Photo credit to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74783045@N00/

Finding the best hardwood floor option comes down to who is going to use the floor and how often. A dog is a member of your family who should be considered in the buying process as they can have a dramatic effect on the finish of your wood floor, especially if you choose the wrong one. Read on for our tips on what type of wood you should choose:

Do not buy a soft wood, buy a hard wood

Stay far away from any type of soft wood. This can include pine, birch or American walnut. Much better options are hard wood like Oak, ash and Brazilian cherry. These dense and strong wood species are excellent at absorbing shock, and will help to minimize the number of dents and scratches a dog can put in a wood floor.

A pronounced grain texture is the best friend of man’s best friend

A grain texture that is pronounced can help camouflage those smaller dents and scratches. The nail mark left behind by your dog, or even a cat, will tend to blend in more with these types of woods. Specific species to look at are White Oak and ash.

Buy a scraped or wire brushed floor

Floors that are wire brushed or scraped are intentionally finished with a natural looking surface that has had the soft wood removed. The wood that is left is full of dramatic knots and character adding marks. These marks can be added to by your dog, you could even think of your dog as your own personal interior decorator with this wood style!

Natural colours are best

A finish from light brown to dark brown, the natural colour of wood, are great at hiding pet hair on your floor when shedding season hits. In addition, floors that have an unnatural finish tend to show scratches easier when the natural colour underneath is exposed.

Getting the right floor for your house, and for your dog, comes down to going as natural as possible with a true hard wood.

Contact us at Michael’s Flooring to get a free in home estimate on your flooring!

Photo credit to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/webb-zahn/

Everyone dreams of one day owning their own home. Most people will buy a used home with the intent of remodelling it. Starting with new vinyl tile flooring can be a great way to begin your remodelling project and set the mood for each room. This can inspire you to design the rest of your new starter home.

Buying the perfect new home is a great first step when you’re investing in your future. But unless the previous owner was your brother or best friend it is very likely that it will not be very ‘you.’ Even with your furniture, possessions and a quick paint job your new home can still feel like it belongs to someone else. While there are innumerable ways to go about customizing your home, your floors are in every room and set the tone from the bottom.

All too often older homes have flooring that is from a bygone era. A 1970’s style technicolour scheme may have been appealing back in the days of Andy Warhol, but nowadays it will not fit in at all with modern furniture or appliances. This clash can make your home look tacky and uninviting.

The great thing about laminate flooring isn’t how long it lasts or how easy it is to install or any of that boring stuff, it’s about how great it looks and how many options there are! You can get every type of stone look from regular tiles to randomly arranged cobble, to every type of hardwood grain from dark to light, even metallic and leather looks can be found. You get all of that with the benefit of it being easier to clean than the material it is imitating and a breeze to install.

Contact us at Michaels’ Flooring to get help picking out the perfect new flooring for your home renovation project.

Photo credit to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffwilcox/

Installing wooden laminate flooring can be a cost effective, long lasting and attractive way to finish your new floor. They are well suited for high foot traffic areas, are resistant to scratching by children and pets, and are very stain resistant. Maintenance is very easy and direct sunlight will not fade it.

The key benefit of this flooring type is the easy installation, the adaptability of the subfloor, and the beautiful photographic finishing that shows through the tough and durable outer layer of protection. Read on to take a deeper look at each advantage:

Installation

A snap together glue free option is available with most styles. Even someone with the most limited experience in carpentry can install one. So not only is it good for the do-it-yourselfer, but it is also great for contractors to offer as a low labour cost alternative to homeowners.

Subfloor

A wood laminate floor is well known for their ability to adapt to different subfloors. If your subfloor has a slightly high moisture content, like concrete typically will, you can find a wooden laminate flooring that works perfectly. They can be installed right on top of nearly any subfloor, from concrete to a pre existing wood floor, to vinyl or ceramic. All you need is for it to be clean and level, like you would need for any other floor.

