Reclaimed Hardwood look for less....

Crested Butte Rustic Hardwood Flooring Project

Rustic look for Crested Butte, Co. Remodel

This home located South of Crested Butte Colorado was a complete

gut and remodel. The home was a foreclosure property purchased as a

vacation home for two families. It became a much bigger and more

expensive project then initially anticipated. By the time the homeowners got

to the flooring stage funds were tight. They had originally selected a

reclaimed oak flooring but at $15 a square foot it was just too expensive.

Us Floors Direct came to the rescue with a Radial Sawn Douglas Fir at less

then a third of the cost. The expert team of installers did an excellent job

working with the designer to achieve a custom stain color that was just

right. The homeowners were able to achieve the rustic old world look they

were going for at a price they could afford.

Preventative maintenance is key in extending the life of your hardwood floor.  If you can follow these five simple rules you can easily lengthen the period of time between refinishes.

1. Put glides on furniture legs. They allow furniture to be moved easily without harming the floor.

a. Clean the glides regularly since dirt can become implanted in them

b. Some furniture may require casters-use roller casters as opposed to ball type casters which can cause damage to the floor. Non-marking gray rubber casters work best. Avoid casters made of metal or hard plastic.

2. Keep dirt, dust & moisture off of the floor

a. Vacuum and/or sweep regularly. Small stones, dirt and mud tracked in can dull and damage the finish over time.

b. Clean up spills immediately. Use a cloth to clean and dry the area. If water is allowed to sit on the area too long it can cause warping.

c. Mop floors at least every other week. Do not wet mop! There are many options of cleaners on the market. One recommended product is Bona’s Hardwood Cleaner. It is pH balanced, non-toxic, biodegradable, and leaves no dulling or sticky residue behind. Comes in a spray bottle and a mop with cleaning pads or a spray/mop combo.

d. Use throw rugs or walk-off mats at all entry doors, all high traffic areas and high spill locations such as sinks, stoves and refrigerators.

3. Protect your floor from UV Rays

a. Direct sunlight can cause your wood floor to change color or fade. This is caused by Ultra Violet light which speeds up the oxidation in your finishes and chemicals in the wood.

b. Wood will change colors over time, but to slow the oxidation and aging of your wood it is suggested to occasionally rearrange your furniture (including rugs) and close curtains during periods of intense sunlight.

c. UV Window Film is also helpful to have on your home windows to protect not just your hardwood floors from fading but your other valuables like furniture & artwork.

4. Control Humidity Levels by using a dehumidifier or humidifier (depending on your location’s need)

a. Seasonal gapping is inevitable. It is normal in the winter, when homes are heated and the air is dry, wood looses some of its moisture and which causes it to shrink and thin cracks appear. Once the indoor heat is turned off, the indoor environment regains moisture, and most of the cracks will disappear. With a humidifier/dehumidifier you can better control the moisture content in your home year round to lessen the effects of seasonal gapping.

5. Refinish your wood floors every 5-10 years.

a. Most consumers will want to refinish when their floors are scratched more than they can handle, have worn or bare spots in the finish or if they would like a new color or sheen. This can allow your floor to look brand new at a fraction of the cost it would have been to actually put a new floor in.

Radiant Heat Floors

One of the most luxurious things you can do in your home is add in-floor heating to your tile or hardwood. Radiant heating systems make hard surfaces much more comfortable to walk across and can actually warm your home.  In floor heat, or warm wire, can warm your flooring up to 15 degrees higher than it would be normally.

We've installed radiant heat under almost every type of surface, and for every kind of room.  We've used radiant floor heating for tile floors in bathrooms, stone floors in kitchens, and hardwood floors in family rooms and hallways.  We've even installed it under existing floors (we had access to the joists under the floor in the unfinished basement).

Radiant Heat or Hydronic

Hydronic radiant systems are most often installed in Whole House applications in New Construction, not remodels.  Preparations must be taken to leave space in the floor (up to 1-1/2″) for the tubes.  Hydronic systems use a Boiler, pumps, manifolds, valves, an expansion tank.  Never mind the mechanical room needed to house this equipment. Radiant heat warm wire or mats are used most often in small remodel environments (less than 1,500sf) and are simpler than hydronic, takes up less space, goes in faster and for smaller areas, the per square foot cost is much lower. Once the system is installed, your floors will feel wonderful regardless of the approach you choose.

We would be happy to answer all your questions about radiant heat or heating under floors.  Call us today!

(719) 391-9319

How to Measure for Carpet

Carpet measuring basics

When measuring a room for carpet it is important to remember that most residential carpet comes in twelve (12) foot wide rolls.  These rolls may be laid parallel to each other and seamed together using carpet seam tape and a seaming iron.  Carpet rolls should seldom, if ever, be laid perpendicular to each other.  The weave pattern does not match if one roll of carpet is installed adjacent to another roll of carpet which lies 45, 90, 135, or180 degrees relative to the first roll.  For example, if the carpet is unrolled toward the north, any rooms which directly seam up to the first drop must roll out toward the north as well.  Carpet drops in rooms which are separated by stairs or other flooring material are excluded from these rules.

