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What floor to install if you have a dog
About Floors, Blog, Carpet Flooring, Tips & Tricks

What floor to install if you have a dog

June 16, 20170

Flooring advice for pet owners

If you are a devoted human to your four-legged friend, you’d want to choose the one flooring that best suits their needs, Preferably, besides offering good enough support (for your pet), it should be also durable and easy to clean (for your own sake).
In this blog, we have set out to help you on this hard but noble quest. To start it off, here are some general tips to help you select the best floor for your furry friend.

Pet nails are a menace

Pet nails can scratch or snag and this can damage some types of floor. So you need to find a solution that’s most resistant to this danger. ing more than others. Trimming nails is not a solution either. Blunt, broad-tipped nails can still gouge the sealer, creating long, shallow dents. Forget floor runners, you definitely don’t have as much power over your dog (even if you believe you do). So it’s better to match your floor to your pet and not the way around.

Bladder control is hard

Once your dog has been trained it’s very rare that you’ll have to face this problem but if your pup is young there is a good chance that it won’t make it outside every time to relieve itself. In addition to unpleasant odor pet urine can leave bad stains. Some types of floors are better at dealing with that than others.

Muddy paws are fun

All that dirt from running through puddles won’t just stay out. No matter how well-behaved your dog is, parts of it will definitely end up on your new floor. You have been warned./Consider yourself warned. So choose the floor that can be cleaned effectively without any fuss.

Dogs can have allergies too

Allergies are a huge topic when choosing a new floor, but rarely in regard to our pets. Sadly, dog allergies are real and could put your four-legged friend in danger. You might not know of any existing allergies if your dog’s never been in contact with the irritant before. That’s why you should test/observe how a certain flooring material affects your pet beforehand.
Still, most floor-related allergies in dogs are a reaction to the floor cleaners and the chemicals they contain. Always use cleaning products that have been approved and are safe for your dog’s consumption. Because, you know, dogs like to lick everything.

Flooring Options

Woof, woof! Now that you’ve got an idea of what to look for, we can move to select that one perfect floor for your little pup.

Vinyl

Vinyl has proven itself as the finest example of resilient flooring on the market today. It’s full of controversies and benefits. Even though it offers soft enough padding to enjoy walking around barefoot, most quiet scratches and liquid spills don’t faze it. Vinyl doesn’t trap dust or allergens and all you’ll need to clean it is a simple mop and warm water. Vinyl also happens quietest flooring option after carpet, something dog owners will definitely come to appreciate.
The floors come in sheets and tiles as well as in all colors and patterns including different hardwood species and natural stone. Vinyl flooring is definitely a great alternative for those pet owners, who want to get a hardwood floor but would like something more durable.

Pros & cons for humans: Easy to clean, can mimic natural materials but real hardwood still looks better.
Pros & cons for dog: It’s soft and warm. No apparent cons.

Ceramic or natural stone tiles

Ceramic and natural stone tiles are hard surface floors that can match your pet’s claws pretty well. They don’t scratch as easily as other floors and if they do the scratches are barely visible and don’t really stand out from the natural pattern. Your dog’s mishaps don’t pose any problem either since both products can endure liquid spills when sealed properly and can be cleaned easily. The glazed option with an extra protective layer may keep the water out more efficiently but its slippery surface can be somewhat uncomfortable for your dog to walk on. Cold too unless your place has underfloor heating. If you go with tile or stone be sure to put down rugs throughout the house so your dog has plenty of space to relax.

Pros & cons for humans: Scratch and waterproof as well as easy to maintain but colder and louder than other floors.
Pros & cons for dog: Less allergenic and pleasantly cool in the summer months. However too hard to sleep on without a rug, requires underfloor heating in the winter.

Laminate

A laminate floor is designed to resist scratches. Its impenetrable clear top layer keeps the high-quality image layer underneath well protected. Like vinyl, laminate can mimic an array of natural materials including wood.  A damp mop can go a long way when trying to keep your floor clean. However, that same wear layer that’s responsible for most of laminate’s advantages can be uncomfortable for your dog. It allows little to no grip and can lead to accidents, especially with older animals.
It’s also louder than natural stone or ceramic tiles. It will amplify your dog’s footsteps like no other solid floor. So if you are an owner of an energetic breed you might want to skip this one.
Laminate isn’t as hard as tile but not as soft as vinyl ether. For better comfort for your dog, you still might consider using rugs here and there.

