Due to its use on DIY home improvement/house flipping shows, bamboo flooring has been generating tremendous buzz recently. Not only is it an extremely durable flooring material, but when properly finished and maintained it is less susceptible to moisture and high humidity.

Many builders, renovators, and homeowners are choosing bamboo flooring for their bathrooms to give them a hardwood look that is fresh and unique.

Before Installing Bamboo Flooring in Your Bathroom

Bamboo flooring isn’t new: it’s been around for decades, and the renewed interest in bamboo for hardwood flooring has seen a revival thanks to the sustainable housing movement.

Many construction companies and developers are also turning to bamboo floors as a way to “go green” when sourcing their building materials.

Why Bamboo?

Why is bamboo so much more sustainable? These plants have a rapid growth rate (sometimes as much as several inches in a day), and so they can be harvested and regrown in far shorter periods than hardwood trees. This makes bamboo ideal for preserving natural resources without compromising on the quality and durability of building materials.

How Is Bamboo Flooring Made? 

It may look like wood, but bamboo is a grass that possesses tough, durable fibers used in construction and commercial applications for thousands of years. The bamboo used in flooring undergoes a series of manufacturing processes that cut them into strips, shreds them to separate the fibers, and bonds them into a sturdy square using heat, pressure, and adhesives.

Bamboo Flooring Options

There are three types of bamboo flooring used in manufacturing:

• Vertical
• Horizontal
• Strand

Vertical bamboo has a striped grain, while horizontal has the “knuckled” look most people think of when they think of bamboo floors. Strand grain, the most expensive type of hardwood floor is actually a weave of bamboo fibers that are interlocked for superior strength and durability. Bamboo is an ideal choice for sustainable hardwood flooring that preserves old-growth hardwood forests.

What Is the Best Bamboo Flooring?

There are a lot of options for bamboo floors in bathroom and kitchen environments, including: 

• Solid Strand Bamboo (Tongue & Groove)
• Solid Strand Bamboo (Click Lock) 
• Engineered Strand Bamboo (Click Lock) 
• Engineered Rigid Core Strand Bamboo (Click Lock) 
• Engineered Strand Bamboo (Tongue & Groove) 
• Classic Bamboo (Tongue & Groove) 

Of these, the best bamboo flooring options for bathrooms and other damp environments are solid strand bamboo and engineered rigid core strand bamboo. 

Choosing Sustainable Bamboo Floors

While bamboo is a more sustainable source for flooring and provides high quality, lower cost option for putting in a hardwood bathroom floor, there are some concerns about certain sources of bamboo flooring.

For example, while it is a greener choice that’s better for the environment and reduces harvesting pressure on exotic hardwoods, the manufacturing processes in countries where the bamboo flooring is made are largely unregulated.

This oversight means some brands of bamboo flooring have a greater potential to contain toxic substances in the adhesive and finish including formaldehyde. Furthermore, the factories in these countries that manufacture bamboo flooring can often generate a larger carbon footprint due to lax emissions standards overseas.

How to Ensure You’re Purchasing Sustainable Bamboo Flooring for Bathrooms

Ecologically conscious consumers seeking to use bamboo flooring should verify their flooring is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council, as products bearing their seal of approval practice ethical and ecologically sound harvesting and manufacturing processes.

Is Bamboo Flooring Good for Bathrooms?

Ready to install a bamboo floor in your bathroom? First, consider the practical advantages and disadvantages of a bamboo bathroom floor.

Here’s a quick rundown:

Pros

• Bamboo flooring is every bit as durable as traditional hardwood, provided you get good quality bamboo flooring. Check the warranty before you make a buying decision.
• Bamboo provides a clean and contemporary aesthetic that suits many bathroom designs.
• Cleans up fast and easy with just a mop and gentle soap.
• Thicker bamboo flooring can be refinished in the future depending on how the planks are constructed.
• Laminated bamboo flooring glued to sub-layers is a DIYers dream to install.

Cons

• Cheap bamboo flooring shows wear and tear quickly, so you don’t want to cut corners on quality.
• The grass fibers of bamboo plants absorb water when not sealed/finished well, so they are susceptible to water damage from excessive humidity over long periods of time.
• Not all bathroom designs are going to be suitable for the aesthetic of a bamboo floor.
• There are a few tones/shades available with bamboo flooring.

Best Way to Install Bamboo Flooring

Now that you understand the pros and cons of putting bamboo floors in bathrooms and other areas of the house, it’s time to learn how bamboo flooring is installed. 

If you’re wondering, “How do you install bamboo floors in bathroom?” Here is a sampling of the installation process used by the flooring pros here at Carpet to Go for tongue and groove flooring: 

1. Subfloor Preparation 

Remove existing flooring and scrub the subfloor clean. If the subfloor isn’t level, then you’ll need to repair holes or dips to ensure an even subfloor surface. Use a concrete moisture meter to ensure the concrete is dry. 

2. Bamboo Flooring Preparation 

Because it is a natural product, your bamboo flooring will need to acclimatize to the room’s environment prior to installation. Lay your boxes of flooring in the bathroom and allow them to sit there for at least 48 hours. Skipping this step and installing bamboo flooring in the bathroom without letting it acclimatize can result in warped floors. 

3. Sort Out Your Bamboo Flooring

One of the charming characteristics of bamboo flooring is that each plank varies in shade and pattern. Sort out your flooring before installation, creating piles of dark, medium, and light planks, and once you begin laying the floor, stagger the colors around the bathroom to enhance their natural look. 