Quick Tips:

• Most carpet is manufactured in 12 feet wide rolls.

• There will be material waste (remnant carpet) in a room is less than 12 ft wide.

• You must account for seams when a room is wider than 12 feet.

• All carpet in connecting rooms must run in the same direction.

This diagram does not need to be exact.  Sketch out the rooms using a straight edge.  Try to be fairly accurate with your proportions, but don’t worry if they aren’t perfect.  Label each room and write in the dimensions.  Label rooms that are not getting carpet or that are getting some other flooring material.  Notice the grey shaded areas are labeled “tile.”

Remember that the direction of the carpet drops needs to remain consistent when installed in connecting rooms.  No matter which direction you decide is best, always write measurements as width then length.

As you physically measure the room, record the measurements on an organized drop sheet.  Use the same drop sheet layout as is shown below in the example.  Drop sheets may be hand written.

Make sure to cover all your fills.  Begin by checking remnant sizes.  Since the 2x15 remnant is not wide enough to cover any fills, another drop is necessary.  Create another drop (#5) large enough to cover all fills.

Next find the sum of the lengths of all the drops (20+17+15+16+17=85).  This means we will need a roll of carpet that is twelve (12) feet wide by eighty-five (85) feet long. Multiply the width of the carpet roll by the length (12 X 85 = 1020) to get the square footage of the carpet roll needed.  Because there are nine (9) square feet in one yard, divide the square footage of the carpet by nine (1020 ÷ 9 = 133.3333) to get the total square yardage needed and round to the nearest hundredth.  For the above layout, we will need 133.33 yards of carpet.

For this room we will use 2 drops, one 12x15, the other 12x15 with a 3x15 remnant

For this room we will have 2 drops, each 12x15 with no fills or remnants.

This room requires two drops of 12x15 with two separate remnants.  Either one of 2x11 and one of 7x4, or one of 2x15 and one of 5x4.

This room requires a drop of 12x16 and a fill of 3x7.  Notice how the width is always recorded first.

Carpet Measuring Photos

This layout requires 2 drops and a fill.  Be sure to figure on running the carpet the same direction in all connecting rooms.

The exact measurement of the carpeted area in the above photo is 7 feet, 2 inches.  When measuring, always round up to the nearest 3 inch increment.  When measuring carpet, add an additional 3 inches onto the end of each measurement.  That would mean that this measurement would be recorded as seven feet six inches or 7’6” (7’2” rounded to the nearest increment of 3” = 7’3” plus an additional 3” for carpet = 7’6”).

In the above photo the measurement or the carpeted area is exactly 7 feet.  Because 7 feet is the same as 84 inches (which is a multiple of 3”) no additional rounding is required.  Add the additional 3 inches that is added onto all carpet measurements.  Record this measurement as 7’3”.

The actual width of the stairway is 3’6”.  This is a multiple of 3” so no additional rounding is needed.  Add 3” to the measurement for a width of 3’9”.

Measure the tread and riser length together, as shown in the above photo.  The length of one tread plus one riser is 1’6”.  Add 3” for a length of 1’9”.  Take the measurement of the width of the stairs by the measurement of the length of one step (tread plus riser) and record them together i.e. 3’9”x 1’9”.  Count the number of risers and write it as 3’9”x 1’9”x 15 (15 risers @ 3’9”x 1’9” each).  Multiply the number of risers by the length of each step by converting the measurement into a decimal (1’9” can be written as 1.75 Therefore 1.75 x 15risers = 26.25).  This means you will need a fill of 3’9”x 26’3” to cover the staircase.  The above staircase is a custom stair case built on site with no runners.  If your stair case has runners, you will need to add 1 foot by the length of the runner.

Luxury Flooring

Travertine, Custom Mosaic Tile, Handcrafted Hardwood, Pattern Theater Carpet

The video below shows a home, located in Flying Horse Ranch in Colorado Springs,  that US Floors worked on from beginning to end. We worked on the design, budget, supply, and installation of the flooring and tile. Our master craftsman are not satisfied with substandard work.  Our installers are some of the best tile, hardwood, and carpet installers we could find in the state of Colorado, and we're proud of them! See for yourself.

This home is a wonderful example of how beautiful natural products are in a home. You can see how warm and elegant the hardwood and travertine tile are in this home. US Floors Direct can replicate the look of this travertine and custom hardwood in your home for less money than you think! Call us today. We would be happy to give you an estimate to prove just how far we can stretch your dollar.

Continuous Filament Nylon Fiber

BCF/CFN vs. Staple Fiber

When it comes to durability, there is little difference between bulked continuous filament (BCF) or continuous filament nylon (CFN) and staple (spun) fibers in your carpet. The difference lies in the length of the fibers in the carpet yarn, with staple having shorter lengths, giving the yarn more bulk (sometimes described as being more like wool).

