Category Archive floor maintenance

ByClassic Flooring

What is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is one of the top product options in the market today. Many homeowners can’t get enough of its beauty and versatility. 

But what is laminate flooring? Let’s delve into this innovative flooring and show why you should consider it for your next project.

Laminate Flooring

Despite its popularity, few people know the exact physical makeup of laminate flooring.  

Laminate flooring consists of multiple layers pressed and bonded together with resins. It generally has four layers which are:

  • The backing layer — which acts as a moisture barrier
  • The hardcore layer — supports the weight and foot traffic 
  • The print layer — a high-definition image of a signature look like hardwood or stone
  • The surface layer — a hardy thin film to protect the print layer 

The combination of these layers makes it a unique and practical option that can fit a variety of flooring needs.

Ideal Areas to Install Laminate Flooring 

Laminate flooring looks stunning in any room in your home. But if you are looking to maximize functionality, its high moisture, heat, and scratch resistance qualities make it the perfect flooring for high-traffic areas like the entryways, hallways, and stairs, areas that need a touch of style like dining and living rooms, moisture-prone areas like the kitchen and laundry rooms (but only if you can stay on top of spills), and areas prone to prolonged sun exposure like outdoor lounges and decks

Advantages of Laminate Flooring 

1. Durability 

Laminate’s hard-wearing layers and resin coating make it an incredibly hardy and durable floor. The flooring can withstand high foot traffic, scratches, and dents which means it’s pretty much resistant to high heels and the hustling and bustling of pets and children.

2. Variety of Styles

Laminate flooring is often known for simulating wood and stone, but the possibilities of mimicking other materials in different colors and styles are limitless. You can choose from a wide range of plank sizes, tones, and patterns to create an authentic look for your space.

3. Easy to Install

Laminate is extremely easy to install compared to other flooring options. The user-friendly interlocking system where planks fit like a puzzle makes it a breeze even for DIYers with basic proficiency.

4. Budget-Friendly

Laminate is the go-to option for an upscale look on a budget. Its ability to mimic a variety of materials means you can find your ideal style whether that’s hardwood, tile, or stone, and enjoy more benefits like longevity and durability at a fraction of the cost. 

Disadvantages of Laminate Flooring

1. It Can’t Be Refinished

Once the top layer is worn out or damaged, you cannot refinish it.

2. It May Suffer Water Damage

While laminate is highly resistant to moisture, it’s advisable not to let spills linger on the floor as they wear down the composite layer leading to damage.

Contact Classic Flooring LLC for Quality Laminate Flooring

When you are ready to find beautiful laminate flooring for your home, call Classic Flooring LLC. Our laminate specialists can help you select the perfect floor from our wide collection of laminate flooring products that suit your tastes and preferences. Contact us today to get started.

ByClassic Flooring

Why is Hardwood Flooring Expensive? Is It Worth It?

If you have considered hardwood flooring for your home, you can guarantee it will not come cheap. But have you ever wondered why hardwood is so expensive? And is it worth it?

Read on to find out why hardwood costs more than other flooring options and why we think it’s worth your consideration.

1. Hardwood Availability

Hardwood flooring products come from solid hardwood trees like oak, walnut, and mahogany. And unlike many other tree species, they have a slower rate of growth with some taking up to 100 years to mature. With the demand for hardwood almost double the new hardwood tree growth rate, the price reflects the rarity of the wood type.

2. Superior Quality

Hardwood is known for its unmatched quality, durability, and beauty. Many property owners are willing to invest in hardwood flooring for a guaranteed sophisticated and distinct touch. And high-quality products come at a premium price. 

3. Meticulous Milling Process

The hardwood milling process is meticulous and labor-intensive and this often translates to higher pricing. The plain saw technique may offer a cheaper varied grain option but the quarter and rift-sawn methods produce a uniform grain appearance that may cost you a bit more.

4. Labor-Intensive Installation Process

Hardwood flooring requires professional skills, high-level precision, and specialized equipment to achieve a flawless installation and this translates to higher overall project costs. 

So, Is Hardwood Flooring Worth It?

The answer is Yes. Despite its high price, hardwood flooring offers several advantages that make it an excellent investment. 

