Carpet FAQs
Available at a medium price point, nylon carpet will provide reliable performance, remain easy to clean and resilient, handle heavy traffic, resist stains, and remain attractive. Perfect for newer families looking for quick replacement, polyester carpet fiber offers style, value, and even sustainability, along with durability, stain protection, and fade resistance at a valuable price point. Triexta fiber presents an incredibly stain-resistant, eco-friendly, and durable carpet fiber, that’s an exceptional fit for active households that require low-maintenance carpet. Polypropylene fiber, better known as olefin, boasts outstanding moisture and stain resistance which makes it a great fit for indoor-outdoor carpet use and entranceways.
When you see the terms “loop pile” and “cut pile” when shopping for carpet, this refers to the carpet’s construction and how carpet fibers are attached to the carpet backing. Loop pile construction features fibers that are bent into small loops, which creates durable, stain-resistant, low-profile carpets. Level loop carpets are excellent for resisting foot traffic and make a great fit for entryways, hallways, and stairs. Multi-level loop piles vary in height to create patterned texture that adds visual interest while aiding in the easy cleanup of dirt, mud, pet accidents, and spills.
Cut pile carpets feature yarn tips that are cut so there aren’t any loops, resulting in a carpet pile that is softer, thicker, and more fashion-forward. Friezes, Saxony carpets, shag carpets, and cable carpets are all cut pile varieties that provide comfort, style, and extra softness. Although these carpets are not a great fit for high activity and foot traffic, a cut-and-loop carpet construction features cut pile and loop pile fibers to bring all-around performance with softness, texture, and medium to moderate durability.
We always recommend hiring licensed installation professionals to handle your carpet installation. Carpet can be glued down directly to a concrete floor, or glued to a carpet pad that is glued directly to the floor. Stretch-in carpet installation is a popular, efficient method for residential homes and this process involves strips of wood with protruding angled nails secured to the edges of a room, attaching the carpet to the nails, and then stretching the carpet tight across the room. Your carpet installers can recommend the method that will produce the best long-term performance.
The best general carpet care starts with investing in the right vacuum cleaner that matches your carpet type and vacuuming your carpet weekly to remove damaging particles. If you have pets in the home, you should trim pet nails and claws to avoid snagging the carpet and creating scratches, brush your cats and dogs regularly to reduce pet dander, and make sure to complete house-training before your pets can spend time on carpet.
Always treat spills as quickly as possible with warm water to prevent permanent stains from forming and moisture absorption. Remove any solid material with a spoon, starting from the outside of the spill and working in. Blot the liquid stain with paper towels or a white towel, using warm water to remove the stain. If warm water does not remove the stain, always consult your manufacturer’s guidelines to find a gentle approved cleaner that will maintain your carpet warranty.
The average cost to purchase carpet will likely be 3 to 4 dollars per square foot of carpet. This price per square foot will vary depending on the type of carpet fiber, softness, density, and pile height. Synthetic fibers will be less expensive than natural fiber carpets. The thicker, denser, and higher the pile height, the more expensive that carpet will be per square foot.
Carpet installation costs will depend on the carpet fiber, carpet construction, the room(s) receiving new carpet and their specific requirements, and the overall size of the space receiving new carpet. Square footage will be the biggest factor, with the average carpet installation price in 2022 landing around $1,800 according to HomeAdvisor. Installing carpet on stairs will cost more since the installation process is more complicated.
Respective carpet fibers will affect the installation cost with nylon, polyester, and olefin being the cheapest to install. Different carpet constructions also affect the total cost of installation: Loop, frieze, and cut-and-loop constructions will cost less to install per square foot as Saxony, plush, and cable constructions will cost more.
When selecting carpet for kids, invest in a carpet fiber that features excellent stain resistance and is on the value end of the price scale. Nylon carpet offers reliable performance, resiliency, low maintenance, and will help resist stains. For families with tight budgets, polyester carpet provides style, durability, and stain protection at an affordable price. A low-profile construction such as a level loop pile carpet and multi-level loop pile carpet will offer greater durability, stain, and wear resistance, and be easier to maintain when it comes to cleaning up spills. A textured or patterned carpet will add visual interest to a kid’s bedroom and disguise wear better over time. For more color protection, explore blended and heathered styles that show less wear and stains over time.
A home with pets will experience many unexpected spills, tracked-in dirt, and assorted messes. Nylon carpet is a smart choice for a home with pets since these fibers provide resiliency against heavy playtime, as well as stain resistance, durability, and ease of maintenance. Triexta fiber brings superior stain protection and enhanced durability for top performance in a home with pets.
