How To Maintain Your Carpets

Posted on April 29, 2012 by admin

When it comes to maintaining your carpets, two of the most critical areas of focus is the traffic area and the spot removal area.  If soil is not removed on a regular basis, the traffic areas will begin to wear excessively since dirt is extremely abrasive against the fibers of the carpet as you walk back and forth on it. When red wine, red beverages, urine, blood, and other spots appear on your rug these are considered danger spots and you must act immediately to avoid staining.

Listed are a few steps that you must take to properly maintain your carpeting:

Vacuuming

Make sure to vacuum your carpet often, at least twice a week. Vacuuming removes the abrasive soil that is not visible to the eye, since it can cut and slice the fiber causing premature wear. Make sure to remove any loose particles such as loose food, leaves, pieces of crayon, and bugs as these items can cause a spot on the carpet.

Professional Cleaning

As a general rule, carpet cleaning by a professional and someone who is certified should take place at least once a year. Professional cleaning removes the damaging soil in traffic areas that vacuuming alone will not been able to remove. For heavy traffic areas, cleaning may be required more often. Proper professional cleaning will not leave a sticky residue behind and can be done as many times per year as needed.

Warranty

Stain resist warranties vary from 5 to 20 years. All stain resistant warranties require regular cleaning and immediate spot removal.

Spot Removal & Interim Cleaning

Immediate spot removal is key to a clean carpet. When a carpet is new, or has sufficient protector on it, plain tap water will remove many spots. For those spots that will not come up easily with water, you must use a spot cleaner. Avoid using foam carpet cleaners or any product that is not made specifically for carpet.

Protective Coatings

Carpet manufacturers recommend that you re-apply protectors after cleaning. The soil resistor will help the soil slide off the carpet easier when vacuuming, spots will be easier to remove in general, and professional cleaning will be more effective.

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Distressed Hardwood Flooring

Posted on April 10, 2012 by admin

Everything vintage seems to be in style, even the very ground that we walk on. Hand scraped and distressed hardwood flooring is very popular among homeowners that are looking for that old, reclaimed look. Distressed flooring will last a long time and also show minimum wear, which is great when it comes to high traffic areas.

So what exactly is distressed flooring? It is the very art of making hardwood floors appear aged and rugged, bringing out the very beauty in natures creation. It is actually viewed as a refinishing technique, which sounds the complete opposite of how they are made. The hardwood planks are intentionally manipulated and damaged to give them an imperfect look—giving them their own unique style and decorative form. Homeowners take pride in their craftsmanship whether they helped with the task or had it done for them. They are becoming popular not only in homes but restaurants, retail stores, and even museums. The beauty of the wood beyond its looks is that they even withstand heavy traveled areas.

There are many different techniques to distress wood flooring, but its also very labor intensive, so may not be for everyone. Artists of distressing have practiced with different tools, developing techniques for certain scraped looks. With a variety of methods no two artists distress the same way, whether its hand scraping, sanding, denting, or forming man made knots and splits, everything is usually unique to the artist.

Another important factor to weigh in is the type of wood that is being distressed, whether is it hickory, pine, etc. some distress easier than others. So, before you start using every tool in the shed, experiment on some sample pieces of wood to get down a technique and look that you would like. Take the time to acquire the art of distressing and create your own style that you will enjoy for a lifetime.

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Refinishing Your Floors

Posted on March 26, 2012 by admin

Hardwood floors are popular due to their durability and timelessness. They are probably the only flooring choice that can grow to look better with age. However, no matter how careful you are with your hardwood floor, you will still have to refinish them at some point. Even the toughest of hardwood floors will begin to look a bit ragged after years of wear and tear. If your floors take a beating from pets, or is a high-traffic area, you may have to refinish it more often, while some floors only need to be refinished every three years.

How can you tell if your floors need to be refinished? First, find a high-traffic area where the finish is likely to be the most worn and pour a tablespoon of water onto the floor. If the water beads up and you can wipe it without a trace, the finish is still working and you don’t need to refinish. If the water slowly soaks into the wood floor creating a moderately darkish spot, the floor is partially worn and needs refinishing. If your floor is stained from surface scratches and fading, it may just need a deep cleaning and one coat of finish. Spot repairs can be made to cracks and holes, or you can leave them as marks of character.

Refinishing hardwood floors should be a last resort because it can be done too often. Some hardwood floors are solid wood that can be refinished many times throughout its life span. Most engineered flooring only has a thin veneer of finished wood. The downside with engineered floors is that it they can only be refinished two or three times before they need replacing.

