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Absolute Flooring and Interiors

Absolute Flooring and Interiors

Santa Fe's Place for Carpet, Tile and Interior Design

(505)982-2228

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Wood Flooring

Common Questions Regarding Hardwood Flooring Installation

July 20, 2021 by Olivia Belcher

There comes a point in time where every home owner starts contemplating whether their floors should be on the top of their home improvement priority list. Our floors are arguably one of the most important components of our homes and due to normal wear and tear, they deteriorate at an alarmingly fast rate. Even if the entire ambiance of your home depicts a refined facet, if the floors are dilapidated then the aesthetic facet of your home will be ruined.

This is exactly why it imperative that every homeowner should consider a flooring project, currently the most popular in the market are hardwood floors. These floors provide a sublime aesthetic facet that has the capacity of accentuating the beauty of your home in a seamless fashion. However, since it is not every day that people consider hardwood flooring installation they often end up regretting this project. This is exactly why we have articulated a list of questions that commonly plague homeowners who are considering hardwood flooring installation. These questions are mentioned below,

  1. Which type of hardwood would best suit my specifications?

The very first question that most homeowners have is whether they should install solid wood flooring or engineered wood floors. Solid wood floors are made of a solid piece of wood that is installed throughout the surface area of the roof and is ideal for every type of room. It can be refinished numerous times and has the capacity of remaining spotless if regularly maintained. Engineered wood floors are manufactured using multiple layers of wood, installed in a perpendicular direction, and are extremely dimensionally stable.

  1. Which wood species should I choose?

In order to answer this question, you will have to contact a flooring contractor, these contractors will provide different samples of the floors available. You should then choose the wood species that best suits the ambiance of your home and coincides with your taste. Some of the most popular wood species are mentioned below,

  • Ash
  • Maple
  • Hickory
  • Oak
  • Walnut
  • Mahogany
  1. Factory finished floors or site finished floors?

Another important question that many homeowners are confused about during hardwood flooring installation is whether they should opt for factory finished floors or site finished floors. A site finished floor is when the floor is installed and the floor is finished within the confines of your home, it allows you to customize the finish of your floors. However, site finished floors do cause a mess and can extend the time frame of the project. While a factory finished floor is when the floors are finished right after they are manufactured, this is a generic finishing but it will save you the hassle of indoor finishing.

  1. How do I keep my floors maintained?

Hardwood flooring installation is not enough as you have to properly maintain your floors in order to make sure they continue vibrating the natural beauty of your floors. With time the aesthetic facet of the floor will deplete but this can easily be rectified by numerous products.

Filed Under: Wood Flooring

How to choose the best Timberland Interior for your home

July 20, 2021 by Olivia Belcher

Getting the right interior for your home is getting very important these days because it has a vital role in the look and the feel of the place. Your choice should depend on your lifestyle and your budget. But, what is important is that you consider all the options first and then make sure you are purchasing the right one. For example, if you are choosing a hardwood timber floor for your home you must check the timber before buying it since all timber has different features and are not same in color or quality.

So, if you are looking forward to choosing the best timberland interior for your home, here are a few things that you must consider before making your choice.

The color

Make sure you choose the color that complements the style of your home. A good color combination always gives a good feel to anyone who comes to your place. Choosing the color of a timber may be confusing. While you may want a different color, your family might persist on going with another color. So, it is vital that you decide a color group first before finalizing a particular timber for your home interior. Timbers normally have three color groups, brown, red and cream. Discuss with your family, take suggestions from your interior designer and then take the final decision. Choosing the best Timberland interior for your home is not as easy as it sounds.

Durability

Remember, the more durable the wood, the more it is resistant to natural hazards. This is why assessing the durability of the timber before buying it is very important. Some timber is not resistant to fungal attacks and other high-risk situations. Make sure you choose a timber with a high durability class rate.

Technical Properties

Different timbers have different characteristics. So, choose a timber that has a huge range of properties. The ability of the timber to resist a dent can be measured through Janka. The higher the Janka, the harder the timber is.

COST

Costs can vary depending on your choice. The more durable and of good quality the timber is, the higher it will cost. It is only a matter of searching for the best option being offered at the best price. After all, choosing the best timberland interior for your home requires your time.

Wooden floors always give an elegant look to your homes. They provide all the warmth and comfort. Added to this, they are eco-friendly, which means they can be reproduced or regenerated making them a more reliable source than carpets and cement. Moreover, they are easy to maintain and their beauty can last for a long period of time with very little care needed. So, before you choose the best timberland interior for your home, research the market well and choose the option that goes with the theme of your house.

If you plan to get a unique Timberland interior, for your home, contact us.

Filed Under: Wood Flooring

Is it a Good Idea to Have Wood Flooring in the Bathroom?

