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Installing Vinyl Flooring

May 17, 2014 by

Vinyl flooring – its not what you remember from years ago. Vinyl flooring today comes in sophisticated colors, patterns and styles, and may be the perfect choice for your current flooring remodel project.

Vinyl typically comes in tiles or in sheet format.installing-vinyl-flooring

Sheet vinyl is a great choice for budget friendly shoppers. It comes in many designs and patterns, and with a variety of feels to the touch. Sheet vinyl is one of the easiest to install, and you can have your flooring installed and ready to use quickly.

Vinyl composition tile (VCT) is also a great choice for budget minded shoppers. It’s a durable flooring choice that’s inexpensive to install. It comes in a variety of colors, though patterns are somewhat limited.

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) has many design options to choose from. Start by choosing a design – luxury vinyl can look like hardwood, ceramic, marble, stone, slate, and many other patterns. Then choose your details – borders, grout line, alternating colors – anything is possible to achieve with this option. Many luxury vinyl tiles have a heavy commercial warranty and are suitable for heavy traffic areas.

By working with a flooring contractor, you will quickly be able to determine the right choice for you, and have help making your final selection. Then preparation begins.

Vinyl flooring needs a good subfloor to create a product you’ll love and will wear well in the coming years. If your subfloor is in poor condition, the installer will typically lay a new subfloor over the existing one, skim coat over the existing subfloor to even it out, or remove the existing subfloor and replace with a new one. In any case, patchwork or other small preparation work is usually done prior to laying vinyl, including cleaning all debris, dirt and dust from the floor.

If sheet vinyl is installed, it will be cut into pieces for the best layout for your room. If you are having vinyl tiles or planks installed, the installer will decide where its best to begin for a natural look and flow. Depending on the type of flooring, the vinyl will either be glued, stapled or loose laid.

With many luxury vinyl tiles, special manufacturers epoxy adhesive is used to guarantee warranty and to provide you with the extra moisture protection. Make sure you understand the type of glue used and the conditions necessary to abide by the guidelines, and to keep your family safe in the process.

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

Filed Under: Flooring, Laminate Tagged With: , ,

Property Manager? Tips For Choosing Carpet

May 14, 2014 by

As a property manager, every decision not only impacts how you are perceived by your tenants, but also impacts your bottom line. It’s a fine line between keeping the occupants happy and keeping costs as low as possible, yet still providing quality along the way.

We understand that fine balance, and have been helping property managers make wise choices when it comes to choosing carpet flooring for their properties. Choose the right carpeting and you’ll have happy tenants, more turns out of your carpet, and an easy way to maintain it along the way.property-manager-tips-for-choosing-carpet

Carpet Fibers

One of the most important decisions that will impact the wear of your carpeting is choosing the right fibers. How it looks and how well it wears depends ultimately on the fiber of the carpet.

A solution dyed polyester may be your best choice for durability. Solution dyed polyester is dyed during the manufacturing process, rather than created white and dyed after production. This gives it a stronger hold on the color, meaning the carpets can take more abuse, more cleaning, and not begin to show signs of wear.

Nylon carpeting is most durable for foot traffic. Its soft to the touch and comes in a variety of styles and colors. It also has great stain resistant tendencies when combined with the solution dyed method, and can be recycled over and over again, making it a natural choice is you want to stay green in the process.

Polyester carpeting is one of the most economical choices for property managers. Its usually made from recycled beverage bottles, so they are inherently stain resistant. They also are often treated with stain resistant formulas to ensure it holds up to even the toughest of tenants.

Carpet Construction

Choosing the right fiber will give you your stain resistance. However, how its constructed during the manufacturing process is equally important. Ideally you want the perfect blend between twisted, dense and soft. Fibers that are tightly twisted and dense in composition with be harder to walk on and not as comfortable. The looser the weave, the softer the material. Talk with a flooring consultant to find out what is the perfect choice for your property, and for what your tenants will expect out of the final product.

Carpet Pad

While most people spend their time with the selection process, what goes underneath your carpet is equally important. Padding serves as the foundation for your carpet, so its important that you provide a top quality product to ensure a long life. Padding is sold by density and thickness; this is how much fiber is in a cubic foot of pad. Never by plain foam, as it will crush and deteriorate. Many carpet padding choices have extra feature to make it even more durable; talk with your flooring consultant to make the right choices for your situation.