Generally speaking, carpet made with BCF or CFN is more expensive than carpet manufactured using staple yarns.  When carpet is manufactured with staple fiber (short fiber), there will be initial shedding of shorter fibers. It will soon stop, depending on the amount of foot traffic and frequency of vacuuming. Staple yarn carpet will need to be vacuumed in order to remove built up tufts of loose fibers that often accumulate on top of the carpet.  These can be unsightly and annoying, but again, they will eventually subside.  Wool is a natural staple fiber; nylon and polyester can be staple or continuous filament; and olefin (polypropylene) is usually BCF.  Carpet yarns made with Bulk Continuous Filament Nylon does not shed.

Carpet Cushion (Carpet Pad)

According to CRI, carpet cushion is “any kind of material placed under carpet to provide softness and adequate support when it is walked upon. Carpet cushion provides a softer feel underfoot and provides added acoustical and insulation benefits and longer wear life for the carpet. In some cases, the carpet cushion is attached to the carpet when it is manufactured. Cushion is also referred to as “padding” or “underlay,” although “cushion” is the preferred term. Cushion under most residential carpet should be a thickness of no greater than 7/16" and no less than 1/4" with 6 pound per cubic feet density. If the carpet is a Berber or a low profile carpet, choose a cushion of no more than 3/8" thickness with 8 pounds of density.”

Foam Cushion

Foam cushion comes in three distinct varieties:

• Prime- polyurethane foam is a more firm variety of the same cushion foam used in furniture, mattresses, and car seats. Two liquid ingredients are combined to form a large mass of foam, which is then sliced into sheets for use as carpet cushion.  Unlike the uniformly shaped foam cells found in conventional prime cushioning, certain Grafted Prime products have irregularly shaped foam cells. Other Grafted Prime products have very small, uniformly shaped foam cells.  Both types of grafted prime carpet cushion products are capable of providing a distinctive feel under foot.  Densified Prime is created by limiting the foam rising action through the use of mechanical or chemical technologies.  As vertical compression is limited by the oriented cell thickness, at a specified firmness, thickness, and density, there may be less "give" on impact than with conventional or grafted prime products.
• Bonded- polyurethane foam (often called rebond) is quite unique. You cannot mistake it when you see it, because it is formed by combining chopped and shredded pieces of foam, in different sizes and usually different colors, into one solid piece. It frequently has a surface net for ease of installation and improved performance.  Bonded foam is one of the most amazing recycling projects of all time. Nearly all the scrap foam in the U.S., and some from other countries as well, is utilized to make bonded cushion. This recycles waste, which would otherwise be thrown out, and it eases the strain on our landfills. Moreover, bonded foam is itself recyclable. The price of rebond cushion goes up and down depending on the availability of foam scrap. It is going to be difficult to predict what the price will be in just a few months.
• Froth- polyurethane foam is made with carpet backing machinery. Liquid ingredients are applied, either directly to the backs of some carpet styles, or to a non-woven material (for making separate cushion). They react and form thin, dense foam which is particularly useful in commercial applications with wide expanses of carpet.  Certain types of Frothed Polyurethane pad may double the manufacturer’s warranty (as with Shaw’s Indulgence MFCB cushion).

Rubber Cushion

There are two basic types of sponge rubber carpet cushion:

• Waffled (or Rippled) - Waffled rubber cushion is made by molding natural or synthetic rubber. Heat cures the rubber and forms a waffle pattern. This variety produces a soft, resilient cushion whose luxurious feel is particularly useful for residences.
• Flat - sponge rubber is a firm, dense cushion, which has a flat surface and is normally used in large-scale commercial applications and with loop type (or Berber) carpet.

Rubber cushion manufacturing processes can be varied to produce different levels of density and firmness. The usual measurement is the weight in ounces per square yard.

Fiber

Foam and rubber cushions are produced from new and recycled materials. Fiber cushion, on the other hand, uses existing fibers (both virgin and recycled, and either natural or man-made fibers), which are interlocked into a useful sheet of felt. There are two distinct varieties of fiber cushion:

• Natural - fibers include felt, animal hair, and jute (the material used to make some kinds of rope and heavy burlap bags). This is one of the oldest types of carpet cushion, dating back to the earliest days of machine-made carpet.
• Synthetic - fibers include nylon, polyester, polypropylene, and acrylics, which are needle-punched into relatively dense cushions which have a firm feel and, as with other types of cushion, can be made in virtually any weight, to stand up under light, medium, or heavy traffic, which is how they are usually classified.

For recommendations on the best application of each type of carpet pad or cushion or pricing, call US Floors Direct, Inc.

(719) 325-7539

Responsible Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is one of our favorite things in the whole world.  The beauty, timeless appeal, visual warmth, and durability makes it a great choice in almost any setting. The problem we run into when dealing with hardwood companies, is the environmental impact that logging has on the forests.

Eucalyptus Wood

One of the products that we believe in is called Lyptus, a eucalyptus product.  This product comes from a partnership between Weyerhaeuser, Fibria, Cerflor, and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).  Lyptus features a rich grain that is versatile enough to take a wide range of stains and finishes – for a lighter or darker look to complement nearly every décor.  Best of all, Lyptus hardwood flooring is competitively priced and comes from non-tropical, certified plantations from fast-growing eucalyptus trees that are ready to be harvested within 14 to 16 years of planting.  In contrast, tees in temperate forests may take 80 to 100 years or more to mature.

