Flooring for Conservatories

A conservatory is usually used as a place to relax and unwind so you will want luxury flooring that can withstand the demanding conditions.  Conservatories have a large number of windows and roof glazing so the temperatures inside can vary greatly.  In the summer months the humidity and temperatures can rise significantly.  Whereas, in the wintertime the room can become very cold with a low humidity.  You will need a floor that can cope with these extreme changing conditions. Read More

Hardwood, with its warm organic colors and natural feel, is popular with homeowners for a reason. It is the most sought after flooring material and instantly raises the value of any property it is attached to. However, hardwood’s singular flaw is its propensity for displaying damage in the form of scratches and scrapes. Avoiding this issue is difficult to impossible, particularly for homeowners with kids and pets.

However, there is good news. In the vast majority of cases, hardwood damage can be treated and repaired with a little bit of handiwork, extending the life of your floor significantly. The secret to this technique is surprising and, to be perfectly honest, a little nutty.

Walnuts, to be precise. Indeed, the snack nut available at your local grocer can be used to fill in scratches and restore damaged hardwood to its original pristine state. Let’s take a look at the steps necessary to pull of this miracle:

• Get a walnut. It must be raw and not treated (candied, spiced, etc) in any way. Any regular ol’ walnut will do.
• Clean the affected area of flooring and then rub the walnut over the damaged area. You will have the greatest effect if you rub in the same direction as the wood grain.
• Brush over the area lightly, your fingers will do just fine.
• Let the area sit for five minutes. This allows the walnut’s natural oils to soak into the wood and fill out the scratch.
• Finish the job by buffing the area with a soft cloth, building up a nice shine.

If you follow these simple steps, you should be able to remove even the most stubborn of scratches and restore your floor to its original beauty. If you are interested in learning more tips and tricks to care for your floor, or you have any additional questions about flooring in general, we invite you to contact us at 800-689-9006 or email us at [email protected]. Nobody knows floors like us!

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

Joe Zago, founder and President of The Carpet Guys has written an in-depth look at hardwood vs wood-look flooring options. This blog will answer many of the pro/con questions you may have about which type of flooring would be best for your home.

Different Types of Hardwood Flooring

There are two types of hardwood flooring, solid and engineered. Engineered floorings core is made of multiple thin layers of wood that are stacked on top of one another in a crisscrossed grain direction to help it gain more directional stability and resistance to expansion and contraction due to changes in humidity. These thin layers of wood are compressed together like the construction of plywood and then topped with a stained and protected top layer to showcase its remarkable beauty. Engineered wood, due to its very stable construction allows wider planks to be installed in Michigan and other variable climate states with far less chance of warping, cupping, or gapping than traditional ¾ inch thick solid hardwood.

Solid hardwood floors are constructed of one single piece of lumber all the way through. Although this is the most natural type of hardwood floor, it is the least stable and it is not recommended to install a natural ¾ inch thick hardwood floor with planks wider than 3.5 inches due to expansion and contraction with seasonal humidity changes which will most likely result in large gaps between the planks in the dryer winter months and often cupping, peaking, and swelling of the planks as they mash into each other as the boards expand during the summer months. Solid hardwood can be sanded down, stained, and refinished 2-4 times before needing to be removed and replaced whereas engineered hardwood can only be screened and refinished 1-2 times due to the thinner top layer. Natural hardwood, however, is much softer in most cases and easier to scratch or dent due to its natural properties whereas engineered hardwood is much tougher to dent and scratch due to its high density and high compression construction and can have much harder coatings baked on at high temperatures as opposed to natural hardwood having a liquid finish brushed on and then air-dried.

Laminate Flooring as an Alternative to Hardwood

Being that both options of flooring are very beautiful, natural hardwood floors, as well as engineered hardwood floors, are both very popular choices for Michigan homeowners. However, both options are prone to scrapes and scratching damage since wood is still soft and can be scratched by heavy foot traffic, pets, sliding chairs, and furniture being moved across it when cleaning. For this reason, laminate flooring was invented a few decades ago to solve the problem of fading and easy scratching. When laminate flooring was first brought into the market, it was a huge hit. Laminate flooring was literally flying off the shelves of just about every home improvement box store retailer however consumers soon found out that laminate flooring didn’t look or feel like real hardwood floors once they were installed. They often would be noted as making a hollow ticking sound when you walked across them. Laminate flooring was also extremely vulnerable to water damage from something as minute as a dog dish spilling or a glass of water falling on the floor.

Because of these vulnerabilities and characteristics, laminate flooring quickly became a trend that soon faded away to non-existence however the problems with natural hardwood flooring remained.

