I have noticed in our retail flooring industry that the manufacturer sometimes has a problem communicating to Ms. MacGillicuddy about how she can save money on her flooring purchase.  It appears the manufacture is marketing to the retail store, not the consumer “Ms. MacGillicuddy.”   Ms. MacGillicuddy is conditioned to look for savings and the awesome coupon of the day.

Don’t you just wonder how long it took Armstrong’s creative team to come up with this “Special Hardwood Promotion?”   It confused me when they posted this generic signage in our store.  You would not believe the beautiful hardwood floors in this display that may have gotten overlooked with this not- so-exciting “Promotion” posting.  Why didn’t Armstrong just say what they needed to by calling it the “Biggest and Best Armstrong Flooring Sale of the Year?”

Armstrong surely understands that the consumer, which I have always referred to as Ms. MacGillicuddy, doesn’t have time for Armstrong to explain that they really are trying to save her money and want her to buy their hardwood.   For example, they reduced prices so much during this so called “promotion” that Century Estate was on sale for $4.39 per square foot less than the regular retail price.  That’s a lot of money if you happen to be in love with this gorgeous hardwood.  

My suggestion is to quiz your retail flooring expert on how you can achieve maximum savings when you buy your new floor. 

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL. For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.

I have decided to tackle the myth that vinegar and water is the best cleaning method for hardwood floors. This method should be avoided if possible. But as a last resort, the original solution prescribe is 1 capful of plain white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water.  There are two main problems with using vinegar on a hardwood floor… it contains acetic acid and most people don’t know how to truly damp mop. The correct way is to use 1 capful to 1 gallon of water, damp mop (never soak the wood), and use a drying towel immediately to eliminate excess water on your floor to restore the shine of the urethane finish.   

So with all the directions listed above and the fact that water and wood are not a good mix, let’s consider another method.   My suggestion is to use a hardwood cleaner made by Bona. Bona Hardwood Cleaner is a wonderfully formulated, easy to use product that assures your hardwood floor investment is cleaned correctly. Best of all, you don’t have to get down on all fours and use a drying towel to finish the job. 

Bona is a company that has been around since 1919.  Bona’s main focus is making hardwood maintenance products.  Bona doesn’t manufacture hardwood floors, just the maintenance products to keep them looking beautiful.

Tips provided by Bona to keep your hardwood floors clean and looking good….

Why Bona Cleaner?

Bona has been trusted by professionals since 1919. Their cleaners have no dulling residue and are also non-toxic and GREENGUARD certified.

How Often Should I Clean?

This varies, depending on your household and the square footage of your wood floors. Kids, pets, and environment all contribute to wear on your floor. That said, Bona recommends cleaning as often as possible. Keeping your floor free from dirt and dust helps prevents scuffs and scratches. A clean floor is a longer lasting floor. 

Advanced Tips

• Use proper tools to clean your floor – a mop paired with a machine washable, microfiber pad for dusting and cleaning. Electrostatic action attracts dirt, micro particles and common household allergens. (Use a fancy mop to dust mop.) 
• Avoid using water and vinegar solutions, soap-based cleaners, or wax or steam cleaners on your hardwood floors. Vinegar and water actually dull the floor’s finish over time, while soap and wax leave residue. Steam cleaners put heat and excessive water on your floor, which can lead to cupping and long-term damage.
• Regular dusting and cleaning keeps hardwood floors looking new. But protective mats can further your floor’s life. Use natural, rubber rug underlayments with a waffle pattern in entry ways or high traffic areas, and always use felt floor protectors on furniture.

So when you think of vinegar, it’s time to make salad, and consider using Bona Hardwood Cleaner to maintain your hardwood floor investment. 

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL. For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.

With football season kicking off across the nation last week it is a good time to talk about how to clean up spills that hit your carpet.  It is fun to have a game party, but the stains on the carpet may last a lot longer than the fun!  See the tips from Mohawk on how to clean and maintain your carpet’s beauty. 