Fast Growing and Sustainable

As previously stated, Eucalyptus trees grow quickly and can be harvested within 14-16 years of planting.  In addition to this quick turn around, these plantation trees are manually pruned during their growing years, ensuring that the logs coming into the mill are uniform and have few knots.  This results in a high conversion rate of logs to clear lumber, minimizing waste.  Weyerhaeuser mills use virtually every portion of the log, converting it to lumber and other usable by-products (residuals are used as bio-energy for the kiln drying operations).

One acre of planted eucalyptus can produce about the same volume of wood as 30 acres of native forest, which means that, for every acre of forest that Fibria plants, 30 acres of native forest are preserved.  On top of that, Fibria works to introduce original species, native to the area over 100 years ago, back into the ecosystem in South America.

Lyptus® Flooring Products

Lyptus solid hardwood flooring is harder than oak, less expensive than walnut, and as beautiful as Brazilian cherry. Available unfinished or in six pre-finished colors, it complements the most stylish interiors.  Its tongue-and-groove construction, natural hardness, and aluminum-oxide finish yield long-standing durability, while its low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) levels makes it a healthier choice for your household than many other flooring options.

Lyptus is also available in 3 ¼" and 5” wide engineered flooring –perfect to withstand the moisture changes of the dry Colorado air.

For more information or to get a quote on Lyptus® Flooring Products

Call US Floors Direct, Inc. at (719) 325-7539

Green Flooring

Is it really good for the environment?

It seems like there is a new "green" flooring product released every week!  From recycled to sustainable, from hardwoods to manufactured goods; How do we know if they really are good for the environment?  (For our recommendations of products that are good for the environment in a tangible way, see "environment")

Hardwood

Bamboo and cork are all the rage.  Bamboo is much more durable, especially strand bamboo, and it grows to maturity at a fraction of the time!  But, it's harvested in China and transported across Asia using outdated engines with horrible gas mileage and terrible emissions.  Then, it has to be transported across the world on a cargo ship, many of which also have poor environmental standards (see also Hardwood Flooring Blog).  Cork flooring is harvested in Portugal.  Granted, it is mostly harvested and processed by hand, but it still has to be shipped.  Reclaimed lumber and sustainable logging projects are still our best bet for being good stewards over the environment.

Carpet

Carpet manufacturers have been using recycled materials to make carpets for years.  One example is carpet made from 100% post-consumer recycled food and drink containers (made with top quality PET, aka polyethylene terephthalate or PET Polyester Carpet, resins as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration).  The downside is that PET Polyester is only good for medium-traffic applications, at best.   Shaw's Anso Nylon Carpet fibers contain recycled nylon and are recyclable.  To my knowledge, this is the only recycled nyloln.  Shaw claims that there is no difference in look, texture, or durability.  It's still too new to tell so,  nn my opinion, the the jury is still out.

Final Thoughts

When shopping for green products, it's best to pay close attention to how the product is made, how far it is shipped, and how long it will last.  We can learn a valuable lesson from the propaganda surrounding the Toyota Prius a few years ago.  Even though it gets great gas mileage, the environmental impact that the manufacturing process inflicted on the earth made it less environmentally friendly (when you add up the costs from production to disposal) than a Hummer H3.  Compact Fluorescent Lamps aren't as good for the environment as the government wants us to believe, either.

It turns out, "Green" is not as cut and dry of a concept as we all hoped it would be.  (See also: commentary on the environment by William Baldwin of Forbes)

For our recommendations of products that are good for the environment in a tangible way, see "environment")

How often should I replace my carpet?

A question I am often asked is “how often should I replace my carpet?”  Not to be too facetious but I like to pose the question back, “how often should you replace your favorite shirt?”  Although it’s not exactly a perfect parallel, it is important to realize that carpet is a type of textile and, therefore, has similarities with your favorite shirt.  The follow are a few things to consider when deciding whether or not it is time for some new carpet.

Carpet Stains or soil that will not come out.

Although stain removal technology has come a long way in recent years, certain substances can permanently attach themselves to the carpet fiber leaving a stain.  Professional cleaning can often resolve stain problems but depending on your carpet’s color and the color of the stain, it can really be an embarrassing eye sore.

Carpet Color Fading in Colorado

Outdated Carpet: Style and/or Color

Pet Damage or Odor

Carpet Quality Factors

What to look for when shopping for a quality carpet.

Yarn Material

As discussed in a previous article about carpet fibers, nylon is considered to be the most versatile carpet fiber.  However, your fiber choice might change depending on the application.  For example, if you are less concerned about the damage a carpet will receive due to traffic and more concerned about stains, polyester may be the better choice. You might also consider polyester if you are concerned about a carpet growing mold in an area that may be exposed to prolonged moisture (i.e. a porch) or you have a limited budget.  If you are looking for a carpet that will remain attractive for more than a decade, wool is a fantastic choice.

