Choosing Hardwood Floor Color
For some people, choosing the right color for your wood floor is a no brainer.
Flooring Learning Center
Everything you need to know about buying
and installing carpet and fine flooring.
Informational Articles
The Wool Carpet Solution for Natural Health
The two main health issues that seem to affect a person’s decision on floor coverings are allergies and asthma, and both of the...
How Durable is Luxury Vinyl Plank?
As with any product, most manufacturers claim to have some kind of secret ingredient that makes their vinyl plank more durable ...
FAQs
- Carpet
- Hardwood
- Vinyl
- Laminate
- Tile & Stone
- Area Rugs
- Kitchen Remodeling
- Bath Remodeling
Filter Questions
Q: How do I clean spills or stains from my carpet?
A: Use water with a white towel or cloth. Blot the stain (do not rub as it will disfigure the tips of the yarn) until it dissipates, then place a dry, white towel or cloth on top of the area with some weight on it to draw out leftover moisture.
Q: What is the best carpet for people with allergies?
A: Wool acts as a natural filter, trapping allergens in the pile, away from the breathing zone. Allergens produced by dust mites can trigger asthmatic and other allergic reactions. Vacuuming controls the build-up of the mites’ food source and their allergens. Wool’s long, coarse fibers cannot be inhaled and therefore do not affect asthma sufferers. So as long as the air is dry, the ventilation good and the cleaning regular and thorough, allergy and asthma sufferers can breathe easy with wool carpet.
Q: Do I need stain protection on wool carpets?
A: No! Wool carpet is naturally resistant to dirt, stains and spills.
Q: What’s the difference between berber, frieze and plush carpeting?
A: Frieze fiber loops are tightly twisted, and then cut so the fibers appear to curl at the pile surface. Berber carpets feature large, uncut loops varying in size and are often denser than most other carpets. Plush carpets are made up of closely packed yarn that gives a soft, smooth-finished surface.
Q: Is carpeting a good choice for homes with pets?
A: Carpet is the most comfortable flooring underfoot for pets, but has more of a tendency for staining and general wear and tear than hard surfaces. There are many carpet options specifically made to resist pet stains and odors and provide warranties against staining.
Q: How do I choose the right carpet for my room?
A: Research the different styles, materials and quality to help decide what the best carpet for your home.
Q: How long does carpet last?
A: With proper care, most manufacturers say carpet should last for an average of 10 years. Of course, this varies depending on how many people are in the home and if you have pets and children that can be harder on carpet.
Q: Should I buy hardwood, engineered, or laminate flooring?
A: All are great options with pros and cons depending on your needs, traffic levels and budget. Your Coles designer will help guide you through the decision process to make the right decision for your lifestyle.
Q: Can engineered hardwood flooring be refinished?
A: Traditional hardwood floorboards are cut from logs of solid wood. Engineered hardwood floors have a thin veneer of wood on the surface that is fused with crisscrossed layers of wood slices underneath. Engineered wood can be installed directly on concrete foundations with proper moisture sealer, and is more dimensionally stable and moisture resistant than solid wood flooring.
Q: Solid vs engineered hardwood flooring . . . what’s the difference?
A: Yes, at least once. Floors with a wear layer less than 2 millimeters thick can tolerate a light scuff-sanding with a buffer. Thicker top layers can be sanded just like solid wood, allowing you to erase deeper scratches and dents.
Q: Does board thickness matter when choose laminate flooring?
A: Thickness does not translate into the durability of laminate flooring, but it can help prevent boards from warping and having other problems. 12mm to 15mm will feel most like hardwood floors compared to thinner laminates.
Q: Can engineered hardwood flooring be refinished?
A: Yes, at least once. Floors with a wear layer less than 2 millimeters thick can tolerate a light scuff-sanding with a buffer. Thicker top layers can be sanded just like solid wood, allowing you to erase deeper scratches and dents.
Q: How to refinish a hardwood floor?
A: Refinishing a hardwood floor is easier, faster, and less expensive than sanding down to bare wood, but requires a buffer.
Q: How to refinish an engineered floor?
A: Floors with a wear layer less than 2 millimeters thick can tolerate a light scuff-sanding with a buffer. Thicker top layers can be sanded just like solid wood, allowing you to erase deeper scratches and dents.
Q: Will my dog’s nails scratch vinyl flooring?
A: No floor is 100% scratch proof, however vinyl flooring has a wear layer that protects the flooring from scratches. If your dog is large or particularly rambunctious, you’ll want to shop for a thicker wear layer option.
Q: Can I put heavy appliances down directly on my vinyl floors?
A: Yes, however for furniture, felt furniture pads are recommended under legs to prevent scratching the flooring surface. Never use rubber, as rubber can stain vinyl flooring.
