Shopping For New Flooring
Ready to shop for new flooring? Puzzled by all the flooring options? Affordable Flooring Warehouse has the answers. The better you understand not just what you like but what your room needs, the better your shopping experience will be.
There are many choices when it comes to flooring for your home. You can choose from carpeting, rugs, hardwood floors, laminate, and tile. The style you pick depends largely on your personality and the room it will go in as there are advantages and disadvantages to each.
Carpet is a great, traditional flooring choice for any home. It's great because it can have a lot of your personality. There are different styles, like shag, and it comes in any color under the sun. Carpet is also soft and inviting, making it wonderful in a bedroom or living room. Carpet, however, can be very difficult to clean and maintain. You'll need to vacuum often and shampoo the carpet when it becomes dirty. Too bad a stain and it may have to be replaced. Carpet obviously is not a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms where water damage and spills will destroy it.
Hardwood floors are all-around a great choice for homes. They're durable, easy to clean and easy to install. They look wonderful in any room.
Area Rugs are a nice way to accent the floors in your home and can be laid down over hardwood, tile or carpet beautifully. Rugs add plenty of personality and can accent a room, adding charm, warmth or sophistication. Rugs also help to cover up damage on the floor underneath, such as stains. At Affordable Flooring Warehouse, they're very affordable.
Laminate floors are becoming very popular and can be ordered to look just like authentic hardwood floors or tile. Laminate floors are affordable, easy to install and can give the look of a more expensive floor. They're also very easy to maintain.
Tile floors are great in bathrooms because they won't be damaged by water and are easy to mop up.
Fiber Floor is not your grandmother’s linoleum floor! This new generation product is the perfect solution to the budget conscious consumer for the kitchen, bath, laundry room, entryway, basement recreation room. Easy to installation makes this a popular choice!
In choosing the right flooring option for your home….
Think about the room:
- How do you use the room most?
- What types of activities are common in this room?
- What are the room's lighting sources?
- What is the size of the room?
- Does the room flow into others or stand alone?
Think about existing or intended aesthetics:
- How do you want to feel when you're in this room?
- What types of furnishings do you have?
- What's the style of the room? Traditional? Contemporary? Rustic?
- What's the feel of the room? Casual? Formal? Somewhere in between?
Consider risk factors for the room:
- Will people have food in this room?
- Will kids play in this room?
- Will kids play with their food in this room?
- Does the room directly open up to the outside?
- Do you have indoor pets?
- Does the room get direct sunlight?
Understand expectations:
- Is your new flooring purchase motivated by budget, style or practical reasons?
- Are you living with this new flooring or planning to sell your home?
- What's the first thing you want to notice when you enter the room? (back to top)
Questions To Ask When Buying Flooring
Don't Forget to Ask These Questions When Shopping For Flooring
Headed to Affordable Flooring Warehouse to shop for flooring? It's easy to get excited about and inspired by the huge selection of flooring choices, here are the answers to some commonly asked questions
Costs & Charges
Question:
Do you charge for an in-home measurement? If so, does it apply to the cost of the purchase?
Answer:
There is no charge for an in-home measurement. If you request an in-home decorating consultation with one of our designers than there is a nominal charge which is applied to your purchase.
Question:
Does the price that is quoted include installation?
Answer:
Normally installation is quoted separately from materials. This allows you to make a decision as to whether you would like to install your own products or have one of our staff professionals do the job for you. From time to time, Affordable Flooring Warehouse does have special products that include installation.
Question:
How do I calculate how much flooring I'll need?
Answer:
You are welcome to bring a sketch of the areas you wish to buy flooring for along with your measurements. Be sure to show the position of doorways, heat registers, in floor electrical receptacles, any recesses or jut outs in your floor plan.
Question:
What is the policy for returns?
Answer:
Special Order and ordered flooring cannot be returned. There is a restock charge on all in stock goods and supplies. Please ask your sales associate for details.
Question:
What are the warranties on the flooring?
