DO this, DON'T do that!

Very rarely does a day go by at our store that we don't hear a "floor story" that makes us cringe:

~People had a party to show off their newly remodeled kitchen with hardwood floors, someone wore stilettos and ruined their brand new floor!

~Someone used that "new, wonderful" shine product on their laminate floors, and now they're all hazy!

~Lady got brand new LVP floors in the kitchen and when the plumber pushed the fridge back in place, he scratched the vinyl!

 

Yes, these and many more. All new flooring products have protectant, are "scratch-resistant" or "stain protected" but that doesn't mean they are impervious to damage. Nothing is 100% damage-proof!

 

Part of our job here at Enhance is to guide you to making the best choice for you and your family. Needs and situations vary, there is no perfect floor for everyone. And sometimes we are asked "What's the best?" Well, there's not one answer to that question! There are five different answers for every five customers. And sometimes a customer has to weigh and balance what they want against what they need.

 

What floor is the easiest to maintain? For most people, porcelain or ceramic tile.

 

What floor is the least expensive? Either carpet or sheet vinyl.

 

What floor gives you the most return on your investment? Wood, for sure.

 

What floor feels best under your feet? Definitely carpet.

 

What floor is best in a basement that tends to flood? Luxury vinyl with a waterproof core.

 

What floor is best for senior citizens? Consider cork- easy maintenance, antimicrobial, and softer that other "hard" surfaces in case of falls.

 

SO many variables, so many choices! No "one size fits all" answers.

 

Next, we're going to list some "DO's & DON'Ts" for all sorts of floors. Maybe by reading the list, you will find the factor that helps you decide, or tips the balance between Need and Want! When choosing any new floor, take samples home, look at them in all the rooms where you plan to have it installed, at all different times of day, drapes closed and open, daytime and nighttime. We strongly advise against making a final decision without ever having the sample in your home for several days!

 

If carpet is your choice-

~DO consider polyester carpet if you are on a budget.

~DO consider upgrading your pad. The standard pad included with purchase at Enhance is an 8-pound rebond pad. We have several upgrade options, some for practical reasons, some purely for comfort.

~DO treat any stains or spots immediately. Spills are going to happen. Just get them up as soon as possible!

~DO vacuum regularly. Dirt and grit deteriorate the fibers and even the backing on carpet, and the damage starts from within.

~DO use the appropriate vacuum cleaner, set at the correct height for your type carpet. Beater bars should not actually touch the carpet, but should create a wind tunnel effect pulling dust and dirt up and out of the carpet.

~DO have your carpet professionally cleaned on a regular basis, with hot water extraction. The carpet manufacturers require documentation of this in order to honor a future warranty claim, so save your receipts.

~DO rearrange your furniture periodically. This allows furniture marks to dissipate, and traffic patterns to even out.

 

For hardwood-

~DO expect color and grain variations, as wood is a natural product.

~DO keep your hardwood floors clear of grit- this is one of your floor's biggest enemies.

~DO clean your hardwood floors with a manufacturer approved product for wood, without wax or harsh soaps.

~DON'T install hardwood floors in a space where they will be exposed to excessive moisture, and DON'T allow damp items (such as used towels or wet bathing suits) to be left on your hardwood floors.

~DON'T allow stilettos or cleats on your hardwood floors!

~DON'T allow your wood floor to be exposed to direct sunlight. It can fade it.

 

If you're jamming on laminate-

~DO be sure your installer uses a quality underlayment to quiet the floor and protect your laminate from beneath.

~DO clean up any spills just as soon as they happen.

~DO sweep, dust mop, and damp mop with the manufacturer's recommended cleaning product.

~DO use felt pads (we sell Flexi-Felt at Enhance) on your furniture feet to protect your floors from scratches.

~DON'T install laminate in an area with excessive moisture.

~DON'T use mop-and-shine products on your laminate.

 

If you choose vinyl flooring-

~DO wipe up spills as soon as possible. Vinyl is very resilient; however, it can be stained.

~DO use plywood sheeting when moving heavy furniture or appliances to protect your vinyl from being scratched.

~DON'T use any abrasive cleaner on your vinyl floor.

~DON'T use rolling casters on vinyl, use chairs with felt tips instead.

 

Or if tile completes you-

~DO use stain resistant grout.

~DO remember that while tile is very durable, it isn't indestructible and can be chipped or cracked.

~DON'T get hung up on the differences between ceramic and porcelain. In a residential installation, either is perfectly fine used indoors.