Carpet Color

The color of your carpeting is a personal choice. The darker the color, the less dirt will show, the warmer the unit will feel. Darker colors also make your unit look smaller. Lighter colors will show more dirt, depending on the blend, but will also create a larger, more open look to the room.

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

Filed Under: Carpet, Flooring Tagged With: ,

Choosing Fire Resistant Flooring

May 10, 2014 by

Living in Colorado has its benefits. How great is it to be close in to anything you need in Denver, yet also have a short drive to all the Rocky Mountains offer throughout the year?

For many of us, we choose to live in an area that provides the benefits of both. Castle Rock, Boulder, Evergreen – many cities give you the convenience of big city living while giving you the feeling of living in a remote area surrounded by trees. While you may love the feeling most of the year, when fires rip through various communities around the state, you are reminded of the dangers.Choosing Fire Resistant Flooring

A lot of what prevents your home from burning is based on the outside construction and landscaping. But if you are thinking of replacing your flooring, keep in mind that some floors are more fire resistant than others.

Porcelain Tile – Tiling is always a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms. Porcelain tile can stand up to heavy foot traffic, is easy to maintain, and will last for years with normal wear and tear. Because porcelain is crafted from fine clays and minerals fired at extremely high temperatures, it makes it resistant to bacteria and odors, and one of the most fire resistant materials available for flooring.

Concrete – Concrete is one of natures toughest building materials, so much so that many insurance companies offer lower fire policies on homes constructed of concrete versus traditional wood. When it comes to flooring, concrete doesn’t have to be reminiscent of the old basement floors. Today’s concrete provides a smooth, strong, heat and scratch resistant surface that can be molded to fit any shape, and is available in a wide spectrum of colors.

Bamboo – Bamboo floors is one of the fastest growing trends in residential homes. Bamboo takes on a hardwood-like look and feel that people love, yet offers many benefits hardwoods simply don’t offer. Like being made from a sustainable resource. And having a natural fire resistant attribute perfect for our Colorado homes.

Cork – Like bamboo flooring, cork is also growing in popularity. It’s the perfect choice for many rooms in your home. In kitchens, it provides a comfort factor especially if you like to spend hours in the kitchen designing your next meal. Its easy to maintain, and has a natural fire resistant quality as well.

Redesigning your living space to be more fire resistant? Come in today and see all the flooring choices that would be a perfect addition to your home environment.

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

Filed Under: Flooring Tagged With: ,

Q&A For Cork Flooring

May 6, 2014 by

Is cork flooring good for my kitchen?

Yes. Cork has a natural softness to it that makes it comfortable to stand on for extended periods of time. However, cork isn’t made for excessive moisture, so be sure to place a rug or mat in front of sinks or other appliances where water spillage or food spills are common. Use felt pads under furniture to avoid marks.

Is cork flooring good for my bathroom?Q&A For Cork Flooring

If you choose to use cork in the bathroom, extra precautions are needed. Because cork absorbs moisture, its important to caulk the perimeter of the room prior to installing moulding or baseboard. This will prevent spills from damaging the sub-floor or walls. Also make sure joints are completely sealed, and use only recommended products for care and maintenance.

Why should I consider cork flooring?

Cork floors are as durable as many of the other choices you may be considering. And it has the added bonus of being environmentally friendly as well. Cork is produced from a renewable resource: from the bark of a cork tree that when peeled off, won’t damage the tree. Cork is antistatic, sound absorbing, insulating, and hypoallergenic, making it the perfect choice for many rooms in your home.

Does cork flooring come in colors?

Yes, like many other flooring choices, you will have a vast array of choices when you decide to install cork flooring. The easiest way to see your options is to stop by and look at our samples.

I’ve done a little research and seen WRT by cork floors. What does that stand for?

WRT is wear resistance technology. It’s a multilayer UV cured finish on a cork floor that provides high resistance to abrasion, scratches and stains without changing the natural texture of the flooring.

Is cork good for a home with pets?

Only you can know your pets behavior. For the average pet, cork flooring will uphold its natural beauty just fine. Cork floors are coated with a finish that could be scratched with heavy use. Keeping your pet’s nails trimmed will help retain your flooring natural beauty for years.

Is cork flooring new?

While cork flooring is only recently seen a rise in popularity here in the US, cork has actually been used in homes throughout the world for more than a century. It has many attributes that are perfect for home use, including comfort, warmth, easy maintenance and a look that blends in with any style.

