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Fixing Scratches in Hardwood Floors

When looking into hardwood floors, one of the hardest parts of the maintenance is learning to keep the scratches and scruffs to a minimum. Beautiful hardwood floors can be worn down by heels, pets, and furniture that is placed on them. Learning to maintain their hardwood floors is going to be one of the most important aspects of hardwood floor ownership for a homeowner.

Interior designers and homeowners alike realize the importance of beautiful hardwood floors in a home. Not knowing how to properly maintain a hardwood floor is unfortunate, and many homeowners have no idea how to go about removing the scratches from their hardwood floors. The wood used in making hardwood floors is dense, and although that makes them long lasting, it also means that the scratches can be hard to remove. Here are a few tips on removing the scratches from hardwood floors that are in homes.

Tips on Removing Scratches from Hardwood Floors

When to Use Sandpaper

Even those who have been sanding for a while may not be aware of all the benefits of using sandpaper on floors. Sanding down a wood floor blends in the scratch with the rest of the floor, and sanding should be done when the scratch is deeper and it is unable to be hidden with markers, crayons, or pens that are similar to the color of the wood of the floors. When sanding, remember to sand WITH the grain, going long-wise if the grain is as well.

Hide Scratches with Crayons and Markers

This is not the most ideal way to hide scratches, but for small ones that are isolated, using a similar color of crayon, colored pencil, or Sharpie could be an efficient and inexpensive way to remove the appearance of the scratch or scuff and help blend it in with the rest of the flooring!

Use a Walnut

Similar to sandpaper, walnuts are very adept at removing scratches from wood floors. Run the walnut along the whole length of the scratch, and the natural oils from the walnut will seep out into the scratch and help to blend it in with the rest of the floor. After rubbing the walnut across the scratch, leave the oils to soak for several minutes before rubbing across the scratch with a lint-less cloth. Voila! It is finished.

Premixed Wood Filler

While wood filler does not permanently fill gaps, it does do a good job of hiding small holes and scratches on the floor. Wood filler does do a good job of temporarily filling gaps that are in the wood floors, so when there are problems, that is going to be a good place to start. The moral of the story is that when it comes to hardwood floors, wood filler makes an excellent temporary fix. In the long run, it will be best to replace the board(s).

Call a Professional

There are times when doing it yourself just isn’t a luxury you have. The appearance of the hardwood floors in a home is very important, and much of the time it is more efficient to simply call a professional. There are many contractors and specialists who specialize in the repair of hardwood floors. For help in finding a reputable hardwood floor repairman, simply contact the interior design firm or hardwood floor distributor that installed the hardwood floors. At certain times, it may be best to go ahead and have a portion of the flooring replaced. In times like that, it is best to speak with a professional.

Interior Designers and homeowners all realize the great benefits of having hardwood floors that are pristine and sleek, void of scratches or marks. Accidents do happen and scratches can occur, so when installing hardwood floors in a home be sure to look into how to properly maintain the floors and remove the scratches and scuffs. For those who are looking into commercial flooring, residential flooring, and hardwood floors – get in contact with Lane Sales, Inc. today at 800-731-3483!

What Is Carpet Padding And Why Do I Need It?

When you’re installing new carpeting, you want to get it right the first time.  Failing to choose the right carpeting or failing to install it properly can result in time and money wasted.  At Lane Sales, we want to direct you to the carpeting that’s going to work best for your home or business, and part of that is encouraging that you use carpet padding.  However, you shouldn’t just take our word for it.  Below, we would like to educate you on what carpet padding is and why you should install it.

What Are They?

Carpet padding is strips of padding that are installed under your carpeting for the purpose of increased shock absorption and reduced stress on carpet fibers.  Just like with most products, carpet padding comes in a variety of materials, some of which may sound familiar to you.  A popular option for carpet padding is Memory Foam, found commonly in mattresses, as well as Scotchgard™ foam and Step Ahead Carpet Cushion.  The thickness of the padding also matters, and the thicker it is the more protection it will offer.