 

 Some rules that apply to ALL floors:

~Get spills up as quickly as possible.

~Use protection on furniture feet.

~Use the manufacturer's recommended cleaning products.

~Always consider buying extra product for any future repair.

~DON'T wear shoes inside your home (see our article from March 2017)

~DON'T invest in new flooring without analyzing your window treatments, or lack thereof.  Direct sunlight can fade carpet, bleach out wood floors, and cause certain luxury vinyls to curl up on the edges.

 ~DON'T use the wrong vacuum on your floors.  For example, a vacuum with a beater bar can cause permanent scratches and chips to your hard surface floors.

  

If You Need It Now....

We have 18-month interest free financing on Mohawk products (carpet, hardwood, tile, laminate, luxury vinyl) purchased by Friday, July 21.  You don't need to have it installed by the 21^st, just ordered.  Here is an idea of the monthly payments on some recent installations with the 18-month financing option:

 

~~Master bedroom with sitting area, two guest bedrooms, playroom, office, closets, hall, landing and stairs 1855 sq. ft. (huge area!) in a medium quality Mohawk carpet with upgraded pad $398 per month

~~Family room, kitchen, breakfast room, hall and foyer 849 sq. ft. in a Mohawk distressed engineered wood $452 per month.  These are big rooms and there was existing wood to pull up

~~Kitchen, breakfast area, pantry and utility room 446 sq. ft. in Mohawk SolidTech luxury vinyl plank $211 per month

~~Family room, dining room, living room, kitchen with breakfast area, hall and foyer almost 1100 sq. ft. in Mohawk Huchenson laminate $425 per month

~~Master bathroom floor 92 sq. ft. in an 18 x 18 Mohawk porcelain tile installed with Fusion stain resistant grout $84 per month

 

Design Tip

Trendy versus Trending?  There is a big difference.  It sounds like minor semantics, but in the world of home design, it's important.

Trendy is a moment in time.  It can be here this season and gone the next.  Trending, however, is taking part in a much wider and lasting movement. 

When we make big decisions for our home, such as flooring, we don't want to make a decision based on what is trendy.  "We want to make a decision by what will have lasting appeal," says Emily Morrow, Shaw's Director of Style, Color, and Design. The major flooring manufacturers have designers and trend experts that study the global design marketplace to find the styles, the patterns, the textures, the materials, and the colors that will have lasting impact and timeless beauty.

Is there room for trendy in our lives?  Absolutely. Trendy items in our wardrobes and in our home accessories (pillows, throws, candles, artwork, even rugs) can provide lively updates for a season. But when making the significant investments for your home like new floors, choose a style and color that will make your home beautiful this season and many, many more to come.  

Which Floor is Best for Allergies?

My Child Has Allergies! Should I Pull Up My Carpet?

The good news is that people with allergies and asthma can have carpet. Most fibers used in mass-produced rugs and carpets today are harmless materials like polyester and nylon, the same stuff clothes and bags are made from. These synthetic blends are constructed out of lab-developed fibers that repel allergens, in part because they are nonorganic and offer an inhospitable climate. For example, mold has nothing to eat and particulate (pollen, dander, etc.) can be easily vacuumed.  Wool should be avoided because allergens and mold can thrive in it. Regardless of material, avoid shag -- the longer the strands, the more places the pollen can go. Also choose carpet that is tightly woven for the same reason.

But no matter which carpet type you choose, dust, pollen and other allergy-aggravators are still in there, so get rid of them.  Vacuum regularly and have your carpets professionally cleaned (hot water extraction) on a regular basis.  Invest in a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which traps allergens; some vacuums are even equipped with them.

Allergens sink into the carpet and out of the air, but even with frequent vacuuming, they're still down there. Hard floor coverings offer no haven for allergies -- they just sit on the surface.  They're easier to clean than carpets -- a simple sweep and vacuum quickly gets rid of allergens.  If you opt out of carpet, however, note that hard surfaces require more frequent cleaning. If not maintained, the result will be a dusty, sneezy environment that is inferior to the allergen-trapping properties of a carpet-covered room.

In short, if you want to sweep/vacuum more frequently, a solid surface may be better. But, if you aren't able to maintain the flooring almost daily, carpet may actually serve you better.

  

Party Animals!

If you attended our latest event, you already know how much fun they are! We had a great time, with good food, fun games and prizes, and tons of useful information from our vendor reps. We LOVE getting to play and have fun with our customers! We are so proud of our new Rug Shoppe and Bathroom Gallery. If you couldn't make it to the Grillin' Up A Good Time Event, please drop by to have a look at what's new. And plan to come to our next event- The Flooring Fiesta- where we'll have Tacos and Margaritas and Mischief!

