Spring 2015 Home Renovation Trends

Spring is here, and along with cleaning homeowners are doing renovations. Recently Hardwood Floor Magazine reported a sizable increase in spring renovation for homeowners across the country. There is no better time than now to start your home project or remodel and we at Chicagoland Pro thought we can help by offering some information on current trends in the hardwood flooring industry.

Spring time is a great time to do home remodeling projects. So what are some of the things that people are investing in this year?

Here are a few that we found to be popular requests this year for hardwood flooring.
Other home renovations and investments that are popular this year include outdoor living areas, outdoor lighting and landscape changes.

When it comes to hardwood floors one of the most popular additions for homeowners this year is hardwood in bathrooms and kitchens. With the advancement of engineered wood, the possibilities are endless. These new types of wood are safer to use in areas that have higher humidity levels, and are much easier to clean. One creative way to mix things up and create a new look in your kitchen without a complete renovation is refreshing kitchen cabinetry and adding hardwood flooring to match.

Recycled or up cycled wood is another new trend that is on a lot of peoples minds as homeowners try to make their homes more environmentally friendly. Not only does salvaged wood save trees, but it also tells a story.

Many people are choosing to do some simple refinishing to their current hardwood flooring and creating dark ebony colors to make their space more modern looking. On the flip side, others are choosing to go with a normal natural look and limiting the amount of shine for a matte finish. Both of these options create a modern and clean feel, offering the benefits of hardwood floors, without the traditional look or a major renovation to your home.

Looking for more tips or help with your remodel? Get in touch with Wayne, from Chicagoland Pro to learn more about our current specials. We offer FREE estimates and can install or refinish your hardwood floors. Our service areas north and northwest of Chicago including Palatine, Arlington Heights, Long Grove, Lincolnshire and Northbrook.

You can also find us on Facebook or Twitter for more tips, tricks and hardwood flooring news.

Spring Clean Your Hardwood Floor

Chicagoland Pro- Hardwood Floor Installation & Finishing 

When the snow is melting, the life is coming back to nature, temperatures are rising, and people are getting happier, you know that spring is here. Sure, there is still some snow on the ground in much of the midwest but we know that spring is this close to being here and the age old concept of "spring cleaning" is knocking at our doors. 

Now, no matter what kind of floors you have, it is important that you get them clean and looking good for all those fun times you are about to have now that the roads aren't impassable due to the weather.

Hardwood flooring is definitely one of the simplest floors to clean and takes the least amount of work. Typically, to keep them in good shape means just having to sweep and vacuum them; you just want to keep all the dirt and dust (and other junk) from making your floors home and ruining them. Now, if you have spills or stains, you may have to use a mop or a wet mop device (the ones that have the spray and you attach the tissue to the base). If you use either one of these, make sure you do not soak your floor with too much of the liquid; use enough to get it clean but not to flood the place. Too much moisture can get in between the seems in the floors and ruin them; this can ruin the backing on the floors and perhaps ruin the finish.

If you are one to prefer carpeting, then what you have to do is vacuum and make sure that the vacuum filter is clean (this will give you a real good job at cleaning your carpet). If you have more aggressive cleanings to do, like for stains, then use a proper cleaning solution and blot the stain, don't wipe or rub.

If you have ceramic floors, then you have a pretty easy cleaning job as well, much like with hardwood flooring, your cleaning job is going to be a lot of vacuuming and easy mopping. However, you may have to do cleaning more regularly, daily almost. You have to do regular cleaning to avoid the buildup of things like mold, mildew, grime, etc. Use clean water and then wipe them dry. Make sure your grout is clean and good to go as well. If you have grout to clean, then mix some mild detergent (1/4 cup) with a gallon of water.

They say April showers bring May flowers, should there be April showers (or any other spring month), then try to keep the water out of the house and off your floors. If you have any questions, then contact Chicagoland Pro - a hardwood flooring company. 

Join us on Facebook for more tips and tricks and hardwood floor news. 

Hardwood Floor Trends 2015

Hardwood Flooring Trends for 2015

The New Year is almost here so we decided to take a look at the top trends in hardwood flooring for the upcoming year.  Those considering a new installation or simply wanting a fresh look for their flooring have a lot to consider.  Popular looks for 2015 depend more on the function of the space and style. Even more things to think about is how green you want your new floor to be. By green, we do not mean the color green, but sustainable and eco-friendly. 

