Flooring FAQs

Most manufacturers recommend that any hardwood product be acclimated in the space that it will be installed for no less than 72 hours. It is also important to arrange the hardwood boxes for acclimation in a way that would give equal airflow to all of the boxes, ensuring each box of wood gets the same level of acclimation.

In general, stacking the boxes no more than 4 high and with at least 6” of space around all sides will suffice.

No. Do not steam clean hardwood floors.

Cleaning your hardwood floors with a steam cleaner or with excess moisture will damage your floors and cause them to warp. In many cases using a steam cleaner on your floors will void their warranty. Always consult the warranty guide for your floor before using any cleaning products.

Some steam cleaner manufacturers may boast that their products are safe to use on hardwood floors (with the disclaimer that the floors must be properly sealed) but both the Wood Floor Covering Association and the National Wood Floor Covering Association do not recommend using steam cleaning products on hardwood.

Hardwood floors are naturally resistant to damage and scratches from furniture, which is one of the factors that has contributed to their enduring popularity.

Nonetheless, there are steps you can (and should) take to help prevent furniture scratches. For example, you can purchase small felt pads, which are placed on the ends of chair and table legs, to help furniture glide more easily over your floors. You might also consider using an area rug, which offers cushioning and protection while still leaving most of your gorgeous hardwood flooring exposed.

The Janka Hardness Scale is a test to assess the hardness of wood. The hardness of a wood species is the woods resistance to denting and wear.

The hardness test measures the force required to embed a steel ball into a sample of wood, and the resulting rating places that wood species on a hardness scale.

The answer to this question all depends on you: your personal tastes and aesthetic style, your lifestyle, which room you’re re-flooring, and the environment where you live.

For example, ceramic tiles might be ideal for a bathroom or humid environment because they are highly resistant to moisture. No matter what you have in mind, talk with an expert who can help you find competitive prices on gorgeous products that fit your needs, your budget, and your sense of style.

Yes, but it must be the right type of ceramic tile and it must be installed properly.

One of the most important things to consider when selecting a ceramic tile for exterior application is the water absorption rate of that tile. It is generally recommended that you choose a tile with a water absorption rate of 3% or less, with less than 0.5% (porcelain) being ideal. If your tile absorbs too much water it may damage the tile, especially if the water freezes and expands which will cause the tile to crack.

You may also want to consider a through-body unglazed porcelain tile, meaning that the top color runs throughout the tile, which makes chips and damage less noticeable in the event your outdoor tile sees some extra abuse.

If you plan installing your tile outside with grout ensure that you are sealing your grout (or using sealed grout) and utilizing expansion joints when applicable to account for water and changes in temperature.

Laminate is an affordable, multilayered flooring product made from tightly compressed wood fiber and designed to look like wood, tile or stone.

Laminate flooring products typically have four layers: the backing layer, the core layer, the image layer, and the wear layer. The backing can vary depending on the product but is often made of cork, felt or another soft product to allow the laminate to sit comfortably on the floor.

The core layer is typically comprised of recycled wood fibers tightly compressed into a dense wood-like core, sometimes referred to as a high-density fiber (HDF) core. The image layer is where the desired look (e.g. wood, stone) is printed onto the product and texture is added through a process called ‘embossing’ to make it feel similar to the material it is made to look like.

The wear layer is a clear protective layer manufactured on top of the image layer. The wear layer is often made from aluminum oxide and designed to prevent the floor from scratching or showing excessive wear over time. Higher quality laminate products often boast an extra resilient wear layer that makes the product scratch, dent and fade resistant.

Laminate flooring is made of multiple layers adhered together and heated in factory settings.

Most laminate flooring consists of 4 layers:

• Backing layer
• Core layer
• Image layer
• Wear layer

The backing layer can vary depending on the product but is often made of melamine, cork, felt or another soft product to allow the laminate to sit comfortably on the floor.

The core layer is typically comprised of recycled wood fibers tightly compressed into a dense wood-like core, sometimes referred to as a high-density fiber (HDF) core.

The image layer is where the desired look (e.g. wood, stone) is printed onto the product and texture is added through a process called ‘embossing’ to make it feel similar to the material it is made to look like.

The wear layer is a clear protective layer manufactured on top of the image layer. The wear layer is often made from aluminum oxide and designed to prevent the floor from scratching or showing excessive wear over time.

Higher quality laminate products often boast an extra resilient wear layer that makes the product scratch, dent and fade resistant.

When shopping for laminate flooring, you will notice that laminate comes in different thicknesses, ranging from 6 to 12 millimeters (mm). Laminate flooring gets its name from the lamination process it undergoes, sealing multiple layers of synthetic material together. This hardwood floor lookalike is durable and affordable.

Does thicker laminate provide benefits?