Stop by today and see our full selection of cork flooring. It may be the perfect choice for your home.

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

Filed Under: Flooring, Wood Floor Tagged With: ,

Laminate Flooring – The Perfect Choice For Your Commercial Location

May 3, 2014 by

Thinking about upgrading the flooring in your commercial location?

A versatile option that was developed to meet a homeowner’s need of having a durable flooring choice can also be a great option for commercial locations: laminate flooring.Laminate Flooring – The Perfect Choice For Your Commercial Location

Laminate flooring is a great option when you’re looking for a material that withstands heavy traffic, requires minimal maintenance, and looks great in the process. With a look and feel of wood, yet more durability than traditional wood can offer in heavy traffic situations, laminate is an affordable alternative worth considering.

Start with your choices. When it comes to look and feel, your choices are in abundance. Because laminate flooring is designed to replicate some of the hottest looks in flooring, you can choose from a variety of styles and colors to fit with your needs. Tile, wood, stone – its all possible with easy installation.

Consider the AC rating. Laminate flooring is subjected to AC ratings designed to provide you with how durable the flooring is and how much traffic its designed to take. Laminate flooring is rated from AC1 to AC5.

  • AC1-AC2 laminate flooring is better suited for residential applications and is designed for moderate traffic. Dining rooms, bedrooms, and other areas with smaller amounts of traffic is best.
  • AC3 laminate flooring is designed for heavy home traffic or moderate traffic in a commercial location. In a residential design, major hallways, entryways and kitchens would all do well with an AC3 laminate. In commercial locations, hotel rooms or small offices with minor traffic throughout the day will keep its look for many years to come.
  • AC4-AC5 laminate flooring is perfect for heavy traffic in commercial locations. Think restaurants, offices, public buildings and department stores.

When making your final selection, always lean towards durability. It will give you the best results, especially if your commercial location is one in which you’ll see fluctuations in the amount of traffic it receives.

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

Filed Under: Flooring, Laminate Tagged With: ,

10 Reasons Why Laminate Wood Flooring Is Right For You

April 29, 2014 by

Is laminate wood flooring the right choice for you?

Laminate wood flooring is being selected for homes all across Colorado because of its look and feel, which replicates real wood, yet has the added benefits of being durable and requiring much less maintenance than its traditional wood counterpart. Here are a few reasons why laminate wood flooring might be the perfect choice for you.

10. Laminate wood flooring is not made of real wood, giving you a perfect look every time. With traditional wood flooring, people often contend with different patterns and looks depending on the wood selected. With laminate, you’re assured a perfect look with uniformity throughout.10 Reasons Why Laminate Wood Flooring Is Right For You

9. Laminate wood flooring is scratch resistant and also resists wear. It’s the perfect choice for highly active families with kids and pets that use each room in your home for a variety of activities.

8. Laminate wood flooring is stain resistant. This can be especially important in a kitchen that is heavily used, or an entertainment area that sees activity regularly with the many sports events on TV every weekend.

7. Laminate wood flooring will not fade with exposure to sunlight. And in Colorado, if your south facing walls have the beautiful windows you love, yet your floors never have, this could be a big advantage.

6. Laminate wood flooring is versatile and can be used almost anywhere in your home. However, keep in mind that laminate flooring does not do well in extreme wet or humid situations. If your basement is consistently subjected to water from flooding or other underground problems, you may want to choose another type of flooring.

5. Want warmth no matter what the weather is like outside? Laminate flooring can be installed over radiant heating, giving you warmth where you want it most.

4. Laminate floor planks can easily be replaced and installed if you use a common glue-less floating method of installation. Perfect for higher traffic areas where accidents can and will happen.

3. Laminate flooring never needs waxing or polishing like its real wood counterparts. This can save you money and time over the years as you avoid hiring someone for the project.

2. Laminate flooring is a very forgiving material, meaning there is an option that can be installed over many of the problem areas throughout your home. If you have questions about an area, wondering what choice is right for you, just ask. We can provide you with a variety of options.

1. With a special underlayment, laminate wood flooring can reduce the foot noise often associated with wood or laminate flooring options. Making your house a quite place to do what you do best.

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

Filed Under: Flooring, Laminate Tagged With:

Cork Flooring Throughout Your Home

April 26, 2014 by

Cork flooring is one of the best kept secrets around. But its quickly losing its secrecy – here’s why.