For the Green Home the floor that will be most sought after is refurnished or recycled wood flooring. This type of flooring has gained in popularity recently but it has also increased in cost.  Often the wood is collected from old barns and other retired facilities and then refurbished. This is not only the greenest option, because no trees are cut down to create your new flooring,  but it can have a wonderful distressed look to it. There are also many new products on the market that are either LOW VOC or are VOC Free. This helps those that are not interested buying recycled wood, but would like to have options to have their home and flooring have as limited impact on their health and environment as possible.

Other green options include bamboo flooring and engineered wood flooring. Bamboo has become more popular in recent years and is being viewed in a more reliable light. Bamboo grows quickly and can be harvested to create wood floor. This helps to keep deforestation down and offers people peace of mind, knowing that the wood is being ethically harvested.  Engineered wood floor is another that is gaining popularity. It is becoming more a more available because of advancements in the industry and the ease of installment that engineered floors offer. We foresee these trends only growing and becoming more of a norm in the hardwood floor industry. 

When it comes to style, the most eye-catching flooring trend is the mosaic look. Recently Hardwood Floor Magazine featured its winners for floor of the year, and not surprisingly mosaic flooring won.  People are using mosaics and creating many different designs with wood. The most interesting is the puzzle piece floor, which looks like an Escher painting. Small puzzle wood pieces are connected to form the floor. Chevrons designs are also popular. You can find this design on everything from curtains, chairs and pillows, creating a zigzag effect and giving the room a modern feel.  People can use a variety of woods to create these effects or alternate opposite colors or shades; switching off between dark and lightwoods creates the most dramatic effect.

Some of the top requests we got in 2014 from our clients are a mixture  of colors including: Lights/Whites, Grays and Ebony floors. The light colors vary from white to cream and matte finishes. Some people are choosing to leave their floor looking natural. Others are choosing a light color that can open up many options for home design. Ebony or dark colored hardwood floors are also seeing a big comeback. They offer a rich and refined look to a room.  The Ebony color is by far the most popular of 2014 but people are choosing to use dark browns as well. The dark brown finish gives the floor a warmer feel than the ebony but both make the other features of the room pop with contrast. 

The last big trend we see growing quickly is the use of wide planks for floors. These floorboards are usually an average of 6” but can go up to as high as 7 ½” for some.  Wide plank floors are perfect for larger spaces and will be a trend that sticks around for some time. Wide planks are also easier to install as there are less pieces and they can adapt to humidity better, because there are less places for the wood to swell. 

One thing for certain, hardwood floors are here to stay and a great investment to any space. We have been installing, refinishing and repairing wood flooring for over 25 years and are loving these new trends.  

Have a question for Chicagoland Pro? We love hearing from our readers! 

 Leave a comment below or Tweet us @ChicagolandPro 

How To Care For Your Wood Floor During The Winter Time

Chicagoland Pro: Wood Flooring Tips & Tricks For Winter Time 

Winter is almost here and we want to help you protect those beautiful hardwood floors.

First things first, why do you need to do more during the winter? The answer is simple, wood expands with changing levels of temperatures and humidity. During the winter, your home will change depending on how the house is used and how cold it is outside. Some people conserve on heat and lower temperatures during the day, while others keep their homes at a constant temperature. Either way, there will be variations. The humidity level will also change as heaters, fireplaces and cold winds enter the home.

Your hardwood floor will be affected by all of these changes during the winter months. We have decided to put together a simple list of things anyone can do to help protect their floors from damage this season. 

First things first, entrance ways are the key in protecting your hardwood flooring. Start by adding mats by your door and creating a specific place for visitors and residents to put their shoes. We suggest asking people to remove all shoes before walking on hardwood flooring. Having a few old towels or rags nearby to clean up salt and water near the door is important.  Rags can also be used for pets feet after walks. Its a good idea to train your pet to wipe their feet and even have a reward system for them to encourage them to stop at the door instead of running in and tracking snow across the floor. This will make clean up easier and avoid salt or water spots. 

