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What Flooring Can Go Over Radiant Heat

August 30, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Are you ready for a long, cold winter? While Colorado has its share of warm sunny days, those cold, below zero days can leave you chilled to the bone. Which explains why one of the fastest growing trends in new home construction is radiant heating. Even in many remodels, radiant heating is growing in popularity, and with good reason. Its an efficient way of heating room space, and requires a lower temperature to do so.

Typically there are three different radiant heating systems: electric, hydronic and air heated.what flooring can go over radiant heat What Flooring Can Go Over Radiant Heat

Electric is the best choice for after construction additions. It comprises of rolled cables attached and embedded in a mat constructed of resilient, heat conductive materials. It can be embedded in concrete during construction, installed under the subflooring, or even directly under the flooring itself, depending on the type.

Hydronic is embedded into the concrete flooring, making it a good choice during new construction, not so good in existing homes. Air heated is a system in which air is heated and pumped through pipes embedded in the floor. Yet because air cannot retain a great deal of heat, it isn’t effective to keep a room heated.

Once radiant heat is installed, its time to choose the best flooring.

By far, stone will provide you with the best results. Porcelain, ceramic and stone tile are all excellent heat conductors, do not expand or contract with heat, and will not warp or crack under pressure. Tile will stay warm to keep your feet warm as you sit or stand in the area, and will allow the heat to gently rise and fill the room with natural heat.

If you prefer carpeting, certain types of carpet can be installed over radiant heat. To be most effective, choose a thinner carpet with low pile – berber carpet, for example can allow the heat to come through.

Laminates can be used with caution. Make sure you talk with your flooring consultant to choose the right materials for the job. The underlying floor structure must be clean and dry to minimize changes do to heat and moisture to avoid warping and cracking. Its also good to consider the method of installation, as certain types of adhesives don’t mix with the radiant heat installation process.

Hardwoods have a natural tendency to react to both heat and moisture, so installation over radiant heating is difficult at best. Its best in a dry climate with little room variants – avoid places like the basement where severe changes are likely.

If radiant heat is in your future, keep in mind that there are many options available to you. Start by talking with your flooring contractor about the process, and determine which choice will be best for your situation.

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Choosing Flooring For Sound Reduction

August 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Have you ever walked on a floor, and the sound became almost unbearable? Your shoes echoed, and made you feel self conscious with every step?

Sound can carry a long ways. And when it comes to flooring, the more muffled the sound the better it is, especially in a multi-story office building, house, apartment or condominium.

Sound is transmitted when hard objects connect with a hard surface, such as tile or stone, and there is nothing to absorb it. The sound waves can spread and multiply, creating an echo effect off the walls and moving through the floors. It can become quite a distraction for all people involved.choosing flooring for sound reduction Choosing Flooring For Sound Reduction

Overall, flooring is rated using three different standards, each defining the way sound is transmitted. Impact Insulation Class (IIC) is measured in terms of how well sound vibrations travel through a floor to the room below.

IIC50 has the least sound absorption quality, and is usually used for ground floors. Stone and tile fall into this category.

IIC60 has a medium impact sound absorption quality, and includes flooring choices such as wood, laminate and some vinyl.

IIC 65 has a high impact sound absorption quality, and includes superior sound reduction materials such as carpet and cork.

While the flooring choice itself has influence, the underlayment, insulation and subflooring can also have a significant impact. The loudest floor is stone or tile laid directly over concrete. By adding any type of subflooring, including passing or insulation, the noise factor will be reduced. You can also fill in joints with adhesives, sealants and other sound deading agents to help trap and dissipate the sound.

Overall, if sound is a factor for your room, and you wish to keep it as quiet as possible, your best choice is carpeting, followed by cork, vinyl and laminate. If you wish to learn more about how to keep your room quiet, stop by today. We can show you a complete selection of noise reduction flooring, and help you choose the right one for you.

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How To Clean Stone Flooring

August 22, 2014 by Leave a Comment

When properly sealed, stone flooring is one of the most beautiful and easy to maintain flooring surfaces around. Yet like any flooring choice, there are a few things you should do on a regular basis to maintain its good looks, and to ensure a long life as a part of your décor.

Prevention goes a long ways. In areas where you will automatically have higher moisture content, prepare by placing rugs to catch water, snow and rain before it settles into your stone floors. Place rugs by each outside door, and also consider a throw rug in bathrooms or in the kitchen by the sink if necessary.how to clean stone flooring How To Clean Stone Flooring

Protect your stone with a little TLC from the beginning. That new modern couch with the small legs looks great in your room, but applies concentrated pressure through four small points directly onto your floor. Use protectors to soften the contact between your furniture and the floor, to avoid scratching for the occasional bump or move.

