Flooring Installation
When choosing flooring options, consideration should be given to the function of the room, durability, installation required (professional or D.I.Y), maintenance, and repair. considering your unique needs will help you make a selection that best matches performance, design, and budget.
Different Types of Flooring Material
The choice of material for floor covering is affected by factors such as cost, endurance, noise insulation, comfort and cleaning effort. Some types of flooring must not be installed below grade (lower than ground level), and laminate or hardwood should be avoided where there may be moisture or condensation.
CARPET
Carpet is hard to beat for a cozy and welcoming feel to any home’s interior. The variety of colors and texture make carpet the perfect choice to match the existing style and colors. We offer a number of services to accommodate any of the carpet needs you may have. If your carpet has become wrinkled or bunched up, we can simply re-stretch your existing carpet. This process will save you money by bring new life back to your existing carpet. If your carpet feels flat, you just might need new pads installed under your carpet. The service will also save you money and extend the life of your carpets. Finally if it just time to replace the carpet or you need a more modern look, our team can install new carpets and pads.
WOOD
There’s no substitute for the warmth and natural beauty of real wood. It looks great and certainly adds value to the home. Wood flooring comes in dozens of styles and sizes, but there are only two basic types: solid wood and engineered wood. Traditional solid-wood flooring is exactly what you’d expect: each floorboard is milled from a piece of solid wood. Engineered-wood is composed of three or more wood layers glued together into long planks, with a top layer composed of a thin solid-wood veneer. Planks snap together and “float” over an underlayment–no nailing or gluing – and they can be laid directly over most existing floors. Engineered floors are more environmentally friendly and less expensive than solid floors. Both types of flooring come in a wide variety of colors and wood species. If you are considering a “greener” approach, look at reclaimed hardwood, barn wood, or responsibly harvested flooring products – certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (F.S.C). Also, make sure stains or finishes will not emit VOC’s. Hardwood floors have been a staple in homes for centuries, but the use of reclaimed/recycled wood is increasingly popular. The warm, worn-in look of salvaged wood flooring with its unique imperfections is esthetically appealing and eco-friendly.
LAMINATES
Laminate is also a very popular choice for kitchen flooring. They are often less expensive than hardwood, stone or tile, but the popularity of laminates is not all about cost. Laminate flooring was developed in Sweden in the 1980s, and it’s come a long way since then. Today’s laminate floors use sophisticated technology to capture the look of real woods and stones, as well as unique and unexpected materials like metal, concrete, and weathered wood. High-end laminates offer a textured appearance, so the finish looks realistic from up close as well as from afar. Interlocking laminate flooring can easily be installed over existing wood, concrete, or vinyl flooring, only requiring thin foam padding to act as a moisture barrier – “floating floors.” The ability to easily “remove” them and reinstall elsewhere lends a recycle aspect to their use. Along with stylish designs, laminate floors offer high durability and versatility, which make them an effective alternative to more expensive hardwoods.
Some of the most popular choices for kitchen flooring right now are “rapidly renewable species” – cork, bamboo and eucalyptus. These products used in flooring grow back quickly and harvesting it isn’t detrimental to the environment.
BAMBOO
Bamboo has become another popular player in flooring options. It is actually a grass that shares similar characteristics to hardwood. Another sustainable green option, when properly harvested (around six years old), the root system remains intact, allowing the bamboo to grow again to its full size. Certain types of bamboo (natural, un-carbonized and strand woven) can be extremely strong, hard and durable. Usually light in color, it is available in many hues. It is versatile, sustainable, price-competitive, and easy to maintain and install.
CORK
A very exciting and eco-friendly option today is cork flooring. Only the bark is harvested, the tree continues to flourish as it grows back. The waste from the production of corks is transformed into flooring – truly renewable and sustainable. The same material used to plug your favorite wine combines the beauty of nature, noise reduction, antimicrobial properties, insect resistance, fire retardant, and can leave you feeling like you’re walking on air. It has actually been used in libraries and churches since the turn of the century. Offered in a variety of shades and textures, including “look-a-likes” cork is a warm, soft, durable, and HYPOALLERGENIC option for your kitchen flooring. Normally you can find cork sold in tiles, but is also available in sheets. An important aspect of cork flooring prep is the application of the sealant. This is often done before you purchase – it helps to prevent scuffing and other abrasions that can develop over time. The sealant also helps keep moisture out.
VINYL
Vinyl flooring is nothing new to home kitchen design – but today’s vinyl is not your grandmother’s kitchen flooring. Now grouped in a category called “resilient flooring,” they are far more durable, easy to maintain, and wear-resistant. In addition to offering better performance, they come in a huge variety of colors, patterns, and trendy designs, with many high-end styles impressively mimicking the look and textures of popular materials such as real ceramic tile, stone, and wood. Available in sheets, tiles, or planks, these floors are highly resistant to mold, mildew, and moisture. Luxury vinyl tiles, such as Allure, are available in self-stick adhesive tiles and floating interlocking planks for easy installation. Vinyl is an economical alternative to other flooring without sacrificing style.
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