Infloormation

This month at InFLOORmation, the Pierce Flooring and Design blog, we have been posting on topics such as: Care and Maintenance, News and Events and Design Related Topics. For a bird’s eye view of this month’s topics, see the list below. If you did not see a topic that you are interested in, please leave us a comment. We are here to be YOUR source for flooring inFLOORmation.
Here’s a quick recap of posts from the month of August by category. Just click on the link to read the post.

Care and Maintenance:
How To Remove Candle Stains

Hardwood Maintenance Video

The Importance of Sealing Natural Stone

Hardwood Floor Maintenance

News and Events:

Join us on Facebook

Stainmaster Days Sales Event

Design Related Topics:

How To Choose A Grout Color

Karastan Shopping Wisdom on Material Choices

Bath Tile Design Idea

There are so many myths out there about how to clean hardwood floors. Would you believe that some people use water (in a bucket) with a mop (word to the wise – wood and water are not friends!), shaving cream and we’ve even heard Windex! Each manufacturer is different, but you if you clean your hardwood floors with the wrong cleaner or worse multiple cleaners on top of each other you can void that nice long warranty that you received when you purchased your floors. Why not take the time to do it the right way? Not only will you have clean floors, but you will have properly cleaned and well maintained floors with an intact manufacturers warranty!

At Pierce Flooring, we use and recommend the Bona family of products. Bona offers wood cleaners that are safe for all residential hardwood floors that are safe for the environment as well as your family. Other products they offer include tile, laminate and stone cleaners, the proper mops you should be using to apply their cleaners.

Bona’s mission is “Bringing out the Best in Hardwood Floors.” They have been the world leader in hardwood floor finishing and floor care for over 90 years, combining luxury and convenience through a world-class product offering, designed specifically for you and your floors.

Maintaining your hardwood floors involves more than just cleaning. Be sure to use walk off mats at every exterior door to prevent dirt from being trapped on your shoes and entering your home where that dirt or sand can scratch the finish on your hardwood floors. Equally as important, keep the mats clean, too! Also, use chair protectors on chairs with legs. People don’t even think about the damage they do when they get out of a chair. One last tip, ask your guests to remove their high heels (when possible). The pressure of a woman in high heels can leave permanent dents in some species of wood floors.

Between the quality of Bona and the service you get at Pierce Flooring, what more could you ask for in a team?!?

Call us today at 877.525.0066 or come into see us to get the Bona product that is right for your floor.

Even though natural stone is very hard and strong, it can also be very porous. Because of this feature, you want to protect your natural stone investment by using a quality sealer.

If left unsealed, stains can penetrate deep into the stone. Using a sealer allows the sealer to penetrate deep into the pores of the stone, filling them so that stains cannot penetrate  those pores.

There are different types and qualities of sealers on the market. At Pierce Flooring, we recommend and use Miracle Sealants. They offer a variety of products including cleaners, color and gloss enhancers, abrasives, penetrating sealers, water based sealers, natural look sealers and one step sealers and enhancers. Everything you need to protect your stone floor, countertop or backsplash.

Keep in mind that not all sealers are the same. There are topical sealers and penetrating sealers. To get the best job, you want to use a penetrating sealer.  A penetrating sealer fills the pores of the stone so that when a stain tries to fill those pores it can’t because the sealer is already there blocking the pores.

How can you tell if you need to reseal your natural stone? Simply pour some water on your stone. If after half an hour your stone does not turn dark, then your sealer is still working.

Protecting your investment is easy. Call us today at 877-525-0066 or stop by to discuss your project so we can help you determine what product is right for you.

This use of tile on the wall in this powder room is referred to as wainscoting. Wainscoting can be higher up the wall than this, but in this case it only goes to about chair rail height. It can include tile that is larger, smaller, in different patterns, different styles and more.

This tile does a great job of giving this small bathroom some personality and interest. The particular texture of this tile is its best feature. Not only does this tile install look fantastic, but it serves a purpose as well! The tile serves as a sink splash as well as wall protection.

Because this tile stops below the chair rail it allows a different texture and wall surface to be installed above the chair rail. In this case, the wall above the chair rail is darker than the bottom half of the wall. This keeps a small room from feeling smaller with all of the walls being dark.

Also worth noting, the style and elegance of the toilet and sink. The lines of these fixtures compliments the beauty of the tile on the wall. Also, notice the toilet paper holder is the same finish as the hardware on the other fixtures. It’s all in the details…..

Karastan’s shopping wisdom on material choices. Here’s what you need to know!

The type of fiber used in a rug plays a key role in how it feels and how well it performs. Basically, there are two fiber types: natural and man-made. Natural fibers include: wool, silk, cotton, jute, coir, and sisal. Man-made fibers include: nylon, polypropylene, acrylic and viscose.

Let’s take a closer look at each:

Wool: The most beautiful and luxurious choice of all, 100 percent New Zealand worsted wool is used in most Karastan rugs. Wool is a natural fiber that is highly regarded for its strength, durability, crush resistance, cleanability, comfort, and beauty. Visit Karastan Wools to learn more about this superior fiber.

Nylon: This man-made fiber provides a less expensive option than all-wool or silk versions. Karastan incorporates “Eversoft Nylon” in our Studio Collection. In addition, we use high-twist nylon in the luscious Aria Collection in combination with wool for an unusual effect. Look for an 80/20 wool-nylon blend in our handsome Vintage Road rugs as well.

Polypropylene: Polypropylene is a thermoplastic resin made from propylene gas. Rugs made of polypropylene are often heat-set to minimize luster and improve softness.

