Benefits of Using Vinyl Plank Flooring in Your Home

Have you wondered how you can get great flooring for your home without spending too much?

Well, Vinyl Flooring is an answer to your question!

There are countless varieties of vinyl plank flooring available in the market in terms of texture, style, and color, and each of these options resembles costly flooring.

While buying vinyl floors, you don’t have you to shell out a lot of money. A fraction of what you were planning to pay for hardwood or other option is enough for purchasing it.

Now let’s come to the next part: Shelf life of vinyl flooring!

Do you know that even a low-quality vinyl floor can last up to 10 years? And if you have purchased a high-quality floor, you can use it for 30 years.

If you are confused on whether the vinyl floor is suitable for high-moisture environment, then you need not worry. Vinyl flooring is resistant to the high-moisture environment, including bathroom and kitchen.

Comfort is another factor linked to the vinyl floor that makes it worth installing. It also helps in decreasing the noise in the home. All these features reflect vinyl is an ideal option for your home.

Make sure to purchase the vinyl flooring only from a trusted store. Concord Carpet and Hardwood is one popular store from California that offers multiple options. You can also contact this store for purchasing laminate wood flooring.

Click here to read more about this California-based company.

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What Makes Carpet Ideal For Your Home?

With myriad options available in the market, you can choose the best carpet that matches your taste. Well, this is just one of the many benefits linked to using carpets for a home.

If we talk about the costs, which is one of the primary concerns of a homeowner, rugs are cheaper than other hard surface floorings. The maintenance of the carpets also does not burn a hole in your pocket. They help you save the energy bills, as they contribute to the insulation of the home.

Installing carpets is also an excellent strategy to stage your home before inviting the prospects. It will surely raise the overall appearance of the home by several notches.

Safety is a unique trait possessed by carpet, which is lacking in other hard surfaces. The carpet prevents the damage that may be caused due to slips. It, therefore, becomes an ideal choice for disabled and aged individuals. Even if an individual falls on it, the injuries will not be severe.

Just like insulating the cold, the carpets also play a role in absorbing the sound. This means you need not worry about others getting disturbed when you are listening to loud music.

To get the finest quality carpet, you need a consult an expert that possesses years of experience. Concord Carpet and Hardwoods is one such renowned carpet store that has satisfied customers from Walnut Creek, Danville, and other regions of California.

Read more about this popular carpet store here.

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Top 7 Benefits of Carpet Flooring

When it comes to bare feet, nothing beats carpet. Carpet is soft, warm, cozy, friendly, and perfect for both families and businesses depending on the variety you choose. So, if you’re searching for the perfect flooring for your home, here are the top 7 benefits that a good carpet can offer.

1. Carpet is Warm

We’ve all had the experience of stepping out onto a cold tile or hardwood floor in the morning. If you’re barefoot, it’s not something you enjoy. Carpet, however, is never cold to walk on and it always feels great between bare toes, no matter how early it is.

2. Carpet is Nonslip

Slip and fall accidents are a serious concern for many mobility-challenged Americans, seniors and the disabled in particular. While hardwood floors, tiles, and laminate can all be surprisingly slippery (particularly when wet), carpet offers good traction and cushion in case a fall does occur. This can also be beneficial if you have busy toddlers just finding their feet.

3. Energy Savings

Carpet is a fabric, and like your favorite sweater it keeps things warm. This means that your carpet actually acts as a thick layer of insulation to keep warm or cold air out and segment your floors during the summer and winter, enhancing your HVAC system’s performance and reducing energy costs.

4. Soundproofing

Carpet keeps heat and cold out so that you’re comfortable. In the same way, the cushion and textile also dampens noise, helping to quiet your home. Whether you have someone playing music downstairs, gaming loudly, or running across their bedroom, carpet can cut down on noise transfer and give you peace of mind.

5. Endless Variety

No matter how many hardwood stains they come up with, carpet will always provide the best variety and range of colors and textures for homes. With a full rainbow and incredibly diverse fabric and pattern options like plush, Saxony, Berber, textured and friez, modern carpets are a more versatile and unique flooring solution than ever before.

6. Affordability

Foot for foot carpeting offers a better value than hardwood floors, tile, and a variety of other options. Plus, replacing a carpet is decidedly easier and less messy than refinishing hardwood.

7. Sustainability

New technologies are arising that makes carpet a more ecologically friendly option for those concerned with the environment. These technologies take old carpet and recycle it into new carpeting and other products with a surprisingly low amount of waste.

Of course, not all carpets are created equally and only an expert can tell you which carpet is right for your particular home or business. At Concord Carpet and Hardwood we have years of experience with carpet sales, installation, and repair. We’ll get you the perfect carpet at a great price, as well as a high quality carpet pad to maximize your flooring’s performance. Call us today at 925-691- 7101 to learn more.

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Hardwood Refinishing and Repairs

The biggest mistake many homeowners make when it comes to hardwood finishing and repairs is underestimating the amount of time and effort required to do it yourself. DIY refinishing is a long, hard process and mistakes are common.

