Long Live Hardwood Floors!

Hardwood is one of the most popular and fastest growing floor covering choices. The natural characteristics of wood add depth and a visual appearance that many other types of floors try to duplicate. Hardwood types, options and applications are more diverse than ever.

According to the 2022 Remodeling Impact Report of the National Association of Realtors, adding new wood flooring to your home helps you recover 118% of your investment. Refinishing your existing hardwoods recoups 147% of the cost. Rich, inviting hardwood floors also can add value to your home at resale time.

Manufacturers now have the ability to produce better quality finishes and superior construction techniques. Wood floors can now be installed throughout your home and over a wide variety of sub-floors.

Hardwood floors only require a little more maintenance than sweeping on a regular basis to remove dirt. Cleaners are only needed when cleaning spills, removing scuff marks or during major cleanings like spring cleaning.

Here are some additional maintenance tips:

Place walk-off mats at every door.

Use the correct floor cleaner. Don’t assume that any household cleaner should be safe for your hardwood floors.

Apply cleaners with a terry-cloth head mop.

Less is more. Use only a small amount of cleaner.

Only use wax on floors with a wax finish.

Wipe up spills immediately. Try using a credit card to remove stubborn items like chewing gum or candle wax.

Photo: Shaw Floors

Installing New Stone Floors

Learn all you can before buying stone for your home. Knowledge about stone specifics, characteristics, traits and subtle differences can be invaluable. Choosing the best stone for your home is really about knowing the right combination of characteristics, aesthetics, performance and budget to best meet the needs of your lifestyle.

• No two pieces are ever the same.
• The natural characteristics are color, veining and markings, hardness and porosity.
• A floor begins with giant pieces of stone that are mined from the earth.
• They are transported to factories where they are cut into thin slabs.
• Each slab is different, displaying the effects of the physical course of its ancient history.
• Each tile cut from the same slab might look completely different from the next.
• Veining and crystallization may be abundant in one, yet non-existent in another.
• Variations are to be expected and enjoyed.
• The samples you view in the showroom can have completely different veining patterns or color variations compared to the stone we will install in your home.
• It is not possible for you to hand-select each tile of your natural stone. If you are concerned about the final appearance, work with a project consultant to preview a dye lot sample of the actual tile to be installed, prior to final installation.
• Irregular markings, lines, veins and crystallization are not cracks or imperfections.
• If you select a combination of natural stone products, of the same color and type of stone, they will not match.
• No natural stone tile will have a perfectly smooth surface.
• Once installed, it will not be a perfectly smooth surface from tile to tile.
• Consider what types of activities will be taking place where the stone is installed. Do not install a soft, porous type of stone in a high traffic area.
• In addition to the total project cost, you should also know the cost of annual cleanings to maintain the beauty and life of your new stone floor. Also, consult the manufacturer’s warranty and care guide for directions on how frequently the stone should be cleaned and the cost to clean it.

Ready, Set, Shop

Have you ever visited a new restaurant and couldn’t decide what to order? Too many choices, you said. Sometimes consumers feel the same way when they visit a flooring store. Should I choose luxury vinyl, hardwood, tile, carpet or something else? Which product will function best for my lifestyle and coordinate well with my décor?

MODA Floors & Interiors has simplified the process of shopping for new flooring. Use our Design Resources to get your project started. The “Style Quiz” will help you discover your décor style. You can find answers to our most frequently asked questions in the “Ask Our Expert” section of the website. Create a personal workbook on the site to keep track of all of your flooring designs. You can even create your room size and get an instant calculation for the amount of flooring needed for your space.

MODA offers three ways to shop. Use our Virtual Shopping Experience or Mobile Shop-From-Home Service. You also can visit our showroom in the West Midtown Design District of Atlanta. We are open Monday through Saturday. Rest assured that whichever method you choose to shop, you will receive a high level of customer service from one of our talented project consultants.