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2013-10-27 12:33:34

Types of eco-friendly carpeting
Eco-friendly carpet comes in virtually all varieties, from area rugs and wall-to-wall installations to customizable carpet tiles. Carpet made from natural, renewable fibers tend to be the most environmentally friendly and include sisal, seagrass, coir, organic cotton, jute, organic wool and bamboo. The materials used to create these carpets are biodegradable and don't require a lot of fertilizer and pesticides to produce.
Recycled carpets are another eco-friendly option. Rather than making carpet from petroleum and other fossil fuels, some carpet manufacturers use both pre- and post-consumer plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, or industrial scraps. PET carpet, sold under brand names like Resistron and Permalon, is made from 100 percent recycled plastic beverage bottles and can be down-cycled into insulation or furniture stuffing when it wears out.
Avoid unhealthy chemicals and compounds
Natural materials don't guarantee healthy carpet - be sure you're not buying a seemingly eco-friendly carpet that has actually been treated with insect or flame repellents. Conventionally-produced wool can also have a heavy environmental impact due to the pesticide baths used to control parasites on sheep. And some of the worst off-gassing can be caused by a culprit you may not expect: the carpet backing.
When buying eco-friendly carpet backing or pads, look for natural materials like non-synthetic latex, untreated wool or camel hair felt. Carpet backings that are sewn on or glued using natural, non-toxic adhesives are healthier choices than those using adhesives that off-gas VOCs.




5 things to clean your carpets
Spills and stains are bound to happen, especially if you're entertaining guests or the kids have friends over after school. Don't worry about being clumsy, use these 5 things to clean stains out of your carpet. Good as new!

1. Remove red wine
Liberally pour salt onto the stain and dab with a cloth dipped in club soda. Or blot the spill with a paper towel, pour a little white wine onto the stain, and scrub with a damp cloth. If neither method works, mix 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid with 1 cup warm water and pour a little onto the stain; then blot the stain with a paper towel and repeat with a solution of ��" cup white vinegar and ��" cup water.


2. Fruit and Fruit Juice
Pick up any solid pieces of fruit, then stir 1 tablespoon laundry detergent and 1 1/2tablespoons white vinegar into 2 cups water. Work the solution into the stain and blot.

3. Grease or Oil

Accidentally drop that family-size bucket of takeout fried chicken on the den carpet? Sprinkle the grease spots liberally with cornmeal or cornstarch, let sit for several hours, and vacuum it up. Or work shaving cream into the stains, let it dry, and rub it off with a damp soft cloth.

4. Coffee and Tea
Choose one of these three methods and act fast. Pour club soda liberally onto the stain and blot, repeating as necessary. Or blot with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Or beat an egg yolk, rub it into the stain, and blot it.

5. Ketchup

Jump right on this one because once a ketchup stain sets, it won't come out (ever). Grab the salt and sprinkle it over the spill, let sit for a few minutes, and vacuum. Sponge up any residue and continue salting and vacuuming until the stain is completely gone.




2013-07-25
Why Water and Hardwood Floors Don't Mix

Be careful what you use to clean your hardwood floors. Learn how vinegar and water can actually dull your floor.

Why Water and Hardwood Floors Don't Mix


Moisture content during and after the installation process is an important variable for how wood behaves. In general, most solid wood flooring will contract during periods of low humidity, leaving cracks between boards, and expand during periods of high humidity. Puddles of water on your hardwood can cause swelling and discoloration, so it is recommended to use a light mist of cleaner that is specifically made for wood floors.

This brings us to a popular cleaning technique to avoid, that can actually damage your hardwood floors: water and vinegar.

Water and vinegar is a popular economical and environmentally safe option for homeowners, but is not safe for your wood floors. It's important to remember that you aren't cleaning the wood; you are cleaning the chemical finish on the wood. Since vinegar is an acid, it will actually break down the finish on the surface of your floor, and over time will reduce the shine and leave a dull appearance. In addition, most times when this home remedy is used, so is a mop and bucket, which leads to an excessive amount of water on the floor. It also doesn’t leave a very pleasant odor in your home!

Bottom line – don't use too much water when cleaning and avoid vinegar and water. Stick to a fine spray mist and products that are made specifically for hardwood floors. This will protect your finish to make your floors last a lifetime.





2013-07-25

Preventing Scratches on Hardwood Floors

Damage to hardwood floors can take away from its overall beauty, and it can also take away from the overall look of your home. While we all want to do our best to avoid damage to our floors, the fact remains that all floors will get scratched, regardless of maintenance routine. To best protect your floors from any major damage, the best defense is a great offense.

                                                                           
Here are some tips and tricks to best protect your floors from the stresses of daily life.

Clean the Outside of Your Home
Make sure the areas outside all home entrances are kept clean. Unwanted debris can get tracked by guests and pets as they enter. Even a strong breeze can blow in nasty particles if the outside area is dirty. Be sure to pay special attention to high traffic areas like entryways, garages and patios.

