Archives

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!

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!

What is Hand-Scraped Hardwood Flooring?

handscraped floorHandscraped hardwood floors are becoming more and more popular. Adding this sort of texture to flooring increases its warmth and vibrancy, giving the home a more rustic atmosphere. Some say that handscraping hardwood floors is a fad that is not going to stay in style, but this texture for flooring has been around for decades now and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.

In New York City, Connecticut, and New Jersey, there are lots of style and textures to choose from when considering hardwood flooring. One negative aspect of handscraped floors is that they are harder to finish because of the ridges placed into the wood. However, there are many benefits to texturing hardwood floors.

5 Benefits of Handscraped Hardwood Flooring

Rustic and Traditional Qualities

Handscraping offers a flavor that is rustic and cabin-like, for homes that are going for a more Western or Southwest vibe. This is a tool that can be used to spice up a room or an entire home. Some also believe that these floors are more real and authentic looking than a smooth hardwood floor, and it is also more obvious that the handscraped floors are not laminate but are actual wood.

The Level of Scraping Can Vary

Hardwood floor installers are great at tailoring to the needs of the customer. Some buyers prefer to have their hardwood floors only light-hand-scraped. This is a great way to add texture to hardwood floors without risking them seeming dated or too rustic. A light-scrape can be more contemporary for a home going for a newer style. This provides a level of customization when trying to decide how heavy a texture is desired in the floors.

Great for Pets and Kids

Believe it or not, hand-scraped hardwood floors are great for pets and kids. They provide better traction than smooth flooring that can be slippery for children that are not accustomed to walking on such smooth surfaces. This is actually one of the more popular benefits of having this texturing done to hardwood floors.

Hides Scratches Well

Because handscraped floors have the added depth of ridges along the surface, they are able to hide potential scratches and scuffs very well. New scratches will be practically unnoticeable because the surface of handscraped hardwood flooring already has this sort of texture, which it wears so well.

Is More Durable

The irregular surface level of this type of residential flooring makes it harder to wear down, meaning better durability. Long-term that means this type of hardwood floor will last longer and retain its quality for a longer period of time.

When choosing residential flooring there are many options to choose from. The best part about designing a home and choosing between flooring options is the ability to use one’s imagination and put their own flavor and signature into the design of a home.

Lane Sales Inc. is the exclusive authorized agent for Provenza Floors and Home Legend, LLC. Both of these great vendors feature beautiful hardwood floors that can be used to add flavor to homes here in New York and New Jersey. To get in touch with Lane Sales call 800-731-3483!

How to Choose the Right Commercial or Residential Flooring

Choosing the right flooring can be tricky because there are many considerations. Are you purchasing flooring for commercial use or will you require it for your residence? Knowing about durability, high-traffic versus low-traffic areas and more will help you make a more informed decision on flooring.

If you are in the market for residential flooring, consider the type of room you will be covering.  Is it your living room, dining room, bedroom, office space, kid’s play room, etc? Even though each of these areas is located in one space, your home, they can require a different type of flooring to maximize your return on investment through budget and wear and tear. Because there are varying flooring options that can correspond with a room, we have outlined a few guidelines to help you determine the best flooring for you and your family’s needs.

Step 1: Determine whether an area is high-traffic or low-traffic.

Residential Low-Traffic Flooring Options

Low-traffic areas are any places where foot traffic is light and includes traffic that is mostly sedentary as well. For example, while you may spend most of your time in the living room, chances are it is still a low traffic area since most of your time is spent sitting.  

Other areas that are low-traffic include kitchens, dens, dining rooms and bedrooms. In low-traffic areas you can get away with flooring that is less resilient and more comfort-based. High-quality carpet is perfect in low-traffic rooms for this reason. However, carpet in kitchens and bathrooms is not practical from a cleanliness standpoint. For those areas, laminate, tile or sealed-wood flooring is generally resilient enough to handle food and water spillage, while remaining cost-effective and durable.

Residential High-Traffic Flooring Options

Watch any home improvement show and you will notice that the area with the most worn flooring is always located in the home’s hallways or entryways. In a commercial unit, common areas like public restrooms, elevators or stairs qualify as high-traffic areas.

To sustain flooring over time in high-traffic areas, select flooring made from harder materials. Tile, wood, and bamboo are a few examples of great high-traffic flooring options. While hard surface flooring can be more expensive, in many cases you can tailor your options to meet your budget without sacrificing quality or durability in the long run. Industrial strength carpet exists for commercial units as well. We do not recommend this flooring type for residential use because the feel and texture of commercial carpet is much rougher and less desirable for the function of a home.

Commercial Heavy-Traffic Flooring Options

If you are exclusively in the commercial market then there is an additional category: heavy-traffic. Heavy-traffic areas in commercial units include office “war rooms”, break rooms, cafeterias, and lobbies.

This type of flooring requires a unique approach and can often include a bit of customization. For example, for a room with multiple office spaces, the flooring will need to withstand the wear and tear of stationary objects that can settle in one area as well as mobile objects like roller chairs. To better maintain flooring in a commercial unit, consider carpet tiles instead of traditionally installed carpet. This options lowers replacement costs, as you can replace a few squares at a time in areas that are more worn than others.

There are many other kinds of commercial and residential flooring options for you to choose from. If you are ready to make your flooring selection, feel free to speak to one of the specialists at Lane Sales. Our team would be happy to walk you through your options to help you settle on the one perfect for you.