Laminate Made Better

Over the last 20 years, Mohawk Industries, Shaw Flooring, and many other well-known manufacturers have invested millions of dollars into the recreation and advancement of laminate flooring to finally come up with a solution to the expensive inefficiencies of natural hardwood and engineered flooring as well as overcome the problems with laminate flooring from the past. After many years of trial and error, millions upon millions of dollars spent on expensive research, development, and testing, laminate flooring is now the hottest selling hard surface flooring on the market and for very good reason. High-quality laminate flooring is now able to be made in 12MM thick planks which can withstand extremely heavy amounts of foot traffic and still maintain extreme durability. Laminate flooring is more than 10 times harder to scratch than natural hardwood floors since they can have an aluminum oxide coating baked on at temperatures that would be impossible for natural hardwood to withstand during the manufacturing process. Laminate woods are much more realistic looking than ever before, yet they remain for the most part, almost completely stain-proof and extremely scratch-resistant. New laminate flooring is also completely fade-proof in areas where natural sunlight through a glass door wall would often discolor and darken almost any natural hardwood floor in just a few short years thus causing a need to be sanded and refinished at a very high cost to the homeowner.

One of the greatest advancements to laminated flooring was the introduction and now perfection of waterproof laminate floors. Mohawk Industry mills a very special type of lumber from Loblolly Pine which is from the southeastern United States. The Loblolly Pine Tree grows in mostly lowlands and swampy areas and is great for laminate flooring due to the genes of the lumber which are very resistant to moisture absorption. Additionally, these new laminate planks are coated on all four sides with a waterproof wax bead within the locking joint which keeps surface water from penetrating between the planks and into the core of the board. For a demonstration video of Mohawk’s revolutionary waterproof laminate flooring follow this link:

Since Mohawk created its waterproof wood laminate flooring, many other manufacturers have also created other versions of high-quality waterproof laminate flooring options to refloor your home with. The Carpet Guys have several high-quality laminate flooring options to choose from. With these great advances in flooring technology, you can now refloor your living space with confidence knowing you can put down a beautiful natural wood looking floor without the worries of the past. The Carpet Guys have been rated for 9 consecutive years as the best place to buy flooring in Michigan by the reader’s choice awards.

Why Should You Consider Laminate Flooring

Thank you Joe Zago for contributing this great article on hardwood and wood-look options to refloor your home with. If you’re interested in any of the amazing flooring types that Joe recommended, please Be Wise, Call The Carpet Guys at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or fill out our Free In-Home Estimate form.

The post Hardwood vs. Wood-Look Flooring Options appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

When it comes to day to day living, you’ve probably learned just how well gravity works. Between the kids’ juice box remnants all over the family room, and the red wine stains from your last party, your flooring is a checkerboard showcasing your lifestyle.

If it’s time to install new flooring, and you’re shopping for a carpet that will last, chances are you’ve come across manufacturers that promise stain resistant carpeting. In some cases, they even have names like Stainmaster attached to their product line. Stain-proof carpeting; it’s just what you need.

But do the claims really live up to the hype?

Let’s start with carpet durability

Before we even begin to discuss stain resistant carpet, it’s important to understand durability first.

When you’re looking for a carpet that can keep up with your lifestyle, pay close attention to what the carpet is made of. It’s stain resistant qualities are most influenced by the materials used to make it.

That includes the fibers, the backing, and the padding. Many people focus on the fibers only, then select the cheapest padding they can find. The two are created to work together. The padding actually adds the structural support to ensure your carpet has a long life. When you skimp in one area, the wearability will be impacted.

What matters in carpet fibers? A variety of things. Don’t just look at the color and pattern to make your final selection. Most manufacturers will give you several comparable factors to look at as you’re making your final selection.

• Face weight – the weight per square yard of carpet
• Total weight – face weight plus the weight of the backing
• Density rating – this looks at the height of the fiber strand and factors that into how durable the carpet is
• Wear rating – this is a subjective rating, often created by the manufacturer. While you can use it for evaluation, it’s more difficult to compare over many brands.
• Twist level – this is the number of twists in a one-inch strand. In most cases, higher twists mean a tighter weave, adding to the durability.

All of this can help point you in the direction of carpet that will be a good addition to your home. But there’s also something more that can assure you don’t have unsightly stains from the moment of your first spill.

What is stain resistant carpet?

Now that you know a little bit more about durability, it’s time to understand how this all fits together to create a stain resistant carpet. Stain resistance starts with all of the attributes we mentioned above. It also depends on what the fiber is made of. (We’ll get more into that in a minute.)

Many years ago, people began experimenting with all kinds of materials. Of course, they started with natural products like cotton and wool. But as they learned how to create things in a lab, they quickly discovered that some things are more durable than others.

When you make carpet out of synthetic materials like nylon, it creates a smooth texture, stands up better to water and stains, and isn’t damaged as easily by common problems such as mildew or even pests. That made nylon zoom to the top of carpet manufacturers’ wish lists, and they quickly made it their go-to product for making carpeting.