Use Rugs and Mats to Protect High Traffic Areas
Rugs and mats are great ways to protect your floors while offering an extra bit of style. Use a mat or rug wherever your floors get the most stress. You can also use a mat or rug to prevent water damage. Be sure to use mats inside and outside main entrances to eliminate as much dirt as possible from getting on your floors. Avoid rubber backed mats since they can lock in moisture and damage floors.

Take Off Your Shoes
Shoes with hard heels or points can be very dangerous for floors. High heels and sports shoes do not evenly distribute weight, making dents and pock marks a very real risk. Even shoes with soft bottoms can still track and grind dirt into your floors, transforming your shoes into stylish sandpaper. The best remedy is to remove shoes altogether, offering your guests soft slippers to use when in your home.

Protect Your Floors from Furniture
Fabric pads and glides are excellent ways to guard your floors from scuffs and scratches due to furniture. Plan your selection of pads according to how often the furniture is moved. Avoid plastic wheeled furniture since they can easily scratch and mar floors. If you need protection in a pinch, there are many DIY options: old socks, loose paper, plastic bags and business cards are just some of the things that can be used to add a protective barrier between your furniture and your floors.

Trim Your Pet’s Claws
You don’t have to choose between having an exquisite hardwood floor and having a pet. Make sure pet nails are properly groomed and maintained. Use caution and care when trimming pet claws because improper techniques can harm your pets. Other alternatives include pet booties and nail caps.

Rearrange Your Floor Plan
Periodically rearrange your furniture and rugs so that your floor can age evenly. Redesigning your floor space will help redistribute the stresses on your floor while keeping your space looking fresh and lively. Consider using window treatments to minimize potential damage from the sun’s UV rays.

Plan and Follow a Cleaning Schedule
A clean floor is protected floor. As dirt and particles accumulate, you raise the risk of tiny dings and scratches on your floor and finish. Brooms, mops and vacuums are the best tools for keeping your floors spotless. Just remember that not all cleaning tools are optimized for hardwood floors. Make sure the tools you use are gentle enough for your floors. Avoid stiff bristled brooms, wet mops and vacuums with beater bars and wheels.

Knowing how often to clean your floors will further aid in preventing major damage. Here’s a quick schedule to follow for keeping your floors in their best condition:
• Daily Schedule – Sweep
• Weekly Schedule – Vacuum/Mop
• Monthly Schedule – Polish
• Yearly Schedule – Deep Clean

With preventative maintenance and care, you’re able to properly protect your floors for years to come. The best part about these techniques is that they’re simple and easy, especially when they become part of your normal routine.Damage to hardwood floors can take away from its overall beauty, and it can also take away from the overall look of your home. While we all want to do our best to avoid damage to our floors, the fact remains that all floors will get scratched, regardless of maintenance routine. To best protect your floors from any major damage, the best defense is a great offense. Here are some tips and tricks to best protect your floors from the stresses of daily life.

Take a look at these Bona products that will best help you maintain your floors. 












  2012-08-28

Mikes Carpet & Flooring is now carring Silk Oil Hardwood & Engineered Wood by Chateau. The Chateau collection comes in smooth with chiseled edge and handscraped engineered wood. 

DuChateau Floors are antique reproduction hard-wax oil floors developed in Holland. Our hardwood floors are designed to reflect the styles found in Europe from centuries ago. DuChateau Floors recreate the same time-worn look that showcases the character and longevity of a true vintage hardwood floor. Our hardwood floor production philosophy is to create textured hardwood floors with changing grain patterns of the natural wood characterizing true artistic design

DuChateau Floors core values are to make use of environmentally friendly methods and renewable forest resources, to offer products that are consistently of the highest quality, and to ensure excellence in customer care. We offer our clients great and assured opportunities for growth as we are committed to developing hard-wax oiled hardwood flooring products benefiting from the latest adv ances in styling, technology and innovation and which keep us firmly at the forefront of the design industry. Below is some of the product
 

chestnut_600
 brushedoakflooringfrench_600




kasteel_room_600_01


natural_600

rhine_room_600

thames_room_600



July 26,2012
 
 
Mikes Carpet & Flooring has a new product! Vinyl Cork flooring is the has excellent durability. Its easy to install. Its a click system. It has a builf in underlay which reduces the need for subfloor preparation and eliminates the need for a secodary underlayment. The vinyl cork has two layers of high density cork for accoustical and themal insulation. It does not absorb dust and it is resistant to bacteria and fungus. The vinyl layer is made from post consumer recycled content using PVC waste. The cork trees are never cut down or removed during harvesting. The bark is stripped and regenrates itself after nine years. The cork is insulation material and reduces energy cost. There is a few beautiful colors to choose from. You can view them on our webstire underlay vinyl cork, visit our showroom located at 4193 McConnell Drive, Burnaby BC or just ask us for a free in home estimate! We serve Anmore, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond,Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, White Rock, Mission, Hope, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Whistler, Squamish, Tsawwassen, Belcarra.


