From the Floors Up

5 Remodeling Projects To Take On Before the Holiday

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Is your list of home improvement projects piling up? If you plan on hosting guests in your home during the holiday season you no doubt want it to look its best. Since it can be a huge challenge to get everything done in the nick of time, we’ve created a list of home improvement priorities you’ll need to focus on in order to get your house ready for visitors.

Below are five home improvement projects that will make a huge difference in your holiday season and for years to come.

  1. Get New Floors: Now is a great time to get new floors! New flooring can change the entire look and feel of your home. Many flooring retailers offer financing programs that can help you get the floors you really want before the holiday. When you get new floors it also provides great timing for changing furniture layouts, cleaning out drawers and cabinets – all good things to do before the end of the year.
  2. Upgrade Your Kitchen: Since there will be a lot of food preparation during the holidays you’ll want to ensure that your kitchen is both functional and stylish. Now is the time to invest in a new backsplash. Be sure to select a pattern that best represents your personality or that will be a timeless choice for resale, depending on your plans for your home.
  3. Install A New Stair Runner: Do your stairs look old and tired? Chances are your staircase is in the middle of your home where everyone can see it. Stairs get so much traffic it’s expected that after a while, they begin to look used, worn and even dirty despite regular cleaning efforts. Before your guests arrive, wouldn’t it feel great to update your stairs with a new runner or new carpet? There are numerous style options when it comes to choosing a stair runner. Will you choose a pattern? Or something with color?
  4. Make Over the Fireplace: Who doesn’t love to gather around the fireplace during the holidays? Give your fireplace a modern look by making an update. You can update the existing tile or stone that you already have. You can add more tile or stone by running it all the way to the ceiling creating a dramatic focal point for the room. You can add or update a mantle and change the look entirely!
  5. Create A Focal Point in the Room: Why not do something to wow your guests a little and create something that you can enjoy the rest of the year and for upcoming years? Do this by adding a focal point to the room. A focal point could be painting an accent wall a bold color or even a beautiful painting. You can mix prints as well as layer different shades within the same hue.

Give yourself the gift of something new for your home this year! You’ll be glad you did!

Show Your Floors Some Love!

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Spending time at home due to Covid and got some time on your hands? We’ve got some tips to help you show your floors some love. You’ll be surprised at what showing your floors some love can do for how you feel about your floors and the room they are in!

Give your floors a good clean.

Properly and thoroughly cleaning your floors can change the look and feel of an entire room. If you’ve got a stubborn stain that has become an eyesore, removing the stain can visually make the room feel completely different because the focus is no longer on the stain.

If the stain is too old to be removed and the room is a high traffic area or common place for stains, you might want to consider newer floors that are either lower maintenance or a different color that hides stains better.

Click here to see how to properly clean most any stain our of all types of flooring.

Rotate your area rugs.

Rotating your area rugs will help the rug wear and age evenly. Area rugs should be rotated annually unless they are in a heavy traffic area. In this case, they should be rotated twice a year. Rotating your area rugs will help hardwood floors that receive sunlight fade evenly. You’ll thank us later when it’s time to move or change the room and you’ve done the work to avoid uneven fading.

Add an area rug.

Don’t have an area rug? Adding an area rug can completely change the look of a room. Consider adding an area rug that introduces color to the room or a pattern that helps the room feel larger. Adding an area rug and a few decorative items can refresh a room and breathe new life into it!

Read this post on to get more ideas on decorating with area rugs.

Clear out the clutter from your door mats.

Dirt and other aggregates can collect in your doormats. Once enough dirt and debris collect in your mats, they no longer serve their purpose. The dirt and debris on top just gets carried into your home via your shoes as if you didn’t have one at all. If your doormats are work or too hard to clean, consider replacing them. Doormats have come a long way! There are doormats with cute and clever sayings on them as well as classy and decorative looks that are easy to maintain.

We hope these tips help you fall in love with your floors or your room again or at least give them a fresh feel!

Why Homeowners Are Choosing Concrete Floors

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Concrete flooring can be an excellent option for homeowners looking for a trendy twist on their home’s style. Although concrete floors have been around for a while, we see a lot of homeowners veer more toward classic styles like hardwood or carpet. While hardwood and carpet can be excellent choices, we are here to share with you five reasons why you should choose concrete floors. Let’s take a look!

A Real Tough Guy

As you would assume, concrete flooring is extremely durable. Its resilience is quite impressive, making it a perfect solution for heavy appliances. Typically, you see homeowners use concrete flooring inside of their garages, because of its durability. But in fact, its durability can withstand daily damages throughout your home. Concrete can withstand high heels, heavy appliances and furniture, and pets. This type of flooring will help to put your mind at ease.

Easy Peasy

Considering that this type of flooring is mostly found inside of garages, it is extremely easy to maintain. Experts recommend to seal or wax it every three to nine months depending on its wear, but otherwise, it is recommended to clean it periodically.