Pros & cons for humans: Easy to clean, can endure scratches but can be loud.
Pros & cons for dog: Warmer and more comfortable than tile but offers little to no traction at all.

Wood

Wood and sharp claws don’t go well together. Resisting scratches and spills aren’t most woods’ strong suit. Trimmed nails can still damage the sealer, leaving behind long shallow dents.
But if you absolutely have to have a wood floor, you could choose from these three options.

  • Go for the super-hard wood species
    Some wood species are naturally stronger than others. According to the Janka hardness test Brazilian Walnut, Hard Maple, Oak, and Hickory floors have a better chance against your furry friend.
  • Get already distressed wood
    Get a hardwood floor that has been already distressed. That way you won’t notice any new scratches. If anything they’ll add to the character of your wood floor!
  • Try SoftPaws
    SoftPaws are applicable nail caps for dogs. They cover your dog’s nails to keep them blunt and harmless and protect your floors, doors, and furniture from dreaded scratches.
GC FLooring Pros
Blog, Carpet Flooring, How-to, Interior Design, Tips & Tricks

Choosing the right floor for your child’s bedroom

May 19, 20170

We all want only the best things for our children. Remodeling a room for your kid is a lot of work, especially if you want to get every detail just right for your little one, from choosing the perfect color for the walls to carefully selecting the toys to decorate the space. However, the floor is often neglected and chosen without much consideration – a misstep both parents and children could end up paying for.

Choosing the right floor for your kid’s bedroom will not only benefit your child’s development throughout the years but also leave you with more free time and give you peace of mind when leaving your child alone in the room. Striking a balance between your child’s needs and the floor’s maintenance requirements is easily doable as long as you know what elements to take into consideration and where to compromise.

Before even approaching the topic of appearance, here are the main demands to be met by any floor that’s to be installed in a child’s bedroom:

Easy Maintenance

You kids may be the one making a mess of their room but it will definitely be you who has to clean it all up (at least for the first couple of years). Food crumbs and occasional paint on the floor is a common occurrence in a household with a child. Choosing a floor that is easy to clean is the best thing you can do for your future self. But refrain yourself from going straight for the most expensive kind. Children are a force of nature. As charming as it might seems to get the very best quality product for your child, it might be smarter to go for something cheaper, so if it’s ruined for once and all you wouldn’t have wasted all that money. Besides, you can always replace it with something fancier when they are older.

High Comfort Level

Comfort is a topic with split opinions. Parents care about a lot when children couldn’t care about it any less. Even if kids are ready to roll naked and run barefoot on a cold tile flooring, it doesn’t mean you should let them. And admit it, playing with your kids on the hard floor would be a lot less nice than a warm cushioned surface.

Adequate Safety

For children, the whole world is a playground. They learn by doing and they do it all: crawling, walking, running. They also fall a lot. This is why having a soft surface to break a fall is a recommended feature to have in a kid’s bedroom. The perfect floor would be strong enough to endure scratches from scattered toys and spills of drinks while at the same time being cushioned enough to make tumbles less painful. If you don’t want to risk your child being affected by an allergy, choose flooring with anti-bacterial properties.

Multi-Functionality

Being a parent is a lot like being a superhero. You have to plan ahead a lot and come up with solutions for problems that don’t even exist yet. Too bad you can’t time travel. But fortunately, you can consider flooring options that are durable and can endure different age groups.

Once you have an idea what the requirements are, you can move to selecting the floor itself.

Here’s an overview of different flooring materials that fit the bill.

Hardwood floors

Wood is a natural material. Harvested straight from the forest and having undergone only the very minimal amount of treatment before ending up as flooring boards makes it a highly unlike culprit for any kind of allergies.
Both, solid and engineered wood floors have a hard surface and aren’t as bouncy as other flooring materials. Fortunately, it’s not something that can’t be fixed with a carpet.
Using designated area rugs is also a great solution for common spills. Because of their smaller size, it’s easier to wash or completely replace them. The hardwood floor, however, will keep its reach look well into your toddler’s teenage years.

Highlight: A natural durable material that can be well combined with other flooring options

Laminate floors

If you want your kid’s room to have the rich look of a wood floor but a softer touch laminate is a great choice. High-quality laminate floors can realistically mimic any wood texture while it’s foam underlayment ensures a certain softness or bounce that other hard floors don’t have.

