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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!

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!

Contrasting Area Rugs and Hardwood Floors

When interior decorators are considering the placement of area rugs and where they should go in the house, one of the first things they look for is how to pair these rugs with hardwood floors. Hardwoods are beautiful, but sometimes contrasting the sleek look of the wood with a rug is a great way to make the floor of an entire room pop and really tie the whole room together.

Those that specialize in designing a home and those that are in the carpet business know an awful lot about carpet and flooring. They also look for patterns as they use their imagination to help someone’s home become more decorative.

Tips for Area Rugs and Hardwood Floors

Consider Colors to Contrast

Remember that area rugs come in many colors, as well as the different sizes they are available in. It’s important to match an area rug with the color it has, so that it isn’t conflicting with any of the other colors in a room. Even though interior design is a business, it is still supposed to be fun. Have fun in decorating a room, just make sure the area rug matches the room it is placed in. The interior design specialists that provide the area rug will also be able to provide a host of tips when it comes to color scheming.

Look for Patterns in a Rug

The hardwood floors aren’t the only part of the room to analyze when considering area rug placement. Remember that utilizing an area rug is going to help by contrasting or matching with wallpaper, paint styles, and the décor in a room such as furniture, lamps, and draperies. For instance, a rug that is paired well with everything else that is going on in a living room will do well in putting the final touches on an already ornate room.

Place Rugs in Larger Rooms and Under Tables

Large rooms with open areas can benefit greatly from placing an area rug over a hardwood floor. This best way to keep a hardwood floor safe under a kitchen or dining room table is to go ahead and place an area rug underneath. This makes seating feel more comfortable. Placing an area rug over hardwood floors also helps an area feel more like a dining room than a kitchen or decorative area. Sometimes it’s okay to get comfortable and put a rug down under the table.

Area Rugs in High Traffic Areas

Placing a rug in a high traffic area is one way to keep a hardwood floor from wearing down as fast. Hardwood floors are a durable material for flooring, but they still wear down and placing something over the top of them to protect them is one way to go about increasing the lifespan of your hardwood floors.

Rugs Make Cleaning Easier

Hardwood floors themselves are durable and fairly easy to maintain. But remember, even those who are the best at maintain hardwood floors can have a hard time when it comes to crumbs, scratches, and scuffs. Another big benefit of utilizing a rug with a hardwood floor is that vacuuming a rug can be simple and easy, especially when compared to trying to get a scratch out of a brand new hardwood floor. When maintenance is an issue, a great solution could be going with the area rug.

Lane Sales, Inc. is the premiere provider of commercial and residential flooring, as well as area rugs and other interior design solutions. When looking into a flooring provider, it’s best to let Lane Sales do the work and provide top-of-the-line flooring service. Lane Sales provides luxury vinyl tile as well. They aspire to be the wholesale provider of commercial and residential flooring products! Go ahead and give a call today at 800-731-3483!

How the Holidays Can Affect Flooring

The winter and holiday season ushers in a new era of decorating. Nutcrackers go up, along with all the lights, garland, and other various figurines. Lane Sales appreciates the hard work and dedication that go into preparing and then decorating a home to look wonderful for holiday parties and get-togethers.

One of the most overlooked aspects of holiday decorating is how it can affect the flooring of a home. The holiday color scheme will not necessarily match the flooring and furniture of the most frequented rooms in a home. If a real tree is used, it may shed on the carpet, posing a danger to the cleanliness and organization of the home. There could also be an unusually high amount of traffic across a home, posing a potential danger to wool carpet and other sensitive floors.

How to Ace the Holidays

Plan Color Schemes

One key aspect to remember during the winter months is that certain residential carpeting is going to be better for decorating purposes than others. Choosing a shade for the flooring color scheme that goes well with colors that are planned to be used during a holiday decorating extravaganza is always a good idea. Hardwood floors go well with all colors, so investing in hardwoods can pay off in the winter when the holidays roll around.

Consider Foot Traffic

Wool carpet is known for its elegance and comfort, but is also a more delicate flooring option that does not do as well with a lot of foot traffic as some other more durable flooring does. When investing in wool carpet, it is best to install it away from areas where folks may gather in the home, as well as away from any fir trees, as the shedding of the tree would require more cleaning and vacuuming of the delicate wool carpets.

Keep the Floors Clean

A benefit of hardwood floors is, unless they are very dark, they do a great job of hiding dirt and dust that may be hiding along the surface. But they not only hide dirt well, they are easier to clean than a lot of carpet as well. That is a definite advantage of hardwoods and stone and tile flooring options, their durability means they will last, but they also clean up quite easily after a gathering. The business of the holiday season means that the floor will be getting dirtier regardless of what type it is, so it is important to keep them thoroughly swept or vacuumed.

Each season has its own advantages and disadvantages, even when it comes to flooring and decorating the home. Keep these tips in mind when venturing into the holiday season, and for flooring needs in New York City, Connecticut, and New Jersey get in contact with Lane Sales today at (800) 731-3483!

How Hardwood Flooring Can Increase a Home’s Value

hardwood flooringHardwood floors are known for being luxurious and being beautiful in any home. But many people aren’t aware of just how much a hardwood floor is capable of increasing the value of a home. Adding hardwood floors increases the value of a home because generally those in search of a new home are willing to pay more for a home with a kitchen or living room with hardwood flooring.

While some people do prefer residential carpet or tile for various reasons, hardwood floor is definitely appealing to homeowners, homebuyers, and even real estate agents. The best part about having hardwood floors is that even if a house isn’t going on the market anytime soon, they will still add enormous aesthetic appeal to a home, especially here in New Jersey and NYC.

Benefits of Hardwood Floors

Add Elegance to a Home

Hardwood flooring adds a degree of elegance and prestige to a home or kitchen, especially when paired nicely with granite countertops and the color of the cabinetry.

Easy to Clean

These floors are easy to clean, one of the favorite benefits of homeowners with small children. Spills and messes are also cleaned up easily on these durable floors, and it can be easier to walk upon than stone or tile.

Allow for Use of Area Rugs

Hardwood floors go marvelously with area rugs that contrast with the rustic color and feel of the hardwood floors and can be placed to add color. Many are unaware that area rugs actually help a hardwood floor by reducing the amount of sound that echoes around the room, as the rug will absorb some of the sound. Pairing an area rug with hardwood floors also

Are Expected in Certain Areas

In certain areas in New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York City hardwood floors are going to be expected because they are the norm for an area. This means that while having hardwood floors is going to be what a buyer is looking for, not having hardwood floors can decrease a home’s value. If the market-value is a concern or a factor, then upgraded a part of the house to hardwoods may be a necessity.

Whether installing hardwood floors adds value to a home can depend on the home’s location, other aspects of the home, and many other factors. However, installing beautiful new hardwood floors will definitely add appeal to any home, and increase the amount of people interested in it if it is on the market. Even if a house isn’t going on the market anytime soon, hardwood flooring adds appeal to a home that is going to last.

Lane Sales Inc. represents quality flooring manufacturers in New Jersey, Connecticut and New York City. For residential and commercial flooring needs get in contact with Lane Sales at (800) 731-3483!