FAQs

In order to make the right decision, consider three key factors – budget, wearability and maintenance.

• Hardwood floors are a great choice under the right conditions. nothing compares to the natural beauty, color, intricate graining and depth of shine of a hardwood floor. not only easy on the eye, hardwood floors tend to be warm underfoot too. quality hardwood flooring is a big investment but will last a long time and add real value to your home. though there are many pluses to hardwood, there are some minuses to consider when deciding whether it’s right for you. bear in mind, all hardwood is not the same; quality and pricing are big factors. depending on the species, some hardwood floors can take a great deal of wear and tear and still look good. others, though beautiful at first, show the signs of wear very quickly. in any case, you have to clean and care for it properly. this includes not using ammonia cleaners, oil soaps or a wet mop; using a professional hardwood floor cleaner to remove scuffs and scratches; and cleaning spills immediately. for these reasons, hardwood might not be the best fit for every home.
• In some cases, laminate is a great alternative. fortunately, for people who really like the look of wood, there’s an excellent – and much less expensive – alternative: laminate flooring. through highly detailed digitized photography, laminate floors of today duplicate hardwood with tremendous realism that allows for a lower initial cost. what’s more, an inner cork subfloor on some laminate products helps tone down the noise and echoing attributes associated with laminates of yesterday. unlike hardwood, a laminate floor will not fade. pets can also be a problem for hardwood flooring. laminate, on the other hand, offers a durable wear surface that is highly stain, scratch and moisture resistant. because of its durability, hygienic nature and ease of installation and maintenance, laminate floors have become a low-cost alternative to hardwood, stone and tile.
• Tiles or porcelains are another popular way to pave your floors. they come in all shapes, sizes and colors, glazed or unglazed, and can be used plain, decorated or as part of a mosaic. along with its beauty, tile and porcelain flooring will likely increase your home’s resale value, and it only improves with age. a properly installed ceramic tile floor will outperform and outlast nearly any other. glazed ceramic tile and porcelain resist stains, odors and dirt and can be cleaned easily. environmentally friendly, -ceramic tile is manufactured using natural materials and does not retain odors, allergens or bacteria. it also does not burn or emit toxic fumes. it can, however, be expensive and difficult to install, and some people find tile cold underfoot.
• Vinyl floors offer many perks. luxury vinyl tile, which falls in the “Vinyl” flooring category, may be a flooring you should consider – especially if you’re concerned about pets and kids. Luxury vinyl tile flooring is a great choice for kitchens and bathrooms, as well, because it’s “no wax” and easy to keep clean. It’s durable, affordable, water resistant, easy to install and doesn’t fade or stain. LVT flooring comes in many colors, textures and patterns. Since it also comes in sheets, planks and tiles, there’s lots of room for self-expression. Plus, LVT are flexible and soft to walk on.

We have our own installation mechanics. Many customers are referring to “sub- contractors” that go from company to company or job to job. Our installation mechanics provide quality craftsmanship and in many instances have been trained by us and have been installing with us for many years.

Yes and No. Generally speaking, pad helps with the “walk and feel” of the new carpet. The better the pad, the better it will feel to walk on. Does it help the carpet perform well? Not necessarily. In the end, the carpet itself is the most important factor in how the carpet will perform relative to “wear” (crushing and matting). Also if the pad is not a high quality, it will begin to crush along with the carpet in traffic areas and that contributes to the look of carpet beginning to “wear out”. We always recommend a good pad for your new carpet, as it is the least expensive part of the carpet installation. Typically, high-traffic areas require firm, dense padding, while guest bedrooms and other light-traffic rooms may need less protection. It's also important to match the padding to the type of carpet you plan to use. The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends a 7/16-inch (11-millimeter) padding with 6 pounds (2.7 kilograms) of density per cubic feet to support cut pile or cut loop carpeting. For Berber or thin loop rugs, look for a 3/8-inch (9.5- millimeter) pad or thinner, with 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) of density per cubic foot [source: Carpet and Rug Institute].

Each type of flooring and manufacturer has different warranties. Flooring manufacturers often provide tips on extending the life of your flooring, including removing various marks and stains. The bottom line on the warranty, however, is that it won’t protect you from any wear or other damage that you and your family, pets, and visitors inflicted after the floor was laid.