FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

GENERAL

• Installing flooring is easy. It’s actually a difficult and lengthy process that should be done by a professional
• Dark floors will make a room look smaller. Dark floors will not make a room look smaller unless the walls and other surroundings are also dark
• If I order more of the same product a year from now, it will look exactly the same. Products are made in different conditions and environments and cannot be expected to look the same after time has passed.
• It’s cheaper to install a less expensive product first and replace later down the road.The cost of product remova, furniture removal and replacement can make this statement untrue.

CARPET

• All carpet padding is the same. There are different grades and qualities of carpet padding with different life expectancies and warranties.
• When carpet is replaced, the pad doesn’t need to be replaced. Carpet pad helps determine how well your carpet wears. If your carpet pad is worn, you will not get the most wearability out of your carpet.
• Wool carpet isn’t worth the money because it will wear out. Wool carpet is the most durable and long lasting carpet available.
• If the label says it has built in stain protection it is protected from everything and maintenance is not required. This is intended to be stain resistant – not stain proof. Regular maintenance is still required.
• Will not fade. Carpet can fade if exposed to direct sunlight.
• The thicker the carpet, the better the quality.This is not always true. Ask you local retailer for more information when comparing products.
• Carpet will look the same or darker than the sample when installed. Since carpet samples tend to be relatively small, they don’t always appear the same as the large rolls that are installed.

HARDWOOD

• All hardwood is the same hardness. Hardwood has varying degrees of hardness.
• Hardwood is not a good choice for people with allergies. Hardwood is a great choice for people with allergies if kept well maintained.
• All oak floors are the same or if a wood floor looks the same on top, it is the same.The construction of the hardwood is where the quality comes in, not what you see on the top.
• Will not fade. Like other flooring materials, direct sunlight can fade hardwood floors.
• All hardwood can be cleaned with Murphy’s Oil Soap. Pre-finished hardwoods should not be cleaned with Murphy’s Oil Soap.

LAMINATE

• All laminate floors sound hollow and click when you walk on them. With the proper underlayment, laminate floors will not sound hollow or click when you walk on them.
• You can’t hurt a laminate floor. While laminate floors are very durable, they can scratch and gouge with misuse.
• Hardwood is better for a home with large dogs because it is harder. Laminate flooring can be more scratch resistant than some hardwoods making it more suitable for a home with dogs.

TILE

• Any tile can be installed outside.Tiles have a rating system that indicate how much water is absorbed. This determines if they can go outside or not. Most porcelain tiles and natural stones are suited for exterior applications.
• Tile has to be sealed. Tiles that have glazes or are through body do not have to be sealed.
• Small tiles are the only tiles that should go into small rooms. Larger tiles are well suited for small rooms, just as well as small tiles, depending on the desired design intent.
• All tiles floors are cold.Tile floors with radiant heat systems installed can be very warm and comfortable!
• The finish cannot be worn off of tile. Ceramic tiles that have glazed finishes can wear off with excessive traffic. Check the wear rating to see how much traffic a tile floor is designed for.
• Any size tile can be installed on a shower floor. Tile showers have to slope to drain water so the tiles have to be small enough to accommodate the slope.
• You can’t hurt a tile floor. Dropping heavy objects on the corners of tile floors can chip or crack the tiles. Dragging furniture without furniture protectors across a floor can scratch the finish of tile floors.
• Is not a good choice because if I drop a glass on it, it will break.
• Larger size tiles make a room look smaller.Larger tiles in a small room can visually increase the size of a room. Turning the tiles on the diagonal can make the room appear even larger.
• Grout colors look darker than the sample when installed . The sample chip and the actual product will look different because of lighting, shading and dye lot differences.

NATURAL STONE

• Stone tiles like granite or travertine cannot stain. Natural stone that is not sealed can stain.
• You can’t hurt a stone floor. Stone is a very strong material, but it can be damaged with misuse like improper maintenance or dragging furniture across the floor without furniture protectors.
• Is not a good choice because if I drop a glass on it, it will break. If you drop a glass from most any standing height, is going to break anyway.
• All travertine is the same grade. You get what you pay for! There are varying degrees of quality in natural stone. Lower quality travertine has holes in the back that make it less stable than travertine pieces with less or no filler in the back.
• Every piece will look the same. The beauty of natural stone is that each piece can be completely different.
• Vinegar is the best cleaner to use. Vinegar will actually permanently etch stone floors and is not a desirable cleaner.

VINYL/RESILIENT

• Patterns with grooves catch dirt that is difficult to remove. With new technologies in place, floors with detailed patterns are just as easy to clean as floors with no patterns.
• Furniture doesn’t need protectors on the bottom. Unprotected furniture bottoms can permanently tear vinyl floors.
• All floor cleaners are the same. Using the wrong cleaner can do permanent damage to your floors and even void your warranty.