4. Gather Your Tools

Now it’s time to install your new tongue and groove bamboo flooring! Here’s a list of the tools you’ll need to get started: 

• Carpenter’s square
• Rubber mallet
• Tapping block 
• Chalk line 
• Table saw
• Mitre saw
• Tape Measure
• A saw blade that’s at least 40-tooth (the higher the better) 
• Moisture resistant adhesive 

5. Install the Flooring Underlayment 

To help the bamboo flooring in your bathroom stand the test of time, it’s important to start your installation by laying down a 3-in-1 underlayment on the subfloor. A high-quality underlayment protects your flooring from moisture and, as an added bonus, helps soundproof the room. 

6. Start Laying Bamboo Floors in Bathroom 

Start laying your bamboo flooring, making sure that you leave a ¼” to ½” gap between the flooring and any walls, cabinets, fireplaces, or other elements. The best way to maintain this gap is to use expansion spacers, placing them between the flooring and the wall or whatever other structure the flooring is pushing against. 

With changing seasons and humidity, your bamboo flooring will expand and contract. These spaces are necessary to allow the flooring to fluctuate safely. 

7. Use Mallet to Secure Flooring Planks

Since these are directions for a tongue and groove flooring, make sure that you squirt a generous amount of glue in the inside seam of the groove prior to sliding the next plank in place. 

Once you’ve applied the glue, push the next plank into position and use your rubber mallet to lock the tongue and groove together firmly. 

For maximum security, use bamboo flooring tape to hold the planks together. Remove tape after 10 or so hours. 

8. Cut and Place Final Row of Flooring

It’s likely that you’ll need to cut your final row of planks lengthwise, in order to fit them into place. Remember to cut them so that ¼” to ½” of space is left between the flooring and the wall. 

Final Thoughts

Bottom line, the pro versus con of installing a bamboo floor in your bathroom comes down to three points to ponder: source, quality, and design. If ethical and ecologically sound sourcing is important to you, then do your homework and be prepared to spend a bit more on your bamboo flooring.

DIYers and renovators concerned about potential long-term humidity damage should research engineered and well-finished bamboo flooring designed to be less susceptible to absorbing water. Lastly, it would be best if you made sure that the available shades of bamboo flooring will work with the palette of your bathroom design.

Provided you consider these three important points, installing a high-quality bamboo floor in your bathroom can be an investment that pays dividends for years to come.

High-Quality Bamboo Flooring for Bathrooms 

For nearly 30 years, Carpet To Go has helped home, and business owners select the best flooring for their unique situations. Our massive showroom enables you to get up close and personal with 1,000’s flooring options. Our full-service installation department can usually get your new floor installed within 7 days of your purchase. 

If you’re unsure which kind of bamboo flooring is best for your bathroom, or if you’d like to schedule our professional flooring installers to put a gorgeous new floor in your home, contact Carpet To Go today. 

Areas We Serve:

Seattle Bamboo Flooring | Bellevue Bamboo Flooring | Redmond Bamboo Flooring | Kirkland Bamboo Flooring | Sammamish Bamboo Flooring | Shoreline Bamboo Flooring | Issaquah Bamboo Flooring | Lynnwood Bamboo Flooring

Homes in the Pacific Northwest are especially susceptible to mold infestation due to the continuously damp climate. Because mold carries the risk of causing various adverse health effects, it’s important to deal with mold as soon as you’re aware of its presence.

Continue reading to learn more about how to mitigate mold growth in your carpet as well as the telltale signs of mold, or get in touch with Carpet To Go to discuss your carpet questions with a professional.

How To Get Rid Of Mold In Carpet

The Dangers of Mold

Mold can negatively affect your health in a number of ways. Mold can release a toxic substance known as mycotoxins which can cause irritation in the eyes, throat, nose, and skin.

If you or another member of your household has any sort of immune deficiency, breathing in mold can also cause serious respiratory infections or aggravate symptoms of asthma and bronchitis.

In some cases, individuals may be allergic to mold, which would result in even more health-devastating consequences.

Signs of Mold on Carpet

What are some common indicators of the presence of mold in your carpet? A few telltale signs that let you know that it’s time to inspect for mold growth in your carpet include:

• Musty Smell. You may begin to notice that your carpet has a musty, stale smell. This is an indication that your carpet could be growing mold, and you should inspect to make sure that this isn’t the case.
• Damp Carpet. Dampness can be an indication that there is moisture trapped beneath your carpet, which in turn could result in mold growth. If your carpet seems to be chronically damp, you should seek out the root cause and amend it as soon as possible.
• Discoloration. If you have started to notice small discolored patches on your carpet, this is another indication that mold is growing. Discolorations may be greenish, black, or white.

How To Get Mold Out Of Carpet: 3 Ways

So what is an effective way to remove mold from carpet?

If you would like to get rid of your mold problem, the following three sections outline ways that you can clean mold from carpet effectively.

How To Get Mold Out of Carpet Naturally

There are various natural remedies for getting mold out of the carpet.

One of the most popular methods is using a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar. These substances are tough on mold and can also help to deodorize your carpet.

Using a spray bottle, apply the vinegar solution to the affected area and sprinkle baking soda over the top. Next, take a firm bristle brush and use it to brush the area gently. This will help to loosen the mold and detach it from the carpet fibers.

After you’ve done these steps, use a blow dryer to dry the area and use your vacuum to remove any residual baking soda from the carpet.

Buy an Antifungal Cleaner

Commercial carpet mold cleaner is often one of the most effective ways to treat mold. These can be picked up from most home good stores and generally come with instructions as to how they should be used.

Ventilate Relentlessly

Another way to get rid of mold from your carpet is to ventilate your home aggressively. Getting fresh air inside your home will reduce dampness and regulate temperatures — resulting in less mold growth.

