You Don't Have To Spend A Lot Of Money

It seems that many of our recent newsletters have been about expensive projects, like bathroom remodels and pricey updates to you home.  Not every project has to cost a lot of money; there are many things you can do around your house that are well within even the smallest budget.  For example, you can for:

Less than $100

~~update the paint in a room (or multiple rooms)

~~new bathroom accessories, like a new shower curtain and plush towels

~~new window treatments: inexpensive sheers, drapes, valances

~~reupholster your dining room chairs (this is an easy do-it-yourself project)

~~enjoy the outdoors with a new chiminea or patio fire pit

~~splurge on new small kitchen appliances like a coffeemaker, toaster oven, or electric skillet.  Today's models take up less space and do much more than older models

~~new artwork or wall mirror

~~update your décor with a new tablecloth and runner, placemats if you use them

~~new bedspread and shams (and don't we all need new pillows!)

 ~~rent a pressure washer and make the exterior of your house and your deck look brand new

Less than $500

~~new gas logs for your fireplace

~~purchase a room-sized area rug.  If your carpet is worn out and stained, a new rug is much less money than new carpet

~~if you have boring recessed lights in your dining and living rooms, consider replacing one of the room's lights with an eye-catching chandelier. Home stores offer a wide range of inexpensive, but nice-looking, ceiling fixtures these days

~~for a few hundred dollars, you can replace the kitchen faucet set, add new cabinet door handles and update old lighting fixtures with brighter, more energy-efficient ones

~~upgrading to a new toilet in a bathroom is a valuable addition for not a lot of money.  Some municipalities even give you a rebate for replacing an old toilet with a new water saving model

~~update your closets with new rods and shelves

Less than $1000

~~a new front door

~~new stone backsplash in your kitchen

~~replace an appliance or two

~~a comfortable new sofa or recliner for the family room

~~recarpet your staircase.  Patterned carpets are great for a staircase---the print hides stains and wear, and is a wow factor in your highly visible stairwell

Less than $1500

~~replacing your garage door boosts curb appeal and improves a significant portion of the front of your home for little money

~~new wrought iron balusters for your staircase

~~sleep better with a new mattress set

~~new carpet and pad for the family room

Less than $2500

~~if you have a small kitchen, new granite or quartz countertops

~~replace the carpet on your staircase with real hardwood stair treads and risers

~~new carpet and padding for your bedrooms

~~new hardwood floor for your family room or kitchen

National Karastan Month

If new carpet is on your list of "things to get done before the holidays" you will be happy to know it is National Karastan Month.   All Karastan carpets are eligible for 24 Month Zero Interest Financing plus you will receive a rebate up to $1000 on your purchase.  Come in today and see our large selection of Karastan carpets and live beautifully!

Word to the Wise

We just got a call from a panicked appliance repair company.  Their technician had moved the refrigerator in a client's home and had scratched the hardwood floors.  And of course there is no easy (cheap) solution to this type of damage.  Please...... when it is necessary to move your refrigerator (or anything else really heavy) first place protective floor mats (bed sheets will also work) over your hardwood floors along the path you'll be using.  Then lay quarter-inch plywood over the protective floor mats.  Place the refrigerator onto an appliance dolly.  Strap the appliance to the dolly and roll the refrigerator over the protective mats and plywood sheets.  These extra steps will definitely save you an expensive repair or the replacement of your hardwood floors!

Dreaming Of A New Bathroom?

