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Exploring Different Hardwood Flooring

Alyssa Stoner • September 24, 2024

Hardwood flooring is a feature of elegance and sophistication for any home. Its versatility makes it a popular choice for homeowners trying to enhance the aesthetic appeal and value of their home. With a wide range of hardwood types available, each having unique characteristics and benefits, selecting the perfect one can be an intimidating task. However, the market is open to many possibilities and an expert flooring installer will guarantee an amazing end result.

 

Solid flooring is a classic choice; crafted from a single piece of wood. This option just screams authenticity and character. Popular for its stability, solid hardwood floors can withstand for years and years; making them an exceptional long-term investment. In addition, they can be refinished multiple times and change as trends evolve. However, it’s important to understand that solid hardwood is vulnerable to moisture damage and can be a more expensive option upfront. Due to its sensitivity to humidity, its best suited for areas with less foot traffic such as bedrooms and hallways.

 

Engineered hardwood flooring is a modern alternative to solid flooring. Constructed with a layered design, it features a thin coating of real hardwood above layers of plywood or dense fiberboard. This creative structure enhances moisture resistance, making engineered hardwood a practical option for areas prone to humidity changes such as kitchens. In addition, the layering allows wider plank options and makes a more spacious feel. While engineered hardwood is easier to put in than solid hardwood, refinishing is possible to a certain extent.

 

The choice of wood significantly impacts the overall visual and performance of your hardwood floors. Popular options include oak, maple, walnut and hickory. Oak is known for its durability and diverse grain patterns, and is an adaptable choice for many homes. Maple; with its smooth grain and light color lends a contemporary feel. Walnut is popular for its rich, dark tones, and portrays luxury and sophistication. Finally, Hickory has dramatic grain patterns and adds a rustic charm. Consider the stability, grain patterns, and color tones of different wood styles to find one that goes with your space.

 

Finally, evaluate your lifestyle, budget and décor to narrow down your choices! If you have a busy household with pets and children, go for durable flooring like oak or hickory. If you’re working with a limited budget, engineered hardwood might be a more cost-effective choice. Also, consider the specific room where the flooring will be installed. For high-traffic areas, prioritize durability and scratch resistance. In moisture-prone areas, select engineered hardwood.



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Transform Your Space with Vinyl Flooring

By Alyssa Stoner • September 16, 2024
If you’re ready to browse the market for new flooring, there are so many options to choose from and it can start to make you feel a little overwhelmed. How do you pick the option that’s right for your lifestyle and home? Flooring can range from comfortable, cozy carpet to durable luxury vinyl planks. Like any flooring, there are benefits and disadvantages. Plus, it’s important to make certain that you have the right flooring for your home. Every room should be beautiful without compromising on practicality or budget; which is why vinyl is a great selection! When cared for correctly, vinyl can be a very sturdy, long-lasting material that will hold up for 10 to 20 years. However, this will only be the case if your vinyl is luxury, high-quality and was well manufactured. Despite this, the flooring is durable and able to endure heavy foot traffic; making it perfect for living areas, kitchens and bedrooms. Vinyl plank flooring is made to be lived on. It doesn’t scratch, indent or stain easily, and that alone makes it perfect for kids or pets. The top layer is thick enough to protect the sub layers from destruction. On a professional flooring expert standpoint, vinyl is a relatively simple material to install. Also, it is one of the easiest types of flooring to uphold; however that doesn’t mean it can be neglected or ignored. Leaving grime and dirt on the floor can lead to scratches and harm the surface. To ensure this doesn’t happen, you can use a damp mop and over the counter cleaner to remove dirt or stains. As a bonus, there’s no waxing required! Plus, vinyl plank flooring has a protective wear layer on it that allows it to maintain its shine for years to come. Along with being waterproof (which is an amazing feature for Southwest Florida homes), vinyl comes in a variety of colors and textures. One of the biggest benefits is that there is a big replica of designs for wood. This creates an affordable flooring option that looks expensive, but is not as nearly as pricy as hardwood flooring. The options are limitless! Perhaps one of the main appeals of vinyl flooring is the various appearances it can take on. The patterns used to create vinyl planks are very authentic; giving your floors the look and feel of the real deal. The flooring can be matched to your home design and décor, as well as share a sense of personal expression. Lastly, compared to materials like hardwood or stone, vinyl flooring has a “softer” and more “padded” feeling under your feet. The layers insulate and help the floor maintain a consistent temperature no matter the season. Vinyl can also have soundproofing qualities that includes reducing both noise and echoes in any room of the house. Don’t wait, transform your space today! (239)-699-3299 Kevinklostermanflooringswfl.com

Is The Accent Wall Right For Your Home?