Yarn Twist

Heat setting is the term used to describe a thermal process, either a steam or a dry heat process, which gives fibers and yarns dimensional stability.  We like to refer to the heat set twist as the backbone of a the carpet pile. Heat setting works well with staple yarns and bulked continuous filament (BCF) yarns.  Generally speaking, the more twists per inch, the higher quality the carpet.

Carpet Backing and Density

Density, along with twist and yarn type, will also determine how well a carpet endures wear from surface abrasion (wear and tear from walking on the carpet).  Density is measured at the carpet backing, not on the surface of the pile.  A poorly twisted carpet tuft may appear to be thick and full on the surface, but when you dig your fingers in you can feel how sparse the tufts really are.  When examining the backing, look for the nice white color of the silicon sealants and adhesives.  Low quality adhesives can be grey or brownish.

Carpet Texture and Style

Style not only determines the look of the carpet, it also has a lot to do with how well it performs.  A shaggy frizee berber carpet,which is very popular in Colorado, does a great job of hiding lint, foot prints, vacuum tracks, and dirt or stains.  A short, dense loop-pile carpet will perform extremely well in high traffic areas.  Formal plush and saxony carpets look great in a living room or sitting area, but are not very forgiving.  Plushes and saxony carpets tend to show all vacuum tracks, foot prints, dirt, stains, and will "ugly out" more quickly in high traffic areas.

US Floors likes to empower our customers.

We'll give you the information you need to make an educated decision about what products will best fit your home.

Call us today for a free in-home estimate.    (719) 391-9319

Vegas Carpets

Ugly Vegas Carpets Want You to Keep Playing

via www.wired.com/blogs - September 3, 2010

Mathematician-philosopher Alfred North Whitehead once said, “It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious.” This certainly rings true with Chris Maluszynski’s Las Vegas Carpets series, whose name explains it all. The photos draw out the psychology of Las Vegas through the simple observation of carpet.

Years ago, while in Las Vegas covering the World Series of Poker, Maluszynski found himself as enraptured by  the drama unfolding below the tables as above them. Originally from Sweden, now based in New York,  Maluszynski spent four years roaming Sin City’s kaleidoscopic corridors with his camera.

“The carpets definitely play a big part in keeping the town as surreal as it is,” said Maluszynski by e-mail. “  "Thought has been given to the carpeting by people who want to create this special atmosphere, [one] that  defines Vegas as a gambling city.”

That’s a theory backed up by Dave Schwartz, Director of the Center for Gaming Research, at the University of  Nevada Las Vegas. Schwartz theorizes that “casino carpet is known as an exercise in deliberate bad taste that  somehow encourages people to gamble.”

Schwartz also points out that the busy carpets are not without design: There are floral designs at Mandalay  Palace, abstract pointillist floors at Paris and, at Caesars Palace, the wheel – the Roman symbol of the “relentless  capriciousness of fortune.”

As he trod the psychedelic multilevel-loop carpets of Vegas, Masulynzski’s thoughts flashed back to the Vegas experienced and described by Hunter S. Thompson: “You’re in a prison of sensory impressions. I was trying to rest my eyes, and I looked at the carpet and thought, Shoot, I can’t do it there, either,” Maluszynski recently told The New Yorker.

Vegas isn’t all obvious ornament however; Maluszynski did manage to find refuge, “There is actually a surprising number of galleries in Vegas where great art can be found. Wynn’s art collection is impressive.”

Maluszynski exhibited Las Vegas Carpets in April and has no intentions to return to the series. However, he continues to explore his interest in, and expand his collection of “odd patterns that define particular places.” Maluszynski plans to point his lens at another smothering of American kitsch: “I have started shooting motel bedspreads; it’s a great excuse to go road-tripping.”

All Images @Chris Maluszynski/MOMENT.

Nylon Carpet Fiber

At US Floors, we believe their are several factors that determine a carpet's overall quality: Fiber, Style, Yarn Twist, Backing, and Pile Density.  In this brief article, I will be discussing carpet fibers with an emphasis on Nylon.

99% of all carpet in the United States is made from synthetic materials.  The most common are Nylon, Polyester, Olefin (polypropylene), PTT (Polytrimethylene Terephthalate) and Acrylic.  Nylon is by far the most popular and, in my opinion, the most versatile.  Nylon wears fairly well, which means it is resistant to abrasion and overall wear and tear.  When it is shampooed or cleaned, it seems to bounce back and look almost like new.  It is not inherently stain resistant like polyester, but it can be effective at resisting stains when anti-stain treatments are applied.  The most popular treatments are Scotchgard®, Stainmaster®, Teflon®, and R2X®, and they can either be applied, during or after the manufacturing process.  It is also important to discuss the varying quality factors of the two types of Nylon; Type 6 Nylon, and Type 6-6 Nylon.