Are you considering a bathroom update?  Maybe you are tired of the dated look and fixtures that were popular when your home was built years and years ago, or you want to make your bathroom more functional and practical, or you want a spa-like retreat where you can relax and unwind.  Sometimes our clients remodel because they have a leak, and walls need to be torn out for the repair, so why not upgrade the bath at the same time.  Or maybe you are putting your house on the market soon, and you know that updated bathrooms have one of the highest returns on investment (93%) when the house sells. Regardless of your situation, many of us want a new bathroom, but we don't know where to start.  We have compiled a list of the most common questions our clients have about bathroom remodels to assist you in planning the bathroom you've been waiting for.  Hope this helps!    1.What are some of the bathroom design trends? Large tile.  We rarely see the traditional 4" x 4" bathroom tiles used anymore.  Look for tiles at least 12 x 12 or 13 x 13.  Rectangular shapes (for example 12 x 24) are being used on the walls, sometimes installed vertically, sometimes horizontally.  Texture and shade variation is also very much on trend. For color, neutrals are the top color schemes used in bathrooms: whites, off-whites, beiges and bones. Grays and then browns are next in popularity. Sepia tones (reddish brown) and golds are also popular. Large, walk-in showers are very desirable. They can have a rainfall showerhead that is mounted into the ceiling over the center of the shower. They may also include multiple body jets spaced along each side wall. Spa-themed bathrooms with whirlpool or soaking tubs. Some issues to consider when choosing a whirlpool tub for your spa bathroom include how many jets you want, what space the tub needs to fit into, and that these types of bathtubs are about five to ten times more expensive than a traditional tub. If you have room, it's nice to put the whirlpool in a small, recessed alcove or on a raised platform to separate it from the rest of the bathroom. Larger vanities with double sinks.  A standard double vanity is sixty inches long; we are seeing more clients make space for a seventy-two inch vanity.   If you're willing to spend a little extra for custom work, you can have any length (and shape) that you want. If you have to share your retreat, you may want a toilet that is separated by a half-wall, or even its own tiny room. Today's lighting options include chandeliers instead of standard overhead light fixtures, wall sconces, can lights installed in the ceiling with dimmer switches, and an overhead light source in the shower. Plenty of cabinet space and shelving. Plumbing fixtures that are practical as well as beautiful. Brushed stainless steel and nickel fixtures blend in with almost any type of decorating, and are subdued enough to avoid drawing attention. 2. How do I know what I want my bathroom to look like?    This is either the fun or the agonizing part of the process.  We recommend websites like Pinterest and Houzz where you can see literally thousands of pictures of bathrooms.  You can create boards and idea books of the bathrooms that you like.  Vendor websites, new subdivision model homes, and manufacturer showrooms (Ferguson, PDI, etc.) are also great sources for ideas.  We are here to assist you every step of the way, however, most of the design decisions are truly personal preference.  And remember a picture is worth a thousand words----if we can see it, we can help you find it! Click below to see our favorite designs!                3.What types of tiles can I use in my bathroom remodel? Ceramic and porcelain tiles are the most popular type of bathroom tile. Most are economical, durable and come in an enormous variety of colors and styles.  There are many choices of   floor tile, coordinating or contrasting wall tile, and borders and mosaics.Natural stone (travertine, marble, etc.) is also a popular choice (but expensive!)  as a bathroom tile. While marble has always been a favorite for creating a distinctive vanity top, many home owners are now using stone tiles on their bathroom floors and walls, creating a sumptuous home spa look in the bathroom.  Be aware that natural stone requires special maintenance products and periodic sealing.    4.How long will the job take? Bathroom remodels can take as little as one week and as long as three weeks.  The complexity of the tear out, installation details and size of the bathroom are all things that effect the range of time you can expect your bathroom makeover to take.   5.Will I be able to use my bathroom during the remodel? No, the bathroom should be considered off limits for the entire time of the installation. 6.I want to have my tub removed and have a bigger shower.  What do you think about that? This is definitely a trend we are seeing.  Some people feel that a shower is easier and safer to get into and out of as we age.  Bathroom designers and realtors tend to agree that removing the bathtub is acceptable as long as there is at least one tub remaining in the home.  A prospective home buyer usually wants a bathtub somewhere in the house.  7.What is the process? An Enhance Design Consultant will meet with you in the showroom to discuss the scope of your project.   We will assist you in our Design Center with tile selection and will schedule appointments for you to visit our vendor partners for fixture and hardware selection.  Next an Estimator will come to your home and your quotation will be prepared.  Once all the details are finalized you are well on the way to making your dream bathroom a reality! 8.What is a frameless shower door? A frameless shower enclosure is made up of 3/8" to 1/2" tempered and polished safety glass. This glass has greater strength and does not require heavy metal framing around it. Expect to pay $1,300--$2,000 for your frameless glass door. 9.What is the cost of a shower niche and bench? Shower benches range from about $325-400.  A shower niche can range from $150-200. 10. I want my shower to have a flat entrance.  Is that possible? Yes.  It is called a curbless shower.  A curbless shower is one that has a consistently level entrance, with no lip or change in elevation from the outside to the inside. There are some installation details that must be taken into consideration for a curbless shower that will add to the cost of your project. 11. How much does a bathroom remodel cost?         In 2012 a major bathroom remodel cost an average of $26,052.  An industry             average price   per square foot for a professionally done bathroom remodel                 ranges $175 to $225 per square foot on the low end and over $600 per square           foot for a luxury bathroom. For a 5 x 8 bathroom (40 square feet) that is a         range of $7,000 to $24,000.    Why such a big range?  Because there are many components to a bathroom remodel, and each item has a wide range in quality and price.   For example, a toilet can cost $100 or over $5,000, tub prices range between $125 to over $10,000, and even something "simple" like shower heads vary from $5 to $10,000.  12. How much is the shower here in your showroom? The shower in our Design Center as you see it is approximately $3500 to $4000 installed.  This includes the porcelain tile, decorative border, "river rock" shower floor, shower niche, backer board, new pan and liner, and the required waterproofing.  (This design does not feature a glass door.) 13 . What do I need to purchase? Normally our clients provide the fixtures (toilet, tub) and hardware (showerheads, faucets, and drains), mirrors, medicine cabinets, towel bars, and toilet paper holders.  Other items that you may choose to provide are the vanity, sinks, and storage cabinets or shelves.   We can provide the countertop and sinks if not included with your vanity.  Enhance provides the installation labor, as well plumbing, electrical, shower doors, and painting.  This list is not totally encompassing, but should give you a good idea of what else you will need to shop for.  (Note:  we cannot begin the demolition of your bathroom until all of the materials that you are providing are on the job site.) 14.What can I expect different items to cost? The NKBA breaks down bathroom remodeling costs like this: ·  Installation: 20% ·  Cabinetry and hardware: 16% ·  Fixtures: 15% ·  Faucets and plumbing: 14% ·  Flooring: 9% ·  Countertops: 7% ·  Walls and ceilings: 5% ·  Lighting and ventilation: 5% ·  Design fees: 4% ·  Doors and windows: 4% ·  Other: 1% These figures are guidelines, not rules, and each project is different. Using these percentages and a bathroom remodel budget of $20,000 you will spend by category: Installation (labor) $4000 Cabinetry and hardware $3200 Fixtures $3000 Faucets and plumbing $2800 Flooring $1800 Countertops $1400 Lighting and ventilation $1000 Walls and ceilings $1000 All other $1800 Also set aside a minimum of 10% of the budget as a contingency fund (in case of unforeseen structural problems, for example.)