With an added step, they give carpets a chemical coating that makes the fibers stand up better to certain types of spills. It makes it more difficult for dirt and debris to embed in the fibers. It makes liquid spills sit on the top longer, creating a quick cleanup that’s barely noticeable, if at all.

Of course, this has been morphing over time. Today’s stain resistant carpets are a lot better than what was on the market a decade or two ago.

That means you’ll find a variety of manufacturers, each putting their spin on things. You can find new names promising you a variety of different benefits for your home.

Where Stainmaster fits into everything

Within every industry, there’s usually a leader. A brand that becomes synonymous within the industry itself.

Kleenex did that with tissues.

And Stainmaster did that with stain resistant carpet.

Stainmaster is one of the most recognizable brands of carpet. It also has one of the best warranties within the industry.

Keep in mind that not all dealers can offer Stainmaster carpet. If you’re specifically looking for that brand, find someone who sells the product line.

Stainmaster uses one of the highest quality materials for its carpeting, Nylon 6.6. It’s reinforced with Teflon – yes, that’s the same material you’ll find on your pans, the product that helps repel grease and grime. Because Stainmaster uses this same technology, the carpet fibers avoid most of your daily living messes. It makes maintenance easier, and keeps your carpets cleaner, longer.

Are there other choices?

Like all things, Stainmaster isn’t the only choice you can make and still have stain resistant carpet. For many homeowners, they don’t want to focus just on nylon.

While nylon is one of the most popular materials for carpets, manufacturers realize that different homeowners want different things.

For some, nylon is a lab-made product. It’s made from synthetic materials. If you’re looking for products to make your home a little more eco-friendly, nylon simply won’t do.

Luckily, there are wool carpets for these homeowners. Wool doesn’t have the stain resistant coating sprayed onto the fibers. Instead, wool has a natural resistance to certain types of stains. Wool does a great job of protecting the fibers from many kinds of spills, including certain oils. If your kids spill their juice boxes, you’ll be able to soak it up. And if someone drops their hotdog, and ketchup splatters across the fibers, you’ll be able to remove that too.

But there is a catch; wool is more expensive than synthetic-based carpet. Keep in mind, every carpet has its own limitations. You know your family and lifestyle best. If you bring us what your daily actions are and what your flooring usually faces, we can help you finalize what product would hold up best.

Are you ready for stain resistant carpet? 

Like every flooring choice out there, if you want to install stain resistant carpet, there are many different products available.

Start by bringing in your wishlist. We can match them to brands and manufacturers, and help you make the right choice for your home.

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

The Installation

This is Step 8 – The Installation, in our blog series of 10 Easy Steps to New Flooring.  Be sure to check out the other detailed steps in this series (below).  We want to guide you through the process!  With The Carpet Guys, there’s no reason to hesitate with a new flooring purchase.  It’s easy and affordable.  Here’s how we make the installation better…

The People Who Install Our Flooring

When Joe Zago started The Carpet Guys 10 years ago, one of his very first installers was Brett L.  Brett’s crew, which included his son, was well-liked!  They were friendly, prompt, professional, knowledgeable (I know this because I asked a lot of questions) and made tear out and install look so easy.  Fast forward to today, Brett is still working for The Carpet Guys and his son has his own installation crew.  A company doesn’t retain that type of loyalty if it isn’t a good company to work with.  We hire the best crews in the business and make sure they want to stay.  That’s one reason we can give a Lifetime Installation Warranty.

Hardwood, Luxury Vinyl or Laminate Installation

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Once the floor is prepped, the installer decides if it is a floating, nailed or glue-down installation. Some floating installations require an “underlayment”.  Underlayment acts as a “padding” to the hard surface material.  It provides a moisture barrier, it reduces noise and helps even out slight subfloor imperfections. Some products have their own underlayment built into the product.  A floating installation is where the flooring product is not glued or nailed down.

No underlayment is used in the nailed or glued install methods.

Remember, flooring installation is a major home renovation.  Typical and power tools are used.  This includes a small table saw for trimming boards and possibly a nail gun with a small compressor.  This is not a place for small children or pets.  For their safety, keep them away from the area being installed.

Don’t be surprised when the installer does not line your
hard surface flooring flush with the wall. 
All flooring expands and contracts with temperature and moisture
changes.  There will be an expansion
gap along all solid obstructions (like walls or cabinets) to allow for this
expansion.  Your moldings or quarter
round will hide this gap (see transitions).

Sheet Vinyl or Carpet Installation

For carpet, the installer will check to make sure your previous tack strip is in good condition, or they will lay down new tack strips.  A reminder that tack strip is a narrow piece of wood with tacks pointing upwards.  Again, this is not a place for bare feet, small children or pets.  Please keep them away from the installation area for safety!

