From the Floors Up

3 Reasons Why You Should Use Luxury Vinyl

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Is it time to upgrade your existing flooring, flip a property, or build a new home? If so, the time is now to start looking at Luxury Vinyl Flooring. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is an affordable, waterproof, wood-like flooring option that has excellent warmth/texture and installs with a peel-and-stick technique or clicks together with ease. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) is a luxury vinyl product that looks like stone or ceramic tile, complete with gorgeous natural colors and surface texture that feels like the real thing. Some styles are even made to be installed with grout, but installation will increase due to the labor. Talk about realistic! We have listed three reasons below for why you should use luxury vinyl. Let’s take a look!

The Product Will Not Break the Bank

Your LVP flooring will be a fraction of the cost of hardwood flooring. In fact, LVP’s installation is so much easier to install than hardwood floors, ceramic tile, or natural stone. This feature is a benefit to the homeowner with lower installation charges compared to standard flooring installation charges. With a reasonable installation and product cost, homeowners can have a beautiful flooring product at a great price.

It Is Stunning

Luxury Vinyl is absolutely gorgeous and has come a very long way regarding its technology and appearance. It will look and feel like hardwood, ceramic tile, and natural stone. In fact, you will be amazed at the styles and colors available in Luxury Vinyl.

It Is Durable

Everyday wear and tear is a given on flooring with children, pets, water spills, etc. Hardwood floors tend to get scratched and can suffer water damage if spills are not cleaned. Linoleum may eventually start to tear and rip while carpet can get stained and lose its shape. Flooring installers and experts will tell you that LVP floors are tough as nails! Many brands are 100% waterproof and constructed with cork backing, making the floors comfortable, quiet, and forgiving when items are dropped. If you have children and pets, you know how loud it can be when they are running through the house on hardwood and tile floors. Again, with the cork backing, the floors are more soundproof while being easier on your back and legs if standing for long periods of time.

All in all, luxury vinyl is an incredible flooring solution. Be sure to ask your sales representative for more information to learn everything that this incredible product has to offer.

Pros and Cons of Carpet

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Carpet is a timeless flooring option that businesses and homeowners continue to love. It comes in many diverse styles with added benefits. That is why it is no surprise that the popularity continues today as we see advancements in fiber technology and resistance to staining. However, like any flooring option, carpet has its own set of pros and cons. Let us explore both to see if carpet is right for your home.

PROS

Comfort

Carpet is one of the most comfortable flooring options on the market. When paired with a heavy 8 oz pad, it is unrivaled by any flooring option for comfort. This feature can make the coziness from your ground spread to other areas of the room, creating a comfortable oasis.

Options

Carpet also comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and textures. The endless options make finding the perfect carpet to complement your house easy. Plus, with so many diverse styles, carpet is versatile enough to work with any design theme.

Warmth

Carpet is also a very cozy and warm flooring option. Rest assured that you can wake up and walk around your home barefoot without getting cold feet. It is an excellent insulator and stays warm all year round.

CONS

Stains

Technology improvements are making carpets better at being stain resistant. From solution-dyed fibers to stain guards, carpets have come a very long way. However, carpet fibers can still stain. This feature may be a concern depending on the environment that you are looking to have it installed.

Seams

Carpet is typically manufactured in twelve-foot-wide rolls. This feature means any room that is over twelve feet in width or length is going to need a seam. It is also directional, which means your carpet will have cross seams as well. No seam is 100% invisible, so you may need to consider this depending on the application.

Traffic Patterns

Some carpet can wear down and matte. The resilience is much better in nylon carpet than polyester, yet you may begin to see traffic patterns. Note that all carpets are made different, and some can help prevent this better than others.

Water

We are beginning to see waterproof carpets, just starting to enter the market. However, many carpets are not waterproof and can be ideal for bacteria to form. It is best to keep carpet away from wet areas.

All and all, carpet is an excellent flooring choice. It is incredibly versatile and adaptable for many environments. Keep in mind that different qualities of carpets can handle situations differently. Be sure to talk to your sales representative about the right carpet for your lifestyle.

How to Seal Natural Stone Floors Yourself

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Do you love your natural stone flooring? No doubt, selecting the right flooring that best complements your home was challenging. Now that you have settled on a flooring material, it is time to protect your investment. Unlike traditional flooring materials, natural stone requires special attention so that it keeps its natural glow. Since stone floors are especially vulnerable, you will need to apply a sealant to ensure that it stays intact.

Hiring a flooring expert to do the job for you is excellent, but if it is not in the budget, it is something you can complete yourself. To help, here is how you can achieve professional results when sealing your natural stone floors:

Materials 

  • Stone sealant that has been manufacturer-recommended for your specific stone floors 
  • Vacuum cleaner 
  • Cloth 
  • A soft bristle brush 
  • Residue Remover 
  • Pair of gloves 

Begin by Cleaning

Before you begin sealing your stone floors, you will have to conduct a thorough cleaning of your floors. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dirt and dust, and be sure to get the corners as well. Next, use a mild cleaning solution to clean the floors further. Instead of using a mop, dip a cloth into the solution and wipe the floors until they are spotless. Just remember, using harsh materials during the cleaning process can erode the natural stone. Instead, use a residue cleaner to remove stubborn stains. After you have cleaned the floors, you will need to make sure the floors are completely dry before moving on to the next step.