Maintenance means making sure caulking is applied to water susceptible areas, and applying a regular coat of sealant according to manufacturers guidelines.

Never clean stone floors with an abrasive or ammonia based cleaning product, or use a scouring pad. All of these can quickly scratch and cause permanent damage. Although stone is durable, it still can be damaged by standing water. Make sure you mop up spills as quickly as possible, and use a cleaner suggested by the manufacturer. Never leave a soapy or waxy residue.

Never use acidic cleaning solutions. While some natural cleaning solutions may contain things such as lemon juice or vinegar, both can quickly scratch and begin damaging the stone surface of your floor.

You don’t have to use water every time. Instead, keep a broom handy and sweep up dirt and spills on a regular basis. Keeping dust at bay means it won’t grind into the stone surface.

Treat hard to remove stains with a neutral pH balanced detergent. Again, refer to manufacturers guidelines for suggestions. The quicker you clean a stain, the easier it will be to remove.

If you’re thinking of upgrading your flooring, stone may be the perfect choice for just about every room in your home. Stop back our showroom today and find the perfect tiling choice for your décor.

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Benefits Of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

August 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Love wood floors but don’t want to deal with the high maintenance of real wood floors? Why not try engineered hardwood flooring instead.

Engineered hardwood flooring is available in almost any wood species, and is known for its durability. The best engineered wood floors are built from 3 to 12 ply layers that are cross layered, glued and pressed together. The inner core layers are generally a hardwood or soft plywood material which is built to incorporate a tongue and groove system for use in laying. The top layer is thicker hardwood veneer that is glued and pressed into the top surface of the core.benefits of engineered hardwood flooring Benefits Of Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Overall, engineered hardwood flooring has a higher resistance to moisture levels, which means it has a higher appeal in areas typically prone to water, such as kitchens and basements. Its construction makes it easy to be glued down to a concrete slab, or to be stapled down over a wood subfloor. And because engineered wood looks like real wood and is even easier to care for, it has about the same resell value as you would find from solid wood flooring, if you should choose to sell your home in the future.

Engineered wood flooring ranges in widths from 3 to 7 inches wide, and from 3/8 to ¾ inches in thickness. You can find a variety of domestic woods, or look to the exotic woods for even more character and individuality. They provide an average life of 20 to 30 years, depending on traffic. Keep in mind that because engineered wood only has a small layer of wood veneer on the top, it cannot be sanded and refinished again and again, as is the case with traditional solid wood. When the top layer is penetrated and damaged, new engineered wood must be laid.

Before you install engineered hardwood, be conscious of your needs and desires. Does your home have a lot of rough traffic? Is care and maintenance the last thing on your mind during a busy week? The more use your floors will have, the more you should consider engineered wood with a thick wear layer. The wear layer thickness can vary greatly; this is your protection. A thick wood veneer can take more abuse, and in some cases be sanded and refinished a few times before its reached its useful life. If rough wear is a part of your household, be sure to talk with your flooring contractor about pointing you in the right direction for a stronger choice.

Engineered wood flooring is considered to be green over its solid wood counterpoints. For every square foot of ¾ inch thick solid wood flooring manufactured, you can produce 4 times that amount in an engineered wood flooring. So it’s a great choice if your top concern is being eco-friendly in your purchases.

Have even more questions about engineered wood flooring? Stop by our showroom today and we can show you many options, and help you select the right flooring choice for you.

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Did You Know This About Carpeting?

August 16, 2014 by Leave a Comment

What is the most common flooring choice? Carpeting. Carpeting adds warmth to a home, insulates it and gives your home a comfortable feeling. Plus it comes in so many colors and styles, your possibilities are endless.

While these are so of the many things you probably do know, there are more things that you possibly don’t. Did you know:did you know this about carpeting Did You Know This About Carpeting?

  • Carpet accounts for 51 percent of the total US flooring market.
  • More than 80 percent of the US carpet and rug market is produced by mills in Georgia, with an estimated $8 billion in business activity.
  • Georgia supplies more than 45 percent of the world’s carpet and rugs.
  • Since its inception, CARE (Carpet America Recovery Effort) members have diverted over 2.6 billion pounds of post consumer carpet from landfills throughout the United States.
  • India, China and Pakistan are the top three countries that export wool rugs and carpeting into the US.
  • The most popular material for carpets or rug fiber is nylon, with around 48 percent market penetration. Polyester follows with a 25 percent market share.
  • One of the biggest increases in the carpeting world has been carpet tiles. Once considered a mainstay in the commercial carpeting world, its now even making its way into some residential use, as people are getting more creative with the look and feel of their homes.
  • Over 70 percent of all carpet replaced each year is for reasons other than wear. Owners replace carpeting because it’s the wrong color, or outdated for their decorating purposes; they are tired of the current color and want a change; or its ugly, discolored or appears to be worn out.