Here are the remarkable benefits you can expect from your hardwood flooring.

1. It Complements Any Space 

Hardwood flooring effortlessly adds a touch of elegance and warmth to any home design. Some homeowners believe that it also makes a space appear larger and more spacious. 

2. It’s Strong and Durable

One of the biggest benefits that hardwood provides is durability and the ability to take on heavy traffic. With good care and maintenance, the flooring can offer you many decades of service.

3. It Blends in With Any Decor Theme

Solid hardwood comes in a variety of styles and colors making it the most adaptable flooring. Regardless of how many times you change the decorations, the hardwood flooring will blend in perfectly.

4. Superior Air Quality

Hardwood floors don’t harbor dust, pet dander, or allergens and this helps to improve and maintain high indoor air quality.

5. Low Maintenance

A quick sweeping and vacuuming once in a while is what it takes to keep this flooring spotless. Most importantly, hardwoods are stain-resistant which means all you need to do is wipe up any stains and spills. 

6. Provides Quality Sound Insulation

Do you like playing loud music but loathe floor vibrations? Hardwood floors can improve the acoustics in your home by reducing vibrations and hollow sounds.

Contact Classic Flooring for the Best Hardwood Flooring 

Are you ready to select your preferred hardwood flooring? Head to Classic Flooring, the best hardwood flooring store in Idaho Falls. We offer a wide range of custom hardwood flooring products that will transform every space in your home. Contact us today for a complimentary flooring estimate.

ByClassic Flooring

5 Trendy Bathroom Tiling Designs for a Modern Home

Tiles are a bathroom design favorite and that’s not changing anytime soon. Many homeowners find their versatility, low-maintenance needs, and affordability hard to resist. They come in different colors and shapes that can suit every bathroom in any home.

In modern living spaces, bathrooms are not only a cleaning space but also a cozy place to relax. As such, when choosing a tile design, you need to find one that balances style and warmth for a timeless look.

Here are some of the trendy bathroom tiling designs you can consider for your home. 

Classic White Marble 

For a touch of elegance and sophistication, only white marble tiles will do. The contrasting lines also called veining can be pronounced, delicate, or hardly noticeable. And you can choose the pronounced feature you prefer to accentuate your room. Many varieties of white marble exist and their easy complementary effect on designs like leaf and forest wallpaper, organic textures, and dark hues make it the classic bathroom tile. 

Classic White Marble 


Patterned Tiles

Patterned tiles bring a pop of color and life to any bathroom. You can choose from a variety of patterns like linear and graphic, florals, geometric, bold prints, or small hexagon tiles to complement white or neutral colors on the walls or the backsplash. 

Another way to utilize pattern tiles is to put some designs together. Matching a large white and black patterned tile design against a subway tile backdrop provides the perfect eye-drawing design match. Or you can go all out on the classic Mediterranean tiles to elevate your space.

Patterned Tiles


Timeless Black and White

The stunning black and white combo never goes out of style. Some timeless designs you can consider include mosaic or checkerboard tiles for extra glamor. A fully black and white tiled floor against a white or black wall backdrop or painting one color on the wall and contrasting it with the other works perfectly too.

Timeless Black and White


Monochrome

Monochrome is a trendy bathroom tiling design that adds character and style to a dull white or black bathroom. A palette combination of a color and its different shades offers an ultra-simplistic and elegant look. There is no limit to how you can apply monochrome in terms of color, textures, and materials to make your bathroom crisp and stylish.

Monochrome tile


Ceramic Tile

Ceramic is a popular bathroom tiling in many homes. And the shape and cut designs are limitless. You can choose a plain design to complement a deep forest wallpaper or a patterned tile to make the floor beautiful. Whether you choose to have your tiles glazed for a lasting sheen or unglazed for a rustic finish, ceramic tiles are a perfect bathroom addition.

Ceramic Tile


Contact Classic Flooring LLC for Quality Tile Installation Services

A bathroom tiling project does not come around often. Finding the right installation team is the only way to guarantee that your bathroom tiling design is fitted right the first time. Our tiling experts at Classic Flooring LLC offer high-quality tiling installation services in southeast Idaho and western Wyoming at affordable rates. Contact us today and let’s help bring your vision to life.

