5 Things You Might Not Know About Your Hardwood Floors

Whether you are looking at flooring for a brand new home, or are finally remodeling and putting in the floors of your dreams, chances are hardwoods have made the top of your list. And with good reason. Nothing says style, class and elegance like hardwood flooring.

If you are new to hardwoods, there may be a few things that you didn’t know about this popular flooring choice. While they do make a great choice for just about every room in the home, there are a few tips that will keep them looking great longer, and keep you happy with your flooring choice for years.5 Things You Might Not Know About Your Hardwood Floors

Janka hardness test

Did you know every hardwood available as a flooring has a unique ranking? The Janka hardness test measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear. It measures the force required to embed an 11.28mm steel ball into wood into half the ball’s diameter. The higher the ranking, the more suitable it is as a flooring choice. When looking at wood choices, make sure you ask about the Janka hardness test and where your options fall in ranking.

High heel shoes can damage your hardwood flooring

The concept of having hardwood flooring is a little deceiving because hardwoods can be damaged. High heels, spikes, sports shoes – all can be damaging to your wood flooring. Because pressure points strike the floor with more force per inch than an elephant’s foot, you’ll quickly see the damage if you walk around.

Different flooring companies work different ways

Some flooring companies look to make quick sales and install your flooring as fast as possible to move onto the next customer. We never take that approach. All of our hardwood flooring is installed to ensure you long lasting results. No matter what type of hardwoods you choose, we finish installation with glue and nails to insure you’ll never find movement or gaping in the months and years to come.

Colorado is dry – take care of your hardwoods

You probably feel it by this time of the year. Colorado is a very dry climate. Sure we get the occasional snow or rain storm, but after the heater runs nonstop through the coldest of days, you’re bound to feel the tightness and dryness in your own skin. The same applies to your floors – they feel the dryness too. Hardwoods are meant to live with moisture; so take care of your flooring and install a humidifier. Both your floors and your skin will thank you.

Take your time decorating

The hardwoods are in. The new sofa is purchased. One last piece is a new rug to add a splash of color to the room. Area rugs are a great additive for protection. But don’t add it to your room too fast. Give your hardwood flooring at least two to three weeks to cure before covering it up with a rug. It will allow the glue to thoroughly dry and the floors to settle before adjusting to the new covering.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

The Best Flooring Options For Senior Citizens

Whether you are upgrading your own home for universal design, or are remodeling a parent’s home so they can remain in their home longer, one of the key focuses will be on the flooring. Nothing makes a home more unsafe than poor flooring choices.

Choosing a flooring means balancing the safety, the ease of maintenance, and of course the overall look and feel. The ideal choice should be soft to ensure bones aren’t broken in case of a fall. It should be easy to clean and maintain in case of frequent spills. And at the same time, this is still your home; why wouldn’t you want a classic design that will endure many years to come?The Best Flooring Options For Senior Citizens

Carpeting

Carpet is one of the best choices to offer warmth, comfort and a soft landing in the event of trips and falls. Here in Colorado, warmth is a factor as we face long, cold days and nights throughout the winter months. And because seniors spend more of their time at home in relatively stationary activities, it can be the perfect insulator to help keep them warm. Carpeting can be a great choice, however keep in mind it is also one of the most difficult to clean and maintain. Spills and accidents will have to be cleaned immediately to avoid future stains.

Cork

Cork flooring is becoming one of the most popular choices in flooring today. Its very soft underfoot and will provide give if a person trips or falls. Like carpeting, it is a thicker material that provides a fair amount of insulation against noise and heat loss. Cork flooring is also an anti-slip surface and provides natural traction, which means a senior can actually move easier on it to avoid accidents in the first place. Cork flooring is relatively easy to care fore. With a sealant over the surface, it protects from stains. However it is soft and can be damaged easily with sitting water, or punctures from furniture legs, high heels, or other sharp objects.

Linoleum

Linoleum is one of the easiest flooring choices to care for. With routine sweeping and mopping, linoleum will retain its beauty for years. Its also a natural antistatic material, which means dust and other harmful microorganisms will repel from it, keeping the home less prone to allergies and other immune complications. Linoleum itself is a relatively thin material, when installed over a subfloor will not provide much give or support. To provide more cushion, make sure it is installed over padding to make it softer for unexpected landings.

