It’s Spring Cleaning Time! Simple Do’s and Don’ts For Hardwood Floors

Spring is only a day away, although it certainly hasn’t felt like it for the past several weeks! So is your spring cleaning checklist ready to go? Don’t forget  also to give your hardwood floors some extra TLC this time of year. Below are some simple Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind this spring:

Do’s

• Establish simple cleaning rituals – vacuuming regularly, or wiping down your hardwood floors with a damp cloth or dry mop, will take away the dirt and debris and keep scratches to a minimum. And with more outside dirt entering the house this time of year, regular cleaning is more important than ever.
• Use soft brushes – if you haven’t already, invest in a new soft-bristle broom or a vacuum with a soft brush attachment.
• Consider an area rug – using area rugs or mats is a great way to protect floors that are in the line of heavy traffic during spring and summer months (when the kiddos are constantly running in and out of the house to play!).
• Remember your sunscreen – over time, ultraviolet rays from excessive sunlight will change the color of a hardwood floor. If a certain floor area is exposed to heavy sun in the spring and summer, be sure to close window blinds or shades for protection – especially during the brightest time of day.
• Follow manufacturer’s recommendations – if you’re unsure of the manufacturer’s guidelines for your floor, give us a call and we’ll gladly assist.

Don’ts

• Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar – this can scratch the floor during the cleaning process.
• Don’t clean with soap or harsh ammonia cleaners – this will dull your floor finish and cause possible discoloration. Reserve those hard cleaners for your other spring-cleaning tasks.
• Don’t use water – applying water directly to your hardwood floors is a big NO; always use a damp cloth with a wood floor cleaner. Keep the spring showers outside!
• Don’t over-wax – waxing once or twice a year is recommended. If you over-wax your wood floor and it dulls, use a buffer to regain the shine.
• Don’t drag your furniture – during your big spring cleaning blitz, never drag furniture across your hardwood floors. Be sure to lift the furniture or use protective pads underneath the legs to prevent scratches.

Happy Spring Cleaning! And if you need to take a break from all those chores, visit our website at www.flooring-professionals.com for some flooring (and more) inspiration!

Decorating with Area Rugs

Shown: Tiburon in Rusted Rose from Colonial Mills, Inc.

Area rugs make a wonderful addition to nearly every type of room in your home. Regardless of the type of flooring or carpet you have, the addition of an area rug can spice up the décor as an accent feature or become the focal point of a room. Area rugs come in many shapes, styles and colors to match nearly any decorator’s taste.

Aside from being a great decorating tool, area rugs have quite a few benefits you may not have considered. One of the best features is that an area rug can protect high traffic areas of the home. Placing an area rug on a hardwood or laminate floor can help prevent wear and tear and protect the floor’s surface from scratches and gouges that may happen due to chair legs scraping the surface under normal circumstances.

Large rooms can be a challenge to decorate, especially rooms in the home designed to serve multiple purposes. Many people love open floor plans which can include living rooms with sitting rooms or sunrooms attached: but a real challenge is found with laying out furniture in these types of rooms. With a lack of wall space comes the difficulty of blending one room into the next. An area rug can easily divide a large room into functional parts by drawing attention to the rug itself, with furniture placed strategically around the rug. This set-up can make furniture in the room without a wall appear to be in place, rather than out of place.

In contrast, area rugs can do the opposite of dividing a room if multiple sizes of the same patterned rug are used throughout the home. For example, a living room with a dining room attached can feel like a cohesive space with the use of matching rugs in both rooms.

Tips for Choosing a Rug Size:

• Leave 18 to 24 inches of border between the rug and wall on all sides in rooms used as living or family rooms

• Leave 2 to 4 inches between the walls and the rug in hallways. Hallway rugs should also be roughly two feet shorter than the hallway.

Is It Time to Re-Carpet?

Homeowners, landlords and even business owners will face this dilemma at some point – Do I re-carpet or just have the existing carpet professionally cleaned? Most carpets on the market today are designed to last anywhere from 10-20 years. If you experience any of the issues below, it’s probably time to invest in new carpet.

1. Matted Appearance – when certain areas of your carpet (typically high-traffic areas) look flat and matted down, this means that the carpet fibers have lost their resiliency. Chances are a professional carpet cleaning will not greatly help the fibers go back to their upright position, especially with carpets that are made from polyester fibers. Carpets made from Nylon or Sorona® have a better chance of bouncing back, at least a little bit, after cleaning.
2. Stains That Won’t Go Away – anti-stain treatments such as Scotchgard™ are only applied to the carpet surface and will eventually wash or wear off. Over time, stains will become difficult or impossible to remove – especially stains like tea, wine, or blood.
3. Ripples – a worn carpet will start to show signs of rippling and wrinkling, especially in main walkways and on steps. This is the result of typical wear and tear from years of foot traffic. If ripples or wrinkles happen to appear after a new carpet installation, however, contact your installer right away.
4. Mold or Mildew – stains like mold and mildew can be the result of water damage, humidity, or pet stains (such as urine or feces). Carpets that show signs of mold and mildew should be replaced immediately to avoid potential health hazards.

