Best Floor for Pets

When building a new home or remodeling an existing home, flooring choices are everything. With pets present, this becomes even more important, because pets are just as hard, if not harder, than people on flooring surfaces. What are the best flooring choices for pets in the home?

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is a popular flooring option for families with pets. Luxury vinyl and vinyl sheet are highly durable, long-lasting, and resistant to moisture, scratches, and dents. They are also easy to maintain. And here’s another benefit of vinyl: it softens the sound of your pet’s nails when they walk across the floor.

Earthscapes

The unique construction of Earthscapes™ Vinyl Flooring provides a comfortable and long-lasting choice for carefree everyday living. With beautiful designs and textures that so closely mimic hardwood, tile, and stone, we promise you’ll be tempted to reach out and feel these floors.

LVT/LVP

The breakthrough new flooring – giving you waterproof protection, tough as nails durability and high-end, handcrafted designer looks. Backed with a warranty that includes LIFETIME coverage for wear, fade, stain, gauges, dents, water and more – Invincible™ H2O™ Luxury Vinyl offers the ultimate peace of mind. Carpet One Floor & Home’s premier luxury vinyl tile collection, Invincible™ LVT features cutting edge technology to give you a floor that is so realistic, yet is super tough and virtually care-free. This means no expensive or time-consuming maintenance for you!

Laminate

Laminate for LIFE

Laminate is an excellent choice if you have a pet who has the run of the house. The easiest care, lowest maintenance flooring available – you get the luxurious great look of authentic hardwood or tile but you also get to keep your life easy – with the maintenance or hassle of the real thing. Not only will you have a beautiful floor – but you’ll you more time to enjoy it. Why spend another minute on tedious maintenance?

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring and pets aren’t typically a marriage made in flooring heaven. If your pet creates any spills or puddles on your hardwood floor, you have to mop them up immediately because the boards can stain and warp from moisture. Pet nails and toys can also wreak havoc on a hardwood floor.

Invincible Hardwood Collection

Utilizing the most advanced milling and finishing techniques, the Invincible™ Hardwood Collection brings authentic distinction of hardwood flooring to your home in a product designed to withstand years of use. Intensity Surface Shield™ is engineered with multiple layers of aluminum oxide infused with nano-particles offering the strongest resistance to scratches, scuffs, and wear.

Carpet

When it comes to pets, carpet is likely the worst flooring choice one can make, simply because it is easily damaged by pets. Even normal wear and tear on carpet in a pet-free home happens faster than with other flooring options. If carpet is the only choice because it is the most cost-effective option for home flooring, the best thing to do is choose a carpet without loops as pet nails can snag on the loops and cause the carpet to wear faster.

Relax It’s…Lees

Lees® is the toughest carpet, offering both stain resistance and style. It repels spills to make cleanup quick and easy. So it stands up to everyday life – the parties, spills, messes, even new puppies – while ensuring a beautiful-looking carpet for years to come. Only Lees® combines the product performance technologies, after-sale assurance and historical track record that allow you to relax know that you’ve made the best purchase for you and your family.

Bigelow Stainmaster

One of America’s premier carpet brands, Bigelow Stainmaster offers the assurance of Bigelow’s long-standing reputation for quality and Stainmaster’s trusted stain-protection technology. Together, this carpet provides you with the best possible choices for your home.

Tigressa H2O

From kids to pets, life can be tough on your floors. Tigressá® H2O™ is the revolutionary new carpet offering waterproof construction, that prevents liquids from soaking into the carpet padding and subfloor. Perfect for young, active families, Tigressá® H2O™ carpet is exceptionally durable and easy to clean.

Smart Strand Forever Clean by Mohawk

The most durable, easiest-to-clean carpet on the planet just got better. SmartStrand Forever Clean carpet now features All Pet Protection and Warranty, the only pet-friendly carpet protection system that covers all pets, all accidents, all the time. Now SmartStrand is an even smarter choice for pets and pet owners.