By Alyssa Stoner • March 29, 2024
When it comes to adding ‘hot’ trends to your home design, make a bold statement with just one wall. The accent, or statement wall, is coming back! Statement walls give honor to another popular trend rising in home design –the influence of the Golden Twenties. It seems to be that many homeowners are getting inspired by taking their dream home ideas back to the 1920s, when vibrant walls were normal and in style. Homeowners are tying in beautiful, brighter colors such as bronze, teal and black/gold combos crossing out the typical grays and beiges that dominate wall concepts. Instead of covering an entire room in these bolder colors, you can add just a hint of hue with an accent wall. The background palettes for three walls are mostly neutral, and then, you use the fourth wall as a spotlight point to add liveliness to the room. If a bright color is not your cup of tea, cover the wall that holds your TV jet-black. When going for this approach, keep the surrounding walls a lighter beige and soft white. It’s a museum effect and not a slight shade up or down in quality, but a very dramatic contrast. If you want to get creative, consider thick horizontal stripes or subtle pops of color. Even a small area can be used to create a focal point such as a wall niche or in a narrow hallway. For example, in a foyer, one wall can be painted burgundy to complement beige wallpaper. With a statement wall, the possibilities are endless! Also, by painting a wall in an open floor plan or layering the layout, it will bring depth to your space. Remember, there are no rules that say which walls you should choose in a room to do an accent wall. Although, most people prefer to do their accent walls on the focal wall in a room. Ask yourself; which wall do you look at first when you walk in or look at the most? For example, in a living room the primary wall is usually the wall that the TV is on. In a bedroom, it’s probably the wall that the bed is up against. In a bathroom, the central point is usually the wall that the vanity sits on. In addition to the focal wall, you can’t go wrong by doing all four walls in the room as well. Lastly, the type and style is going to be different for everyone –you can settle on rustic, to clean and modern. Can you do an accent color on a textured wall? Yes, you certainly can! At the end of the day, regarding textured walls, it all comes down to you and what you like. No regulations apply when it comes to an accent while (to a certain extent). One tip that will help make your textured walls not as visible is to use a low-sheen paint like a flat or matte. Get creative and start your wall accent project with your local experts today! (239)-699-3299 Kevinklostermanflooringswfl.com

Improve Any Room in Your Home with Light Hardwood

By Alyssa Stoner • March 22, 2024
Let’s talk spring remodeling for new flooring installation! If you haven’t already heard, light hardwood flooring appeals to Florida locals or seasonal homeowners because it represents the ‘feel’ of Southwest Florida –to go along with the various colors of blue, yellow, white, beige, etc. In most cases, homes with dark, rustic hardwood expresses more of a northern style. Are you ready to take the leap and brighten up your living space with beautiful light-colored hardwood? A local, reliable expert flooring contractor is able to make that happen. It’s striking how much any hardwood flooring can lighten up a room, as well as the layout of your home. Ultimately, light-colored floors are sleek and easy to maintain. With soft wood material, areas feel less ominous and dark, especially for any room that doesn’t catch much natural sunlight through the windows. If one of the rooms in your home doesn’t flow with the rest of the house, and it feels uninviting every time you walk in, it’s time to create a home makeover and be proud to give a tour of your home. Think of your flooring as a creative canvas; how you use it can determine the final look of your space. When starting your exciting home project, you’ll need to choose light hardwood types that you like the most, and of course, what goes best with your décor. From ‘blonde’ golden undertones to classic white, there is a substantial selection of hardwood flooring on the market that can be installed by a professional. Maybe consider a hardwood style that doesn’t have a lot of texture or a chaotic pattern. Don’t forget, simple is the trick in the remodeling industry. As a bonus, light hardwood flooring is great for creating the illusion of more open space. Your eyes will look around and feel the room open up instantly! Any natural sunlight will reflect off the floor, too. Most kitchens have the built in design with a lot of windows and wider walkways. Generally, bedrooms aren’t built with sun-facing windows, which are often designed and structured for larger family rooms and kitchens. There are three components when getting the ‘light’ look you desire. The shade of your wood floor depends on the hardwood material, stain, and finish. Each one of these factors will change the color of the wood. The combinations are practically endless! The primary wood type for light-colored hardwood would be maple, oak, hickory, and ash. In conclusion, styles are constantly evolving and it’s good to keep that in mind when it comes to selecting your flooring and style. It’s important to choose flooring you know will both compliment your design aesthetic and stay strong over time without any expensive repairs or refinishing facelifts. Don’t wait to make a change to your home because you can refresh any room and enjoy the comfort of a brighter space. Create the stunning home you’ve always pictured. (239)-699-3299 Kevinklostermanflooringswfl.com
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