July 20, 2021 by Olivia Belcher

For as long as you can remember, you have loved wood flooring. You like its classic look, its durability and the way it can be found in homes built 100 years ago as well as modern dwellings.

You love wood flooring so much, you want to install it in every room of your home, including your two bathrooms and one powder room. But while you would love to have a wood floor bathroom next to your hardwood covered master bedroom, you are not sure if this is such a good idea.

After all, bathrooms have plenty of water—either splashing from sinks or coming over the side of a full tub—and if you love a long hot shower, the humidity could potentially damage a hardwood floor in a bathroom.

Here is some good news: under certain circumstances, and with really good care, it is possible to fulfill your dream of having hardwood in the bathroom. As for how and why this may work, please consider the following:

Modern sealers can make wood moisture-resistant

As The Spruce notes (1), while you will probably not find a manufacturer of hardwood flooring who will say their wood is waterproof, a good oil-based polyurethane sealer may make it moisture-resistant.

This will require some vigilance on your part—for instance, wiping up any spills after a bath or shower right away and keeping the room well ventilated to remove steam. This finish will probably have to be re-applied yearly—being extra careful to apply the seal to the seams, where water can easily get in—but these steps can typically mean that hardwood can be installed in a bathroom.

Hardwood may be an especially great choice for a guest bathroom that is not used that often of a powder room that only has a sink and toilet, not a floor to ceiling shower that is used daily.

Choose a really durable type of wood

In the world of hardwood, there are a wide variety of options, including softer types like pine and fir, as well as harder varieties like cherry, hickory and ash.

If you have your heart set on wood flooring in your bathrooms, go for a hard type—the softwoods are less dense and more likely to soak up water.

Make sure your floors are even

If your bathroom floors are not completely level, any water that collects on them will run down to the low spots and pool there; if this spot is behind a toilet or other hard-to-see area, you are risking damaging the wood fairly quickly.

Most hardwood floors are installed by nailing the wood planks to the subfloor; this means there is not a traditional moisture barrier underneath the beautiful wood.

To prevent possible pooling of water, make sure your floors are completely level prior to installing the hardwood, and speak with your contractor about using an adhesive rather than nails to attach it to the sub-floor.

Enjoy your new bathroom flooring!

Hardwood floor in the bathroom is not a 100% worry-free option—there will be some work that goes along with it. But thanks to improved seals that are applied regularly, proper installation and ongoing vigilance, it is quite possible to achieve your dream of having hardwood in your entire home—including your bathrooms.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask away!

Filed Under: Wood Flooring

Top 10 Questions to Ask While Choosing the Best Hardwood Floor

July 20, 2021 by Olivia Belcher

All the first-time purchasers would agree, getting the best hardwood flooring is not an easy job by any standards. Since there are so many types of hardwoods, choosing the best can be the toughest task for a homeowner (no exaggeration!).  

In some cases, people get so overwhelmed in the hardwood flooring types, designs, cost, and installation process that the task of buying the best hardwood floors is delayed for weeks, or even months. Thus, it is imperative you learn some important things in advance which will help you get the best hardwood flooring possible.

1. What Kind of Hardwood Flooring is Ideal for my House?

To have an idea about it, contact a well-informed contractor right away. They will help provide you with expert advice on what type of the hardwood flooring will suit your house.

They would also tell you the best hardwood flooring type for your home’s natural environment.

2. What Hardwood Flooring is Ideal for Pet Owners?

The homeowners have to worry a lot about gouges, claw marks, stains, and scratches. Hence, they need to look for the best hardwood to protect the floors from pet-related damages. One of those hardwood floorings includes ceramic tile.

3. Is Engineered Flooring Better or Traditional Hardwood?

Both of these floorings fall under the best hardwood floors category. Both of them boast some advantages and disadvantages. So, choose the one suiting your personal needs best.

4. Does Wood Floors Change Overtime?

Wood floors are a great choice for homes.  One thing to note about this flooring is, hardwood changes color as it ages. Different kinds of wood floors experience a change in color at different rates. For example, oaks and hickory experience a little change of color with time while American cherry and Brazilian cherry drastically change their color over time. Pretty neat, huh?!

5. What Is the Best Wood Species for Me?

If you prefer light woods, go for ash or maple ones. To make your room appear cozier and warm, choose hickory or oak. For a classy and refined house, walnut and mahogany are the best hardwood floors.

6. Which Type of Sheen on Wooden Floor is Better?

It is simply a matter of preference. If you like more shine, opt for gloss finish wooden floor. Otherwise, it is better to go for semi-gloss or matte finish one.

7. How Long Does the Installation of Flooring Take?

Some types of floorings take a long time to install while others don’t. For example, site-finished floors take much more time in installation than factory-finished floors. This is because site-finished floors require multiple coats to achieve the desired result.