Select Your Sealant

Next, it is time to select a sealant that is right for your natural stone floors, and that fits your personal taste. The sealant should be derived from fluoropolymer technology. Make sure you purchase a sealant that is compatible with your stone flooring. For example, do you want to achieve a glossy or matte finish? There are sealants on the market that can provide you with either look.

The Type of Stone Matters

What type of stone flooring are you utilizing? Because the sealing method is mainly dependant on the stone type. Terracotta, limestone, and sandstone should be sealed before it is installed, and tile grouting takes place. Apply sealant to the front, back and side surfaces. Marble, travertine, and granite have to be sealed at the top and edges. These stone types can be sealed after they have been laid and grouted.

Applying the Sealant

While wearing your gloves, you can apply the sealant solution with a paintbrush to the floors. To create a polished look, apply the sealant in the same direction. Just remember that the sealant needs a couple of hours to cure.

Voila, you successfully sealed your natural stone floors! You can expect the sealant to last for at least five years before you will need to redo the process. If you have any questions, please leave us a comment.

Solution-Dyed Carpets

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When shopping for carpet, you will come across many different styles, materials, loops, and colors. Carpets can all have added pros and cons, depending on how they are manufactured and what material is used to create the fibers. You may be interested in a natural material such as wool or go another route such as a synthetic carpet fiber like polyester. There are two types of ways that synthetic carpets are dyed. While how your carpet is dyed may not seem like a big deal to you, there are benefits that may interest you in purchasing a solution-dyed carpet. Let’s take a look!

Traditional Dyeing Methods

There are many ways carpets are dyed, but generally, the traditional way is through dipping the fibers. Fibers are created with a very neutral color like grey or beige. These fibers are created then ran through a dye to stain the fibers. While this process is very complex and can have different stages in the process, this is, traditionally, how color is added to fibers. Imagine an apple. When you see an apple, it has a red coat on the outside of it. However, when you cut a knife through the apple, you can reveal the true white color beneath the skin. This is how the traditional dyed method affects carpets.

Solution-Dyed

Carpets have been engineered to be constructed through synthetic materials. These materials can consist of liquid polymer compounds and chemicals being converted into fibers. Unlike the traditional method, where the fibers are dyed after the carpet fibers are created, solution-dyeing adds the color with the chemical compounds. This allows the fibers to be dyed pre-production and be the true color all the way throughout the carpet. The liquid is then fed through spinnerets and created into yarn to make carpet fibers. So, unlike an apple, you now have a carrot. If you cut the carrot in half, you will still have the orange all the way throughout the vegetable.

Added Benefits

While this can only be done with synthetic fibers, there are many added benefits to the process. The fibers hold the color through themselves. This makes them very difficult for color to fade from sunlight or foot traffic. They are also more stain-resistant since the fibers have already been fully stained. This makes it much more difficult for them to absorb a new stain. Some solution-dyed carpets can also be cleaned with very heavy-duty cleaning compounds such as bleach without color fading!

Whether you are looking for commercial or residential carpet, understanding some of the added value to solution-dyed carpet may help you in the decision-making process. While non-solution-dyed carpets are still excellent choices, this added benefit should not be ignored. For more insight on flooring and manufacturing benefits, make sure to subscribe!

The Best Flooring Materials for Contemporary Homes

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When searching for flooring materials for your contemporary home, there are a few options that stand out among the rest. They are the type of materials that are very desirable to homebuyers in the market for an up-to-date look that is move-in ready. If you want to be sure you have made the right choice, check out some of the best choices for contemporary settings.

Hardwood/Engineered Hardwood

Hardwood is one of those materials that has stood the test of time. These floors are endlessly versatile with a variety of furnishings and are valued for the quality look they bring to a living space. While more expensive and timely to install, hardwood floors are always going to be a good investment. If your budget is not as high as you would like, you could still achieve the look you want through the installation of engineered hardwood. Engineered hardwood has a thinner top layer of hardwood with additional wood layers fused beneath it. It is a quicker process to use the engineered version of this material, and you can still enjoy the warmth and class it provides to the room.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is another excellent choice for a contemporary home that is always sought after by homebuyers. Tile gives the room a clean look and is easy to maintain. The variety of tiles available on the market today makes it easy for anyone to create a complementary look to any of their decor. Textures, patterns, and shapes can all be used to add a bit of customization to the space while still being able to enjoy the stain- and mold-resistance properties that it provides.

Carpet

Carpet is always going to be appealing for homebuyers who want a space to provide a warm and welcoming retreat from other more formal areas of the house. Carpet is an excellent addition to the living room or bedrooms. Its padding will provide comfort underfoot and help reduce noise, which is a desirable trait if you have children or pets. It is also a safe space in the event of a fall, so both young and old can feel secure when they are standing on a carpeted area.

All in all, contemporary designs can have a very versatile flooring selection. From carpets to hard surfaces, contemporary design is able to gracefully master any of these flooring types.

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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