Whether you decide to tackle the refinishing yourself, or hire a professional, refinishing hardwood floors is a big job that may take up to a week from start to finish. You will need to remove all the furniture from the room, drape plastic over all doors, windows and built-in cabinetry, as well as deter all foot traffic from the area.

 

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Laminate Flooring vs. Engineered Flooring

Posted on March 19, 2012 by admin

This seems to be a common question: which is better, laminate or engineered flooring? The answer to this question is: they are equally suitable in their own special way and use. When it comes to price, they are both inexpensive, have high durability, and still manage to give off the effect of a hardwood floor for nowhere near the price of real wood. In having said that, this is where their similar characteristics also come to a screeching halt.

What is laminate flooring? It is the simulation of real wood that is made up of a photographic application with a protective layer on top. It is made up of layers, and is usually composed of melamine resin and fiberboard materials, which is basically wood. Yes, underneath the photographic image is real wood!

Laminate flooring is inexpensive, highly durable, and more hygienic than carpet. Real hardwood floors are at greater risk for damage, such as scratches from dogs, or even your high heels. With laminate flooring, its surface is harder, making it difficult to be defected, or ruined within reason. Also, for all you “Do-It-Yourselfers” out there, laminate floors are easy to install. It is as simple as snapping the floor boards together in their pre-made grooves.

On the other hand, it’s not real wood, obviously. Someone with impeccable taste might pick out a beautiful laminate floor, but knowing it’s not real wood could deter him or her away from the purchase. Also, unlike real hardwood floors they cannot be sanded down and refurbished. Therefore they are unlikely to be a floor for life.

What is engineered flooring? It’s composed of two or more layers of wood in the form of a wooden plank. The top layer of the plank is real wood and it is adhered to substrate, which is just a solid substance the real wood is applied to for stability.

The advantages of engineered flooring, starts with its cheap price and durability. Being that the top layer of engineered flooring is actual hardwood flooring, this may attract more buyers than laminate. It can also be sanded down and refinished (depending on the depth of the real wood on top) to extend its lifetime. With having real wood on top of the planks, it allows you to wax or lacquer it to prevent it from any potential damages.  With engineered flooring it looks and partially is a real hardwood floor, but it doesn’t break the bank.

So, which is better? Depends on your use: people who have a dog with a limited budget—laminate floors are the choice for you. Meanwhile, for those persnickety buyers who want “real” hardwood floors, engineered flooring is the best option for you!

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5 Benefits of Having Cork Flooring

Posted on February 29, 2012 by admin

There are both environmental and consumer benefits when you purchase cork screw flooring. Cork is a renewable resource because it is harvested every nine years, and unlike other renewable natural resources such as bamboo, hemp, water hyacinth, and rattan it is not necessary to kill the tree to harvest the resource. Cork comes from the bark of the cork oak, and if removed correctly, it does not harm the tree.

Durability and Ease of Maintenance

The honeycomb cell structure of cork makes it very strong and flexible. The cell membranes are also waterproof and airtight, and because of the hollow nature of cork it is very light in comparison to its volume. The cell structure also gives it elasticity and resilience making the flooring soft underfoot, and able to withstand heavy traffic and heavy loads without producing markings, damage, or denting.

Healthy and Safe

Cork has natural properties that are anti-allergenic and resistant to insects. A naturally occurring waxy substance in cork called “suberin” repels insects, mites, and mold, and protects cork from rotting. In addition, suberin is naturally fire resistant and doesn’t release any toxions.

The thermal insulation capacity of cork flooring means that the cork absorbs heat and retains the heat. Thus, in the winter, cork flooring can help reduce heating costs.

Noise Reduction

The acoustic insulation properties of cork make it ideal for upstairs flooring because it helps dampen the noise and vibration of people walking around upstairs, or something dropping on the floor.

Beauty

Cork comes in many colors and different manufacturers provide various tile shapes and patterns. It is easy to dye cork tiles any color, and you can either buy cork tiles already dyed to a color of your choice, or you can easily dye them yourself. Remember, you can only dye cork tiles if they haven’t already been treated with a protective varnish such as polyurethane. It is also advisable to use a water-based dye to color cork tiles.

Price

One of the major benefits of cork flooring is the price. Cork flooring is a similar price to bamboo flooring typically about $5 to $12 per square foot if professionally installed and between $2 and $10 per sq ft for do-it-yourself installation. Another advantage of cork flooring is that it is less prone to shrinking and swelling because of humidity, and it can easily be self-installed.