Next, they will bring in your product.  It comes in large rolls that may span your entire room.  This is one reason that we recommend “Flooring Before Painting”.  The backing on a roll product is very stiff.  In order to minimize seams and make stretching the flooring better, they use the largest piece they can for your space.  Rolls are approximately 12 feet wide, so they can install them in a space that is 11’7” or less (they need extra flooring for stretching).  If a seam is necessary, the installer will place it in a very low traffic area or under your furniture.  They use a seam-iron to glue the seam together with special glue tape.

Why is Power Stretching So Important?

When it’s time to stretch, we are one of the only companies that use power stretching.  A power stretcher doesn’t use electricity.  It uses leverage to stretch the carpet and alleviate the chance of wrinkles.  Carpet will expand and stretch with traffic and usage.  This causes wrinkles.  When stretched properly carpet wrinkles are less likely to develop down the road.  Another reason we can provide a Lifetime Installation Warranty.  Then they will trim any excess flooring and tuck it under the drywall.

It’s a very similar installation for sheet vinyl, though they do not need to stretch it.  Also, glue is used instead of the tack strip.  First, glue is applied to the floor. Then, the sheet vinyl is placed.

Transition Pieces for Flooring Installation

Finally, the installer places your moldings and transition pieces, as needed.  The transitions used depend on what type of flooring you have.  If you want more information on these transitions, check out our buying guides, like our Laminate Buying Guide.

This is the installation process.  Hopefully, by breaking it down, our customers will feel confident in what’s going to happen with their flooring installation.  If you are not currently our customer and you are now feeling like you want to be, Be Wise, Call The Carpet Guys at 855-4-MY-GUYS (855-469-4897) or fill out our Free In-Home Estimate form.  We are happy to help with any of these steps that you are ready to take!

Check out these other easy steps to new flooring:

1. Free Design Consultant
2. Measuring Your Space
3. Making Your Installation Appointment
4. The Installer Calls
5. Installation Preparation
6. Moving Your Furniture
7. Rip Up and Haul Away Old Flooring

The post Step 8 What to Expect from The Carpet Guys appeared first on The Carpet Guys.

At Discount Flooring Depot, we are proud to offer our customers a wide variety of luxury vinyl floor tiles and laminate flooring options to suit every property and application. With so much choice available, it can be hard to determine which flooring may be best for you. So, we have put together a handy guide to highlight the respective differences and benefits of the two flooring types. All you need to do is sit back, relax and read through all of our advice on tile effect laminate flooring and luxury vinyl floor tiles.

What is Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring?

An innovation in the flooring industry, luxury vinyl tiles are perfect for use within the home with their stylish and sleek appearance. It is an easy to clean flooring that many prefer for use within the kitchen and bathroom, although, where you lay it is really up to you. Different to standard vinyl, luxury vinyl arrives in individual pieces known as ‘planks’, whereas standard vinyl comes in a sheet that is cut and measured to fit your required room. Worried about installation? Although vinyl tiles may seem more complicated to install, we have a range of vinyl click flooring that is easy to fit. With a simple click, tiles are locked in place together.

Both standard and luxury vinyl are composed of four layers. From bottom to top, they are the backing layer, design layer, clear layer and finally, the protective wear layer. The difference between the two, in this instance, is that luxury vinyl floor tiles have much thicker layers that make it a more durable and hard-wearing flooring option.

Many choose luxury vinyl tile flooring as it is an easy-to-install, durable flooring option that offers both style and practicality for every home. Available in a variety of styles, including imitation stone, tile and wood effect, there is luxury vinyl to suit every home and decor.

What is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring has been much-loved by
property owners for many years, and it’s not hard to see why with its sleek
appearance and many other attractive qualities. Similar to vinyl, laminate
flooring is made up of different layers that ensure it is a durable and
hard-wearing floor that will stand the test of time.

Perfect for use within living
rooms with a lot of furniture on the ground, laminate flooring is
scratch-resistant. Also, making it a good choice for children’s playrooms,
where bulky plastic is endlessly scraped across the floor.

A much cheaper substitute for real wood flooring, laminate is a sleek option that suits any area of the home. Easy to install with a simple ‘click’ system, it is not hard to see why it is such a popular choice for many home ‘DIYers’.

If you’re tired of endlessly
cleaning your floors, laminate flooring is an easy-clean surface, which makes
it ideal for use within the kitchen. Say goodbye to spaghetti stains and muddy
footprints, with a simple wipe clean, laminate flooring looks sparkling, once
again.

Plus, laminate is available in a wide variety of styles and colours, including the popular tile effect. Whether you’re looking for a refresh to your living room or bedroom, laminate flooring will transform any space.

Prices

When investing in new flooring
for your property, the cost is often a big deciding factor in your choice.
Whilst it is important to consider all of the advantages and disadvantages on
which material may be best for you, taking into account style and practicality.
We understand that cost can certainly serve as the deciding factor.