Q: Should I use a professional installer?
A: If you’re someone who is comfortable DIYing home repair projects, then installing vinyl flooring shouldn’t be a problem for you. You need to make sure that you have the necessary equipment handy before beginning installation. It’s also always a good idea to contact a professional flooring installer to better visualize how long a project should take, as well as receive more understanding of which method will fit best with your budget.
Q: How durable is luxury vinyl?
A: Luxury Vinyl is known for its high durability thanks to its superior wear layer. The wear layer keeps the original appearance of the floor and provides easy maintenance. The importance of selecting flooring with the proper wear layer depends on your homes needs—do you have pets? kids? heavy foot traffic?
Q: How to clean luxury vinyl tile?
A: Thanks to the overall stain resistance capabilities of luxury vinyl, most spills and stains will wipe up quickly with a clean white cloth. When wiping up stains, turn the cloth frequently to prevent spreading the stain. Make sure to rinse with clean water and allow the area to dry. To keep your floors in top shape, make sure you sweep regularly and always keep doormats at each entrance. Refer to your warranty guide for more details.
Q: What goes under luxury vinyl plank flooring?
A: The material that goes beneath LVP is called underlayment. Different vinyl floors have different underlayment needs, depending on factors like where the flooring will be installed, the overall quality of your subfloor, and the need for noise reduction.
Q: What is the average lifetime of a vinyl floor?
A: Vinyl flooring can last anywhere from 5-30 years. There are differences in quality between vinyl flooring products that can make the lifetime vary greatly. Care and maintenance are also very important factors in the life of your vinyl flooring
Q: What is the difference between real wood and laminate floors?
A: Laminate floors are not made of wood. It is a printed photograph of an particular wood species or stone pattern that is then adhered to a dense particle board or high density fiberboard center core. The top layer is protected with layers of a protective finish.
Q: Does laminate flooring need to acclimated to my home?
A: Even though laminate flooring isn’t real wood, we recommend that you allow the boards to acclimate for at least 48 before installation.
Q: Are laminate floors easy to maintain?
A: Laminate floors are stain-resistant and very easy to keep clean, however just like all floors, spills should be cleaned up quickly and excessive water should be avoided on the surface of your floor. For everyday maintenance, vacuuming or sweeping regularly is recommended. When needed, you can also use a laminate floor cleaner to take care of any film that may have built up to maintain the natural shine of the floor.
Q: How is a laminate floor installed?
A: Most laminate floors are installed using a Click Lock floating method over a foam pad. No adhesive, nails or staples necessary. You can also use your new laminate floor right away—no waiting for anything to dry or set.
Q: Can I sand and refinish a laminate floor?
A: No. Laminate floors are not made of wood and cannot be sanded. One of the benefits of laminate flooring is that it is more scratch resistant than real wood, and if a plank does become damaged, you can easily replace that board without ruining the rest of your floor in the process.
Q: How long will a laminate floor last?
A: Not all laminate floors are created equal. Depending on the quality of the floor, warranties on most laminates are between 10-25 years. Some manufacturers offer limited warranties against fading, wear, moisture, etc., but, as with all flooring they must be maintained properly to last the longest.
Q: Can I replace a single damaged board?
A: Since laminate flooring is installed using a Click Lock floating method and are not attached or glued directly to the subfloor, you can un-click the flooring starting from the last boards installed, back to the damaged board and replace it. Then you simply re-click the boards into place.
Q: What is the average lifetime of tile flooring?
A: When properly installed and maintained, ceramic tile floors can last a lifetime. Unglazed tile shows less wear than glazed tile and will last longer in high traffic areas. Porcelain tile is known to be the longest lasting.
Q: How do I choose the right grout for my tile floors?
A: You should choose a color that blends with the colors in the floor tile. The color of the grout will slightly vary in each installation due to different environmental factors and installation methods, so finding an exact match may be difficult. Darker grout tends to be easier to keep clean, but modern grout is often stain and mildew resistant so maintenance is very simple.
Q: Will there be variations in floor tiles in the same box?
A: Yes, floor tiles will have slight variations in color, texture, or markings due to the way they are manufactured. This adds character and style to your tile floors. You should always inspect your purchase before installation to make sure you are happy with it.
Q: Can I walk on my tile floor and mop it immediately after installation?
A: It is not recommended that you walk on your tile floor until the grout and any other adhesive used has had ample time to dry. This will vary from product to product so be sure to check with the manufacturer for their recommendations.
Q: Can I install tile myself?
A: Laying tile is easy but doing it well is difficult. That said, it may be wise to hire a professional installer.
Q: What’s the difference between ceramic and porcelain?