While we can do our best to prevent snow and salt from entering, one way or another some will always get through. Ass mentioned above, having a few extra rags ready to clean up the mess will help it from spreading. This can be old towels or t-shirts or you can purchase special rags specifically made for floor clean up.  When winter approaches create a designated a place for rags, shoes, and include a way for snow to drain without creating a puddle. This can be done with a waterproof mat or a dish drainer with a rag under it. Make it easy for yourself and everyone els to use these things and wash rags weekly to avoid salt build up. 

Cleaning the flooring 1-2 times a week is a must. While we can be vigilant about keeping snow and salt out, the inevitable will always happen. Adding a bit of extra cleaning during this season will help protect the floors. There are several protective products on the market that will coat the wood floors and form a protective shield. This is not necessary but advised as Chicago has tough winters that can last into the spring months. Normal cleaning is also sufficient, increasing the amount of cleanings is the crucial part.  Simple steps like this will keep your floors looking great throughout the winter and well into the spring. 

Have a question for Chicagoland Pro?
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In Chicagoland and need help with your flooring installation or repair ? 

We can help! 
Contact Chicagoland Pro  for a FREE Consultation.  

Chicagoland Pro is going GREEN!

Green Hardwood Floor Finish is here and there are so many benefits to them that we decided to dedicate a whole blog post to the topic. We are thrilled to see the revival of plant based products and eco friendly practices in our industry. The benefits are overwhelming as we can now offer our clients, our staff and the environment better health. 

As demand and our industry grew; new products came out that were chemical based. Some products could be up to 50% Petroleum derived. To this day many stains & finishes that are available include Petroleum but consumers are becoming more educated on the topic and choosing products that are oil or water based. The public really should be mindful of the disadvantages the chemical products have. Health concerns around these products are based on the fact that Petroleum does contain harmful human carcinogens and may result in major health problems if ingested, exhaled and misused. 

Currently NEW Eco Friendly products & practices of hardwood floor staining, sealing and finishing have just recently gained in popularity and the products available have become more durable than their chemical competitors. For those that are doing at home refinishing or installation it is important to note that there should be a Green Seal on the product certifying that it is indeed Green.  Consumers should consult the manufacturer, a professional from the industry, as well as doing some research to make sure that the product they are using is truly LOW VOC or VOC Free. 

Some of the benefits of using Green products include better health for the people in the home or space where the floor will be applied. While many don't realize it, floor stains that are NOT VOC Free or Low VOC can not only have lasting effects on the person applying the stain but also for those inside the home as these chemicals will be inhaled for an extended amount of time even after the floor has dried.  People who choose the greener products should also know that there is little if not any lasting effects on the environment. 

The products also help to greatly increase the safety for the people installing the floor's themselves, as they are constantly exposed to them throughout their work day. Industry professionals such like Wayne, owner of Chicagoland Pro are thrilled with these new advancements and are hoping that with time the chemical products will no longer be needed, offering professionals in this industry longer and healthier lives.  

At Chicagoland Pro we use the Bona Traffic HD Finish which is  scratch resistant, very low VOC's ( less than 125) Just one of the benefits of this products is its low odor and how fast dries! It is also not flammable and is easy to clean up with water.

With the advancement of new & innovative products on the market, you can now purchase stains & finishes that are so safe that residents can apply them to counter tops, toys and even dish wear! Residents are even able to spend time inside the space where the product is being applied in some cases. For many who are planning renovations in their homes this is a relief as they do not have to change their routines or loose access to their homes for an extended amount of time. Ultimately the green choice is not only healthier for the planet and people, but also saves time and money.  

How to Choose Hardwood Floor

Chicagoland Pro 

With so many choosing to invest in hardwood floors this spring we wanted to give a little insight to help consumers make the right choice when it came to their hardwood floor!

 In 2014 people are adding wood floors to increase property value but they are also getting creative with their floor of choice.  From the kitchen and bathroom, to wall's with wood installation, many are choosing to not only add wood, but are also refinishing old wood and modernizing the look of their home or office.

Creativity is driving people to think outside the box & we thought it would be helpful to provide some current insight into trends along with offering a few good tips for those choosing wood floors for the first time.

