Comfort with Bedroom Carpet

With its soft surface and welcoming warmth, it’s not hard to understand why carpet is the most popular choice for bedroom flooring. The last thing your feet will feel at the end of one day and the first thing they’ll feel at the start of the next should be surface that maximizes comfort.

While bedroom carpet offers the benefit of comfort, it has also, in recent years, earned the reputation of adding a “dated” effect to a home’s décor. While the coziness of carpet does often cause a sense of nostalgia, there are many cuts and styles of carpet that still have a decidedly modern flavor. Both plush and pattern (cut and loop) carpet offer the most on-trend marks, thanks to their neutral tones and distinct designs.

Believe it or not, bedroom carpet can also simplify cleaning and overall maintenance. Many modern carpet products are crafted with enhanced stain and soil protection, making it easy to take care of all sorts of messes—including pet accidents. These styles are perfect if your four-legged friends call your bedroom home too.

Hardwood’s Natural Beauty

With a warm, natural look that stands the test of time, hardwood is an ideal flooring choice for a bedroom. Made from real wood, solid and engineered hardwood floors are available in many species, such as oak, hickory, or maple, that can each add a special character to your floors. And the warmth goes beyond just aesthetics—walking across genuine wood in the middle of the night can be much more comfortable than many other hard surface floors.  Another great benefit of hardwood? It doesn’t trap dust, pollen, or other allergens, and it’s easy to clean those up when they do occur. Keeping the floors clean in your bedroom can help keep you breathing easier at night.

Laminate: Less Money, Less Maintenance

While genuine hardwood is great, it can be a bit pricey for some renovations. Wood laminate is a budget-friendly bedroom flooring option that provides realistic hardwood visuals at a much more attainable price point. Laminate flooring can also mimic the textures, grains, and feel of genuine wood—all in a product that’s easier to maintain than the real thing.

An added perk of laminate floors is that they are available in both water-resistant and 100% waterproof options. So if you accidentally knock that full glass of water off your nightstand, you won’t end up with nightmares about liquid-damaged floors. Cleaning up a spill is a simple and easy affair, avoiding permanent damage to the floors.

Versatility of Vinyl Flooring

Over the years, advancements in the manufacturing of vinyl flooring have led to increased durability and stunningly realistic wood and tile looks and textures. What used to be a last-resort choice is now one of the industry’s most popular products.  Vinyl plank, vinyl tile, and sheet vinyl are available in a vast range of styles, designed to complement everything from ultra-modern bedroom décor, to old-timey rustic looks. Plus, they all offer advantages that will make any homeowner happy: some of the best durability compared to other flooring options, easy maintenance, and an increase in underfoot comfort compared to real tile and many hardwood floors.

In the end, choosing the best bedroom flooring requires finding your ideal balance between comfort and style. Are you more interested in feeling warmth underfoot when you hop out of bed in the morning or are do you prioritize a modern design scheme? The good news is, you can often achieve both goals with the same floors!

This post only scratches the surface of what you should consider when trying to find the best bedroom flooring options for your home. Traffic volume, kids, pets, and how often you’ll be in your bedroom are all important factors that are specific to you and your household. For a more detailed rundown of flooring that fits your needs, contact us to schedule a free in-home estimate and a flooring professional will walk you through a wide range of options—all in the comfort of your own home.

The post The Best Bedroom Flooring Options appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

The Look of Laminate vs Hardwood Flooring 

When shopping for new flooring, achieving a particular look or style is the top priority for most customers. And if you’re reading a comparison of two different products whose main similarity is that they share the look of real wood, it’s safe to assume that you’d want to know everything possible about how they compare visually. So, in the battle of laminate vs hardwood floors, how exactly do looks factor in? Let’s find out. 

At first glance, most laminate flooring is visually indistinguishable from a real hardwood floor, and for good reason. Laminate products at Empire are crafted with a top layer that consists of a photorealistic wood grain image protected by a scratch-resistant wear layer. In short, the visible surface of every laminate flooring plank is essentially a photo of a real plank of wood. Close inspection will usually reveal laminate’s secret, but in regular use, most laminate floors will be indistinguishable from real wood to the untrained eye.  

Of course, the only thing more realistic than a picture-perfect copy of the real thing is…the real thing. Since every plank of hardwood flooring is hewn as one piece from a solid hunk of lumber, its appearance is as genuine as it gets. And this applies to engineered hardwood as well since the top layer of every plank of that material is also made from a solid piece of wood.  

Now, most people’s first instinct is to assume that real wood will automatically be the better choice when it comes to aesthetics, but that’s not always the case. When taking a critical look at the appearance of laminate vs hardwood flooring, we can see that each has its pros and its cons.  

Although wood laminate flooring can artificially create a visually perfect wood image on its surface, its main downside is that the grain variations are limited per product because the photorealistic image gets reused. That is, in an entire floor’s worth of wood laminate planks, there may be only a dozen or so unique grain patterns. While not usually an issue for the vast majority of customers who choose wood laminate, those who are particular about their aesthetics might find it bothersome.  

In contrast, real wood floors will have an infinite variation in their grain patterns—no two real hardwood planks will look exactly the same. But even that comes with its potential downsides. As every plank comes from a piece of solid wood, the natural variations within the lumber can sometimes be not aesthetically pleasing. It’s not uncommon to encounter knots, burls, or other irregularities. Extreme examples are discarded during the manufacturing process, but it’s possible that what passes the brand’s standards might not be up to yours. Overall, however, the unique look of a genuine wood floor is one of the product’s best features.  