For laminate flooring, it is a much cheaper alternative to solid wood, whilst still providing the same style and effect for your home. At Discount Flooring Depot, we offer stylish laminate flooring at low prices per square meter. In comparison to laminate, luxury vinyl tiles are available at a slightly higher price, but they are still a relatively cost-effective flooring option. Although it is more expensive than standard vinyl, this reflects the differences between the two and the higher quality of the product that luxury vinyl floor tiles provide.

Keeping Warm

Warmer than standard vinyl due
to the thicker construction, luxury vinyl tiles will be somewhat warmer
underfoot. Whilst it is not an insulating material, the warmth it provides can
be improved with a padded underlayment, but it should be noted that this would
increase the overall cost of the flooring.

Like vinyl, laminate is a
neutral material in terms of transmitting heat. With proper underlay, laminate
can be warmer on the feet, but otherwise, it is not best-known for any
heat-retaining qualities.

Waterproof

If a waterproof flooring is
important to you, then our advice on luxury vinyl and laminate may help in your
decision between the two.

Luxury vinyl tiles are fully
waterproof, making them a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms. Whereas,
laminate flooring is only water-resistant.

For this reason, we do advise that laminate flooring is not used within the bathroom, however, it is suitable for kitchens where spillages may be light.

Durability and Life

Flooring is an investment, and
you will want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your money. As
reflected in the price differences, luxury vinyl tiles are a more durable
flooring choice built to last up to 20 years. This is assuming that proper care
is taken with the flooring.

Similarly, laminate is still a
highly durable flooring, although it does have a slightly shorter life span of
15 years.

Both are built to withstand the frequent foot traffic in the home and in some cases commercial properties. No matter which you opt for, we do advise that good care is taken to ensure that you get the most benefit and life out of your new flooring.

Making a Decision

After reading through our
comprehensive guide to luxury vinyl floor tiles and laminate flooring, we hope
we have given you all the important information you need to make your decision!
Both flooring options offer style, practically and are low-cost, so you are
sure to be happy with either choice you make.

Whichever flooring you choose,
explore our full luxury vinyl and laminate flooring collections today and be
inspired by the many styles, shades and colours available.

This post appeared first on https://www.discountflooringdepot.co.uk

Yes, grey floors are still in fashion.  They are one of the most popular colour choices of flooring that we offer.  The increase in popularity of grey floors has brought about a much wider range of colours and types of flooring to choose from.  Any tone or shade of grey can instantly offer a clean and fresh appearance. Read More

When people visit our showroom for the first time, in many cases, they have a product already in mind. They also have preconceived ideas about certain products, and how they will act once installed.

Let’s talk about cork floors for a minute. The idea of cork is one that many people would consider. Yet it’s also one where there’s a lot of confusion built in. Cork reminds them of the wine bottle stopper or a bulletin board they had in their dorm rooms. And that type of cork was anything but stable. If flaked away, cracked, and broke apart easily. Why would you ever want that in your home?

Yet when we show homeowners today’s cork flooring, they often give it another look.

If you love hardwood, you’ll love cork.

If you want a durable flooring, cork floors might be your answer.

There are so many reasons why new cork floors might be right for your home, it’s worth a second look.

Why install a cork floor?

Remember when carpet was the standard flooring of choice throughout a home? Not anymore.

We love carpet – we sell a lot of it. But here in Colorado, carpet stays popular in the bedrooms, possibly the home office, a family room, or in the basement. The main living space? Not so much.

That’s where we love our hardwood.

And there’s a good reason for that. Hardwood looks great. But hardwood has its own share of problems. And in some cases, cork flooring can be the answer.

Before you decide on your flooring, ask what you want in a floor. For many people, they define their flooring needs like this:

We want a floor that’s durable – especially if you have kids and pets, or entertain on a regular basis, durability might be at the top of your list.

We want a floor that’s pet-proof – if you do have dogs or cats, your floors take extra abuse. They run on it, dig their nails in for traction. They eat off the floor, and have an occasional accident.

We want a floor that looks great – that’s the reason you upgrade and install new flooring in the first place. Why install something if you hate the look?

We want a floor that offers resale value – if you move shortly after you install new flooring, you want to ensure buyers don’t turn around as soon as they enter your home because of ugly flooring. Will it grab attention and hold it? Will it add value to your home?

Is that how you would define your flooring shopping experience? A lot of homeowners do. Yet many remained married to hardwood. Until they dig a little deeper into their needs and desires.

Take a look at your current home environment. If you’ve never had hardwood before, is your home adaptable to installing hardwood? It’s not always as easy as it sounds. If your subfloor isn’t in the right condition, it might be an expensive endeavor to install hardwood.

Which makes some homeowners look for other options. And once again, cork floors can easily come out on top.