The thickness of the laminate is essential because it contributes to the look and feel of the flooring. Thicker laminate feels more like hardwood flooring underneath your feet. It also allows for more detail as etching creates a more realistic wood imitation. Thicker laminates have less echo and can weather strong impacts, making them more durable. Lastly, thicker laminate can be more forgiving when installing and dealing with subfloor imperfections.

There are many different types of Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) flooring and as a result the materials they are made from can vary.

Generally all LVT is made of layers which typically include a wear layer, an image layer, a core layer, and backing layer.

The Wear Layer

The wear layer is typically made of polyurethane treated plastic or aluminum oxide which creates a scratch and UV resistant surface.

The Image Layer

Below the wear layer is the image and texture layer where the desired look of the floor is printed on a textured surface designed to make it look and feel like the product it is imitating (e.g. wood, stone).

The Core Layer

Below the image layer is the core layer, which often will dictate the classification of the LVT product. Rigid core & Stone-poly composite (SPC) vinyl products have a hard, dense core that boast great durability but may be harder underfoot and may sound louder underfoot. Wood-poly composite (WPC) vinyl floors and flex-core vinyl floors boast softer, more cushioned cores that feel more comfortable underfoot but may not have the same durability as vinyl floors with harder cores.

The Backing Layer

The backing layer will often be made from cork, fiberglass or foam depending on the application and the subfloor it is being installed over.

Durability not only ensures that you get the best value for your dollar; it also means that your floors will stay looking great for years to come.

Luxury vinyl flooring is known for its high durability thanks to its superior wear layer. The wear layer keeps the original appearance of the floor and provides easy maintenance.

The importance of selecting flooring with the proper wear layer depends on your homes needs – do you have pets? kids? heavy foot traffic? Talk with a flooring expert if you have specific question before making a final decision on the type of vinyl flooring for your application.

Yes!

You can upgrade your look by switching to luxury vinyl when you install over your old hard surface floors.

Ask a professional flooring expert for their advice. it also may be best to have a professional installer do the work rather then doing it yourself. This will result in a quality installation without any of the stress, mess, or labor of doing it on your own.

The material that goes beneath luxury vinyl plank flooring is called “underlayment.”

Different vinyl floors have different underlayment needs, depending on factors like where the flooring will be installed, the overall quality of your “subflooring” (which is the layer on top of your home’s joists), and the need for noise reduction.

If you wish to identify how much material you need by yourself you will need to find out the exact width and length of your space in feet and inches. You can use a standard tape measure or a laser measuring device. Multiply the width of your room by the length to determine the total square feet of the room.

If your space is not a simple rectangle you will need to measure the length of every wall and break the room into small rectangle shaped sections to make it easier to calculate your square footage.

Carpet is typically manufactured in 12 foot rolls and as a result there will often be waste material created by cutting the carpet roll to fit your space. To account for this waste you must order at least 10% more square feet of carpet than the actual size of your room.

Typically the more windows, closets, corners, and other unique features a room has will require more extra square feet of carpet.

The “pile” of a carpet refers to the height and density of its individual fibers. The term “low-pile carpet” describes any carpet made from short fibers that are sewn together in tight, dense rows. This creates a uniform, even appearance, with a texture that is smooth to both the eye and the touch. Low-pile carpet is often recommended for children’s rooms, rooms with heavy foot traffic, and hallways.

Every carpet consists of fibers sewn into a sturdy backing, creating a series of loops that, together, form the carpet’s surface. Some of these loops may be cut at the top. The height, texture, and density of these loops is described using the term “pile.” For example, a “high-pile” carpet is a carpet made using long fibers.

High-pile carpet tends to create a deeper, more plush, and more irregular or dynamic appearance. Shag carpet is a timeless example of high-pile carpeting, which is ideal for contrasting with wood floors or using as a cozy accent in bedrooms and living rooms.

To some extent, “quality” is about your personal style preferences — but there are also objective quality standards you should pay attention to when shopping for a carpet.

For example, durability and performance.

No longer is the quality identifier just the fiber type as technology and innovation has made yesterday’s fibers significantly better.

You should consider:

• Pile height
• Density
• Twist
• Weight
• Ply of the fiber

Along with construction of carpet, you should also pay attention to carpet warranties. A good, quality carpet should offer a solid warranty coverage that protects against events such as spills, stains, and wear. A warranty lets you know that the manufacturers are quality-focused, and that the carpet was designed to withstand normal wear-and-tear while retaining most of its fibers.

It’s not just how you clean your carpet, but also how often.

Refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations, which might suggest cleaning daily, weekly, or every few weeks. You also may need to spot-clean if you have accidental spills.

Some types of carpeting are more “high-maintenance” than others, but most are a breeze to keep clean thanks to technological innovations in the home flooring industry. For many products, the occasional vacuum and a touch of soapy water is all you need to do.