Flooring To Avoid

While any of the above would make great choices, when installing something for the sole purpose of making a seniors life easier, it is important to avoid tile. Natural stone, ceramic, glass and other tiling materials are naturally hard, making them very harsh and unforgiving to people that are prone to trips and falls. They can also create an uneven floor pattern, depending on how its laid, which adds into its potential for a tripping hazard.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

Greening Up Your Floors and Saving Money Too

If you are thinking about going “green” with your home’s flooring, you are making a great choice! “Green” flooring is more than just flooring made from renewable resources. It is flooring that can also be recycled and has a variety of other benefits that make it a wonderful choice for the environmentally-friendly home.

Greening Up Your Floors and Saving Money TooNot only will you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are lessening your footprint on the environment, you can also save a significant amount of money on energy costs over time. Here are some tips to help you go “green” with your floors and save money, too!

  • Cork flooring is made from the bark of cork oak trees, which means it grows back after it is removed. This type of flooring naturally repels bugs and mold. It also provides insulation from the cold and the heat of the different seasons.
  • Hardwood flooring comes from the hard wood of different trees. It can be recycled with ease when it is removed and used in other products. To ensure that your hardwood floors are “green,” make sure they come from forests managed by the Forest Stewardship Council.
  • Natural stone flooring is another eco-friendly type of flooring. The different types of stones are constantly being created by natural processes. This type of flooring can also be recycled when removed and used in other products.
  • Bamboo flooring comes from plants that have a harvest cycle of three to five years. This means it is a very renewable source. However, you must remember that formaldehyde is used in making some types of bamboo flooring, so ask your dealer about emissions before making your purchase.
  • Finally, eco-friendly carpeting, such as sea grass and wool, will provide you with the comfort of carpeting without the harmful toxicity of regular carpeting.

When choosing any type of “green” flooring, do your research and ask lots of questions to ensure that your flooring is as “green” as you can get!

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

The Best Flooring Choices For Feng Shui

Feng shui is the art of creating the right balance of energies in a room to ensure health and good fortune.

There are many aspects to Feng shui that help create this perfect balance, including color, shapes, textures, and physical placement of items. If you are doing some remodeling with Feng shui in mind, you want to make sure you make all the right choices.

The Best Flooring Choices For Feng ShuiHere are some tips to help you select the best flooring to ensure the proper balance of energies in your home.

  • Renewable resources are always the best material to choose when shopping with Feng shui in mind. Bamboo and cork flooring are both good choices, as well as reclaimed hardwoods. However, there are no wrong choices for Feng shui – the balance of energies comes from colors and placement of the flooring, so choose the flooring that best fits your needs.
  • When it comes to color choices, try to choose flooring that will provide a seamless look within your home. You want the energy to be able to flow freely – sudden changes in colors will stop the flow of energy. Choose colors that are more “earthy,” such as various shades of brown.
  • As for the placement of the flooring, it is important to remember that Feng shui deals with flowing energies – so place the flooring in such a manner that will keep the energy flowing within your home. For instance, avoid placing wood planks across the length of narrow hallways that end in doorways or windows.
  • If you are ever in doubt about your flooring choices, discuss Feng shui with your interior designer. A professional designer will be able to help you make the best choices to ensure the proper flow of positive energy within your home for good fortune, health, and an overall better sense of well-being.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

3 Planning Tips To Consider Before Replacing Your Floors

What’s the first step in upgrading your flooring throughout your home?

It actually begins in your home. Before you fall in love with a new kind of flooring, its important to figure out what you already have in place and what it will take to remove it to install your new floors. By doing your homework early, you’ll face less anxiety as installation gets under way.

3 Planning Tips To Consider Before Replacing Your Floors

1. Your current flooring may be a health hazard

You loved the quirkiness when you bought your urban home. But now its time to replace that old vinyl or asphalt flooring and put in something a little more modern. While its good to upgrade and get a more modern, efficient flooring, be aware that any flooring installed before 1978 may contain asbestos. This includes flooring that’s been covered up previous installs.

If a floor containing asbestos has tears, breaks or wear marks, it may be releasing asbestos particles into the air. And since asbestos can cause serious diseases of the lungs and damage to other organs – most of which will not appear for years – its important to eliminate the problem as soon as possible and by using contractors that understand how to remove it safely.

2. Consider resale value

You love your home and aren’t planning to move anytime soon. Yet what if your job is transferred to another state? What will you do once the kids leave home? Yes, as much as we love our homes, sudden events can cause us to uproot and call a new place home. Which means as you are shopping for new flooring, it may also be a wise decision to think about resale value as well.

