Learn the Basics of Flooring
Your flooring is an investment for your homes future, whether you are remodeling, or building from scratch, you need a good sense of direction, and we can lead you to success!
Carpet
Experience the soft warmth of carpeting and enjoy a cozy spot for happy feet. Carpeting muffles sound to make any room more serene, and with the plethora of textures, colors, and patterns, you will be able to enhance your home with style. You'll also appreciate the built-in dirt-repelling technologies such as Shaw's R2X, Mohawk's SmartStrand, and general stain protection that is on most of today's carpeting. Carpet has come a long way and can now withstand kids, pets, and heavy traffic thanks to these stain resisting technologies.
It's important to choose a carpet that will suit your home's needs.
High Traffic areas benefit from Shaw's Water-Proof Blue Backing with the R2X stain protection. Keeping your subfloor safe from spills caused by pets and/or kids.
Medium Traffic areas don't need extra waterproofing protection. You can get a carpet from Marquis that has a luxurious density and styling selection.
Low Traffic areas open you up to any type of carpet you would want, you may like a carpet that may be a higher price, but most of the time you can get the same style in a lower weight for a lower price with the exact same quality.
Dining Areas can go either way; if your dining room gets a lot of spills, then you would benefit from the Waterproof Blue Backing, which comes in quite a few eye catching looks, if your dining room is only for those special occasions, then you could even open up your possibilities to a pattern look or a lower weight that is shorter and easier to vacuum instead of a dense frieze carpet without the Waterproof Blue Backing. The decision is up to you!
Different Types of Carpet
Frieze / Twist
Frieze / Twist
Frieze / Twist
Carpet has high, twisted yarns for a longer crimped look and relaxed feel. It's long twists create dimension and visual interest as well as a bouncy, springy feel.
(Most popular for bedrooms/living rooms today!)
Pattern
Frieze / Twist
Frieze / Twist
Made with varying loop and cut heights for looks that range from bold and dramatic to simple and elegant. This low profile style handles traffic beautifully.
(Perfect for formal dining areas or the home office!)
Texture
Texture
Texture
Long, crimped yarns for a casual look that works for any room. With a higher pile for a super soft feel.
Loop
Texture
Texture
Dense, looped strands, and low profile for a clean, low maintenance look. Durable, reliable, ideal for high traffic areas like laundry rooms, or entries.
Hardwood Guide Lines
Hardwood
Solid Hardwood & Engineered Hardwood
Hardwood comes in two different constructions. (Made two different ways)
Solid & Engineered
Depending on your subfloor, height transitions, style, and color preferences, it's best to know some basics before making your final decision. At the end of the day, it comes down to which color and style suit your personal preference.
Solid Hardwood is wood planks cut straight from the tree. Solid hardwood can be sanded and refinished multiple times. Since Solid is a non-modified hardwood (meaning no alterations to the wood) if liquid sits on or against it for a long period of time damage can occur. Temperature is also something to keep in mind for solid hardwood, heat can cause expansion, and if it’s too cold, it can contract, causing small gaps in between the planks. Gapping can also occur when a house “settles”. Seasonal Gapping is a normal occurrence with solid hardwood
Engineered Hardwood is also wood straight from the tree, the difference is that the wood is cut into thin layers, each layer is put on top of one another in different grain directions. The reason for layering is simple; if an engineered wood plank were to get wet or affected by seasonal changes, each layer pulls one another in different directions causing minimal shrinkage or gapping. In addition to having more core stability, it also allows the homeowner to have real hardwood in their basement. Engineered hardwood is slightly more difficult to refinish, screening engineered is usually a better option if the top layer is rotary peel and not a sawn cut.
Luxury Vinyl Planks & Tiles
Luxury Vinyl and Why It Could Be the Best Option for You
Luxury vinyl was developed to give your floors the authentic hardwood look without the hefty price tag. Vinyl flooring remains one of the top choices for home and business owners today. While the benefits have remained consistent, with luxury vinyl being waterproof, scratch-resistant, and easy to maintain, its composition and construction continue to evolve, making it one of the most popular and versatile product categories in the floor covering industry. Luxury vinyl is made up of multiple layers, starting from top to bottom;
Finish Layer- A coating applied to the top of the wear layer for scratch resistance, stain protection, and appearance retention.