ByClassic Flooring

5 Types of Flooring for Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home. With its modern versatility, it has since become more than a place where we only make delicious meals but also a space for the family to hang out and relax. 

Now more than ever, homeowners need to install flooring that can comfortably handle high traffic, withstand spills and leaks, and require low maintenance, all while keeping the space stylish.

Here are the top five kitchen flooring options to consider.

1. Tile

Tile is an excellent kitchen flooring option because it’s durable, stain and scratch-resistant, heat-resistant, and waterproof. In addition, it’s easy to clean — with regular mopping and vacuuming, it looks good as new. 

It’s available in two main categories, ceramic and porcelain. But it’s also possible to get tiles that mimic hardwood and terrazzo to give you more durability, waterproof abilities, and a unique style for your home. Tile comes in a slew of different sizes and colors that complement any design to give you a lasting and stylish look for your kitchen. 

Types Of Flooring For Kitchen


2. Hardwood

Solid hardwood is a popular kitchen flooring option known for its warmth and unmatched classic statement. Apart from its effortless aesthetic benefits, the strong hardwood flooring can withstand high traffic for decades. 

Although not naturally waterproof, thanks to new and innovative water-resistant sealers and finishes, you can clean up spills and messes without fear that the flooring will stain or warp. But if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, look for engineered hardwood. It combines layers of solid wood and plywood for better durability and waterproofing abilities. Whichever choice you make, you can lay any of them in different patterns to give your kitchen a distinct touch.

Flooring For Kitchen


3. Laminate

Laminate is a staple for many kitchens and it’s easy to see why. Part of its appeal is that it comes in so many styles and designs that you’re spoilt for choice. It’s also the perfect option if you’re searching for strong but inexpensive flooring that gives you the rustic hardwood feel or a more contemporary tile design. 

Most laminate options come with a water-resistant sealant and a top wear layer for stain and scratch protection. The wear layer also gives it a smooth texture that’s easy to clean and maintain.

Kitchen Service


4. Luxury Vinyl Plank

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring is the epitome of beauty and functionality. It offers you the impressive natural look and feel of hardwood or stone but without the maintenance drawbacks. And its durability, water resistant, and scratch-resistant properties makes this flooring ideal for the kitchen.

Luxury Vinyl Plank


5. Bamboo

Bamboo is a perfect choice if you’re searching for breathtaking, affordable, and eco-friendly flooring for your kitchen. Experts recommend the strand woven variety for its quality, ability to withstand traffic, and its pest and water-resistant properties.

Bamboo


Contact Classic Flooring for Professional Tile Installation Services

Contact Classic Flooring LLC for beautiful tiles that will serve you for decades. We are expert tile installers with the right skills and experience to make your kitchen dreams come true. Contact us today to get a free installation quote.

ByClassic Flooring

Is There a Difference Between Laminate and Vinyl Flooring?

When it’s time to consider flooring options for your project, innovative products like laminate and vinyl flooring easily top the list. They are both modern, durable, easy to install, and effortlessly provide the realistic feel of a traditional wooden floor. And besides their names, it may not be easy to tell them apart. 

Yet, laminate and vinyl floors have crucial differences that set them apart. We’ve listed their differences to help you choose the perfect flooring for your space. 

Material 

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is made of several layers of wood materials that are compacted together by resins. The top surface is a high-quality wear layer that is often created to look like wood or stone, but it can be colored or textured to look like a variety of flooring materials.

Laminate Flooring


Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is made from a 100% synthetic material. Its ability to take on different shades and tones makes it a versatile material that’s customizable to create unique and authentic designs.

Vinyl Flooring


Appearance

Laminate Flooring 

Laminate flooring offers a more superior realistic feel with its top layer containing deep embossing and accurate imagery that perfectly mimics natural wood or stone. And it’s possible to give it more character by choosing from a wide range of colors, thicknesses, special color effects, and plank arrangements.

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl floors have come of age. It’s possible to find a realistic vinyl floor that mimics wood, tile, and stone, especially thicker solid-core vinyl products. But compared to laminate, the quality may still lag behind. 