Some people may go for a modern & luxurious look while others may choose for a warm & natural look. Regardless of the style, both groups should consider all the options available to them and talk to a professional to ensure they are making the right choice for their space.

Things to consider when choosing Wood Floors

Major consideration should be placed on the finish, style, design, and location as well as the use of space where wood floors are being installed or refinished. 

Engineered Wood: More resistant to moisture & humidity. Quality of wood can be different from one manufacturer to another. 

Solid Wood: Durable and long lasting while offering options for refinishing for future remodeling.  

One of the most important factors to consider is location of wood flooring. The location can affect the type of wood and it's durability. Certain wood is better placed above ground while others are better for lower level installation. 

On Grade: Flooring installed on ground level.

Above Ground: This implies that the floor is installed on the second level or above.

Below: Below ground level, usually applies to basements. 

• Size: Measure the space to get accurate quotes and prices for wood. 
• Color: Use a color wheel or a color book to match colors & find the desired color your space. 
• Texture: Depending on the style of the room, textures can vary and provide effects to compliment the style or furniture of the room. 2014 trends include textured distressed & antique looks for wood floor.
• Width: Wide planks are gaining in popularity. Reclaimed wood can come in wider lengths &  offer less seams. There are multiple styles and colors to choose from. 

The Species of the wood is important to consider and with so many options, it's good to decide on the use and intention of the space first. While consumers might like the look of a specific species based on appearance  they may come to find that it is not functional for the space they choose to remodel.  It is also good to consider how much moisture and traffic the floors will get after installation. Wood grains are all different and adapt differently to the environment they are put in. 

• Oak: Most Popular choice for consumers. Red Oak is a great choice for high traffic areas of the home or office. White Oak offers similar benefits but in a softer look with light brown and gray tones vs. pink and red. 
• Walnut:  Softer than Oak and is consistently a popular choice for consumers. 
• Maple: Harvested in North American and Canada.
• Beech:  Imported from Sweden, Denmark, Norway. Colors tend to be warm browns with some red pigment. 
• Cherry:  Varieties offered for color. American Cherry offers soft, warm colors. Others can be more exotic looking.   Example: Brazilian Cherry wood provides mosaic looks. 
• Ash: Suggested for use in bright spaces with light. 

For more information on Wood Floor Species visit the National Wood Floor Association for a visual gallery.

Learn more about our New Green Stain Options at Chicagoland Pro

• Reclaimed Wood This wood is often taken from older homes and sites. It can be salvaged from an antique home and provide many more years of enjoyment once refinished. 
• Cork : From "Cork Oak Trees' Trees are striped of bark and hand harvested. Great choice for people with allergies or looking for a truly sustainable option as trees are never cut down in harvesting methods. These trees usually are grown in the Mediterranean region and are imported into the United States. 
• Bamboo - Often imported from Asia but local manufacturers are becoming easier to find. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world and can offer a more sustainable option for the green home owner. The negative side of bamboo is it dents easily so rooms with high traffic are not ideal for bamboo installation. The United States Green Building Councils offers LEED points for bamboo installation. 
• 100 % Green Stains: Many Green stains are available these days & for best results contact a professional for consultation to ensure your are making the best choice for your new floors.

Spring Cleaning Your Floors

When the snow is melting, the life is coming back to nature, temperatures are rising, and people are getting happier, you know that spring is here. Sure, there is still some snow on the ground in much of the midwest but we know that spring is this close to being here and the age old concept of "spring cleaning" is knocking at our doors.

Now, no matter what kind of floors you have, it is important that you get them clean and looking good for all those fun times you are about to have now that the roads aren't impassable due to the weather.

Hardwood flooring is definitely one of the simplest floors to clean and takes the least amount of work. Typically, to keep them in good shape means just having to sweep and vacuum them; you just want to keep all the dirt and dust (and other junk) from making your floors home and ruining them. Now, if you have spills or stains, you may have to use a mop or a wet mop device (the ones that have the spray and you attach the tissue to the base). If you use either one of these, make sure you do not soak your floor with too much of the liquid; use enough to get it clean but not to flood the place. Too much moisture can get in between the seems in the floors and ruin them; this can ruin the backing on the floors and perhaps ruin the finish.