Tips For Combatting Mold Growth In Carpet

Here are six tips for reducing mold growth in your home:

1. Get a dehumidifier (and use it!).
2. Clean your carpet often — make it a point to vacuum frequently.
3. Dry your carpet thoroughly after each cleaning — don’t leave any damp spots!
4. Allow the light into your home. Mold does best in damp and dark environments, so allowing the light in reduces your chances of getting mold.
5. Use air filters in your home and replace them often, as they filter out dust and other particles that aid in mold growth.
6. Choose moisture-resistant padded carpet over cheaply manufactured carpet.

Need Carpet Advice? Get In Touch With Carpet To Go Today!

Whether you’re looking for tips on how to clean mold from carpet or which carpet is ideal for a specific room in your home, get in touch with Carpet To Go today.

Here at Carpet To Go, we have a team of carpet specialists that is ready to answer your carpeting questions and help you find solutions that work for you.

Get in touch with our team of carpet enthusiasts today to get the answers to your carpeting questions or to learn more about our wide range of carpet selections.

Countless homeowners fantasize about having luxurious hardwood floors that complete their home’s aesthetic and cause everyone who enters their house to sigh with envy.

On the maintenance front, however, most people are unaware of all of the maintenance work that comes with hardwood.

Continue reading to learn how to clean grime off hardwood floors or give our hardwood flooring experts a call with your questions.

How To Deep Clean Hardwood Floors

When it comes to the question of how to clean and shine hardwood floors, here are three main steps for how to properly clean hardwood floors.

3 steps for how to clean dirty hardwood floors:

1. Thoroughly Remove Dirt. Vacuum or sweep in order to remove debris that has accumulated on your floor.
2. Mop Your Hardwood Floors. Once you have dealt with the dust and debris, mop your floors by applying a cleaning solution to your floor and using your mop to remove streaks and stains.
3. Polish Your Hardwood Floor. The final step in your how to clean your hardwood floors tutorial is to polish your newly swept and mopped floors. Attach a polishing cloth to the end of your household mop and use a shine solution to restore a glossy finish to your floors.

Three Steps for Cleaning Old Hardwood Floors

Let go into depth a bit more and explore the process of cleaning your hardwood flooring.

1. Remove Dirt and Debris

Start by sweeping up any loose dirt and dust that accumulates on your floor. Hardwood floor experts highly recommended that you use a vacuum designed for cleaning. Look for a vacuum that does not use a rotating beater brush that can scratch and damage the finish, so you can clean up any dirt and debris safely.

Using a broom or traditional carpet vacuum cleaner for hardwood floors may cause sand, grit, and dirt to scratch the finish of your floors. This could expose the raw wood to moisture during the cleaning process or through daily traffic. Vacuuming up the debris eliminates this potential problem helps to keep the finish intact for as long as possible.

2. Apply Mop

After you remove all the dirt and dust off the floor, you are ready to apply your cleaning solution. Think of this as giving your floors a mop bath. The type of floor cleaner you use largely depends on the finish. Modern wood floors are sealed with polyacrylic, urethane, or polyurethane upon completion. This protects the wood underneath, and it makes cleaning a much easier task.

a. Determine The Type of Finish You Have

Older or original hardwood is usually sealed with a penetrating sealant, shellac, lacquer, or an oil-base finish before being waxed. These older floors require different cleaning products than a modern or recently installed hardwood floor.

An easy way to determine what kind of finish is present is by running a finger across a plank or strip of the floor. If it smudges, you have an older finish and sealant. If it doesn’t smudge, your wood floor has a hard, modern finish.

Never, ever use a floor cleaner that contains ammonia, abrasives, or alkaline products. These chemicals strip that sealant right out of the wood and dull your floor’s finish. Always use a hardwood floor cleaner with a pH-neutral soap, such as Murphy’s Oil Soap mixed with warm water and a mop.

b. Fill Your Bucket

Once you have the appropriate cleaner for your floor, mix up a bucket according to directions or apply the spray from a bottle as directed. There are many all-in-one spray mops designed for cleaning hardwood flooring. These tools simplify this task by removing the bucket from the general cleaning process. You still need a bucket of cleaner and a damp mop to do really deep cleanings.

c. Wring Out Your Mop

Wring the mop out so it is only slightly damp before applying it to the floor. Begin cleaning from far edges of the room and work your way towards the entry or doorway in a consistent pattern that covers the entire floor.

Remove water rings or stains from modern hardwood finishes with a little elbow grease and a cleaning cloth. Older, soft oil finishes for hardwood floors may require you to remove stains and rings with some steel wool dipped in floor wax. If this doesn’t work, try sanding it gently before applying mineral spirits and fine steel wool before waxing the affected area.

Never use steel wool on a modern urethane or acrylic hardwood floor finish. This creates an expensive repair that most people cannot complete on their own.

3. Polish and Shine

Apply the finishing touch when you clean your hardwood flooring with a polishing cloth attached to a mop. It is highly recommended that you use a wood floor shine refresher solution, or floor restorer in the case they are older, to give your floors a high gloss, like-new shine. You should apply a restorer at least every three to six months to keep your hardwood floor looking its best.

Finally, you should protect the high traffic areas of your home – like doorways, entryways, and staircases – with rugs or runners to prevent long-term damage. This also makes cleaning much easier.

Tips For How To Keep Hardwood Floors Clean

What are some practical tips that can be used to keep your hardwood floors clean? Let’s take a look at three different types of hardwood flooring and the best tips for keeping them clean and maintained.