Ability to Change

If you are unhappy with your concrete floors, its smooth texture makes it easy to install any flooring surface over it. This feature gives you the ability to change your mind at a later date without the fear of a huge project. 

Long-Lasting

Under proper maintenance and care, concrete floors can last a lifetime. With concrete, you are investing in your future, and you can rest assured in flooring that you can trust. 

Very Versatile

With concrete, people’s minds may go straight to the universal gray color that is unappealing; however, concrete comes in an array of colors and textures to match your style preference. You can now have the concrete floors of your dreams without compromising on the look.

Many companies carry a line of concrete flooring. It is a beautiful collection of modernized concrete floors that would be the perfect finishing touch to your home. Check with your flooring retailer to view their selection.

The Right Tile for Home Exteriors and Patios

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Tile is a timeless and beautiful floor and wall covering. It has been being used in homes for centuries and continues to stay a staple in home improvement. Plus, there are hundreds of options available when it comes to shopping for tile. Different constructs of tiles will work best in different environments. However, no atmosphere is more demanding than your home’s exterior. In fact, the outside your home will experience extreme temperature changes and water exposure. These factors can make choosing the right tile a little more challenging. That being said, have no fear. This versatile flooring option can work in almost any environment! If you are looking to tile a patio, walkway, driveway, or anywhere else outside your home, here is what you should know:

Best Tile Option

When it comes to choosing tile for outside, you need a more durable option. While ceramic is excellent, it is not as durable as porcelain. For instance, when you install it over concrete outside, moisture is a considerable concern. Moisture can travel up through the concrete and underneath your tiles; therefore, you need to invest in a polymer-modified mortar to waterproof your concrete. This factor will give you porcelain tiles much longer longevity.

Slip-Proof

When looking for slip-resistant tiles, natural stone is your best bet. This factor makes sense because natural stone already endures nature daily. However, porcelain is still another great option yet, quarried marble, granite, or limestone are all excellent options. Do remember that some of these options will need to be sealed to protect their natural-looking finish. There is no completely slip-proof tile option, though. Remember, just because a type of flooring may be extremely slip-resistant to your bare feet, does not mean it will react the same if you are wearing heels or nonslip resistant shoes!

Grout Reminders

When choosing your outdoor grout, it is best to go with a sanded grout! Your grout lines will be traditionally larger visually with this option. It would help if you also looked into getting a grout sealer to help protect your grout from the harsh outdoor conditions.

Picking tile for outside comes down to its longevity and durability. Natural stone and porcelain are excellent options to explore. Just make sure you do not neglect your grout when preparing to invest in your patio tile or outside tile projects. For more insight on flooring, make sure to subscribe!

What Type of Flooring Do I Choose?

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Are you in the market for new floors? If so, if you are anything like us, we tend to be guilty of overlooking the importance of flooring choices and how that choice will affect the style and function of our home. To help, we have listed a few tips below that will help you choose the right flooring for your lifestyle and family!

Daily Activity

Your lifestyle is critical when choosing the right flooring for your home. For instance, do you have children, pets, or friends and family coming and going? If so, your floors must withstand heavy traffic and be resilient to moisture and dirt. Ceramic tile and vinyl flooring are durable, tough, and ideal for high-traffic areas. Hardwood floors are durable, but will scratch and over time and require refinishing. If you prefer softness underfoot and have minimal traffic, consider carpet or using area rugs over hardwood and tile flooring. Just keep in mind the function and style of each room and choose your floors accordingly.

Specific Room Tips for Individual Rooms

Foyers

Foyer entryways should always say welcome and introduce your style. A key factor to remember for entryways is preventing dirt and debris from being tracked into the home. If snow, rain, mud, and sand are elements in the entry, consider stone, tile or hardwoods. Just make sure you place an entry mat outside before entering to trap and absorb much of the debris.

Interior Floors

To protect your entry interior floors, rugs are always the perfect solution while adding pops of color that enhance the entry foyer.

Living Rooms

Family and great rooms are active rooms, so remember that area rugs are ideal over tile and hardwood floors. They help add an element of comfort and style to your classic flooring options.

Bedrooms

Many people still prefer carpet in bedrooms simply for the softness and warmth on bare feet.

Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Laundry Rooms

Keep in mind that kitchens, bathrooms, laundry/utility rooms are considered work areas, and the flooring should resist water as well as be durable.

Flooring Cost

Flooring is priced per square foot for product and labor. Understanding flooring pricing is an essential factor to keep you on track and within budget. Keep in mind the product grades of quality and the padding or moisture barrier for carpet, hardwood, and vinyl plank flooring. Another factor for flooring cost is longevity. Floors need to be maintained, and the type of flooring you choose will depend on how often you must replace them.

Please reach out with any and all questions. We are here to help you make the best decision for your next floor!

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!

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