LAMINATE Flooring
High-performance laminate
flooring can look like wood or tile. Laminate flooring is extremely durable and
easy to clean. Laminates feature engineered, layered construction and can stand
up to just about anything. Laminate flooring does not scuff or show
wear-through. The surface is burn-resistant and resists scratching from pets.
The surface will not indent with normal family usage. The surface will not color
fade. Cleanup is easy, requiring only a damp cloth and vacuum. Laminate flooring
works well in moisture-prone areas: Kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, family rooms,
laundry rooms, offices, and all high-traffic areas.
HARDWOOD Flooring
Most
people prefer the natural, rich beauty of genuine wood floors. Upscale and
elegant, hardwood flooring creates a warm and inviting look. Hardwood flooring
comes in two categories, solid wood and engineered wood. Solid Wood, the most
common consists of solid one-piece boards. Solid wood flooring is usually nailed
to a sub-floor of wood. Solid wood is not recommended for basements or
below-grade installations. Engineers wood consists of two or more layers of wood
laminated together. The top layer is usually a hardwood veneer of varying
thickness. The lower layer is a softwood backing. Most engineered wood floors
are glued down rather than nailed down. Some engineered wood flooring
applications are installed as "floating floors", meaning the edges of the panels
are glued together but not attached directly to the sub-floor. Engineered wood
floors can be glued directly to a concrete slab making it suitable for below
grade applications.
Most wood flooring is
available in three formats, with the most common being the the wood strip. Also
available are parquet squares or wider width planks. Most engineered wood floors
are pre-finished. Unfinished floors installed on-site allow you many choices for
types of finishes and colors.
CERAMIC AND STONE
TILE Flooring
Creates
an elegant, natural look. Ceramic and stone are almost indestructible, easy to
maintain. Ceramic tile can be glazed or unglazed. Stone tiles vary in texture
and color for a distinctive look. Both tiles are suitable for moisture-prone and
heavy-traffic areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, laundry rooms.
VINYL Flooring
Vinyl flooring is easy to
maintain and is very durable, making it suitable throughout the home. Vinyl is
available in sheets 6 to 12 foot widths in any length needed. Vinyl is also
available in luxurious tile squares suitable for the finest interiors. Vinyl
comes in an extensive variety of subtle to bold, bright colors, patterns,
designs, and textures. Vinyl works well for active families. It stands up to
heavy household traffic, children and pets. Vinyl will provide you with years of
care-free beauty. Quality Vinyl flooring is available in good, better and best
categories, suitable for any budget.
CARPET Flooring
Carpeting has a broad
price range and styles to meet a variety of decorating styles and budgets.
Carpet is quiet, soft and warm underfoot, and provides a comfortable
feeling. Most carpet fibers are nylon, olefin, polyester or wool. They vary in
wear and stain resistance, resilience, cleaning ability and price. Types include
Plush, Saxony, Texture, Cut-Loop, Level Loop, Multi-level Loop and Frieze.
Carpet fits well in most rooms of the home including Living rooms, bedrooms,
hallways, offices, dinning rooms and family rooms.
|
CARPET FIBERS COMPARED |
|
Fiber Type |
Wear Resistance |
Stain Resistance |
Resilience |
Clean ability |
Comments |
|
wool |
very good |
low unless treated |
excellent |
Good |
The standard by which other fibers are judged; low resistance to static
unless treated; Costly |
|
nylon |
excellent |
most are treated to enhance stain resistance |
very good |
Very
Good |
The most popular fiber; has good static control; suitable for almost any
application |
|
polypropylene olefin |
very good |
excellent inherent stain resistance |
low |
Best |
The second most popular fiber, best suited to loop pile constructions or
high, very dense, cut piles |
|
polyester |
very good |
built-in-stain resistance to certain types of acid dyes |
fair |
Good |
Better suited to low traffic areas, such as bedrooms and living rooms
|