1. Vintage Hardwood Floors. When it comes to tips for how to clean old hardwood floors, you should avoid harsh chemical-based cleaning solutions and instead opt for a water-based solution.
2. New Hardwood Floors. When it comes to the question of how to clean new hardwood floors, you should always follow the directions listed by the hardwood flooring manufacturer. Different new hardwood types may require different cleaning methods so it’s important to learn what’s best for your hardwood floor before attempting to clean it.
3. Dark Hardwood Flooring. Now comes the question of how to clean dark hardwood floors. Dark hardwood floors are generally less forgiving than lighter shades of hardwood as dust will show up more easily. Make sure that you always remove your shoes and use felt pads on furniture to prevent scratches and stains on dark hardwood.

How To Best Clean Hardwood Floors: Call An Expert

Don’t have the time to deal with maintaining your hardwood floors? Give our flooring experts a call today.

Here at Carpet To Go, we have years of experience helping homeowners install, clean, and maintain their hardwood flooring. If you are too busy to take weekly time out of your schedule to clean your hardwood floors, get in touch with our team of hardwood floor specialists today.

We’d be happy to offer you advice or send our flooring specialists to your home to help you with hardwood flooring maintenance issues.

Considering having a new floor installed in your home with tile as one of the main contenders? You’ll be happy to learn that tile is one of the most versatile, beautiful, and durable flooring types on the market currently.

As a homeowner, you’ll be able to find tile floors that match your taste, cost, and aesthetic needs without too much effort.

Continue reading to learn more about the types of tile flooring and their various benefits or give Carpet To Go a call to speak with one of our flooring specialists about our selection of tile flooring types.

Different Types Of Tile Flooring

Are you hoping to achieve a luxurious interior with rich natural stone flooring? Tile flooring can help you accomplish it! Or maybe you prefer minimal interiors with a bright, clean feel, if so, tile can help you there too.

Continue reading to learn about the benefits of tile flooring as well as the different types of tile flooring styles available.

What Are The Benefits Of The Different Types Of Floor Tiles?

Tile flooring offers many benefits to homeowners, making it a compelling choice. Some of the main benefits of tile flooring include:

• Durability. Tile flooring is incredibly resilient and is not easily damaged, scratched, or worn out. This makes it ideal for high-traffic areas in the home as well as households with indoor pets.
• Eco-friendliness. Because tile is made from natural materials, it has a far smaller impact on the environment than many other flooring options.
• Variety. Tile flooring may be found in a huge range of colors, styles, and textures. This means that there is an ideal type of tile for every homeowner regardless of decor style.
• Non-flammable. The tile does not burn or melt and is not easily destroyed (yet another perk of the tile’s intense durability).
• Moisture-resistant. Tile is ideal for homeowners in wet climates as it is moisture-resistant and will not be affected by dampness.
• Easy to clean. Tile is extremely easy to clean and maintain and is ideal for rooms that get messy easily (such as the bathroom or kitchen).

What Are the Different Types Of Tile Flooring Styles?

Tile is beautifully diverse and comes in a wide variety of styles, textures, and colors.

Some of the most popular types of floor tile styles include:

• Natural stone. Types of flooring tiles in this category include granite and marble.
• Porcelain. Porcelain consists primarily of white clay, feldspar, and quartz. Due to its high durability and less porous make-up, porcelain is an ideal tile for both inside the home as well as outside in landscape designs.
• Ceramic. This type of tile flooring is made from clay and can come in either glazed or unglazed forms depending on your preferences.
• Mosaic. Mosaic tile is made from mixed materials such as glass, metal, small stones, and porcelain.
• Luxury Vinyl Tile. While not a traditional type of tile, LVT has become a popular, affordable, and durable alternative to traditional tile.

How To Choose The Best Kinds Of Floor Tiles For Your Home

When it comes to choosing the best floor tile type for your home, here are some things to consider.

1. Do you need an extremely durable type of tile? If so, opt for porcelain tiles as they are the most resilient and resistant to wear.
2. Are you looking for the best types of tile flooring for your bathroom? Ceramic and porcelain work best in bathrooms as they are easy to clean and moisture-resistant.
3. Take into consideration the porousness of the tile that you’re considering. Depending on how porous your tile is will determine how moisture-resistant it is. The four porosity classifications used are impervious, vitreous, semi-vitreous, and non-vitreous.
4. Do you need slip-resistant tile flooring? Most tile types get pretty slick when wet, so if slipping is a concern, we recommend ordering a non-slip tile floor.
5. Take into consideration your budgetary restrictions. In general, ceramic tiles tend to be the most affordable while natural stone such as marble and granite tend to run on the opposite end of the price spectrum.

Contact Carpet To Go To Learn More About Our Types Of Flooring Tile

Get in touch with Carpet To Go today to learn more about the different types of tiles that we stock.

Our team of flooring professionals is proud to offer superior quality tile flooring and installation services at a reasonable price. We take great pride and joy in the work that we do and we want to be the ones to provide you with impeccable tile flooring services.

Give our flooring specialists a call at (425) 441-3658 to learn more about our services and stocked tile flooring.

Are you struggling to understand the different types of laminate flooring? You’re not alone. 

A lot of home and business owners have trouble seeing the subtle differences between different laminate flooring options. And this is why our flooring experts have sat down and created this blog post for you!

Here at Carpet To Go, we offer a wide range of different types of laminate flooring to ensure that every homeowner gets the best laminate flooring to suit their design as well as practical needs. 

Our knowledgeable flooring specialists would be happy to discuss your home’s needs with you in order to help you find the best laminate flooring for your home.

Continue reading to learn more about the different types of laminated flooring or give Carpet To Go a call at (425) 441-3538 to speak with one of our flooring specialists.

Types Of Laminated Flooring Textures

When it comes to the types of laminate floors, there are several factors that need to be examined in order to help you choose the right flooring for your home. 

For example, laminate flooring comes in a variety of different textures which can affect the durability and appearance of your flooring. Perhaps you prefer a smooth surface type, if so, there is a wide range of laminate flooring on the market that offers a smooth texture and bright sheen. If a smooth texture is not your thing, you can choose a more rugged laminate flooring that is textured for added aesthetic appeal. 