A: The major difference between porcelain tile and ceramic tile is how it’s made. Both tiles are made from a clay mixture that’s fired in a kiln, but porcelain tile is made from more refined clay and it’s fired at higher temperatures. This makes it denser and more durable than ceramic tile.
Q: How to Clean Tile?
A: It is important to regularly vacuum tile floors, particularly glazed ones, to remove gritty particles that might scratch them. Routine cleaning requires only washing with hot water and a mild detergent. After washing the tile, rinse it thoroughly to remove detergent film.
Q: My rug is shedding, is this normal?
A: New rugs may tend to shed yarn fibers in the beginning, and depending on the weave and foot traffic levels your area rug endures, it may continue to shed over the span of its lifetime. Proper and regular vacuuming will help eliminate rug fibers and keep the rug looking fresh and clean.
Q: How do I care for my area rug?
A: Standard care such as vacuuming can be done daily to monthly. Spot clean as needed, and steam clean or take to a professional every few years or if excessively soiled.
Q: What type of vacuum is best for area rugs?
A: A suction only canister vacuum is best for loop pile constructions to prevent excess pilling and fuzzing. A rotating brush vacuum can be used with caution on cut-pile rugs, just test first to be sure it is not too aggressive for the pile.
Q: What is the best method for spot cleaning an area rug?
A: Blot, do not rub, with clean, white absorbent cloth or paper towels to remove excess moisture. Most stains clean up with warm, not hot, water applied to the stained area. Then blot with clean white cloth or paper towels. Press down firmly to remove as much moisture as possible. Do not rub, as rubbing can alter the carpets texture. Repeat until no stain is evident on cloth or towels. When completely dry, vacuum or brush the pile to restore texture.
Q: What is the difference between hand-knotted and handmade rugs?
A: All hand-knotted rugs are handmade, but all handmade rugs are not hand-knotted. To be called hand-knotted, the entire pile must be made knotted onto a warp and weft on a loom.
Q: What size rug should I use under my dining room table?
A: We suggest adding four feet to the total width and length of your table, giving yourself a two foot perimeter all the way around the table which will allow all four chair legs to remain on the rug while someone is seated.
Q: Should I get a rug pad?
A: A non slip rug pad is highly recommended to prevent your area rug from shifting, especially on hard surfaces such as wood and tile.
Q: How long does a kitchen remodel take?
A: It varies depending on the scope of each project, a simple project can be as quick as 4 weeks while more complicated ones can take up to 8-9 weeks or more.
Q: How much does an average kitchen remodel cost?
A: The total cost of a remodel varies depending on the size of the space, the quality of materials, and whether you change the layout of the room. Your Coles Designer will provide you with an accurate proposal after your selections are made and before you commit to the project.
Q: What type of flooring is best for a kitchen
A: Water-resistant floors such as tile or luxury vinyl are generally best for kitchens and other spaces prone to spills and moisture. Hardwood and Laminate are also commonly used, but require extra care to avoid spills and the adverse effects of moisture.
Q: What is the order of tasks for a Kitchen remodel?
A: Demolition, Framing and Plumbing, Professional Inspection, Finishing the Walls, Doors and Windows, Cabinets and Fixtures, New Appliances, New Flooring
Q: What makes a kitchen more or less expensive?
A: The total cost of a remodel varies depending on the size of the space, the quality of materials, and whether you change the layout of the room.
Q: Does a kitchen remodel have a contract?
A: Yes, a contract is signed after finalizing designs, prior to start of construction. Coles designer will provide a written schedule of work and price guarantee so you can rest assured your remodel is on time and within your budget.
Q: Where’s the best place to put a microwave?
A: Depending on the layout of the room, the microwave should be in an easily accessible space that doesn’t hinder the workflow of the room.
Q: What type of tile should I use for my shower?
A: Glazed ceramic and porcelain tile are most commonly used for showers. Glass and stone are also good options.
Q: How much bathroom ventilation do I need?
A: The rule of thumb is that you need at least 1 CFM per square foot of room area.
Q: What is the difference between a bathroom remodel and a bathroom renovation?
A: A remodel changes the form of something (i.e. adding a new shower to an existing bathroom), renovation focuses more on updating an existing space (i.e. replacing an existing bathtub)
Q: How much does an average bathroom remodel cost?
A: The total cost of a remodel varies depending on the size of the space, the quality of materials, and whether you change the layout of the room.
Q: How long does an average bathroom remodel take?
A: It varies depending on the scope of each project, a simple project can be as quick as 4 weeks while more complicated ones can get to 8-9 weeks.
Q: What type of flooring is best for a bathroom?
A: Water resistant floors such as tile or luxury vinyl are generally best for bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens and other spaces prone to spills and moisture.
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