It's Mohawk Anniversary Month

One of our biggest sales of the year is now in progress----Mohawk Anniversary Month.  Almost every Mohawk carpet, hardwood, laminate and tile floor is on sale, plus 24 month Interest Free financing is available.  And there are rebates up to $500 on Mohawk ArmorMax hardwood floors and SmartStrand Silk carpets.  If you want new floors before the holidays, now is the time to buy!

And to make it easier for you to decide exactly what Mohawk product is best for your budget, we thought it was time for one of our most popular features:

How Much Does It Cost?

 ~A kitchen in Atlanta now has brand new Mohawk porcelain tile in the popular 20" x 20" size, installed on the diagonal, with stain resistant grout, all for only $1400. 

~~These Mohawk oak hardwood floors in the color "Cherry" were installed in the family room, living room, dining room, office, hall, bath, and foyer (848 sq ft) of a Smyrna home for $5700.  Nothing updates and upgrades your home like new hardwood floors.

  

~A medium quality Mohawk "cut and loop" carpet with the upgraded SmartCushion padding was installed in a large (1150 sq ft) basement area of a North Cobb home for $4200.

  

~Thinking about updating your bathroom? We recently tore out the old shower in a Roswell home and replaced it with a new larger shower surround of Mohawk tile with an accent border and a large niche for $3900.

~Need new carpet for your family room?  A Mohawk SmartStrand carpet was recently installed with premium SmartCushion pad for a little over $1000.  SmartStrand carpets are durable and stain resistant----perfect for a heavily used room like the family room.

~A client in Woodstock selected a Mohawk tile for three bathrooms.  The old "builders grade" vinyl was removed and this classic tile installed in all three bathrooms for $2700.

~This midgrade Mohawk plush carpet was chosen for 4 bedrooms and 2 staircases. Binding was included on one of the staircases and our client upgraded to a "pet proof" pad with a liner, and this was fully installed for $3000.

  

~We just installed easy-to-care-for Mohawk laminate flooring in a bonus room and hallway (583 sq ft) for $3700.