• 0% moisture absorption to reduce pet odors in the carpet fiber
• Nanoloc™ spill and soil shield for quick and easy cleanup
• 3X easier to clean dirt, hair, and pet dander
• Lifetime, built-in stain protection

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While budget and ease of installation will be factors impacting the flooring decisions of a home, taking the time to consider the best flooring options for pets beforehand may save money in repairs and frustration in the long run. Cutting corners on flooring to save money is not a good choice if the flooring needs to be replaced in a few months or even a year due to the wear and tear from the pets.

Waterproof vs. Water Resistant

Knowing the difference can save  your floors

It doesn’t seem like there is much of a difference, but there is. Waterproof means that it can withstand any amount of water, from a small spill to a flood, and be just fine. Water resistant means that it can take on a little water for a short time. Anything after that will more than likely cause damage.

Many types of vinyl flooring are waterproof and/or highly water resistant. Laminate, on the other hand, is made out of recycled hardwood, so it is not waterproof.  Due to its melamine wear layer, it has a tough finish, which resists scratches and may have minor protection against a small amount of water. But, like hardwood, laminate does not do well with standing water or high humidity, regardless of whether this water is topical (on top) or seeping into the subfloor from below. If laminate floors become really wet, they will get ruined and buckle.

Water resistance in flooring means that the particular element of flooring has been designed to withstand water better than it normally would. With hard surfaces, most flooring is designed to be able to have some water on top for a while before it will soak through, giving you time to take care of the spill before it can affect the floor. Just about every laminate product claims this. The aluminum oxide coating most of them have is pretty much waterproof, but the seams or gaps between planks, aren’t, so the floor isn’t. In those gaps, you usually have an exposed core, and may eventually soak in water.

So, laminate flooring is NOT waterproof.  There is a common misperception out there that laminate is waterproof, and I believe this is due to the fact that many customers mistakenly confuse vinyl and laminate flooring.

If you feel that hardwood is not a good option for an area due to water or humidity, it is also a good idea to avoid laminate.

Laminate warranties usually do not apply to water damage, including but not limited to water damage caused by flooding, standing water (water that remains on the floor longer than 30 minutes), leaking pipes, mechanical failures, appliance leaks, or pet urine. be aware of what you are getting yourself into before purchasing!

BONUS: Scratch Proof vs. Scratch Resistant

The terms scratch proof and scratch resistant are different by definition, but used synonymously by manufacturers to promote their products. Scratch proof, if taken literally, would mean that the product is able to withstand any kind of abrasion and not bear any scratches. Scratch resistant, on the other hand essentially means that the product is able to withstand minor scratches. Scratch proof, therefore, stands for more durability than scratch resistant products.

Hardwood vs. Laminate

Things to consider when deciding which to purchase for your home.

Before we begin, let’s define the difference between the two:

Laminate is a multi-layer synthetic flooring product. The core layer of laminate flooring is manufactured primarily from melamine resin and fiberboard material. The top layer has an imprinted textured image made to look like real wood.

Engineered hardwood flooring is a type of wood floor that consists of several layers of wood or plywood. The bottom and middle layers are manufactured from cross-laid solid wood or plywood planks. The top layer consists of a solid sawn wood lamella, often stained and prefinished in a factory setting.

Solid hardwood flooring planks are produced from single pieces of wood that can be purchased unfinished or prefinished.
Basically, while solid or engineered hardwood flooring is manufactured from real wood and preserves the unique textured grain and appearance of natural wood, laminate flooring is only an imitation.

The advancements in laminate and hardwood flooring make the decision between the two more challenging than ever. Technological and structural improvements in each option have led to increased demand for both types.

Years ago, the decision was usually based upon budget- but not anymore! In order to make the best flooring decision for your home or business, the laminate vs. hardwood flooring debate must incorporate an objective and informed analysis of six fairly broad elements.

