Get to Know COREtec Plus – Waterproof Luxury Vinyl that Looks Like Hardwood

COREtec Plus is the perfect blend of form, function and design. It’s a high-quality luxury vinyl that looks and feels like engineered hardwood flooring. However, it’s designed to perform much better than hardwood in spaces that may have moisture, such as basements, kitchens and bathrooms.

“COREtec Plus has been one of our biggest sellers at Flowers Flooring in 2018,” says Will Moore, Regional Sales Manager. It performs extremely well and many of our customers don’t realize they are looking at vinyl when they see the product. That’s how realistic it looks. It’s perfect for customers with kids and pets.”

The product comes in two styles. The first is luxury vinyl planks that look like hardwood. The second is luxury vinyl tile that looks like tile, natural stone and concrete.

Coretc Plus Vinyl Plank

Vinyl Tile

Vinyl Plank

Vinyl Plank

COREtec Plus gives you an elegant, high-end look, without the worry of hardwood. It’s a fantastic product, because it solves many challenges at once so that homeowners don’t need to compromise. It’s more economical to install than tile and works in wet, moisture prone areas, where hardwood and laminate are not recommended. It’s also easy to clean and holds up to water, so you don’t need to worry about water damage from common water issues such as moisture from the dishwasher, spills while cooking and pet accidents.

COREtec has a 100% waterproof core which prevents the planks from warping or buckling. The flooring is made by US Floors and Flowers Flooring has sold US Floors for quite some time. They are a very reputable manufacturer with great product warranties. COREtec Plus has a limited lifetime warranty. Click here for more information on the COREtec Plus warranty.

Other advantages of COREtec Plus Include:

  • Does not need to acclimate in home prior to installation
  • Can be installed on top of radiant heat systems
  • Can be installed on top of most surfaces (including concrete, tile, and hardwood) providing that the floor is level

COREtec vs. Laminate

  • COREtec is waterproof and laminate is not.
  • Holds up better to scratches
  • Laminate warps with moisture
  • Less noisy
  • More durable
  • Does not require acclimation – you can get it installed faster
  • Disadvantage – It costs a little more than laminate, but is well worth it and will last much longer due to its durability

COREtec vs. Engineered Hardwood

  • More durable
  • Holds up better to scratches
  • Costs less
  • Less noisy
  • Does not require acclimation – you can get it installed faster
  • Disadvantage – It’s not real hardwood – Can’t be sanded & refinished

COREtec vs. Tile

  • Softer on your feet
  • Warmer on your feet
  • Costs less
  • Does not crack
  • Easier to clean

 

Call Flowers Flooring today to schedule your FREE COREtec flooring estimate. We can be reached at (704) 445-7750. We look forward to hearing from you and helping you learn more about this great product.

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Office Flooring – The Best Flooring Option for Office Spaces

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Work-Proof Flooring Built to Last

When you are considering new office flooring it can be difficult to identify which flooring is going to stand the test of time and save you money in the long run. In an office environment, there is high traffic due to people constantly moving and walking around, so a floor that can withstand this amount of traffic is essential. The last thing you want to do is install a new floor and replace it again two years later. One of the best floors for this job would have to be vinyl plank, as it is both durable and shows longevity. Vinyl plank also has a lot of other benefits for the office, which we will explain here, so continue reading to find out more.

Work-Proof

In an office environment you need office flooring that can take anything that work life may throw at it, including coffee spills, chairs rolling back and forth and constant foot traffic. An office is a very busy place and the floors need to be able to match that level of usage accordingly. Vinyl plank floors are super easy to clean and require only a damp cloth or dry mop for spills and a sweep or vacuum to remove loose dirt and grit that may be brought in by employee’s shoes. Maintaining vinyl plank floors is much easier than carpet and does not require any special cleaning equipment. Vinyl plank floors are extremely durable and are designed to work hard. This means they can take impacts without damage when employees drop things.

Installation

For any business installation time is critical. You can’t close your doors and shut down your business for a long install. Unlike some other types of flooring, vinyl plank is quick to install. In many instances, Flowers Flooring has installed vinyl plank office flooring in businesses over the weekend, so they were ready for business as usual on Monday morning. Of course, this depends on the size of the job.