Type 6 Nylon

Type 6 Nylon is identified as 100% Nylon, BCF Nylon, or CFN Nylon.  It has an open molecular structure, which means it receives dye stuffs more readily.  This also means that it receives dirt and stains more readily.  The most obvious features are that it is less soft and less expensive than type 6-6.

Type 6-6 Nylon

Type 6-6 Nylon is manufactured by the two major yarn companies Stainmaster® (Tactesse®) and Wear-Dated® (DuraSoft®, ThermaSealed®, and Traffic Conto®l).  Type 6-6 has a smaller, tighter molecular structure.  This makes it more difficult to dye. However, once dyed, Type 6-6 Nylon is more colorfast, more dirt resistant, and much more stain resistant than Type 6.  It is also more soft to the touch.  These enhanced features make it a more durable, longer lasting carpet fiber.  This means it is also more expensive.  While the other types of carpet fibers have their strengths, US Floors Direct almost always recommends Nylon, particularly Type 6-6.

Have more questions about which Carpet Fiber is right for your home?  Call us!

We'll get you in touch with one of our friendly flooring specialists.

(719) 391-9319

Ask about our current flooring specials and sales.

Colorado Springs: Housing Market in Okay Shape

According to Hanley Wood, the Colorado Springs Housing Market is in a better position to bounce back from the recession than other communities.   This outlook is based on job growth and building permits pulled.   "Colorado Springs sets up well to recover more strongly,” said Jay Peterson, Hanley Wood’s regional director in Denver. The Hanley Wood forecast was presented recently to the Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs.

What does this mean for homeowners who have been unable to sell their home?  Keep it updated.  You want to be ready to sell when it comes time to list your house on the market.  Don't wait till the last minute.

You can increase the value of your home, especially by upgrading the kitchen and bathrooms.  Give us a call to find out how easy it can be to give your home added value.  (719) 391-9319

Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile

We get these questions all the time:

1. Why do we refer to certain tiles as porcelain and others ceramic?
2. Aren't porcelain tiles a type of ceramic tile?
3. Which kind of tile is better: Porcelain or Ceramic?

The short answer is that a porcelain tile is a type of high quality ceramic.  Porcelain tiles are more pure and refined and usually have a higher resistance to stains and freezing temperatures.  When we say "ceramic tile," what we mean is that the tile is a non-porcelain ceramic.  More confused than you were before?

Porcelain Tile: The Bottom Line

Porcelain tile is more durable and of a higher quality than other ceramics.  Porcelain is typically fired at a much higher temperature than regular ceramic tile, which makes it much harder and more dense.  It's great for use on the floor, even in high traffic areas.  Simply put, it is a more versatile and higher quality product.  However, because it's more resilient, it's more expensive.

Ceramic Tile: The Bottom Line

Ceramic is a non-porcelain fired tile.  Ceramic tile is typically used in very low traffic areas, such as a residential bathroom or on counter tops, backsplashes, and showers.  Ceramic tile is derived from a variety of clay, porcelain, sand, and natural mineral mixtures.

Have more questions?

If you live in Colorado and are interested in more information on which tile is best for you, call us!

We'll get you in touch with one of our friendly flooring specialists.

(719) 391-9319

Ask about our current flooring specials and sales.

Laminate Flooring: What is it good for?

Laminate flooring has many practical applications.  It is typically made from synthetic materials, such as melamine resin, or from recycled composite materials in multiple laminated layers.  It is most often manufactured to have the look of hardwood, tile, or natural stone, but sold at a lower cost.  So, what is it that REALLY sets laminates apart from other flooring options?

Laminates are Strong

Laminate flooring is incredibly resilient and durable. The aluminum oxide finish commonly used on the surface of laminate planks is extremely hard.  I have seen a handyman drop a hammer on a freshly-laid laminate floor.  The terror on his face was priceless!  But to his relief, he could not find so much as a dent when he bent over to retrieve his hammer.

The hard finish on Laminate floors performs well against pets, children, office chair casters, and heavy traffic in general.  The finish is UV resistant, which means it will not bleach or fade in the sunlight.

Laminates are Easy

Easy to prep for, easy to install, easy to clean and maintain, and easy to remove and replace.  Laminates are often installed as a floating floor, which means they are not fastened to the subfloor, but merely snapped together. This makes it easy for do-it-yourselfers to install it without a lot of construction experience.  The everyday cleaning and maintenance is also simple.  For most laminate floors, a simple dust mop once a day is all that is needed.  In kitchens and bathrooms the floor can be mopped much like tile or vinyl.

Additional Pros and some Cons

As mentioned before, high quality laminates are often less expensive and easier to install than hardwood or tile. They can often perform better over radiant heat than solid wood floors and usually require less maintenance (no re-sanding and finishing every 5-10 years).  They also perform relatively well in wet areas, although they are not considered to be waterproof.  So, why doesn't everyone buy laminate?  1. They can be noisy; when walked across, they create a distinct clicking sound that is undesirable (special padding installed under the floor can reduce this noise significantly).  2. Upon closer inspection, one can often tell that the floor is man made and not a natural product. 3. When damaged, they can be much more difficult to repair than a wood or tile floor.  While repair kits are available, they are often hard to find and seldom hide the damage completely.