Look around your home. What flooring choices have always bugged you? Chances are your potential buyer will think the same things as they tour your home. People love hard surface flooring – tiles and hardwoods. If you ever plan on selling, this is where your advantages lie.

3.Take your time

Its easy to get sucked into the first choice you see. But remember, flooring isn’t something you’ll replace every day, so its important to be sure of your options, and ultimately your choices. Don’t shop a store and make a selection instantly. Instead, consider several options, and bring samples home. See how it fits in with the rest of your décor. How does it look in different times of the day? The surer you become of your choice, the happier you will be with the final product.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

Add Value to Your Home with New Flooring

If you are looking to enhance the look of your home without totally remodeling it, new flooring is a great choice.

Since the floors of your home are one of the first things people notice, it makes sense to upgrade or replace them. This is especially important if you are selling your home.Add Value to Your Home with New Flooring

What is the perfect flooring?

Generally, the best flooring will give your home a great new look while boosting your home’s ROI. Additions such as Berber carpet, hardwood flooring, and bamboo floors are all beautiful choices when it comes to the perfect flooring. Of course, it depends on the existing style of your home as well as your budget.

Types of flooring that can boost your home’s value

When you want to upgrade or replace the floors of your home and your budget is wide open, there are many types of floors available for you to choose.

  • Hardwood- The interior of your home can really shine with the addition of polished, shiny hardwood floors. They have the potential to add some serious value to your home, and buyers love the shiny look of hardwood.
  • Concrete- Concrete floors are another sustainable flooring option that can have natural beauty and are easy to care for. When the concrete is sanded down and polished, it can add a gorgeous look to any room of your home.
  • Bamboo- A modern flooring option, bamboo is sustainable and provides excellent durability. It is moisture and bacteria-resistant as well, making it a great option that adds value.

You can add value to your home when you choose flooring that is visually impressive and sustainable. The condition of your house can be appraised as above average if you invest in new flooring. Buyers can be particular when it comes to the floors of a home, so make the right choices to ensure maximum investment for the cost.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

The Pros and Cons to Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is quickly becoming one of the most popular types of flooring today, and for good reasons. Not only is it friendly on your budget, laminate flooring is easy to install and looks great too.

But, like any building material, laminate floors are not perfect. Do the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to choosing laminate flooring for your home? Let’s take a look

The Pros and Cons to Laminate FlooringPros of laminate flooring

It’s durable. One of the most durable floor choices, laminate flooring is known for its toughness. It boasts scratch-resistant qualities and it will not fade if it is exposed to sunlight.

It is stain resistant. Laminate floors are resistant to most stains, and they are also water-resistant if spills are quickly wiped.

It’s easy to install. Laminate flooring does not require any nailing or gluing to a subfloor. Most flooring planks can be easily attached and snapped together.

It looks great. Because laminate flooring looks like real wood, it can give your home a polished look that can’t be beat.

It’s available in many designs. Modern laminate flooring comes in tile and hardwood designs, and there is sure to be one that fits your home’s style.

Cons of laminate flooring

It is difficult to repair. While real wood floors can be refinished many times over, laminate flooring is more difficult to repair because it can’t simply be sanded. Instead, a damaged or worn laminate floor needs to have its damaged planks removed and new ones installed in order to restore the appearance of the floor.

It’s prone to damage from moisture. Laminate is more susceptible to moisture damage than wood. If laminate wood is exposed to standing water, it can break down and expand. The floor will then require a replacement.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

Which Is Right For You: Glue Down or Floating Hardwood Floors

Making the decision to install hardwood floors means that you will soon have gorgeous flooring in your home.

Which Is Right For You: Glue Down or Floating Hardwood FloorsHowever, simply making this decision is not all that you have to do. Now that you know you want hardwood flooring in your home, you have to decide between glue-down floors or floating floors. Understanding the difference between both types of flooring will help you decide which one is right for you.

Glue-down floors are just that – they are the kind of floors that must be glued down in order to secure them. These types of floors cost a bit more than floating floors. They are thinner and require a moisture barrier to keep moisture at bay.

With this type of flooring, you lay the planks down and glue them to the underlying floor. If a plank ever needs replaced, you only have to remove the damaged plank and replace it with new.