• The best way to ensure long-lasting beauty, comfort and durability in your carpet is to vacuum it regularly, as it prevents soil from becoming embedded in the carpet’s pile.
• Depending on the type of carpet you have, you’ll want to use a vacuum with a rotating brush, a beater bar or suction only. If you have shag carpet, use a suction-only vacuum cleaner with no beater bar. 
• Consider professional cleaning every 12-18 months, depending on traffic and other use factors, frequency of vacuuming and whether the carpet is a light or dark color.
• Use scissors to clip sprouts and snags; do not pull them or you may damage the carpet.
• To remove a dent caused by heavy furniture, stroke carpet with the edges of a coin. You can also use a hair dryer or a steam iron to gently raise the dented area while you tug upward on the tufts. CAUTION: DO NOT LET THE IRON TOUCH THE CARPET.
• If your carpet is burned, remove the tops of the dark, burnt fibers with curved fingernail scissors. If the burn is extensive, the carpet may require patching or replacement.
• If a flooding occurs from a burst pipe, washing machine overflow or other leak, the carpet needs to be dried, front and back, by a professional cleaner with the proper equipment.

Stain Removal Tips

• A wet/dry vacuum cleaner is the best way to effectively remove stains. Use the attachment with the best suction and vacuum as much of the stain as possible, continuing to add water to the stain as you go.
• If detergent is required, use it sparingly and gently rinse the area with water while moving the vacuum wand back and forth. Use a towel to absorb all moisture.
• If spot removal solvent is necessary, apply several drops to a clean white cloth and blot the carpet in an inconspicuous area. If a color change occurs or color transfers to the cloth, consult a professional carpet cleaner. Place towels or cloth over wet area and weight with a heavy, colorfast object to absorb moisture. Leave overnight.
• If stains remain after cleaning, moisten the tufts in the stained area with 3% hydrogen peroxide and let stand for one hour. Blot and repeat until carpet is stain-free. No rinsing is necessary. Apply a pad of paper towels and weigh them down, allowing carpet to dry.
• Some stains cannot be removed because they permanently alter the carpet’s color. These stains include acid toilet bowl cleaners, acne medication, alkaline drain cleaners, chlorinated bleaches, hair dyes, iodine, insecticides, mustard with turmeric and plant fertilizers. For these types of stains, call a professional.

Tips for Removing Common Stains

Beer, wine, coffee and tea
Blot and neutralize with a white vinegar solution, then work a small amount of a detergent solution into the spot (1/4 teaspoon detergent per 1 qt. of water). Continue applying detergent and blotting until spot is completely removed. Using a spray bottle, rinse with tap water and blot to remove excess moisture. Apply paper towels and weigh them down, allowing the spot to dry.

Blood, catsup, cheese, chocolate, cola, cough syrup, mixed drinks, soft drinks, soy sauce, starch, toothpaste, white glue
First, note that all solutions for removing blood must be cool in temperature. Blot and neutralize the spot with an ammonia solution, using a spray bottle to saturate the spot. Next, work a small amount of a detergent solution into the spot (1/4 teaspoon detergent per 1 qt. of water) and continue applying detergent and blotting until spot is removed. Using a spray bottle, rinse with tap water and blot to remove excess moisture. Apply a pad of paper towels, weigh them down and allow to dry.

Mud and dirt
Allow mud to dry completely. Shatter the dried mud with the handle of a knife, then vacuum. For dirt, apply a small amount of a detergent solution to the spot (1/4 teaspoon detergent per 1 qt. of water) and blot with a white paper towel to work the detergent into the affected area. Continue applying detergent and blotting until spot is removed. Using a spray bottle, rinse with tap water, and then blot to remove excess moisture.

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL. For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.