What cork flooring is

Cork flooring isn’t hardwood, and yet it is from a tree. Cork is taken from the cork oak tree. It’s sustainably harvested about every ten years, and then grows back again over time. It does not harm the tree, meaning it can produce cork again and again over its lifetime.

You’ll find cork flooring in a variety of choices. Whether you want a DIY project, or want it professionally installed, there’s a cork flooring style you’re going to love.

Floating cork floors are the newest in the marketplace. They simply click together and install easily. If you want something more traditional and more permanent by nature, you can glue the tiles into place. If you glue them down, you will have to ensure a proper subfloor is in place. But this is fairly easy to accomplish.

Cork is an antimicrobial product, meaning it’s a great choice for a healthier home. It’s also a great insulator, it can cut down on the noise that echoes throughout your home. Want a softer surface than hardwood provides? You’ll love your cork floors.

But one of the biggest reasons people love their new cork floors is because of how easy they are to clean.

Cleaning and maintaining your new cork floor

Just like hardwood flooring, with your new cork floors, spills can be your enemy. The faster you wipe it up, the less chance it will create a problem.

Keep dust, dirt, and other debris off your flooring by sweeping regularly. If these particles sit on the surface, you can grind them in, scratching the surface of the cork. Regular cleaning will keep these particles at bay, and be less of a threat to your flooring overall.

While you can use a vacuum, be sure it is set for hardwood floors. Most vacuums have a beater bar, which is perfect for carpet, not so good for wood. If you run a beater bar across your floors, it can scratch and wear through the finish.

At least once per week, run a damp mop over your cork floors to pick up and residue from spills and messes. Repeat based on your family’s needs and lifestyle. Make sure the mop is damp; wring it out, and wring it out again. The surface should never be allowed to sit damp or wet for long periods.

Be careful what cleaners you choose to use on the surface. Most commercial floor cleaners are too harsh for your cork floor surface. They can quickly penetrate through the surface and damage your flooring. Talk with one of our flooring representatives, or look at your manufacturer’s guidance to find a good product.

Vinegar and water isn’t a good daily solution, contrary to what you might find online. While it is a natural cleaner, if you keep the mixture too strong, it can be abrasive to the finish of the floor. Mix the two at a ratio of 10 to 1, if you are going to use it, and rinse several times to ensure there is no residue.

Thinking about installing new cork floors?

Stop by today and see our complete line of cork flooring. We’ll help you find the perfect product for your home.

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

When designing a new space, or renovating an old one, floors are rarely the first thing to come to mind. However, flooring is the one aspect of a space that you interact with on a constant basis every time you walk through the room and genuinely play a larger role than you think.

Deciding on what type of material to use for your flooring is a key aspect of designing a room, but there are a variety of options available. Two of the most popular choices are laminate flooring, a kind of interlocking paneling, and engineered hardwood, which consists primarily of actual wood. Determining which of these options best suits your needs requires some basic understanding of each, so let’s examine them further.

Laminate flooring consists of multiple layers of material that form planks. The bottom layer, also known as a backing layer, protects the subfloor and panel from wear and tear. Sitting atop that, the base layer provides structural support and is the thickest element of the plank. Above that lies the print and wear layers, which provide design appeal and surface protection respectively. These individual planks can be fastened together to create tight well-sealed flooring that rests on top of the underlying floor, creating a “floating floor”‘.

Engineered hardwood flooring is the successor to traditional hardwood, combining a variety of synthetic elements with real natural wood to give the best of both worlds. This flooring element rests atop a layer of solid hardwood, sandwiching plywood planks beneath a top layer of fine hardwood. That top layer is chosen for its beauty and appearance and is sealed with a protective layer of acrylic to keep it looking good for a long time.

To decide which flooring is best for you, its important to determine what your specific needs are beforehand. Laminates and engineered floors can both vary in price from relatively cheap to rather expensive, however, engineered floors tend to have slightly higher prices. Durability between the two types is similar, although hardwood is more susceptible to deep surface scratches.

Water resistance and susceptibility to water damage is a key concern for wooden floor owners. Significant strides have been made in the design of these wooden panels to combat the effects of water damage, but they can still be affected. Laminate floors are more resistant to water than their hardwood counterparts, but only on the surface. If water is able to seep into the sides or underneath, it can cause the tiles to swell and warp. Tiles damaged in this fashion must be replaced entirely, so laminate flooring is best avoided in rooms exposed to regular moist conditions, such as bathrooms. Engineered hardwood is slightly more susceptible to water damage on the surface, but its construction prevents it from warping in humidity and gives it a significant advantage over laminate in high-moisture areas.

No matter which type of flooring you are leaning towards, you can rest assured knowing that both options are at the height of modern technology and are far superior to traditional wooden floors of the past. If you have any questions about flooring options, we invite you to give us a call at 800-689-9006 or email us at [email protected]. We know floor like no one else and we’re happy to lend you a hand!