Conclusion: When it comes to getting the look of wood, it’s difficult to beat the products whose surfaces are crafted from real wood. Real hardwood flooring is the winner in this category, though laminate flooring puts up a good fight. And for many customers, the slight ding in authentic visuals is an acceptable tradeoff for the many benefits of wood laminate floors. What are those benefits, you ask? Read on! 

Durability and Required Maintenance of Laminate Flooring vs Hardwood 

CARE: 

Low maintenance is one of the main selling points of wood laminate flooring. With its dense composite core and scratch-resistant wear layer, most laminate floor products from Empire are “set it and forget it” type material. Once installed, laminate floors will rarely need any attention beyond your typical cleaning schedule. As long as you regularly sweep up any abrasive dirt or debris and use care when moving heavy furniture, wood laminate floors should continue looking great through many years of typical use. As an added benefit, most laminate products at Empire are water-resistant—and there are even some fully waterproof laminate floors. This protection against the harmful effects of water has proven invaluable to many customers. 

Real hardwood floors are a little trickier. While day-to-day care isn’t all that different—just the regular sweeping and light mopping—there are a few things to be aware of. The major area where real wood floors fall short of laminate is in dealing with moisture, as no solid hardwood flooring products offer water resistance. That means that even the slightest spills, if not cleaned up quickly, can end up damaging your wood floors. It’s for this reason that Empire does not recommend installing hardwood in kitchens, bathrooms, or anywhere there is the potential for moisture collection. 

There is also an expectation that real hardwood floors will need to be refinished at certain long-term intervals in order to keep them looking their best. Usually recommended around every ten years or so, this process involves sanding off the topcoat, stain, and a very thin layer of the actual wood surface; a new stain and sealant is then applied to the entire floor. Refinishing hardwood floors introduces hassles and additional costs that you don’t get with laminate, but it does offer some serious advantages that we’ll look at in the next section. 
 

Conclusion: When considering just the maintenance aspect, laminate is the clear winner. It’s the better material for kitchens, bathrooms, or any room where you’ll expect your floors to encounter any exposure to wetness. 

LONGEVITY:  

Durability is a major factor to consider in the laminate vs hardwood flooring showdown, especially if you’re planning on staying in your home for the foreseeable future. New floors are one of the most significant renovation projects a homeowner can have completed. Updates like repainting walls, changing window treatments, or planting new greenery can be done with little planning and might happen every few years. But when you have new floors installed, it’s usually with the hopes that they’ll last a very long time. And while part of your floors’ longevity will come down to how well you care for them and how much foot traffic they experience, the material you choose will also be a significant factor. 

And this is where hardwood flooring really gets a chance to shine in comparison to wood laminate. Real hardwood flooring is typically considered to be one of the longest-lasting flooring materials a homeowner can choose. Its solid construction lends the material a certain durability and removes any chance of delaminating that can happen to laminate or vinyl flooring. While its surface is still as prone to knicks and scratches as laminate, those blemishes can often be easily repaired and touched up on a wood floor. In comparison, a significant chip in a laminate floor plank will reveal the fiberboard core and will usually not be possible to repair—requiring instead an entire new plank to be put in. 

Another benefit that hardwood has over laminate flooring is the way it wears its scars. Most customers don’t mind the patina that a hardwood floor will develop over years of use. In fact, many people actually look forward to seeing their hardwood floors age, with every scratch or scuff adding a unique bit of character to their home. And if those accumulated scratches get to be too much, the ability to fully refinish a hardwood floor becomes one of the material’s greatest assets—and a major perk when it comes time to sell your house.  

Now, this is not to suggest that wood laminate flooring isn’t capable of lasting the long haul. Wood laminate products at Empire are covered by some of the industry’s best warranties, and with integrated features like scratch-resistant wear layers and Aqua Defense waterproofing, they’ll have no problem enduring life in a typical household. With proper care, it’s not out of the question for wood laminate floors to last upwards of 20 years. However, unlike real wood floors, a laminate floor cannot be refinished when it starts to look worn. 

 
Conclusion: In a typical household, you can expect real hardwood flooring to last much longer vs. laminate flooring. Both materials should give you many years of use, but real wood’s ability to be repaired or refinished, combined with how it wears its scars, makes it the better choice for anyone looking to get the longest life possible out of their floors. 

 
The Costs of Laminate vs. Hardwood Flooring

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, is the expected cost of laminate vs hardwood flooring. By and large, a laminate wood floor will almost always be significantly more affordable than a genuine hardwood floor. While the most basic hardwood might cost less than the most advanced laminate products, when comparing equal grades of each product (say, the most affordable laminate vs the most affordable hardwood floor), the laminate floor installation tend to be less expensive.  

However, for many homeowners, the price premium of real wood is worth the benefits. Those who have found their “forever home” are often attracted to the idea of having floors that last for a long time, aging with the home and becoming almost an heirloom in the process. Many people feel that there is a certain character in real wood flooring that simply can’t be recreated by synthetic products, and the extra cost is worth it. Plus, there is the practical value of real wood’s ability to be refinished. When the time comes, whether due to accumulated wear or simply the need for a stylistic refresh, refinishing a hardwood floor can be much more affordable than completely replacing the floor—even if you replaced it with a low-cost material like sheet vinyl flooring.  

