ALL FLOORS DESIGN CENTRE

There are many options when it comes to outdoor flooring that will withstand hot or cold climates. You will find some that are reasonably priced, but sometimes having a lower price may not work for your outdoor circumstances.

Carpets made for the outdoors are the cheapest, but are a little more expensive than what you would use indoors. The disadvantage of this carpeting is that it can be very slippery when snow has fallen on it. If you are planning to use this area in winter, then be careful, or choose another option.

If you are on a low budget, artificial grass may be the outdoor option for you. Astroturf can come in all shapes, sizes, colors and prices. The more you pay, the more it will look and feel like grass. This is very versatile if you have a dog. The dirt will simply wash away in the rain, and it will not become damaged or bare. If this is an option when a friend or family with pet comes to visit, and you do not want a lawn to keep mowing, it is easily stored in between visits.

If you do not want carpet, or one that looks like a lawn you can opt for tiles. These can interlock and come in all shapes, sizes and colors. When choosing a tile, make sure it will work well in all weather. Some do not adapt very well to cold climates. All these options will vary the price and if you use mortar or grout for the outdoor this will add to the price. You may have to flatten the area you want the patio or yard, so again this will affect the price. If this is the case, price everything up before buying your tiles.

Other outdoor flooring options are pavers and bricks, which are very cheap. The disadvantage is the hard labor that could still cost you a pretty penny. The advantage to this flooring is that your patio will last for years to come, and may even last longer the house.

Wooden flooring is very popular, given your garden that classic look. Most people choose it to make a decking instead of a patio. There are many ways to laying your wooden outdoor floor. Cedar and Redwood will not rot or decay so it is a long-lasting option. You may decide on a pine floor, as this is the cheapest wood, but may need treating after the first few years of weathering.

You have lots of flooring options you would like to have outdoor, most of which will work in warm or cold weather climates. While you have a lot of options and types to choose from, it is important not to base your purchasing decision based solely on price. Some types will work great for you, but others might not work nearly as well, so you really need to do more than comparing the prices.

Whether you are building a new house or intend to redo the flooring in your existing property, choosing a Calgary flooring company would be the most vital decision you would make. Unless you are heading for some do it yourself Calgary flooring resources, you would have to rely on a flooring company completely to do a perfect job for you.

Here are a few steps you can take to choose the finest and the best Calgary flooring company.

Expertise or rather experience would always be desirable but what is more desirable is that the company must offer all types of flooring. Whether you are looking at tiles, marble, hardwood or vinyl, if a company has hands on years of experience and are experts with all the types, you are likely to zero in on the best solution. You would always have preferences with the type of flooring and the specific designs you would want but analyzing all the types of flooring can help you to make an informed decision. A Calgary flooring company that can educate you on the advantages and limitations of each type of flooring would be your ideal choice.

Asking for quotes from various Calgary flooring companies is an exercise any homeowner would love to do and would always carry out. What is also important along with this is to check the brands that they are associated with. For instance, if you want hardwood flooring then you must check the source of the hardwood. In case the flooring companies themselves are into the hardwood business then you much research their quality. The quality of the materials is as significant as the quality of installation and they are interdependent on each other. As much time you spend on trying to scout for the ideal company or thinking about the specific design, the same amount of time must be invested in figuring out the ideal brands of flooring materials that you would like to use.

Warranty will be an important deciding factor. Different Calgary flooring companies would have different terms of warranties. You must look for the most favorable terms, in regards to the timeframe, specific circumstances, the customer service aspect and various other factors that are mentioned in fine print.

Lastly, the past work done of a Calgary flooring company should act as the guarantor. You must be satisfied with what they have done and do not just read testimonials on a website but reach out to the past clients. This may be some work but it’s worth it when you spend money on your flooring.

Vinyl flooring is one of the easiest types of flooring to clean. This is one of the reasons why it is a popular type of flooring to use in such areas as the kitchen. Spillages can be easily mopped up using an absorbent cloth, although it makes sense that the sooner you can mop them up the better the results will be. Anything can stain a floor if it has a strong color, such as red wine for instance. This is why spillages need to be taken care of as quickly as possible.

But what about those stains that aren’t as easy to remove? Vinyl can be scuffed or stained with shoe prints on occasion for example. But whatever the stain might be you may have to try something a little more advanced than cleaning it up with an absorbent cloth.

