The Floor Store Hamilton has teamed up with our friends at G.J. Gardner Homes to raise funds for the Big Buddy Mentoring Programme. Big Buddy matches fatherless boys with positive male role models who spend time with their "Little Buddies" on a weekly basis. So to help them out our team came in to one of G.J's beautiful homes to do what we do best - flooring. We closed our store on Friday the 30th of June for our whole team to participate in the installation process. Looselay vinyl planking and carpet went down and our installers, our sales and admin team, and one of our directors got stuck in. Sales and Admin had a ball learning to put down underlay and StraightEdge, as well as tucking carpet, watching how carpet joins are done, and the many other processes our installers carry out on a daily basis. Over a BBQ lunch our Hamilton Big Buddy rep shared a few of many success stories that the charity has produced - stories of Little Buddies who have prospered with a positive male influence in their lives as well as stories of Big Buddies who have found fulfillment in spending time with these boys. It's a great feeling to help out with such a worthy cause and The Floor Store Hamilton is proud to contribute our services to Big Buddy. If you're interested in becoming a Big Buddy, know a Little Buddy who might benefit from this programme, or would like to donate to the charity, please click here. Here's a few snaps of what our team got up to:
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There is a segment of the floor covering market that hasn’t received the full attention it deserves. Commercial designers/quantifiers are HUGE fans of this, but what they know hasn’t filtered down to be shared with many consumers at large. Well it’s time to share the features and benefits of luxury vinyl tile/plank flooring (also referred to as LVT or LVP) and separate these unique products from the mix of other vinyl goods. Luxury vinyl tile couldn’t be more different, not only in how it’s manufactured, but in the total aesthetic and applications.
Can you have the look, graining, and character of real hardwood in vinyl tile flooring? Yes! Today’s state-of-the-art manufacturing processes can create amazing vinyl “wood” planks and textured “stone” tiles that rival the real thing admirably. Many different options, designs and styles can be found in store. Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank Flooring Construction The ability to replicate real hardwoods and stones using advanced photographic technologies is the foundation of luxury vinyl flooring systems. There are four distinct layers fused together to produce the final product: a resilient vinyl backing, a vinyl colour layer, a photographic film layer, and a urethane or aluminium oxide top layer. The protective top layer (also called the wear layer or mil layer) is very important to the durability of the product. Quality products will have as high as a 40 mil layer. Commercial applications can successfully utilize 20 mil or above. Lower mil layers are available, but should be specified only for light traffic applications. Features & Benefits of Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank Flooring Below are some of the key features and benefits for luxury vinyl tile and plank flooring. Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank Flooring Features Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank Flooring Benefits Incredibly realistic photo replication of natural materials (photogravure process) The look and feel of nature’s best materials at a lower cost are a reality of Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank flooring manufacturing Brands that offer 100% vinyl material Vinyl flooring satisfies Green building standards and earns LEED points in commercial applications. Inherent safety features Meets requirements of commercial flammability codes, slip resistant requirements…and a menu of other safety codes Ease of maintenance Simple damp mopping is the recommended cleaning procedure for LVT floors Excellent selection of sizes, shapes The size options vary by manufacturer, but many styles are available Naturally water resistant LVT floors are inherently water resistant (and fairly impervious to wet spills from above). It’s important to install over flat, dry, approved substrates so that no water seepage occurs beneath the floor. Scratch, stain, dent and scuff resistant Specialized wear layers (most common are 20 mil layer; some offer up to a 40 mil layer). Then the floors are coated with urethane to enhance durability Cost effective Economics factor favourably into the specification of Luxury Vinyl Tile/Plank Flooring for both commercial and residential applications, giving the look and feel of rich, natural materials at a lower cost Exceptional durability Since most luxury vinyl tile flooring is also constructed to withstand commercial wear and tear, it is ideal for residential high-traffic areas as well as other areas of the home. Warranties vary by manufacturer, but it’s not unusual to see 15-25 year warranties on brand name luxury vinyl tile flooring. More resilient than other hard surface floors Because there are multi-layers of vinyl in luxury vinyl tile/plank flooring as well as a resilient backing as the foundation, LVT/LVP tiles and planks have more resilience underfoot. It’s easier to stand on for long periods of time AND as an added benefit, it tends to be warmer underfoot than ceramic. Amazing aesthetics There has been a stunning transformation in the design aesthetics of Luxury vinyl tile flooring in the last five years. If you are linking it to “industrial” looking floors, this is where you need to throw away your misconceptions and do some research. This may be the one biggest factor that has caused interior designers to stand up and take note of the new brand of LVT. The realism of the total look, INCLUDING distressed wood finishes, stone and slate tactile surface textures, and even woven textiles imbedded in the wear layers, are grabbing attention. Exceptional realism and Durability Luxury vinyl tile/plank floors are designed to capture the timeless look of natural stone tile flooring, wood planks and ceramic tile floors, while providing an extremely durable and comfortable surface for everyday living. Luxury vinyl tile flooring comes in many extremely fashionable designs ranging from contemporary to rustic and many feature deep embossing for stunning realism. Many of the luxury vinyl tile designs can be installed with grout or without grout, for a true stone or ceramic tile appearance. Many options are available to view in store now. Our knowledgeable consultants will help you review what would suit your project best. Disclaimer: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing.