~Another client selected a top quality Mohawk "pindot" carpet for the family room, living room, hall and stairs.  The staircase included binding and these large areas (713 sq ft) were fully installed for $2900.  You may be wondering exactly what binding is.  This is a special way of finishing the edge of the carpet on a staircase with a fabric edge.  This is a more formal look, one that really dresses up the look of your staircase.

 ~The mudroom and laundry room of an East Cobb home had Mohawk luxury vinyl tile fully installed for $1200.  Luxury vinyl is perfect for wet areas---totally moisture resistant but not as cold and hard as ceramic tile.

~A client in East Cobb selected a Mohawk Silk textured carpet for her family room, dining room, living room, and 2 staircases. The turnkey price was $3500 for 972 sq ft.

~QuickStep laminates are also included in the Mohawk Anniversary Sale, because QuickStep is part of the Mohawk family of brands.  A tile-look QuickStep laminate was selected for the large kitchen, breakfast area, and hall (388 sq ft) of an East Cobb home.  Because our client has back problems, we removed the existing ceramic tile and added upgraded padding under the laminate to give her a more comfortable floor.  This was not an inexpensive project, about $4400, but her legs and back are already feeling better!

~Rectified porcelain tile was chosen for the bathroom of a Kennesaw home. Stain resistant grout and new baseboards were included in the $1100 price. (What is rectified tile?  This is a tile that has been mechanically cut to be very square and true so that a minimal grout joint can be used.)

~A patterned Mohawk Silk Berber carpet was installed with an upgraded pad with liner in 4 bedrooms of a North Cobb home. Almost 1000 sq ft for $4900.  This super-soft Silk carpet is perfect for bare feet and bedrooms. 

  

The great thing is that all of these floors are on sale!  And don't forget that 24 month (2 full years!) zero interest financing is also available on all of these beautiful Mohawk products now during our big Mohawk Anniversary Month sale. 

Projects To Avoid

If you plan putting your home on the market in the next few years, there are some home improvement choices that will probably hinder the sales potential.  Robby Monk with Exovations writes that when it comes to home improvement, every homeowner wants their home to look good, function well and add value.  If just one of the three listed isn't accomplished, then you could be left with a home improvement project that fails to live up to the intended result.  Below are five home improvement projects you may want to reconsider.

~~Turning your garage into a family room. We have all seen it.  A buyer walks into a beautiful home and everything inside the home meets their specific need - except for not having a garage.  One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is turning their garage into a family room.  Garages are often expected.  If you remove the garage, then your pool of buyers drops significantly.  Even if you aren't looking to sell anytime soon, the time will come and you will be left with a great deal of regret from having made this costly decision.

~~Excessive landscaping. Curb appeal is important.  A well landscaped yard can often lead to greater interest in a home that is on the market than a similar home with no landscaping.  However it is important to remember that "less is often times, more".  Excessive landscaping to potential buyers can look like too much maintenance. Although landscaping is important, it just as important to know when to stop and maintain what you have.

~~Converting a bedroom. Unlike landscaping, when it comes to bedrooms, "more is more".  Understandably there are times when a bedroom can be turned into either a home office or even a closet, but when a homeowner is looking to sell, the best thing they can do is turn the bedroom back into its intended use - a bedroom.  Buyers don't want to envision too much.  They want to see a home for what it was intended for.  Be aware that the bedroom must have a closet for it to be considered a bedroom by the appraiser.

~~Adding a swimming pool. Swimming pools can be fun.  They can also require a ton of cost and maintenance.  Swimming pools are considered more of a liability than an asset for buyers.

~~Being too personal. Extreme design tastes, although pleasing for certain individuals, don't always translate to buyers.  It is perfectly acceptable to turn your home into a theme of your choice, but know that when your home is on the market and prospective buyers are looking, they don't want to necessarily see your infatuation with Morocco and the marble tile you have put down throughout the home.  Instead, invest in making your home more neutral.  Prospective buyers don't like surprises and want to visualize how their furniture will fit into the home.  If they can't get past your extreme design flair, then they buyer may be thinking about the next home before they even leave yours.

Is Thanksgiving Dinner At Your House This Year!
If you have decided that this is the year you will finally remodel your kitchen, and you want it done before the holidays, you need to be well into the planning and estimating process.  Most kitchen remodels take about three months to complete from the time the cabinets are ordered.  You should be making your final decisions and getting your installation scheduled now to have any certainty of having a brand new kitchen in time for the holidays.