Water Resistance

Laminate Flooring

While laminate flooring may be highly water-resistant, it’s not waterproof. Since its core is made of wood, exposing the fiberboard to excessive moisture makes it swell or soften and even after drying, it does not regain its shape. 

Vinyl Flooring

Modern vinyl floors are waterproof. Made from 100% polymer materials, these vinyl flooring products have high water resistance which means they can get exposed to large amounts of water, dry out, and remain unaffected. 

Comfort

Laminate Flooring

If you like the feeling of putting your bare feet on the floor, laminate is your best option. Its thick wood composition makes it warmer, softer, and more comfortable for bare feet. 

Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl floors are made from plastic and PVCs and may feel cold and hard but they also provide a confident grip for bare feet. 

Maintenance 

Laminate Flooring

It requires cautious cleaning to avoid exposing it to excess moisture. Other than that, you can easily clean it with a broom or a damp mop that is almost dry to the touch as needed.

Vinyl Flooring

One of its strongest features is that it’s so easy to clean. You can wet-mop and scrub stubborn messes with safe cleaning products. 

Get Superior Flooring With Classic Flooring LLC

If you need superior vinyl flooring that’s more affordable and durable, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) ticks all the boxes. At Classic Flooring LLC, we offer high-quality LVT flooring and installation services to fit any design and style. Contact us today for a free flooring quote.

ByClassic Flooring

Exactly What Causes Squeaky Floors?

There is nothing more annoying than having squeaky floors. This is especially true if you’re trying to have a sneaky midnight snack undetected! You may expect squeaky floors in older homes, but if you have a relatively new home or have newly installed floors, these squeaks are more than an annoyance. We will now dive into what causes squeaky floors as well as what you can do about them.

Squeaky Floor Causes

One of the main causes of squeaky floors is movement. After all, floors don’t squeak by themselves, but only after being stepped upon. Unfortunately, there are many reasons why your floors may be moving such as:

1. The Weather

If you experience very cold weather where you live and have heating in your home, then this can cause your floors to become very dry. This naturally causes your wooden floors to shrink which would lead to increased tension on the fasteners and more pulling. Then, when the humidity in your home returns to normal, your floors would go back to their original size, however, they wouldn’t be held as securely as before to your home’s subfloor. When this is combined with friction, squeaking can occur. 

2. Out Of Level Subfloor

Once there is a void under your wooden floor and subfloor, you will likely experience squeaking upon movement. There are many reasons why these voids can occur such as out of level joists, subfloor seams that are high and low, subfloor residue such as adhesive and drywall mud, heavy beams, settling of the home etc. 

3. Spaces Between Joists And The Subfloor

This is similar to the previous point, however, it refers to any spaces between the subfloor and joists. In order to fix this issue you will need to glue and nail the joists to your home’s subfloor. This isn’t commonly done, which leads to this issue.

4. Insufficient Fastener Size/Frequency

If the fasteners that are used are too small then they will fail to properly hold the floor to the subfloor. So, as time passes, these fasteners would get loosened and lead to squeaks. This can even occur if not enough fasteners aren’t used. 

5. Degraded/Poor Quality Subfloor

There are many types of subfloor that come in varying grades. If a poor quality subfloor is used or even if the subfloor was subject to rain or excess water, it can lead to squeaking. Keep in mind that this can still happen even if it is waterproof. 

What Causes Squeaky Floors? Solutions To Consider

Fortunately, there are many things that can be done to fix squeaky floors. One solution is to use screws from underneath so that the flooring is well secured to the subflooring. You can even utilize hollow spot repair where epoxy can be used to fill any voids. Lubricants can also be used to fix squeaky floors such as graphite, WD-40, talcum powder etc. However, keep in mind that this solution can be temporary. Other options include using the “Squeak No More” or “Squeak Ender” solutions. Squeak Ender helps to get rid of voids and Squeak No More uses top screwing boards to solve squeaking. 

Conclusion

To wrap things up, if you want to avoid squeaking floors, it is best to be proactive by hiring a flooring company that knows what they are doing and offers highly professional flooring installations. Classic Flooring offers the best flooring solutions and you can rest assured that their floors will never squeak! So, be sure to check them out at https://idahofallsflooring.com for more details.