Style

Vinyl plank is designed to meet today’s demands. It looks great and works hard. There are some great luxury vinyl planks on the market today that look like wood planks in everything from color to species of wood. Surface textures often include the look of scraping or embossing, which dramatically heighten the realism. Also, like wood, planks may be installed in many ways – in brick fashion, diagonally, and so on. The possibilities are endless! Flowers Flooring has a wide selection of vinyl plank in the showroom, from multiple manufacturers. Click here to view Shaw samples.

To learn more about vinyl flooring refer to previous blog posts from Flowers Flooring:

Luxury Vinyl Flooring – A New Trend Worth Trying

Vinyl Plank Flooring – Looks Great and Works Hard

 

Call Flowers Flooring today to schedule your FREE estimate or to speak with one our sales representatives about your flooring or tile project (704) 445-7750.

 

 

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Vinyl Plank Flooring – Looks Great and Works Hard

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Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring (LVP) is designed to meet today’s demands and look beautiful from any angle. Shaw Floorte vinyl plank flooring is strong, durable, and flexible, which conceals imperfections of the floor beneath. It is also water proof – making it a great flooring option on and below ground level.

The Floorte waterproof qualities make it ideal for high-moisture areas like basements, bathrooms, kitchens and mudrooms. “Our customers have been absolutely amazed at Shaw Floorte’s waterproof qualities,” said Will Moore, Regional Sales Manager at Flowers Flooring. “Vinyl plank has been one of our biggest sellers in 2017 because it allows homeowners to get a wood look without the high-maintenance.”

Floorte Vinyl Plank flooring is created using high definition printing. This provides a very authentic look. Floorte is designed to look like the top species and colors of hardwood as well as a variety of fossilized wood, stone and concrete.

Call Flowers Flooring today to schedule your FREE in-home estimate – (704) 445-7750. Estimators will have vinyl plank samples to showcase in your home. Be sure to inquire about our 12 or 24-Month, 0% interest financing promo, in addition to our 20% off flooring materials sale.

To view the Shaw Floorte collection log onto www.shawfloors.com.

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Flowers Flooring Introduces Shaw Repel – Water Resistant Laminate

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Flowers Flooring is excited to offer Repel, a water resistant laminate from Shaw. This laminate is designed to stand up to the toughest household conditions. It is a 12 mm laminate that is scratch, stain and fade resistant, both kid and pet friendly, and easy to clean. It can even be wet-mopped. It comes with a 30-year residential warranty.

“We are very excited to offer this product to our customers,” said Jeremy Flowers, owner of Flowers Flooring. “It gives home owners peace of mind that when accidents do happen Repel laminate gives you time to clean up the spills without damaging your floors.”

Shaw Repel comes in two styles Pinnacle Port and Pier Park. Each style has 6 gorgeous colors.

Call Flowers Flooring today to schedule your FREE in-home estimate – (704) 445-7750. Be sure to ask your estimator about Flowers Flooring finance options.

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New Year. New Floors. 2017 Flooring Trends

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It’s a new year and that means out with the old and in with the new. The 2017 flooring trends are leaning towards brighter, bolder colors that add style and functionality to any room. Whether your currently considering tile, carpet, hardwood, vinyl plank or laminate, neutral colors are fading out and more vibrant colors that transform a room from drab into fab are making a comeback. Here’s what to expect in flooring trends in 2017:

 

Tile

While the wood-look tile is not a “new” trend by any means, it is certainly building momentum in regards to popularity and it is quickly becoming a whole house staple, which means it’s no longer being installed in just kitchens and bathrooms, but bedrooms, living rooms and more.

This trend is here to stay which is why Flowers Flooring recently added another line of wood-plank tile to our tile selection.

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Vinyl Plank

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is upping the ante on realistic wood looks and is becoming a very popular choice among homeowners with high-traffic areas or children and pets. LVP is extremely durable and is the perfect choice for water areas such as bathrooms and laundry rooms, as this flooring is waterproof and virtually indestructible. LVP flooring is available in many styles that mimic current wood and tile flooring trends.

Flowers Flooring offers a wide array of LVP, including Shaw’s Floorte collection.