And finally, it’s commonly accepted that a real hardwood floor can add value to your home. When it comes time to sell your home, buyers are more likely to react positively to old hardwood floors than to old laminate floors. 
 

Conclusion: We’re going to call this one a draw because it is the one aspect that is greatly dependent on your personal needs and preferences. Based simply on the initial investment, laminate flooring will hands-down be the better value. But if you plan to spend decades in your current home, or are already thinking about maximizing your resale value, hardwood floors can be the better long-term investment. 

So which material wins overall? Like just about any major decision in life, there’s no clear-cut winner when comparing laminate to hardwood flooring. If your initial budget is a major factor, you prize versatility and easy maintenance, or you know you may want to completely change your floors out in just a few years, wood laminate will be the better choice. But if you’ve settled into your forever home and are willing to make a bigger upfront investment for floors that could last a lifetime while aging gracefully, hardwood floors might be exactly what you need. 

Still having trouble deciding between laminate and hardwood flooring? We’re here to help take the guesswork out of getting new floors. When you Schedule a FREE In-Home Consultation, a flooring pro will walk you through every facet of new flooring, from helping you find the right product to making sure your home’s current subfloors are suitable for having new floors installed. Give us a call or click any of the “Schedule Now” buttons on this page to set up your appointment today. 

The post Laminate vs Hardwood: Which Flooring Should You Choose? appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

For a wealth of reasons, laminate and luxury vinyl plank are among the most popular choices for wood-look flooring. But, what’s the difference between these types of floors? Keep reading for our full comparison of the two products, and to learn which may be the best choice for your next project. 

Laminate vs Vinyl Flooring: The Similarities 

While we’ll be focusing mainly on the differences between laminate and vinyl flooring, it’s important to note that there are also quite a few similarities between these two flooring types. Let’s do a comparison of those first. 

Both Alternatives are More Affordable than Genuine Hardwood 

Genuine hardwood has a timeless appearance that can add long-lasting style and warmth to any home. But it’s not without its disadvantages, and cost is at the top of that list. Real wood floors will typically be significantly more expensive than wood-look alternatives. So, to get the look of wood without the price premium, many customers opt for either laminate or vinyl plank flooring. If you have a tight budget but are hooked on the hardwood look, these two flooring options will be your best options. 

Lower Maintenance and Fewer Worries 

Both laminate and vinyl flooring are stain-and scratch-resistant. This means they’ll be easier to clean than hardwood floors, and you’ll probably be a lot less stressed next time something is spilled or dropped on your floors. Of course, it’s still possible to damage both laminate and vinyl flooring with very heavy wear, so we wouldn’t suggest you try testing the limits of either material’s durability! 

Another advantage offered by both vinyl plank and laminate flooring is that each is available in fully waterproof options. That’s right—you can enjoy the look of genuine hardwood flooring, even in water-prone areas of your home, like your bathrooms, kitchen, or laundry room. Some of these products are even rated for installation directly onto a concrete slab, making them suitable for the basement. Even if you select an option that isn’t 100% waterproof, most laminate and vinyl floors today are water-resistant, making them less susceptible to damage from light exposure to water and moisture. 

Realistic Hardwood Visuals 

Today’s wood floor alternatives have evolved to closely mimic the look and feel of genuine hardwood. When it comes to laminate vs vinyl flooring, most people can’t tell the difference between the two, and without close examination, they often won’t even realize that the floors are not actual wood. The grains, textures, and looks of laminate flooring and vinyl plank flooring have been designed with incredible detail, giving homeowners the real feel for less cost—and with less long-term worries. 

Differences Between Laminate and Vinyl Plank Flooring 

Laminate vs Vinyl Flooring Construction and Appearance 

Homeowners tend to choose vinyl plank flooring or laminate flooring for the same primary reasons: they want wood-look flooring but need a product that’s more affordable and durable than genuine hardwood. Both alternatives offer water resistance, resistance to mold and mildew, scratch and stain resistance, and are durable enough for high-traffic areas. But although they offer similar advantages and a similar look and feel, each product is crafted from very different materials. 

So how do laminate and vinyl plank differ when it comes to achieving their realistic wood looks? Let’s break down what the two are made of: 

Laminate flooring is built on a core of dense wood composite (also known as hardboard or high-density fiberboard). This wood composite core gives laminate flooring its impressive durability, and when compared to vinyl plank flooring, it provides more of a wood “feel” when you walk or knock on it. Atop the core is the photographic grain image, which looks nearly indistinguishable from the grain of a real plank of wood and allows laminate flooring manufacturers to reproduce the appearance of nearly any wood species. The final component of wood laminate flooring is the wear layer. This clear topcoat gives laminate its resistance to staining, scratching, fading, and overall wear, helping it look great for years to come. 

Vinyl plank flooring is constructed in similar layers but with one key difference—its core is made of dense vinyl, a type of plastic. But vinyl flooring is also finished with a realistic wood look top layer that closely mimics the look of real hardwood. Plus, vinyl plank flooring often features a textured surface that matches the wood grain pattern, offering a convincing replica of the real thing. 

In the past, laminate was the gold standard for mimicking the genuine looks and textures of hardwood. However, with updated technology, vinyl plank styles now also achieve a look and feel that is very close to real hardwood. As a result, when pitting laminate vs vinyl flooring in a battle of aesthetics, the result is essentially a draw. 