Floating floors differ from glue-down floors because they are not attached to the underlying floor. You will not need any glue or nails with floating floors. Instead, the planks attach to each other and the floor “floats” above the underlying surface.

These types of floors are cost-efficient, so if you are on a budget, this might be the best choice. However, if one of the planks ever needs repaired, you will have to remove a large section of flooring to replace the damaged plank.

When deciding between floating floors and glue-down floors, it is important to keep your budget in mind, as well as your long-term usage. You want a quality floor that will last for many years. With glue-down floors, you can sand and re-finish the floors after a few years of use. With floating floors, you do not have that option, but they are more affordable than glue-down floors up front.

Ultimately, choose the type of flooring that best fits your needs and personal preferences.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

10 Reasons To Visit Pro! Flooring Brokers For Your Floor Replacements

1. Our name says it all. We’re professional flooring consultants that know flooring. Whether you’re looking for the latest and most advanced materials, or something tried and true, we can help you find the perfect flooring choice for you.

2. We have over 26 years of experience right here in Colorado. So we know and understand what Coloradans demand in flooring options. If you’re looking to warm a basement family room during the cold winter months, we can offer suggestions. If you want a sophisticated look for your kitchen, we can show you many styles. Just ask.

10 Reasons To Visit Pro! Flooring Brokers For Your Floor Replacements3. Only half of the Pro! Flooring experience is looking through our selection. The other half is about design. Come in and talk to one of our design consultants who will offer you suggestions on turning your room into one you will love for years to come.

4. Choose your showroom. Would you like us to come to you so you can see a variety of samples in place? We can do that. Would you prefer to come into our showroom and see endless options? We can do that too. The choice is yours.

5. If you are looking for top brands for your home, we have you covered. We carry brands like Waverly, Laura Ashley and Mohawk to name but a few.

6. Have a commercial location that needs an update? We can help you out with that as well. We know the most important thing about commercial flooring is wearability, so we’ll help you assess the right choices for you.

7. Our buyers shop the world for our selections, so when you come in and visit our showroom, you’re guaranteed to have the latest styles and color choices at your fingertips.

8. While our showroom is locally owned and operated for over 25 years, we are a part of a network with over 3,000 locations nationwide. What that means to you is you get the customer service of a locally owned company, combined with the purchasing power for highest quality, lowest price options around.

9. We offer options for everyone. Want a fully custom design, layout and installation process? We can do that. Or are you looking for a do it yourself project? We can help you out with that too. Just let us know your ideas and we’ll show you the best options for you.

10. Free timely estimates. Full product warranties. A full one year guarantee on all workmanship provided by Pro! Flooring. These are just a few of the benefits you’ll receive by working with us.

Stop by today; we’re looking forward to working with you on your next flooring project.

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.

The Advantages of Using Porcelain Tile Flooring

Porcelain tile flooring is the most popular type of tile right now in the residential market, and for good reasons! While ceramic tile is an acceptable choice, porcelain tile flooring provides advantages that simply can’t be beat.

Porcelain tile flooring is perfect for locations that have a lot of heavy foot traffic. It retains its beauty and great color while enduring lots of traffic. This is only one of the reasons why it is ideal for residential and commercial flooring. Here are some of the other advantages of porcelain tile flooring:

The Advantages of Using Porcelain Tile FlooringIt’s durable. Porcelain tile is both harder and denser than many other ceramic tile products, making it extremely durable. If installed properly, it can last a lifetime!

It doesn’t absorb moisture. Because it is so dense, porcelain tile flooring is less prone to moisture absorption, and it won’t crack. Porcelain tile is also frost-resistant, and often frost-proof. Also, less moisture absorption means less staining occurs on these floors.

It’s easy to maintain. Porcelain tile flooring is dense, so it is resistant to staining and it won’t harbor bacteria. You don’t have to polish or wax this type of flooring. All you have to do is simply wipe with a damp mop!

It offers a wide variety of styles. Porcelain tile flooring comes in a huge array of colors as well as textures and designs. Natural stone, metals, marble, and even woods can be recreated through porcelain tile flooring.

It’s versatile. Because it is so durable, porcelain tile flooring can be used inside or outside. It can be polished to a high sheen and used as a trim for windows and countertops.

It’s easy to see why porcelain tile flooring is becoming popular with homeowners and owners of commercial buildings. Weigh the pros and cons, and see how porcelain tile flooring can be right for your home!

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.