Get Your Hardwood Floors Ready For Spring

Winter can be a tough time on floors with all the excess salt, debris and moisture that can accumulate during those cold months. Make sure you treat your floors with extra care as you prepare them for a new season of sun and fun.

Photo: Bona Floors

How to Revitalize Hardwood Floors

• • Clean floors last. It’s best to clean rooms from the top down so that any dust and debris won’t find their way onto a newly-cleaned floor.
  • Dry mop/dust floors. Use a microfiber dusting cloth or a vacuum to remove the initial layer of dust and debris on floors. If using a vacuum, avoid using the beater bar so the vacuum’s brush doesn’t damage the floor.
  • Spray mop floors. Use a cleaning solution designed for your floor type. Avoid DIY vinegar solutions or steam mopping your floors since they both can damage your floor’s finish leaving it to look dull and cloudy. If your mop doesn’t have a spray function, fill your cleaning solution in a spray bottle and spray floors a bit at a time to avoid any excess amount of liquid on your floors.
  • Apply a new coat of polish. Now that your floors are clean and dry, applying a coat of polish is a great way to revitalize your floor’s finish. A coat of polish can even out a floor’s look, filling in any small scratches and adding a new protective layer on top of your floor.

Here are some tips that can help protect your floors even more.

• • Use floor mats and area rugs to protect high traffic areas. If using mats and rugs, try to get rugs and mats with a natural rubber backing since some materials can discolor floors after extended use.
  • Protect floors from sun damage. Rearrange furniture or use curtains to protect floors from fading and UV damage.
  • Protect furniture legs with appropriate pads and covers. Felt or rubber pads can help avoid scratches from accidental dragging of furniture on your floors.

Source: Bona Floors

 

Need Design Ideas? Spring Into Action

Whether you’re building a new abode or refreshing an existing one, attending one or more of metro Atlanta’s spring home tours is a great way to soak up some new design ideas for your home. Plus you’ll get to experience the flavor and learn about the history of the various communities.

In addition to the Tour of Homes, the Inman Park Spring Festival, scheduled April 27-29, includes three stages of music all weekend, dance performances and a kids’ play zone. Inman Park is one of Atlanta’s oldest and most scenic neighborhoods. See inside some of the beautiful Victorian homes or check out some of the remodeling jobs neighbors have completed on their houses. Tour of Homes tickets are $20 in advance or $25 starting April 27. Get details at http://inmanparkfestival.org/events/tour-of-homes/.

Scheduled April 20-22, the Druid Hills Tour of Homes & Gardens, a volunteer project of the Druid Hills Civic Association, benefits historic preservation and green space restoration. The weekend includes a plant sale, a history display and the debut of “History Happens Here,” a film about the development of the Druid Hills community. Advance tickets are $25. The price increases to $30 on April 20. Learn more at http://www.DruidHillsTour.org.

Experience what more makes the Kirkwood community special during the 16th Annual Kirkwood Spring Fling & Tour of Homes on May 19. The event includes a 5K, an artist market, live music and food from local vendors. All proceeds go to benefit the Kirkwood Neighbors’ Organization, a local 501c3 non-profit group dedicated to community improvement. The Tour of Homes takes place on Saturday and Sunday. Go to http://www.kirkwoodfling.com/ for additional information.

Have you been to any of these tours?

Updated Master Bath and Spa Bath

MODA Floors & Interiors Project Consultant: Tasha Elrod
Client: Paces Construction
Location: Atlanta

Goal: Remodel home for re-sale
What We Did:
• Master Bath Tile – Versailles 12×24 Natural Chateaux Ivoire Porcelain Tile that looks like marble, with Calacatta Gold Accent band and pencil in shower.
• Spa Bath – Travertine Mosaic Tile on walls and Versailles floor.
• Steps to Terrace Level – Fabrica Chinois Silver Sage Carpet with rubber pad.
Design Challenges:
Paces Construction brought in designer Barbara Shelton and MODA project consultant Tasha Elrod to update this William T. Baker designed home’s master bath and terrace spa areas. The newly refreshed spaces perfectly complement the architecture while matching the existing home, creating a seamless upgrade. Tasha also handled MODA carpet upgrades in several rooms, and a curved stairway to the terrace level.

Photos: Paces Construction

Importance of Moisture Management for Wood Floors

Photo: Shaw Floors

Wood is an organic material that reacts to its environment. It is hygroscopic, which means that it absorbs and loses moisture in reaction to its surrounding environment. Wood gains moisture and swells in humid environments. In dry environments, it loses moisture and shrinks. This is completely normal and happens at all stages of the wood life cycle, even as the tree is growing in the forest.

If wood gains or loses too much moisture, problems can occur. Wood that gains too much moisture can cup. Cupping occurs across the width of a floor board, with edges that are raised on each board and centers that are lower than the edges. Cupping always happens due to a moisture imbalance through the thickness of the board.

Wood that loses too much moisture can gap. Gapping occurs between floor boards. Gaps can vary in size and are considered normal if they appear and disappear during seasonal changes in humidity. Gaps are not considered normal if they are large or do not close during more-humid months.

Both of these issues can be minimized by maintaining an environment that is consistently between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and 30-50 percent humidity. Significant fluctuations outside these ranges can result in cupping or gaps.

Source: National Wood Flooring Association

Easily Remove Pet Hair From Carpet

We love our pets! But when they shed, it can make it difficult to keep a neat house. Let Bodie show you how STAINMASTER® PetProtect™ carpet easily releases pet hair while vacuuming, cutting vacuuming time.

How to Create an Accent Wall

This video takes you through the process of installing a beautiful accent wall in your home using Shaw Floors engineered hardwood. Send us a photo of the accent wall you create after viewing the video.

Keep Your Carpet Looking Good

One of the best ways to ensure the life of your carpet is through regular vacuuming. In this brief video, Johnny Loggins of Clene Start offers tips to help you keep your carpet looking its best.