Infloormation

Happy New Year! Thank you to all of our loyal readers, fans and those of you that have submitted questions. In this first year, the Infloormation blog has been a tremendous success – all thanks to you! We appreciate the time you take to read about what’s happening with Pierce Flooring and Design.

This year at Pierce we are proud of the following accomplishments:

• The Billings store won the 2009 Readers Choice Award for the Best Flooring Store.  This is the 7th time receiving the award.

• We have been recognized as a top 25 retailer in the country.

• We have joined Homes for Our Troops to help veterans in need.

• We participated in the The Day of Giving during the holidays.

• We experience tremendous success at our Private Event Sale this year.

• We have recycled 1,047,357 sq ft, 523,683 lbs and 116,373 yds of carpet and carpet pad.

“One of the things that makes us successful is how we take care of our customers. At Pierce, the customer is king. We realize the incredible value of positive “word of mouth” and at the same time realize the damage of negative “word of mouth”. I have said this for a long time -  Montana is a huge place with nobody in it. What I mean is, it is the 4th largest state in the country with only 935,000 people living here. We NEED every customer to be happy and satisfied. While not always 100% possible, Pierce is committed to doing everything in our power to get to that point. Our testimonials clearly speak to that. Community involvement is our way of saying THANKS to all of our valued customers. We participate in many different efforts and projects around the state to help make Montana a better place to live. Lastly, our industry is “flooded” with a multitude of confusing and “fine print” warranties. It is our mission to simplify this process through our Pierce Promise. As I have stated, any warranty is only as good as the business you purchased from and that is still in business.

Our “warranty” is 85 years old and still going strong. I want to THANK all of our great customers for their business and support over the years, especially during these trying times. I wish everyone a safe and Happy New Years and we all look forward to a more flourishing economy in the very near future!”

Jon Pierce

Do you often wonder what products are best for your lifestyle or your family? One of the tools on our interactive website is a quiz called “How I live”.  By answering 15 short questions about your lifestyle you can learn more about which flooring products are best for you and your family. Below are some of the questions on the quiz as well as some of the answers and advice you will receive after taking the quiz. Have fun!

Here are some of the types of questions on the quiz:

Do you have children? If so, how many children do you have?

What overall atmosphere would you like to create in your home?

Do you like to entertain in your home?

Are you interested in products that are easy to maintain?

Here’s a sample of some of the advice from the results of the quiz:

For homes with children:

We recently received this testimonial from client Alexis Harris and wanted to share the kind words and her experience with you.

Dear Mr. Pierce,

We would like to take this opportunity to commend your company for having such nice and professional individuals in your employ. Firstly, Ursula Slovak was a delight to work with. Her expertise and understanding of the products is excellent, as well as her follow through.

Shortly after moving into our home, we noticed some problems with our carpet. I called Ursula who then contacted the “trouble shooters” for your company, Jon Amundsen and Robin Mestdagh. We couldn’t believe how fast they responded. They were at our home the same day to look at the issues with the carpet. Three weeks later, as promised, they returned to steam out the seams to see if that would help. Unfortunately, it did not help and other issues started to appear in the carpet and ultimately it was deemed defective. Both Robin and Jon were steadfast in making sure that we were informed on the steps necessary to resolve the problem. Their expertise in their field is impeccable. Plus, their follow through was beyond anything we have experienced in the service industry.

So, our new carpet was installed, by Jon and Robin, and we are thrilled with the results. We chose your company because of its fine reputation and we are so glad we did. We would not hesitate to recommend your company to anyone.

We extend our sincere thanks to Jon, Robin and Ursula, each who strives to give your company the reputation it has and a team that you can certainly be proud of. Congratulations on such terrific employees.

Sincerely yours,

Alexis Harris

Question:

I am about to start a remodeling project and I was wondering if you could give me some advice about what to choose first. I need to replace my kitchen cabinets, countertops, flooring in three rooms, wall colors and some furniture in those same rooms. There are so many things to choose – is there any strategy as to what should be chosen first? I am already overwhelmed at the thought of all of the choices I have to make!