·Decorating Ideas One of the most sought-after amenities in a home is wood flooring. Because of its natural appearance and warmth underfoot, wood is beautiful and timeless. Original hardwood floors are among the benefits of older traditional homes. Newer homes that have a lower price point but that still want the natural look of wood often use laminate to win over homebuyers. No matter your preference, there are pros and cons when it comes to hardwood versus laminate wood flooring. If you are interested in getting free quotes on floor installation, call us at the store or file in request form. Price The reality of flooring costs and what you can afford may be miles apart. Take into consideration the cost of laminate and hardwood flooring to determine what is best for you.
Durability Assess the traffic load and wear and tear on flooring in your home. A durable surface will make maintenance easier and will look great for years to come.
Repair Flooring is one component of your home that will have to be repaired at some point. From minor accidents to excessive wear and tear, laminate and hardwood have advantages and disadvantages.
If you have a lot of sunlight in your home, hardwood can fade because it is a natural product, while laminate wood flooring has UV protection integrated into the surface. Consider all the factors — and enjoy how the warmth of wood will improve your home’s aesthetic, appeal and value. Here at The Floor Store, we will assist you in finding the best product for your project, including all the right ancillaries, accessories and installations, for anything domestic and commercial. Disclaimer: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing. Regular vacuuming can literally extend your carpet’s life. The type of vacuum cleaner and vacuum floor head you use is important. A vacuum’s performance will vary based on the carpet’s fibre type and construction. A good vacuum cleaner typically has features that allow you to adjust the height, beater bar rotation and fan speed. We only give general advice about vacuum cleaners as there are so many good brands or models. We forward you to consumer review websites for more detailed information. Beater bar Manual adjustable height of the beater bar is the most important feature because this enables the machine to be used on a wide variety of carpet types. If your vacuum is set too high above the carpet surface, the vacuum can’t attract the gritty soil below. If the setting is too low, the vacuum’s beater bar or brushes can damage the carpet’s surface, causing it to look worn and frayed.
Use a vacuum cleaner with a good and efficient HEPA-microfilter system in order to be able to remove fine dust and maintain a good indoor climate. The HEPA filter system extracts 99,97% of pollen, dust, animal scales and other particles. Do I need an expensive vacuum cleaner? No, invest in a good vacuum cleaner to get the dirt you can't see. There are many affordable vacuums on the market today effectively cleaning carpets. Do I choose an upright or cylinder vacuum cleaner? Both types are suitable for carpet cleaning. You should base your choice on the area you will be vacuuming and your individual preferences. Upright vacuum cleaners deliver great performance for carpet, help combat pet hair with their beater bar and typically have large heads to cover more surface area and reduce vacuuming time. Cylinder vacuum cleaners are smaller and lighter, making them ideal for smaller houses and are more suitable for cleaning a wide range of surfaces, including hard floors, rugs and carpets. Additional advice
Disclamier: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing. ![]() Regardless which type of resilient flooring is being installed, every floor will require some kind of subfloor prep. Every installation is unique and will have its own subfloor prep requirements. Careful and correct preparation of the subfloor is a major part of a satisfactory resilient floor covering installation. Roughness or unevenness of the subfloor will telegraph through the new floor covering, resulting in an unsightly surface and excessive wear on high spots. Proper subfloor preparation and suitable underlayment installation are essential for a trouble-free job. Before proceeding with any installation, there are a few questions to factor in before proceeding: What type of flooring is to be installed? Commercial floors generally have a smooth face and will show any subfloor defects For most Resilient flooring, subfloor flatness is 10mm in 3metres. New Construction or Remodel? If it is remodel, what flooring was previously installed and how was it removed? What condition is the subfloor in? Five words to remember in subfloor prep: Clean Smooth Structurally Sound Level Dry Has the subfloor been tested for Moisture and pH? All concrete subfloors on any level should be tested for moisture and pH and documented Hardwood installations over wood subfloors should be checked for moisture and documented Have sealers or curing compounds been used? What is the subfloor and what is it over? Concrete, Gypsum, or Wood Crawl Space? All of these and other conditions can vary from job to job. Each set of unique conditions has a very specific series of steps required to prepare the substrate prior to installing the prep materials and then, the finish flooring. The finished floor is only as good