Flooring, Tile and Backsplash

Solid wood, is a solid piece of wood that has the ability to be sanded and refinished multiple times.  It can be used for almost any flooring, except in basements.  Engineered wood is a veneered wood either of the same type together or multiple varieties.  The expansion and contraction on engineered wood is less than solid wood.  These woods are ideal for basements since they can be glued to concrete or wood subflooring.  

Each type of wood has its own specific traits.  The Janka scale rates woods based on how easily they are dented or scratched. Make sure the wood you are choosing has a high enough rating to endure the traffic in the area it will be placed.    If using rugs, make sure they do not have a rubber backing as many times they discolor the wood.  

If you have wood flooring and pets, make sure to put rugs by the outside doors or around litter boxes to collect dirt when they pass through.  Also, make sure regular nail trims are part of their grooming to avoid scratches on the flooring.   Most scratches from pets are only in the finish, so may be repaired easily. ​

Frequent sweeping or vacuuming, with the beater brush turned off, is the best way to keep your floors looking new.  Washing, even with just water, is not recommended due to the wear on the finish and sometimes it may even damage the wood.   Clean up spills immediately, to avoid wood damage.   If your wood flooring has started to look dull, ask your installer for the appropriate product to restore its shine.  Not all wood products work on all types of wood flooring. 

A factory finish, the wood comes to the house and is already stained and finished.  This means what you see in the store is how it shows up to the house.  The biggest advantage installation wise is much less dust and dirt during the install and it is able to be walked on as soon as it’s laid.  Job site finish is a much more customizable process, allowing you to choose the stain and glossiness of the finish.  The wood will be sanded as well as stained and finished while in your home.  This causes more disruption in your home and isn’t able to be walked on for several hours until it has dried. 

Overall the biggest difference is how much light is reflected off of the surface.  Glossy surfaces are more likely to show wear and scratches, but the shine has no effect on their actual existence. 

As wood flooring ages, the colors do change slightly.  This process is affected my sunlight as well as the type of wood and finish on it. 

Tiles usually just need to be wiped with a damp sponge.  For heavier cleanups use a light cleaner such as Mr. Clean or a window cleaner.  Do not use vinegar (it is acidic and can break up the grout if not diluted properly) or soap (it causes a filmy buildup).  The more textured a tile is the harder it is to clean, due to having so many crevasses.  Ceramic tiles are considered to be very hygienic, since they don’t retain liquids, odors , fumes or germs. 

Ceramic tiles will not fade in sunlight and are fire resistant. One of the biggest dangers for tiles is keeping anything abrasive from wearing down their faces.  Sand and other gritty materials are some of the biggest culprits. 

Read the labeling on the specific tile manufacturer.  As a general rule tiles that absorb 3% or less of moisture are frost resistant.  All porcelain tiles fit into that category.

A higher wear rating means higher durability.  It has nothing to do with quality or price of the tiles.  Some expensive tiles with great details may be more easily broken or scratched, creating a lower wear rating while still having excellent quality. 

As a general rule, the more glossy the surface of the tile the more slippery. Tiles that are labeled slip resistant have a gritty surface.

Flooring tiles may be used on countertops, as long as the supporting surface can hold the weight.  Traditionally, smaller tiles made for counters and backsplashes are used. 

 It is best to stick with a single manufacturer when creating your tile designs, due to the fact that each manufacturer makes tiles to their specific machines.  This could mean each manufacturer has slightly different size or thickness of the tiles.  

Laminate flooring consists of four different layers.  The top layer absorbs most of the wear and tear.  The second layer is glued to the inner core and has the image that will appear on the surface on it.  The inner core is the strength layer, that helps maintain the stability and flatness of the piece.  The backing is the part that is the moisture protection. 

Laminate flooring can be installed over any structurally sound flat surface.  It can be placed over almost any other type of flooring.  It has an interlocking system that connects together while resting on the subfloor. 

Laminate flooring is very durable and made to absorb a lot of wear and tear.  If there is a nick in the flooring, a repair kit may be used to fix it or the tile can be removed and replaced, without disturbing the tiles around it.  Many times laminate flooring is warrantied for up to 30 years, and can last much longer than that. 

Laminate flooring is best cleaned by vacuuming or dry mopping.  Consult with your installer or manufacturer to determine other products to safely clean the floor.