Home Flooring Advice From Our Experts

Purchasing flooring can be a major investment that you will probably live with for a substantial period of time. It is very important that you are able to choose the right people to help you make the best decisions to accommodate your specific needs. Every home or business has its' own special circumstances and requires someone knowledgeable to utilize the best resources in providing the correct products.

By definition a professional "is someone conforming to the standards of skill, competence or character normally expected of a properly qualified and experienced person in a work environment". In identifying your professional, you should first prepare a list of questions and concerns that pertain to your project. Inquire about any affiliations or endorsements that they have established. Always have the person answer your questions in a manner that you can understand and have them provide examples on how they apply to your situation. If for any reason you question their response, simply ask them to identify their source of information. You will be able to qualify or disqualify the majority of the information they have provided through your own research or soliciting a second opinion.

A professional is all about sharing knowledge and ideas about products and installation. There is nothing more gratifying to them than a happy customer.

There are some companies that promote "basic installation" for an entire houseful of carpeting for $97.00 or $39.00 or even free. They do so, to give the consumer the impression that they are getting some incredible bargain. It is very troublesome to me that they put so little value on such an integral part of your investment. Installation, if done improperly, can result in a major and sometimes very disruptive circumstance. The average consumer probably hasn't purchased carpeting for years and doesn't really know what should be included in "basic installation" and what should be considered extra.

I have compiled a list, for our market conditions, to help you identify just some of the extra or hidden charges that really should be part of the basic or standard installation. This information should encourage these companies to be more transparent with their merchandising or risk losing business.

1. Removal (uninstall) of existing carpeting installed over padding.
2. Hauling away existing carpet and padding.
3. Replacing or reinforcing tack strip.
4. Minor floor prep, scraping, sweeping, filling small holes or hairline cracks in floor.
5. Carrying carpet upstairs "hard access, walk up fee".
6. Reasonable price on padding not to include a supplement to minimal or free installation.

Before you purchase any flooring on the internet for installation in your home or office, you should be aware that there are certain products that may not be appropriate in your environment or conducive to our climate. Please do not under value the significance of your local flooring dealer/contractor. It could prove to be much more advantageous for you to contact someone to guide you through the process that is familiar with the conditions and installation requirements where you live, even if you are planning to do the work yourself.

There is an article on line titled "Internet Shopping Complaints". I would encourage you to read the entire article published by FloorMall, "an upfront online retailer who consistently strives to provide excellent products and customer service." Within the context of the article they state "that shopping online isn't without pitfalls or drawbacks" and "it's harder to hold merchants on line accountable." They go on to say that "this isn't true of all online retailers and couldn't be further from the truth than the way FloorMall operates." The article concludes "it's true that there are risks that come along with online shopping but by being a savvy and educated shopper consumers can reap the benefits of the wide open internet marketplace."

I am an active proponent for research and education, having educated myself about our industry over the past 40 years. I recently learned more about laminate flooring. The importance of the type of core material and its density, the locking mechanism, and the use of UV stabilized inks and how they influence the production and application. Can you truly become "a savvy and educated shopper" by just reading articles over a period of a week or two? This type of information can prove invaluable to becoming that savvy shopper.

Let's talk about a new look for our home. We need new flooring and we are not sure where to start. Let's say for example, the individual room or area is our picture frame, our flooring represents the matting and our furniture and decor complete the art. The main idea of a new floor is to give a new life to our old painting.

If we use the same tone in our paint as in the floor, our space will look dramatically bigger. If we want to capture or bring attention to a particular item or view, we can introduce a choice of color that will enhance that presentation. If all the elements are put together properly, we will literally be drawn into the room once the transformation is completed.

When we shop for flooring, it will be helpful if we can have a pillow from the couch or some other piece from the room that reflects the art we are trying to present. Even rearranging your art and treasures can give your room a new feel, and a chance to remember why you purchased them in the first place.

If we are selecting new wood flooring, it's best not to try to match the existing wood tones. If you look at the different wood species in our showroom displays, you will note that all the pieces seem to complement each other. Enjoy the art of the contrasts making each piece more important.

These are just a few examples of many ways to accomplish a new and comforting living space for you and your family. We are continually revitalizing our product offerings with the knowledge and understanding that the colors and styles are the most recent and up to date. We choose these items knowing that they are competitively priced, constructed properly, consumer friendly from a care and maintenance standpoint, and can be installed successfully. Your quest will end up being a trip that will help you to find the right product for your lifestyle, and then the colors that make it your own. Come share your ideas with us and we will do our best to help.