If you are one to prefer carpeting, then what you have to do is vacuum and make sure that the vacuum filter is clean (this will give you a real good job at cleaning your carpet). If you have more aggressive cleanings to do, like for stains, then use a proper cleaning solution and blot the stain, don't wipe or rub.

If you have ceramic floors, then you have a pretty easy cleaning job as well, much like with hardwood flooring, your cleaning job is going to be a lot of vacuuming and easy mopping. However, you may have to do cleaning more regularly, daily almost. You have to do regular cleaning to avoid the buildup of things like mold, mildew, grime, etc. Use clean water and then wipe them dry. Make sure your grout is clean and good to go as well. If you have grout to clean, then mix some mild detergent (1/4 cup) with a gallon of water.

They say April showers bring May flowers, should there be April showers (or any other spring month), then try to keep the water out of the house and off your floors. If you have any questions, then contact Chicagoland Pro - a hardwood flooring company. 

Winter Options for Hardwood Flooring

So winter is just around the corner now that we find ourselves in November. The mornings and nights are colder, or just downright cold, and there are times when walking barefoot on the hardwood floors is just not an option. So what can you do?

The options you have to solve the cold feet problem range from simple to more creative.

1. The first option you have is to use socks and/or slippers. If you would rather not cover up your hardwood flooring at all and just wear socks and/or slippers in the house, then that is a good option. 
2. The second option you have to solve this problem is by purchasing some rugs. You can find rugs in any shape, size, and color. You can get your rugs to match any upholstery or just a nice general color that compliments your rooms. 
3. Your third option is to purchase carpeting tiles. Carpeting tiles are just what they sound like, tiles of carpet that you easily install and can then uninstall when you no longer want them in. The perk to these is that if there is a stain one of them, you only have to replace one or however many are stained. 

If cold hardwood floors is not something you have a problem with, then maybe dry air is. As we know, in the winter, the air gets dry and this can be annoying for many reasons. For one reason, unknown to many, is that if the air is too dry then it can harm you hardwood flooring. What do you do to fix this? Keep a humidifier in the house. Aside from keeping the floors moisturized, it will help if you get dry skin during the winter too, just a tip. 

Make sure that you keep snow and ice off your hardwood floors. Just like when it rains, water can get trekked into the house easily when snow and ice are on the ground. Leaving the snow and ice on your hardwood floors to melt can ruin your flooring. This means laying down a welcome mat or two for people and pets in your home to wipe their feet on. 

If you are looking for a hardwood flooring company for some hardwood flooring maintenance then contact Chicagoland Pro - a Palatine hardwood flooring company. 

Hardwood Flooring Textures: Brushed, Bandsaw and Tumbling

Our Palatine Hardwood Flooring Company can tell you that the final appearance of wood flooring is not just dependent on the type of timer but the treatements applied to the wood as well.  The staining, oil, wax, lacquer finishing, or fuming/smoking will affect the color of the wood as well. 

Chicagoland Pro specializes is hardwood flooring installation, hardwood flooring restoration, and hardwood flooring maintenance. In this blog, we will focus on the physical texture and grain of solid wood flooring.  There are three main textures of hardwood flooring, they are brushed, bandsawn, and distressed/tumbled. 

Brushed:

In the past, brushed flooring texture was achieved by hand using wire brushes.  Now with technology advancements, the same appearance can be achieved with purpose-built machinery which produces a steady depth of brushing over the while floor.

When our hardwood flooring company is trying to achieve the brushed appearance, we use a machine with copper of steel brushes that rotate over the surface.  This machine opens up the grain and turns the smooth surface into a more open-textured surface with indentations that follow the grain of the wood.  We can achieve different levels of grain accentuation depending on how hard or soft the brushing is.  We also can emphasize the depth of grain by using a colored or oiled finish that will accentuate the wood’s texture.

Bandsawn:

To create saw marks over the complete surface of the wood, our hardwood flooring installers would use a bandsaw.  We adjust the settings of the bandsaw to create different degrees of texture.  We have the skills to make your hardwood flooring look high textured and rustic or subtle. 