Vinyl Plank Has Better Durability 

Long-term durability is often at the top of shoppers’ wish lists when searching for new flooring. Overall, both vinyl plank and laminate flooring are highly durable and built to stand up to the traffic typical in a busy home. And within each category, different products will offer different levels of durability. Many laminate and vinyl plank floors are covered by limited lifetime warranties for staining, fading, wearing, and more.  

However, overall, vinyl plank is commonly considered to be more durable than laminate flooring. If your household is consistently filled with the sounds of active kids, energetic pets, and a generally dynamic atmosphere, vinyl plank flooring will probably be the better option for long-term durability.  

Water Resistance Can Make a Difference 

This is one area where vinyl plank truly shines. While laminate flooring is often water-resistant, and there are even some waterproof laminate styles now available, you’ll find a deeper selection of water-resistant or fully waterproof flooring if you choose vinyl plank. An important point to consider is that it’s not just surface water that can be harmful to flooring, but also the moisture in the air. In fact, because the core is made from a wood product, some laminate products can swell and buckle in extremely humid environments. Vinyl plank’s non-porous synthetic core is more likely to hold its shape when exposed to excessive moisture. 

This means that vinyl plank floors are usually the superior choice for moisture-prone areas, such as humid basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens. And if you live in a high-moisture area of the country, vinyl will probably be a better choice—unless you select a waterproof laminate. 

Care and Maintenance

Both laminate and vinyl plank are known for being easy to clean. It’s one of the top reasons that homeowners have increasingly been opting for these products over solid or engineered hardwoods. 

However, when it comes to cleaning wet messes, each flooring material requires slightly different care. While cleaning laminate flooring, you generally need to be more mindful of how wet a mop you use, because even water-resistant laminate can still be damaged by excessive water buildup. It’s recommended to use only a damp mop and never let any liquids stand on a laminate floor. You should also use specific laminate flooring cleaners to ensure you don’t damage the topcoat. For more flooring care and maintenance tips, see our laminate flooring care page. 

Since vinyl plank is inherently more resistant to water, you can use a slightly wetter mop for cleaning. But you should still be careful to not totally soak the floors because water can seep underneath the planks and deteriorate the adhesives. Additionally, vinyl plank floors generally don’t require special cleaners, which makes vinyl plank slightly easier to maintain. Just remember not to use ammonia, bleach, detergents, or abrasive cleaners, as these may leave a dull film on your flooring. For more vinyl flooring tips, check out our page on vinyl flooring maintenance and care. 

Where Can They Be Installed?

Laminate or vinyl plank floors are both prized for their versatile installation capabilities. Both can be installed on stairs, below grade, directly onto a concrete slab, or over a standard subfloor material. The wealth of water-resistant and waterproof options means that there are laminate and vinyl products appropriate for the bathroom, laundry room, or basement.   

Wrapping It All Up

We hope this was a helpful comparison of laminate and vinyl plank flooring options. If you’re looking for a more affordable and versatile alternative to hardwood flooring, you’re on the right track. And if durability and ease of cleaning and maintenance are of high importance to you, then laminate or vinyl plank may be great choices worth looking into. For even more personalized recommendations we welcome you to schedule a free in-home consultation, and a flooring professional will come and talk you through all your options. 

The post Laminate vs Vinyl Plank Flooring: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

How much time will you spend in your office?

If your home office is where you will be spending a lot of time or eating and drinking, it is important to have flooring that is easy to clean if you eat lunch at your desk, or even drink a cup of coffee, spills can happen. Look for a floor that is easy to clean. The good thing about   is that it is very easy to keep clean and can be even be 100% waterproof! This means you won’t have to worry if you spill your water bottle during your conference call.

If you prefer a cozier office space, and want a carpeted floor, look  for  stain-resistant carpet.

What kind of furniture do you have in your home office? 

Will you be using a heavy desk or a light table? Do you have a rolling chair or stationary one? The weight of your furniture can damage your floors if you don’t choose a floor that is suited to handle your office furniture.

Look for scratch resistant floors or a low profile carpet style. Not only can low profile carpets offer durability, but they make it easier to maneuver if you have a rolling chair.

No matter what flooring you choose, you should still protect it by adding furniture pads to the feet of your office furniture and using a chair mat for rolling chairs.

While functionality is always key, you also have to love the style of your floor. You can virtually try on floors in your exact room with our room visualizer tool. Simply upload a photo of your room, browse and sort by color, type, and more to find a floor that fits your style, then see how the floor looks in your space. You can even save it or share it.

Are there others sharing your office?

With many kids doing virtual learning and perhaps a spouse working from home as well, there’s a high chance your home office isn’t just for you. One of the biggest considerations for sharing your home office space is acoustics. Footsteps, moving chairs, and closing doors can all be distracting when on a conference call. Yes, you can have rules, but we all know there will eventually be exceptions. That’s why it’s best to think ahead and just get flooring that can handle you and “co-workers.”

Carpet offers much better acoustic properties compared to hard surface flooring, and with noise being one of the biggest working from home complaints, installing carpet can make a noticeable difference. It is known to help reduce the transmission of impact sound, whether from foot traffic or moving chairs. Carpet also helps absorb airborne sound that typically comes from people talking, speakers, and electronics.

When choosing your home office flooring, it is best to focus on your personal needs. You can read a million blogs, but each home is different and requires attention to detail. The best way to avoid making a mistake is to have a flooring professional come to your home and discuss your functional needs.