Why Get Them?

Because carpet padding reduces stress on carpet fibers, carpet padding can actually make your carpet last longer than if you didn’t install carpet padding.  Though carpet padding will cost you extra money, this money can be saved in that you may no longer need to replace your carpet anytime soon.  Carpet padding also just makes the floor more comfortable to walk or lie down on.  You don’t often notice carpet padding because the padding is what makes the carpet feel like a carpet.  If you’ve ever been in a home or office that doesn’t use carpet padding, you notice, as it sticks out as being specifically uncomfortable.

Though certainly more noticeable and appreciated in spaces that are meant to be comfortable, such as homes and lounges, all carpeting should be padded.  For all carpeting and carpet padding needs, contact Lane Sales today!

Consider Reflooring Before Selling Your Home

Placing your home on the market is stressful.  Whether you’re moving for work, need a change of scenery, or can no longer afford your home, you want to make as much money as possible.  Though home renovations can cost a significant chunk of change, they can be just the boost you need to make your home into the bombshell you know it can be.  Redoing your floors can be a great investment in the overall value of your home.

Fresh Carpeting

Though new carpeting is always a nice touch, if you’ve had pets in your home, you may want to seriously consider tearing up your old carpeting and going with something fresh.  Even the most well-behaved pets have accidents, and not only that, but their hair tends to get bunched up in carpeting, which can not only smell bad, but can irritate those with allergies as well.  The last thing you want at an open house is for someone to be allergic to the home you’re trying to sell them.  Carpeting comes in so many variations that it’s a powerful, yet simple way to totally change the look of a room in your home.

Hardwood Floors

Whether or not you’ve always had hardwood floors or are only thinking about installing them now, new hardwood floors are a huge selling point in any home sale.  We’ve all read those ads in the subway newspapers for luxury real estate in New York City, if for no other reason than to fantasize about a potential future home.  In their special features, they list doormen, building amenities, floor-to-ceiling windows, and, you guessed it, hardwood floors.  Simply elegant, hardwood floors are rarely a detriment to the look of any home.  If, however, hardwood just isn’t your style, you can cover up your flooring with fun and interesting area rugs.  Hardwood floors allow for the best of both worlds, which can be a selling point in and of itself.

The flooring in your home can be a make or break factor when trying to sell.  Though it may seem costly at first, redoing your floors will end up adding value to your home, making a sale bigger and easier.  Contact Lane Sales today to redo your home floors!

MAKING THE CHOICE BETWEEN HARDWOOD AND CARPET AT YOUR BUSINESS

There are a lot of choices out there when picking out flooring. One of the larger decisions is between hardwood or carpet for your business. Here are a few things to consider when making your decision.

Carpets Can Be Custom Designed

You are not just stuck with a few options when it comes to carpet. There are natural wool carpets for those that like natural fibers. Synthetic fiber carpets are also long lasting and can be custom sized to your room or purpose. A special design or pattern is also not a problem.

Hardwood Is Beautiful But Requires Different Upkeep

While hardwood can last for many generations, it does require some care and maintenance that carpet does not. Wood is naturally more susceptible to moisture damage if spills are not cleaned up quickly. On the other hand, if you want to create a rustic and old fashioned atmosphere then hardwood is a classic choice.

modern-hardwood-flooring

Combining The Best Of Both

Hardwood flooring and custom carpets can be combined to create a very classy and upscale look for less money than you might think. You might consider an Oak floor with runner rugs in areas that get a lot of foot traffic. This will offer you beauty, but you won’t have to worry about a floor wearing unevenly.

Samples And Planning

Lane Sales can provide samples so you can get a better idea of what to expect when your order from us. You can compare carpet samples on hardwood samples if you are pondering the idea of a combined approach. Contact our staff today to get started designing the perfect floor and carpet combination for your business. We can have your custom order ready promptly and with the highest level of customer service in the industry.