Is it time to replace your carpet? With so many styles, colors and designs to choose from, now is the perfect time to give your home that new and updated look. Stop by today and look at a few samples. You may be surprised at how easily carpeting can change the entire look of your home, and be one of the easiest ways to “remodel” that room that’s been in need of a change for months.

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What Should You Do With Cracked Tile?

August 13, 2014 by Leave a Comment

If you want durability, easy maintenance, all in a beautiful package, its hard not to look at tiling for your floors. However, like all flooring choices, it does have its breaking point. What do you do with cracked tile?

Your first step is to locate the cause of the crack. If you attempt to replace the tile or repair the crack without finding the what should you do with cracked tile What Should You Do With Cracked Tile?underlying problem, your repair may be temporary and easily crack again, only in some cases much worse.

Typically there are three reasons a tile will crack.

1. A heavy or blunt object was dropped on the floor, causing a crack on impact. If this is the case, replacing the tile will solve the situation.

2. A problem exists with the subflooring. The screw heads may have come up, bumping against the tile. Or the subfloor may have risen in spots, possibly from glue that didn’t set properly. In either case, the subflooring needs to be fixed and leveled before fixing the cracked tile.

3. Pressure or temperature changes could impact the tile. Depending on the type of tile installed, tile can be made of a very porous material. If water gets into the tile, then freezes, it can expand and contract again and again, eventually cracking. The key is to install the right tile for the circumstances.

When installing your tile, make sure you keep several extra tiles on hand. You may even consider keeping extra grout, or at least the manufacturer and the color for future use as well. By having both tile and grout that match your current floor, your repair won’t look conspicuous after the repair.

Preventing cracks is a job that should occur at the time of installation. If you are installing tile over concrete, add steel reinforcing bars to the concrete slab, which will prevent cracks in the slab from forming cracks in the tile. If you are tiling over wood subfloors, make sure the wood is level, and won’t sag or bend. Even the strongest of tile will crack when walked on if the floor underneath isn’t level.

If you have any further questions about cracked tile, give us a call. We can help you determine why your tile is cracking, and inform you of your best options.

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Remodeling? Should Flooring or Painting Come First?

August 9, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Doing a little home maintenance or even remodeling a room or two? Changing things up a bit can always be a fun endeavor.

And while overall, there is no right or wrong way to approach the task at hand, there are a few tricks of the trade that can help you accomplish your task in an easier and maybe even cleaner manner.remodeling should flooring or painting come first Remodeling? Should Flooring or Painting Come First?

One of the most common questions people have when doing a little home maintenance is, “Should painting or flooring come first?” Great question. And at first, it seems like a fairly easy question to answer, but according to experts, the right answer actually depends on the situation.

If you paint your room before you install your new flooring, you’ll avoid the hassle of paint drips or spills from landing on and potentially staining your floor. You’ll also avoid ladder scuffs and other hazards from marring your brand new floor.

Yet if you paint first, the baseboards can be damaged during floor installation, which means you’ll have touch up work to do once the flooring is complete.

If you install flooring before you paint, you’ll have a solid base to work on, which is especially important in a room like your kitchen. Hardwood floors require sanding and buffing when installed, will will cause dust to accumulate on just about everything.

Also, installation almost always creates scuff marks on baseboards, and its easy to splatter the polyurethane coating to the baseboards and even lower wallboards. And if you have islands, cabinetry and countertops to install, having the floor as a base is mandatory.

Overall it depends on the type of flooring you will have installed, and the preference of the contractor you are using. It’s a general preference – as long as you use reputable contractors for every step of your project, you’ll have an outcome you can be proud of well into the future.

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Bathrooms and Basements: Flooring Choices For High Moisture Areas

August 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Some rooms in your home are more prone to water and moisture than others. And as a result, these rooms need a little more thought put into what type of flooring you will lay.

Some choices are definitely better than others. How do your favorite flooring styles handle in high moisture areas? Here’s a list from worst to best.bathrooms and basements flooring choices for high moisture areas Bathrooms and Basements: Flooring Choices For High Moisture Areas

Carpeting

Carpeting and padding retain moisture. And if moisutre sits too long in one area, mildew and mold begin to form. The more moisture your room is prone to, the more carpeting should be the flooring choice to avoid.

Solid Wood

It looks beautiful in the main living areas of your home. But the tounge and groove hardwood styles, or parquet flooring will not work in below grade environments such as basements. It also doesn’t work well in high humidity rooms like bathrooms where water spills can occur almost every day.

