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.

Published in Tile

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.

Traffic Patterns in Carpet

Ever get a hole in the knee of your favorite pair of jeans?  It’s no surprise how holes get there.  It’s just something that happens in an area when the fiber is rubbed the most and gradually gets thinner and thinner until the hole appears. Heck sometimes it’s so cool that it actually makes them more attractive.  I’ve never had anyone be happy about a hole worn into their carpet but Carpet also wears down from surface friction and can change the look at texture.  You’ll notice it start to appear in the major traffic areas of your home.  Hallways, doorways and stairs are typically the first to show this type of damage where foot traffic is funneled in to specific paths.  Once this damage has occurred, rather than covering it up or patching it like your mom used to do with those knee holes in your jeans, replacement is the only option.

Carpet Color Fading in Colorado

Colorado has more sunny days than all but a few other states. Over 300 days of sun a year, on average.  That means we’re enjoying wonderful sunlight emitting Ultra-Violent rays that can wreak havoc on many things.  Higher quality carpet fibers resist sun fading better than cheap carpet, but it all fades over time if subjected to direct sunlight.  There are companies that can re-dye carpet to attempt to resolve the effects of this fading (we recommend this Carpet Dye Company in Colorado Springs).  However, because the color is essentially bleached out of the carpet, this is another factor where it may be time to replace that faded carpet.

Outdated Carpet: Style and/or Color

Let’s face it, things change.  Even if your favorite outfit that you bought in 1991 may not be worn completely through, putting it on and going into public just isn’t an option.  Styles and trends change, causi ng what used to be the latest in trend and fashion to be something that needs to be donated to your favorite charity.  Carpet, like anything else, can become outdated over time, causing the place that you call home to feel more like your grandmother’s house.  Our homes, just like our clothes, are an expression of who we are and how we feel about ourselves.  There is nothing like a brand new soft carpet to come home to.

Pet Damage or Odor

Even if you can’t visibly see damage to carpet, odors can be just as unbearable if not more so than some of the other reasons it might be time for new carpet.  Carpet cleaning companies go through great lengths to get stains and odor out of carpet.  Chem-Dry has a product called P.E.R.T. that I’ve seen work miracles pet odors and stains in carpet.   The cost, however, may start creeping up towards the cost of new carpet.  If the problem or accident may happen again, your U.S. Floors Sales agent will show you the latest technologies in carpet and padding that will help prevent lasting problems in the future.

Replacing Carpet in Your New Place

So, you just purchased a new house and you want to make it your home.  No one likes to live on someone else’s dirt & filth.  Carpet cleaning does help but there is nothing like the feel of new carpet in your new home.  Call us today!  (719) 391-9319

 

Note:  U.S. Floors Direct has outlets for donating good condition carpeting to needy families in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas.  We can also recycle worn out Nylon -one more way to give back to our community and our Earth.

 

 

Published in Carpet

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

 

 

Published in Carpet
Wednesday, 22 September 2010 08:28

Laminate Flooring | Colorado Springs Flooring Blog

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?

Hickory Laminate

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.

Published in Hardwood
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