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Selling your house can be both exciting and stressful, especially if it’s your first time. Regardless of why you decided to sell your home, there are a number of pitfalls you can easily fall into, making your home selling experience less than ideal. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of the most common home selling mistakes people make so you can sell your home knowing you have your bases covered.

Underestimating the cost of selling your house

While you should ultimately profit from the sale of your home, many home sellers forget about the costs associated with selling a house. For starters, you should expect to use five to six percent of the total sale price of your home to cover the commissions of both the seller and buyer agents. For example, if you sell your home for $300,000 you could wind up paying upwards of $18,000 in commission.

Furthermore, this hefty cost doesn’t include possible concessions homebuyers might want you to make during the negotiation phase, such as making repairs suggested by a home inspector.

Not budgeting for your move

When you consider the moving process, you have two options: hiring a moving company or borrow your buddy’s truck and doing it yourself.

By hiring a moving company, rather than doing it yourself, you’re getting someone who will pack, move, and then unpack your belongings. This means that a full-service mover can be well worth the investment when you’re preoccupied with all of the other tasks associated with selling your home. Not to mention, when you hire movers your belongings are insured so you’re covered if anything breaks.

Selling a house you owe more on than what it’s worth

If you still have a remaining balance on your mortgage, you’ll most likely use a portion of the sale proceeds of your home to pay off the existing mortgage. Make sure you don’t owe more on your mortgage than what your house is actually worth or you won’t make enough money on the sale to pay off your mortgage. The best option is almost always to wait on selling your home so that it can build more equity. This way you can sell your home and buy a new one without having two mortgages at the same time.

Pricing your home incorrectly

If you price your home too high, your home may fall into seller’s limbo, sitting on the market for what feels like an eternity. On the other hand, if you price too low then you will likely sell your home quickly but you risk missing out on a significant amount of money.

The first step to understanding how much your home is worth is utilizing an online calculator. Afterward, meet with your real estate agent to discuss a good pricing strategy for your home. They will look at other comparable properties in your neighborhood that sold recently as well as bring keen insights into what the housing market is currently doing. Together, you’ll determine a good starting price as well as a pricing strategy that will incentivize buyers if your house begins to sit on the market for too long.

Skipping a pre-listing home inspection before selling your house

Selling a house is stressful enough, even when everything goes right. But if a homebuyer hires an inspector who catches an issue like mold, pests, or a cracked foundation, then your stress levels will multiply as you risk losing a potential sale entirely.

Given the affordability of home inspections, there’s not much reason to avoid them. Getting a pre-listing home inspection will put your mind at ease as you’ll either know that your home is in sound condition or you’ll be able to tackle problems before homebuyers have the chance to bring them up during the negotiation phase. If an issue does arise, you can either fix it or you can let buyers know and then make a concession during the negotiation phase by reducing the price of your home accordingly.

Not refinishing hardwood floors or cleaning your carpet

If you’re reading this at home, look down. How do your floors look? Even if they don’t look terrible, there’s a pretty good chance they’re starting to show their age. Since potential buyers are going to be inspecting every aspect of your home, you should start thinking of refinishing your hardwood floors and cleaning your carpet.

Whether you’re selling in Atlanta or Portland, the best time to have your carpet cleaned or hardwood floors refinished is right before you stage your home. Since you’ll already be moving most (or all) of your furniture to either a new home or a storage unit, this is a great time to get your floors done (like the floors above) and make them a selling point to potential homebuyers.

Not staging your home for a quick sale

The main point of staging your home is to allow potential homebuyers the chance to picture themselves living in your space. They get to see a home with furniture and art that’s arranged in a way that highlights key features of your home, rather than an empty house that echoes every sound. Staging your home pays off too as 21 percent of agents told the National Association of Realtors that staging a home increased its’ sale price by as much as 10 percent, making it a worthwhile investment.

Forgoing professional real estate photos

With the advent of cameras on smartphones, everyone likes to think of themselves as a photographer these days. Even though that picture you took of your dinner last week looked like it could be featured in advertisements, you’re still probably not ready to take your own real estate photos. A real estate photographer will make sure that your home looks great when you list it because not only do they have the equipment, they understand the angles that best sell a home.

If you have a large home, a stunning view you want to show off, or a large amount of land, you may also want to consider having aerial photos taken of your home. The views that drones are able to capture are impressive and can help show off your home in a way that will make sure it stands out from other houses in your area that are on the market. Even better, drone technology makes this option more affordable than ever before, allowing you to get a lot more bang for your buck.

Trying to sell a poorly lit home

You want to show your home in the best light, so take the time to really gauge the quality of your lighting by closing your curtains/blinds and looking at each room as though you’re a potential homebuyer. Make a note of any rooms that are poorly lit or just seem dark and then call an electrician so that you can have some additional lighting installed.