Answer:
Each manufacturer offers different warranties on different products. Your sales associate can give you guidance on the warranties of the products you select.
Question:
What features does this flooring have that make it easy to maintain?
Answer:
Each product has its own features and benefits. Discuss the pros and cons of the use of the products you are selecting for appropriate use in any area.
Decision Making
Question:
Can I take a sample home to view in my home?
Answer:
Yes, you may check out your selections to take home.
Question:
Can I purchase a large sample size?
Answer:
Yes, in most cases our manufacturers have large samples for purchase at a reasonable cost.
Question:
How long is a price quote valid for?
Answer:
This can depend on which product is selected. Typically ordered goods can be quoted for 30 days unless there is a manufacturer’s price change. On special promotional products the price will be valid until the special expires. On in stock goods the pricing will be valid until the promotion is over or the inventory is exhausted.
Installation
Question:
What kind of padding or underlayment does this floor require?
Answer:
Most flooring requires padding or underlayment. Our experienced staff can advise you of your options for underlayment and appropriate pad.
Question:
What do I have to do to my current floors before installation?
Answer:
In some cases nothing needs to be done to your floors. However, in the case of damaged subflooring this may need to be replaced or leveling work will need to be done. Please make your sales associate aware of any concerns that you may have about the condition of your floors and we will have our installation manager perform a site evaluation to determine the scope of work and its associated costs. In the case of pet urine odors on your subfloor, we have a reasonably priced product to treat the subfloors with prior to installation of your new product.
Question:
How quickly will my flooring be installed after I place my order?
Answer:
This can vary from product to product. In the case of special orders and ordered products we will schedule your installation based on the delivery from the manufacturer to our store. We will inform you of the ship date from the factory and schedule your install according to the ship date. In the case of in stock goods, installation is based on the schedule of our in house installation staff. This can vary from several days to a week or two depending on the time of the year. It is our goal to work with you- our valued customer to schedule your installation as soon as possible. We also strive to work with customers if they have an emergency such as water damage and insurance claims, as well as rental schedules in the case of rental units.
Question:
Who is responsible for removing and disposing of old flooring?
Answer:
Many of our budget conscious clients opt to remove their old flooring themselves. We will advise you of how to do this as to avoid damage to your subflooring and to save money in repairing any damage. Most of our customers have us remove their old flooring though. When we remove old flooring there is a cost associated with the removal and disposal of the old flooring product.
Question:
What about furniture moving?
Answer: Our installers will move the large pieces of furniture for a fee. You are responsible for knick-knacks, clothing on the floor of the closet, long hanging, bedding, pictures, disconnecting electronics and emptying of heavy drawers and china closets.
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- Design Tips
WHAT DO I WANT MY HOME TO FEEL LIKE?
Ask yourself: "What do I want my home to feel like when I walk into the door?" Do I want it to be a quiet oasis with soothing color palettes? This can be achieved by layering multiple patterns in fabrics and soft luscious carpets. The soft surfaces not only absorb irritating noise, but also insulate the interior space. What's more soothing than kicking off your shoes and wiggling your toes in soft carpet?
If you have always wanted to live in a skyscraper overlooking Central Park but reside in the heart of "suburbia", guess what? You can achieve the look of cosmopolitan living in subtle but effective ways. Silvery gray and mysterious plum are suggestions of colors that speak to the city lifestyle. Taupe, weimeraner gray, and a variety of browns also work well into the city palette.
RULE NO. 1: THERE ARE NO RULES
Colors are more adaptable than you might think and they don't just disappear after a season. Gradually lighter or darker over time, color can give your room the flexibility you need to express the style you love.
Don't be afraid of your favorite color. If it makes you feel good when you use it in a room, then use it on your floor, the largest area
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Smart Surfaces
KIND ON THE EARS
Carpet and Area Rugs aren't just stylish choices, they're a sound one. More than just soft to the touch--it means soft acoustics; great for homes with children or grandchildren, or aging parents.
