Should You Consider Luxury Vinyl Flooring? 

While thinking about flooring options for your home, you might come across materials that are unappealing, expensive, or too boring to look at. While it is important to know your options, it’s also crucial to make the most out of the money you’re going to invest in your flooring.  

An excellent middle ground between expensive hardwood and cheap laminated flooring is luxury vinyl flooring. It is not cheap. It is also not too expensive. In addition to that, it is an extremely appealing material to consider.  

If you’re looking for the right material for your next flooring installation Escondido project, you should consider luxury vinyl flooring. Here are several reasons why: 

Resembles Traditional Hardwood Floor 

Though the classic appeal of traditional hardwood flooring is something every homeowner desires, the natural look of luxury vinyl is a close contended when it comes to appearance. It’s difficult to tell these two materials apart. Only a professional can tell the difference between the two.  

Hardwood floors are always appealing for the aesthetics of most homeowners. Thus, luxury vinyl is natural everlasting décor that isn’t just appealing visually, but also more affordable.  

If you want a more affordable substitute for hardwood flooring, luxury vinyl is the ideal option for you. This is particularly true if you don’t want to compromise on the look.  

Matches the Furniture 

You can personalize luxury vinyl flooring in design and color to complement the furniture of your home. This greatly depends on the theme of your house. Dark vinyl flooring might work best for a room with a lot of big windows, a contemporary theme, or in earth tones with light-colored furniture. The reason for this is that dark vinyl flooring will go well against the lighter elements.  

Meanwhile, you can use oaky or ashy vinyl to complement the overall theme of your house if you’re going for a more rustic appearance.  

Clean Space 

Luxury vinyl flooring is an ideal option that you can use in every room of your house. The reason for this is that it comes in a huge range of designs and colors. It provides a clean look to the room since it hides dirt and dust well. This is particularly true for lighter and medium tones.  

Because it is easy to clean too, there is a small chance for stains to become permanent. Thus, you can have a clean and polished look for your floor. In addition to that, a reliable flooring installation contractor will guarantee that they install the planks in a way that dust will not accumulate in between.  

Versatility 

Luxury vinyl flooring is ideal for high-traffic areas such as your bathroom and kitchen. The reason for this is that it is waterproof, durable, and offers great slip resistance. The amazing aesthetics make it the best option for living rooms and dining rooms as well.  

To make things simple, luxury vinyl flooring is extremely versatile that you can use anywhere in your house. If you’re planning to change the entire flooring of your home, you might as well opt for luxury vinyl.  

Signs You Need to Fix Your Hardwood Flooring 

A lot of people love hardwood flooring. There is a reason for that. One of them is that hardwood flooring provides a lot of natural beauty to a house. However, you have to maintain your flooring to keep its beauty. This means occasional sanding, finishing, and staining when necessary.  

Unfortunately, even if you maintain your hardwood floor perfectly, it can still fall into a state of disrepair. When this happens, you’ll need a more rigorous task to restore them to their original look.  

If you’re planning a hardwood flooring installation Encinitas project, you need to prepare for the future repairs you might face. Here are several signs that indicate you need to fix your hardwood flooring.  

Rotting 

When people hear the word rotting, they think of gunky and smelly areas that you can identify easily. However, that is not the case with hardwood.  

A spill can often get into the wood and starts to rot it. If you don’t notice the spill, it might dry out. This can result in a soft area that you easily pick apart. If you choose to ignore it, it will become worse. There is a high possibility that your hardwood floor is rotting if you notice a weakening and splintering of a particular spot. 

Creaking 

Though creaky hardwood floors do have a particular charm to them, most homeowners don’t realize that hardwood floors are not supposed to make these sounds. In general, creaking comes from warping and shrinkage. It results in a creaking noise and movement that tends to echo across your home.  

A couple of people can tolerate various levels of creaking. However, you might want to fix them if you find them extremely annoying.  

Stubborn Stains 

You can easily prevent stains if you’ve got an excellent coat of finish on your hardwood floors. Typically, you can sand it out if you do get a stain on your floor. Unfortunately, you may have to replace the affected boards if you find stains that have sunken deep that sanding won’t help anymore.  

Aside from being difficult to cover up, a stain can also compromise the structural integrity of your hardwood floors. This means that it can result in worse issues in the future if you choose to ignore them. It is a huge indication that you have to fix your flooring if you find stubborn stains.  

Cracks and Chips 

Over time, cracks and chips can appear. It does not matter if you’ve got the best finishes and stains. Typically, this happens when a sharp object falls on the surface. However, cracks and chips can also occur from a slow deterioration of the finish.  

You may be able to sand out minor chips. However, excessive chipping and cracking will need replacement.  

Buckling 

It’s an indication that you have to replace the boards if you notice them beginning to bend upwards. When your boards start to buckle, there’s nothing you can do to restore them. Thus, it’s an indication that you need to replace your flooring. One of the most common causes of buckling is water damage.  

Hardwood Flooring Maintenance Tips

One of the oldest materials in the flooring industry is hardwood. However, it is still one of the most popular options out there. Hardwood flooring offers an excellent blend that brings nature indoors with its authentic and elegant look.  

To protect your hardwood floors, regular maintenance is always ideal. However, how can you maintain your hardwood flooring? We’re going to share with you some tips.  

If you’re planning to use hardwood for your next flooring installation Carlsbad project, it’s best that you know how to maintain it. This will help you get the most out of your investment. Here are some tips you can follow: 

Protect the Floor 

One of the best ways to lower dirt and debris on your floor is to install rugs. You should look for a better place to install your rugs in your house. You might also have to use several rugs in high-traffic areas, such as your kitchen.  

When installing rugs, make sure you choose one that is suitable for hardwood floors. You should avoid other forms of rugs that might trap moisture.  

The legs of your furniture can leave behind scuffs and scratches on the surface. This is especially true if you drag them. That is why you should use rubber protectors under the legs to avoid these damages. As a precaution, you should also avoid dragging your furniture.  

Utilize Blinds and Window Coverings to Protect Your Floor from Fading 

For those who don’t know, extreme UV rays can fade the color of your hardwood. Thus, you should use protective window coverings to block and protect hardwood from extreme heat. The best materials to use are blinds and curtains.  

Also, try to move around furniture and rugs regularly so that wood appearance will uniformly age.  

Polish Your Floor Every 2-3 Months 

If you want to keep your hardwood floors look great, you have to follow a daily routine. This is perhaps the most effective way of maintaining your flooring.  

To make things simple, you have to create a cleaning routine and follow it. If you want to give your floor a glossy look and protect the wood, consider using polyurethane surface finisher seals.  

Over time, occasional wear and tear will leave noticeable scratches that will make the surface appear dull. Routine polishing using a buffing pad will help you rejuvenate the look of your hardwood flooring.  

Monthly, Weekly, and Daily Routine 

When cleaning your flooring, make sure you use a microfiber cloth. This material is excellent when it comes to getting rid of dust and other particles. When you’re sweeping your floors, make sure you follow it up with a microfiber mop.  

Also, professionals recommend microfibers since they’re safer compared to broom bristles. You might have to dust your floor every day to protect it. Aside from that, try to vacuum your floor every week to keep it dust-free.  

Whenever you spill something on your hardwood floor, make sure you clean it up right away. If you ignore the spill, it might create an unappealing stain that will be hard to remove down the line.