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Solid and Engineered Wood Flooring

Even with the influx of wood-look flooring options, wood flooring is a classic choice and there will always be a market for wood flooring. The 2017 wood flooring color trends are gray, blonde and dark. Neutral wood flooring is out for 2017. Instead homeowners are looking for bold looks that make their home stand out above the rest. Standard 2.25 inch hardwood is becoming less popular and wider, more rustic looks are in. These include hand-scraped and wire brushed wood planks.

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Carpet

With numerous textures, patterns, and colors available, carpet is emerging as a focal point in interior designs. No, neutral carpet has not disappeared completely, but today’s carpet choices are bolder and brighter. Berber carpet is still a popular choice, but unlike plain berber that was popular in the 1990s, today’s versions have more texture and pattern. Variations in height and sculpted effects also offer a bolder look. Even more traditional carpets now offer more visual interest with more extreme differences in pile cut and thicker, deeper loop textures.

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Laminate

Laminate flooring has come a long way in the past few years. There are now laminate floors on the market that are waterproof. Yes, waterproof laminate. Flowers Flooring anticipates sales of this laminate to explode in 2017, as more homeowners seek a durable and economical flooring choice.

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As you have read, there’s a lot going on in the flooring industry in 2017. There are plenty of different, unique options trending that will stick around for years to come. If you are looking to get started with new flooring, call Flowers Flooring today to schedule your FREE in-home estimate – 704-445-7750. Calling Flowers Flooring for your flooring needs is one trend that will never go out of style.

 

 

 

 

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Luxury Vinyl Flooring – A New Trend Worth Trying

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When you hear the term luxury vinyl (also referred to as LVT), most people automatically think of the old peel-and-stick vinyl. Luxury vinyl flooring is a new category of flooring that provides an attractive and durable option for high traffic areas. While commercial designers are huge fans of luxury vinyl, this product hasn’t received the attention it deserves from residential homeowners.

Luxury vinyl tile couldn’t be more different than peel-and-stick tile, not only in how it’s manufactured, but also in how it looks and in its applications. Luxury vinyl combines the high-end look of hardwood or natural stone with the durability of vinyl flooring. As a moisture resistant product, LVT is a perfect fit for kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. Luxury vinyl tile is manufactured by using advanced photographic technologies. There are four distinct layers fused together to produce the final product:

  1. Resilient Vinyl Backing
  2. Vinyl Color Layer
  3. Photographic Film Layer
  4. Urethane or Aluminum Oxide Top Layer

Homeowners can now have the look, graining and character of real hardwood floors with LVT. Today’s state-of-the-art manufacturing processes can create LVT planks that look like real wood, tile and textured stone. “I installed LVT in my kitchen and pantry. My family and friends have to get on their hands and knees to inspect it because they simply don’t believe me when I tell them it’s not real wood,” said Mrs. Moore, a recent Flowers Flooring customer.

Flowers Flooring sells and installs Shaw Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank. It has a realistic texture and with hundreds of colors and styles to choose from, matching any décor is easy. Many designs can be installed with grout or without grout, for a true stone or ceramic tile appearance. Shaw’s Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank brings beauty and peace of mind to any home with Shaw’s outstanding warranty protection – 25 year residential warranty and 7 years commercial. All Shaw products are manufactured in America.

Benefits of Luxury Vinyl

  • Look and feel of real hardwood, textured stone or tile at a lower cost.
  • Is slip resistant so it’s perfect for wet areas – bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, etc.
  • Easy to clean – simple, damp mopping.
  • Comes in various sizes so it’s suitable for large and small rooms alike.
  • It is inherently water resistant.
  • It is extremely durable due to its specialized wear layers and urethane coating.
  • Since it’s constructed for commercial wear and tear it’s perfect for residential high-traffic areas.
  • Satisfies Green building standards and earns LEED points in commercial applications.
  • Meets all the requirements of commercial flammability codes.

Luxury vinyl floors are designed to capture the elegant and timeless look of natural stone, wood planks and tile floors, while providing durability and a comfortable surface to enjoy everyday living. Call Flowers Flooring today to schedule your FREE estimate and to learn more about LVT for your home.

(704) 445-7750 / www.flowersflooring.com

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Finally, A Carpet for Everyday Spills & Odors

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Shaw’s high performance carpet line Life Happens with LifeGuard moisture barrier backing is winning rave reviews from homeowners. It’s the first carpet of its kind to hit the market that actually stands up to life’s messes day in and day out, and can truly handle everyday spills and odors.