ALLERGEN CATCHER
Living with asthma or allergies? Don't shut the door on carpet. Unlike hard surfaces known for dust bunnies, carpet fibers can trap allergens and hold them until you remove them with a strong vacuum.
NO-PROBLEM REPAIRS
If one tile breaks, it’s easy to pop it out and replace it. If water spills, even a lot of it no problem there, either. Plus, with a dark grout sealed to repel soil and stains, maintenance is a breeze.
AGE TO PERFECTION
Bring the warmth of wood into any room especially your kitchen. Hardwood floors stand up to daily spills with just a damp mop and gets more handsome with more wear. It can make the most popular room in the house also the coziest.
CARPET COUTURE
We're seeing a definite trend toward fashion in carpet. Textures, different types of yarn systems, different colorations, patterns, tone-on-tone prints, looped carpet, tip shears anything that has interest or fashion seems to be very accepted.
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Invest in Your Home
MAKE WAY FOR CHOCOLATE
Once a strong trend, but now a classic, it's time to introduce your floors to chocolate. It's as powerful as black, but much more versatile. Chocolate is rich, silky and psychologically appetizing and it comes in numerous shades. Keep chocolate around for good, but swap out accent colors - aqua, pink, maroon, magenta, bright orange, spa blue when you're ready for a change.
HUMAN TOUCH
The dimensional elements have never been more important than today. Tactile, textural, subtle gradations, contrasting embroidery, hand-scraped or hand-polished wood: the surface speaks volumes to the human eye and human touch. The variety of offerings provide the look of a "one of a kind" product with affordable value.
A FAVORITE FLOOR
There's no denying the crisp, cool beauty of ceramic, porcelain and stone. Tile is often the hands-down favorite flooring choice — formal or casual, dressed up or down, dazzlingly decorative or stunningly simple.
INTO THE WOODS
Wood continues to provide warmth and character in an instant. Today with the innovations in engineered wood flooring...finally you can put the wood floor over the slab foundation and be finished in an afternoon. Smart consumers are selecting domestic hardwood products that are driftwood gray, crackled white oak, polished black or white, as well as the beautiful and familiar birch, maple, oak and walnut. American forests are being grown 20% faster than they're harvested so it's an easy and responsible choice.
COLOR SELLS
Your floor can be either the artwork or the canvas for the art. Although beige is an easy choice for anyone, dramatic reds, dark rich chocolates, contemporary grays or serene blues can set the scene for whatever you'd like your room to become. Within 30 seconds, the human eye and human brain make a decision to purchase a product, any product, based on color alone.
SET THE SCENE
Use area rugs to define a space and help potential buyers visualize themselves in a room -- particularly if the space is open and large.
CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN
Tile is highly regarded for being low maintenance and easy to clean. And what do buyers want to see most? A clutter-free home that sparkles.
GO FOR COLOR
Need another reason to stay away from white and other neutrals? Go for color and you'll have a floor that shows better because it's more forgiving of your busy lifestyle.
START LOW
A whopping 79% of buyers said they would be willing to pay a premium for a home with a renovated kitchen, according to Realty Times columnist Jim Adair. If you plan a kitchen update, consider a new laminate floor. It provides a fantastic foundation for the rest of the project.
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GO GREEN
Green flooring is the latest trend in the consumer flooring industry. Green floors can mean different things to different people. The industry doesn't have any regulations to use the terms Green or Eco friendly. When shopping for Green floor products there are quite a few things to consider. Obviously, you want a floor that will perform well for your situation. What you need to know is that when a manufacturer considers a product Green friendly, it can mean a multitude of things and some of which you may have never even thought of.
• Sustainability - One method of creating floor covering that is environmentally friendly is to create a flooring product that does not rapidly deplete the natural resources of the Earth. One example of this is the recent popularity of Bamboo and Cork flooring. Both of these flooring types are promoted as hard surface alternatives to Hardwood floors. Bamboo is a quickly growing resource and can be harvested with minimal impact to the environment. Cork can also be used as a rapid renewing resource as the process to obtain Cork does not harm the Tree and can be grow back quickly as compared to traditional Hardwood forests. Another new exciting product geared towards sustainability is DuPont’s Sonora yarn part of Mohawk's Smartstrand family, using Carpet fibers produced from Corn.