Finish

The wooden appearance of these floors comes from a photograph that imitates real wood. The photograph is bonded to the laminate with a strong and durable aluminum oxide finish. This top layer is what gives the floor the resistant and long lasting durability it is known for.

Contact us today about the laminate wood flooring you’d like to install in your home!

Photo credit to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/

Choosing the best laminate flooring for your home can come down to looks alone for the uneducated buyer. Knowing what goes into truly quality laminate flooring can be what helps you choose a floor that lasts. The best can last nearly as long as stone or ceramic, but they will be at a fraction of the cost.

Looks do indeed matter. The best laminate flooring will have a high quality decorative layer that displays a realistic photographic image of the material being replicated. If you’re not satisfied with the look then this will obviously not be a good choice for you no matter how long it may last. You should look for how it simulates the grain, colour and texture of the material it is imitating. The best ones will be nearly identical to the real thing.

The board thickness is another determining factor. The thicker and denser it is, and the more closely it resembles its real life counterpart, the higher quality the laminate. For those who really pay attention you can even hear the difference between a high quality and a low quality laminate as the best will even sound more like the real thing. Look for a board thickness of 8 – 12mm.

A hybrid of materials underneath and on top of this photographic layer being fused together is what gives this material its longevity. Under the photograph you will find an inner core of an advanced resin that is stable and resistant to moisture. It can also offer sound absorption, making it ideal for a bedroom. The very bottom layer is the backing. It acts as a moisture barrier to prevent warping. Above the photograph there will be a protective layer that prevents stains, fading and wear of the image. Having all of these layers together makes the great laminate flooring for your home.

Contact us today to choose the laminate flooring that is right for you!

Laminate flooring in Ontario has taken off as a viable replacement to costly hardwood floors. The obvious benefit is found in lower prices, but there are also other benefits that you will be able to bank on.

Laminate is the process of combining four different layers of manufactured material through compression. This process enables a photo to be placed underneath a durable later and then adhered to a wooden core and then a balancing layer. As photo technology has improved, so has the look and style of laminate flooring options. If you live in Ontario, Canada where the environment takes a toll on the upkeep of your home, this type of flooring would make excellent choice for you. It is tough and durable but gives you the variety of available looks to match your decorating scheme.

Laminate products have evolved to mimic even exotic looks like; Brazilian, Mahogany, Cherry and Walnut. These real hardwoods would cost a fortune to put throughout your home, but on a laminate finish the high end look can be had for just a fraction of the price. The install is also much easier as most of these products ‘click’ together and are free floating. This all means less time spent installing the floor and more time to actually enjoy it. 

Because the top coat is often a strong durable wear layer, families really benefit from the durability. The product is designed with small children, pets and high traffic in mind, and as the floor is used it wears much more slowly than hardwood which can often scratch or show each mark that life inevitably creates. Laminate flooring in Ontario or similar climates where all the seasons can be track in and the heat and cold shrink and expand building materials just makes sense.

Hardwood Flooring has been a staple of interior design for years and although there are new materials and technologies that have come into the forefront of home decorating, hardwood flooring has continued to be a staple of practical and attractive design. There are two main types of grades that fit most categories of hardwood; clear and select. Clear grades are usually considered the to be the highest grade available and do not have natural markings. Select grades may have natural markings to add character but do not have splits or other markings that are not naturally engrained in the wood. 

Hardwood no longer needs to be all about adding character to your space. For fans of interior designs that are clean and polished, select grades are the ideal solution. These grades allow for a space that has tight fitting lines that are free from markings and yet still offer an elegant real wood look that simply cannot be had with laminate flooring options. If you are a fan of modern design then selecting a type of flooring out of this grading category is the right option for you.

Select grades are the original timeless hardwood look that is often thought of when choosing a flooring option. These types are great for families or heavier traffic areas as well as perfectly fitting into the right scheme of decorating. If you have a family and worry about marks or scratches on your floor driving you crazy, than perhaps a select grade is the best option. Select grades can often hide the imperfections that life can present in such a way that they simply add extra character to your space.

