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How to Protect Your New Hardwood Floors

August 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The beauty of new hardwood floors simply can’t be beat. Their natural beauty and unique characteristics give a home a gorgeous look and lived-in feel. Hardwood floors are a fabulous addition to the interior of a home, and they are a smart investment as well. They have an incredible ability to increase the value of a home if you are considering selling.

how to protect your new hardwood floors How to Protect Your New Hardwood FloorsNo matter how long you plan on living in your home, the beauty of your hardwood floors depends on the amount of regular maintenance they receive. It is essential to protect them from damaging elements such as moisture, furniture and abuse. Luckily, there are some things you can do to protect your new hardwood floors so that they last as long as your home:

Make use of rugs and mats. Not only do they protect your hardwood floor, they can add style and beauty to your home. Using rugs and mats in areas with high traffic will trap dirt and moisture from shoes that can get stuck on the floor.

Clean floors regularly. Sweeping and vacuuming should be a daily activity in order to keep dirt and dust from accumulating and damaging the hardwood floors. Clean your floors periodically with a wood-cleaning solution depending on what type of finish it has.

Keep the floors scratch-free. Make use of cloth furniture protectors under the feet of tables, chairs and heavy furniture. Be sure to remove shoes that can scuff the floor.

Keep humidity levels in check. Moisture is one of hardwood flooring’s worst enemies because it can cause the floor boards to swell and warp. Make sure that your home’s humidity level is kept at a reasonable level in the summer as well as in the winter when the air is dryer. Dry air can also damage your wood floor.

Look out for changes. While expanding is natural, wood floors should not raise or dip in certain areas. Look for changes and areas that are not even. You want to find the root of the problem before the entire floor is ruined.

Hardwood floors may require a bit of maintenance and tender loving care, but they will reward you in the long run with beautiful shininess and vitality.

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The Best Hardwood Floors For Dogs

July 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Want hardwood floors throughout your home? Have a dog?

the best hardwood floors for dogs 300x300 The Best Hardwood Floors For DogsYes, in many cases, people will tell you the two simply don’t mix.

Yet if you are protesting, and still want your hardwoods throughout, is there another option? In many cases, the answer is yes –there are choices that will satisfy the hardwood desire with the dog lover inside.

The main issue with hardwoods and dogs are the claws. Whether Fido is running to the back door to check out the squirrels, or casually walking from room to room to be a part of the family, each step is a potential for scratches. You can lay out runners and rugs, but in the end Fido will step beyond these protectors. And when he does, your hardwood floors are at risk.

Scratches are the biggest problem, but in no way are the only. Have a puppy or an older dog with bladder issues? Urine can also spell big trouble for your hardwood floors. Then add in muddy paws, snow and wet paws, dirt, rocks and other debris, and the potential damage keeps rising.

When it comes time to shopping, don’t head down the aisles looking at the options – you’ll only get your heart set on something that may be the wrong choice. Instead, start by talking with a flooring consultant and tell her your family situation and your worries. Then follow her to the best choices for you. Some ideas to keep in mind as you head out to do your research include:

  • Focus in on hardwoods, not soft. Yes, even in the hardwood floor arena, different woods are available, each with their own level of softness. The harder the wood, the more scratches and claws won’t impact. It.
  • Look for solid hardwood, not engineered wood. Engineered wood flooring is a sandwich of laminated wood with a real hardwood veneer on top. Because engineered wood can only be sanded and repaired a few times, you can quickly run out of opportunities for repair – meaning you’ll be replacing on a much more frequent basis.
  • Look at all your options. You’ve had your heart set on hardwood floors, but when was the last time you looked at your options? With today’s technology, you may surprised at what is available to you. Check out vinyl flooring, which can provide the look of wood in sheet, tile or plank form. Or look at tiles – there are some beautiful tiles on the market today that may provide you with a look you never considered before.

Still want hardwoods? Three choices you may choose to look at are:

Brazilian Walnut – its universally hard and dense, and is tough enough that it used occasionally on exterior decks.