Extra protective surface makes your laminate flooring 10 times more resistant to scratches and up to 100% water resistant. The look isn’t the only thing laminate flooring shares with hardwood floors – it’s also pleasantly warm to touch.

Highlight: Looks like real hardwood floor but feels softer.

Vinyl floors

Vinyl has it all. It’s often referred to as resilient flooring and rightfully so. The main material being rubber it’s  softer and makes walking on them more comfortable (and quieter!). Most luxury vinyl floors are 100% waterproof and very resistant to scratches and stains.

Needing no more care than tile floor, they deliver a much more pleasant flooring experience. There is a great variety of patterns and textures available, some of them as good as indistinguishable from the natural materials they mimic.

Some vinyl floors even offer a special coating that hinders the growth of bacteria and fungi by 99.9% making the maintenance process even easier and guaranteeing a healthier and fresher environment for your little one.

Highlight: Top resilient flooring with a natural look and antibacterial coating.

how to choose best floors for your basement
Blog, Carpet Flooring, House Renovation, How-to, Tips & Tricks

How to choose the right floor for your basement

May 15, 20170

Choosing floors is hard. Choosing some floors is harder than choosing others.
Basement floors are famous for being the problem of the lot. Being well below the ground moisture poses a real problem/danger for them, as do concrete slabs that make it hard for wood floors to be set up properly. In the past, all of the above had a hefty influence and used to narrow down the basement flooring choices to mostly manmade synthetic materials. However, thanks to modern inventions and technological progress today it’s possible to install pretty much every kind of floor in your basement. So how do you pick one? No worries, we’ve got you covered.

Before moving on to the actual floor selection process, it’s important to determine the purpose of your basement. A simple storage room has a very different aesthetical need than a basement cinema. Deciding early on the function of your basement will make it easier to narrow down and will save you some money.

Concrete

Use it, it’s already there! There is a very high chance that the subfloor in your basement is made out of concrete. Concrete, once considered ugly and cold, has been gaining popularity as a means of decor. The plain concrete surfaces in the room make the more warm materials present in the house stand out beautifully. So instead of paying extra for a new floor, consider turning your concrete subfloor into one. A good cleaning and maybe grinding down some rough spots will do it. If you are looking for a better look, try acid staining. Unlike paint, acid-staining is permanent and just looks better. For an even more sophisticated look, you can have a concrete slab polished and sealed.

Vinyl

Vinyl is probably the fittest material to be installed in a basement. It’s water-resistant and even though it’s synthetic, it can realistically mimic most natural flooring materials including wood and tile. Most vinyl floors are designed to go right over concrete, they come either in sheets or in tiles for easier installation. Vinyl floors can be laid out in one of the two ways, glued down or “floated”. Floating is a flooring installation method used in especially humid environments.

When using the floating method there is enough space for a moisture barrier to be installed over the concrete slab of the basement for better protection against any moisture. However, vinyl isn’t the only “floating floor”. The same approach can be used with most engineered floors.

Tile

Tile has been the go-to floor for the kitchen and bathroom forever, so its water-resistant abilities are no secret. It can endure floods and all kinds of abuse does not require a subfloor and is easier to clean. You can choose from numerous designs, patterns, and makes (glazed for a more budget-oriented basement transformation and porcelain for a richer look).
The only setback? It will most likely add to the lack of heat that is common to a basement. So you might want to consider some heating options if you are planning to spend a lot of time in your basement.

Engineered Wood

We know what you are thinking, wood and humidity don’t seem like the best of combinations.
But it’s not just wood we are talking about, it’s engineered wood. Engineered wood is a stronger and bolder take on the traditional solid hardwood floors that is just as beautiful as the original. Thanks to its cross-ply structure an engineered hardwood board is 80% less likely to get affected by moisture, meaning that the chance of warping is at an all-time low among wooden floors.

Typically, hardwood isn’t seen as a suitable flooring option not only because of its bad water resistance but also because of installation-related difficulties. However, this is only true for solid hardwood floors that require a wooden subfloor to be stapled down onto. The backing layer of engineered hardwood board can be glued straight to your concrete subfloor without much difficulty.