as the base or the subfloor is. The make-up of the subfloor and the condition and quality of the subfloor, directly affect the performance of the finished resilient flooring. If the system components are not as recommended or as required, the flooring can fail. If the condition of the subfloor is poor, not properly cleaned, not dry enough, and not flat enough, the flooring performance will suffer and require a call back and some type repair, maybe even reinstallation. Problems related to improper subfloor preparation continue to multiply each year, with millions of dollars in damage as a result. Sadly, most of these problems are preventable when correct installation methods are followed. Before starting any installation, it is critical to make sure that the subflooring is ready to have flooring installed over it. There are now countless specialized products to help installers ensure that subfloors are clean, flat and dry enough to install flooring over. In order to use them effectively, you need to take the time to learn about the latest products and installation methods. Not prepping a floor correctly is only going to lead to bigger issues that will come back to you. A customer that does not want to pay for prep is only setting themselves up for a disappointing flooring failure. During quotation period the estimator cannot ascertain exactly what substrate exists under the existing covering, as in New Zealand it is illegal to uplift any areas of existing flooring until contracts have been settled. At this point it is always just a best guess. Put simply, preparation in any job is the key to any successful project, and to ensure best value for the products being used. Disclamier: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing. ![]() Cleaning up common household food and beverage spills The cleaning steps should be effective for most stains on synthetic carpet caused by spills. You will need: • Clean white cloths. • 1/4 teaspoon of liquid dish washing detergent per 1 cup warm water How to clean your carpet after a spill: Immediately scoop up as much of the spill as possible. Then blot, do not rub, area with clean white cloths to remove excess moisture. Use a wet/ dry vac if spill is large. Apply warm, not hot, water to stained area and blot with white cloths. Repeat until no stain is evident on towels. If stain remains on carpet, make a solution of 1/4 teaspoon liquid dish washing detergent to 1 cup warm water. Using a clean white cloth, apply the solution to the stained area and let soak about five minutes. Rinse with clear warm water and blot to remove excess moisture. Repeat until all detergent is removed to avoid re-soiling. Absorb any remaining moisture with layers of white paper towels weighted with a non-staining glass or ceramic object. When carpet is dry, vacuum or brush the pile to restore texture. * Reappearing stains: After drying, if the stain reappears, it may be because some of the stain remained deep in the pile and wicked up to the surface. If so, repeat step 2. Disclaimer: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing. ![]() At The Floor Store we recommend Cavalier Bremworth Dry Stain Remover Cavalier Bremworth’s carpet stain remover for dry stains has been in the market for more than 20 years and gets regular fan mail from users. It is the biggest selling carpet stain remover in New Zealand by a significant margin. You can find it in our Care and Maintenance area at The Floor Store.. "Cavalier Bremworth Stain Remover did as it said and bingo no stain. Thank you again, it's nice to see a product do what it says." - H Milliken, Wellington. It's designed to work on most food, drink, oil and grease-based stains and is suitable for wool and synthetic carpets and rugs. It's effective on almost any dry stain that has not caused a chemical reaction with the carpet fibres. If our product doesn't remove it, then it's doubtful anything else will. Rubbing a wet carpet is an absolute no-no (it damages the fibres) so our stain remover is designed to be lightly applied as a spray and then the resulting powder vacuumed up using a fine nozzle. For full instructions on how to use, please see the back of the can. Please note this product is a flammable aerosol and should not be used in a confined space or without adequate ventilation. You should also check the manufacturer's advice for your specific brand of vacuum cleaner as some more modern vacuums can be sensitive to fine powder and lose their suction. Disclamier: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing. ![]() Wool carpet is a natural textile and it's useful to understand what traits are common when a carpet is new and what you can expect from certain styles of carpet. Fluffing on new carpet Sprouting Tracking vs permanent shading Fading Crush marks Indentations from heavy furniture Insect damage Fluffing on new carpet When a carpet is new, balls of fluff may appear on the surface. These are loose bits of fibre left in the pile by the manufacturing process and are a tiny proportion of the fibre in the pile. This fluff will likely fill the bag of your vacuum for the first few times you vacuum and it is perfectly safe to vacuum thoroughly. On loop pile carpets this fluff can be more difficult to free from the pile and may appear as frizzing. Use of a vacuum with a strong suction will usually free these balls