Hard Maple – maple is used on basketball courts, so it should stand up to quite a bit of traffic within your home.

Bamboo – bamboo is an up and coming green alternative to wood flooring, and depending on the manufacturing process, can have a hard resin that will make it one of the hardest on the market.

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5 Unique Hardwood Flooring Options For Your Home

July 12, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Considering hardwood for your home? With today’s options, there is a perfect choice that will complete your home’s décor and make it uniquely your own.

5 unique hardwood flooring options for your home 300x204 5 Unique Hardwood Flooring Options For Your HomeWide Planks

Wide plank flooring is increasingly becoming a choice amongst consumers looking for something new. It has fewer seams because of its expanded width, which adds to the overall beauty of the floor. In comes in a variety of wood types, including a distressed wood option that will provide you with a rustic look and feel.

Reclaimed Wood

Are you looking for a green option – something recycled that will carry on its original beauty? Try reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood comes from wood that is salvaged for the specific purpose of re-using, and brings an eco-friendly benefit as well as an old-world touch to any room in your home. Pine boards from old barns and farmhouses are a popular reclaimed flooring choice. Nail holes, worm holes, and other characteristics add to the uniqueness.

Ebonized Hardwood

Want to give your rooms a dark, sleek look? Try ebonizing your wood floors. The dark, opaque look complements many design styles and adds to any contemporary space. Darker woods such as oak, cherry and walnut are best for this unique style.

Eucalyptus

You’ve seen the latest craze in green flooring choices with bamboo – why not move to the next level with eucalyptus. Eucalyptus hardwood flooring is a fast growing, high availability option that makes it an eco-friendly and budget-friendly choice.

Hand Scraped

Instead of going with a traditional milled wood for your floor, try hand scraped instead. Hand scraped hardwood flooring is made from wood that has been worked by hand into individual flooring boards. Each plank will be wider in size, and have irregular scrapes, planes and textures. Because of its unique nature, no two boards will look the same, giving your overall room design a uniqueness all of its own.

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What To Look For When Shopping For Parquet Flooring

June 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Parquet flooring is truly unique among the flooring options available.  It is made of wood, so it retains the class and style of traditional wood floors.  However, the wood within these tiles has been compiled in a creative fashion, lending itself to a totally original floor.

These tiles are typically laid in a pattern chosen by the homeowner, and are sanded and finished in the home.  The end result is a beautiful, uniquely patterned floor all your own.photodune 1293037 parquet xs What To Look For When Shopping For Parquet Flooring

So if you have decided to install one of these one of a kind floors in your home, what should you be looking for?  What type of things should you ask about before hand, to avoid heartache after the job is done?

Always consider price – Parquet floors are often more affordable than their traditional wood counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they are affordable for every budget.  The type of wood will affect the final price tag, so be sure to find a wood type that you and your wallet can live with.

Shop around for patterns – One of the most unique elements of a parquet floor is the pattern of installation.  When you are looking for your new floor, ask installation experts to see the patterns they are willing to do.  You want your floor to be as unique as you are, so be sure you find that one of a kind pattern you just love.

Be cautious of experience – These floors require sanding and finishing on site…that means in your home.  So, the installation team needs to get it right the first time.  Otherwise, you are left with a messy floor and a headache to fix it.  Before you sign anything, be sure you are comfortable with the expertise of the company or individual you will be working with.  References are a good idea.

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Choosing Exotic Hardwood Floors

April 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Choosing Exotic Hardwood Floors Choosing Exotic Hardwood Floors

Hardwood flooring can add elegance and charm to your room.  Many of the lighter tones come from domestic options like Oak, Birch, and Ash.  While these are beautiful options, if you are going for a more sophisticated, luxurious look you might want to consider something a bit more exotic.  After all, who doesn’t like the sense of high class sophistication that comes from telling your guests your floors are from abroad?  If you are considering exotic hardwood floors for your flooring needs, here are a few of the options available to you.