Another instance when it may be worth the investment to re-carpet your floors is if you’re getting ready to sell your home or business. Research shows that not only do sellers typically recover the carpeting cost, but they often make a profit from it. Remember, a buyer will usually choose a property that’s in move-in condition, not the one that needs updates like new carpet or paint.

So is it time for you to re-carpet? If so, visit our website to get some helpful carpet buying tips.

 

Cork Flooring and More…

When shopping for new flooring, consider cork flooring. Known for its durability and sound absorbing ability, cork floors are a great option for anyone looking for comfort and affordability in their home. Cork is not only warm and cushiony beneath your feet, but it also has a distinct surface that prevents dust from being absorbed into it. When compared to laminate, hardwood, carpet, or tile, cork flooring has an unbeatable value.

Our Featured Manufacturer – Wicanders – Showing Parquet in Raw Umber.

When considering which type of cork flooring to place in your home, you have two main options – plank or tile flooring.  Cork floor planks come in varying lengths and click and lock together at the edges, creating a floating floor above your subfloor or pre-existing floor. On the other hand, cork floor tiles can be glued down onto concrete flooring, or even used as wall tiles and then painted to add a unique look to your room.

Once you’ve decided between plank or tile flooring, you have to determine which composition of cork flooring you would prefer:

• Solid cork flooring – this flooring is made out of a ground-up cork mixture, and is usually one that is glued to a concrete floor or plywood subfloor.
• Engineered cork flooring – this flooring is made by bonding a layer of compressed cork to a layer of uncompressed cork, forming a floating floor. This is best installed over damaged floors that you do not want to have to remove.
• Mosaic cork flooring – a mosaic cork flooring is made of recycled wine corks, and consist of circular disks that are glued to paper backing. This type of flooring is best suitable for use in wet areas like showers, saunas, and even indoor pool spaces due to its waterproof properties found in the grout used.

Finally, when choosing the perfect cork flooring for your home, it’s necessary that you look into the different textures of cork floors, each with their own unique appearance. To help find the look you want, cork floors usually come in textures including:

• Small granules
• Medium granules
• Large granules
• Peeled cork
• Burled cork flooring

Incorporating cork flooring into your home is a unique and interesting way to add a durable, warm flooring to your home that is sure to complement any style.

Repairing Damaged Tile

Accidents happen.  It’s a part of life.  So what do you do when your tile is damaged?  While the type of damage plays a role in determining what type of repair is needed, here are a few scenarios for tile repairs:

Loose tile
Whenever your tile is loose and wobbling, you need to consider removing the tile and replacing it.  However, if you are able to lift the tile out in one piece, you can just simply re-adhere it to the floor.

Cracked tile
A cracked tile can ruin the look of any living space.  To repair, remove the cracked tile (in pieces, if necessary), and then replace it.  Cracked tiles are due to poor installation or a flaw in the manufacturing of a tile.

Uneven, chipping tile
The main cause of uneven, chipping tile is an uneven layer of thin set that is applied during installation.  This uneven thin set then does not allow your tiles to lay flat across your floor, causing some edges to become raised, creating chipping.

To help fix your damaged tile, follow these steps:

1.  If the tile is already cracked, take advantage of the crack!  Chisel along the fissure line on the crack to help separate the tile until you are able to start getting under the tile to remove it.

2.  Once it is removed, you need to prepare the floor for a new tile by using a scraper to remove all of the old thin set.  You might need to use a hammer and chisel to chip away the thin set.

3.  Now that the area is cleaned, you can place a new layer of thin set on the floor (try using a trowel or spatula).  Place the tile on the floor, making sure to use a level!  Allow the thin set to dry approximately 24 hours.

4.  After the thin set is dry, you can now add your grout.  Make sure your grout color matches that of the existing grout.  After adding the grout, use a sealant on the new area.

Follow these simple steps on repairing your damaged tile and your flooring will look as good as new!

Flooring Options For Busy Families

There are a plethora of beautiful flooring options available today, and durability is almost always at the top of the list when it comes to weighing the options. Choosing flooring designed to withhold a lot of foot traffic is important when children and pets are in the home. Fortunately, beautiful flooring doesn’t have to be a sacrifice for busy families. There are plenty of options that can work marvelously. In addition to being beautiful, the following options are tough and durable.

From the STONEPEAK Active collection: Travertino White.

Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile is available in a wide variety of patterns and colors and can be incredibly beautiful and durable. This flooring material is an exceptional option for high traffic kitchens as well as bathrooms. Remember that there is a difference between floor tile options and wall tile options: Tile is graded according to hardness. Floor tile is much thicker and harder for durability purposes. Grade 1 tiles are relatively soft and designed primarily for walls. When shopping for flooring tile look for Grade 3 or 4.

Bamboo Flooring

Incredibly hard and durable, bamboo flooring is a great choice for busy homes. Bamboo wears well and lasts a long time due to its high fiber rating. It’s also exceptionally beautiful; perfect for dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms. Bamboo is quite a sustainable plant because it is very fast growing and abundant. You can feel good about choosing bamboo flooring for your home since it’s good for the environment.