Wear Layer- A protective layer applied to the top surface of vinyl flooring that varies in thickness with each product. This layer is measured in Mils (mm) which is about the thickness of a page in a phone book. (8mil, 12mil, 20mil, 30mil) A thicker wear layer will help with performance under heavy traffic.
Image Layer - A layer of printed film gives the look of wood or stone, which is very important when choosing what style and color of flooring you want in your home.
Core Layer- This can vary depending on the construction of what flooring you choose.
- LVT - Traditional vinyl planks and tiles, constructed with layers of PVC (polyvinyl chloride, which is the material that makes up vinyl flooring)
- WPC - (Wood polymer composite) Constructed with a foamed up extruded core with built-in air pockets for added stability, superior comfort, and sound absorption.
- SPC - (Stone Plastic Composite) Dense core for impact and dent resistance. Stands up to heavy rolling loads with ease, 100% waterproof, and thermally stable for little to no acclimation or expansion/contraction.
Backing Layer- Bottom layer that provides a supportive foundation to ensure a high-performing product.
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Luxury Vinyl Plank
(LVP) Luxury vinyl planks come in plank looks that can vary in length and width. Some companies such as Shaw Floorte offer multi-width plank styles with a painted beveled edge, adding more character and variation to your flooring.
Luxury vinyl planks offer realistic wood looks and textures at a lower price point. Most planks will have a 25-year warranty to a lifetime warranty.
It will take many years to walk through your wear layer alone. For this reason, we always say "thicker does not equal better quality"
Your wear layer alone is what you will be walking on for years to come. When you are shopping here at Mark's Floors, your wear layer is what counts the most along with the style and color you choose.
Luxury Vinyl Tile
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Luxury Vinyl Plank
(LVT) Luxury Vinyl Tiles offer beautiful tile visuals and textures, perfect for any kitchen or bathroom, along with being warmer, easier to clean, maintain, and replace. If you drop something heavy on a classic ceramic tile, you run the risk of the tile cracking, the repair time on a ceramic tile is significant, but with LVT, the repair time is no more than just a few minutes, by heating up the tile, you can peel up the tile and replace with new, it's really that simple. An added bonus with Armstrong's Alterna Tile is that grout is optional. If you do go with grout, it's nothing like traditional grout, Armstrong's acrylic grout is much easier to clean, you also have the option to go right over your existing grout with a new color if you want to change things up, instead of chipping out the grout on ceramic tile.
Looselay
Luxury Vinyl Plank
Looselay
Loose lay vinyl planks are somewhat of a new concept for the flooring world.
Loose lay flooring offers a construction that includes heavier vinyl planks that only need to be perimeter glued and then the rest of the planks simply lay in place with no glue underneath.
By placing glue along the sides of your room and laying the planks down, all the planks will stay in place and if you have flooding, or if you are renting the space, you can simply pick up your planks whenever you like.
Click
Edge Styles
Looselay
Luxury Vinyl Plank with the clicking system.
Click planks have "tongues" on all sides of the plank.
-Ideal for basements/flat subfloors
Can be installed over OSB, Plywood, and sheet vinyl, does not require any underlayment.
-Generally has an attached pad for sound deadening.
-Subfloor MUST be level or else tongues break or unclicking can occur.
Click Floor can be more expensive vs. Glue
Glue
Edge Styles
Edge Styles
Glue Down Luxury Vinyl Planks are ideal for unlevel subfloors.
-More convenient to repair since the adhesive used is releasable.
-Glue down is accompanied by underlayment or can be installed over some existing sheet vinyl.
-Concrete is the exception where it can be glued down directly without underlayment.
Glue down plank can be less expensive vs. click
Edge Styles
Edge Styles
Edge Styles
Micro Bevel or "Pillowed" Edge - A very small bevel also known as a pillowed edge for a more "softer" variation. (Armstrong Vivero)
Beveled Edge - larger, more pronounced edge detail. This style makes your planks look more authentic and variated. (Shaw's Floorte)
Square Edge - Square Edge floors fit together flush on all the ends. This result is a sleek and seamless looking transition between planks. (Stonecast)
See below