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Before we get into the different types and finishes of this kind of floor, let’s go over what vinyl is. For starters, it’s crafted from polyvinyl chloride plastic or PVC for short. Vinyl flooring is a synthetic material favored for its durability, affordability, and functionality. 

It has become an increasingly popular flooring material in recent years because of its ability to fight off moisture and its versatile appearance. Professional flooring contractors have its recommended type of flooring you should use on your home. One is vinyl flooring because it can realistically mimic wood, stone, marble, and a vast array of other luxury flooring materials.

Types of Vinyl Floors

1. Vinyl Plank

Vinyl planks are designed to resemble hardwood floors and come in designs that mimic many varieties of wood. Many people choose vinyl planks over wood for their flooring because, unlike wood, vinyl planks are water-resistant, stain-resistant, and easy to maintain. This type of vinyl flooring is best for high-traffic areas that are prone to wear and tear.

2. Vinyl Tile

Vinyl tiles are designed to resemble stone or ceramic tiles. Like vinyl planks, they come in a wide variety of patterns and colors that mimic their naturally occurring counterparts. When installing vinyl tiles, some people even add grout in order to more closely replicate the effect of stone or ceramic tiles. Many people favor vinyl tile for small areas of their homes because, unlike stone tiles, vinyl tiles can easily be cut in order to fit in small spaces.

3. Vinyl Sheet

Unlike vinyl planks and tiles, vinyl sheets come in rolls up to twelve feet wide and can be laid down in one fell swoop. Most people choose vinyl sheets for large areas of their homes because of their affordability and durability.

4. Luxury Vinyl Plank and Tile

With more layers than standard vinyl floors, luxury vinyl planks and tiles are around five times thicker than their counterparts. The additional material can lend realism to the flooring, particularly when trying to mimic wood or stone. Luxury vinyl plank and tile are designed using 3D printers, making them an especially great choice if you’re trying to realistically replicate a naturally occurring flooring material like wood or stone. Luxury vinyl plank and tile are generally more durable than standard vinyl flooring, with a lifespan of roughly 20 years.

How Much Does a Vinyl Floor Cost?

Time for what homeowners want to know most. Of course, the cost depends on the supplier, the product, and installation costs. Normally installation costs anywhere between $2 to $8 per square foot, sometimes more. You can cut costs if you install the floors yourself, but it’s rarely recommended if you want your floors to last.

Sheets can be purchased for as low as 50 cents per square foot. Luxury vinyl tile (not peel and stick) starts at $2 per square foot.

Factors To Consider

1. Foot Traffic

When deciding whether to install a vinyl floor, consider how much foot traffic takes place in the area of your house in question. Vinyl flooring is built to last and to handle significant wear and tear, making it a good choice for heavily-visited areas. Since some vinyl is significantly thicker than others, it’s important to consider how much protection the area in question will need.

2. Environment

Despite vinyl flooring’s reputation for being durable, there are a couple of circumstances where it just doesn’t hold up. It doesn’t stand up particularly well to heavy loads, for example, so you’ll want to avoid installing it in a place where you might be dealing with large equipment.

3. Current Floor

Vinyl is more easily laid on some surfaces than others and works best on a preexisting smooth surface. Laying vinyl over a floor with pre-existing flaws, like an old hardwood floor, can be tricky, because those flaws will appear beneath the new vinyl floor, thereby depriving you of a smooth surface.

Vinyl flooring is an affordable, adaptable, and durable option when it comes to floors. You’ll have to consider which type of vinyl flooring is right for your home and which parts of your home are the best candidates for vinyl flooring, but with a wide variety of options to choose from, you’re likely to find a way to make it work.

A crack or hole in a concrete slab can be devastating to flooring surface integrity. Repairing concrete floors can be challenging, but with the right resinous finishes and the help of a professional epoxy contractor, the job can be accomplished quickly and economically. Read on to learn or you can visit this website www.gilbertflooringcompany.com on how facilities can utilize resinous coatings to repair cracks and preventively maintain floors, as well as how they can determine which resinous flooring is appropriate for repairing their specific concrete slabs.

