Here are some helpful tips for you to read:

Choosing Materials
Which type of flooring is best for my room? Flooring materials are so varied, it might seem like a daunting job to even choose what type of flooring, not to mention what kind. Flores Flooring can help you in this process. We can help you choose between laminate and hardwood, or tile and carpet. We can even help you decide what colors might look best.

Some things you might want to consider are as follows:

Kitchens and bathrooms...High traffic, possibility of spills and must be cleaned often. You might even be considering safety. Vinyl might be a good choice for these areas. It might prevent breaking glass when a dish is dropped, but remember that a deeply tectured pattern might be harder to clean. Wood an tile are popular for these areas as well, and area rugs can help ease the harder surfaces. Make sure rugs and mats are non-slip. Some newer laminate and wood products are specially formulated for use in rooms with high moisture...ask about them.

Living and dining rooms...These floors are more likely to be decorative in nature, so colors of furniture and walls should be considered. Wood floors and area rugs are a great way to accentuate decor with contrasting colors and subtle shades. Carpets come is such a variety of tecture and color that it would not be difficult to find the perfect color to accentuate furnishings. Light colored carpets in dining rooms may not be a good idea as they tent to show stains more, so make sure if you are chosing carpet to choose wear-resistant and stain-resistant.

Bedrooms...If choosing carpet, choose a neutral color, especially if you repaint and redecorate often. Bedrooms do not get as much traffic as other rooms.

Hallways and Stairs...These areas get the most traffic in the house, so stains and wear will be most visible. Make sure to let us know how much traffic happens in your home and we can help you decide what's best for these areas.

Laminates...Laminates look like real wood, but are easier to install and cost less. They are easier to maintain than hardwoods. Some may need to be glued down, while others are "floating".

Hardwood...Hardwood floors, when properly maintaned, can last a lifetime. You can refinish and stain some of them.

Vinyl...These can be installed as sheets or even tiles. Some are peel-and-stick, others need an adhesive applied first.

Ceramic and Stone...Tiles come in different size, colors, shapes and matelieals. From granite to marble to even small round stones. This flooring installation takes the most time and prep to install with levelling, lining up, and filling the spaces with grout. Tile is most often used in bathrooms, showers and backsplashes.

Carpeting...With so many colors and textures to choose from, carpet is the most veritile flooring choice. Carpets are made of yarn wool or nylon, and need padding underneath. You should ask for the best padding quality available...it's worth it. If you or your family suffer from allergies, carpet might not be the best choice because carpet can house dust and allergens.

We would love to look at your home and give you an estimate on one room or the whole house.

Preparing for Installation
If you have the muscles and the manpower, you can move all the furniture in the room or rooms before we arrive. Of course, we can do this for you if needed. You can also pull up the carpet if you are replacing that, but be careful not to pull up the tack strip.

Usually, we will dispose of the old carpet, but you can do that if you wish.

If you are installing laminate or hardwood floors, you should store them in the room they are going to be installed in for at least 48 hours. This gives them time to adjust to the moisture and temperatre of the room before you insall, which will help keep them from shrinking or expanding too much after installation.

If installing over vinyl, make sure all the vinyl is stapled down, or secured down in some way. If installing over wood floors, make sure to screw down any creaks or loose boards before installation.

If installing a backsplash in the kitchen, removing items from the counters is best before arrival of the crew.

You might want to take a picture at different angles of the room before we come out and install, then you can see the difference when we are through. We might even ask you for a copy of the "before" picture for our files.

There is an additional fee for removing furniture and disposing of the carpet, but we'll let you know the options when we give you the estimate.

Care and Maintenance
Laminates...Sweep regularly to avoid scratches from grit and dirt. Avoid excessive moisture to avoid swelling and warping. Mop with a slightly damp mop. Clean spills and mud immediately. Do not use household cleaners and soap. These usually have abrasives and will scratch the surface. Look for cleaners made specifically for laminate flooring. Be careful when vacuuming. Lift furniture when moving it rather than dragging or sliding.

Hardwood...Hardwood floors are usually protected by a sealer, some only by wax. Make sure and find out what kind of protectant there is on your floor to know the best way to clean it. Vacuum and sweep often. Clean spills and mud immediately. Do not wax a urethane finish. Do not use water-based cleaners.

Carpeting...Carpets should be vacuumed weekly to maintain their efficiency in collecting dust. Think of them as a kind of filter for the whole house. Invest in a good vacuum cleaner. Blot stains immediately. Apply any cleaner you are using to the towel rather than the carpet itself. Let mud dry, use a dull knife or spoon to get the big pieces, then vacuum the rest up. Deep cleaning every year is a good idea.

Linoleum...These are very tough flooring materials. Most are water and stain resistant, but over time can lose that quality, so protecting the floor is a good idea. Seal linoleum even when it is new. Do not use any alkaline products on linoleum. Use a mild detergent to clean and a very light coat of finish to seal it.

Vinyl...These are typically called no wax or no maintenance. Sweeping or vacuuming is almost all that is needed, but mopping is sometimes required. Use mild detergent when mopping and not too much water, then use plain water to rinse the floor and avoid leaving a detergent film. You might consider applying an acrylic floor polish as the flooring loses its luster over time.

Ceramic Tile...Tile is pretty tough, but it can crack, so be careful dropping large objects on it. Usually sweeping or vacuuming wil clean, but mopping will be required occasionally. Use a mild detergent when mopping and then go over with plain water. Wax is usually unnecessary, but ask us when choosing so we can inform you of the best solution.