If you want the look of beautiful hard wood floors, you are not alone. Hard wood floors are one of the most sought after home furnishings. The average price of standard wood floors (typically oak, maple or cherry) starts at around $7/per sq. foot and can go all the way up to $15/per sq. foot when labor is factored in. When you want to save yourself some cash, there are a couple of options that can help you get the same look and feel without breaking the bank.

•  Ask for pine – Pine is often overlooked because it is a “soft wood,” meaning that cupping in all likelihood will occur. Cupping is the only downfall though, so if you think this adds character to your floors, make sure to ask your installer about it. If pine is common near or in your area, that can also help keep the price down.
• DIY – If you have some handyman skills, changing the floors in your home could be a very viable option. When making the pricing estimate, make sure to factor in time. If the time it takes you to do it doesn’t come out below the price of paying someone else to do it, it may not be worth it. If there are steps of the process that you don’t mind doing yourself (purchasing and delivering the wood, removing old flooring, etc.) ask your installer if there are fees that can be eliminated if you complete those steps yourself.
• Floating floors – Floating floors are called that because they do not need to be glued or nailed to the subfloor, each piece is glued to the one next to it. They are a great way to save money but should not be installed in bathrooms or other places in the home where floors often get wet.
• Laminate – If none of these options seem like the right one for you, maybe you should stray away from real hard wood all together and head straight for the laminate. It used to be thought of as just the cheaper alternative, but laminate has come a long way and can provide you with a beautiful wood look and feel for a much lower cost. Even better, it can handle any room in the house!

In honor of Memorial Day we want to showcase a few of the”Made in the USA” wood flooring we offer!

American Made Flooring:

Anderson Floors:

Bruce Hardwood Flooring:

Mannington:

Wood flooring is beautiful. If you’re lucky enough to have it in your home you want to keep it that way for as long as possible. Here are some useful tips in making sure your floors last:

• Don’t mop! Well, not the traditional way. Use a mop that has a dusting agent or, if using water, make sure to wring it out until it is barely damp. Standing water on wood floors can cause damage to wood surfaces.
• Know what kind of finish your dealing with; different finishes can require different techniques
• Don’t use products that leave residue, which can include furniture polish intended for wood furniture. Using a water based product is the safest bet.
• Keep away from harsh chemicals. Bleach and ammonia are the fastest way to damage your flooring and could possibly void any current warranties
• Get your pets a pedicure; keeping nails trimmed on your four-legged friends can help prevent scratches on your wood floors
• Don’t wear shoes in the house. Stiletto heels, soccer cleats and similar shoes can cause scuff marks quickly
• Protect your investment; try having small rugs in high traffic areas such as the entrance doorway.

Carpet causes allergies:
• University of Georgia conducted a study to disprove the myth that carpet causes allergies. They compared hard floors compared to carpeted floors to test the amount of particles of dust and other particulate matter transferred dermally. It turns out 95% of the particles were transferred from a hard floor to the hands, compared to only 3-5% of the particles on carpet.

Carpet kicks up dust:
• The myth that dust is constantly kicked up in carpets has been disproved recently, too. A testing lab in Dalton tested what happens to particles of dust that are resting on a carpeted surface compared to hard surface floors when a person walks across that floor. Virtually no dust was kicked up from the carpeted floor while a significant amount of dust was found rising from the hard surface.

For homeowners who truly want a sustainable wood flooring product, go with American hardwood floors. Unlike cork and bamboo, which are shipped in from the other side of the world, you can have hardwood flooring from forests that are in America. The U.S. companies have great policies in replenishing our forests as they cut them down. American-made products are not just a trend – American hardwood floors are for a lifetime.

2013 has been a year for major flooring experimentation. We’ve seen floors that are brightly colored, eco-friendly, printed with designs, and textured. Some have looked great and some, not-so-much. We are here to help you pick out and supply you with whatever your heart desires in flooring. We also want to make sure it’s an environment that will last through the ages not till next year. (Unless that’s what you want!)

Here are the new trends from the first half of the year and some trends you’ll see coming up.