Don’t use anything abrasive

This is the first thing to remember. If you have an abrasive cloth or scrubbing brush of some kind, you can end up removing the stain and half the design on the floor with it.

This is something you need to be careful of anyway, no matter what method you use for stain removal. Always test anything you want to use in an area you won’t see first of all. This way you’ll know it’s safe to use on the floor before you tackle the stain.

Using soap and water

The trusty combination of soap and clean water will work in many cases. Get a clean, non-abrasive cloth and soak it in the solution. Rub the stain gently to loosen as much as you can. If this doesn’t remove the whole thing you can lay the cloth on the stain for an hour or so to help loosen the rest. Then wipe it up and finish off with a clean cloth to dry it.

What about bleach?

Bleach can work with some stains that are too stubborn to be removed with soap and water. Just be sure you wear rubber gloves and you don’t mix the bleach with anything else. Again you may need to give the bleach a little time to work its way through the stain to remove it.

What do you do if none of the above methods work?

Some stains require a very specific treatment – and you won’t necessarily be able to guess what it is. If you try the above methods and you don’t get any results, try searching the internet for advice on removing your specific stain from vinyl flooring. This will usually turn up some solutions people have tried with success. Just remember to test any solution on an area you won’t see first.

The main thing to remember is that when you tackle any stain, the sooner you can set about removing it the better. Older stains always take more time to remove, although you can very often find a way of removing even these stubborn stains completely from vinyl flooring too.

There is nothing quite so appealing as a high quality hardwood or laminate floor. That is, until someone scratches it. Whether it is a pet, a dropped knife or a stiletto shoe, the truth is that even the toughest hardwood or laminate floor will undoubtedly suffer a scratch or two in the end. The trick is to know how to repair it so you can get your much-loved top quality floor back to normal again.

Repairing scratched hardwood floors

If you find a scratch in your hardwood floor, don’t panic. Once you have looked at the extent of the damage you can set about repairing it in the best possible way.

The first step is to grab some steel wool or sandpaper – a fine grade is good for this job – so you can sand the area where the scratch has occurred. Don’t just sand the scratch – make sure you sand a small area around it too, as this will help it to blend in. Get a soft new brush and brush over the sanded area to ensure no dust remains before moving on to the next stage.

The next step is to find a wood filler that is the same color (or as close to it as you can get) as the floor. Carefully fill the scratched area with the filler, making sure you don’t create any more damage as you do so. This is one job it is worth taking your time with.

Once you have done this and the filler has dried fully (leave overnight or according to the instructions on the filler) you can seal the area to finish the job.

Repairing scratched laminate floors

The most common way to repair these scratches is to use wax crayons. Stores that sell laminate flooring generally sell repair kits that include the crayons in them. It is actually very difficult to completely repair a laminate floor once it has been scratched, so preventative actions are always better than the alternative. But with that said if you can match the color of your floor as closely as possible with one of the crayons, you can perform a very high quality repair.

Another technique you can use is to cover your repair with a small amount of wood varnish. Get a clear varnish that will seal the repair and still leave the color of the crayon you chose visible. In most cases this repair technique will vastly reduce the appearance of the scratches, even though they won’t disappear altogether.

You can see that no matter what type of floor you have or where the scratch has occurred, there is a solution that will give you back the floor you really wanted. The sooner you tackle the scratch and the more time you devote to doing a good job, the better the finished result will be. And that means you’ll soon have your hardwood or laminate floor back to normal so you can enjoy its beauty once again.

Choosing the proper floor covering can be a challenging task. Your floors are seen by everyone and as much as you want them to be attractive, they also need to be functional as well as durable. The floor and walls of any space sets the tone for the overall design of the space and these days floor covering is being taken very seriously, luckily there are many Calgary flooring outlets to choose from. Despite all this, you don't need to be an interior decorator to decide on which covering is right for you.

Your Design's Foundation

Every room of your house has (hopefully) a design plan. Certain flooring needs will require the entire floor be covered while some will need but a simple throw rug as an accent. Your floor covering makes a statement about the room and is the foundation for everything else that will follow. Your flooring will not only dictate your decor but will also affect things such as lighting.

The different types of floor coverings available from Calgary flooring outlets are immense but carpeting is far and away the most popular floor covering on the market today. As if it isn't bad enough that you have to decide on a color but there are many different styles to choose from. This is where the advice of your local Calgary flooring expert can be helpful. Kitchens and bathrooms are rarely carpeted due to the close proximity of water and the possibility of making messes that are much easier wiped up off a solid surface.