The life of your carpet will depend on the carpet type, where the carpet is within the home, and the household activity level. Generally, carpet will last between 10-15 years against normal wear-and-tear and with proper care. Installing a high-quality carpet cushion will help reduce the adverse effects of foot traffic and enhance your carpet performance. You can preserve the life of your carpet with regular vacuuming, periodic professional cleanings, and by properly following your manufacturer’s care guidelines.
Hardwood FAQs
Hardwood flooring is undeniably gorgeous, extremely durable, and relatively easy to clean and maintain. The wide-ranging natural tones and species go from light and airy, warm honey and blonde, to rich brown and deep charcoal. Hardwood floors provide exceptional natural character with graining, knots, and markings. Distressed, hand-scraped, wire-brushed, and smooth hardwood textures deliver supreme beauty. As a natural material, genuine hardwood planks can be susceptible to damage from scratches, moisture, and extreme temperature change.
Engineered hardwood is made from real hardwood slats glued together in a layered construction, alternating directions to reinforce the strength of each plank. With a real high-quality wood veneer and reinforced finish top, each plank provides authentic hardwood beauty with enhanced durability and moisture protection. The engineered construction means that the wood floor will expand and contract less in humid climates and can be used below grade in some cases.
Waterproof hardwood features an engineered construction that combines a genuine wood veneer with a rigid core for waterproof performance. Waterproof hardwood will come at a higher price point than other waterproof flooring selections. Since moisture can seep into porous wood planks causing discoloration, oxidization, and even mold, waterproof hardwoods offer worry-free living for active homes and allow homeowners to match flooring in moisture-prone areas.
Yes! When you invest in genuine hardwood floors, you will have the ability to refinish the wood surface more than once over the years to remove scratches and restore the illustrious shine. You should consider refinishing hardwood floors if you notice significant scratching, fading, cupping, cracking, or discoloration. Many engineered hardwood or waterproof hardwood products have finishes that will not allow you to refinish the surface.
Although hardwood flooring may represent a significant investment for some households, hardwood floors consistently rank at the top of desired surfaces in homebuyer surveys. Hardwood floors will retain value better and boost resale value more than all other flooring options.
Installing hardwood planks is not DIY-friendly. Many power and hand tools are needed, including saws, leveling tools, compressors, nail guns, sanders, buffers, adhesives, and more. You need to have knowledge of centering rooms, expansion gaps, working around doors, closets, and stairs, and cutting planks for tricky floorplans. Mistakes are extremely expensive and time-consuming. Some engineered or waterproof hardwoods offer glue, staple, or floating installation, but the waterproof and performance warranties are highly contingent on proper installation. Due to the complicated hardwood installation process and money spent on your floors, it is strongly recommended to hire professionals to install your hardwood floors for the best long-term results.
No, the level of durability can vary widely among different hardwood species. Whereas pine hardwood planks can dent easily, hickory and bamboo planks can withstand heavy foot traffic better. Popular oak varieties can vary in the level of durability offered. Each wood product has a Janka hardness rating that will indicate the level of resistance to denting and wear. The Janka rating can help you match a hardwood durability level with the needs of your household.
Hardwood flooring provides tremendous durability, and removing debris particles will help prevent wear even more. Dust-mopping your floor daily or weekly with a microfiber cloth or dust mop is the best regular practice. Vacuuming will offer a deeper clean, but make sure your vacuum model has no rotating brushes. If your flooring manufacturer has warranted your hardwood surface for mopping, follow the guidelines strictly, use the least amount of water needed, and dry your floor with a microfiber cloth.
If you need to clean a spill on your hardwood, avoid using harsh cleaners or any cleaner designed for other flooring materials like vinyl, laminate, or tile. Look for liquid scratch concealer, wood floor polish, floor wax, and touch-up kits, but make sure to read all instructions before using them to ensure the product is safe for your wood species and finish. Try your cleaning product in an inconspicuous area before using them to clean stains in more visible sections.
According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost in 2023 to purchase hardwood flooring is between $6 and $12 per square foot. This factors in labor and hardwood installation costs, as it is widely recommended that you hire professionals for your hardwood installation. Also, hardwood flooring costs will vary among the different hardwood species.
Under normal household conditions, your hardwood flooring should last from 25 to 30 years without requiring any major work. By sanding, refinishing, and repairing your authentic hardwood floors when needed, your floors can last for decades longer and will be prized by prospective buyers for their timeless charm.