Are You On Facebook

Enhance Floors & More is.  We have recently added a lot of pictures to our Albums.  Please check them out next time you are on Facebook.

10 Tips For Choosing The Right Paint Color

We found these tips on a great blog, Myra Hope's MyBlessedLife.net.  Knowing how to choose the right paint color is so much easier on your budget, your neck, your marriage, etc., when you get it right the first time! Myra Hope advises:

1. For the love of all things beautiful, DO NOT go straight to your local home improvement store, choose a color under those horrific lights, buy two gallons and tote it home. Please.  Your walls thank you in advance. Trust me.

2. What looks good in my house might look awful in yours. And vice versa. This actually happened to me a few months ago. I loved the look of Sherwin William's Comfort Gray in several rooms that I had seen online. Without doing much research I painted my dining room and it was wayyy too blue. Not what I was going for at all. I should have followed my own advice and gotten a few sample pots.

3. Find your inspiration piece. Your inspiration may be something you already have - a piece of fabric, a chair, a pillow, a piece of art. Go old school and look through magazines or use Pinterest. Either way, decide what colors you are drawn to.

4. Take advantage of paint sample strips.Again, trust me. If you can get your hands on a paint deck (shows all colors) that would be even better. If you don't have a paint deck and you don't know anyone who does, you can usually get them on loan from your local paint store. If these aren't options, then take home lots of individual paint samples so you can go on to the next step.

5. Look for color undertones and compare samples. It is very helpful to compare paint samples to white. It is the easiest way to determine what undertone a color has. Each paint sample strip has an undertone - green, blue, red, yellow.

6. Tape the paint samples to the wall and look at them during different times of day.It is very important that you look at the paint samples in different light {both natural and manmade}. Give the samples a good stare  - morning, noon and night - and you'll be well on your way to step #7.

7. Use process of elimination. Also...squint.As you look at the paint samples color undertones and see them in different lighting, you will begin to determine which ones you love and which ones you don't.  This is the beautiful process of elimination. It rocks. If a color makes you hesitate, scratch it. You might think that squinting sounds funny, but if you squint your eyes, often colors are easier to figure out.

8. Get sample pots of a few paint samples that you like best. Please do not skip this step. Especially if you are painting a large area. Get sample pots of 2-3 and paint them on the wall in a few different places. I like using el cheapo foam brushes that I can just throw away when I'm done. This is the final step in the paint sample elimination process. Either you love a color or you don't.

9. It will end up darker than you think. I realize that when looking at a paint strip of colors from light to dark, it's very tempting to be all dramatic and go super dark. Once a color is on all four walls, it's going to be more dramatic {dark or need-your-sunglasses-bright} than it looks on that innocent little paint strip.

10. Less saturation is more. I just touched on this point, but a slightly grayed paint color is going to be more subtle and classic than a color that requires sunglasses. My recommendation is to go for less saturation rather than more. I can't tell you how many times a client has tried to find that perfect yellow color and unfortunately it looks like "The Man With The Yellow Hat" came for a visit. A soft, buttery yellow is much more pleasing, even though it looks more pale on a paint strip.

Keep The Rain From Damaging Your Home

It is quite possible that we will set a new record for the amount of rainfall in Atlanta this year. And with all the rain comes moisture problems. This is a quick checklist of things to monitor to protect your home:

~~Check the weather stripping and seals around all of your exterior doors. Make sure water is not getting on or under your floors.

~~Look at your landscaping immediately after it has rained. Is water puddling near your foundation? Your yard needs to be sloped so that water drains away from your home.

~~If you have a crawl space, please check it after every rain. There should not be any water in your crawl space and the humidity should be under control (50% or less humidity) or serious damage can occur to your home.

~~Clear your gutters of leaves and debris. Clogged gutters cause rainwater to pool, and if you've got an older roof, that rain will find its way into your house. Check the down pipes as well. Make sure the output has somewhere to go, to avoid pools near your foundation.

~~Get your roof inspected. Granules or roof debris in the gutters are not a good sign.

~~Keep large trees around your home trimmed and inspect for dead and dying branches that could come down in a storm.

~~Caulk cracks around windows and doors to prevent water from seeping inside. Check old caulk every year for chips and cracks, which indicates the caulk has dried out and needs replacement.  ~~If water damage occurs, get help right away. It only takes a few hours for bacteria growth, mold, and mildew to start.