Even worse than a poorly lit room, however, is when the lights don’t work at all. Sometimes the light bulb is just burnt out, while other times the socket itself is in need of repair. Consider calling an electrician before you begin showing your home to make sure it’s shining its brightest like the one above. Potential buyers (and your bank account) will thank you for the investment.

Not making your home energy efficient

If you’d like to spend less on your utility bills, you aren’t alone. A study by the National Association of Realtors found that 33 percent of homebuyers see high-efficiency HVAC systems as an important factor when looking at a new home. If you have an older home, you should look into either retrofitting or replacing your HVAC unit altogether as your current system might be using a lot more energy than it needs to be. This will ensure that you have a system that is meeting your home’s needs, while also lowering your utility bill.

If you’re committed to energy-efficiency then there are a few extra things you can do. These options include making sure your home is properly insulated, ensuring that you don’t have any leaky air ducts, and buying a smart thermostat. Whichever route you pursue, having an energy-efficient HVAC system will make your house stand out from the competition.

Not cleaning your house before trying to sell it

Most of us would probably be lying if we said our homes weren’t overdue for a good cleaning, so don’t forget to check this box before listing your home for sale. There’s nothing more off-putting during a home tour than realizing the house is dirty, and potential homebuyers may wonder what else you’ve been neglecting. By hiring a professional cleaning company, you’ll guarantee that not only is your home spotless but that you’re going to make a great impression on homebuyers when they tour your house.

Not addressing the exterior of your house

Over the years, your home’s exterior has taken a beating from the elements. With everything mother nature throws at it every year, the paint on your home’s exterior and the stain on your deck have likely lost a bit of their luster. So before listing, be sure to pressure wash your house first. In addition to making sure your house looks its best in the listing photos, you will also enhance the overall curb appeal when buyers eventually show up for a tour.

In addition to pressure washing your house and deck, you can also take the time to pressure wash your garage door, fence, patio, driveway, and any walkways you may have.

You never got around to repainting

One of the first things a potential buyer will notice when they pull up to your home is the paint. If you want to make a good first impression, then you’ll need to ensure that your home is painted an inviting color and that the quality of your paint job is top-notch. While the job of repainting your house might take a few days, the value of painting your house before selling will be well worth the effort.  A recent study found that painting the exterior of your home has a 51 percent return on investment.

Don’t stop with the exterior though! We’ve all seen some pretty questionable color choices on the walls of homes. If you happen to have a lime green or bright purple wall, you’ll want to repaint them to be a more buyer-friendly neutral color. Doing so will make it easier for buyers to be able to picture themselves living in your home as it makes them think of your walls as a blank canvas.

Selling a home with a yard in need of some TLC

The other way to make a great first impression is by wowing potential buyers with your yard. Start by cleaning up anything that may be cluttering your yard, porch, or pathways (things like gardening equipment or a child’s bicycle). Then you can move onto mowing the lawn, weeding your garden, and planting some new flowers. If your yard has a damaged pathway, you may also want to think about fixing or even replacing it as well.

If these touch-ups seem like a lot to tackle while you’re trying to sell your home, don’t be afraid to hire a landscaper as the cost is well worth it. A study by Turf Magazine found that a home’s value tended to increase by as much as 10 to 12 percent after making upgrades to the landscaping.

You have mismatched appliances

Maybe your black stove died a couple of years ago and you replaced it with a brand new stainless steel one. Or maybe you swapped out that white kitchen faucet you always hated with a copper one that caught your eye. Either way, the result is mismatched appliances. While it won’t necessarily impact the overall sale price of your home, many homebuyers are going to find the mismatched color scheme off-putting, so consider making some changes before you sell – the kitchen below is great inspiration.

The best way to proceed is to decide which kitchen appliances are your favorite and base the color scheme off of them. So if that fancy new stove you bought last year is stainless steel, then make sure your other appliances are too. Luckily, many appliance manufacturers offer discounts if you purchase multiple appliances with them at once.

Lingering during a home tour

Nobody likes a lingerer, especially when they also happen to be the owner of the home you’re currently touring. If you don’t leave the home during a showing, then potential buyers feel awkward as they attempt to discuss what they like and dislike about the house. You also prevent your listing agent from being able to do their job to the best of their abilities as you’re naturally going to want to answer any questions the buyers have rather than leaving those questions to your agent. So instead of staying in your home during a showing, try taking the opportunity to go shopping, run errands, or visit some friends instead. Your agent will thank you.

Taking a Lowball Offer Personally

Regardless of your reasons for moving, the fact that you’ve probably lived in your home for years means that you have a lot of strong feelings attached to it. So when you receive a lowball offer, it’s natural to be offended.

Instead of walking away, send them back a counteroffer that you and your real estate agent think is fair. If they really are interested, then you’ll be glad you didn’t let your emotions get the better of you.

This article originally appeared on RedFin.

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