Life Happens carpet by Shaw is the first residential carpet innovation of its kind. LifeGuard is a revolutionary protection system that covers the entire product, from face fiber to backing. Carpets featuring LifeGuard are treated with Shaw’s R2X Stain and Soil resistance protection, the standard of excellence in the industry, while a thermoplastic backing provides a waterproof barrier that prevents liquids from soaking into the carpet padding and subfloor. Yes, WATERPROOF backing!

Waterproof Carpet Backing

One of the biggest threats to any floor covering is excessive moisture. Liquid spills, and pet accidents can be an everyday occurrence, and some spills can go unnoticed, especially on carpet, soaking through to the backing, padding, and even the subfloor. Certain liquids, such as pet urine, can cause unpleasant odors and are extremely difficult to remove if not promptly cleaned. Conventional carpet backings can also be damaged when exposed to prolonged moisture and caustic spills.

While some new carpet products promise protection against pet accidents, they must be used with a pad that services as a moisture barrier. Liquids still soak through the carpet backing and spread, leaving stains and potential odors. However, LifeGuard’s patented backing system keeps these liquids from seeping into the backing, thus allowing easier cleanup and protection against odor-causing spills and pet accidents.

How waterproof is this carpet? Watch this video!

Odor Reduction

Carpets featuring LifeGuard and R2X combat household odors. Smells such as cigarette smoke and odors from pet urine stains, once removed, are quickly and effectively dissipated. LifeGuard styles dissipate the odors 6 times faster than many competitive carpets, eliminating odors in 30 minutes or less.

Appearance Retention

LifeGuard carpets with Anso CrushResister High Performance Nylon are among the most durable luxury style available. They are resistant to fuzzing 4 times longer than comparable products, tufts are 5 times stronger to resist pulling out, loops are 2 times better at preventing edge ravel, and the carpet backing is 10 times less likely to suffer delamination.

Ease of Installation

LifeHappens with LifeGuard has flexible backing and can be installed on stairs. To schedule a FREE LifeHappens carpet demonstration and estimate please call Flowers Flooring (704) 445-7750 or browse our flooring online.

Terrific Warranties

LifeHappens carpet is backed by Shaw’s unbeatable warranties:

LifeTime Warranties

  • Waterproof Backing
  • Stain & Soil
  • No Wrinkle
  • No edge Ravel
  • No Delamination
  • Tuft Bind

25-Year Warranties

  • Texture Retention
  • Abrasive Wear
  • Quality Assurance

Flowers Flooring Warranty

  • One Year Installation Warranty

 

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New Flooring – A Simple Way to Make a Dramatic Difference

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Whether your embarking on a major remodeling project or simply updating a room in your home, changing your flooring is a simple way to make a dramatic difference. There are so many flooring choices available to choose from including tile, laminate, hardwood and carpeting.

Tile

Ceramic tile is the most durable of all tile materials. When installed properly, both ceramic and natural stone can last the lifetime of a house.  The durability combined with the natural beauty of stone and the vast array of tile and natural stone types, colors, patterns and textures make tile and stone the materials of choice where both quality and character are important in new floors.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate floors have come a long way. Once considered a substitute for hardwood or tile, laminate is now considered a legitimate medium in and of itself. The durability of laminate is often what initially interests most consumers.  In addition, laminate is easy to install. Unlike conventional solid wood flooring, it’s prefinished and can be glued down or applied over a thin foam pad on the subfloor.

Flowers Flooring has a great laminate flooring selection to choose from. Feather Step laminate is a 12 mm laminate that offers durability at a fabulous price. This collection adds warmth and a touch of class to any room. Feather Step is hypoallergenic laminate floor and it has an outstanding AC4 rating, which assures you that you will have a durable floor that will work fantastic in residential as well as commercial spaces.

Hardwood Floors

There’s nothing more durable and resistant to damage from impact than solid hardwood floors. The most popular hardwoods include oak, maple and ash. Other popular choices that are a bit more expensive are walnut, teak and cherry. A key benefit of hardwood flooring is that you can customize it with pieces arranged in a special design, or stain a contrasting color to reflect a special theme or design. Special inlay elements can turn an already striking hardwood floor into a distinctive work of art.

