I came across this article about a successful smaller galley kitchen remodel. It did involve knocking down part of a wall and removing cabinets...but I think their vision was spot on and the result is a simple clean and cohesive kitchen with breakfast nook. Being in the flooring business, I particularly appreciate the beautiful wood floors! They blend well with the wood cabinets and provide a cohesive design to the whole area. Hope you are also inspired by this space! Browse Bath Products on Houzz- For Example:
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Laminate flooring faithfully reproduces wood, stone, and other natural materials. Laminate is also relatively easy to install. However, there are a few negative aspects about laminate flooring. We’ve compiled some points on both sides for your review.
Laminate Flooring - Positive
What kind of tile do you need for your project?
There are many types of tiles. Does it matter what you choose? What is the difference between them? Let's look at some of the more common tile types. Quarry Tile Quarry tile is made from clay or shales. You might think of it as the same material as brick manufacture - except this is formed into tiles. Often, quarry tiles are used in the following sizes: 6x6; 4x8; 8x8. You may also see tile in a 12x12 size. Quarry tile is very durable. Glazed Tiles Glazed tiles are one type of ceramic tile that is fired in a kiln to create an almost glass-type coating. Glazed tiles are highly recommended because the coating seals the tile. This makes it waterproof and easy to clean. Any grouting used should be sealed in addition to the glazing on the tile. Be sure to look for (or make) a non-toxic grouting material for your tile floors. If you plan to implement passive solar in your home, then darker grout will absorb and hold the heat more efficiently than light colored grout. Ceramic Tile
Terracotta tile is a type of floor tile that picks up the clay color from which it is made. Colors may vary from brown to orange to numerous other shades, according to the chemical composition of the clay. Recycled Glass Tiles These tiles, made from post-consumer (what you recycle from household use) or post-industrial (what manufacturers recycle) glass. They are becoming extremely popular because they are Eco-friendly and use a substance that used to end up in landfills. Since glass comes in a multitude of colors, recycled glass tile is available in a wide spectrum of shades and can be designed into all types of patterns. (Some excerpts are from building-your-green-home.com) Ceramic Tile vs. Porcelain Tile
Now... does that help? Or are you still mystified? If you are shopping for carpet, you may be interested in the definition of carpet styles that are available. Yes, there really are definitions of carpet styles!!
Carpet can be grouped into three main constructions of loop pile, cut pile, and cut and loop pile. Each of these types may be used in the home; although cut piles s most popular for residential carpet. Carpet Loops
Today American Berber carpet is made of wool and a variety of other fibers including silk, nylon, olefin and PET, which is a material made of recycled plastic bottles. The term Berber refers to the weave of the carpet, not the material from which it is made. American Berber is machine-made. Nylon and wool Berbers are the best quality, easiest to clean and most long-wearing. Wool is a natural fiber that is resistant to the growth of bacteria. Olefin and PET carpets are less expensive than other materials, but they do not last as long and they are more difficult to keep clean. They are also likely to crush more easily and are not as comfortable underfoot. Buying Berber Carpet
Cut Pile Carpet Cut pile constructions can be used in both residential and commercial carpet installations. However, cut piles are used far more widely in residential applications and comprise the largest share of the residential market. There are numerous subcategories of cut pile carpet. Each category provides a different appearance or finished look. The following categories of cut pile can be found when shopping for residential carpet. Saxony Carpet
While other cut pile categories exist, these constitute the most popular styles of residential carpet. These include shag carpet – a low density, high pile height product popular during the 1970s. This construction tends to increase and decrease in popularity depending upon design trends. Also, multi-level cut piles, sometimes called carved saxonies, utilize higher and lower cuts to form patterns. I know this is a very long post-- but there are a lot of terms being misused out there and it can make things confusing as a shopper! Hope you find it helpful! Flooring 101- Which floor covering is right for me?
This is the million dollar question and it seems like there are nearly that many “correct” answers! Here are a few things to consider when trying to make your choice of what surface to use in your home.
Installing new carpet in your modular office space can be a breeze.Instead of the normal 12’ commercial broadloom carpet, install modular carpet tiles and leave your office systems in place!