8. Can I Install Hardwood Floors By Myself?

Installing the best hardwood flooring is not as simple as painting your walls. It is a complicated procedure, and it’s best to have the proper training so your floors last.

The material and tools for hardwood floorings are expensive and if you made an error, your money could go all down the drain.

9. How to Keep Hardwood Floorings Looking New?

Your best hardwood flooring must be cleaned regularly with a vacuum or dust mop. Do not clean the hardwood flooring with water as it can damage the finish.

10. What Factors Can Shorten the Life of Hardwood Floor?

Accumulated dirt, dragged furniture, pet poop or claw marks are some of the things that can affect the durability of your hardwood flooring. To learn how to best protect your hardwood flooring, check out this blog here. 

If you can think of any other commonly asked questions, shoot them our way! We are happy to help!

Filed Under: Wood Flooring

The Most Popular Varieties of Wood Flooring

July 19, 2021 by Olivia Belcher

Are you thinking of renovating your house and changing your flooring? There are so many types of flooring available that it is easy to get overwhelmed. You want to get something that will not only bring out the beauty of your house, but will also last a long time.

Wood flooring is not only beautiful, but can last for decades. There are so many varieties you can find something to suit your unique tastes. Here are the most popular varieties of wood flooring:

Oak

Yes, the most obvious choice is often the best one. One of the most popular types of wood flooring is oak. Millions of Americans have oak floors in their homes.

Oak is a popular choice because of its durability and affordability. Because it is hard, it is resistant to scratches and dents. There are also many colors available, ranging from light to dark. So, it gives you the option to match your floors with the interior of your house.

Cherry Wood

Another common wood flooring is cherry wood. One of the main reasons why cherry wood is so popular is because of its reddish brown color. Cherry wood is a little softer than the other types of woods, which makes it susceptible to scratches and dents. It is better to install this flooring in places that don’t get too much traffic, like the bedroom.  It is also a little expensive, so if you are going for the luxurious look, this is a good choice.

Mahogany

Mahogany is famous for its alluring color and beauty. Not only is mahogany water-resistant, it is also very durable. If you have kids, this is the type of wood flooring you should go for. It will provide your house with a timeless and gorgeous look.

Maple

Maple flooring is even harder than oak, which means it is perfect for high-traffic places. There won’t be a danger of scratches or dents when you have maple floors in your house. There are sub-types of maple flooring that vary in durability, grain pattern, hardness, quality, and price. The grain pattern is very popular in maple wood floors, giving it a rustic look.

Ash

Everyone has dark-colored wooden floors, why don’t you be a little different and go with a light colored one? Ash wood floor will provide you with that exclusivity.  It is durable and not too hard on the pocket either. Ash flooring would go perfectly with a light interior of the house.

So what type of wood flooring are you installing in your house? Whichever one you choose, we are sure your house will look amazing.

Filed Under: Wood Flooring

When Laminate Flooring is the Right Choice

July 19, 2021 by Olivia Belcher

Laminate flooring is a multi-layer synthetic product that is combined with a lamination process and applied in homes and other premises as well. We want to make sure you are making the right choice when it comes to your flooring.

What Areas Are Best Served by Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is relatively easy for those interested in a DIY approach. It can be used in almost every room inside a home, regardless of whether it is above or below ground level, on a wooden surface or concrete. Typically, manufacturers seek to make laminate flooring an all purpose product which can be applied anywhere.

For instance, along with basements and living spaces, laminate flooring may also be used in areas that are used by children and pets. Also, occupants who are looking for a low noise level in a particular part of their home should choose laminate flooring.

Furthermore, laminate flooring may also be installed on stairs without using underlay. This instance would also require the addition of laminate wood floor moldings to facilitate the correct installation.

You can install it over radiant heated subfloors, but there are specific instructions that must be adhered to. If you are involved in a DIY method, it is suggested that you use the recommendations specified by the manufacturer.

Where Not to Use Laminate Flooring?

Alternatively, there are a few areas where laminate flooring is not best suited for a variety of reasons. Experts have indicated that it should not be done in bathrooms, laundry rooms, saunas and enclosed porches. Basically, any area that is prone to increased moisture or requires wet mopping is not meant to have laminate flooring. If moisture comes in contact with the floor’s edges and bottom, it can create issues and cause its core to warp or swell with time.

What Are the Advantages of Laminate Flooring?

There are several benefits of using laminate flooring. For example, laminate installation is expedited and convenient. Residents can install a few hundred feet of laminated flooring over a weekend.

While some types of laminate floors require users to glue pieces together, others are assembled by a click and fold design that essentially functions like pieces of a puzzle.

Laminate floors are also very easy to clean. Maintenance can be executed using a vacuum or broom as well. Inhabitants should simply clean with a slightly damp mop or use a purpose built laminate floor cleaner.

Filed Under: Wood Flooring

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