Concrete floors are bound to crack over time. They cure, and then they settle, sometimes resulting in a cracked surface or slab. Once a crack exists, it can be worsened by other routine activities and common events. Things like moisture seeping into the cracks, exposure to oils or chemicals that contaminate or corrode the floor, poor cleaning due to existing cracks, and vehicles driving over the cracked surfaces will all aggravate cracks in a concrete floor.

There are many reasons why concrete floors crack. The important thing is that when it happens, you know what you should and should not do. 

Let’s clarify one thing: Cracks in a floor and joints in a floor are two different things. Cracks appear in concrete as a result of curing, aging, abuse, and sometimes unseen substrate issues. Joints, on the other hand, are there by design to control cracking, isolate slab movement, or formed with new slab pours.

How Do You Repair It?

A simple solution for cracked concrete floors is the use of control joints, but only during the initial slab pour. Control joints help concrete floors to crack along straight lines.

Some other repair solutions include caulks and specialized fillers. Caulks and fillers range from rigid to flexible properties allowing it to expand and contract or fill the void. 

Depending on the type of activity your floor endures and the nature of the cracks themselves, we may recommend a specialized filler. Facilities that deal with corrosive chemicals or reoccurring cracking usually require specialized fillers, whereas high-traffic facilities can usually get away with a filler designed to simply restore strength and even out the surface.

Sometimes the right repair solution for bad cracks and broken joints in concrete floors requires a deeper repair, not just a surface fix.  Unless handled properly, these damages will only grow over time.

When to Repair Cracks in Concrete Flooring

Without protective systems in place, concrete slabs can be highly susceptible to cracks. What appears to be just a hairline surface crack can soon deepen and spread, growing into a serious trip-and-fall hazard. To alleviate further damage, even fine cracks in the concrete should be repaired as soon as they are noticed. Epoxy and other resinous materials, mixed with special aggregate or thickeners, are commonly used for patching up defects in concrete slabs. A flooring specialist can determine which resin floor chemistry is most desirable for each facility’s existing concrete flooring.

Preventative Measures for Maintaining Flooring Integrity

It pays for managers to stay on top of their facility’s flooring condition and address any damage as soon as possible. Facilities can work with their flooring contractor to repair the beginning stages of any cracks or breaches in the concrete surface. The flooring contractor will have on hand the various materials needed to preserve concrete floor slabs, including the appropriate epoxy or resinous floor coatings, aggregate blends, gelled patch kits, moisture vapor testing equipment and remediation systems. Depending on the environment of the facility, the flooring contractor may utilize specific materials for installation, including systems capable of curing in cold temperatures, moisture tolerant products, and quick-curing resins. Facilities may also want to keep their own repair kits in stock for expedient patching of any cracks or holes in concrete. Catching damage in the beginning stages can save on expensive resurfacing later.

Laminate flooring is a great and cost-effective option for your home, whether you’re building from scratch or renovating. With care and proper installation, it can last you for many years to come.

However, it doesn’t mean it’s indestructible. Sometimes, accidents happen, and whether we like it or not, wearing them will inevitably occur over time, showing cracks and other flaws. Always make sure that your laminate flooring is installed properly but it would really depend on the floor accidents that might occur in the future, click here for more tips and knowledge about flooring and the different types of it.

How to hide a crack in the laminate flooring? Can it be done? Yes, you can hide and repair cracks in laminate flooring. You can use products like wood filler, wood putty, or wood glue, designed to fill and improve minor to more apparent imperfections in the floor without the need to replace the entire floor or the whole laminate plank. Follow these easy steps.

How To Repair Cracks In Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring, or in some cases, laminate countertop (if it’s placed in a kitchen or bathroom countertop), is made of sturdy synthetic material that has a refined look and is easy to maintain. Still, scratches and cracks may surface on the flooring, and these can be mended using wood putty. Follow this guide to use this floor repair tool:

1. Clean The Work Surface

Get rid of the dirt and grime from the laminate flooring using a vacuum cleaner or a broom. Mop the flooring with a solution that includes one cup of dish soap and three gallons of water, or use half a cup of vinegar in three gallons of water. Wash the floor and wait for it to dry. 