Stone Tile Floors

Looking for the ultimate solution in durability? Give stone tile floor a try. Granite is the hardest. It is also popular for countertops, but can also make for a great and durable flooring option if you want to avoid scratches, which can occur in softer stones like marble.

Carpeting and Rugs

Carpet is obviously not your top choice in terms of durability compared to some of the options discussed. However, some rooms just seem a lot more comfortable and more inviting with carpet. Make sure you shop for durability if you’re going to go the carpet route. The trick is to find carpet that is stain resistant. You also want to purchase padding that will also be durable. If you have pets, avoid carpets with a looped pile since their claws can cause snags. Short piles, compared to plush styles, will show fewer footprints. Also pay attention to the material your carpet is made of. Nylon can be a great choice for durability while polyester is great for stain resistance. For ultimate durability in carpeting, look for tightly packed fibers.

Don’t Forget – The Home Show Begins Friday, February 8!

We’ll be there to answer any questions you may have and help you make the right flooring and installation decisions when updating your home. A great selection of quality carpeting, ceramic and porcelain tile, hardwood flooring, laminate and vinyl flooring will be on display. We’ll set you on the right path for your Spring projects. Hope to see you this weekend!

Here are all of the details you need to know about the show:

Suburban Pennsylvania Spring Home, Hot Tub & Landscape Show

LOCATION
Lancaster County Convention Center
25 South Queen Street
Lancaster, PA  17603

ADMISSION IS FREE

CLICK HERE for directions.

SHOW HOURS
Friday, February 8, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 9, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday, February 10, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

 

Reminder to Join Us At the Home Show

Dreaming of new flooring for your home?  Or, perhaps an update to your kitchen or bathroom tile?  Come visit us at the Suburban Pennsylvania Spring Home, Hot Tub & Landscape Show this weekend!

HERE ARE THE DETAILS:

LOCATION
Lancaster County Convention Center
25 South Queen Street
Lancaster, PA  17603

CLICK HERE for directions.

ADMISSION:  FREE!

SHOW HOURS
Friday, February 8, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 9, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday, February 10, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

We’ll be on hand to answer any questions you may have and show you a great selection of quality carpeting, ceramic and porcelain tiles, hardwood floors, laminate and vinyl flooring on display. We also carry niche brands and unique products like bamboo flooring.  We can help you make the right flooring and installation decisions which will ensure your satisfaction for years to come.  In the meantime, visit our Photo Gallery for some beautiful options and inspiration for your home project.  SEE YOU THERE!

Join Us At the Home Show

Join us at the Suburban Pennsylvania Spring Home, Hot Tub & Landscape Show being held at the Lancaster County Convention Center, 25 South Queen Street, Lancaster, PA  17603.

Click here for directions.

ADMISSION IS FREE

Show Hours:
Friday, February 8, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday, February 9, 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday, February 10, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Whether you are a new homeowner or someone who has lived in your home for years, anyone with an interest in updating, enhancing or creating a new look or amenity for their home will enjoy the Home Show.

And, our staff will be on hand to offer years of real-world flooring experience and knowledge. We want to help you make the right flooring and installation decisions for your home and ensure your satisfaction for years to come. Click here to visit our website.

MORE REASONS TO ATTEND:
Get inspired and excited about your home and the countless possibilities
Meet face-to-face with our flooring experts
Get expert advice and tips
Be wowed by the possibilities!

Mudroom Flooring Options

Looking for the perfect flooring for your mudroom? It’s essential to choose something that is both durable and long-lasting, but doesn’t clash with the rest of your interior décor. Here are some suggested flooring options:

Marazzi USA Stone Age Glazed Ceramic Tile

Ceramic tile
Ceramic tile is the perfect choice in a mudroom due to its durability and ease of cleaning. This tile is a very affordable choice and can be a do-it-yourself project on the weekend!  An additional benefit to ceramic tile is that it‘s available in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes, so it’s sure to match the décor of your mudroom.

Natural stone
If you’re looking for a very unique, beautiful, and one-of-a-kind flooring, look no further than natural stone. If properly sealed, natural stone is easy to maintain and very durable. If your mudroom needs to be extra-tough, try choosing a natural stone or tile with a rough texture to help create a better non-slip surface.

Wood floors
If stone does not flow with the rest of your interior décor, wood flooring is another favorite. With a luxurious look, wood flooring is a timeless selection. If your mudroom will be one that gets lots of traffic, choose a hardwood or reclaimed wood with your favorite finish and stain color. One of the downsides of wood floors is that it can show scratches and wear-and-tear over time. If you choose wood floors for your mudroom, make sure you wipe up any water that gets tracked in so the wetness doesn’t penetrate the wood.

Vinyl floors
For an inexpensive and durable look to your mudroom, look no further than vinyl flooring. While this won’t “last a lifetime” like other flooring options, vinyl flooring is essentially maintenance-free. Depending on the size of your space, installing vinyl flooring can be an easy DIY weekend project!