Silk: This is the most expensive rug fiber and even the smallest addition to the content can raise the price. It is also a natural fiber and adds high luster to the end product. Visit our Persian Renaissance collection for fine examples of silk used as accents. These rugs beautifully illustrate the dramatic effect silk adds to the design.

Viscose: Viscose is a shiny, silk-like fiber made from wood pulp. On its own, Viscose is susceptible to matting, but when used as an accent or in a blend, Viscose makes a wonderful substitute for higher-priced silk.

Cotton: Cotton is a strong, supple fiber that is used in the warp and weft (rug foundation) of many Karastan rugs. On its own, cotton soils easily and can shrink in washing. However, it makes an exceptional backing material because it helps rugs keep their shape and lie flat.

Jute, Coir, and Sisal: These fibers are derived from plants. Although aesthetically appealing, they have a coarse hand and are susceptible to stains. Karastan’s SisalWool rugs emulate the look of sisal, but with the soft feel and easy maintenance of wool.

The image shown above is from the English Manor Collection – Windsor.

When you are ready for a new tile floor, there is one important ingredient that often doesn’t get the attention it deserves. That’s the selection of a grout color. All floors have to be grouted in order to protect the edges of the tile and fill the space in between tiles. You might be wondering, “Why is this so important?”

Different grout colors can change the look of your tile floor. For example, if you have a white tile floor and you choose a dark or colored grout the grout lines are going to be more pronounced and noticeable than if you were to use a white grout which would blend with the tile. In most cases, you want the grout to blend or go away. After all, you are paying for the look of the tile and not the grout! In some cases, for example if you are using a black and white floor in a checkerboard pattern you have to choose a grout color to blend with one of the two tiles.

Choosing the right grout color depends on your goal.

If your goal is for the grout to just serve as a filler rather than a decorative element, choose a grout color that blends with the tile. If there are multiple colors in the tile, the best way to blend the grout to the tile is to choose a grout color that most closely resembles the color on edge of the tile. Since there are so many tiles offered and only a handful of grout colors, choose the color that blends best with the tile. The grout doesn’t have to match exactly. (The actual color will vary slightly from the sample anyway)

You may have a concern for dirt and staining of your grout. This doesn’t mean that you have to choose a grout color that is much darker than your tile. Be aware that you can still use a light grout color in high traffic areas, but you would need to seal it in order to protect it from staining.

Another goal may be to use the grout color to tie in an accent color. Be advised that your home’s accent color may change and you will be stuck with the accent grout color. There are ways to change grout colors, but why take the risk?!? Make use of your accent colors in other areas such as home decor items and art.

If you choose a grout color that changes the appearance of your tile floor in a way you were not expecting, know that you can change the grout color. The grout can be removed, but this needs to be done by a professional because the edges of the tile can be permanently damaged during the grout removal process. Another alternative is to use grout stain. This is much easier and can be performed by you if you have  the time and patience!

When shopping for a new tile floor, feel free to ask a Pierce Flooring representative for advice on the right grout color. We’ve made these decisions many times and can offer advice about how to achieve the look and feel you are going for.

August 13 – August 22 2009 is our STAINMASTER® Days Sale Event where you can save up to 30% on quality STAINMASTER® carpet!!!

Pierce Flooring is a STAINMASTER Flooring Center®. That means we were chosen based on our high standards and commitment to customer satisfaction, shopping experience, selection and service. STAINMASTER Flooring Centers® are proud to be your premier source for the ultimate selection of STAINMASTER® carpet, where you can shop with confidence knowing that your carpet, and home, will look stylish for years to come.

What do you have to lose? All STAINMASTER® carpet purchased from a STAINMASTER Flooring Center® retailer is covered by the STAINMASTER® carpet Customer Satisfaction Program. If after 30 days of living with your installed STAINMASTER® carpet you are not happy with your new carpet due to color, pattern or design choice, simply contact your retailer within 60 days after installation, and pay the charges for removal and disposal of your original carpet and installation of your new STAINMASTER® carpet, and INVISTA will provide a replacement STAINMASTER® carpet of the same square yardage and comparable grade, quality and value.

Click here to learn more about STAINMASTER® warranties.

Come in to one of our 5 locations and see if there is a STAINMASTER® product that is right for you!

If you are reading this blog, you are probably the type of person that is already on Facebook. At Pierce Flooring, we try to offer you every opportunity to learn about how we can provide you with the right flooring product for your home or business while delivering exellent customer service. Click here to join us on Facebook. If you have a moment, please leave us a comment or write on our wall to let us know how you found us and if you have any upcoming flooring needs we can help with. Invite your friends on Facebook to join us, too! Want to visit us in person? Click here for a list of our locations. Want to check out our website where you can see products, learn more about us, take interactive quizzes to learn more about your style and the right flooring products for you? Click here!  Want to speak to someone in person? Call us at 877-525-0066. However you prefer, learn more about Pierce Flooring and Design and give us a chance to show you why Pierce Flooring is your number one floor source in Montana. You’ll be glad you chose us!

Have you ever left a candle unattended and spilled some wax on the carpet or spilled some wax on the floor when carrying a lit candle from one location or the other? Most people’s instinct is to cut the wax out of the carpet, but wait! See below for alternative solutions before cutting your carpet and doing permanent damage!

How to remove candle stains:

Nail Polish Remover – Two types of nail polish removers are available. One type contains acetone, a dry cleaning solvent. Use the same precautions as with other dry cleaning solutions. The second type contains amyl acetate, which is used in many paint, oil, and grease (POG) removers. Many POG removers leave residues that may cause rapid soiling. When using a POG remover, always rinse the area thoroughly with a dry solvent.

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. CRI – 1-800-882-8846