But at Concord Carpet and Hardwood we’ve been restoring and refinishing hardwood floors for decades. We bring the best equipment, great training, and a wealth of experience to guarantee that your home is treated well and your floors end up looking better than new in a fraction of the time even a well-prepared homeowner could get the same result.

Hardwood Floor Refinishing

Step 1. Prep

Before we can get started you need to safely remove all furniture and appliances from the room. Consider plastic disc sliders for heavy items, and consider laying plastic over any nearby rooms that can’t be closed off, to keep sanding dust off. Any children or pets should be kept well-away from the area being refinished.

Step 2. Sanding

We’ll use a mechanical sander to quickly and evenly remove the polyurethane sealant from the floor, as well as the top layer of wood. Starting with medium-grain grit and moving to finer grits we’ll leave an increasingly polished unfinished surface, turning to edging sanders to reach the sides and corners, and vacuuming often to remove dust and keep your home clean and livable.

Step 3. Staining

It is extremely important that you pick the right stain ahead of time. After all, your stain will most likely be in place for 8, 10, even 20 years before your floor needs to be refinished and repaired again. Let us know if you want a test patch, and once that’s confirmed we’ll move on to apply a thin even layer of stain across small sections of the floor. Once the stain has been put down it needs to dry completely before we can move on to the next stage.

Step 4. Sealing

A good floor varnish protects your newly-stained floor from scuffs, scratches, moisture, and even slows down changes in color and fading due to sunlight and weathering. We’ll use long-handled tools to put down several layers of polyurethane sealant, working with the grain and removing any drips or excess to give your floor a smooth, glossy, well-polished finish. Sanding takes place between layers (once the application dries) and the results are truly stunning.

Step 5. Waiting

Once the new varnish is in place you should expect to wait at least 48 for the final coat of varnish to dry before the furniture can be replaced. Once this time has passed the room is ready to use and should look and feel fantastic!

Homeowners should be aware that sanding and refinishing does take time and can be somewhat disruptive to your family’s regular comings and goings. It may be worthwhile to schedule the appointment during a weekend or a few days where you and your family are out of town, in order to avoid dust and odor exposure and minimize the disturbance.

For hardwood refinishing and repair in Contra Costa County, contact Concord Carpet and Hardwood today at 925- 691-7101!

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The Carpet Installation Process: Start to Finish

There is a science to installing carpet, and at Concord Carpet and Hardwood we have the process down. Here’s how your carpet installation appointment will go:

Step 1. Determine the Area of the Room

This step you can do at home before you pick out your new carpet style, or you can call us and we’ll come over and take the measurements for you. Start by measuring the longest walls in your room, and then multiply the length and width and divide the answer by 9. This is the number of square yards you have to cover, although you may want to add 10% to give you some extra cloth for future repairs or installation hiccups.

Step 2. Prep

Remove any furniture from the area. If you haven’t done it already, we’ll remove the carpet and pad from the area before installation. You should also remove any doors from the room, sweep the bare surface clean, and vacuum.

Step 3. Install the Tackless Strips

We’ll size and cut the correct tackless strips for your carpet and install them to hold your carpet in place.

Step 4. Install the Carpet Pad

The carpet pad goes down perpendicular to the carpet and is fixed in place. Multiple pieces are stretched together and butted, then stapled in place to provide a uniform surface. The pad is then trimmed around the tackless strips so these can reach the carpet which will go above.

Step 5. Prep the carpet

Notches are added to the carpet at the longest length of the room, plus 3”. Then a chalk line is drawn from notch to notch and the carpet is cut to size along the chalk line. This finished, the carpet is rolled out inside the room and is further cut to shape around the edges. If multiple pieces of carpet are needed, these are laid next to one another and the edges are joined with a piece of seaming tape, sealed with heat. At this stage it is important to make sure that the edges are straight, that the lines match up, and that the pile of the different carpet pieces run in the same direction.

Step 6. Attach the Carpet

We attach the first edge of the carpet to the tackless strips at one end of the room, using a knee kicker. We place the face of the knee kicker against the carpet about 3″ away from the wall, then hit the back of the kicker to stretch the carpet forward and over the strips to the edge of the wall. Any extra carpet is trimmed to leave a behind a straight cut at the edge of the wall.

Step 7. Power Stretcher

We use a power stretcher to attach to the strips on the other side of the room, then trim up as necessary. We also use stair tools and the knee kicker to handle tight corners and other features.

Step 8. Finishing

We nail a binder bar down in any area without a wall (doorways, entryways) and stretch the carpet with a knee kicker to close the bar onto the edge of the carpet. Then it’s time for stairs, vent openings, shoe moldings, and cleanup.

For carpet sales and installation, contact Concord Carpet and Hardwood of Concord, CA at 925-691- 7101.

