From the Floors Up

Understanding Your Flooring: Hardwood

By Leave a Comment

Adding hardwood flooring is a luxurious upgrade that homeowners absolutely love.  The authentic nature is a timeless remedy that can transform any space. Not to mention, hardwood is highly praised for its raw beauty and elegance that it can bring to any atmosphere. While functionality, affordability, and durability can all be determining factors in your flooring, we want to help give you a better understanding of hardwood and see if it is best suited for your needs. Let’s take a look!

Hardwood floors are a very durable option for the home. They can be sanded and refinished several times and allow the flooring to continue to look brand new. That being said, be careful because softer woods will be more capable of scratching and gouging.
Different hardwoods will have different levels of scratch resistance. While no wood is scratch proof, you can find harder woods to prevent damage.
While a quick spill on the floor is not going to be detrimental, wood and water are not compatible. Hardwood flooring can expand and contract with water causing boards to warp, crack, and split. Keep hardwood away from wet areas or basements where moisture may come through the subfloor!
Hardwood is not “typically” chosen for the comfort it offers. While hardwood is not considered soft, it will add warmth and energy to the room. Hardwood is more of an investment on the beauty it adds to the space, not necessarily the comfort it adds.
If a stain penetrates the hardwood, it will be nearly impossible to remove. However, unlike carpet, you have more time before a spill will break into the flooring causing a stain. With hardwood, it is important to clean a spill as soon as it happens to prevent unwanted damage to the flooring.
Hardwood is a beautiful flooring. If you fear your animals or children may damage the floor, you should probably wait on the investment or put it in areas that will not see heavy use.
Hardwood is not the most expensive flooring, but it is a luxury flooring. Installation may require special tools and can up the cost. However, hardwood can increase your home’s real estate value and is a powerful home improvement to help move your home up on the market.
Hardwood’s beauty is unmatched. It is an incredible asset to any home. Not only does it increase market value, but it can last a lifetime with proper care.

Remember that not all hardwoods are the same. With engineered and solid floors, you may be able to get away with a little more in the right application. Make sure to check with your flooring representative to see if hardwood will work in your home. For more insight on different flooring types, make sure to subscribe and check out more of our series!

Understanding Your Flooring: Carpet

By 1 Comment

As most homeowners already know, not all floors are made equally.  From hardwood to carpet, every flooring option gives you a list of different pros and cons.  While aesthetics is an excellent quality in flooring, understanding which floor is best tailored to your needs is the most important aspect.  You would not want to put a floor in an environment if it is not suited for its traffic and lifestyle. 

With a variety of different flooring options on the market, carpet will always be an excellent option for any home. With so many diverse patterns, textures, styles, and looks, you can tailor any carpet to fit the design theme of your room. Not to mention, carpet is highly desired for its affordability and comfort. While functionality, affordability, and durability can all be determining factors in your flooring, we want to help give you a better understanding of carpet and see if it is best suited for your needs. Let’s take a look!

Generalizing all types of carpet is difficult.  Please note that some carpet will be more durable than others.  Different fibers and pile can all result in your carpet’s performance.  If you are looking for a more durable carpet, ask your flooring sales associate to direct you to one. Their expert knowledge of the product line will help you find one that is suitable for your traffic level and environment.
Your carpet cannot scratch; however, you may be able to tear your carpet with enough force.  Some carpet can also lose its resilience and bounce back which will show traffic patterns.
It is not recommended to install carpet in wet areas.  In doing so, it could lead to unwanted molding.
Carpet is considered one of the most comfortable flooring options available on the market. With the right padding, it is excellent for children in case of falls.  It makes the flooring a more comfortable surface to play on as well.  However, in case of accidents or spills, carpet may not be the best for recovering unwanted stains.
While many carpets are treated with premium stain resistors, carpet is not best for rooms you anticipate frequent spills or mishaps.
Carpet is soft, so this can make for a great play area for kids; however, stains and accidents can happen. If not treated promptly, the liquid can penetrate down to the pad, and this can lead to unwanted lingering odors in your home.
Carpet prices will fluctuate from low to high depending on what quality you invest in for your home.  If you are looking for a quick and affordable option, carpet is your best choice.  However, understand the “cheaper” you go, the less durable and longevity you will get from your carpet.

Remember, carpet can be made of different fibers, thicker pile, and even treated with different chemicals. This is a very general and broad view of carpeting. There are carpet solutions with higher durability, less comfort, and even more water resistance. Make sure to check with your carpet representative to discover which options may be best for you. For more insight on different flooring types, make sure to subscribe and check out the rest of our series!

Thanksgiving Wrap Up

By

Here is a quick look at a few of our past Thanksgiving posts!  You’ll find decorative china patterns, how to prepare for hosting guest, how to prepare your floors for these guests, and the best ways to remove gravy stains from your carpet!

Building a House…I Wish I Had Thought of That! (Part Two)

By 2 Comments

Screen Shot 2013-05-07 at 10.36.28 AMAs promised we have added more helpful tips that will hopefully keep you from saying “I wish I had thought of that!”

  • Bathroom: I wish I had thought of this one…when designing your cabinets for your bathrooms, think about longer drawers and fewer cabinets. The storage in drawers can be so efficient. Adding draw organizers is sure to make anyone happy!
  • Rounded Corners: Round corners create a smooth custom look throughout your home, which is sometimes easy to miss when you’re thinking about the design of your home.
  • Wall Texture: have you ever noticed the wall texture on homes that you have visited? Some are rough, others a little textured (referred to as knocked down), and then there is smooth. Think about the style of your home and remember there are options when it comes to wall texture.
  • Screen Shot 2013-05-06 at 1.30.12 PMHardwood or Ceramic Floors: You don’t have to pick one or the other, you can have both! Combining wood floors and ceramic adds texture and style to any home. Just remember that the transition from one material to another can make or break a design. Make sure you have a clear-cut line between the two rooms; adding a border in the wood creates a very clean look.
  • Basement Ceiling:  The average basement ceiling is 8 to 9 feet tall. To make your basement feel more open and like the rest of your house consider 10-foot ceilings. You will pay a little more but at the end you will be happy you did it!
  • Interior Doors:  Solid 8-foot wood doors throughout your home will make a statement. Larger doors bring a custom feel to your home that you will enjoy for years to come.

Building a house takes a lot of time and planning. Try to put things in perspective and prioritize what is important to you and your family.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Megan for spending her time and sharing her home building insight!

Putting the Family in Family Room

By Leave a Comment

7596084_SOne of the best ways to create family time is to create a family room that is warm and inviting for the entire family.  Furniture and flooring can go a long way to making the family room a place the entire family will want to hang out.

Starting on the floor, choose flooring that works for your family’s lifestyle.  Super high traffic areas like family rooms mean you’ll want a durable and stain resistant material. Given some activities like gaming and play in the family room mean sitting on the floor, you’ll want flooring that is also comfortable.  Stain-resistant carpet could be a good choice. So could wood floors or laminate flooring with the addition of an area rug in the seating area.  If you have pets, a wood or laminate floor might be the better choice than carpet.

Ample seating for watching movies, the big game or playing games is also key for a family friendly room. A mix of seating options is always a good idea. Sectional sofas or a pair of sofas in an L-shape creates a nice cozy arrangement for conversation and television watching. Portable seating like poufs, ottomans or stools can be moved around the room as needed, or stored out of the way.

Family photos on the walls and good storage to hide clutter are also good additions to a family room. Make the room inviting and you’ll find yourself and your family hanging out there more.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

Recent Comments

Subscribe

Enter your email address to receive new post notifications via email.