of fluff. Walking in socks or pantyhose on your new carpet can accentuate fluffing because the fibres in the socks or pantyhose can draw these loose fibres to the surface. Sprouting A single tuft rising up from the pile surface is called 'sprouting' and any such tufts in a cut pile carpet may be safely trimmed with scissors without affecting the appearance - but do not pull the tuft or it could unravel and leave a hole in the carpet. With loop pile carpets, we would not recommend cutting the tuft - professional repair would be advised and this can be arranged through your carpet dealer. Tracking vs. permanent shading As the name suggests, 'tracking' is the imprint left by footprints on your carpet. This is more common on the plusher cut pile surfaces and disappears with vacuuming, but may reappear when the carpet is next walked on. Carpet is most prone to tracking in areas of heavy use such as doorways and halls. These areas should be given extra attention during routine vacuum cleaning. All cut pile carpets, particularly 'plush pile' carpets will develop lighter or darker patches over time. Known as "shading" or "watermarking" it is caused by the permanent bending of the carpet pile fibres which then reflect the light differently. In this respect it is very comparable to velvet - which also shows light and dark areas. The extent to which shading occurs cannot be accurately predicted or prevented and is most often related to the location of use rather than the type of carpet construction. Shading often becomes apparent six to eight weeks after the carpet is first installed. Brushing or shampooing does not reduce shading. Shading does not affect the wear or durability of the carpet and is not recognised as a manufacturing flaw or defect. This topic was covered by TVNZ's Fair Go programme in February 2011. Fading In common with all natural textiles, your wool carpet will fade or change colour over time in areas consistently exposed to sunlight. Light and pastel coloured carpets are the most vulnerable, but no carpet is immune. North or west-facing glass doors or floor-to-ceiling windows, are the worse offenders and we'd recommend these be fitted with effective UV protection on the glass. Curtains, blinds and louvres offer the best protection. Laying tiles around the border of the room and insetting the carpet within this can also provide protection from the worst of the sunlight at the edge of a room. Solution-dyed nylon and SmartStrand carpets can offer excellent fade resistance - be sure to read the warranties carefully as some are better than others. Crush marks On occasions, new carpet will exhibit noticeable light and dark areas, often in strips. This is more likely to occur with plusher pile carpets and is known as crush marks - caused by the weight of the carpet in a large roll pressing down on the layers underneath and bending the fibres. It can also happen when two rolls that have been rolled at different tightness are laid next to each other. Over time and with regular vacuuming and general foot traffic, this effect will diminish, though it can take 3-6 months or so for the marks to disappear entirely. This is not considered a manufacturing defect. Indentations from heavy furniture Place furniture cups under the legs of heavy furniture and regularly shift the furniture a few inches one way or another to give the pile a chance to recover. To revive flattened pile, you can use a warm steam iron over a towel laid on top of the carpet. Hold the steam iron gently to the towel and use the steam button to inject steam - do not press the iron down on the towel as this could leave gloss marks on the carpet underneath. We strongly recommend the use of protector mats where castor chairs are used. Insect Damage Carpet damage by insect attack occurs where food, animal or plant substances are present near a wool carpet. Homes in rural areas appear to be at higher risk. Preventive measures include regular and thorough vacuuming, especially in areas around and under furniture that is not moved frequently, and along skirting boards. Insect damage is not an issue with synthetic carpets. Disclamier: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing. ![]() Choosing a Dunlop foam carpet underlay will help extend the life of your carpet. The underlay actually absorbs impact, which makes your carpet more comfortable and helps keep it looking new. When choosing carpet, the last thing on anyone’s mind is what should go underneath it however this is one of the most important decisions you can make. New carpet is a significant investment so it’s vital you choose a quality carpet underlay to support it and deliver the comfort you want, and we at The Floor Store only want the best for our clients. A Dunlop underlay also helps reduce our impact on the environment because it’s 100% recyclable and Green Label accredited. In addition, it protects against allergies and asthma attacks thanks to the addition of an antimicrobial that reduces mould, mildew, and bacteria. Furthermore, a Dunlop underlay can save you money by reducing heating bills thanks to its outstanding thermal insulation properties. It reduces noise transfer too and improves acoustics between floors, which makes choosing Dunlop & The Floor Store a sound investment. And because a Dunlop underlay is Australian made, you can be confident you’ve chosen