Have more questions?

If you live in Colorado and are interested in more information on laminate flooring, call us!

We'll get you in touch with one of our friendly flooring specialists.

(719) 391-9319

Ask about our current flooring specials and sales.

Wood Flooring

What is wood flooring?  Well, that's a broad term.  Wood flooring is hardwood, softwood, laminate, engineered, pre-finished, or unfinished wood flooring.

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is any type of deciduous, or broadleaved, wood flooring.  These wood species are usually harder than their coniferous, or evergreen, relatives.  Examples of hardwood are Oak, Walnut, Cherry, Hickory, Birch, Elm, etc.  Deciduous trees produce a more durable and dimensionally stable floor.  Solid hardwood floors can be installed in a variety of situations with a variety of stains and finishes.  We will discuss wood finish in a future blog post.

Softwood

The term softwood designates wood from conifers or gymnosperm trees (plants having seeds with no covering). Examples of the softwood trees are Pine, Spruce, Cedar, Fir, Larch, Douglas-Fir, Hemlock, Cypress, Redwood, and Yew. There are about one-hundred times as many hardwood species as softwoods.  Flooring is not often made with softwood lumber.

Engineered Wood

Engineered Hardwood is made up of several layers of pressed wood.  The layers are pressed with the grain running in alternating directions. It is much more dimensionally stable than traditional solid wood floors.  In other words, it is more resistant to expansion and shrinkage due to changes in relative humidity.  Engineered wood is great for installation below grade (below ground level) or in areas with a lot of moisture (bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms) or areas with very little moisture (Colorado!).

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is a synthetic or composite recycled material with a layer of aluminum oxide finish on top.  Laminate flooring is made to look like natural products, such as wood flooring or natural stone.  Most laminate flooring is essentially a photograph of wood sealed with a plastic coating. Laminates are often much harder and more durable than 100% natural wood products.

Bamboo

Though bamboo makes a durable floor, it is neither a hardwood or softwood.  In fact, bamboo is not a tree at all, but a grass.  Bamboo is becoming increasingly more popular due to its perceived benefits to the environment.  Special precautions must be taken when installing bamboo in Colorado.

Cork

Cork flooring is manufactured from the bark of the evergreen Cork Oak tree. The hardness of cork is rarely discussed because it is starkly different from other wood and laminate flooring materials. Its Janka rating is 200, but that doesn't accurately reflect its durability. Because cork is soft, it is often thought of as being a low quality flooring option, however, cork has an uncanny ability to “heal” when dented or torn.

We'd love to help you select the right Wood Floor for your home!

Call US Floors Direct today for a flooring estimate!

(719) 391-9319

Ask about our current specials

Hardwood and Moisture

Most problems with hardwood flooring are related to changes in the moisture content of flooring and surrounding wood products. When moisture changes are severe, the result can be gaps between strips, cupping, buckling, movement, cracks, or splits in the wood.  Often, combinations of these symptoms occur at the same time.


Homeowners should be aware of, and educated on, the following items to ensure that the floor performs to its maximum potential:

1. The expected moisture content of wood flooring in a particular area after acclimation
2. The moisture content of flooring both at time of delivery and installation
3. The moisture content of flooring system and moisture conditions at the jobsite (i.e. moisture in subfloor)
4. The type of HVAC system and how often it will run
5. Construction factors which influence moisture content of adjacent materials such as masonry, drywall, and/or the location of the floor in relation to the ground level outside the home
6. How variations in climate effect relative humidity and, therefore, moisture content of wood.

Shrinkage/Expansion

Wood is a hygroscopic material. This means when wood is exposed to air; it will dry or pick up moisture until it is in equilibrium with the humidity and temperature of the air. Moisture absorption causes wood to swell and desorption causes it to shrink. Shrinkage of wood begins at 25-30% moisture content (the fiber saturation point) and continues until wood reaches 0% moisture content (oven dry state). Conversely, swelling occurs as wood increases in moisture content from 0% to 25-30% moisture content until it reaches the fiber saturation point. Above 25% - 30% wood is dimensionally stable.

Wood does not shrink or swell equally in all directions. A change in the moisture content of a board from oven dry to fiber saturation point will increase the size of the piece approximately 0.1% longitudinally (along the length), 2% to 8% perpendicular to the annular growth rings (radially or in strip height for plain sawn lumber and width for quarter sawn flooring), and 5% to 15% change in size parallel to the trees annular growth rings (also known as tangentially or in width of the strip with plain sawn flooring).


* CUPPED  -Flooring absorbing excessive moisture on the underside causes expansion and cupping with the edges raised.

* FLOORING SANDED FLAT  -Floor is sanded flat while at the higher moisture content, resulting in strips with thinner edges.

* CROWNED FLOORING  -Flooring loses some excess moisture, shrinks on the underside and flattens, leaving the edges of strips lower than the center.