~~entire bathroom walls covered in tile

Tile Style

Tile is one of the oldest flooring options; in fact it has been used for centuries.  You might think for this reason tile is not very fashionable.  We find that tile can be just as trendy as skirt lengths!  Some of the fashion forward tile designs we are seeing, and loving, include:
~~tile backsplashes going all the way to the ceiling

~~rectangular tile installed horizontally

~~texture, especially in wall tile

~~large format tile size (we used to think 20" x 20" was big!)

~~tiles that emulate other material, such as wood, stone, concrete, even leather (for the look without the maintenance and upkeep)

  

How to Take Care of Your Hardwood Floors
Many of us have beautiful hardwood floors in our homes, and unfortunately some of us do not know how to properly take care of our hardwoods. Here are care and maintenance "Do's and Don'ts"

DO's

·Do vacuum and sweep your floor frequently, especially in high-traffic areas. ·Do keep pets' nails trimmed and their paws free of dirt, gravel, grease, oil, and stains.

·Do use protective window coverings to block fade-causing UV rays and excessive heat from direct sunlight, and rearrange rugs and furniture periodically to help your floor age evenly.

·Do remove shoes with spiked or damaged heels before walking on floor.

·Do use a humidifier during heating seasons to help reduce wood shrinkage and a dehumidifier during the wet and high humidity times of the year to maintain proper relative humidity (between 35% - 55%)

DON'Ts

·Do not wet-mop, damp-mop, or clean your floor with water or other liquids. ·Do not use hardwood floor-cleaning or buffing machines or steam cleaners.

·Do not use oil soaps, liquid or paste wax or other household products containing oil (such as citrus, lemon or tung oil), silicon or ammonia to clean floor.
·Do not use harsh cleaning aids such as steel wool pads, any scouring pads containing metal or scouring powders.
·Do not use 2-in-1 cleaners with polish that may contain acrylics or urethane polish to restore gloss.

Not to single out a particular manufacturer, but this is an example of a product that we do NOT recommend for use on hardwood floors. Notice it does more than clean--it shines! protects! revitalizes! These words tell you that there is some sort of wax or finish in the product. You do not want to put a do-it-yourself finish on your floors. Many times it will not adhere to your floor, or it is very splotchy or streaky. Please, just use cleaners on your floors. Google "XXXX product ruined my hardwood floors" and you will quickly see how many people are very sorry they tried these miracle products-----

Plus a few general tips:

A Clean Routine

Vacuum or sweep with a soft-bristle broom regularly, especially before using floor cleaners, to prevent gritty dirt and particle buildup that can scratch the wood's surface. Don't use vacuums with a beater bar or power rotary brush head. Wipe up spills and spots immediately with a wood floor cleaner (made by a flooring or polyurethane manufacturer) applied directly to a clean white cloth. Use ice to harden tough substances such as candle wax or chewing gum and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe area clean with a soft, slightly damp cloth.

Floor Mats Protect Your Floor

High-quality floor mats at entrances and exits are key to reducing wear. They collect and trap all the corrosive substances that can be tracked in from outdoors, including dirt, sand, grit, oil, asphalt, or even driveway sealer. Also use mats in areas of constant pressure, such as in front of vanities, kitchen sinks and stoves.

Protective Pads On Furniture -- A Good Idea

Attach felt or similar protective pads to all furniture legs, particularly heavy pieces. When you're moving furniture, appliances or other heavy objects, use a dolly; never slide or roll anything across the floor. If furniture has hard plastic or metal casters/wheels, use protective mats underneath or replace them with soft rubber casters.

Did You Know

The average consumer spends 137 days (almost 5 months!) gathering information before making a flooring purchase? So if you have just now started to think about a brand new floor for your home, we'll see you in December to install it for you! Seriously, if you are thinking about having major projects completed before the holidays, now is the time to begin the selection process. Thanksgiving is less than four months away. Enhance Floors & More is open seven days a week and is here to assist you in making your dream home a reality.

How To Measure A Room

Many of our clients bring in measurements so that our Design Consultants can give them some rough pricing prior to the in-home estimate. Some floor plans that we see are very impressive, while others just aren't detailed enough to be of much assistance. We have compiled some tips on measuring your space for new flooring. (NOTE: The ballparks that we give you in the store or on the phone are just that----ballparks. We always need to see the job to assess all installation details and to take our measurements to ensure that you purchase the correct amount. As professionals, we know how to include hallways and closets, match patterns, plan seam placement, work with room irregularities, and account for rooms with widths greater than 12 feet.)