Vinyl FAQs
A far cry from traditional sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl is a plasticized, flexible vinyl that is comprised of a high-quality vinyl core, print film, and a wear layer. As opposed to rolls, luxury vinyl is offered in luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile formats with glue-down and click-lock options. Luxury vinyl offers tremendous moisture resistance due to the inherent nature of vinyl, with many options warranted for waterproof installation and enhanced scratch and stain protection.
To mimic the most popular hardwood flooring styles, luxury vinyl planks (LVP) are long, narrow planks of vinyl that are thicker and more rigid than sheet vinyl, making them more durable and scratch-resistant. Most luxury vinyl planks are composed of thick PVC with a design layer that gives planks an authentic hardwood visual. This design layer features realistic tones and textures that capture a range from light wood to charcoal and midnight black.
To mimic stone, porcelain, or ceramic tile, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is constructed with a thick vinyl layer that makes it more durable and rigid than sheet vinyl, as well as a design layer that provides incredibly realistic stone striations and veining. Since LVT doesn’t require the level subfloor or grout work that traditional tile or stone does, installing and maintaining luxury vinyl tile is much easier!
Vinyl is a naturally waterproof material, and waterproof luxury vinyl flooring is defined by the product warranty. Waterproof LVP and LVT products feature locking mechanisms that are engineered to withstand and lockout topical water penetration at the joints and will not allow water to permeate or penetrate through the top or the bottom surface. Warranted wood-plastic composite (WPC) or solid polymer core (SPC) luxury vinyl constructions will provide the ultimate waterproof protection.
Many luxury vinyl products feature an attached underlayment with benefits such as noise reduction, moisture barrier, mold inhibitor, greater comfort, and longer performance. Underlayment types can vary between luxury vinyl products, so match the qualities of the attached pad to your household needs. If your luxury vinyl flooring does not feature attached padding, it is highly recommended to purchase quality underlayment.
With versatile installation options, including a floating tongue-and-groove option or glue-down option, very few flooring products can offer the DIY capability that luxury vinyl flooring does. Take the proper time to gather tools, allow your luxury vinyl flooring to acclimate to the new environment beforehand, and always reference the manufacturer’s installation instructions to maintain your product warranties.
Luxury vinyl flooring is incredibly low maintenance. Daily or frequent sweeping will remove tracked-in dust and debris. Use a sponge mop and water once a week to remove any spots and a pH-neutral cleaner if needed. You can efficiently deep clean your luxury vinyl flooring by wet mopping whenever you prefer. We also highly recommend using felt pads and rugs to minimize the impact of heavy furniture and household activity.
Perfect for homes with kids and pets where frequent spills and accidents can occur, you can wipe up most spills on luxury vinyl when they happen and use a pH-neutral cleaner to remove dried spills. You do not need any steam cleanings, a vacuum, brushes, steel wool, or ammonia cleaners: Use a soft nylon brush, a manufacturer-approved cleaner, and water to treat spots and stains.
According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost in 2023 to purchase luxury vinyl flooring is between $1 and $6 per square foot. If you have DIY flooring experience and the tools necessary to complete installation, your luxury vinyl installation costs can potentially be $0.
With proper installation and maintenance, your luxury vinyl flooring can last from 10 years up to 25 years in normal household conditions. The product warranty of luxury vinyl flooring can vary widely among products, and longer warranties will cost more to purchase. High-quality underlayment will help your luxury vinyl floors to resist wear longer and enhance performance.
Laminate FAQs
A great alternative to genuine wood with added water resistance, laminate flooring is composed of pressed composite wood or high-density fiberboard with a photographic image layer underneath a rigid resin layer. Emulating the look and feel of real hardwood, stone, or ceramic tile, laminate is even created in the longest, widest plank varieties and stone formats for realistic finished floors. The dense construction offers strength and durability, while reinforced aluminum oxide finishes provide scratch and stain resistance.
Both laminate and luxury vinyl flooring will help you capture striking wood and stone visuals for less and with enhanced moisture resistance. Laminate planks are rigid, and dense, and offer tremendous durability thanks to the multi-layered construction with an aluminum-oxide top wear layer. Luxury vinyl provides rigid texture while also offering a softer give, greater flexibility, and dimensional stability. Luxury vinyl offers more completely waterproof products, whereas laminate can bring supreme durability more readily.