Here is a really cool idea marketing all three types of hardwood construction.  Home Legend has designed a display board that tells the whole story about the various hardwood constructions using one board to show On/Above/Below Grade hardwood construction.  We are not talking species, but construction types.  Highlighted on this 3-IN-1 display are the Solid, Engineered, and High Density Fiberboard (HDF) Core constructions. Solid ¾” hardwood can’t be installed everywhere in the home.  This system makes it possible to start on the main level and finish with the same hardwood in the basement.  Think of it like this… same hardwood, stain, and finish but different installation types. 

While out shopping for hardwood, the first question should always be, “Where is the flooring being installed?”  There are strict limitations on where a ¾” thick solid hardwood floor can be installed.  You can’t install solid hardwood in a below grade situation, because of the moisture content. Keep in mind that you should be able to nail solid hardwood to the subfloor.  Solid hardwood will not perform on concrete slabs and basements, and special attention should be paid to homes built with a crawl space.  

3-IN-1 SOLID HARDWOOD – Solid ¾” construction. System: Tongue and Grove. Installation: ON/ABOVE GRADE.

3-IN-1 5-PLY –Engineered ½” construction. System:  Tongue and Grove.  Installation: ON/ABOVE/BELOW GRADE.

3-IN-1 HDF CORE– Engineered 3/8” construction. System:  Seal-Lock ^TM Click System. Installation: ON/ABOVE/BELOW GRADE.

Notice the main difference between Engineered ½” and HDF Core 3/8” is that you would float the HDF core instead of gluing. 

You can have your hardwood anywhere you want but just remember to think about the construction before the installation begins.

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL. For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.

According to DIY websites, the basic building block of any entertainment system is sound, both in terms of sources and displays.  For most media rooms, the sound or audio system is a combination of an audio-video (AV) receiver plus five or more loud speakers and a subwoofer.  I am going to add flooring to this category because without the perfect flooring your media room could fall short of great entertainment.

Whether you are converting your basement into a home theater or you are designing an elaborate multi-purpose family room, the floor is definitely an important factor.  As I researched this topic, I found that 9 out of 10 photos of media rooms have been adorned with carpet on the floor.  Sound bouncing and echoing off the walls and floors just doesn’t set the desired mood when entertaining guests.  Melinda Hedrick, a local Interior Designer who has worked with many clients on media rooms, said that carpet is best in media rooms because it provides the correct balance of acoustic value, while also providing a wonderful pattern or graphic design. 

Brenda Howell of Foote Brothers Furniture in Sylacauga, Alabama shed interesting light on media room furniture.  She said that our family rooms are now, in fact, media rooms.  The flat screen televisions have added a new dimension to furniture selection.  The TV is the “center stage” of most homes so the furniture and flooring must follow suit.  Foote Brothers carries a Scandinavian Design Furniture – comfort leather, Ekornes, www.ekornes.com.   Ekornes has trademarked the Stressless® recliners – Stressless® sofas.  The word “stressless” just grabs your attention, doesn’t it?  It certainly does mine! 

So before you buy that huge flat screen, install that sound system, fire up the amplifiers, and pick out the furniture, make sure you have fully pulled the room together by paying close attention to the details – especially the FLOORS!

I hope you all have a blast this fall watching the never ending football games or enjoying wonderful Sunday afternoon movies..and I hope you do so with beautiful carpet under foot!

 I want to offer a special “Thank You” to Brenda Howell (brenda@footebros.com) and Melinda Hedricks (mh4dzn@yahoo.com) for their contribution to this blog.   Thank you for your insight.

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL. For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.

I have been researching a topic I think you are all going to enjoy – Entertainment Rooms.  There is so much to consider on that topic and I am really close to having a blog for you all.  In the meantime, I thought it might be nice to revisit a topic that is still as relevent today as it was when we first posted it a little over a year ago.  Check out the below and look for our Entertainment Room blog next week… 

From June 2010:

This week, I’ve been in class learning all about SmartStrand® by Mohawk®. Partnering with DuPont™, Mohawk® began making carpets with this fiber in 2004. It has since become the number one selling carpet in all of Carpet One, our parent company. There are plenty of good reasons why.