Laminate

Laminate is probably the material most people wouldn’t even consider when they are thinking about remodeling their basement. And they would be right. Regular laminate flooring wouldn’t have a long life of 8 feet under the ground. But we aren’t talking regular laminate, we are talking waterproof laminate. The trick is to fully eradicate any moisture-related dangers before the laminate flooring is installed. This is achieved by the same ‘floating’ method we have discussed earlier and involves a waterproof barrier between the concrete subfloor and the laminate floor. For really humid basements we would still advise using melamine infused laminate flooring.

Melamine is a moisture-resistant chemical that is mixed into the high-density fiberboard, making the laminate extra waterproof. If you want to go for a warmer feeling floor that is better at keeping out moisture than a carpet and less pricey than engineered hardwood, this and vinyl are your two best options.

Whatever floor you decide for your basement, please keep in mind that the right maintenance is half of the deal. Keep your basement as dry as possible and regularly inspect the premises of your house to avoid any accidental leakages.  

GC Flooring Pros
Blog, House Renovation, Tips & Tricks

How to know what floor to choose for your bathroom

February 20, 20170

Self-expression is important to us humans. We want our space to reflect who we are, be practical and make us feel at home. Today’s bathrooms are hardly just a place to attend to one’s body’s needs but more a relaxation area where you can treat yourself to a warm bath after a long day at work. Fortunately, thanks to innovations in the bathroom flooring industry the balance between usability and looks is easily achievable. Most of the flooring products currently available on the market do a great job at enduring the harsh treatment we put out bathrooms through every day. They can tolerate constant water splashes, take on hard chemical spills and fight off spotting while not having to sacrifice the gorgeous look. To help you decide what floor to choose for your bathroom, we are offering an overview of the most popular options.

Stone

Stone is just as popular as it was centuries ago. The latest bathroom trends have it cover not only the floor but also the walls, giving the entire room a simple and timeless look.

Natural stone is famous for its durability and variety. Stone flooring generally comes in two forms, polished or unpolished.
The polished stone floor is a beautiful addition to any bathroom but it tends to be slippery and should be used with extra care in families with young children or the elderly. As an alternative to polished stone flooring honed and textured stone floors offer a better grip, but because of their raw surface, they may require a sealant to prevent stains. Typically, stone floors come pre-cut in 12 inches square or larger tiles and require a strong subfloor for installation. Unlike soft floors, stone tends to be cold to touch. If you aren’t much for wearing slippers, you might want to consider alternative flooring options for your bathroom.

Vinyl

Vinyl is definitely this decade’s favorite flooring product. The days of cheap sheets with a laughable likeness to wood and stone are long gone. Luxury vinyl flooring offers all the advantages of a manmade product and is hardly distinguishable from any natural material.
Vinyl floors are hard-wearing, water-resistant, and can be installed over underfloor heating. Because of their foamy feel, they are a lot nicer to walk on than stone-type floors.

There are two kinds of vinyl floors, tiles, and sheets. Sheet vinyl comes in rolls that are 6- or 12-feet wide, providing a seamless look. Vinyl tiles, on the other hand, are typically 12 to 18 inches square and are easier to install – a great advantage for those who would like to install the floor themselves.  Vinyl tiles, as well as sheets, are available in wood and stone effect, as well as a number of exciting, dynamic patterns.

Hardwood

Many people think that choosing a wooden floor for a potentially waterlogged space is far from reasonable. However, the contrary is true.  With engineered hardwood flooring and its improved properties over the solid wood floor, water splashes seem less than an inconvenience. The cross-layered structure of engineered wood makes each plank 80% better at resisting water than a solid hardwood board.

Floors made out of engineered hardwood are stable and less likely to shift under humid conditions than plain wood floors. They also tend to be a more appropriate option than laminate since the latter has a tendency to swell and cup if the water gets through the seams.
Even engineered hardwood with its enhanced water resistance needs the right care to live up to its promise. Leaving wet bath mats and towels on the floor or not drying off water straight away can worsen your floor’s look and even shorten its life. Because of this It is not really recommended for families with younger children who may be less attentive when it comes to cleaning up spillages. If the wooden look is something you desperately want for your bathroom, there are plenty of alternatives that mimic wood texture and pattern perfectly.

Rubber

Rubber flooring is perfect for families with younger members who are looking for a floor that can take on any challenge. Rubber is durable, easy to clean, and can endure constant water splashes. It’s soft and pleasant to walk on, even barefoot. The textured finish prevents slips. Although should those still happen, the fall will be softened by the rubber which also happens to be a great shock absorbent. Available in pretty much any color, pattern, or texture it’s a design-savvy choice for bathroom flooring.