2. Identify the Cracks

Check your laminate flooring and see all cracks and chips. Even the insignificant chips should be fixed to stop additional damage. Mark the spots on the damaged plank that need repairing, then pick the color of putty you need to buy. Some marks may not need putty and may be fixed with a particular wax crayon. Ensure the crayon’s color is similar to the tone of the flooring. To be assured that the color you take is similar to your flooring, use any colored books to find a swatch resembling your laminate flooring. 

3. Sand the Area

Sand the lining of the cracks to make the area smoother and get rid of any accumulated dirt. This will guarantee that the putty will bond well with the flooring. Remove the dust with a moist sponge.

4. Prepare the Putty

You may buy the putty from a hardware store or online store. Prepare it by mixing it with the hardener in the kit. Mix the putty and the hardener using a plastic scraper or a putty knife. Keep in mind that the putty hardens fast, so you only have a few minutes to fill in the cracks in your laminate flooring. Apply several thin layers of filler instead of a large amount at once. 

5. Remove Excess Putty

Remove the excess putty by using a damp cloth before the putty hardens. Once the putty is dried up, remove excess with a putty knife or a razor blade. Remember to use the razor blade with caution to prevent scratching the laminate floor surface. Alternatively, you can use putty in repairing cracked tile, floor gap, or uneven floor if it doesn’t require a more severe approach like a floor gap fixer. 

6. Allow to Dry

The putty hardens in just a few minutes, but you need to let at least wait for two to three more hours for the filler to totally dry before you step on the restored floor.

If you opt to use wood filler instead, you must first familiarize yourself with its main classifications: Water-based and petroleum-based.  Water-based wood fillers are more crumbly in texture, but their consistency can be modified by adding water. In contrast, Petroleum-based wood fillers are smoother in texture and consistency. 

Laminate flooring is a popular choice for homeowners looking for the best alternative to solid hardwood flooring. A laminate floor is not only beautiful, versatile, and less costly. It’s also long-lasting and generally hard to scratch and chip.

Epoxy floors have been replacing traditional flooring options for quite some time now. Business owners, as well as homeowners, prefer it over many other alternatives. Most people like epoxy flooring because they are not only aesthetic but also long-lasting and easy to maintain. 

The benefits of epoxy coatings are endless! At Gilbert Flooring Company they will assist you with your choices for your floorings. Another benefit to using custom colors is the ease with which you can employ design elements. This blog post will discuss some of the reasons why you should use epoxy flooring in your garage. You can choose the look of granite or quartz, and even blend colors. If there are any blemishes or odd issues on your garage floor, mixing colors can hide these areas. 

Easy Maintenance

Whether your garage is a place you spend a lot of time or is just used for parking the car, you still benefit from flooring that is easier to clean. Epoxy installed on any type of floor makes sweeping or vacuuming debris much simpler and you can mop the entire surface.

Aesthetic Appeal

Although a garage is not one of the best-looking spaces in your house, you don’t want it to look like a mess. If you’re a car lover, then you have even more incentive to make your garage look better. Instead of using concrete flooring or any other option, try epoxy flooring to add to the aesthetic appeal of your garage. You can find many custom designs to match it according to the theme of your house. Moreover, you can also make it suit the color of your car or any other accessories in your garage.

Resistance to Blemishes

When the bond is formed between the resin and hardening components, not only is an extremely hard surface created, but it also bonds with the layer underneath. Since the epoxy flooring is bonded strongly to the existing floor, it does not have the ability to shift or detach.

Create Beautiful Modern Spaces

Epoxy can add a really nice finish to a garage. As the trend moves to garages being an extension of the interior, finished floors with storage systems are now a standard in many new homes. Adding an easy-to-clean, professional finish to a garage floor is key to setting the tone for your workspace.

Epoxy will last a long time and can withstand all kinds of different environments. It is used in labs, garages, and other high traffic areas due to its ability to withstand chemical spills, heavy weights, and a lot of movement on top.