Whichever grade you choose hardwood flooring is a wonderful choice and will emphasize classic design in your home.

Many consumers feel that the larger big box stores can deliver the goods, less expensive, faster, better and with more variety and selection, than smaller independent, stand alone flooring stores.  I am here to tell you as a part owner of said smaller institution in my opinion, humble as it may be, we can’t be beat.

Are you ready? Lets tackle the issues in the order I have stated them.

Less expensive, I don’t think so.

Over the years, with mergers, and closings etc., especially in Canada, we have had to turn to the U.S. market more and more, very few Flooring products are manufactured in this country any more. Everything from Carpet, to Laminates and Hardwoods, Ceramic tiles and Vinyl flooring wind up on our door step from another country. In short, most of us end up purchasing from the same manufacturer/distributor pool. Generally,  how much, or how little we purchase from a particular supplier is reflected in what we pay for materials.  In a lot of instances smaller independent stores pay the same or less for product than big box stores, which is why it is extremely important to price apples to apples when comparison shopping. Sometimes the names have been changed to protect the innocent, so simply bring us a sample and more than likely we know what the product is or we can match it to one of our samples. As well, some of the larger Big box type stores have items manufactured specifically for them, usually we can find a close match or a reasonable alternative. It’s also extremely important to find our where the products are manufactured. Keep in mind also that when pricing an installed product, its the bottom line that counts.

Faster, could be a tie.

As I stated above, we all mostly purchase from the same supplier pool, and bigger doesn’t mean they get it any faster. If its back ordered for us, its back ordered for them. We all stock some items, which are specific to location etc., that can be had on the spot, but unless you plan to install something yourself, by the time the job is measured, priced and signed and sealed, the delivery is usually when you want it.

More variety, not a chance.

At Michael’s Flooring we have almost 5000 square feet devoted to flooring of every description, Hardwoods, Laminates, Ceramics, Corks, Vinyls, specialty commercial and on and on. If by chance we don’t have it, we try and source it for you.

Better, try us on for size.

We’ll be happy to supply references on any of the type of flooring installations you require, as should most independent flooring stores. Ask around, find out the word on the street.  Our installers are seasoned veterans. Our estimaters have years of experience in making sure your job is fine tuned to suit you, and OUR ESTIMATES ARE FREE.

So you be the judge, it’s always better to get more than one price anyway. Let the smaller independents prove their worth to you, and find out if it’s Big box or Big Myth.

“My friends advise me that Ceramic tiles will chip and crack, and Porcelain will not?”

Some of the things customers ask of us when the process of deciding to purchase new flooring for Kitchens, Bathrooms, and Entries begins.  First though, we need to know the difference between, Ceramic and Porcelain tiles.

Ceramic tiles are generally made from a clay base or a mixture of clay with other materials added, finished with a hard glaze which carries the colour and pattern,  they are then Kiln fired, much the same as you would fire a coffee cup or a vase at a ceramic class.  The clay is usually red or white.  My experience has been, the redder the clay base the less expensive and less durable the tile, this is only my experience.  I have found that generally the greyer the bisque(or clay) the more durable the tiles.  These tiles can be used on both the floor and wall.  If you chip them, you will usually see the clay bisque, as the colour will come off with the chipped glaze.

Ceramic tiles are generally a softer product, that cuts easier, and has a higher water absorbtion rate, and should not be used outside, or in conditions that may freeze.

Porcelain tiles are generally made by what is known as the dust pressed method from porcelain clay.  This results in a denser tile, impervious, fine grained and generally smooth.

Porcelain tiles can be crafted to look more like natural stones, and come glazed or unglazed, have a lower water absorbtion rate and are extremely durable.  Some Porcelain tiles are classed as frost proof, with a water absorbtion rate of less than o.5%.  These can be used  outdoors on porches, walkways, sunrooms etc., and unglazed are recommended.