• Recycling - Many manufacturers have taken a stance on Zero landfill manufacturing. The Carpet industry is a good example of this. Several Carpet manufacturers are continually trying to improve their process to re-use waste materials into new products or even the mainstream products to reduce waste. An example of this is a mainstream carpet fiber called P.E.T that is produced using recycled plastic bottles that would have otherwise ended up in landfills.
• Energy Consumption – Floor covering producers have embraced the plan to save Energy both to improve the bottom line as well as help reduce the need for Coal and Fossil burning sources of Electricity. Several manufacturers have specific products made solely from alternative power sources such as Wind.
• Non harmful materials - New products are being researched and developed that will assist in flooring installation or the flooring itself that will not harm the environment as previous products have if they do end up in landfills or as waste.
When shopping for a Green floor, make sure you know all the options and find the product that best fits your needs and reduces an impact in one way or another on the environment.
Author, Eric Dyer is an Owner of Owen Carpet based in Dalton, Ga.
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Cleaning Your Hardwood Floors
Cleaning your hardwood floors on a regular basis is very important. Hardwood flooring is an expensive investment. With proper maintenance you hardwoods will last a lifetime.
There is some simple preventative maintenance you can do to protect you floors. Put rugs at your entrances and area rugs in high traffic areas. Make sure that you don't get the foam and/or rubber backed type of mats. These types of rugs will stick to the floor over time causing trap moisture against the floor surface. Make sure that you clean your floors regularly with a broom or vacuum that does not have beating bar. Do not damp mop. Water and hardwood floors do not mix. Do not use oil based cleaning supplies. Oil based cleaning supplies may dull the finish on the floors. If you purchased new floors from a company follow the recommended cleaning techniques. With this simple maintenance you hardwood floors will last a lifetime.
This was a short quick guide on maintenance. We will be posting some more articles soon with more in depth details. So very simple things to remember... One put rug at your entrance to check the lose stones that can scratch you floors. Two, sweep the floor frequently. Three, do not use oil based cleaning products because they can damage your finish. Fourth, clean up any spill on the floor quickly. If you follow these simple steps you will have some beautiful floors that will last a lifetime.
Author, Palmetto Hardwood
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Tips on Selecting Carpet
Defining Carpet in Today’s World
First, think about your home and current situation. How long do you plan on staying at your current home? Why are you replacing the carpet? Or if you are a property manager, how long do you want the floor to last? If you're a builder, is this a spec home or higher end job? Try to get a feel for the performance that will be expected of the carpet. If you are only going to be in the home for 6 months, it may not make sense to get a higher end carpet style. Be sure to relay this type of information to your sales associate.
Once you have an idea of your need, then it's time to understand the different carpet styles. There are several different styles of carpet:
• Plush/Saxony-Very formal and elegant but tends to show tracks. This style comes in solid colors typically.
• Berber-can look casual or formal depending on decor, usually made out of olefin so it can mat down somewhat over time. Also with Berber, the fewer the seams the better because it's a loop product and the fewer the seams, the fewer the loops that can become pulled at the edges. Berber comes in solid and flecked colors and hides surface dirt well if using flecked colors.
• Semi trackless/textured plush-imagine a plush, but the fibers are slightly twisted to give a still somewhat formal look but shows less tracks than plush. Semi-trackless is available in solid colors but the appearance can change slightly depending on the light in the room.
• Frieze- highly twisted; irregular fibers that resemble shag, but are thinner, tighter fiber strands. Frieze is offered in solid or flecked colors, and like Berber, can hide surface dirt well
• Sculptured/cut loop/high-low- has a pattern with high and low loops or a mix of some loops that are cut and some are pulled tight against the backing. There is a high variation in these styles of color mixes, yarns, looks etc. Performance depends on the yarn used.