Laminate Flooring

Laminates are another type of floor covering that many people choose. It is very durable, low cost and comes in an enormous variety of styles and colors. Unlike linoleum, laminates are normally installed via a tongue and groove system. Laminate flooring is relatively easy for the do it yourselfer and a relatively large surface can be laid in the course of an evening. Because they are manufactured by pressing layers of materials together standing moisture can cause a problem. Spills and regular cleaning are not an issue if they are tended immediately.

Linoleum (vinyl flooring) is a very popular product sold by most Calgary flooring vendors. It is inexpensive, easy to install and relatively durable although without proper care it will wear under high traffic conditions. Linoleum is normally applied via an adhesive that you apply or, in the case of linoleum squares, by means of an adhesive backing. Large sheets of linoleum will need to be cut to fit properly around the expanse of the floor (cabinets and what not). A word of caution, if you decide to lay a large sheet of linoleum that you have already cut, apply the adhesive to the floor in smaller, 6' x 6' areas. It is much easier to pull up linoleum in small sections if needed. Then to pull up half a floors worth of glued down vinyl sheets.

Floor tiles are also available at most Calgary flooring outlets and are what most people think of when the word “tile” is mentioned in conjunction with flooring. However, tiles can be made from a variety of materials such as vinyl, ceramic, slate, clay and even stone. It is ranges in price from cheap to expensive depending on the type of material. Tiles are almost always laid down with a standalone adhesive. While the softer tiles can be cut easily enough to fit around baseboards and such, the harder tiles such as ceramic and stone is a bit more difficult and requires a bit of knowledge and experience to trim.

The Beauty Of Wood

Hardwood flooring is some of the most beautiful and durable flooring available from any Calgary flooring purveyor. The rich colors and warm tones are some of the most sought after floor appearances ever. It is the most durable of the floor coverings but does take some care to ensure that things such as furniture do not scratch the surface. It is expensive and its installation is time consuming. While most hard flooring is tongue and groove, once it is installed it needs to be sanded and finished with some type of stain (optional) and a clear coat finish.

Cork is another material that flooring is manufactured from. Cork is surprisingly tough and resilient and its insulating properties are one of its largest selling points. It is flexible so it is well suited for floors that aren't exactly smooth. Cork is antimicrobial by nature and fire resistant. Unlike other floor coverings, cork can be laid over any type of sub-flooring or finish flooring save for carpet. It is softer than most floor coverings and is perfect for the kids’ room as it is easy on the feet and knees.

Outside The Home

Commercial flooring is also available from any reputable Calgary flooring distributor. Rubber flooring comes in sheets, tiles and mats and in used mostly over concrete where standing for long periods of time becomes an issue such as factories and kitchens. Rubber flooring is also used in gymnasiums and weight rooms. It also works well in basements and garages.

A few words about the type of Calgary flooring retailers you should deal with. Find established dealers that carry a wide selection of top quality products for you to choose from with a knowledgeable staff of helpful associates. Pick one that has a comprehensive showroom to view their products. You may even be able to get free estimates from some of the larger suppliers, if they install then be sure they have a warranty policy. Find a dealer that can help with domestic, commercial applications, new construction and renovation needs. Finding a distributor that can handle all these situations assures you that they can deal with anything you might be able to throw at them, they will probably be able to give you some type of discount due to their massive inventory. Choosing a Calgary flooring dealer is not as hard as it might seem, just make sure that they have a wide selection of product are equipped to help your needs.

Laminate Flooring in Calgary is not only one of the best but best in almost all the terms of costing, design and also in terms of technology prevailing in current world flooring options.

But the question rises of what exactly is laminate flooring is?

Laminate technology is similar to hardwood in looks. But the difference between hardwood and laminate flooring is the latter one is a little bit of vinyl tiling and also a little bit of engineered floor. So to speak, it’s kinds of a hybrid flooring option which can be considered as viable and very much cost-effective which is very important in today’s world.

The durability is something that each family can appreciate, and it's truly very difficult to damage available out there. If we try to define the same in technical terms, laminate flooring would be understood as having two thin layers of paper filled with melamine. The bottom layer is literally a photograph of wood grain and it is covered by a hard layer which makes it resistant to dents and scratches laminate floors. Installation is usually substantially less difficult than that needed by carpet or hardwood flooring, and quite often is a task that some homeowners take upon themselves.