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Advantages of Ceramic Tile

Posted on January 25, 2012 by admin

Ceramic floor tiles are becoming more and more popular amongst homeowners of contemporary to colonial styles as their top flooring option because of their stylish appearance and easy to maintain qualities. When deciding on a new floor, ceramic tile is very versatile and can be used in an array of settings such as kitchens and baths, as well as dining rooms and living rooms, and even outdoors. It is also available in many colors, sizes, and looks.

Ceramic tile can be found in bright colors, neutrals, and even wood grain finishes. In places where the weather is warmer, ceramic floors are preferred instead of carpeting because it makes a cooler option. They can also be placed in interesting patterns since they come in both smaller and larger rectangular shapes. Another great aspect of ceramic floor tiles is that they can be placed on walls to create a backsplash.

As long as your ceramic flooring tile is grouted properly, it will be waterproof and can even be placed outdoors since certain types resist frost. It’s always a good idea to buy and save a few extra tiles just in case one breaks. Don’t worry though, repairing the broken tile can easily be done just by removing the broken pieces, cleaning the area, reinstalling the new tile, and regrouting the area.

Advantages of Ceramic Tile

Easy to Maintain: It is recommended to apply sealant every three to four years to maintain. You may also hose it down if necessary. Home good stores and supermarkets carry products to assist you in maintaining and up-keeping your tiles.

Versatility: Ceramic tiles can be used as backsplashes, porticos, murals, and countertops depending on your style of décor. You have the option to match your floor to your tile walls, or contrast the two to make your room unique.

Cost Effectiveness. Ceramic tiles offer the best dollar spent of any flooring surface. The added bonus to limited upkeep and maintenance adds even more value. While material cost is low installation costs may be a little higher.

Increase Resale Value. Adding tile flooring to your home will increase its resale value tremendously. Potential home buyers will instantly notice the versatility and textures of your ceramic tiles.

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Maintaining and Protecting Hardwood Floors

Posted on December 13, 2011 by admin

If you already own hardwood floors or you are in the market for hardwood floors, make sure you consider the upkeep of choosing gorgeous hardwood flooring. Hardwood floors can increase the value of your home while selling, meanwhile also being a beautiful investment. However, keep in mind that the floors also require regular maintenance. To protect hardwood floors against moisture damage, abuse, and keeping them shiny and inviting, here are some tips to help you decide if hardwood flooring is right for your  home and family.

•Protect Hardwood Floors From Moisture  Damage:

Moisture damage can stem not only from spills, but also climatic changes in the humidity levels in your home in the summer time. Make sure your home is kept at a consistent reasonable level for air conditioning and humidity control throughout the season. In the wintertime when it is dryer in the air, heat can cause wood to pull apart at seams of planks.

•Be Aware Of Changes In Your Hardwood Flooring:

Since hardwood is made from natural wood products, it is normal for flooring to expand and contract. On the other hand, if your floors are cupping, (meaning they are rising and dipping unnaturally in certain areas) then there may be a problem with humidity, a plumbing leak, or sitting water in and around that area. The good news is that once you find what is causing the problem the floor can be renewed with sanding. For areas that have been cupping for long periods of time, it might be necessary to replace the entire plank or several planks of your hardwood flooring.

•Keeping Your Wood Floors Looking Shiny:

To clean your floors, use water and vinegar sprayed on a sponge mop. This will
not only clean your floors effectively, but also protect the finish, without stripping. For making your floors shiny, many hardwood flooring experts suggest natural products such as olive oil as opposed to wax-based cleaners. If you do decide to use these, alternate the use with natural products to give your floor a healthy break from the waxy products.

•Protecting Your Hardwood Floors Day-To-Day:

To protect your floors from getting scratched daily, use cloth furniture protectors under the feet or legs of your tables, chairs, and heavy furniture. Also, consider removing shoes that can scuff and scratch the floor. For pets and kids that regularly track through your home, you will have to be more diligent for keeping up with sanding and maintenance. On the other hand, many homeowners feel scratches and natural wear can add to the character of their flooring.

Hardwood flooring offers unlimited natural beauty and inherent characteristics. Once installed, the look of your home will not be the same. With proper care and maintenance your floors will last as long as your home.

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Don’t Worry, It’s SmartStrand

Posted on November 15, 2011 by admin

In a partnership with DuPont, Smartstrand carpet exclusively offers fiber made materials with Bio-PDO.  This is the key Sorona ingredient produced from corn sugar.  By using the sugar found in corn, DuPont is able to create Sorona’s key ingredients from renewable resources instead of natural resources.  Every seven yards of SmartStrand made with DuPont Sorona renewable sourced polymer, saves enough energy and resources to equal the equivalent of one gallon of gasoline.  This is the first time that a luxuriously soft carpet offers durability and stain protection, while also making less of an environmental impact.