Floor Area = Length of room x Width of room
Wall Area = Height of wall x Length of wall

The foundation of a solid redecorating plan includes accurate dimensions of your living space. To start, we suggest creating an accurate Floor Plan. Here is what you will need to get started.

Recommended Tools

· 25-foot metal tape measure. Look for one that locks and retracts. · Graph paper: The grid makes it much easier to sketch an accurate plan. · Drafting tools: A ruler, pencils with erasers, a clipboard.

Basic Measuring Instructions

· Before measuring, make a rough sketch of the basic floor plan, including walls, windows, hallways, closets and door placements. Don't worry too much about it being proportional at this point. · With your rough sketch in hand, start measuring. Measure in running dimensions as much as possible. Fix the tape measure at one corner and run the tape along the side of the room, taking note of the measurement each time on your rough sketch. Record the dimensions in feet and inches, for example 13' 6" NOT 162". · Make additional measurements and notes on the drawing as you see fit. These might include the ceiling height, trim width, flooring or wall materials, etc. · With your new measurements and a new sheet of graph paper, redraw your floor plan to accurately represent your room's proportions. · Make photocopies of the finished drawing. You can use the copies anytime you need to talk to a retailer about new flooring or window accents, or even when rearranging furniture.

SOURCE: www.bobvila.com
                 "The Dean of Home renovation and Repair Advice"

Prefinished Vs. Unfinished Wood Flooring

I’ve looked at flooring from both sides now… and it’s the horrors of applying polyurethane I recall.

Apologies to Joni Mitchell for that, but when it comes to installing solid or engineered wood flooring, prefinished is my choice. Some pros disagree, but these are my reasons:

You can walk on your new floor immediately.
With flooring that is finished on-site using oil-based polyurethane, the homeowner must wait days, sometimes even weeks, before moving furniture back into the room. Even though the floor may be dry to the touch, it will be vulnerable to scraping until the waiting time has elapsed and the finish has fully cured. I once had to shuffle around in socks and remain furniture-less for four weeks after applying three coats of poly to a floor. (Waterborne polyurethane finishes dry to touch quickly but can have varying cure times—some quite long.)

No issues with VOCs and your family’s health.
For days after applying an oil-based polyurethane, you will smell and breathe in vapors from polyurethane resins and solvents. VOCs have been shown to be carcinogenic, and some waterborne polyurethanes produce them too. Why not buy prefinished so that the curing takes place in a factory, not in your living room?

No worries about dust.
Dust and errant hairs are the enemy of on-site floor finishing, but these annoyances won’t have any effect on your new prefinished flooring. You will, however, need to take measures to protect prefinished floors if you have contractors tromping around with tools and equipment en route to other jobs around the house.

Installation in one session.
There’s no necessity of staying home to complete the various stages of an on-site finishing job—sanding, sealing, staining, applying polyurethane and so on. A crew of two had our 300-square-foot solid wood floor installed, with underlayment, in only about two hours.

A better finish than what homeowners or contractors can apply on-site.
Factory-applied finishes are incredibly durable and often come with a lifetime warranty. For example, a Mullican red oak flooring, will stay new-looking for longer. It came with a PPG UV-cured resin and nanoparticle coating that is highly scratch- and abrasion-resistant. I can’t even scratch it with my fingernails.

Lower cost.
Prefinished solid wood floors initially cost more than unfinished wood flooring—starting at about $3 per square foot for the product. But once you factor in finishing costs, prefinished ends up being less expensive.

Okay, you’ve heard my arguments. But some homeowners and many contractors disagree with me and prefer site-finishing wood floors. Here’s why:

New construction or large renovations.
Many contractors prefer to wait until the end of the job to finish the floor. That way, a dropped tool or a mortar pebble under a work boot can’t mar the finished floor—and ruin customer relations.

Greater choice of finishes.
There is no question that the site-finished route opens up a greater variety of choices with respect to color and shade. Prefinished products, however, come in more species and stains than ever before.

No bevels.
Prefinished floorboards usually have micro-bevels on all edges. These bevels hide slight discrepancies between board depths and widths. Inevitably, some homeowners will prefer the flush look of site-sanded floors, as they feature no such grooves and can be finished to a mirror-like surface.

What’s your preference? Perhaps the hassles of site-finishing will be worth it to you—for one or all of the reasons above. But for homeowners like me, prefinished floors are the future