Tumbling:

One of the most common textures our Palatine Hardwood Flooring Company provides is the look of reclaimed wood, which involves tumbling.  Tumbling is often times a much lower cost and gives wood a distressed look.  The resulting effect of tumbling is wood that appears to have years of wear and tear and is difficult to distinguish whether it is distressed or reclaimed wood/

For hardwood flooring tips, the best method to tumbling is to distress/soften the corners and edges of the wood to make it look word and our machine will also create random indentations across the surface to give an overall “naturally aged” look.  Distressing adds character and beauty to your hardwood flooring and it is suitable for modern times.

We understand that everyone has different tastes in flooring whether it be hard wood or carpet or tile.  We think it is important for people to realize that there are so many options and looks to hardwood flooring that can be achieved in a multitude of ways.  If you have any questions about hardwood textures, please contact Chicagoland Pro for Palatine Hardwood Flooring Installation or comment below!

Summer Hardwood Flooring Maintenence

Hardwood Floors take a beating - we all know this. But most especially in the Hardwood Floors looking great!
summer when humidity is high, air conditioners are running, and we're constantly cleaning muddy shoe prints up. The constant heat, cold, and wet conditions can take their toll after a while, but there are ways to keep your

Hardwood Floor Refinishing and Repair is the best way to keep your hardwood floors looking as good as new, and Chicagoland Pro, a Palatine Hardwood Flooring Contractor, is the way to go.

Our hardwood flooring company recommends that you seeks Chicagoland Pro as for Palatine hardwood flooring maintenance company.  Maintenance during the summer months in more important than most people realize.  This is because the floors tend to wear out more and even the most carefully installed floor can expand during the summer months and cup or buckle due to the high moisture and the humidity in the air.  

One of our other hardwood flooring tips is that we do recommend that you vacuum your hardwood floors.  Vacuuming the floors allows for dirt or dust that is trapped to be sucked up and disposed of which a broom cannot reach.  However, if you are vacuuming your hardwood floors we strongly recommend that you use the bare floor attachment and not to roll the vacuum across the floors because this could also damage your flooring.

Also, the strong summer sun is very damaging to hardwood flooring.  Many of our calls are for hardwood flooring restoration due to sun damaging the floors from the shades of blinds never being drawn down or closed.  Direct sunlight to hardwood flooring can lead to discoloring the floor.

If you want to protect your floor and keep it looking beautiful for as long as possible, have one of our Palatine hardwood flooring installation experts tell you what the best products are to clean and care for your floor.  We want to advise you against using wax, detergents or any oil based soaps which will or could damage the finishing on your floor. Hardwood flooring refinishing is a great option for anyone interested in getting the beautiful luster and charm back to the floors.  Our hardwood flooring company can tell you exactly what products to use that are designed for your flooring.  Do not just rely on any product or water alone because when certain products evaporate, they can cause hardwood flooring stains.

If you have any questions about your hardwood floors, or if you are interested in hardwood flooring maintenance or hardwood flooring restoration, comment below or contact our Palatine hardwood flooring company.

Radiant Flooring

Over the last few years we have been hearing a lot of homeowners talk heated flooring, also known as radiant flooring.  As a Chicago hardwood flooring company we felt we should at least address the topic and share our two cents on radiant flooring.  Here's what you need to know about radiant flooring before you decide to have it put in your home:

Can make for a more comfortable room

Perhaps you or someone you know has a home that is constantly cold.  No matter how much you turn up the heat, the house remains cold.  Having a drafty house happens.  Cold homes are typically the result of a home that isn't insulated very well. Radiant, or heated flooring, can make a room much more comfortable without the need to jack up the heating.  Homeowners that have radiant flooring talk about how nice it is to step onto warm bathroom tiles on those cold winter mornings.  While we may not be radiant flooring people ourselves, we can see how it would be a nice edition to a cold, drafty home.

Resale value

Every upgrade you put into your home gives it the potential to have a higher resale value later on down the line.  With this in mind, radiant flooring could be a nice addition if you plan on selling your home later.  An upgrade like heated flooring could certainly usher in some bids on your home for those buyers who want heated floors.

Quiet operation

One of the most commonly asked questions in regards to radiant flooring is "Is it loud?"  Surprisingly many homeowners and radiant installers alike report little to no sound from the flooring.  Compared to forced-air or radiator systems, radiant flooring is considerably quieter.