Brazilian Cherry – Who hasn’t heard of this luxurious and exotic flooring option?  Brazilian Cherry is one of the most popular exotic flooring options.  With its extreme variations in color, and its excellent Janka Hardness Rating, Brazilian Cherry is an excellent hardwood choice.

Santos Mahogany – Santos Mahogany is second only to Brazilian Cherry in its popularity among exotic flooring options.  Mahogany provides an interesting blend of colors and graining, adding interest and elegance to any floor.

Brazilian Walnut – Unlike its domestic counterpart, Brazilian Walnut flooring works well in high traffic areas.  Like the domestic Walnut flooring options, Brazilian Walnut flooring has a beautiful, deep brown tone.  Straight grains interwoven with irregular patterns create a visually stimulating and elegant flooring option.

Tiete Rosewood – Rosewood is known for its delicate pink rose color.  Tiete Rosewood darkens over time gaining a richer red color as it ages.  This process stabilizes approximately three months after installation, allowing the homeowner to have an idea of the deep, rich color they can look forward to for years to come.

Tigerwood – Tigerwood is also commonly known as Bolivian Koa.  This exotic wood got its name from the intense striping in the wood color.  Because of its unique color mixtures and graining, Tigerwood is best presented in larger planks to avoid an overly busy floor.

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Choosing Domestic Hardwood Floors

April 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Hardwood floors add a wonderful effect to any room.  Hardwood floors have an amazing ability to add elegance or a rustic charm depending upon choice of wood, application, and coloring.  Many wonderful hardwood options are available from domestic hardwoods.  With a wide range of colors, grains, and overall appearance, you are sure to find an excellent option for you hardwood flooring needs whether you are looking for upscale or hometown rustic.

Oak – Oak is one of the most popular choices among the domestic hardwood flooring options.  Oak comes in two distinct varieties: red and white.  As the name would suggest the greatest variance between the varieties is the coloring of the wood.  Red Oak Natural has a red/brown hue while the White Oak Natural tends to come in a lighter, golden brown.
Choosing Domestic Hardwood Floors Choosing Domestic Hardwood Floors
Maple – Maple hardwood comes from the Maple trees grown in the northern areas of the United States and much of Canada.  This wood type is known for its pale, creamy color and light graining.

American Cherry – American Cherry wood has a rich red/brown color with a unique graining.  This particular flooring option is typically installed in wider planks.  The finished effect provides a floor with unique graining in each panel that provides individuality without looking overly busy.

Birch – Birch wood comes in two varieties much like Oak.  Yellow Birch is more common among homeowners and has a light golden color.  Red Birch has a darker tone and comes from the heartwood of the tree.

Walnut – Walnut hardwood has a rich, dark brown color that looks like it has stood the test of time.  The mellow tones and gentle wood grain make a cozy, comforting addition to your room.

Pine – Pine is one of the softer hardwood options available.  Pine is most well known for its rustic look.  It’s light color and knotty grains appear at home in a cozy cottage in the woods.

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Humidity And Wood Floors

March 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

We live in Colorado. Therefore humidity will never be an issue with your wood floors, right?

Think again. Even here in Colorado we go through dry and humid spells. We introduce various elements into our homes all year long – things that can be hard for your wood floors to deal with.Humidity And Wood Floors Humidity And Wood Floors

When most wood floors and installed, they fit together perfectly and look great from room to room. Then time marches on and you begin to notice things. A crack here and there, cupping or even buckling in certain areas. These are the most common signs of changes in moisture. Solid wood floors will contract during periods of low humidity – the cold winter months where you run your furnace all the time. And the same floor may expand during summer months, especially during periods of warm afternoon rain storms.

Why does that happen? It depends on a variety of things. [Read more…]

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Clean Wood Floors Without Refinishing Them

March 6, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Hardwood floors are a beautiful addition to a home.  But while these floors can be beautiful, they can also be a lot of hard work.  Proper maintenance can keep these floors looking beautiful for years, but even the best-kept floors eventually begin to fade.

