Tag: laminate

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How to Select the Right Hard Surface Option for Your Home

Choosing the right selection of hard surface flooring for your home couldn’t be easier than with our professional assistance. Our dedicated team of experts simplify the nuances of flooring, allowing you to make an informed decision about the floor that’s just right for you. This post illustrates what’s available in hard surface flooring. Be sure to drop by if you’re in the area and talk with us about your next project.

SheetVinylRS-150x150Vinyl Flooring is more beautiful and stronger than ever before with a variety of new patterns to choose from. It imitates the aesthetics of both stone and ceramic flooring but without the hardness, coldness and is the least expensive option.

Wood has always been a favorite “natural” selection for homes throughout the years.  It also increases the value of any home.  There are thousands of styles and stains of wood floors, with options of width ranging from 21/2 inch to 7 inch wide planks.  Styling includes traditional oaks to the new Hand-Scraped and Restoration looks.  There is definitely a look for every taste. Cork and Bamboo are the “Green” products available that can make any room look modern and fresh.

Laminate is still a strong option for hard surface in the home. The new styles look even more like wood—it is truly difficult to tell.  The beauty of laminate is its easy maintenance.  It is more scratch resistant than wood, as well as being more inexpensive.  If there are large dogs and small children in the household, laminate tends to be a friendlier option.

LaminateRS-300x240Luxury Vinyl Tile is the new kid on the block.  It is probably a great compromise between ceramic/stone and sheet vinyl.  It comes with or without grout lines, and really mimics the look of more expensive stone/ceramic.  It is very good for any household with animals and children, and is softer and warmer on the feet than some other options.  Even though it is a little more expensive than sheet vinyl, it is less so than stone/ceramic.

WoodTile_RS-300x203Ceramic and Stone add a natural elegance to any room.  Because of their scratch resistance and durability, they can retain their beauty for many years.  There is some periodic maintenance for grout lines, but the treatments have drastically improved.  Ceramic and stone also increase the value of  the home, while being an excellent flooring for homeowners with pets.

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Laminate Flooring Care and Maintenance

COLORTILE® Laminate Flooring is naturally durable and can stand up to the toughest household conditions. Learn how to keep it looking great.

Follow routine maintenance guidelines to clean your laminate flooring

Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.

For tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, or tar, use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth, then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.

Sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.

Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care. For optimum results, we recommend Shaw’s R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner.

Do not wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent, or any other liquid cleaning material. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination, and joint-line separation, and void the warranty.

Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners.

Do not use any type of buffing or polishing machine.

For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

A more frequent dust-mopping or vacuuming schedule may be required in very sandy areas such as a beach home.

Protect your laminate flooring to keep it looking like new

Entry mats will help collect the dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that might otherwise be tracked onto your floor. Ask your local CarpetsPlus COLORTILE® retailer about the EcoChoice® Matting System, part of the Metropolitan Collection.

To prevent slippage of area rugs, use an approved vinyl rug underlayment.

Use floor protectors and wide-load bearing leg bases/rollers to minimize the chance of indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector.

Maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level between 35% and 65% throughout the year to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of the wood.

a. Heating season (Dry): A humidifier is recommended to prevent excess shrinkage due to low humidity levels. Wood stove and electric heat tend to create very dry conditions.
b. Non-Heating Season (Wet): An air conditioner, dehumidifier, or periodically turning on your heating will help to maintain humidity levels during summer months.

Avoid excessive exposure to water during periods of inclement weather.

Keep your pets’ nails trimmed to prevent them from scratching your floor.

Never try to slide heavy objects across the floor.

A protective mat should be used for furniture or chairs with casters.