1. Lifestyle or Usage – Homeowners and business owners who impartially assess their lifestyle or usage are more likely to make the right decision. For example, households with young children and a number of pets or a business that experiences high traffic, might find the durability of laminate flooring more productive. However, advancements in hardwood manufactured finishes and maintenance allow hardwood flooring to work in busy offices and in hectic households that take preventive measures, such as clipping pet’s nails and using rugs.
2. Maintenance Commitment – Regular maintenance is important and no floor can survive without responsible maintenance. However, if your maintenance budget is tight, and if excessive accumulation of dust, dirt, and wear and tear is likely, laminate is easier to maintain. More thorough hardwood floor maintenance cannot be put aside, but laminate can survive quite well with only regular sweeping and vacuuming.
3. Climate and Exposure – Homeowners and business owners must again be objective about the exposure of the floor. Where the floor will be installed is a big consideration. For example, if a bathroom tends to accumulate moisture on the surface, laminate is the more prudent choice. Hardwood floors do not thrive in damp climates with significant temperature swings. Solid hardwood floors should never be installed below grade, which is a popular setting for laminate flooring.
4. Aesthetic Appeal – Laminate has an amazing likeness to hardwood floors. But, there really is nothing as authentic and durable as an authentic solid hardwood floor. Hardwood flooring can also increase the value and demand for your property, be it residential or commercial. If you feel the authenticity of your flooring is important to attract clients or buyers or for the elegant luxury your home requires, hardwood is the right decision.
5. Environmental Considerations – Hardwood gets the nod for renewability and sustainability as it is drawn from carefully managed forests. But, laminate flooring basically eliminates the destruction of any trees. Yet, laminate floors are made from non-renewable sources. In order to assess environmental concerns, remember that hardwood has a much longer life cycle than laminate. Hardwood floors can last hundreds of years, which is a plus.
6. Budget – The cost of laminate flooring is lower than the cost of hardwood flooring. Laminate has a shorter life expectancy but is tough, practical, and durable. However, the return on investment is usually better with hardwood flooring. How tight is your budget? Can you afford to invest in hardwood and maintain it to achieve your maximum return? For a majority of buyers, this is the biggest concern, but certainly not an exclusive consideration.

Many hardwood floor owners say that because of its authenticity, the “real feel” and exclusiveness of hardwood flooring, it is more desirable. However, as we can see, there are situations that indicate laminate is the wiser choice. Be sure to consider all the factors and prioritize your needs before deciding.

Carpet vs Hardwood

Which is better for your space?

New flooring can bring back the life to a space by adding a clean new glow with warm colors, glossy finishes, and a uniform appearance without stains, wear marks, or other ugly spots old floors may have.

When you are recovering the floor in a space of your home, there are many decisions that to be made. Not only do you need to decide where to buy the flooring, but you also have to decide if you will do the work yourself, how high the quality of flooring you should purchase, and the color and style. Hardwood and carpet are the ultimate favorites of homeowners because of their favorable characteristics. Choosing between the two can be tough because they do each have their perks.

In this article, we want to help decide if you want to use carpet or hardwood. This can be a tough decision as each floor covering brings with it different benefits and challenges. We think that depending on your space and what you want to do with it, we will help you make the best decision for your home.

Carpet

Carpet has been a floor covering option since the late 18^th century. If you choose the right colors, carpet can look great and timeless. There have been some great advancements in technology recently that makes modern day carpeting much more attractive than some of its predecessors. Materials such as advanced nylons, special coatings, and even advanced polymers made to resist stains completely make modern day carpeting surprisingly easy to care for.

The biggest benefit of carpeting is going to be the warmth and softness. If you want to walk on soft and padded floor, then carpet is a better choice for you. This is ideal for bedrooms and living room areas where comfort and relaxation are sought. The cold surface of hardwood won’t shock your feet in the winter if you have carpet flooring, which will feel like blanket to your feet. Due to the padding and pile, nothing is going to make you want to snuggle up on the floor like brand new carpet.

Hardwood flooring­

Hardwood has been used in homes ever since houses were built. It is a widely available natural resource and there isn’t much to the process of producing it into flooring.