Cork flooring has a unique look that makes it look like a hardwood floor. Until you step on it. That’s when you’ll know its different as the surface beneath your feet gives way, providing your with a soft, cushiony feeling that’s surprisingly comfortable for walking on, standing on, and even sitting on.

In addition to the feel, there are many more benefits to cork flooring. After you weigh the odds, come in and feel it for yourself. Then consider it for some of the main rooms in your home.Cork Flooring Throughout Your Home

Temperate Flooring

If you’ve ever had tiles in a kitchen, you know how they feel under your feet on a cold winter morning. The only way to solve the coolness is to install radiant heating under the tiles to get rid of that fridged feeling. But with cork tiles, you won’t have that feeling. Cork has an insulation quality because cork is made up of tiny air pockets that act as a cushion to insulate the surface. That means heat will be retained instead of seep out of the room, making your room more energy efficient.

Sound

The same insulation properties that make a cork floor retain heat and coolness will also help block out unwanted noise. If you live in a multilevel home, it can help block out noise filtering to the rooms below.

Maintenance

Cork flooring is a softer material than hardwood, which means it will show wear over time. Maintaining it means regular sweeping and vacuuming to remove dust and debris that can scratch the surface. A damp mop can also be used to remove stains. Keep in mind that furniture legs, high heels, or other sharp objects can cause chunks of material to rip from the surface. If you are thinking of installing cork in a high traffic, high entertaining area, this may be something to consider.

Cork flooring can be refinished to remove scratches and dents every few years. However, unlike hardwood, it can only be refinished a few times before the thickness wears thin. Refinishing every 5 to 10 years with a polyurethane finish will accent the natural features while creating a strong protective coating over the surface. With proper maintenance and refinishing, a cork floor can last upwards of twenty five years.

Which rooms are best?

Cork flooring is soft, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and in general a great choice for many rooms throughout your home. Living rooms, bedrooms, family rooms and even kitchens are a great place for cork. However, because of the humidity and water in a bathroom, cork typically won’t hold up well in these rooms. Also think twice about installing cork in a room where you’re kids will be playing with toys and roughhousing.

But if you’re looking for a soft alternative that looks beautiful too, cork can be a welcome addition to any room in your home.

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

Filed Under: Flooring, Wood Floor Tagged With: ,

Colorado Pro Flooring Celebrates Earth Day 2014

April 22, 2014 by

In April 1970, the very first Earth Day was celebrated as a way of launching a movement that began to look at our environment in different ways. It brought about action such as the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act and much more.

This year its focus is on Green Cities. As we as a population move from countryside to cities, we bring about a whole host of issues in the process. Living in such close proximity to one another means we need to rethink everything we do, from our transportation to our energy and water usage.

In order to help celebrate Earth Day, we would like to provide you with a few tips to think about as you transition into new flooring materials for your home or office, and different ways to use green and sustainable products.Earth Day

What is sustainable flooring?

Sustainable flooring is produced from sustainable materials that reduces demands on our ecosystems during its life cycle. To be sustainable, it must see reductions during the harvest, production, use and disposal process.

What qualifies as sustainable flooring?

Really, flooring options that meet sustainable requirements are vast. If you have a preference, you can probably find a sustainable option.

Wood is obviously at the top of the list. Trees absorb carbon, taking it out of our environment. Once its harvested and used as flooring, the carbon stays in the wood, meaning it continues to stay out of the atmosphere. When looking for wood flooring options, choose products made from specific environments that are maintained and reused over time. You can also look for reclaimed wood floors in which the wood was taken from a different source and is now used as flooring.

Bamboo is an up and coming source that is making its way into homes across America. Bamboo is a fast growing grass that is natural, water resistant, anti bacterial, and durable throughout your home. If considering bamboo, make sure you choose one with a backing made without formaldehyde, a toxic substance.

Like bamboo, cork flooring is also moving into the limelight. Cork is made by removing the bark without hurting the tree, meaning you can continue to get product without hurting the environment in the process. It is naturally anti microbial and has excellent insulation properties. Cork also has low VOC emissions, but make sure you check the finish applied to ensure it is truly sustainable.

Finally, if you love the feel and warmth of carpeting, it still makes the list. The key is to look for natural or recycled carpets using natural fibers such as cotton, wool, jute or coconut husk, or made from recycled food/drink containers. To make it sustainable, make sure you use adhesives that and non toxic, and it does not contain added finishes for stain or fireproofing.