Any consumer that takes benefit of laminate flooring sales in Calgary knows that it can help to have the materials professionally installed, so it can be never a bad idea to ask the supplier if they offer any type of installation service or at least would be readily.

The pros and cons list of laminate technology has number of points that needs to be considered explicitly while working with it. We will first list out the pros of laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is very easy to clean, stain resistant and easy to install. Laminate is also quite affordable compared to hardwood flooring. So, if you live near Calgary and you’re decided on a wood-look for your home, laminate flooring is a durable, cost-effective alternative to wood.

In early days laminate floors were very much boring! Old cliché look. If you wanted a floor like and butcher block, laminate floors were the very good options. After a few years I began to lose interest in doing installations for two chief reasons; they were extremely sensitive to moisture, and a pain to install using glue. Often the edges would swell up because of the glue after installation and it doesn’t matter what was done. More than likely a case of too much glue but the manufacturers insisted on a liberal amount, which in effect would seal the edges.

Although laminate is quite durable, it isn’t scratch-proof nor can it be sanded and re-finished as wood can. Therefore, if laminate flooring gets scratched or damaged in any way, the pieces need to be removed and replaced instead of re-finished.

Laminate flooring combines all natural designs with a durable finish, tough and used in many areas of the home. Laminate floors present sensible designs and can imitate the characteristics of the hand scraped hardwood floors too.

It is very vital to always keep laminate pure, as dust, dirt and sand particles can tear the ornamental surface over time. Moreover, it is again essential to keep laminate relatively dehydrated, as sitting water or moisture can root the planks to swell, warp, etc, even though some brands are equipped with water-resistant coatings. Water spills are not a trouble if they are wiped up promptly, and not allowed to remain there for a longer period of time.

Hence, it is better to go with the laminate flooring in Calgary, which comes in better design and with reasonable cost.

Flooring can be a very personal choice. But there is no doubt that laminates and hardwoods are both exceptionally popular among the wide range of Calgary flooring that is available. If you are saying goodbye to carpets in favor of something more eye-catching, you're probably considering the differences between laminated flooring and hardwood flooring. Which one would be the best choice for your needs?

Which type of flooring looks best?

There is arguably nothing better than a true hardwood floor to give the authentic look many people are after. It has a warm, genuine and welcoming appearance that can enhance many different types of properties.

However we shouldn't discount laminate flooring because this can also enhance a room when it is laid properly. There is also a big difference between the most basic forms of laminate and the top quality ones that are hard to distinguish from real wood at first glance.

Of course it isn't just appearance you should be looking at. There are several other factors that will come into play here as well, so it is important to look over them all when you want to buy Calgary flooring of this nature.

What about the price comparison?

Price is of course a deciding factor for some people. Hardwood floors are more expensive but if you only have a small area to cover the difference in price won't notice quite as much. Consider your finances and see whether you can stretch to hardwood flooring before you consider the pros and cons of each one.

Are they hard-wearing?

Both laminate and hardwood flooring are very hard-wearing. Hardwood flooring tends to last longer but it depends on the quality, finish and areas it is laid in. Although with that been said, if you have ever seen an old and slightly battered hardwood floor you will know that it has a great deal of character!

If you opt for laminate make sure you get the best quality laminate you can afford. It is generally better at withstanding scratches and dents if you should drop something on it. Similarly if you have pets you should consider the impact they will have on the floor. Claws can do a lot of damage to a hardwood floor.

However with proper maintenance, care and attention either choice should last a long time.

Are they easy to maintain?

Laminate flooring is very easy to maintain. You simply have to sweep it regularly, wipe it over with a non-abrasive cloth and make sure any spillage are cleared up straightaway. You won't have to sand or polish it every now and then either.

Hardwood floors do need sanding and refinishing every now and then, but this gives you the advantage of taking out any surface damage that has occurred over time. As such you can expect the small amount of additional maintenance to result in a longer lasting floor.

So which is it to be?

Only you can decide whether you will lay hardwood flooring or laminate flooring in your home. They both provide a wonderfully warm and welcoming finish and they are among the most popular Calgary flooring products. Once you have considered your budget, requirements and demands, you can make the right choice for you - one you will enjoy for many years to come.

Whether you are considering hardwood or laminate, All Floors Design Centre should be your number one choice for your flooring needs in Calgary.