor heating can be a great way heat a room.  You will get lovely warm flooring, which radiates up through the whole room, and you don’t need to use additional radiators or heaters. Read More

Today we want to talk about what makes our industry-exclusive Lifetime Installation Warranty so valuable to our customers. Each day we receive calls into our call center asking about wrinkled carpet that another company installed three years ago. The customer will ask if we can either fix or stretch the problem since their original warranty was up. 

Unfortunately for that customer,  we don’t know the quality of the goods that were installed. Along with their previous installation, we don’t know the tactics that their installers have used.  In most cases, we are unable to help that customer. However, we can send out someone that can help prevent that headache from ever happening again.

Warranties from other flooring companies come in all shapes and sizes. Many will give you a 30-day or 90-day warranty on the labor of their installation. The big-box stores like the orange and blue ones you see on TV each day will offer a 1-Year Warranty on the labor and installation.  What that means for the customer is if the installer didn’t stretch the carpet properly or created a sloppy seam, it’s covered for a year. What they won’t cover is your product after it’s been installed for a year. 

Here’s Why The 1-Year Installation Warranty is a Problem

After 1-year you could see wrinkles, bumps or waves in your carpet. Typically this is caused by one or two things, number one: the installer didn’t use a power stretcher and did not stretch the carpet tight enough. Without supervision or direction, most installers won’t use a power stretcher to do a whole house. Power stretching can tack on three to five hours on a job. The equipment is heavy and hard to drag around an entire house. When not using the proper equipment, installers can get away with subpar work that won’t show it’s flawed until a couple of years after installation.

Another reason carpet will wrinkle, or come apart is due to humidity. Inside your house during summertime, you’ll notice your doors start to stick. This is typically from moisture inside your home. When there is more humidity the elements inside your house will absorb more of that moisture and begin to expand. Your carpet and flooring will do the exact same thing. When expansion happens your carpet will tighten up and then when the wintertime hits you can notice your seams loosen up. This fluctuation of humidity and moisture can cause havoc on your flooring products and is why most flooring companies only offer 30-day, 90-day or 1-year warranties. It will save the big box store time, money, and grief. Unless their installer did a horrible job to begin with.

Once you face these issues, you might have to pay repair costs of up to $1,200 depending on the room. Remember that once you find these buckles and waves a technician will have to come out there. Move your furniture, lug in the big ole power stretched, and then tighten up the carpet. 

The time on the job for those installers to come back and fix their past mistakes could take hours depending on the room they are fixing. 

Save the Headache and Go with a Lifetime Warranty

At The Carpet Guys, we give you a Lifetime Installation Warranty. We are the only company that honors this down the road as opposed to other box store warranties that cover you for a limited time installation warranty. We are the only flooring company that gives our customers peace of mind with a Lifetime Installation Warranty. 

Do I Pay More for This Warranty?

The answer is no. Usually, when you buy a product at a store like a washing machine or laptop, you’ll pay 20% of the cost of the item to put a warranty one it. So if the laptop was $2,000, you’ll pay $400 to cover it for a limited time.

There’s No Extra Cost

What’s great about The Carpet Guys is you don’t pay a dime extra for any extended warranty. You have total peace of mind with a Lifetime Warranty for as long as you own that home. Another perk of our warranty is that we cover everything 100% after one year and if there is a problem, wrinkle, seam split anything after one year. The most you’ll ever have to pay for a Carpet Guys repair is a $80 co-pay. If you sell your house in the first year of your warranty, your lifetime warranty can transfer to the new owners of the home. This added perk can give you the edge in the competitive real estate marketplace. 

So don’t go with limited warranties by the big box stores. Go with a local company that gives you a Lifetime Warranty that covers you from A to Z for as long as you own your home. That’s the ultimate peace of mind and that’s the Carpet Guys way. Be Wise Call the Carpet Guys at 855-4-My-Guys or online at Carpetguys.com

See why over 100,000 Michigan residents have chosen to do business with Michigan’s number 1 flooring dealer, The Carpet Guys.

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