GC Flooring Pros
Blog, Carpet Flooring, How-to, Tips & Tricks

How to bring your old carpet flooring back to life

June 1, 20160

Carpet flooring is loved by kids and adults equally. It’s soft and comfortable and in addition to its flooring purposes, it gives you extra space where you can relax. Often it’s the one element of the interior that thighs the room together and makes space feel cozy.

But like any other flooring, it has to endure heavy everyday use including dirt, spills, and even pet claws in some cases. All these can make your favorite carpet floor lose its softness and become unattractive. Fortunately, there is a way to breathe new life into your worn-out carpet. Here is how.

Trimming

Moving heavy furniture, velcros on your clothing, or a curious four-legged friend can lead to some threads becoming loose in your carpet making it look shabby. Unlike popular belief, pulling the dislocated threads all the way won’t solve this problem, quite on the contrary it will only create a carpet run. To effectively get rid of snagging you will need to take a more direct approach … with a pair of sharp scissors. The simple solution to bringing your snagging carpet flooring back to life is to simply trim it.

Grooming

You’ll be amazed at what a little grooming can do to your trampled carpet flooring.

A carpet rake – basically a rake with small plastic or metal teeth –  is a simple enough tool for everyone to use to make the flattened carpet in high frequented areas look like it was installed just yesterday. Just rake by applying slight pressure in the opposite direction of the pile and watch the magic happen. The results are usually quite impressive: a fluffier feel and fresher look.

Fluffing

A little fluffing goes a long way. Over the time, carpet fibres start to sag making your carpet flooring look unattractive and old. Not to worry though, just a sprinkling of warm water will improve your carpet’s beaten look. Spritz a little warm water onto the flattened area. Gently blow dry it while using your fingers or a hairpin to lightly comb the carpet fibers back into place. Don’t walk on the carpet before it’s fully dry.

Cleaning

Knowing how to clean your carpet right can save it years in the looks. The safest bet is to use the cleaning products your carpet manufacturer recommends. When dealing with stubborn spots and stains, don’t scrub the stain. For more effective removal lot from the outside of the stain toward the middle. Always use milder cleaners first and test it first on a part of the carpet that’s out of sight. You might think nothing can worsen your carpet’s look in the current state, but a bleached-out spot is just as bad as any stain.

Alternatively, you can use baking soda powder to revive your carpet flooring. In addition to having great cleaning properties, baking soda will kill bacteria that nests deep in your carpet and get rid of any odors your soft floor might have. Completely cover your carpet with baking soda powder and use a brush to spread it in all directions. For the best result let it rest overnight. Simply vacuum the powder up the next morning.

Extra stubborn stains can be removed using shaving foam. Shaving foam is famous for being able to handle an array of stains, from grease to lipstick. Apply the shaving cream to the stained area. After 30 minutes wipe it up with a dry cloth. Enjoy your stainless carpet

GC Flooring Pros
Blog, Floor Care, Laminate Flooring, Tips & Tricks

Floor care tips for laminate flooring

June 1, 20160

Laminate floors have a reputation for being difficult to mop.
However, contrary to what many say, once you have all the right tools and knowledge, cleaning your laminate flooring is a walk in the park.
To save you time and help your sanity here’s a handy guide to the do’s and don’t of laminate maintenance.

Don’t sweep your laminate floor

Yes, you got dirt and dust on your pretty laminate floor. No, you shouldn’t use a broom. Turns out, the traditional broom is by far not the best tool to clean your laminate floor. That would be a dry dust mop. Regular broom leaves particles behind that later get mixed with the wet mop and get tossed around leave streaks and residue all over the place. In the worst-case scenario, they might even scratch the laminate’s surface. If you prefer using a vacuum cleaner instead, make sure you have a hard floor setting selected. Just like the leftover particles, the brush roll setting on your vacuum cleaner can scratch and damage the laminate flooring over time.

Use less cleaner

Most tips on laminate floor maintenance focus on what kind of cleaner you use. Yes, it’s important that the chemicals you tidy with are compatible with your floor type. What’s a lot less discussed is the amount of cleaner you ought to apply to your floor.

Using more cleaner doesn’t equal a cleaner floor. Usually, it equals wasted money and a ruined floor. Too much cleaner leaves a residue after that dulls the finish of your laminate. Our tip? Sometimes just a little water goes a long way.