Cecile from Bozeman, MT

Answer:

This is a great question, Cecile and one that comes up often. There are several points and variables to consider when tackling a remodeling project. The most important thing to take into consideration is whether you are doing the remodeling yourself or working with a contractor. If you are working with a contractor or remodeler, they will have a very specific schedule and you should consult with them first on what deadlines need to be met and when. They will also handle which items are installed in what order. As far as where to start the selection process in terms of choosing the things you like, here are some other considerations that may help you determine where to start.

Regardless of what makes more sense to choose first, it is more important that you love all of your choices in the end. Sometimes, the easiest place to start is by falling in love with one item and letting that be your focal point. This can be a decorative item such as a plate or vase, a pillow or other piece of fabric, a sentimental object or a piece of hardwood flooring that is so spectacular that everything else should revolve around it.

Another important consideration is the number of choices you have. Think of it this way, there are hundreds of thousands of paint colors to choose from, but how many cabinet choices or hardwood or tile choices do you have? It’s better to start with an item that has a limited number of options in order to focus on the remaining choices. Starting with a paint color can lead to too many options.

Along those same lines, it’s a lot easier and less expensive to change a paint color down the road than it is to change the look of a floor, cabinet or countertop choice. When choosing these items, make selections that will last long term.

Some people find it helpful to start from the bottom up, meaning choose the floors first. From there you can build up. For example, in the kitchen, if you start with the floors you can then choose the cabinets that sit on the floor. Then, choose the countertop that sits on the cabinet. Then, the backsplash that sits on the countertop and so on.

Don’t forget about lead times. Items like furniture can have long lead times and therefore need to be ordered in plenty of time to arrive according to the remainder of the schedule.

Because of the number of items you have to choose, try to gather as many samples as you can when visiting different stores. We can provide you with flooring samples, but be sure to ask other for samples as well. Having items from different sources all together in the same place when making a selection is invaluable.

We hope this advice helps you. We will be happy to give you further advice when it comes time to start your project. Our sales staff has years of experience that can save you some of the headache that can come with remodeling.

Sincerely,

Your friends at Pierce Flooring

Whether it’s at a holiday party or just a glass to celebrate the holidays, eggnog is a wonderful drink festive holiday drink. We want you to know that there’s no need to worry if you have an eggnog spill. At Pierce Flooring, we care about your floors even after you’ve made your purchase. See below for easy to follow care instructions in the event of an eggnog spill. (This will work in case Santa accidentally spills his milk, too)

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

When in doubt -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

Happy Holidays from all of us at Pierce Flooring and Design!

Dal-Tile has launched its new OutStand Technology, a patent-pending glaze technique that provides tile with unparalleled surface wear and stain resistance while infusing the tile with Microban® antimicrobial product protection, which provides a layer of protection from stain- and odor- causing bacteria that won’t wash off or wear away. Dal-Tile Corp. has been awarded the exclusive rights in North America to manufacture tiles with Microban technology.

Additionally, tiles made with OutStand Technology contain some of the highest pre- and post-consumer recycled material contents (RMC) in the industry, which may help building and remodeling projects achieve credits and/or points in a variety of green building programs, such as LEED.

As part of the launch, Dal-Tile Corp. has unveiled two new product collections under the Daltile and American Olean brands that are the first to be manufactured with OutStand Technology: Daltile’s Colour Scheme and American Olean’s Urban Tones. The new collections are American-made and contain more than 60% RMC, including post-consumer recycled glass.

“Our objective is to manufacture the most innovative and sustainable products in the marketplace today,” said Lori Kirk-Rolley, senior marketing director for Dal-Tile Corp. “Our Color Scheme and Urban Tones’ product collections contain more than 60% pre-consumer recycled materials content, more than any other glazed porcelain tile in the industry, and are scratch- and stain- resistant, and features Microban® antimicrobial protection.”