• Level loop-usually a commercial looking style with short, tight loops of carpet made for high traffic. You usually don't see in homes, but you can get deals on level loops so they can be a great for a bonus room, playroom etc. Level loops usually hold up well over time because of their tight loops and construction.
There are also different types of yarn used in carpet. Nylon is king. It has a nice feel and has superior wear and "memory". Nylon also resists soil and stains well. Another yarn is Polyester. Polyester may have one of the best "feels" out of all of the yarns. It is also very stain resistant. Polyester may have more "fuzzing" than other yarns though. The third yarn is Olefin. Olefin is a polypropylene blended product. It is extremely stain resistant. It does wear well but can tend to mat down over time. Wool is another option, but very rarely used anymore. Lastly are the Eco yarns. The Eco yarns are yarns and fibers that are sustainable solutions for the environment or environmentally friendly. The most popular Eco yarn is PET. PET stands for (polyethylene terephthalate). PET fiber is made out of recycled plastic bottles. It is durable and also extremely stain resistant. The other Eco fiber is called Sorona, a product introduced by DuPont, which can be made into carpet yarn. Sorona is mainly produced from corn syrup. The fiber is not 100% corn product but it is one of the primary base products used to make the fiber.
A common myth is to purchase carpet based on the weight, measured in ounces. Weight is important to a degree, but not as much as many would have you think. If you will notice, the big box stores will usually try to stress the importance of weight. Weight is only important when the "pile height" and yarn density are considered as well. Common weights for carpet run between 30 and 70 ounces. Most consumers think the higher the weight, the better the carpet. Pile height is how tall the fibers standoff of the backing. Yarn density is how close the yarn is tufted next to each other. A 50 ounce, shorter pile height carpet with a tight density may very well outperform a higher weight carpet with a higher pile height if the higher weight isn't as dense a product. Keep these in mind. Tighter is better.
If you take into consideration your budget, specific need, the style and yarns that best suit you, and a nice tight carpet not based solely on weight, then you're sure to make a perfect choice for your upcoming floor covering project.
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10 Reasons to Select Bamboo Flooring
Thinking about a new floor, but can't make up your mind what kind of material you want to use? Why not branch away from the obvious and go with something unique that you'll love and admire for decades? Bamboo flooring is the obvious answer in so many ways:
1. Bamboo is comparably inexpensive. While not the cheapest thing on the market, for the durability, natural warmth and beauty you'll find with bamboo floors, the price is more than reasonable. Plus it's less expensive than hardwood, but just as attractive.
2. Bamboo stays beautiful for decades. It is manufactured to be exceedingly tough in high traffic areas and every other room of your house. The layers of compression and sealant make the flooring tough enough to last forever and polished enough to look sharp for decades.
3. Bamboo is naturally water repellent. The plants are naturally water repellent, although not waterproof. The finish process makes the material even more impenetrable although you shouldn't let water stand on bamboo for hours, just in case.
4. Bamboo comes in a huge variety of colors and tones. You're not limited to a handful of colors when you choose bamboo. The floors are made in a rainbow of shades ranging from white to almost black with every tone in between.
5. Bamboo is made of weeds. In Asia, where the vast majority of this flooring product is made, it is considered a weed. It's extremely fast growing and often encroaches on farmland. Farmers regularly cut it back and burn the cuttings, but now, as much as possible, manufacturers turn those weeds into floors instead.
6. Bamboo is extremely durable. A very hardy plant, bamboo floors are no different. The material is as hard as or even harder than a hardwood, but is far less likely to scratch or dent.
7. Bamboo is a decorator's dream. If you love to play with design and style in your home, you'll love bamboo floors as a backdrop. A mix of a formal style resembling traditional hardwood and a hip, urban look, bamboo lends itself naturally to any design scheme, be it country, modern, or eclectic.