Bright colors:

Textured:

Eco Friendly:

What floors of the future could look like:

Wine barrel “reclaimed wood:”

Geometric Designs:

The beauty and life of your carpet depends on the care it receives. Here are some best practice tips to keep your carpet lasting long and looking new.

1. Vacuum Vacuum Vacuum! 

Vacuuming is essential to keeping your carpet in good condition. By vacuuming at least once a week in heavily trafficked areas, you can greatly  reduce the wear and tear of your carpet.

2. Divide Up Your Carpet

According to TLC’s carpet cleaning tips, it is best to divide your floor into quadrants. Focus on vacuuming each quadrant thoroughly before moving on to the next. This will ensure you are vacuuming all of the dirt and dust particles in your carpet.

Quick Tip: TLC also suggests adding baking soda to the bag in your vacuum to fight odors.

3. Slow and Repetitive Motions 

According to The Carpet and Rug Institute’s Vacuuming 101 article, it is important NOT to go over your carpet with quick motions just once or twice. Rather, they recommend using,”slow, repetitive front-to-back motions in an overlapping sequence.” By using slow motions and moving the vacuum front to back in repetitive motions, this will allow for a more effective and efficient clean. They also caution not to, “press down or make too many passes over the same spot. Instead, move slightly to the left or right about every four strokes.“va

For more carpet cleaning best practices visit The Carpet and Rug Institute here.

Stone tiles bring a rich and organic look to any home. Here are our recommended top 4 stone floor tiles:

1. Granite

Granite tiles are one of the hardest and most durable of all tile flooring. It is very stain resistant and more durable than marble. In addition to being extremely durable, it has a smooth and elegant finish. It is low maintenance and perfect for high traffic areas.

Granite Tile

2. Marble 

Marble is a luxurious tile that can ad elegance to any room. There is a large variety of colors, textures, and veining. It is extremely unique and no two pieces look exactly alike. Although marble has undeniable beauty, it more porous than granite and can stain more easily.

Marble Tile

3. Travertine 

Travertine is widely used for its comfortable and natural look. It is very rugged and requires very little maintenance. Travertine is also a more affordable option. Generally, it is less expensive than ceramic and hardwood flooring. It is also unique as no two pieces are exactly alike.

Travertine Tile

4. Slate 

Slate is a more rustic stone that is very durable. It is available in a wide variety of colors and can ad life to any room. The darker coloring also hides dirt very well.  It is a beautiful way to protect your home from unwanted elements. It is a great choice for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and porches.

Slate Tile

Are you looking to buy new carpet for your home? Choosing new carpet can be a fun and exciting experience. However, with so many different selections, it can also be overwhelming. Depending on your lifestyle, different carpet fibers might be more suitable for you. There are four basic types of fiber used to manufacturer carpeting in the United States. Each has its own strengths and benefits. Below are some tips to help you choose the fiber best suited for you.

1.Nylon

This is the most popular fiber used to make carpet. It has outstanding durability against abrasion from foot traffic and provides brilliant color. Not only is it strong and long lasting, but it is also soft to the touch and stain resistant. This carpet is easy to clean and is great for those who have kids and pets. Advanced Generation Nylons can also be treated with a resin that makes them resistant to soil and stains.

Nylon Carpet

 2. Olefin (prolypropelene)

This is the fastest growing fiber due to the popularity of Berber carpet. It is great for kids and pets because it is extremely stain resistant. In addition, it is great for humid places because it is also extremely mildew resistant. It’s easy to clean, resists fading, and is a great value when used in a well constructed dense look carpet like Berber.

Berber Carpet

3. Polyester

Polyester carpet has an extremely soft feel and provides brilliant color. It is also naturally stain, fade, and abrasion resistant. It is used best in low dense pile construction.

Polyester Carpet

5. Wool 

Wool is the only natural fiber used to make carpet and the most expensive. Out of all the fibers, it is the most durable and resilient. It performs well in the heaviest traffic. It is easy to clean because wool naturally releases soil rather than absorbing it. However, because of it’s expense, wool is used mostly in luxury carpets and area rugs.

Wool Carpet