The post Choosing The Best Home Office Flooring appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

With the right basement floors, décor, and furniture, a remodel of your lower level can add a whole new dynamic to your home. Whether you want to create a welcoming space for guests, a fun entertainment zone, or a super comfy gathering area for the big game, here are six basement remodel ideas worth considering.

Build A Home Theater

Some basements may not have much natural light, but that’s perfect for a home movie theater! For in-home cinema, many homeowners love a thick plush carpet to add the kind of comfort that you can’t find in actual movie theaters. Kick off your shoes, recline in that over-sized theater-style seat, and enjoy your favorite show.

Some ideas to consider for your basement home theater:

• Install an actual projector and screen for a true widescreen feel.
• Use floor lighting to help you navigate the space in the dark.
• If you’re a movie collector, build a display case to show off your collection.
• Decorate the walls with classic film posters.
• Don’t forget surround sound and easy-to-control, dimmable lighting.

Your Own Private Gym

When it comes to home gyms, some people prefer that clean, minimalist look with neutral grays, whites, and blacks. Go with luxury vinyl tile for some added comfort under foot, and mix in that corner TV to keep up with the latest scores. A simple combination of resistance training, cardio equipment, and free weights doesn’t need to take up a lot of space but can create an atmosphere that’s great for a mind-clearing calorie burn any time of day.

With a home gym, you can also keep it simple and go for an industrial look by taking advantage of already exposed concrete floors and walls. Add artwork from your favorite sports teams or action movies, and roll out a commercial grade carpet for free weight and stretching areas. Some homeowners even make their basement home gyms into a yoga or dance studio with wall-length mirrors, hardwood flooring, and plenty of open space.

The Ultimate Gathering Space

In larger basements, you can create a multi-faceted entertainment room. Incorporate a bar with vintage, iconic art on the walls for mixing up the latest cocktails. Add a widescreen TV and a large sectional nearby for an ideal spot with friends and family or to host a small party. Add to the inviting vibe with a durable wood-look vinyl plank floor in a rich red or white oak color that looks great and feels comfortable.

If there’s room for it, basements are also excellent places for a billiard table and darts. With a large space, you can create entertainment zones—where one group is immersed in a television show, another competes for bragging rights in a game of darts, and others chat at nearby bar stools.

Create a Loft-Style Apartment

Basements can also make for great guest rooms, a mother-in-law quarters, or spaces where friends can relax, hang out, and spend the night. We suggest modeling your space after a loft-style apartment with light-colored hardwood or wood laminate basement flooring.

Embrace open space with some contemporary or minimalist furniture. Consider adding in futons or sleek pull-out couches that use space efficiently and have multiple uses—during the day, the bright, airy space can double as a relaxing gathering area before your guests tuck in for the night. A cute corner kitchen and small dining table for two are also perfect welcoming touches for a loft-style guest space.

Go For a Cozy Cabin Look

With exposed wood in the ceiling, a basement can naturally offer some rustic elements. Some homeowners will add decorative wood beams overhead, along with wooden wall paneling for a cozy cabin look. Add to the cabin look and vibe with a low-maintenance wood laminate basement floor to offer more warmth and texture.

Big couches with puffy pillows and a TV are essentials in a space like this. And don’t forget a corner kitchen to brew up some coffee or tea! For flooring, consider going with more of a classic look by using thin hardwood slats.

Build a Creative Space or Art Studio

Sometimes you just want that getaway space where you can create something uniquely your own. Whether you paint, record music, write poetry, dance, or sing, a safe retreat to nurture your inner artist can be found with the perfect basement remodel.

Install blinds for a window well to shed light on your canvas in the early morning to get those creative juices flowing. You can also add sophistication with a vinyl tile or vinyl plank floor that has a wood look but offers the water resistance to handle that messy art project, too.

Throw in a workbench with years of creativity scars, add a separate couch and sitting space alongside your personal creative zone, or paint the ceiling stark white or a vibrant color. The best thing about making your basement into a creative space is that it truly starts and ends with your own imagination. You make the décor rules, and can choose to follow them or not.

Considering a basement remodel? Let a professional help you find the right type of floor for you. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate to see how easy the whole process can be!

The post 6 Ideas for An Epic Basement Remodel appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

The great news is that you have many high-quality options when it comes to kid-friendly floors. Here are some popular options families love, along with a few tips for how you should go about choosing the right one for your home.

Before You Get Started

Before you choose a kid-friendly floor, it’s important to assess your family’s needs. Some things to consider:

• How much water, scratch, and stain resistance do you need? Make sure a sales representative explains the level of protection each flooring type offers.
• Where are your major traffic areas? Will you need two flooring types? One for high-traffic and one for lower-traffic areas?
• Do you have pets? If not, will you have them in the future?
• Consider the age of your children. With a new baby, you may be more concerned about a soft surface, but what about when the baby is older?
• How often will you have time to clean? Some floors take more effort and time to maintain their beauty.

Carpet: Comfort for Playtime

Little ones usually love a fresh, new carpet for the many soft landings it offers, especially those kids who love to wrestle, play, and roughhouse. The great news is that many of today’s plush carpets are also tough enough to handle heavy use, making it the perfect nursery or playroom flooring for your little one.