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New Trends in Hardwood Flooring

There are no shortage of unique and exciting options for hardwood flooring, and today we’re taking a look at some of the best trends of the present and what, precisely, makes them such interesting options for homeowners.

Wide Plank Flooring

Wide planks are defined as planks constructed at 5 inches wide and wider. This style used to be very common in past centuries, and that striking traditional look is what has brought them back in the present day. The wider construction is perfect for showing off the beautiful patterns and lines within the wood itself. Wide planks are available in both engineered and solid hardwoods as well as various varieties of laminate.

Mixed Wood Species

Mixed wood is visually interesting in that it combines the colors and textures of various species in a single flooring type. Moreover, mixed wood may include varying plank width and length to create a mosaic effect on your floors. Homeowners should note, however, that mixed wood flooring is strictly available in laminate. This is because different woods expand at different rates due to heat and humidity, a detail that would steadily break down and ruin a true mixed wood floor. The laminate, however, holds together, looks true to life, and is easy to install, showing off the diverse colors, textures, and patterns of the different woods within.

Reclaimed Wood

The demand for reclaimed wood is surging as modern homeowners embrace a warm, historic, well-worked aesthetic for floors, beams, and counters. But the cost of this material can be prohibitive, leading to the development of many new varieties of material that imitate the look of reclaimed wood at a much lower cost—particularly laminate.

Hand-Scraped Wood Flooring

While not truly reclaimed, hand-scraped wood imitates the distressed, worn, uneven appearance of traditional wood planks. This wood is finished to look old and historic and can be generated either by hand or via a machine depending on the exact material you select. Of course, the level of distress added can vary, with most consumers settling on a just-noticeable, broken-in, comfortable level of wear.

Extreme Stain Colors

Recent years have seen a distinct shift towards extremely light and extremely dark stain colors for hardwoods, rather than the usual red, warm tones. Some favorite dark tones include ebony, espresso, and dark walnut—all of which allow homeowners to create strong contrast with light paint colors and furniture. Grays, blondes, and whites, on the other hand, brighten rooms and create an airy, open effect that can be quite unique.

Green Wood Floors

Ecologically friendly materials have been on the rise for some time, and there is no sign of the trend slowing down. Bamboo and cork flooring are currently some of the best options. Bamboo and cork are both harvested with minimal ecological impact, generate little waste during manufacture, and provide a high quality flooring material with varied and beautiful style and color options available.

To explore all your flooring options, including cutting-edge styles like these, contact Concord Carpet and Hardwood of Concord, CA at 925-691- 7101.

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Tricks to Stay in Budget and Tips for When to Splurge on Floors

Budgeting for a new floor can be difficult and unpredictable, a common theme when it comes to home improvement projects. But, as difficult as it may be, budgeting for your new floor is an important step and one that can be accomplished with a great degree of accuracy if you follow these useful tips.

HOW TO SAVE:

Follow the 20 percent rule.

As you create your budget, set aside at least 20 percent for cost overrun, material cost-difference, or other “surprises.” These are more common than not during improvement projects like floor remodels, and when something goes wrong the money does need to come from somewhere. Protect your savings by building a substantial pad into your budget from day one.

Stick to the plan.

The worst way to destroy a budget is to change your mind about the project partway through the job. Make every effort to pick the right flooring material, color, pattern, stain, and all other details up front and stick with them to the end. Change orders add time and expense, and depending on which stage of the process are you are at, the supplies you’ve already used may not be refundable.

Buy In-Stock.

Buying from stock will almost always help you narrow down your options more quickly and save you money compared to special orders chosen from samples. In-stock flooring is usually decent quality and is purchased by dealers (like us) in bulk at a discount, which is then passed on to customers like you.

Build Basic Where You Can.

Your budget can and should look very different when you are furnishing different types of rooms. If you need a new floor for a child’s bedroom, you can basically use an inexpensive, readily available section of remnant carpet or in-stock section of hardwood. The bed will cover most of the floor and very few visitors will ever see the room. However, if you are furnishing a kitchen or living room, you should consider your options much more carefully.

WHEN TO SPLURGE:

When Durability is An Issue.

High traffic areas should receive more expensive materials able to stand up to wear and tear without breaking down or requiring repair or replacement. Consider tile, for instance. Inexpensive ceramic tile can shatter easily when pots and pans are dropped. Porcelain tile, while more expensive, offers a higher degree of shatter resistance and is a better choice for busy kitchens. The same goes for different varieties of carpeting in the living room, and hardwood floor varieties in living spaces, kitchens, or walkways.

When You are Finishing an Entertainment Zone.

Any areas of your home where you host guests, such as the living room, kitchen, or a sitting room, should receive a floor that you like and that you want to show off. Work on making these areas highly presentable and tied- together, while cutting back and choosing inexpensive options elsewhere. This should give you the best bang for your buck in terms of home value and presentation.

For all your flooring needs, including sales, installation, and repair in Contra Costa County, contact Concord Carpet and Hardwood today at 925-691- 7101!

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