Smartstand With Dupont Is Environmentally Smart Because:

1. The production of Sorona polymer requires 30 percent less energy than the production of an equal amount of nylon.
2. Greenhouse gas emissions from the production of Sorona are 63 percent lower than nylon manufacturing.
3. This energy reduction results in approximately one gallon of gasoline saved per every seven square yards of carpet.

The stain resistance of a SmartStrand carpet is engineered into the fiber and will never wear or wash off.  This means that consumers will never need to retreat the carpet with stain protectors after steam cleaning.  This in-stain resistance is a new level of protection, allowing tough stains such as mustard, red wine, and cherry Kool-Aid to be removed simply with warm water and a mild detergent.  The fiber can even resist discoloration from bleach!

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The Basic Guidelines On How To Repair Hardwood Flooring

Posted on June 30, 2011 by admin

One of the best floorings that you can probably get is hardwood. Hardwood flooring gives your home that classy—elegant look that you have always wanted.  It has a very natural and exquisite appeal that other competitors in this category fail at exhibiting. Hardwood comes in a variety of surfaces and finishes lasting longer than other conventional floorings.

However with time, it may face the wrath of its environment and receiving scratches and other damages that may kill the finesse you paid for. Protecting them with wax or polyurethane may provide temporary solutions, but if you intend to protect them for any longer these guidelines may be helpful. First of all it depends on how bad the damage is, and how handy you are. Keeping a few tricks up your sleeves as to how to repair hardwood flooring may eventually save you big bucks when changing the whole damaged board panels each time.

Firstly, you have to access how bad the damage is. If it is just a small scratch it would be much easier. If it is bigger and deeper you may have to wade deeper in the mud, and face much more hassles. Once you have assessed the damage, you have to move on to the next level according to the damage.

Simple Scratches: When the problem you are facing is simple scratches on the hardwood, putty sticks are the best solution. For example, the Tibetan Almond Stick removes superficial scratches as if they were removed by magic.

Deeper Scratches: For deeper scratches, you may have to buy a variety of putty as per which suits best to your requirements. Various sorts of putty sticks are available at every hardware store. Having the right combination for your floor type can work wonders easily.

Using Wood Fillers: If the cracks you are facing are even deeper rendering your putty sticks irrelevant, you may have to bring in bigger guns, such as wood fillers. Things start getting complicated here if you are a beginner at this stuff. A major problem you may face is that the color of the filling may not match your previous filling. However, that issue can be solved if you stain the exposed part of the filling with the appropriate color.

Bigger problems like gaps in the boards, buckling boards etc., may not be under the domain of self-repair, and you may have to bring professionals in for that purpose. Friends Floor Covering Inc. is a pioneer in all sorts of hardwood repair providing the best services with their skills, years of experience and expertise in the field.

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Renovation at your door step- Friends Floor Covering

Posted on May 5, 2011 by admin

Home, may be a small word but it has a huge importance in anyone and every one’s life. We may have ancestral house and   care for it a lot. We at Friends Floor covering   deals with all floor related problems at your door steps.

Many a times we feel we can monitor the labors at work ourselves but it is essential to have knowledge of the key tools needed to install a floor. Some basic tools include a circular saw, tape measure, hammer, carpenter’s square and pencil, a corner, a knife, a wooden block, a lever, a vacuum cleaner and a fan. Besides this, it is also important that you have some protection for the eyes and ears and Team of Friends Floor Covering helps you wits all necessary things related to the work.

Now you finally get to your chosen floor covering. If you have selected a set of lock laminate floors glue is unnecessary. Remember just a floor needs to be glued requires more work. You’ll spend quite a bit of time deciding what kind of hardwood flooring to install in your home. But it’s about more than just the species of wood; the finish is just as important and will affect your flooring’s final appearance. We’re ready to discuss all of the options with.

The type of finish on a wood floor makes a difference on looks, durability and wear. From traditional oak hardwood floors to exotics such as Brazilian walnut (also known as pie) and Bolivian rosewood, selecting a floor finish to best suit the type of wood is critical to protect it. More and more varieties of hardwood flooring are coming from the manufacturer already finished, which typically eliminates the need for any sealer or finish after installation. Manufacturers provide information on the factory pre-finished they apply and will give recommendations for any additional finishing after installation.

Most exotic wood floors are manufactured as solid floors, while some varieties are available as an engineered floor. Cork and other exotics are becoming increasingly popular as pre-finished products with an aluminum oxide finish or UV-cured acrylic finish.
Friends Floor Covering helps you to have an excellent wood finished floor marking your status as well as protecting your home.

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