Most medium to large offices have Workstations, Cubicles, or Modular Office Furniture systems. Office systems are usually comprised of 3 panel systems or modular walls and shelving. When the time comes for remodeling your offices, disassembling these systems can be the source of much anxiety and many headaches. Based on your carpet selection, you can approach your office remodel two ways. The first is using broadloom goods. The office is disassembled and moved to another location. Then we remove all flooring and install the new broadloom carpet. In a medium size office, this process will take a few days to disassemble, a couple of days to remove and install new flooring and another few days after that to reassemble the office furniture.Of course this is dependent upon the square footage of your particular project. While broadloom carpet tends to have a lower cost per square foot, the negative side is that this process causes a major disruption for the employees, who experience down time, and often have relocation connectivity problems. The second option employs using a furniture “Lift System” that we own and installing modular carpet tiles. In this process all office furniture systems stay in place. All items that sit on the floor including waste baskets, computer towers, etc. are collected by employees and moved to their desktop leaving the floor free from objects. The installation is done in phases, working about 150 to 200 square yards per night. We simply “lift” a section of your existing office systems furniture, remove the old carpet and place the carpet tile beneath. No moving, packing or disconnecting existing data or electrical wires that reside within the furniture system. The day before installing, we place cards on employee desks in the area we’ll be working, so they have time to get items off their floor area. We have used the “lift system” in call centers, banks and office remodel projects. Carpet tile on average, is more expensive per square foot, than commercial broadloom carpet. However, when you factor in down-time, managing the displacement of employees, and the longevity of carpet tile --it leads us to conclude this method has many advantages. The summary of benefits of using a “Lift System” ---
project and provide an estimate for either method you choose! Here's a subject near and dear to my heart...BUY LOCAL.
As the last, independent, locally owned, retail flooring store still in business located on a mainstream highway that used to be home to at least four other carpet or tile retail stores--- I'd like to take a minute to ask consumers to consider giving their local businesses the opportunity to get their sale. Here's why. If you don't help support local businesses, they will no longer exist. Just like small grocery stores, independent pharmacies and clothing stores, sporting goods and hardware stores, flooring stores find themselves in a constant battle against the Big Box stores who run unrealistic "specials" to drive consumers into their store. Make no mistake that this is a tactic. The bottom line is equally important to Big Box stores and they find a way to make back what is given away in such "specials". It may be the carpet style that is available in this special is so cheap most people don't want it and end up "up-grading" to a higher priced carpet. It may be they make it up by charging for every single nail and tack strip used or over priced padding. Or the consumer pays trip charges, delivery charges and paying for an in-home measure. And on...and on. When we have provided estimates for flooring against Big Box stores, and many times people are surprised with the results. If you want locally owned, Mom and Pop stores in your community..give them the chance to get the sale! We know that consumers are shopping for the best deal. In this economy there aren't many who aren't trying to make good choices with their money. We don't run specials, we don't mark up inventory every other week, we don't charge for necessary items like nails and tack strip. We provide an on site measure (within 20 miles of GR) at no cost, we provide a drawing if you have multiple rooms, you receive an estimate that spells out the costs, we track your order, we genuinely like working with people on their projects and our customers benefit from our years of experience. In contrast to the Big Box stores, we know our installers. In fact, we often find ourselves sitting across from them at Sunday dinners! The 8 primary vendors that we buy our materials through are local. We make a conscious effort to also support other local business. Here's something to think about...Grand Rapids Local First commissioned a study on how locally spent dollars effect the community. According to research firm Civic Economics, when West Michigan consumers choose a locally owned business over a non-local alternative, $73 of every $100 spent stays in the community. By contrast, only $43 of every $100 spent at a non-locally owned business remains in the community. Interesting isn't it? I think sometimes we forget that little changes can have surprising impact. "The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live." ~Flora Whittemore Alright, I'll get off my soapbox...but I want to encourage you the reader, wherever you may be - to support your local business community. It will make a difference! We have ideas of subjects to cover in this blog...but wondered if YOU have any flooring projects, ideas, DIY questions that you are looking for another opinion on?
When you've been in the flooring business as long as we have, odds are good that we've come across a similar situation. Let us know what flooring interests you have! |
The Floor NetworkI've been in the flooring business since I was a teenager and became my Dad's apprentice. Many things have changed since...new products, new techniques, "green" products that don't produce fumes that make you sick, but the bottom line is everyone starts with a solid floor or wall and then, with some thought and planning, it becomes the foundation for the design style of your home! Archives
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