Customer’s surveyed after installation gave rave reviews on: comfort, durability, easy maintenance and spill, stain and crushing protection.

From the field to the floor
SmartStrand® is also much kinder to the environment than most carpets. Sugar produced from corn is processed to become a key ingredient in SmartStrand®. We learned that every seven yards of Smart Strand® carpet used in a home saves enough energy and resources to equal a gallon of gasoline. That’s 10 million gallons a year!

Why now?
You’re thinking, “It’s been around for 6 years. Why all the fuss now?” Fair question. First off, we have now had time to see that it’s tried and true. They said it would resist stains, soiling and crushing. We’ve seen it in action. It does.

The bigger news is that the Federal Trade Commission recently determined that the Dupont™ fiber used in Mohawk SmartStrand® carpets, previously classified as polyester, now merits its own subclass. It’s superior to nylon. Wow! The fiber got a new name, “Triexta” which DuPont™ markets under the trademark Sorona®.

The FTC based its decision on testing of residential carpets, which demonstrated that triexta significantly outperforms carpets made from polyester in resilience and durability.

The 3 main things that set the SmartStrand® carpets apart.

• Instead of being a coating, the stain protection is built into the fiber. It doesn’t wash or wear off.
• The molecular structure of the fiber is much like a spring. It bounces back, reducing crushing.
• This is one of the few carpets that has a pet stain warranty. That’s a rarity in this industry!

And the cost?
Well, it’s just like your mama said, you get what you pay for. SmartStrand® is a premium fiber and the price tag reflects just that. Weigh the added cost with longevity when deciding if this carpet is right for you. I can say we just installed SmartStrand® carpet in my parent’s home and they absolutely love it!

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL. For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.

The economy has forced us all to rethink the way we shop and how we spend our time and money.    Here is an idea that might help jump start your shopping process for a new floor.  Take advantage of the free in home estimates that are being offered by many retailers.  Before you jump into your car, make a call to your local flooring retailer and inquire out about their in-home estimating services.   Flooring gets its personality from your home.  It is for that reason that we have found providing a free in-home estimate to be a very helpful service to our customers.   Things to consider are the room size, natural and artificial lighting, wall color, furniture, art and a host of other factors affecting the way flooring adapts to your space.  Being in your home allows the flooring retailer to offer suggestions about flooring that can stand up to your foot traffic and life style.  Pets, children and entertaining are all things to be considered when selecting any type of flooring. 

Be prepared when you make the call to a local retailer asking about scheduling an In-Home Estimate service.  Have this information in front of you so that you can expedite the process and assist them helping you make an educated flooring decision.

1.  What rooms and how many rooms are you re-flooring.
2. Know an approximate size of the rooms.  Quick measure is Width x Length.
3. What type of flooring are you considering for the area;   Carpet, Hardwood, Tile, Laminate….
4. Tell the flooring expert what you may have seen in the market place that you liked.
5. How many pets and children are presently in the home?
6. What you don’t like about your current flooring.
7. If you schedule a free in home estimate discuss some flooring options so that the retailer can bring samples in to your home. 
8. Must know what type of subfloor you have; concrete or plywood.
9. When would you like the project to begin?   Do you have an important party or event coming up that is sparking your need or want for new flooring.  

Please remember that there is a cost to the retailer – both in terms of time and money – to come to your home so be prepared for them to ask you qualifying questions before they schedule the appointment.

I offer the suggestion of an In-Home Estimate because it can become overwhelming in the retail store if you haven’t thought about your project.  Remember, you must have the measurements and subfloor specifics before you can get a price from anyone.  Of course, going into the retail store first is still the number one way to start the flooring process, so don’t feel weird if that is the way you prefer.  We just want to make sure you are considering all the options available to you.