Most laminate products offer water resistance but are not entirely waterproof. Ensure you purchase warranted waterproof laminate for areas like kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or mudrooms. Although laminate offers greater moisture resistance than hardwood, you still need to clean up spills as soon as possible to prevent damage, dry any standing water as promptly as you can, and avoid using wet mops to clean.
Not all laminate flooring products come with attached underlayment, and padding is not required for installation. If you want to use laminate flooring in rooms that experience moisture, padding will prevent moisture that comes through the subfloor from causing the floor to warp or the growth of mildew. If your laminate flooring does not feature attached padding, we recommend purchasing quality underlayment to enhance performance and the life of the floor.
Many of today's laminate planks click together with locking systems and can often be installed over existing flooring, while other products are glue-down varieties. Although laminate offers greater DIY capability than hardwood, laminate planks will be harder to cut to size for tricker floorplans. Floating installation options will prove easier to install than glue-down installation. Always reference the manufacturer’s installation instructions to maintain your product warranties.
Yes! Homeowners love laminate flooring since these heavy, sturdy planks can handle foot traffic and moisture while resisting dents and scratches that come with an active household. Thanks to premium durability, laminate is a solid choice for high-traffic rooms like hallways, playrooms, and family rooms. With the right laminate flooring products suitable for moisture conditions, you can have wood or stone beauty in kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and even basements.
Laminate flooring is incredibly low maintenance. Daily or frequent sweeping will remove tracked-in dust and debris. Use a cloth and water to remove any spots, and a pH-neutral cleaner if needed. You need to verify that your laminate floors have the appropriate level of moisture resistance before you wet mop them. We also highly recommend using rugs to minimize the impact of household activity.
Perfect for homes with kids and pets where frequent spills and accidents can occur, you can wipe up most spills on laminates when they happen and use a pH-neutral cleaner to remove dried spills. You do not need steam cleanings, a vacuum, brushes, steel wool, or ammonia cleaners: Use a soft nylon brush, a manufacturer-approved cleaner, and water to treat spots and stains.
According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost in 2023 to purchase laminate flooring is between $.70 and $2 per square foot. Unless you have prior DIY flooring experience and the tools necessary to complete installation, it is recommended that you hire professionals for your laminate installation.
Under normal household conditions, your laminate flooring should last from 15 years up to 25 years with proper maintenance. The residential warranties of laminate flooring can vary widely among products, and longer warranties will cost more to purchase. As you explore different laminate products, use your household activity level to determine the thickness, water resistance, and AC rating of the best-suited options for your rooms and ensure longer-lasting performance.
Tile FAQs
Tile flooring has been used for centuries and is a hard surface cut into shapes frequently made of stone, ceramic, or porcelain. Ceramic tile is the most popular type of tile flooring, made from water, sand, and clay, and is manufactured with precise, uniform edges. Glazed ceramic tile is coated with a protective finish which can vary from matte to glossy.
Porcelain tile flooring is denser than ceramic tiles, offering an extremely durable surface that is impervious to water and has color embedded within the actual tile. Made from similar material as ceramic tile, porcelain tile is fired in a furnace at much higher temperatures. As a result, porcelain requires very little maintenance and can be used almost anywhere indoors or outside.
Grout lines are the spaces between tiles that are filled with a mixture of water, sand, and cement-like material or epoxy. It’s important to clean visible grout lines, or a tile floor will not appear as clean as it should. Cleaning the grout regularly will also prevent the growth of mold or mildew.
Ceramic tile is a longstanding waterproof option that can be used for floors, walls, counters, backsplashes, showers, and mosaics in moisture-prone areas. Different tile flooring styles will offer varying levels of slip resistance, so look for this quality when shopping for bathroom tile. For greater defense against water, keep grout lines smaller when installing tile floors.
No, you can find tiles in just about every shape you can think of! From squares and rectangles to hexagons, diamonds, circles, and ovals, tile comes in different shapes and all sizes, from tiny to large format tile. You can create mixed-size patterned designs to create truly one-of-a-kind visuals. Custom layouts will take extra planning but will add impressive, upscale appeal.
Tile is rated for both strength and porosity. The tile rating for strength indicates how the tile can be used, and the tile rating for porosity indicates the level of absorbency. The greater the strength rating, the more applications that tile can be used for. The greater the porosity rating, the better suited the tile is for direct water exposure. Higher-rated tiles will be more expensive to purchase.