The health of your children is another thing to consider. You can also find hypoallergenic and odor-neutralizing offerings as well, such as HOME Fresh. It doesn’t trap dirt, is mold and mildew resistant, contains no VOC’s, and is 100% recyclable!

Damage Doesn’t Come Easy with Vinyl Plank

The most popular flooring choice today in pretty much every area of the home, vinyl plank flooring mimics the look of real hardwood, but is softer under the feet and very low maintenance.

A number of vinyl plank products are also built with cork or rubber backings that help block out noise. Vinyl plank, in general, laughs off large spills – there are also 100% waterproof varieties – and it’s great for wet areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Vinyl plank flooring also tends to be more affordable than real hardwood, and if you’re little ones love to play with pets, it handles a dog or cat’s nails well. As far as maintenance, simple sweeps and an occasional damp mop and you’re done!

Laminate for a Low Cost, Low Maintenance Wood Look

One of the most cost-friendly options out there, today’s wood laminate comes in a variety of attractive natural wood looks. Families love how quick and easy installation crews can re-make a space, and laminate is also great for those with allergies who need to keep dust and dander at bay.

Super low maintenance, wood laminate comes in a variety of plank widths, is very scratch and fade resistant, and considered by many as one of the best for high-traffic areas. You’ll also find 100% waterproof options, so it can handle juice spills and the splashes that come with bath times. If you’re looking for something that looks just like natural hardwood but is a lot easier to maintain, laminate may be for you.

Hardwood Comes with Long-Lasting Perks

Not too sold on wood looks and want to shoot for the real deal? No worries! Hardwood flooring can still be a suitable option for a household with kids.

Engineered hardwood’s layered construction gives it a strong durability and higher water and moisture resistance than solid hardwood.

However, solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood and offers plenty of durability, too. The biggest plus about this choice is that when your kiddos have been too rough over the years, you can refinish it for a fresh look that doesn’t require completely new floors.

If you don’t mind a little extra maintenance for something that’s designed to last for many years and age with character along with your family, hardwood might be for you!

Look of Tile with the Ease of Vinyl 

Combine the beauty of natural stone or wood looks with durability in today’s vinyl tile. With the emergence of improvements in different types of vinyl products, vinyl tile is no longer viewed as an old-school option.

Today’s vinyl tiles are water and stain-resistant, and excellent for busy areas. They offer a contemporary look and some are even installed with grout lines to look like real ceramic or porcelain tiles. Vinyl tile is also a warmer, softer floor than traditional porcelain or ceramic tile. Many people comment on how great it feels under their feet. At the same time, it resists scuffs, stains, and moisture and wipes up super easily!

Ceramics can Also Be Kid-Friendly Flooring

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are also popular for families because these surfaces are, hands down, the hardest out there, which means it takes a lot to stain or damage them.

The trade-off, however, is in how hard these surfaces really are. Little ones should be careful about slips and falls on these slick surfaces. And while they’re cool in the winter, some families also appreciate how cool the surface feels in the summer, too!

If your kids are older and durability is the top priority, porcelain and ceramic tiles offer unmatched scratch, stain and moisture resistance. They likely won’t scuff or dent, and an occasional sweep or mop keeps them looking great for years to come.

As we said, when it comes to kid-friendly floors, you’re always weighing comfort and durability. Let a professional help you decide. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate to find the perfect kid-friendly floor today!

The post Kid-Friendly Flooring Options You Should Consider appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

City/State: Fremont, CA

Flooring Type: Commercial Vinyl Tile (CVT) /Commercial Carpet

Product/Color: CVT/Imperial Blue Dreams, ButterCream Yellow, Imperial Grayed Blue, Velocity Classic, Cool, Antique White & Tenbrook II Carpet/Evening Shade

Rooms: Classroom

This California school was looking for a fun update, so the sales representative worked with school leadership to find the perfect mix of unique accent colors and neutral colors for a commercial vinyl tile installation that would bring some pop to this floor.

The customer also chose the Tenbrooke II commercial carpet in the Evening Shade color for one area of the room. Both flooring options are great when it comes to stain resistance and are super low maintenance, bringing a welcomed lively look while handling the wear-and-tear realities that come with young children using it daily.

Does your school or office need a flooring revamp? Schedule a FREE in-home estimate today!

The post Vinyl Tile and Carpet Add Touch of Fun to California School appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Solid Hardwood Flooring

This option may appear a bit obvious. If you want the natural wood look, why not go with the real thing? Today’s solid hardwood flooring brings an unmistakable rich look.

Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood and you can pick from a variety of natural wood species like oak, maple, cherry, hickory and plenty of others. You can go for a hand-scraped look and some people even like the natural changes in hardwood as it wears and is exposed to the elements. And once a hardwood floor looks like it needs some sprucing up, you can sand and refinish it, in some cases multiple times.

Chateau Solid Hardwood. Color: Cabernet

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Busy households often appreciate the durability and natural look of engineered hardwood floors. This option is actually made with a real hardwood surface but has a uniquely engineered core to prevent it from expanding with temperature and moisture changes. It can be installed on a variety of different subfloor types, too.

Engineered hardwood flooring comes in wire-brushed, distressed or hand-scraped finishes and is versatile enough to add classic or contemporary touches to just about any space in a house.

Because of its durable construction, engineered hardwood is a popular option for areas of the home that can see heavy traffic. Engineered hardwood can stand up to the punishment and moisture in these parts of the home. While some are designed to handle extreme moisture, a lot of people stop short of putting them in bathrooms.