Gives homeowners the ability to use forced-air and radiator systems less often

Rather than continually running the heat all winter long, radiant flooring gives homeowners the ability to run their heat less, which is nice for homeowners looking to save some money on heating bills.  It also eliminates the dust and allergens that are associated with forced-air.

Have radiant flooring in your home? Let us know what you think of it in a comment below or contact us.

Palatine Hardwood Flooring Company
Palatine Hardwood Flooring
Chicago Hardwood Flooring Company
Chicago Hardwood Flooring 

Hardwood and the Alternatives

When it comes to flooring for your home or office, the choices are truly endless.  As a Palatine hardwood flooring company, we often speak with homeowners who know that they want to install flooring for their homes, but aren’t sure what type of flooring they want to go with.  Depending on the needs of the room in your home the type of flooring you choose is crucial.  Every room in your home or office has different needs and to top it off, not all flooring is created equal.  Some types of flooring stand up to wear and tear better than others. Some types of flooring require more up-keep than others.  This is exactly why we tell homeowners to choose flooring based on the needs of room the flooring will be going in.  So how does one choose which is flooring is best?  Here are some facts on hardwood flooring and some of the top alternative flooring choices:

Hardwood Flooring

Most homeowners today are looking for hardwood flooring for their home and it is an understandable choice.  When it comes to selling your home, hardwood flooring instantly increases the resale value due to the fact that so many homeowners are willing to pay more for a home that utilizes hardwood flooring. Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of different species and shades and is available at most home improvement centers and online.  Hardwood flooring installation can be done by the homeowner themselves or by utilizing local hardwood flooring installers, like us. It is not recommended for homeowners to simply tackle hardwood flooring installation themselves as installation can be quite difficult.  Hardwood flooring is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it is durable and also natural.  Hardwood flooring is a great choice for allergy sufferers since hardwood does not provide spaces to harbor dust, dirt and mold. 

Tile

 

Tile flooring is undoubtedly one of the top choices of flooring for bathrooms and kitchens. Tile flooring, like hardwood flooring, is quite durable and is very easy to clean. Ceramic tiles can be found at local home improvement stores and occasionally, you can find tile at very low prices.  While the tile pieces themselves may be cost-friendly, the cost of installing the tile may be a lot more than you bargained for.  Tile installation can get quite costly.  The other downside to tile is that it is quite hard against the bottoms of feet and that it stays cold, which can be less than desired during the cold winter months.

Laminate Flooring

Over the past few years we, as hardwood flooring installers, have had quite a few people ask about installing laminate flooring.  While we are obviously hardwood flooring people ourselves, we can understand the draw for wanting laminate flooring.  Laminate flooring is made to look like the real deal despite the fact that it is not.  Laminate flooring can be aesthetically pleasing (unless you’re the “all hardwood flooring” type).  Installation is quite easy with the laminate floor boards simply snapping and locking into place.  Laminate flooring comes in many colors, styles and patterns can be made to look like wood, stone or tile.  We typically see people opt to use laminate flooring in kitchens and bathrooms or a room in their home that experiences heavy foot traffic.  One of the biggest pros with laminate flooring is that it is hard to dent or scratch it. 

Carpeting

Carpeting is a great flooring option due to the fact that it comes in such a wide variety of colors, textures and patterns.  Depending on what the homeowner is looking for, carpeting can be quite cheap.  It can get more expensive depending on the type of carpeting the homeowner is looking for.  The good part about carpeting is that it is warm, plush, soft and it also absorbs sound pretty well depending on the type of carpeting.  Typically, putting carpeting down will require a professional installer, which can be good or bad depending on the homeowner’s flooring budget.  The downside to carpeting is that it needs to be cleaned frequently as it has the tendency to hold allergens and dirt. Due to the fact that moisture and mold can be housed quite easily by carpeting, it is not the recommended flooring choice for bathrooms and kitchens.  Carpeting probably isn’t the best choice for allergy sufferers.   

Looking for more information on flooring choices?  Feel free to leave us a comment below or contact us.

Palatine Hardwood Flooring

Palatine Hardwood Flooring Company

Chicago Hardwood Flooring

Chicago Hardwood Flooring Company

Hardwood Flooring Installation