Tile flooring can be cleaned quickly and efficiently. First, remove loose and dust from the tile surface with regular sweeping. Mop your tile floor with a mild cleaning solution, either a simple water and vinegar solution or an approved tile cleaner. Loosen stains with a soft bristle brush, scrub, and rinse off the cleaning solution by mopping again. Wipe the tile dry with a clean towel or microfiber cloth.
To clean the grout lines between tiles, use a half-and-half mixture of baking soda and water or a commercially available grout cleaner. Test your cleanser first in a less noticeable location. Avoid cleaning products that contain ammonia, bleach, oil, or any acid. Do not allow any cleaning solution to dry without rinsing it off, and avoid using stiff bristle brushes or steel wool when cleaning grout lines.
Unless you have the proper tools, such as a tile cutter and caulking guns, and sufficient tile installation skills, we recommend hiring licensed professionals to install your tile. Installing tile requires removing old tiles, repairing any cracked, damaged, or uneven surfaces, and prepping the area. Professional installers will know how to properly use grout, tile adhesive, filler, tile spacers, sanitary sealant, and tile trim. Hiring professionals is better than DIY tile installation for the time saved and superior finished results.
According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost in 2023 to purchase tile flooring is between $7 and $45 per square foot for porcelain tile and between $4 to $45 per square foot for ceramic tile. You can save on tile installation costs if you can prep the installation yourself, as well as handle post-installation sealing and any paint touch-ups.
With proper installation and maintenance, your tile flooring can last from 20 years up to 50 years in normal household conditions. The longevity of tile flooring can vary among tile types, but tile is known for impressive durability as much as it is for timeless style.
Area Rugs FAQs
Stylish area rugs are valuable protectors of your beautiful hard surface floors underneath by cushioning foot traffic, lessening the impact, helping catch abrasive particles, and offering a line of defense against spills. Area rugs can also instantly add visual interest, softness, texture, color, and pattern, enhance any design aesthetic, and offer an incredibly easy way to help refresh your favorite rooms.
You do not need a carpet pad to use an area rug like you do when installing wall-to-wall carpeting. However, you can cut carpet pads to fit any rug size, which will help absorb foot traffic and protect against wear of the area rug pile. A carpet pad will also add comfort, durability, and sound insulation, as well as help preserve the appearance of your rug.
It’s extremely important to remove loose dirt and dust from the surface of your rugs to prevent abrasion and damage to the finish and restore a bright appearance. Vacuum weekly and avoid using a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar to prevent scratches on delicate rugs. Check your rug manufacturer’s recommendations before investing in a robot vacuum cleaner. If your rug does not allow you to vacuum, take your rug outdoors regularly and shake loose any dirt and dust.
Since many high-quality area rugs are an investment, having them professionally cleaned on a 12-month, 16-month, or 24-month cleaning schedule is recommended. Professional cleaning is recommended if you cannot remove a stain from your rug if you notice an odor coming from your rug, or if your family suffers from allergies beyond the spring season.
It is extremely important to ensure that the backing of your area rug is suitable for the flooring type in your home! Synthetic rubber or latex backing can cause biochemical reactions, discoloration, or dulling of hardwood flooring finishes. Area rugs with rubber backing can stain luxury vinyl floors and react chemically with laminate floors. Consult with one of our professionals to match the perfect area rug backing with your current floors.
Although you cannot use all area rug materials in rooms that experience moisture, some area rugs are made specifically for bathrooms and kitchens. Choose an appropriate non-slip area rug that offers superior absorbency and a quick-drying construction to prevent the growth of mildew, mold, or odor-causing bacteria.
A runner is an elongated rectangular area rug that is uniquely shaped and designed to serve high-traffic hallways. Runners will help cushion foot traffic, insulate sound, and lend color, softness, balance, and proportion to these spaces. Once you take hallway measurements, you can size your new runner to fit the dimensions perfectly.
When placing an area rug under a coffee table, you can choose to either put all legs under the table or just the front legs. Make sure to put felt pads under any coffee table legs that aren’t on the rug to ensure an even table height.
When placing an area rug under a dining room table, you need to purchase an area rug that’s large enough to fit all legs of the dining table and to cover chairs pushed back from the table. Match the shape of your rug to the shape of the table and add an extra 36 inches to the table dimensions to ensure enough coverage.
Area rug costs will be determined by the material, construction, and size of the rug. The larger the rug size, the higher the quality of materials, and the more intricacy of the construction, the more expensive the rug will cost. Thankfully, there is an area rug to fit any budget for every trending aesthetic!
With proper care and maintenance, your area rugs will most likely last from 5 years to 10 years in high-traffic areas under normal household conditions.