Hardwood floors are available in different grains, colors, sizes, and finishes. Hardwood is easy to clean, durable, and mostly hypoallergenic. If properly cared for, hardwood can be expected to last 100 years or more, making it a nearly permanent feature for your home. Hardwood can be a little more expensive than carpeting, but it is considered a great investment given how long it may be in your home. The biggest benefit of hardwood flooring is its timeless beauty and elegant feel, helping the space feel more sophisticated.

Weighing the pros and cons

Carpet may seem cheaper than hardwood, but carpet has a shorter life and will need to be replaced every few years. Modern day carpets can be expected to last for 5 to 10 years and some luxury carpets may last up to 20 years- it all depends on traffic and how well it is cared for. If properly maintained, hardwood flooring can be expected to last a lifetime or even more, making it a better investment in the long run. Simply refinishing the hardwood if it’s damaged or stained will make it look good as new.

Hardwood is more sensitive to noise and tends to creak, so people downstairs can hear footsteps from the upper level. Carpet is padded and insulated so sounds don’t travel very far. Because it of the padding, children can enjoy kneeling and getting down on a carpeted floor because of its soft cushions. They also are less likely to hurt themselves if they fall onto carpeted flooring.

Traditionally, carpeting is used in rooms like bedrooms and family rooms while hardwood is used in entryways, kitchens, and dining rooms. If you are looking to make your room feel more refined, easy to clean, and you don’t mind spending a little more now for a greater return in the long run, hardwood flooring is the ideal option. If you are looking for a warm cozy-feeling room with less upfront cost, then carpeting is your best option.

What have you decided?

Hardwood and carpet both have their pros and cons, and it is really a matter of preference when it comes to deciding which one to install. If it’s cushioning you want from carpet but prefer the beauty of hardwood, a quick solution would be placing soft area rugs in high traffic areas on the hardwood floor so you still get the best of both worlds.

Carpet and hardwood can do much more than cover your floors. It can be the foundation of a decorating plan, inspiring other ideas. Or, it can be selected to complement existing walls and furnishings. Above all, the floor covering you choose should reflect your personality and bring comfort to your home.

For more information on Dalton Carpet One, stop by the showroom at 3690 Atlanta Highway, Suite 108 in Athens, Ga., call 706.353.0547 or visit www.daltoncarpetone.com.

Solid vs. Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Which is right for your home?

Hardwood is an easy way to improve the look, durability, and value of your home. Learn more about the types of hardwood flooring and what you should take into consideration when choosing this type of flooring for your home.

Solid Hardwood Flooring

Solid wood is milled from a single ¼ in think piece of hardwood. Solid wood flooring expands and contracts with changes in your home’s relative humidity. Normally, installers compensate for this movement by leaving an expansion gap between the floor and the wall. Base molding or quarter round is traditionally used to hide the extra space.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered hardwood is produced with three to five layers of hardwood. Each layer is stacked in a cross-grain configuration and bonded together under heat and pressure. As a result, engineered wood flooring is less likely to be affected by changes in humidity and can be installed at all levels of the home.

Engineered Hardwood Construction De-Mystified

Engineered hardwood core is made up of multiple layers of wood stacked in a cross-grain configuration, which minimizes expanding and shrinking. Its construction makes engineered hardwood an option above, on, or below grade. Engineered hardwood provides an advantage over solid hardwood because of the ability to install in multiple areas of the home.

Before deciding on solid or engineered hardwood flooring, consider these factors:
Location, Location, Location

The location of your hardwood flooring basically falls into three categories:

Above Grade — any second level or higher

On Grade — at ground level

Below Grade — any floor below ground level

Once installed, engineered and solid hardwood floors appear the same!

Advantages of engineered hardwood vs. solid hardwood:

• More efficient use of our natural resources
• Allows glue down installation over concrete slabs
• Allows floating floor installation
• More moisture tolerant than solid
• Cross-ply construction alternates each layer grain direction for stability
• HDF has no grain direction and greater density
• Lifetime structural warranty
• Minimal seasonal expansion/contraction

For more information on Dalton Carpet One, stop by the showroom at 3690 Atlanta Highway, Suite 108 in Athens, Ga., call 706.353.0547 or visit www.daltoncarpetone.com.