8. Bamboo floors are made ecologically. Not only are the stalks used in production simply weeds that regrow to maturity in an astonishingly short amount of time, the process used to create the finished materials take into consideration ecological factors as well.
9. Bamboo complements any style of home. If your home is a quiet sanctuary or a noisy, vivid hub of activity, it is a natural fit. In a home of peace and solitude, the clean planks offer tranquility and cleanliness. In a rowdy home, they offer a great place for dropped backpacks, muddy dog feet, and even soccer cleats.
10. Your friends don't have it. Bamboo isn't new to the market, but it's relatively unknown outside of informed design circles. It's very likely your friends have never heard of bamboo flooring. When you install yours, you'll always have bragging rights for introducing your family and friends to a truly fabulous flooring alternative.
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Budget Area Rugs- Pros and Cons
Some people are concerned about buying inexpensive area rugs because they are not sure of their quality. Before you spend your hard earned money on an expensive area rug, you should consider where these area rugs will be placed. If this is going to be placed in the bathroom, then you should get a cheap, inexpensive area rug that is able to adapt to the dampness. Should these be for the kid's room, you should be able to get a cheap area rug that is durable and can be easily cleaned. You must never buy those that have pastel colors because dirt is very visible and anything else that your child will throw on the floor.
Area rugs come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. If you going to put this under a coffee table, you will generally be needing one that measures 4x6 or 6x9. You should pay attention to the legs of the table because these should be completely on top. There must be some distance between the rug and the other furniture in the same room. If the table is a bit bigger like the one in the dining room, you will have to measure the length and width and then add four feet to both sides.
Since they don't cost that much, you can buy a whole bunch of area rugs and change the room's appearance in a flash. Should someone stain the rug, or a pet has an accident you don't have to use an expensive cleaner or anything. You simply pick it up, throw it away and replace this with a new one.
You can extend the life of your area rug by putting rug pads underneath so it does not move and wrinkle. This will also protect the floor from scratches and prevent people from slipping or tripping should their shoes get caught. To get good deals on inexpensive area rugs, you can drive on over to Affordable Flooring Warehouse. Our area rugs are of a better quality and at a better price than those out of market big box stores! We have a huge selection of reasonably priced area rugs in many styles and colors. What is just as important is you’re your area rug serves the purpose of highlighting that special room!
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Linoleum and Floor Tiles
When you are choosing materials for your new project, do not over look the beauty and durability of linoleum. We know what you might be thinking... but my grandmother had linoleum in her home! Linoleum has come a long way in beauty and color. It is also an amazing natural product that is a great addition to any home.
Linoleum is easier to keep clean and you cannot see the dirt, and is also completely hypoallergenic and is water, mold and bacteria-resistant. It is a product that has proven itself over time. Linoleum is about the rebirth of one of the most wonderful flooring products ever to be created. It is a very hard substance so carving blocks of a softer rubbery material are also available, and is considered a natural floor because it uses materials found in nature.
Linoleum is durable, resilient, nonflammable and easily maintained. It is made of natural materials and requires different care. Linoleum is works well when used with traditional, all-natural, and mostly-wood type of designs. It is, in fact, one the oldest natural flooring of the modern era, and is made from linseed oil, which comes from the flax plant.
Linoleum is a type of floor covering most often made from solidified linseed oil that is combined with wood flour or cork dust. It is flexible, warm, and unaffected by ordinary floor temperatures, and it does not readily burn. Linoleum is also available in sheeting for a solid floor surface with no seams or cracks, and is manufactured by pressing fillers, such as ground-up cork and wood dust, along with pigments, into a vinyl binding material. It is manufactured by oxidizing linseed oil and adding the other ingredients to form a thick mixture called linoleum cement.
Linoleum is sold both in rolls that are 6 or 12 feet wide and in 12-inch-square tiles, and is also about the rebirth of authentic linoleum flooring in the past couple of decades, and the hope for a future in which linoleum receives the long overdue respect it has always deserved. For those of you who love the environment linoleum is also recyclable.
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