Some of the different textures that laminate flooring may be found in include:

• Smooth or satin. This is the typical soft laminate flooring aesthetic that lacks deep grains and has a smooth feel underfoot. 
• Distressed or hand-scraped. Laminate flooring with this texture mimics the look of real wood and has some natural-looking deep grains and wood markings. 
• Brushed. Laminate flooring with this texture has softer markings than those found on distressed laminate flooring but still offers the same vintage feel. 
• High-gloss. The high-gloss laminate texture offers a sleek, modern vibe to any interior and is ideal for clean, minimal aesthetics. 

Different Types Of Laminate Flooring Installation

There are several different methods for installing laminate flooring, the most common installation methods include:

• Pre-glued. This is a convenient laminate flooring installation method because it means you don’t have to apply glue to the planks. Instead, the pre-glued installation method means that the laminate flooring you purchase already has glue applied and is ready to be installed. Nonetheless, your laminate may need some help with glue activation. In this is the case, simply moisten the joints to help activate the glue when joining the laminate together. 
• Glueless-click installation. Glue is not necessary for this method of installation because the laminate planks are manufactured with interlocking capabilities in order to allow them to snap together. Extremely easy for installation and repairs, glueless-click makes up more than two-thirds of laminate flooring in people’s homes. 
• Glue method. This method of installation involves applying glue to the laminate flooring and placing it directly on the underlay. Perhaps the most time-consuming in terms of installation, glued laminate requires that the laminate joints be glued together. The downside of glued laminate is the high labor cost, but the upside is that it is the strongest of the laminate flooring options. 

Styles Of Laminate Flooring

Now let’s take a look at the different styles of laminate flooring. 

The good thing about choosing laminate flooring is that the sheer number of laminate flooring types and styles enables you to follow your aesthetic preferences and tastes to perfectly curate your home. 

Some of the different styles of laminate flooring include wood styles such as:

• Pine
• Maple
• Cherry oak

And other styles like:

• Marble 
• Stone
  

What Are The Benefits Of Laminate Flooring?

There is a myriad of benefits associated with having laminate flooring. More and more homeowners are choosing laminate flooring because of the large number of benefits their homes receive as a result.

Below are just a couple of benefits of laminate flooring. 

1. Easy maintenance, installation, and repairs

Laminate flooring, regardless of the exact type you choose, is a breeze in terms of maintenance. If requires minimal cleaning and rarely requires large annual maintenance to be made on its behalf.

Contrary to many other flooring types on the market today, laminate flooring is simple to install and requires very little time to get the job done. Repairs as well are easily executed efficiently and take next to no time at all.

2. High durability 

Laminate flooring is extremely durable and has the ability to look amazing for many years. It doesn’t suffer from the same rapid aging that many other flooring types are subjected to and can withstand heavy foot traffic quite nicely.

Laminate flooring can withstand a lot of footsteps and is an ideal floor type for high traffic areas, like:

• Mudrooms
• Sun porches
• Kitchens

Laminate floors are great for individuals or families that enjoy an active lifestyle. Scuffs from boots or tracks from bikes won’t damage your laminate floor – it’s made to look great for a long time

3. Quality flooring at a low cost

One of the most obvious benefits of laminate flooring is the incredible affordability for such a high-quality floor. Laminate flooring is incredibly affordable in comparison to other flooring types and offers the same level of quality.

When you put new flooring into a room, it instantly makes the room look better. Laminate floors are available in several styles, so it’s easy to match the existing room paint or furniture. Create separation or complement an existing aesthetic with laminate flooring that looks like hardwood floors, stone, marble, and more.

Laminate flooring is more affordable than hardwood, carpet and vinyl flooring, but just because it costs less to buy and install doesn’t mean it’s lower quality. When properly cared for, a laminate floor will last for several years. If you don’t have a budget for hardwood flooring, you can still get a hardwood look and textured feel with laminate flooring.

4. Laminate flooring gives you flexibility

Laminate flooring, with the many diverse types and textures, gives you design and aesthetic flexibility in your home. Stylistically, you have control over so much of your interior aesthetic when you choose laminate flooring. 

All of the seemingly small details that make up the overall aesthetic of your home can be tailored perfectly to your desires using laminate flooring.

More Benefits Of The Different Types Of Laminate Floors

Here are some of the reasons why laminate flooring has become increasingly popular in the past few decades:

• Laminate can be installed over most existing floors
• Laminate is moisture-resistant
• Laminate is scratch-resistant and durable
• Laminate is convenient to install
• Laminate flooring is comfortable underfoot
• Laminate is noise-resistant
• Laminate flooring is easy to maintain
• Laminate is compatible with radiant heating systems 

Different Types Of Laminate Flooring Ratings

The AC rating (abrasion class rating) tells you how durable a particular laminate flooring is using a one to five scale measurement system. 

The AC rating system is as follows:

1. AC1: Laminate floors in this category are considered “moderate residential” and appropriate for areas with minimal foot traffic. 
2. AC2: Laminate in this category is suitable for common rooms that see a moderate amount of traffic. 
3. AC3: Laminate floors in the AC3 category are ideal for high-traffic areas of the home and may even work in commercial areas that experience light foot traffic. 
4. AC4: Laminate floors in this category are good for commercial usage and the amount of foot traffic that is generally associated with a business. 
5. AC5: The strongest of the laminate flooring types, AC5 laminate flooring is suitable for heavy commercial usage. 

Understand HPL vs. DPL

Three layers go into making laminate flooring: the decorative layer on top, the core layer in the middle and the floor backing. High Pressure Laminate (HPL) seals and compresses these three layers of flooring with 1,000 pounds of pressure. Go this route for a durable floor that will see significant activity.

Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL) only uses 500 pounds of pressure to seal and compress laminate floors. This is a better choice for smaller rooms or offices.

How To Choose The Best Type Of Laminate Flooring For Your Home

Determine Where You Would Like To Have Laminate Flooring Installed

First off, ask yourself where you would like to have the laminate floor installed and what is the primary use of that room. This will help you determine if you need a heavier duty laminate flooring type or if that is a non-issue.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What’s Your Style? What color should your laminate floor be? Do you want it to resemble another type of flooring, like hardwood or stone?
• Where in Your Home? What rooms are getting the laminate flooring? Do you want the laminate floors in your bathroom to match your kitchen? When should two different styles of laminate flooring be used to create separation?
• How Do You Want it to Feel? Do you want a smooth feeling laminate? Would you prefer a textured, scraped finish?

Determine The Aesthetic Of Your Home

What is your aesthetic? What would you like your home to convey to visitors? Looking up a list of interior design styles might help you in pinpointing what your aesthetic is — which in turn will help you determine what type of laminate flooring to choose for your home.

Because there are numerous types of laminate floors available, and you should choose the right laminate for your home based on the following factors:

• Appearance. Chances are you’ll buy the laminate floor you want based on the way it looks. You have a vision for your home and your new laminate flooring is the next step in your project. Decide how you want your laminate floor to look first.
• Texture. If you like walking on your floor in socks or bare feet, the texture is certainly an important consideration! There are several finishes and textures to choose from with laminate flooring, like:
  • Satin
  • Matte
  • Hand-scraped
  • Natural wood
  • Slate
  • Stone
  • And more!
• Thickness. How thick your laminate floor should be is determined by the stability and thickness of your subflooring.
• Number of planks. How many “strips” make up the pattern of your laminate floor.
• Installation Process. Influenced by your existing subfloors, a laminate flooring company will use either glueless laminate flooring, glued laminate flooring, pre-glued laminate flooring, or underlayment attached installation.

Contact Carpet To Go To Learn More About Our Styles Of Laminate Flooring

Looking for the best types of laminate flooring for your home? Get in touch with Carpet To Go today. Here at Carpet To Go, we specialize in high-quality flooring at an affordable price. 

Our flooring specialists would be more than happy to discuss your practical and aesthetic needs with you and help you find the best laminate flooring to meet your needs. 

To learn more about our selection of laminate floors or installation services, give Carpet To Go a call at (425) 441-3538 to speak with one of our team members. 

Related Article: What Is Laminate Flooring Made Of? | Laminate vs Vinyl

Discovering what types of hardwood you want to install in your home requires a lot of research. To give you a starting place, here is a beginner’s guide to the different types and what to look for. As a busy professional with not a lot of spare time on your hands, you like to cut to the chase in matters pertaining to home improvements. You’ve calculated the cost, weighed the pros and cons, and finally settled upon new hardwood floors.

However, the question remains – which hardwood floor types are best for your home? As you continue with your research on the topic, consider the following pros and cons of the different types of hardwood floors.

The Benefits of Any Hardwood Floor Type

Whether you are replacing your existing carpet or putting in a brand new floor, any type of hardwood floor is a great choice for the following reasons:

• It looks great. There’s no denying that a hardwood floor has that look about it, one that conveys beauty, grace, elegance and a sense of affluence that is so appealing.
• It provides a sense of warmth. No matter what your decor, hardwood floors are an excellent final touch in creating a warm environment conducive to comfort in the home.
• It’s a great retainer of heat. Unlike tile floors, hardwoods are a great insulator, and this means you’ll not likely complain of cold floors when walking barefoot across them.
• It’s easier to match your new decor. Regardless of the finish of your wood floors, there remains a certain neutrality in terms of redecorating rooms with new color schemes and finishes on furniture.
• It is remarkably resilient. If finished properly, wood floors are very resilient when it comes to holding up to stains and spills. Even mild scratches can be easily remedied.
• It’s so easy to clean and maintain. Sweep it, vacuum it, wash it regularly and your hardwood floors will retain that brand-new look of having just been installed. If you add in periodic polishing, you’ll really bring out the shine.

Hardwood Flooring Options

There are three main considerations when choosing the type of hardwood floor you wish installed in your home. These choices pertain to whether or not the wood is solid or engineered, what particular species of wood you are looking for, and whether you want the wood floors installed in a finished or unfinished state. Let’s examine all three choices and the pros and cons of each more closely.

Solid vs. Engineered Types of Hardwood 

While there are many species of hardwood, there are only two main types of hardwood flooring, engineered and solid hardwood.

Solid hardwood flooring is exactly what it sounds like — solid planks of wood cut from a specific type of tree. Solid hardwood flooring is the more traditional type of hardwood and it’s the one that most people envision when the word hardwood comes up. Some of the benefits of solid wood hardwood are that it’s highly durable and has the ability to last decades if maintained properly.

If you decide your preference is for solid wood, there are several things you need to know. While it can be sanded and refinished repeatedly over the course of time, real wood has a susceptibility to potential problems related to exposure to moisture and humidity. This can be remedied by finishing the wood, however, and by not laying it in bathrooms, laundry rooms or basements.

Engineered hardwood flooring is a more modern, optimized type of hardwood flooring that has been developed to mitigate some of the disadvantages of solid hardwood. For example, engineered flooring types cope better in damp environments. Engineered hardwood flooring consists of several wood layers with a top layer of hardwood. The layers give engineered hardwood its ability to expand and contract again without sustaining damage.