Most consumers are under the impression that Porcelain tiles have the colour all the way through so that if they chip, you cannot tell.  This is only true in what we call a full body Porcelain tile, which are generally more expensive than regular Porcelain tiles.

Ceramic tiles can contain slightly larger or slightly smaller tiles in each run, which may mean a slighter larger grout line than you may wish.  This is because during the firing, some tiles contain more mositure than others and dry differently. I have found that in general Porcelain tiles are more consistant in size.

So which is it, Ceramic or Porcelain?  It’s really up to you.  Ceramic is generally less expensive, and you may not like the look of Porcelain.

Porcelain tiles seem to me to be more varied, and some have that natural stone look without the expense and maintainence.

Remember though,  it’s all in the installation(something we’ll talk about another day) and other than outdoors, or in a commercial application, it really shouldn’t matter which tile you choose.

At Michael’s Carpet & Flooring we have a great selection of tiles to suit any need and fit into any budget.

Happy decorating.

So what do you choose,  Solid Hardwood or Engineered?

The differences are easy to spot.  Solid is usually 3/4″ thick by any number of widths, and engineered has a plywood laminated type core, with a real wood veneer.(a thin application of real wood)

Consumers usually selected solid Hardwood bewcause it looks heavier and more sturdy, and the thought was you could sand it many many times.  Not true.  Live or solid wood reacts to environmental changes more, heat, humidity cold etc., and you can usually get two sandings out of it.  Engineered wood should not be sanded in my opinion(even though the manufacturer says it can at least once)because experience has taught us you can only lightly sand it to freshen it up, and you take too much of the veneer off if you try a heavy sanding.

Solid Hardwood was also selected in a number of cases because the 3/4″ height was critical to matching up exactly with ceramic installations.  As well it is my experience engineered woods are generally more free of knots etc. than some solid woods.

Engineered woods are necessary over concrete, as they can be glued directly down, or floated(the tongues and grooves glued together much like laminate.)

Engineered woods used to only come 3/8″ thick and were generally less expensive comparing grade to grade.  Now engineered woods are not only 3/8″ thick, but 1/2″ and 3/4″ and in some instances can be more expensive that solid woods.  So matching up to other floor finishes is easy.

So again, which do you choose, solid Hardwood or engineered?

It’s a matter of personal preference lifestyle,  and site conditions.  If you simply like the look of the engineered over solid, or one price is better than another, that’s one choice.  If your installation is on grade or on concrete, then engineered is your choice.  If you don’t like to monitor humidity levels as much, leave your home for extended periods, or live in a humidty prone area, then my money is on engineered.

Either way, make sure you explain to your flooring sales person all of the conditions that prevail in your home, and what your expectations are.

At Michael’s Flooring we have a complete range of all types of Hardwoods, solid or engineered.

Happy decorating.

The theory used to be if you cleaned your Carpet, you would remove any of the Stain resisting treatments i.e.; scotch guard, stain release, and stain master.  This is not the case.  Carpet is fabric, you wouldn’t wear a shirt for 5 years without washing it, and the same goes for Carpet.

So how do you clean your Carpet?

First and foremost choose the method.  You can shampoo, steam, Roto static, dry clean etc. Second, choose the cleaner, who should be reputable, bondable, insured and able to supply you with references if requested.  The company you choose should visit your home, and decide the best method in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications. (Supplied by your Carpet Retailer)

I prefer deep steam extraction, using a truck mounted cleaning system.  

In between cleanings, regular vacuuming and spot cleaning should keep your investment looking new for a long time to come. 

Remember, before you try any spot cleaners; use a scrap of left over Carpet, or the back of a closet as a test area, to make sure you do not permanently discolour your Carpet.

With proper maintenance all warrantees will be in effect and you should be able to enjoy your Carpet purchase for many years.