Wood Floor Alternatives

Wood floors are beautiful. Here are some alternatives to solid wood flooring.

• Bamboo
• Laminate
• Wood-Looking Vinyl Plank
• Cork
• Wood Tile
• Engineered Wood

Each of these has their good and bad qualities. But it's up to you which type of floor fits your home and your budget. We've included some pictures to give you an idea of the different types mentioned above. Of course each of these options comes in different colors to suite your style.

Bamboo:

Laminate:

Wood-Looking Vinyl Plank:

Cork:

Wood Tile:

Engineered Wood:

As you can see, no matter the type of flooring, you can still achieve the beautiful look you want. As always, if you have any questions or need help making your decision, we at JP Carpet Cleaning Expert Floor Care are always here to help you!

Wood Floor Care And Maintenance

Your floors are an investment. Something that you want to last for years and years and years. But when it comes to wood flooring what can you do? It's fine right? It's a hard floor, it shouldn't need as much professional maintenance as carpet or tile right? Well, not really. Wood floors don't need as much professional maintenance, but they still require some TLC. We have compiled a list of important thing you should and should not do with your hard wood flooring. 

• Sweep regularly with a soft bristle broom or dry dust mop. 

• Use a suction only type vacuum. Vacuums with a beater bar or power rotary brush head can damage a wood floor and should not be used. 

• Wipe up spills promptly and use approved hardwood cleaner. 

• Use felt protectors under heavy pieces of furniture and chairs.

• Use protective mats at all exterior entrances. 

• Spiked heels or shoes in need of repair can severely damage flooring. 

• Replace hard plastic, metal casters, or wheels on furniture with soft rubber casters or by using a protective mat under the casters.

• Never wet mop your wood floors. Excess moisture or liquids can cause damage to wood flooring. 

• Never use oil soaps, wax, or other household products to clean your floor. 

• Keep pet nails trimmed. 

• Protect your floor when using a dolly for moving furniture or appliances. 

• Use protective window coverings to protect hardwood floors from excessive heat during periods of direct sunlight. 

• Never use rubber backed rugs or pads as they may damage hardwood floors. Area rugs should be soft, non-abrasive, and urethane backed.

As always, if you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to either leave a comment below or give us a call at 818-263-9314

The beauty of laminate flooring

Laminate flooring is a type of floor that mimics the look of real wood floors generally at half the cost! Laminate floors are simple to install and require very few materials, while still giving your home a fresh, new look.

 When it comes to purchasing the material, ensure that you purchase enough for the total square footage of the area in which you want to place the flooring, plus 10%. Just like yarn if you buy from a different skein, the details of the laminate may not match from flat to flat, so make sure you purchase enough of the material beforehand! The insulation, or sound barrier should also be purchased at this time. Again, purchase as much as you need based upon the square footage. 

 Once your new floors have been installed, a new life has been given to the atmosphere of your home! When in between professional cleanings, we recommend moping once every week or two with just hot water and a drop of dish soap. 

 Next time: The Pros and Cons of Laminate Flooring

Carpet Steam Cleaning

Curious as to how we take care of your carpet? Here is a video of our team hard at work, steam cleaning this carpet. Look at the difference!  

Share your thoughts! Post any questions you have below!

Clean Dark Water Spots From Hardwood

Have dark spots on your hardwood floors? Here's our simple at-home solution (of course, we recommend a professional for a more extensive cleaning, but this is a good "in between" fix).

The first step would be to clean the spot and surrounding area with No. 2 steel wool and a wood floor cleaner or mineral spirits. Thoroughly wash the spotted area with household vinegar and allow it to remain for three to four minutes before buffing the area to remove the vinegar. If the spot is still there, sand with fine sandpaper, following the grain pattern of the wood and feathering out 3 to 4 inches into surrounding area. Apply the vinegar again and again allow it to remain for three to four minutes. If the spot is still there, repeat the sanding. If two repeated applications of the vinegar do not remove the spot, apply an oxalic acid solution directly on the spot. Proportions are one ounce of oxalic acid to one quart of water.

**Always use the recommended cleaner for your floors, and buff vigorously with clean towel. Refinishing might be necessary. And never be afraid of calling for help, our experts are here to help you (818) 263-9314! 

Any questions? Something we didn't address? Tell us below and we'll take care of it!