New Year – New Flooring

So, it’s time to look at new flooring! For the uninitiated, this can be a very large and overwhelming task. If you don’t know where to begin, here are a few pointers!

1. Is your floor level?

A level floor is very important when deciding that type of flooring to use. If your home is old and the floors are not level, then sometimes it is better to consider carpeting.

2. Are your sub-floors in good condition?

When you consider new floors, you have to think about what you will find when you take up the old floors. Sometimes things such as old plumbing leaks can cause damage to the sub floor, making it necessary to replace it before putting down your new flooring.

3. What is the use of the room?

When considering different types of flooring, its best to consider who will use the room and for what purpose. If you have small children and it’s a playroom, you may want to consider a commercial grade carpet that will be good for cleaning up spills, but warm for small knees to crawl on.

At Sparkle Floors and Carpet, we are happy to come out to your home and help you make the decision regarding what type of flooring is most appropriate for you. Then, you simply come into our showroom to choose from the variety of flooring that we carry on a regular basis. Just give us a call and set up an appointment on 908-464-2653.

Tips for Protecting Your Wood Floor During a Move

Moving is one of the most stressful and complex things a homeowner can do – second only to a complete home makeover!
Here are a few tips on what to do to protect your wooden floors when moving house.

1. Lay down Protective Covering

There are many types of covering, ranging from heavy paper on a roll to a shock absorbing vinyl mat. This is particularly important in heavy traffic areas leading up to the door you are using to take all the furniture out of the house.

2. Don’t Drag Furniture

If you do not have enough help to actually lift each piece of furniture up off the floor before moving, then ensure that each part of the furniture pieces is sitting on something prior to sliding. There are small disks that you can purchase that have a carpet like backing that when put under the legs of furniture allow you to push the furniture across the room without danger of scratching the wooden floor.

3. Be Careful of the Weather

If the weather is inclement with rain or snow, be sure and have a large, absorbent mat near the door for everyone to wipe their feet on.

4. Measure Each Room in the New House

Be sure and measure each room in the new house, including room size and doorway size. Then measure each piece of furniture and make sure that it will fit. Most damage is done when a too-large piece gets stuck in a doorway!

Planning ahead can make sure that a move is stress and damage free! If you arrive in your new home and discover that you need new flooring, feel free to come see our showroom – we will be happy to help!

Flooring Trends for 2016

Believe it or not, social trends are having an impact on interior design in general and flooring design in particular.

Put another way, flooring covering designers are influenced by design leaders who, in turn, are influenced by popular trends showcased in places like New York Fashion Week, lifestyle magazines and media outlets.

On the color side, a strong trend that is emerging for 2016 is the use of grey in flooring. This will become the new ‘classic’ and can be used for modern styles, especially Scandinavian an Minimalist interiors.

There are many different ways to utilize grey, from a dark charcoal vinyl faux wood to a pale ash-white engineered floor.

No matter what your color preferences are, you can come into Sparkle Floors and Carpet and see a wide variety of colors and types of flooring, from hardwood and vinyl to carpet and engineered wood. Our showroom has a wide selection and our installers are the best!

Please stop on by and see what we have for 2016!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…..Your flooring!

In 2015 there was a great rise in demand for reclaimed wooden flooring. Reclaimed wood is a wonderful way to give a new room a feeling of history.

The concept of recycling old wood has really taken off, and there are now many possible styles of flooring, from yellow oak to redwood.

Most reclaimed lumber comes from timbers and decking rescued from old barns, factories and warehouses, although some companies use wood from less traditional structures such as boxcars, coal mines and wine barrels.

Barns serve as one of the most common sources for reclaimed wood in the United States. Those constructed up through the early part of the 19th century were typically built using whatever trees were growing on or near the property. They often contain a mix of oak, chestnut, poplar, hickory and pine timber. Beam sizes were limited to what could be moved by man and horse.

While the concept of recycling our natural resources was the original reason behind using reclaimed lumber, many consumers prefer it because of the durability and depth of grain and color.

At Sparkle Floors and Carpet, we are experts in reclaimed flooring. Please stop by our showroom so we can answer your questions.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl has come a long way from the standard squares of tile popular in the 1950’s. It has come a long way from the rolled goods popular in the 1980’s. Today’s vinyl is unrecognizable as vinyl – it now looks like wood of all types, stone, porcelain tiles, ceramic tiles, even bamboo flooring!

However, how do you decide when do use vinyl as opposed to the actual flooring? The first item to consider when deciding what type of flooring to use is moisture level. If you are putting in flooring in a basement that has moisture issue, or if you are using it in an entry way that will get rain and snow tracked on to it, then it might be best to consider using a vinyl version of the material you prefer.

The next issue to consider is the amount of foot traffic the flooring will experience. For example, bamboo flooring is very soft, so using a vinyl version of bamboo would be a good idea to cope with high foot traffic.

And, of course, in many cases the vinyl version is less expensive than the original! There are many reasons to consider vinyl – why don’t you come on in to Sparkle Floors and Carpet and see for yourself!

Flooring Trends in 2015

Trends come and go in all aspects of interior design and flooring is no different!  So far in 2015, the trends seem to be:

1. Bamboo flooring

Bamboo flooring has become very popular in recent years.  For the consumers concerned about the environment it is a natural choice, as bamboo grows more quickly than hardwood, taking less resources to get it to maturity and it continues to grow again once it is harvested.  Bamboo flooring can be used in most places in the home, except in wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.

2. Cork Flooring

Cork is also an environmentally conscious choice, as it is made from the bark of the cork tree.  It is a naturally resilient product that withstand impact and creates a warm, insulated feel to the room.

3. Wide Plank Wooden Flooring

When a more rustic feel is needed in a room, many consumers pick wide plank flooring to create the more casual look.   However, as manufacturers are harvesting trees younger and younger, fewer options are available in wide plank.

4. Dark Hardwood

More and more consumers are attracted to the richness of dark hardwood flooring.  The dark wood is a great counterpoint to lighter furniture.  The only caution is that is does show dust more than a lighter floor.

5. Luxury Vinyl

Welcome to the new era of Vinyl!  This type of flooring has moved from being a low cost default choice for the budget conscious to being the first choice for high traffic and family areas.  Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, vinyl now can look like wood, ceramic, porcelain – almost any type of surface!

Spring is Here – Is it time to update your floors?

When Spring is making everything look great outside, many people begin looking at the inside of their home and identifying what needs to be updated.

If your wooden floors are looking dingy, having them refinished is a great way to update the whole room, or even your entire house!

We have a special ‘dustless’ system of refinishing that will have a minimal impact on your everyday activities. Call us today for a quote!

When Should I Clean My Carpet?

We usually get asked the question ‘how often should I clean my carpet?’

The best answer to this question is at least every 12 to 18 months. If you keep your carpet on a regular, professional cleaning schedule, then it will wear better and last longer.

Also, especially if you have children, it is reassuring to know they are climbing around on a clean floor!