Happy Earth Day!

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

Filed Under: Flooring Tagged With: ,

How To Choose Tile For Your Kitchen

April 19, 2014 by

When its time to update your kitchen, even little projects can have a huge impact.

If you don’t have the desire to do a complete remodel, even something simple like changing out your flooring can set the stage for an entire new look. A dulling vinyl switched to a beautiful tile, for instance, can add appeal and value to your kitchen area.

Typically people choose tile in the kitchen for two reasons: it looks great and its one of the easiest flooring to maintain. If you have dogs and cats, or children of any age, maintenance is a big deal. With tiling, whatever they can dish out, your floors will take and keep looking great in the process.

How To Choose Tile For Your Kitchen

Your first task when choosing kitchen tile will be to decide what type of tile to install: stone or ceramic. Stone is a natural product that is taken directly from the earth. The three most common types of stone are granite, marble and limestone, with granite being the hardest.

In all circumstances, stone is a porous product, which means it is easily stained in its natural form. In order to resist staining and discoloring, you will have to seal and maintain it over time to keep its beautiful, natural look. Because the color runs all the way through, scratches won’t expose a different color. Yet the more polished the surface is, the more it will show marks and scratches. Something to keep in mind when installing on walls and countertops.

Ceramic tile is made from clay either sun baked or dried in a kiln. There are hundreds of options when it comes to choosing clay, each with their own characteristics and performance. Color is applied as a glaze at the time of sealing, so every color you could ever want is an option. Because color is surface only, it will show scratches that move through the color and down into the clay itself.

What tile is best for you and your family is usually based on personal preference, and ultimately your lifestyle.

  • Do you entertain a lot?
  • Do you have pets, children and all ages moving in and out of the kitchen daily?
  • Do you have large windows with lots of light?
  • Do you want easy maintenance?

With so many choices, its easy to find the perfect style for you. Yet the key is to listen to advice as you are making your final selection. Many clients have come in and chosen with their hearts, only to be disappointed because of the maintenance required       – something they weren’t expecting. If maintenance is a big deal – bigger than the final look – make sure you make a selection that fits your lifestyle first. With so many choices, you can find the perfect look and make your home liveable at the same time.

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

Filed Under: Flooring, Tile Tagged With: ,

How To Choose Tile For Your Bathroom

April 15, 2014 by

Like any home improvement project, remodeling your bathroom usually starts when you see something new. Maybe you’ve watched a home improvement show on HGTV. Or you’ve looked through the latest edition of Better Homes & Gardens. And there you see it; the perfect bathroom.

Except what you see in the magazines or on TV isn’t what you’ll find for your own bathroom. Instead, when you walk into a tile showroom, the first thing you usually feel is overwhelm.

With so many styles, colors, options, materials and finishes, where will you begin?

How To Choose Tile For Your Bathroom

Before you start your project, take a step back and start your planning process. What motivated you to want to redo your bathroom in the first place? What images or samples spoke to you? Do they fit within your current home décor?

There are many options available; some will be more traditional, some will help you keep historic perspective, some are sleep and modern. While they all look good on their own, if you begin combining looks in your own bathroom, things will quickly look out of place.

Create a portfolio of colors and styles you like. Print images from online, or cut pages from magazines and include them in your file. Then take pictures and draw out the thoughts for your new space. Will you keep the structure the same, or will you be moving things around and changing things up? Have you always dreamed of a steam shower, and now is your time to add one to the master bath? Whatever your dreams, make sure you include them in your concepts.

Then determine where you will include your new tile. Bathroom tile is usually in one of three places: the floor, the walls, and the counters. If you will be tiling walls, its usually at a wainscot height of 36 to 42 inches tall, shower height, or floor to ceiling. Take full measurements so you know how much tiling will be required in each area. This will also help when choosing tile, as patterned

Tiling doesn’t have to be the same in every location. However, it does have to match and blend. And if you are tiling the wall, it has to match and blend in with your fixtures as well. For instance, in the shower, fixtures should be centered within the tile layout for optimum effect.

There are lots of details to keep in mind as you select and finish your bathroom. Don’t worry, as a tiling expert, we can offer lots of solutions for you as you move through the process. Come in today and let us show you are complete line of tiling, and how it will look in your finished bathroom. You’re going to love the look.

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

Filed Under: Flooring, Tile Tagged With: ,
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