Engineered hardwood floors are quite different in that they are manufactured as a composite between real wood and a veneer of real wood. The structural integrity of the wood combined with the protection offered by the veneer means you can lay it anywhere—even areas susceptible to moisture and humidity.

Continue reading to learn more about all types of hardwood flooring or give Carpet To Go a call to speak with a flooring specialist.

Best Types Of Hardwood Flooring (By Tree)

Here is a list of some of the most popular types of hardwood flooring species. If you have any questions about how to find the best types of hardwood flooring for your home, give our team of flooring experts a call today.

Oak

If you’re in search of warm, traditional hardwood flooring, oak is the way to go. Oak has traditionally been used in homes that emphasize a warm-toned, cozy aesthetic.

If you’re opting for an oak hardwood floor, you have the choices of red or white oak with each bringing its own unique aesthetic flair to your interior.

Cherry

A glossy, luxurious hardwood flooring type, cherry wood comes in a variety of different hues including black, red, and softer hues.

One of the benefits of cherry hardwood is that it is naturally gorgeous and has a luxurious, shiny finish. The downside of this beautiful hardwood is that it is pricy and doesn’t fit into many budgets.

Walnut

Looking for a rich, dark hardwood to bring contrast and moodiness to your interior? Walnut is the perfect hardwood.

Walnut is a soft, lightweight hardwood but is still durable. Walnut hardwood flooring does well in living or dining rooms as it creates a stunning, bright, and luxurious interior.

Hickory

Hickory is a mid-toned hardwood floor that’s durability is scarcely rivaled. Interiors that have hickory hardwood tend to have a cozy, rustic ambiance.

Hickory flooring is good for any type of home and is an excellent choice for families and homeowners with indoor pets.

Maple

Maple hardwood flooring is one of the lighter-toned hardwoods and is characterized by its unique grain pattern. It is one of the hardest types of hardwood flooring and is extremely durable.

Maple hardwood is also one of the most affordable types of hardwood and is an excellent choice for homeowners with pets and kids.

Finished Hardwood Floors vs. Unfinished Hardwood Floors

This can often be the most difficult decision you have to make. Installing hardwood floors that are already sanded, sealed, and finished at the factory is going to reduce the time spent on installation.

Conversely, if you’re seeking a particularly custom finish that you’re not able to find in finished hardwoods, you may want to have unfinished floors laid. This allows for the application of a custom stain before the final finish is applied. This can be helpful in situations where you are seeking to match the color of certain pieces of furniture or an existing floor in your home. Because this type of flooring is stained and finished after installation, it also aids in aiding in its resistance to moisture.

Types Of Hardwood Flooring Finishes

Here are some of the most common types of hardwood flooring finishes:

• Water-Based Polyurethane
• Oil-Based Polyurethane
• Moisture-Cure Urethane
• Wax
• Shellac
• Penetrating Oil Sealer
• Acid-Cured Finish
• Aluminum Oxide

Bear in mind that there are pros and cons to each of these types of hardwood flooring finishes. Please give one of our flooring experts a call to discuss the type of hardwood flooring finishes in greater detail.

Types Of Hardwood Flooring: How To Know Which To Choose

Now that you’re more familiar with the types of hardwood flooring, how do you go about actually choosing one?

Hardwood flooring preferences are extremely subjective and personal. Only you truly understand your aesthetic tastes, practical preferences, and budget needs.

You should choose a hardwood flooring that has a tone that you find aesthetically pleasing and one that also matches your interior style.
While choosing hardwood flooring, you should also not neglect the practical needs of your household (make sure that you’re factoring in yours and your family’s practical needs).

Looking for Hardwood Flooring Today?

Here at Carpet To Go, we are proud to offer a huge selection of different types of hardwood flooring. We’d be happy to help you find the right flooring for you and offer our installation services to you as well.

If you have any questions about the different types of hardwood flooring or Carpet To Go’s installation services or flooring selection, give us a call today.

Looking for the best ways to clean your vinyl plank flooring? You’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re looking for maintenance tips for how to clean vinyl plank flooring or tips for taking care of your vinyl plank flooring, this article is for you.

Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about how to clean vinyl plank flooring or contact Carpet To Go to speak with one of our flooring experts. 

How to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring

So how can you clean your vinyl plank flooring? And what are the best methods, tips, or tools for cleaning vinyl plank flooring?

Here are some of the best ways to clean vinyl plank flooring, as explained by our team of flooring experts. 

If you have any additional questions about how to clean vinyl plank flooring, give Carpet To Go a call today.

3 Best Ways to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring

We can divide vinyl plank flooring cleaning into three categories: daily cleaning, weekly cleaning, and disaster cleaning. 

1. Daily Maintenance

Give your vinyl plank floors a light sweep every day to keep dust and dirt at a minimum. 

While vinyl plank floors look great even if a couple of days go by between sweeping sessions, you don’t want to go too long without sweeping as dirt particles can damage your floors. 

When combined with foot traffic, tiny dirt particles work like sandpaper over time, removing the glossy finish of your vinyl plank flooring and resulting in a lackluster, dull finish. 

2. Weekly Mopping

To keep your vinyl plank flooring looking fresh, you should give it a weekly mopping to ensure that no dust remains on the surface. 

To mop your vinyl plank floor, take a bucket and mix together some warm water with dish soap. Grab your mop, get your floors damp, and mop away!

3. Disaster Cleaning

Thankfully, vinyl plank flooring is highly water and stain-resistant. This means that anything spilled on it (coffee, pet urine, food, etc.) will likely not cause any lasting damage to your floor. 

If your pet has urinated on your vinyl flooring, absorb all of the moisture with a cleaning rag or paper towels before putting a cleaner on it. You can use dish soap or a vinegar solution to clean the spot where your pet has urinated. 