Whether you love a classic hickory or oak, or a muted gray for contemporary cool settings, you can rest assured, an engineered hardwood flooring option is available to you.

Encore Engineered Hardwood. Color: Gunstock

Laminate Flooring

If you’re looking for some amazing wood looks that are budget-friendly, wood laminate may be the choice for you! Like engineered wood, laminate offers a variety of plank widths with great stain, scratch and fade resistance.

With wood laminate, you can find hand-scraped textures, traditional oak, Brazilian Cherry and other popular colors and styles. There are even some 100% waterproof options available too! With so many styles, it’s easy to add sophistication to a den or study with an aged oak or enliven a living room with a contemporary ash gray. Only your imagination can stop you as far as real wood look options on this one.

Ellington Laminate Wood. Color: Huntington

Vinyl Plank Flooring

For many people looking for a very realistic wood look, but who are on a budget, vinyl plank floors have been the answer. Today’s vinyl plank floors come in a wide range of unique grain patterns, colors and textures.

This super durable option will get you the wood beauty any room wants with tremendous stain and water resistance, even having 100% waterproof options. Busy families love how they can add a natural look to a kitchen space and not need to worry about the floor being able to handle a large spill. Some options also come with unique backings that dampen noise in a room and some people also appreciate a vinyl plank’s softness compared to hardwood for added comfort.

Studio Reserve Vinyl Plank. Color: Canyon

Vinyl Tile Flooring

To many people’s surprise, vinyl tile floors are another budget-friendly way to add a realistic wood aesthetic to a room. Dark and light gray and greige shadings are sometimes used to add an industrial or farmhouse look to a space, and certain homeowners really love that unique creative touch of having a grout line with a wood-look tile.

Vinyl tile is great at resisting stains and water, so busy households love it in kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms, but you don’t need to limit yourself to those areas of the home.

Canal Pier Vinyl Tile. Color: Farmhouse Linen

Sheet Vinyl Flooring

You can still enjoy the scuff, stain and scratch resistance of vinyl sheet flooring and a natural wood look, too! Today’s designs can look like you just had a fresh wood floor installed in your home. When looking down at the floor, the wood can look so real, the eye can be tricked into seeing actual wood plank seams and a wood grain look.

Today’s vinyl sheet flooring can give the look of real hardwood and it’s still as budget-friendly as ever, and very easy to clean.

Wood-Look Porcelain Tile

When you think of porcelain tile, the first rooms that may come to mind are the bathroom or the kitchen. However, wood-look porcelain tile means you can add ceramics to other spaces such as the living room. What makes this wood look so special? Well, you get the beauty of hardwood with the high durability and easy maintenance of porcelain tile, giving you the best of both worlds.

Timber Falls Porcelain Tile. Color: Apache

Many people will start with the idea of transforming one space in their home, then they realize that the wood look they fell in love with actually looks great in other rooms. With so many great options, you don’t have to stick to just one type, style, or color. Assess each room and pick the flooring that’s best for those specific needs.

The post Wood-Look Flooring Types & Ideas appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

1. Waterproof Vinyl Plank flooring

Vinyl plank flooring is one of the top-requested waterproof floors available today because homeowners can enjoy a natural wood look without the maintenance worries. Vinyl planks are softer, too, for added comfort, noise reduction and they’re a cost-effective option as well. They’re especially popular in kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways, but many homeowners will go all out and use it in bedrooms and beyond.

This popular option can easily handle the spills, resist scratches and can look fresh and new in high-traffic areas for years. Pet owners love them, too! Vinyl planks can be installed on a variety of sub-floors, including concrete slabs. They come in wider planks, usually between four and eight inches, for a modern look, too.

Product: Grand Junction; Style: Aspen

2. Waterproof Laminate Flooring

Wood laminate flooring has been popular for a long time, and, like vinyl plank, offer a realistic wood look for a fraction of the cost. While vinyl plank has been at the forefront for waterproof wood-look flooring options for a while, there are waterproof laminate wood options that are great at handling big spills. These tough laminates look more like real wood than ever, and they’re a great long-term investment for any home.

Laminates, in general, are also popular for the wide range of colors and wood-grain types they offer. Waterproof laminates are no exception. You can find everything from unique grays and whites to natural traditional colors, and just about any other style or color you can imagine.

3. Waterproof Vinyl Tile

Vinyl tile is a more affordable option than authentic wood, stone, and ceramic tile and is almost impossible to distinguish from the real thing.

Just like vinyl planks, vinyl tile is softer for added comfort and warmth. It’s UV resistant, easily handles moisture and is attractive to those wanting all the beauty at the right price. These features combined with waterproof capabilities makes vinyl tile a fantastic option for your home.

Water-Resistant Flooring vs Waterproof Flooring Options

With so many features available for flooring, it’s easy to be confused. But you want to make sure you have the proper knowledge when searching for flooring that can handle moisture and spills. The biggest thing for you to know is the difference between water-resistant and waterproof flooring options. What’s the dividing factor?

Well, water-resistant flooring does as the name suggests: it “resists” water penetration to a certain extent, but not completely. A water-resistant floor works for topical exposures that are quickly wiped up and allowed to dry. A truly waterproof floor is impermeable to liquid. Naturally, if you’re expecting water “proof” but only get a water “resistant” product, you might be disappointed.