So, what do you do to restore your floors to their former glory?  Refinishing is an extremely messy and expensive process.  Do you as a homeowner have any other options?  Are their any methods for cleaning your floors without refinishing them?  While it’s true that no floor will last forever, there are a few things you can do to renew your floors without refinishing.

Regular maintenance – Floors that have been neglected for years cannot be magically “fixed” with a deep cleaning treatment.  Regular sweeping and mopping with a slightly damp mop and mild solution will go a long way to clean hardwood floors today and tomorrow.Clean Wood Floors Without Refinishing Them 300x300 Clean Wood Floors Without Refinishing Them

Spot cleaning – Life happens.  Even with the best flooring care plans, sometimes spots get a little bit more love.  These soiled spots then need a bit more love from you.  For dark stains use a mixture of one part ammonia to three parts water.  Sticky spots can be dealt with using a touch of mineral spirits.  If your furry friend caused a mess, attack it with half bleach and half water.

Deep cleaning – For those times that you really want to restore the shine, consider a deeper level of cleaning.  Sweep the floor to remove large debris.  Vacuum to get a better clean.  Next use a tack cloth to pick up any remaining litter.  Once the floor is as dirt free as possible, use a slightly damp mop to apply a light layer of hardwood floor cleaner (be sure to get a cleaner that is compatible with your flooring type).

These three steps should keep your floors shining for as long as possible.

And when you’re ready for a change, give us a call. We can help you choose new hardwoods, select a green technology flooring like bamboo, or add tiling for a more personalized choice.

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The Pros and Cons of Installing Hardwood Floors In Your Kitchen

December 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

The Pros and Cons of Installing Hardwood Floors In Your Kitchen The Pros and Cons of Installing Hardwood Floors In Your Kitchen

Hardwood floors have long been a favorite flooring type for homeowners. Hardwood offers incredible beauty and an elegant feeling that is hard to replicate with any other type of floor.

A decision that many homeowners struggle with, however, is whether hardwood floors are a good choice in the kitchen. As with any new addition to your home, there are pros and cons to this decision.

Pros

There are the obvious benefits of wood flooring, including its incredible beauty and immense value that it can add to your home. Potential home buyers are more likely to seriously consider a home that has wood floors rather than one that does not. In addition, these floors are easy to care for if they are properly maintained, including sweeping on a daily basis and immediately wiping up spills.

Cons

The largest disadvantage of installing wood flooring in your kitchen is its lack of durability. If you have pets, children or simply have a lot of traffic coming through your kitchen, you might find it difficult to keep up the beauty of your floor. They scratch and dent easily, making it difficult to keep them beautiful in a room that gets so much action. In addition, any type of excessive water can cause the floor to warp, leading to further expenses for repair or in extreme cases, replacement.

The decision whether to choose hardwood floors in your kitchen is based on personal preference. Some people see the frequent cleaning that this flooring type requires as a con, while others do not have a problem with it. If you are a family that is very careful on your floor and does not drag, drop or spill a lot, you will not find wood floors to be difficult. On the other hand, if you have small children or simply use your kitchen a lot, you might find another flooring type to be more beneficial.

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Understanding Tongue And Groove Flooring

December 14, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Understanding Tongue And Groove Flooring Understanding Tongue And Groove Flooring

Tongue and groove flooring is a method of flooring that holds each piece in place with a system of interlocking pieces called tongues and grooves.  One side of the panel is rounded out in a tongue.  This rounded out side fits well with the concave side of the next panel, locking the two together.  Tongue and groove flooring is a much more secure method of flooring compared to the standard flat panel flooring.

Tongue and groove flooring works much like a puzzle, allowing the installer to fit smaller pieces together in a tight pattern to form a much larger finished product.  Tongues and grooves work to keep individual pieces together, while the pressure caused by the tight space works to keep the entire floor in place.
[Read more…]

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