Pro tip: using a citrus-infused cleaner or vinegar will eliminate the odor and will help prevent your pet from urinating in the same spot in the future.

How To Care For Vinyl Plank Flooring

Here are five ways that you can improve the longevity of your vinyl flooring: 

1. Don’t put heavy objects on your vinyl flooring. Heavy objects or furniture on your vinyl plank flooring can cause dents or tears in your floor. These dents and tears are not only unsightly, but they are also very difficult to repair.
2. Place a rug beneath the furniture. If you need to place heavy furniture in a room with vinyl plank flooring, make sure that you put a thick rug underneath each furniture item to prevent the furniture from making indentations in the floor.
3. Limit sunlight exposure. Direct sunlight over long periods of time may cause your vinyl plank flooring to fade. To avoid discoloration, have curtains or blinds installed in your home and keep them closed when your home is in direct sunlight.
4. Always lift — never drag. If you are moving furniture around in a room with vinyl plank floors, take care to always lift the furniture. Never drag or slide furniture pieces across the floor as this could scratch or tear your vinyl plank flooring.
5. Place rugs in entryways. If your vinyl plank flooring is in an entryway or hallway, make sure that you have rugs in place to catch outside dirt and grime. Since dirt can wear down the finish of your vinyl plank flooring, it’s important to make sure that entryways are equipped with rugs to prevent dirt tracking over your vinyl floors.

Need Vinyl Flooring Installation?

Looking for quality vinyl plank flooring installation? We’ve got you covered! Here at Carpet To Go, we have a team of vinyl plank flooring installers that’s ready to help you renovate your floors. 

Our team of vinyl plank flooring experts would be happy to answer your questions, help you find the best vinyl flooring for your home, or create a custom quote for your renovation. 

To learn more about our selection of vinyl plank floors or installation services, give us a call today. 

Flooring installation is one of those DIY projects that can be a fun, household undertaking, or a drawn-out nightmare.

To keep your vinyl plank flooring project from turning into a nightmare, the flooring experts at Carpet To Go have assembled this easy guide to show you how to install vinyl plank flooring.

If you have been considering having vinyl plank flooring installed in your home and want to learn how to install it yourself, continue reading or give Carpet To Go a call to speak with a professional installer.

How To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring

Here is our advice on how to install plank vinyl flooring in your home. If you have any questions about how to install vinyl plank flooring or would like to speak with a professional vinyl plank installer, contact Carpet To Go today. 

Prepare For the Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation

Here are four things you can do to prepare your floor for vinyl plank flooring installation:

1. Remove the trim from the walls.
2. Clear and clean the room. Remove any furniture in the room and dust and sweep the subfloor.
3. If you’re wondering how to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete, the process is similar, but make sure that you have a concrete leveler to even out the bumps.
4. If you are installing vinyl plank flooring over a wood subfloor, make sure that you have on hand a self-leveling compound to create an even surface for installation.   

Tools Needed To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring

As with any DIY flooring installation undertaking, first, you should gather the necessary tools to complete the installation.

Here are the 10 tools you will need to install vinyl plank flooring in your home:

1. A sander
2. Tape measure
3. Utility knife
4. Carpenter’s square
5. Flat pry bar
6. Straightedge 
7. Pliers
8. A saw (preferably a fine-tooth saw)
9. Vinyl plank flooring of your choice
10. Spacers (¼ inch ones will do)

Steps For Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring

After you’ve gathered the tools for installing your vinyl plank flooring, follow these eight steps for a successful installation:

1. Measure your room. 
2. Plan the layout of your vinyl plank floor
3. Remove any trim on the walls.
4. Prepare your floor by sanding and checking to make sure it’s level before you begin the installation.
5. Do a test run and lay your vinyl plank over the subfloor.
6. Cut your vinyl planks to the correct lengths.
7. Lay your vinyl plank flooring.
8. Enjoy your fresh vinyl plank floors!

Tip: Wondering how to install vinyl plank flooring over tile or concrete? You will need to use a floor leveling compound. This ensures that the subfloor is completely level before you start installing your vinyl plank flooring over the top.

How To Install Glue Down Vinyl Plank Flooring

In order to install glue down vinyl plank flooring you will need:

• A tape measure
• A utility knife
• A nail gun
• An adhesive 
• A roller
• Trowel 
• Nails 

Follow these five steps when installing glue down vinyl plank flooring:

1. Measure your room and purchase the correct amount of vinyl plank flooring.
2. Prepare your subfloor by ensuring that it’s even before starting the installation.
3. Apply adhesive to the subfloor and use the trowel to evenly spread it.
4. Lay your vinyl plank flooring on the adhesive. 
5. Press down firmly to ensure that your vinyl plank comes into contact with the adhesive.

How To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring on Stairs

Installing vinyl plank flooring on stairs is a more difficult DIY project. Our floor specialists at Carpet To Go recommend that you hire a vinyl plank flooring installation service to install vinyl flooring on stairs.

There are a lot more factors at play when you’re installing vinyl plank flooring over an uneven surface than there are when you’re working with a completely flat room. You should consult a professional vinyl plank flooring installation service before beginning your installation on the stairs.

If you have any questions about how to install vinyl plank flooring on stairs, give Carpet To Go a call today.

Hire a Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation Service Today

If you would like to hire a vinyl plank flooring installation service to take care of your re-flooring project for you, give us a call.

At Carpet To Go, we have a team of vinyl plank flooring installation specialists that is ready to help you with your flooring project.

We understand that not every homeowner has time to do their own vinyl plank flooring installation and we wish to provide you with the services you need so that you have one less thing to worry about.

If you would like to learn more about our selection of vinyl plank flooring or get an estimate for your installation, give Carpet To Go a call today.