Wood Floor Cupping: Causes

Kiln-dried wood boards which are subjected to moisture only on one side will expand on that side, and will warp by bending away from the moist side. This can be easily demonstrated with a narrow piece of paper; simply moisten one side. The paper will immediately "cup" away from the wet side, creating a convex surface on the wetted side and a concave surface on the other side. Similarly, hardwood flooring will cup for one reason - from gaining or losing moisture on one side faster than on the other.

Normally when cupping is noticed, the surface of boards will be concave -- edges higher than the center of the boards. This means that the backs of the boards are absorbing water vapor to an extent expansion has begun. If left unchecked, heavy expansion may ensue followed by buckling. Often, however, only enough moisture is present to cause the cupping, and this will be the extent of damage.

Usually when signs like the above are found some evidence of the moisture source will be obvious, especially in a crawl space, when the full inspection procedure is followed. In a basement the moisture source may not be quite as obvious_ An observant inspector will usually notice high humidity, however, because the air in the basement will feel cooler than its dryer counterpart in the rooms above. Lack of visual evidence of evaporation below the floor does not disprove its presence by any means. Concrete basement walls and floors are ready evaporators, as can be demonstrated with a moisture meter.

If cupped boards are dried soon enough, they usually return to a flat position. However, if they remain cupped long, the stresses within boards may change to the extent drying will not remove the cupping. (This is more common in wider boards.) In that event, moisture readings taken during the inspection can be at or near normal.

Colorado Springs Real Estate

Local Economy in 2010

A UCCS College of Business and Administration report in their Quarterly Updates and Estimates publication gives me some cautious optimism.  According to Fred Crowley, Senior Economist for the college,"Sufficient time has passed to be able to say the local economy definitely bottomed out in February 2009. Since then, the BCI (Business Conditions Index) increased from 68.8 to 81.3, an increase of 18.2 percent."

That's great news for Colorado Springs!  Crowley writes that their are some especially good signs in the local real estate market.  The National Association of REALTORS® reports that the national average increase in year to date homes sales from 2009 to 2010.  Compare that national number to the 5.9 percent increase we've experienced in El Paso county year to date home sales.  El Paso County is also experiencing a more than double the national average home price increase this year over 2009.

If my fellow Southern Colorado businessmen continue to attract Californians to Colorado Springs, we might have an even better 2011!  Let's build some more houses!

What can you do to stimulate the local economy?  Buy your flooring from us!  :)  All the proceeds of the sale go toward local Coloradans who, in turn, like to spend their profits on goods and services from other Coloradans.  Let's KEEP IT LOCAL!

Call US Floors Direct today for a flooring estimate!

(719) 391-9319

Ask about our current specials

In 2005, carpet shipped in the United States totaled 2.057 billion square yards (18.5 billion square feet) or $13.9 billion at the mill level (In 1950, industry shipments were 97 million square yards). Today, the carpet manufacturing industry offers many different looks and styles, much more than just a conventional loop pile. New technology can produce multilevel loop and cut/loop patterns. There are many options such as diamonds, bows, pin dots, or fleurs-de-lis designs that "pop out" in sculptured effects. Using a solid color, textured carpet is a great way to provide interest and pizzazz, without going to a multicolor, overall pattern.

Textured styles also fit well with today’s active and casual lifestyles. Whether or not a carpet is textured, it can be created through the use of several construction techniques.

• Cut pile - Loops are cut, leaving individual yarn tufts. Still one of today's most popular constructions, its durability is achieved with factors including the type of fiber, density of tufts, and the amount of twist in the yarn.

• Plush / Velvet – Velvets and Plush carpeting are manufactured with a gentle twist.  Because of the gentle twist, they are softer than Textured and other carpets. Visual luxury and feel make Velvet and Plush carpeting perfect for living rooms, master suites, theater rooms, and all other formal areas within the home. This style shows all traffic marks.

• Saxony - Carpet fibers in a Saxony carpet are twisted tightly, cut, and then straightened using heat. The texture of a Saxony carpet works well in both formal and informal rooms.  Saxony carpets have a medium level of durability and show foot prints and tracks from a vacuum cleaner.

• Friezé – Frieze carpet is recommended for high traffic areas.  The yarns are tightly twisted, forming a "curly" textured surface.  This informal look hides almost all foot prints and vacuum marks.

• Loop Pile - In the past, loop pile (often confused with Berber carpet†) was considered a more casual style and was typically used in basements, game rooms, and other informal high traffic areas. As carpet styles have evolved, more variety became available. Loop pile may have a look anywhere from very casual to extremely formal.The term "berber" is used to describe any type of carpeting with more than two colors. Berber can be loop, cut pile, frieze, and others.

• Level loop pile – Loops are the same height, creating an informal look.  It generally holds up well in high-traffic areas.  Many of today’s popular Berber styles are level loop styles with flecks of a darker color on a lighter backg round.

• Multi-level loop pile — Usually has two to three different loop heights to create pattern effects, providing good durability and a more formal loop.

• Cut-and-loop pile – Combination of cut and looped yarns. Provides variety of surface textures, including sculptured effects of squares, chevrons, swirls, fleur-de-lis, etc.