Cost-Effective Solution

Whether looking for a concrete floor sealing option for your home or business, you want to be sure that you are getting an option that is affordable when compared with other options. In most cases, the current concrete will not need to be removed and replaced, which saves a substantial amount of money. Instead, the floor is prepared, and the coating is added. This is faster and it helps to keep the costs down. The cost-effectiveness is improved even further since the floor coating is durable and long-lasting.

Durable

Epoxy flooring makes your concrete durable. The thermosetting resin is heat tolerant, not destroyed by chemicals, and can withstand repeated washing without fading. The coating is also abrasion and scratch-resistant, allowing you to enjoy quality service for many years to come. It also offers protection from grease, stains, and moisture, providing extra care to your floors.

Many flooring customers have pets, and they would love to have hardwood floors that stand up well to dog claws. Can dogs and hardwood co-exist and live happily ever after?

Chances are if you’re searching the internet for the best wood flooring for dogs, your furry BFF has destroyed your current flooring. We get it! Dogs are sweet and cute and our absolute favorite, but they can certainly leave their… mark. 

But here’s the good news: with so many durable types of wood in the market, and at the same time there are many flooring companies in Gilbert AZ, they can surely help you decide the best type of hardwood you can get that is suitable for your little dog too. 

Things to Remember Before Choosing What Type of Flooring

• Use solid hardwood rather than Engineered hardwood

Solid hardwood is often better quality and most engineered hardwood floors have a limited number of sandings. It’s always good to have an insurance plan, and you will have stronger peace of mind with solid since you can refinish solid hardwood floors if you get deep scratches or if you get pet stains.

• Your Floor’s Finish and Overall Design

In addition to picking a scratch-resistant flooring, you should also consider choosing a matte or satin finish to hide some of the inevitable scratches from your dog’s nails. Small scratches will show much easier on a glossy floor when the light reflects off of it. 

• Installation Concerns

If you’re feeling a DIY project and wondering how to install hardwood floors, we’ve got to warn you… it may be best to hire an expert for the install. Nail-down and glue-down wood flooring planks can be difficult to lay correctly. Plus, if wood floors aren’t sealed properly, they may be more susceptible to water damage. This can be a big deal if you’re house training a new dog.

The Best Wood Flooring for Dogs

1. Brazilian Walnut (Ipe)

Exotic woods tend to have the highest Janka ratings, and Brazilian Walnut (aka Ipe) is no exception. With its Janka score of 3680, this wood is so strong, it can actually be used as an outdoor flooring option. Talk about durable! It’s definitely on the pricier side, but we think it’s a great investment. 

2. Oak: The Go-To Classic

Why is Oak considered one of the best types of wood flooring? Well, it’s one of the most common flooring types in the US. It has a Janka rating of about 1300, which puts it right around the middle of the scale. In fact, Oak is often thought of as the industry standard for hardness. Really, it’s a no-brainer. Oak’s easy availability and excellent hardness definitely earn it a spot on our list of best wood flooring for dogs.  

3. Santos Mahogany

Just like Brazilian Walnut, Santos Mahogany is popular, exotic, and extremely durable. It has a Janka rating of about 2200, making it more durable than both Oak and Hickory! It’s a great choice for Hickory lovers that want a bit more durability for their furry friends. 

4. Maple

You read that correctly—Maple is actually the go-to for basketball courts! And if Hard Maple can stand up to ten stomping athletes (go Warriors!) it can absolutely stand up to even the most rambunctious pup. Hard Maple is typically a very pale domestic wood, and its light color often draws eyes (and paws). It’s super strong, too, with a Janka rating of 1450. 

5. Bamboo

Ready to be confused? Bamboo flooring isn’t real wood, but it does have a Janka rating. And that’s because bamboo is actually made from grass! 

Not only is bamboo naturally strong, but certain manufacturing processes can actually make it even more durable. Non-carbonized strand-woven bamboo flooring has a Janka rating of 3000+, which is nearly 3 times as hard as Oak! And though bamboo isn’t “real wood”, we think you’ll agree that it deserves a spot on any list of the best wood flooring for dogs.