Laminate

While laminate gives you the look and feel of a wood floor, it does something wood can’t do – hold up to a higher standard in moisture situations. Keep in mind that laminate comes in many styles, some is glued into place where some locks in piece by piece. With these lock in place varieties, water between the planks can soak to the core and begin self destructing almost immediately.

Linoleum

Linoleum is created as an oil based product, and will therefore wear well in water situations. If you use tiles, water can work between the seams if water is allowed to puddle. Sheet linoleum is obviously a step up as it wouldn’t have the water puddling potential.

Vinyl

Vinyl provides a similar look to linoleum, yet it provides a step up in water resistance with its plastic base. Its simple to install and available in lots of colors and styles. Once again, the main problem stems from potential seepage into the seams. A solid surface with sheet vinyl will give you an added bonus.

Ceramic and Stone Tile

Tile is the perfect choice for high water situations – that’s why you’ll find tile in abundance in bathtubs and showers, and in pool areas. Its highly resistant to water situations, and will look good and perform well for years.

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Removing Carpet Not Necessary If You Have Asthma

August 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Your child has recently been diagnosed with asthma. Change is happening all over your home.

For many people in this situation, your attention quickly looks down at your carpets; should you remove your carpeting and choose another flooring to keep the situation from escalating? Some doctors may suggest to you to remove your carpets; if you do research online, you’ll undoubtedly find many of the same suggestions. But is it true? Will carpets exacerbate asthma conditions?removing carpet not necessary if you have asthma Removing Carpet Not Necessary If You Have Asthma

If you read advice from carpet manufacturers, they will tell you that the properties of a carpet can actually be a good thing when it comes to protecting those with asthma. When dust is trapped in the strands of a carpet, they are no circulating in the air for your child to breathe. It is confined to one location until you have the opportunity to vacuum it away.

Many studies have been conducted on homes with various kinds of living situations to determine the best course of action. Allergen sources such as mold, rodents and cockroaches, as well as tobacco smoke greatly impact a child’s asthma far more than the flooring choice. In each of these studies, they show that asthma symptoms are reduced when these sources are lowered or removed, far more often then what flooring choice is in a child’s home.

Reducing allergens can make a big change. The way you clean can also have a large impact. Instead of replacing your carpeting, replace your vacuum instead. Look for a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter system to capture more of the allergens without releasing them into the air. Keep it clean to avoid releasing back into the air as you vacuum again and again.

Convinced you can love carpet again? If its time to install new carpeting in your home, let us know your concerns. We can point you to natural carpets made with fewer chemicals while still providing you with the look and comfort you demand. The options really are endless.

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Know Your Facts About Bamboo Flooring Before You Install

July 29, 2014 by Leave a Comment

With the heavy focus on green or sustainable materials in today’s economy, when its time to replace flooring, the focus undoubtedly always turns to bamboo. Bamboo is technically a grass, not a wood, though it is sold as if installing a wood floor. A bamboo floor is constructed of rectangles of bamboo glued together, engineered as a top layer that sits over wood layers for strength and durability. The newest types of bamboo construction are strand woven, a process that makes the bamboo flooring harder then its predecessors.know your facts about bamboo flooring before you install Know Your Facts About Bamboo Flooring Before You Install

While bamboo flooring is a great option for many homeowners, there are a few things to keep in mind before you make bamboo your final choice.

Bamboo Expands

When installers lay a wood floor, they know to leave expansion room along the sides of the boards. With bamboo flooring, it will expand and contract along its length as well, so its important to leave expansion room on both the sides and the ends.

Janka Ratings and Strength

One of the biggest reasons people don’t fall in love with a wood floor its its potential for scratch and dents. Bamboo is no exception. Bamboo fibers are strong, but the lignins bonding them together are weak. During a Janka test, a round ball is pushed into the bamboo to test its durability. Bamboo is springy, so it can resist the ball test and appear more durable than it is. When a stiletto heel, for instance, is pushed into a bamboo floor, far more damage can be done. The exception is the new strand woven bamboo, which Janka provides more accurate results.

Acclimate

Bamboo flooring is often made in one location, then shipped in here to Colorado for final sale. With different temperatures and humidity levels, its always a good idea for your flooring to acclimate to its new conditions before it is laid in place. Solid bamboo flooring tends to acclimate quickly – three to seven days is typical. Strand woven bamboo acclimates slowly, needing even more time to adjust to its new conditions. If you choose engineered bamboo, it may not require acclimation at all – check with the manufacturer for more details.

Bamboo flooring is the perfect choice for your home … if you understand its properties and how it will act in certain situations. Make sure you choose a reputable company when making your final selection, and you will have a long lasting flooring choice you will be proud to come home to for many years into the future.

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