A large, active family (including pets) is a gift, but let’s face it, all the lively, vivacious commotion may require some adjustments to your home. While you can strive to maintain a mess-free, danger-free living zone, you don’t have to sacrifice style or sophistication to achieve it. A house is meant to be lived in, not admired on a shelf, so it’s important to be realistic about your daily requirements when choosing a home décor. Instead of waiting till the kids outgrow their home-marring antics, consider installing a hardwood flooring that can meet the challenge, take a beating and keep on giving. Hardwoods are easy to mop up and they make it a cinch to manage pet hair, debris and dirt, keeping allergens to a minimum. Hardwoods are also far more comfortable for bare feet than tile or stone flooring in the kitchen. We offer dozens of sturdy, durable, high-traffic flooring choices that will tantalize the eye while going easy on your pocketbook. From toddlers to teenagers, it’s best to go with the highest ratings on the Janka hardness scale, usually Brazilian Cherry, Hickory or Santos Mahogany, although one of our trained specialists can help you navigate the different species, finishes and colors if you have something specific in mind. A rustic orshabby-chic style of décor with a vintage touch may suit your chaotic lifestyle better than a more contemporary design. Remember also that darker colors and more complex grains tend to minimize the appearance of stains and footprints while adding a cozy feel to any room. If your shedding pet’s hair or fur is a concern, think about choosing a flooring color that blends in with your pooch’s coat. Your pet’s nails will also need to be trimmed and rounded to avoid scratching your flooring. Overall, our “Chiseled Edge Collection” or “Mountain Country Collection” to be the most appropriate floor species for families with canine members.

Your hardwoods can be accented and protected with area rugs, which not only add color and whimsy to a room, but also serve as a soft landing for little people who are just learning to use their legs. Area rugs can be washed or disposed of once they’ve absorbed a maximum of abuse, and as such are very versatile and handy. They also provide a great buffer for pet bowls, sparing your hardwoods the daily crumble of kibble and overturned water bowls.

The main thing is that family, pets and hardwood flooring are highly compatible. With a little extra care, proper species and style selection and an adaptive décor, your house can be the home sweet home you always dreamed of.

 

The battle between nylon vs polyester carpet fiber has been going on for years, but there has never been a true, definitive answer.

We agree with Star Lumber when they say, “Neither is a concrete “best” option because it truly does depend on what you’re buying the carpet for in the first place.” That doesn’t mean that they don’t have their own benefits and drawbacks, though.

Let’s break it down.

What is Polyester Fiber?

Polyester started off with a bad name in the 1970’s. Back then, it was viewed as a cheap material that was likely to wear out fast. Today, technological improvements have turned this “cheaply-made” product into a durable and long lasting carpet choice.

Polyester has come a long way and is now made to hold its own against some tough lifestyles. It offers many different benefits that homeowners favor including:

Fade Resistance – Some carpet will experience color fading when it’s installed in direct sunlight. Polyester resists fading and maintains it’s color well. Affordability – Polyester fiber is a great choice for people on a tight budget. You can expect to spend less money on polyester than your other fiber types. Variety – There are many different colors and styles of polyester carpet to choose from, allowing it to fit well in any room. Stain Resistance – Polyester fiber is naturally stain resistant, making it the perfect choice for a home with young children and pets.

A more noteworthy benefit of polyester fiber is that most of it is made out of recycled plastic bottles and still maintains a soft feel. It is a recyclable and eco-friendly flooring product, something that many people are starting to embrace. Take a look at the video below to see how polyester is formed:

Crazy, huh? The shirt you’re wearing or the carpet you’re standing on could be made from plastic bottles.

Polyester carpet has quadrupled in sales in the past ten years, so rest assured that you’re getting high-quality flooring at a great price.

What is Nylon Fiber?

Nylon fiber is one of the common fibers you’ll see in homes (although polyester has taken over). It has a great lifespan and will work well in a busy home that experiences a lot of foot traffic. This means that the fibers will bounce back after being stepped on.

Since nylon is one of the strongest synthetic fibers on the market, it does come at a higher price. When you think about it, however, the price per square foot you’ll pay for the carpet you get is worth it.

Nylon fiber also has multiple benefits that many people enjoy including:

Strength – Nylon has great yarn memory, allowing it to retain its look and feel in high-traffic areas. Even heavy furniture won’t crush it right away. Durability – The lifespan of nylon fiber is long-lasting and can withstand over ten years of abuse easily (with the right maintenance and care, of course). Easy Cleaning – Nylon carpets are quite easy to clean and resist static and mold build-up. Allergy Aiding – According to How Stuff Works, nylon carpeting will be the best bet for your family members that have allergies and asthma.

In an interview between Matthew Spieler of Floor Covering News and Seth Arnold, a brand director for Mohawk Flooring, Arnold states that “Nylon will, over time, perform better…to keep your carpet looking newer, longer.”

In the battle between polyester vs nylon carpet, many great points are made for both sides. But what fiber type takes the cake?

And the Winner is…

Neither.

At the end of the day, it all depends on what you’re looking for. One carpeting may outperform the other depending on what your home requires. It is a little difficult to give a solid answer with so many variables.

This way, you’ll be able to find your personal winner in the “nylon versus polyester carpet” contest.

If a new carpet installation has been on your to-do list, but you don’t know where to start, we have you covered.

Not sure what carpet to choose? Don’t worry about it! We will walk you through the entire process and find the perfect carpeting for your home.

In today’s climate, everyone does what they can to help the environment. U.S. environmental regulations are put in place to help safeguard our natural resources, and consumers expect the businesses they buy from to be compliant with these laws and hold the same beliefs as they do. But what happens when you find out not only is a company you’ve bought from accused of breaking environmental laws, but your beloved hardwood floor may be an illegal product- harvested from protected forests?