During the manufacturing process, OutStand Technology’s patent pending glaze technique creates a crystalline-shield-like protection, which results in superior surface wear resistance. This protection will last the life of the tile, never needing to be reapplied and making the tiles perfect for heavy commercial applications. Tiles with OutStand Technology also have a high wet coefficient of friction, and are frost and chemical resistant.

One of the key ingredients in Dal-Tile Corp.’s new OutStand Technology is Microban protection. On an unprotected surface, bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes. Microban protection works continuously to keep tile surfaces cleaner for longer by inhibiting the growth of stain- and odor- causing bacteria. Additionally, unlike other antimicrobial agents on the market, Microban technology doesn’t require UV light to be effective. It won’t wash off or wear away, giving the tile an added level of durable, long lasting protection.

“Microban protection  makes the Colour Scheme and Urban Tones collections a great fit for use in education, healthcare, hospitality and other high traffic environments where protection against odor and stain causing bacteria  is a concern,” said Kirk-Rolley.

Additionally, depending on the building site, Colour Scheme and Urban Tones may help projects earn additional points in some green certifications for materials transportation, because they are manufactured in Dal-Tile Corp.’s state-of-the-art plant in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Also, since some government-funded projects or contracts mandate the use of American-made products, Colour Scheme and Urban Tones field tiles meet that requirement.

The new Colour Scheme and Urban Tones collections have been certified by the Porcelain Tile Certification Agency (PTCA). Some foreign imports entering the market today claim to be porcelain tile, but do not actually meet the U.S. standards for porcelain, putting those who specify tile at risk of choosing an inferior product for their projects. PTCA protects them by guaranteeing the products specified are, in fact, porcelain tiles.

New Product Introductions:

Daltile’s Colour Scheme – Glazed Porcelain Floor Tile

Colour Scheme is a glazed porcelain floor tile that pairs a sleek, contemporary look with the high-performance and eco-friendly benefits of OutStand Technology, which includes Microban Technology.

The new collection is available in a wide color palette, including 12 solid colors (Arctic White, Black, Urban Putty, Biscuit, Uptown Taupe, Desert Gray, Suede Gray, Galaxy, Cityline Kohl, Artisan Brown, Garden Spot and Luminary Gold) and 11 “salt and pepper” colors (Arctic White Speckle, Black Speckle, Urban Putty Speckle, Uptown Taupe Speckle, Desert Gray Speckle, Suede Gray Speckle, Galaxy Speckle, Cityline Kohl Speckle, Artisan Brown Speckle, Garden Spot and Luminary Gold Speckle). Colour Scheme is available in three modular field tile sizes (6”x 6”, 12”x 12” and 18”x 18”) and is designed to coordinate with Daltile’s Keystones floor and wall mosaic tiles and Semi-gloss and Modern Dimensions wall and mosaic tile collections, as well as mosaics that feature the same colors. A full commercial trim package completes the collection and is available in all solid colors.

Have you been thinking about new floors, but assume you can’t afford what you want? Every time you see your old flooring do you wonder how different new floors could make your home look? We’re here to help! Take advantage of our free in home estimate offer. At Pierce Flooring, we know that new flooring is a big decision and we want you to have the best choice for your home, lifestyle and budget.

Here are a few reasons why:

• It’s free. What do you have to lose?
• We will come to your home and give you an estimate based on your exact measurements. An informed decision is a good decision!
• You may not realize that you can afford the type of floor you’ve always wanted.
• We can price multiple options once we have your precise measurements.
• Knowing what options will fit in your budget gives you the comfort of knowing you made the right decision.

Call us today or click here to fill out a form to have a Pierce Flooring representative call you  to schedule your free in home estimate. What do you have to lose? You may be able to get your dream floors after all! Start planning now to start 2010 off with  a new look for your home.

Click here for financing options in your area.

Please take a moment to hear what Realtor Karen Frank had to say about us at Pierce Flooring. We sincerely appreciate her taking the time to share her thoughts. Valued clients and friends like Karen help make us all enjoy what we do everyday so much.

Do you have something you’d like to share about Pierce? Please leave us a comment!