a quality product. In fact, Dunlop guarantees it for the life of your carpet. A Healthier Home. Dunlop Carpet Cushion is accredited by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green label program , a program that identifies products that are low VOC’s which help promote superior indoor air quality. Breathe Easy. Dunlop Health Plus promotes healthier living and a healthier home for our customers. Selected Dunlop underlays are carefully treated with a proven antimicrobial, which protects against dust mites, damaging bacteria, mould and mildew – significant triggers for asthma, hay fever and eczema. It also prevents odours’ and provides hygienic freshness. Lightening our Footprint. Dunlop Floorings & The Floor Store are committed to reducing our impact on the environment by helping to reduce landfill. Dunlop Carpet Cushion is manufactured from 90% recycled materials and is 100% recyclable. In addition, we run our own recycling program, Recycle by Dunlop, encouraging installers to return their used underlay to us. Choose Australian Made. Dunlop carpet underlay is proudly Australian Made so you can take comfort knowing that you’ve chosen a quality product. The Dunlop Guarantee. By combining your flooring with a Dunlop underlay, you can be confident that it will keep performing for many years to. All of the products are backed by the Dunlop Guarantee which is their promise that your new carpet will be supported for its lifetime. Quality Assured. There’s no better name to entrust your dream to than Dunlop Flooring & The Floor Store. Dunlop underlays have been specifically designed to be better for longer, and meets the AS4288 standard for soft underlays. Building a Sustainable Future. Dunlop Carpet Cushion meets the requirements set by the Green Building Council of Australia’s Green Star Program, achieving maximum rating points for building interiors. Disclamier: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing. When it comes time to put your home on the market, make your property stand out by removing clutter, making necessary repairs, and cleaning your residence from top to bottom. One of the first things buyers may notice when entering a home is the condition of the carpeting, so make that a main focus of your cleaning efforts. A thorough shampooing, vacuuming and grooming will erase years of wear and tear and make your carpet look fluffy and new.
1 Remove the clutter from the carpeted rooms you'll be cleaning. Store the items in another part of the house or arrange to use a storage facility. You can temporarily move large furniture pieces, like a bed or a dresser, if you wish to clean under them. 2 Get on your hands and knees and examine your carpet closely. Crawl around the room, and cut any threads that are sticking up with a pair of sharp scissors. Do not pull up the thread when cutting it; lay the scissors perpendicular to the carpeting and cut to even the surface. 3 Spray hardened stains with a stain remover formulated for carpeting, we have a great selection here at The Floor Store. Leave the cleaning agent in place for the amount of time specified on the instructions. Blot with a rag to absorb the cleaner and the stain. 4 Place an ice cube onto dented areas of the carpet that were underneath furniture. Allow the ice cube to melt completely, unless of course you have a SmartStrand product and the pile should just brush back up. 5 Blot the wet area gently with a paper towel until no more moisture can be absorbed. Avoid pressing the towel into the carpeting, which will reinforce the dent. Run the edge of a spoon against the direction of the dented carpet to fluff it up. 6 Wet a hand towel and wring out the excess liquid. Lay the towel over the dented carpet. Heat an iron to the cotton setting, and gently iron the towel for one minute, concentrating on the area above the dent. Leave the towel in place until it dries. Remove the towel, and fluff the area with your hand. You can try this method as an alternative to using ice cubes. 7 Vacuum the carpeting to suck up all the dust and dirt using a “beater head” on your Vacuum, choosing a suitable vacuum is just another option available at The Floor Store. Pay attention to high-traffic areas, as well as corners and spaces where the carpet meets the wall. Use an attachment, if necessary, to get suction into spots the vacuum can't adequately cover. 8 Use a professional service to “Power Clean” your carpets, we don’t recommend hiring a machine, as they usually leave more liquid in your carpets, than they suck up and are not recommended by any carpet manufacturer we have spoken to. We recommend the professionals, either JAE or Chem-Dry. 9 Sprinkle an unscented or scented carpet deodorizer over the entire floor. Leave the powder on the carpet for the amount of time specified on the instructions. 10 Vacuum the carpeting one last time to suck up the deodorizing powder and any other cleaning residue and dirt. There you go 10 easy steps to freshen up the look of your carpet. Or the easiest “1 step” would be to invest in a new flooring option, in a modern colour to freshen and excite that new potential buyer. Give us a call at The Floor Store and we will happily discuss some investment options with you. Disclaimer: This column is offered as advice only. All care has been taken to ensure that information is correct at time of publishing. |