In the end, you have a varied range of styles, colors, and flooring types to find the perfect waterproof flooring option for your home. It’s all about preference and knowing what’s best for you. Are you more interested in durability or affordability? A wood look or a stone look? The choice is yours! What’s most important is that you have the proper installation and knowledge of whatever flooring you choose!

The post Best Waterproof Flooring Options appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

With hundreds of suggestions out there on how to remove stains, it’s hard to understand exactly how you should care for your floors. At Empire Today®, we know a thing or two when it comes to flooring, including how to keep your floors in tip-top shape in the long run. Here are a few easy tips to keep in mind for those annoying flooring stains:

1. Use the Correct Cleaning Technique

Anyone who has needed to know how to get stains out of carpet knows how frustrating they can be. While it’s important to remove a stain as quickly as possible, make sure to follow the right technique and manufacturer recommendation for how to remove set in stains. Be careful not to scrub the area too hard—being overly aggressive can cause your carpet fibers to fuzz and stand out from the rest. It’s also important to start from the outside of the stain and work your way in (not the other way around). This helps prevent the stain from spreading further.

2. Be Careful with At-Home Chemistry Experiments

Many of the tips you hear in social media posts and blogs suggest how to get stains out of carpet, like mixing hydrogen peroxide and soap, but be careful—mixing chemicals incorrectly can damage your floors. If you’re considering trying one of these sorts of tips look at what the manufacturer recommends first, then use caution, and run a test on a small, discrete portion of the carpet before trying it out on the actual stain. If you’re not sure, call a professional for help or try a safer DIY option. We suggest a couple safer at-home DIY solutions below in #5.

3. Make Sure to Use the Right Tools for Your Floors

It may come as a surprise, but high-tech cleaning tools aren’t always a good idea for all flooring. For example, high temperatures generated from steam mops can cause irreparable damage to certain types of floors. Make sure you check the manufacturer to see if a steam mop is safe for your specific floors. And if you’re not sure, steer clear.

4. Choose Quality Cleaning Products and Follow Directions

When it comes to mystery stains on your floors, the best course of action is to use a quality, name-brand floor cleaner designed for the specific flooring type you have. Remember, when it comes to cleaners, stronger is not always better. Be sure to read the directions on the bottle of cleaner and follow them carefully, and use the applicator recommended for the cleaner being used.

5. Consider Using Supplies from Around Your House

A sticky stain like chewing gum can be a real pain. But did you know that an ice cube can do the trick to remove it on laminate flooring? Instead of reaching for a sponge and scrubbing it away, you can place an ice cube directly on the sticky spot. As it cools, the gummy substance will typically harden—making it a lot easier to remove in one go with a dull plastic scraper.

I know we said to be careful with DIY solutions (and that’s still true), but not all are created equal. There are some helpful at-home remedies that are generally regarded as safe. For example, for rust stains on your vinyl flooring, a simple tip is using lemon juice and cream of tartar to help remove the stain. Afterwards, clean up with simple rinse with water and you’re done. For more general cleaning tips and maintenance ideas for your specific type of floors, see our Product Care section.

6. To Extend the Life of Your Carpet, Hire a Professional Carpet Cleaner

Hiring a professional carpet cleaner isn’t just about refreshing the look and feel of your carpet (though it’s helpful for this, too). Getting your carpet professionally cleaned using hot water extraction every six to 12 months can help remove set-in or fresh stains. The professional carpet cleaner can also re-apply soil and stain protectants to help avoid future carpet stains. This makes maintenance easier, as well as providing you with additional peace of mind about your carpet’s longevity.

7. Consider a Flooring that Resists Stains and Cleans Easily

What’s better than getting stains out of your flooring? Preventing them before they even happen! Flooring options from Empire that resist stains and clean effortlessly make it easy.

For a softer option, HOME Fresh is a one-of-a-kind carpet that’s not only comfy but also helps keep your home cleaner! How? Its one-of-a-kind construction with a built-in premium padding provides better airflow, allowing dirt and dust to be vacuumed up easier. HOME Fresh’s fibers don’t absorb moisture, helping prevent the growth of mold, mildew, and allergens (the most common sources of a bad carpet smell). Plus, HOME Fresh comes with Scotchguard Protector 3M with Advanced Repel Technology, providing long lasting stain protection that helps keep spills from seeping into the carpet.

For a hard surface option, look into vinyl plank flooring. Also known as luxury vinyl plank, some vinyl plank flooring options are 100% waterproof, so they can stand up to large spills, dampness, moisture, or flat-out wetness. With the look and feel of natural hardwood flooring, vinyl plank flooring will keep your mind at ease and your house looking great for years to come.

8. If It’s Time to Update Your Stained Flooring, Empire Can Help

If professional cleaning isn’t doing the trick anymore, or the old stains keep piling on, it might be time to replace your floors. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate with an Empire flooring professional to see all the beautiful options you can choose from. From carpet to hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and tile, Empire Today has hundreds of choices. You might be surprised by the types of flooring you can get that give you the look you want with the convenience you need to stand up to spills, messes, and stains.

Even those of us who do our very best to keep our flooring clean and without stains will likely end up with a spill or mystery spot on our floors from time to time. It happens! We hope these tips give you the confidence you need to remedy the situation when stains do show up on your floors—keeping them, and your home, looking beautiful!

The post How to Remove Stains from Your Floors: The Dreaded Mystery Stains appeared first on Empire Today Blog.