Carpeting

There are literally thousands of carpets to select from and the choices can be overwhelming. Don’t make the mistake of choosing a carpet solely based on color. Be sure to take into consideration the carpet’s fibers, tufts and construction, as well as your lifestyle.

Plush or Cut-Pile carpet has loops trimmed off so that the yarn ends poke up. Saxony plush, one of the most popular varieties, has short tufts that are densely packed. Plush carpet does not tend to wear as well in high-traffic areas as Berber carpet.  Berber is a high-level loop carpet that creates a nubby texture and has complete yarn loops that stand upright. Berber carpet holds up extremely well in high-traffic areas and is a good choice for families with pets and children.

You will also want to choose the carpet fiber that best fits your needs. Nylon outperforms all other fibers in durability, resilience and maintenance. It is a good choice if you want your carpet to last a decade or longer, for high-traffic areas and in homes with kids and pets.

New flooring – carpet, tile, laminate or hardwood is a simple way to make a lasting and dramatic change in the look and feel of any room in your home.  Call a flooring professional in your area today to obtain an estimate for new floors. If you’re in North Carolina, call Flowers Flooring (704) 445-7750. Flowers Flooring provides free estimates.

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Taking a Second Look at Laminate Flooring

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Laminate is quickly gaining popularity for three key reasons – durability, ease of installation, and it’s reasonable price.

Durability

Let’s start by looking at laminate from a durability standpoint. When compared to wood flooring there really is no comparison. In almost every aspect, including scratch resistance, dent resistance, water resistance, and the ability to weather well under the pressure of daily wear and tear, laminate flooring is far superior than its real wood counterparts.

In fact, when it comes to families with small children and households with pets, there isn’t another flooring product in the industry with a better track record than laminate. About the only real threat to laminate flooring is high moisture levels, which can damage the composite core.

If you’re planning on installing laminate in a high moisture area, such as a kitchen or bath, be sure you get a line of laminate that has been approved for such uses. These lines of laminate usually have thicker cores, are treated with extra water repellant chemicals, and contain paraffin wax impregnated joints that keep the risk of moisture damage to a minimum.

Ease of Installation

While durability can be laminate’s most convincing selling point, its ease of installation isn’t too far behind. For starters, laminate flooring is a floating floor system. It simply sits on top of your existing floor with no nailing, screwing, or gluing required. Click together laminate makes it even easier and you no longer have to worry about gluing the separate planks together.

Reasonable Price Point

One of the primary reasons American homeowners choose laminate over other flooring options is cost. If you can afford to spend a little bit more for your flooring project, pay for thicker laminate. There’s a big difference between 8 mm laminate and 12 mm laminate. Be sure to do your homework before you buy and ask your flooring professional for advise. Flowers Flooring has laminate experts who can help steer you in the right direction and make recommendations on the best laminate selections for your home.

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Laminate or Hardwood – Which is the Right Choice for You?

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Selecting the right floor for your home is a matter of personal taste. While both hardwood and laminate flooring offer a modern look for a home, it can be difficult to decide between the two.

Let’s take a closer look at the many differences between laminate and hardwood flooring. These differences may help you decide which floor is best for your home.

Price Point

Many people take price into account when considering new flooring for their home. If budget is a large factor in deciding which flooring to go with, you should choose laminate. Laminate flooring is less expensive than hardwood.

Installation

When it comes to installation of flooring it’s wise to start working early with a flooring expert. A Flowers Flooring expert will come into your home for free to advise you on your best flooring options. If your home is built on a slab and you want hardwood put on the ground level you will need to build up your subfloor, which adds additional cost to your installation fee. However, laminate can be installed on top of the concrete slab.

Longevity

The longevity of flooring is another factor to strongly consider when deciding between laminate and hardwood flooring. Both types of flooring can last for decades if they are cared for properly; however, laminate flooring is more susceptible to scratching and fading over time. Hardwood flooring looks beautiful and brings a natural, yet modern feel into any home. While laminate flooring can also look very nice, hardwood usually wins in the aesthetic department.

Flowers Flooring provides sales and installation of both laminate and hardwood and we’re here to help you make the best selection for your home. Call today to schedule your free in home estimate – (704) 445-7750.

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