For Lumber Liquidator customers, this nightmare is a reality.

Hardwood Floors and the Environment

The large chain, Lumber Liquidators floor supplier is accused of breaking the Lacey Act, a federal regulation that prohibits importing lumber that was illegally harvested. According to a Wall Street Journal report, a federal investigation initiated by an environmental group was prompted after suspicion was raised regarding the harvest of trees for hardwood flooring from protected Russian forests through a Chinese supplier of hardwoods. The report claims that Lumber Liquidators was aware of the source of the lumber from their  Chinese suppliers, but continued to buy from them despite the illegal means of obtaining the wood. The Russian forests harvested by the Chinese supplier are protected habitat areas for the endangered Siberian Tiger. Currently, there are only approximately 450 feet of natural habitat left for Siberian Tigers in far east Russia.

How to Buy Environmentally Friendly Hardwood Floors

Lumber Liquidator customers who purchased oak or birch flooring may be walking on endangered habitat woods- a nightmare for the environmentally conscious. As a consumer, you can take steps to ensure you don’t inadvertently contribute to the downfall of endangered forest and animals through deforestation of protected habitats.

Environmentally conscious flooring begins with selecting a reputable company and doing research into how and where the company obtains its lumber. You can also check to see if any charges have been filed for EPA violations that could potentially harm your local environment as well. Choosing a company that encourages green practices in the workplace is a bonus, as is finding a company that gives back to the environment whenever possible. Green energy sources, energy conservation, recycling, and participating in local and global environmental events are all desirable actions as well.

Another easy way to help protect our environment is to purchase engineered wood flooring, which uses less hardwood materials than traditional solid wood floors. You still get the same great look and quality as solid hardwood flooring, but with a more environmentally conscious product that costs less than solid wood flooring. The Reduce, Reuse, Recycle slogan is always a good practice to keep in mind when shopping for flooring options.

 

 

Caring for your new engineered flooring is an important task to keep your floors looking great for years to come. Caring for engineered wood is very similar to caring for hardwood floors, but if you’re new to wood flooring, you may feel a little lost about which products to use and how to avoid damage during everyday use. Here are 14 tips to help you in caring for your engineered wood floors.

How to Care for Engineered Floors

Most manufacturers recommend cleaning hardwood or solid engineered flooring with a damp mop or cloth only. If you find you need a little more cleaning power, purchase a cleaner made specifically for finished wood flooring. Remember, your engineered flooring is cared for mostly the same as you would for hardwood floors since the uppermost wear layer is comprised solely of hardwood. Always sweep or dust before you mop. Remove as much dirt and debris before mopping to avoid damaging your floors. Clean up spills as soon as possible. While engineered hardwood flooring is less susceptible to water damage than Solid hardwood flooring, prolonged exposure to liquids can result in damage. Use only a dry to damp mop or cloth for best results when cleaning. Protect your engineered floors from UV damage by pulling drapes or blinds during peak sunlight hours to shield your floors from direct sunlight. Place all houseplants and furniture on soft coasters or felt pads to avoid nicks and scratches. When cleaning your engineered hardwood flooring, wipe in the same direction as the wood grain for best results. This will help remove stubborn dirt from cracks and crevices in the flooring. You can choose to fill in nail marks created during installation by filling them with similarly colored wood putty. Simply wipe away any excess putty and gently clean the area with a small coat of urethane. Allow to dry for one hour. Sweeping or dusting your floors every day will help prevent a build up of dirt that will require hard scrubbing or cleaners to remove. Regular care is best for your engineered floors. Keep pets’ toenails trimmed and filed to avoid damaging your floors. Be sure to keep the moisture level of your home regulated year round to keep your engineered Hardwood floors looking great for years to come. Proper humidity control is essential for the long term upkeep of your floors. Hard water can leave a dulling effect on your engineered floors over time. Use softened water or special hardwood floor cleaners to remove this mineral buildup and restore a natural luster your flooring. Do not place electronics directly on your engineered hardwood floors. The heat generated from electronics can damage your flooring over time. Choose your engineered floor care products carefully. Be sure to read the entire label before using a product on your engineered floors. In general, if a product is safe for use on hardwood floors, it is safe for your engineered flooring. Caring for white plank floors may require a little extra TLC. Never bleach or use detergents containing bleach on your white plank engineered floors. To keep your floors white, avoid using well water (which may contain staining iron) and clean your floors daily.  

With the New Year here, we’re proud to show off two of our premier Engineered Hardwood Floors Collections: Composer and Royal Court. These collections offer an illustrious approach to hardwood flooring.

The Composer Collection aims for a classical approach with its natural splits, mineral streaks, and unfilled knots. Finished with a strong Klumpp German finish combined with unique technics of wire brushing and sand blasting, this collection is very resistant towards scratches and dentation. This 11.5” wide engineered hardwood flooring collection is a combination of classical craftsmanship with modern technology, which makes for a perfect balance of harmony in your home.

A sub-collection includes our Composer Orchestra Collection. This 7.5” wide Collection boasts a vintage feel that combines the beauty of European oak with unmatched durability. Our inspiration comes from driftwood, capturing the atmosphere of the ocean. By selecting the Viola, Cello, or Piccolo variants, your home will feel one step closer to the relaxing vibes of the beautiful blue ocean. View The Composer Collection 

The Royal Court Collection offers a prestigious approach to your hardwood flooring needs. With a bold overtone, this collection craves the attention of anyone who steps in to your home. Like the Composer Collection, engineered hardwood floors are used to enhance the style of any room by giving it the eye-catching elements that a King or Queen would seek. View The Royal Court Collection

We know many people have New Year’s Resolutions, perhaps switching to engineered hardwood floors is yours.