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL.  For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email

This photo is actually an advertisement for DalTile’s Durango Travertine, but it caught my eye because of the really beautiful bound area rug sitting on top of the tile.  The bound area rug really adds warmth to this room.  You may have to be creative when it comes to finding the perfect area rug for you room.  You can pull your room together by using floors with different textures that enlighten your senses.   A timeless travertine tile floor or a hardwood floor topped off with a bound area rug that adds warmth can give you a unique look. Think of using an area rug that has been bound from wall to wall carpeting instead of one that is pre-made to a specific size.  The most common sizes found in a pre-fabricated area rug are 4’x6’ 5’x7’, 8’x10’ and 9’x12’.  So if you need a special size or want a simple textured area rug you may have to get busy and have your very own creation made.    There are manufactures that offer an area rug service, Masland and Stanton are two that come to mind or your local flooring retailer will offer a service to bind or surge your new area rug.

Just so you know binding is a thin fabric that matches the carpet that is stitched to the edge to give a finish look and protect from raveling while surging is a whipped stitched yarn that you see on most heavy carpets or Oriental Rugs.  Surging is a must on a heavy carpet. 

So before you invest in a pre-fab ready made area rug think of the option of creating your own custom rug using wall to wall carpeting.  You will be amazed at the endless possibilities of color, textures and styles that are available.

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL.  For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email

Lately I have been inundated with questions about how to best select the correct vacuum cleaner.  Specifically, I had an issue come up with my customer “Ms. D.”  Her new 40 ounce frieze carpet and her four year old Dyson Vacuum DC07 Target Red did not work together.  “Ms. D” found that her Dyson did not have a height adjustment feature.  The result was a vacuum that was digging into her new medium-weight frieze carpet.  This could possibly cause damage to the fiber. 

So I decided since I don’t sell vacuum cleaners that I would ask the pros at Shaw Industries. Shaw is one of the largest manufactures of carpet and fiber.   Remember, if these guidelines are not followed your warranties could be voided.  This info is worth sharing so that you are properly caring for your new carpet from day one. 

Choosing a Proper Vacuum from the pros at Shaw…

• Shaw recommends vacuums approved under the Carpet and Rug Institutes Green Label Seal of Approval Program. A good vacuum should have adjustments to be able to adjust to the proper height of the carpet being vacuumed. If the vacuum is set too high above the surface it is inefficient and does not remove the dirt.
• If the adjustment is too low, the beater bar or brushes may damage the surface of the carpet and leave it looking fuzzy. A requirement if you have shag carpet is the ability to not only adjust the height of the vacuum, but also to disengage the beater bar or brushes to allow for suction only. The use of beater bars or brushes on shag type carpet will result in voiding your warranty.
• Shaw also recommends vacuums that have paper filtration bags that fill from the top. These bags also help trap smaller particles and keep them from being re-introduced into the air. By filling from the top, you are using the force of gravity to fill the bag, thus, allowing the vacuum’s airflow to be more effective in removing dirt. In order to insure that your vacuum operates at optimal efficiency you should change your filter bag when it is one-half to two-thirds full.

Remember, one of the most important tips in selecting a vacuum for your carpet is to make sure that your vacuum has the feature of adjusting the height of the beater bar.  You do not want a vacuum digging into your new carpet and causing your carpet to fray or damage the fiber tips.   

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL.  For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email

Get it right the first time and it will save you money and time.    A long time customer of our company came in and purchased tile to remodel her bathroom.  She decided to use a “friend” to install her new bathroom floor and shower.  She was trying to help her “friend” by hiring him for this detailed remodel project, but she soon found out that he did not have the expertise to tackle such a large project.  Six months and $6,600.00 later, she still does not have a finished bathroom.  She now has to correct his installation blunders by having our professional installation team tear out his work.  This project is going to cost her more time and an additional $4,700.00!

Lessons to learn when using a “friend” …

1. Never pay in full until the project is complete.
2. Check out referrals.
3. Have a written contract with an itemized list of work to be performed.
4. Make sure that you have a written labor warranty for your records.

Save time and money by getting it right the first time.

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL.  For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.