What? Are You Speaking My Language?

There is lots of new "language" flying around: LOL, BTW, IMHO, OMG have become common everyday abbreviations for many of us. Sometimes we need an interpreter (usually under the age of 20) and the world of luxury vinyl flooring is no different. We have our own acronyms- LVT, LVP, WPC, to name a few. Here's a handy dandy little explanation to help you navigate these terms:

LVT: Luxury Vinyl Tile

LVP: Luxury Vinyl Plank

WPC: Wood Polymer Composite

Huh? Still lost and confused?  Well, you're in good company! This industry is evolving so fast, even some insiders get tongue-tied and twisted up remembering the differences.

LVT stands for luxury vinyl tiles and LVP stands for luxury vinyl planks. Sometimes you will find LVT/LVP that are also waterproof/WPC, but not always. They mean two different things.

Typically, all WPC products will be considered luxury vinyl tiles or luxury vinyl planks, but not all luxury vinyl is WPC. Kind of like how all golden retrievers are dogs, but not all dogs are golden retrievers. It's a specialty in the luxury vinyl market.

The term "luxury" can be a little misleading. While it can be more expensive than traditional sheet vinyl, LVT/LVP is not only affordable, it can be an incredibly far-sighted smart purchase.  Usually, a luxury vinyl product consists of multiple layers, realistic 3D printing, a tough wear layer, a textured surface, and sometimes, an attached underlayment (pad.)  Planks typically are 5 to 7 inches wide and 24 to 72 inches long, resembling a plank of wood. Tiles are more square or rectangular, and usually mimic a stone look.

WPC stands for Wood Polymer Composite.  It's 100% waterproof. This is the trademark of WPC vinyl.  Coincidentally WPC is also called Water Proof Core.  The only other floor that can claim to be 100% waterproof is glazed manmade tile. Also, because WPC vinyl is so thick and durable, it can minimize pull-up charges and imperfect subfloors.

There are beautiful wood and stone images to choose from.  These top-end vinyl floors are able to more realistically mimic natural materials better than ever before. WPC vinyl is the best of the best, which means the looks are usually incredibly convincing and beautiful. It is more comfortable than tile. It's true, you could just get a wood or stone look tile and it would also be waterproof. But tile is hard. Standing on a tile floor all day isn't great for your joints or feet. Vinyl is more resilient and much more comfortable. And finally, easy maintenance. All you need is the occasional vacuum and damp mop to keep your WPC looking fabulous.

Rigid Core Technology is another term that you will hear when vinyl shopping.  This refers to a rigid composite core with an acoustic backing, and a locking technology that secures the planks together.  Again, all Rigid Core is WPC, but not all WPC is Rigid Core.

If you think luxury vinyl is the right choice for your home, the Enhance Design Consultants will help you find the perfect look and style for your décor, lifestyle, and budget.

How Much Does It Cost?

We recently installed luxury vinyl plank (LVP as you just learned!) in a large Marietta family room and hall for $3400.  We installed Shaw Floorte---a premium quality line, and this price included removal of the old carpet/pad/tack strip, moving furniture, and new shoemold and transitions.  Our client is thrilled with this beautiful, easy care floor!

Design Tip

A few easy summer projects:

~If you have hydrangeas blooming in your yard, bring a few indoors and enjoy the splash of summer color!

~Replace your heavy winter bedspreads and comforters with thin throw blankets.

~Give you bathroom a refresh with new towels and a fun shower curtain.

~String lights are functional and add an element of coziness and whimsy to your space. String lights up and around trees or over your patio, garden and other outdoor space. They can also be easily stored away or repurposed for holiday décor later in the year. Candles and glass lanterns cast a warm glow over your patio or backyard that will last late into the summer night.

I Was FLOORED By Enhance

From John in Marietta:

"Enhance just refinished a floor for us.  It's been a great job. I'd recommend them to anybody. As a matter of fact, they corrected a lot of errors from the last time we had these floors finished by a different company. The Enhance guys are friendly, and they're very helpful. They take their time to explain things and do good, quality work. They're professional. Excellent work."

Thank you for the review, John.  Call us anytime with questions about how to take care of your wood floors. 

Tip: Vacation time is a great time to have time consuming work like refinishing done in your home.  You're out of the house anyway, so consider getting some not-so-convenient projects completed while you are away.