EUROPEAN LAMINATE SALE!
May 08, 2012

KRAUS EUROPEAN LAMINATE FLOORING SALE FOR $1.99SQFT!! LOTS TO CHOOSE WALNUT, OAK, JATOBA, SPRUCE, MAPLE AND MORE. ASK FOR OUR FREE IN HOME ESIMATES! Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Pitt Meadows, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond,Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver, White Rock, Mission, Hope, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Whistler, Squamish, Tsawwassen, Belcarra.





2012-01-31
 
Mikes Carpet & Flooring has a hug e sale on Solid Hardwood by Kraus. Check it out under hardwood specials
http://www.mikesflooring.ca/g/3/36/0/hardwood-specials  Sale ends Feb 15, 2012
 

2011-11-30

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR CHRISTMAS SALE! ARMSTRONG LAMINATE, KRAUS LAMINATE. MOST OF OUR LAMINATE IS INCLUDES INSTALLATION. http://wwwwww.mikesflooring.ca
WE PROVIDE FREE HOME ESTIMATES IN VANCOUVER AND LOWER MAINDLAND.


Laminate floorng is extremely popular within many homes as it can give your floor a wide variety of looks, that looks like hardwood, without the high maintenance and care that wooden flooring can require; and at a fraction of the cost. Laminate flooring is extremely durable due to the plastic resin which covers the top, and is strong enough to resist surface damage.  Choosing laminate flooring will be cheaper in the long run as it will be able to withstand prolonged use. 

The Laminate legacy line is one of our most selling line. Check out the picture of the bedford walnut laminate. It compliments just about anything furniture or colors in your home.
bedfordwalnut_600

Click Here for more details


SEPT 15 2011

Hello everyone Mikes Carpet & Flooring has a clearance on 12.3mm Laminate flooring for $0.97sqft. Two colors to choose from! Ebony and Copper Chestnut

 EBONY                                                                                           CHESTNUT
shenebonywalnutsale_299 copperchestnut_600





SEPT 17 2011
Installation Recommendations


 

Verify style, pattern, and color prior to installation. It is imperative that this be accomplished before any cuts are made to avoid unnecessary claims.


We use a variety of tufting technologies; however, all our products share a common characteristic with regard to rows of face fiber. All our products have tufting rows that will be straight and not staggered.
We therefore require all seams to be trimmed. No pattern carpet can be matched unless this row cutting requirement is strictly adhered to on all seams.


Our procedure is simple and effective if the following points are observed:

•Lay all pieces flat and allow to acclimate to "standard" conditions. (CRI-104-1996/ 5.3; 6.4; 8.2…)
•Using a broad straight bit screwdriver, press forward gently opening the row.
•Using a loop pile or cushion cutter, (e.g. Roberts 10-152 or 10-156) follow the open row with the cutter, keeping the trimmer blade close to the usable side of the carpet.
•On a patterned carpet, for easiest match, trim on pattern center if at all possible.
•Row cutting works best on the side seams and under ideal conditions will also work on butt seams.

The Carpet and Rug Institute Standard 104-1996 requires the proper sealing of ALL seams on all installed carpet.


It is required that all seams on glue down (CRI 104-8.5), double glue down (CRI-104-9) and stretch installations (CRI 104-11.6) be sealed using a good quality seaming adhesive.


ON ALL GLUE DOWN SEAMS: A single bead of solvent or acrylic based seam sealer must be applied, the bead should be “tall” enough to “meet” the primary backing yarn bundles and secondary backing, but never contact the face fiber. Once the bead is applied to the first edge, the second edge should immediately be pressed against the first edge to provide an immediate transfer. Seam sealer will “flash off” and “skin over” quickly. (See also CRI 104-1996 8.3 and 9.4).


Failure to seal seams will void the warranties.

CRI 104 is endorsed by the Canadian Carpet Institute.



PLAN YOUR WORK & WORK YOUR PLAN!

In order to pattern match it is necessary to adhere to the following standards:

•Always “dry lay” all pieces prior to starting the glue spread or hot melt process.
•Arrange all pieces to your best advantage thereby working the closest patterns together.
•An easy way to determine which cuts will match best is to count 30 patterns and compare the measurements to determine sequence.


pattern_match_564


Example:
   Drop A:  30 patterns measure 15’0”      Drop B:  30 patterns measures 15’2”

   Drop C:  30 patterns measure 14’11”     Drop D:  30 patterns measures 15’1”
The proper judgment in this example is to place the drops as follows to diminish the pattern elongations:
C: 14’11”, A: 15’0”, D: 15’1”, B: 15’2"


Experience has shown that most carpets easily stretch 1.5%-2% with power stretchers. The deviation between Drop A and Drop C is only half of 1%, thereby making a match achievable.


•Always match and work patterns from the center towards the ends.
•Step back frequently and sight down the diagonal lines across seams if possible.
•On glue down and stretch installations, it may be necessary to stretch “short” patterns into register to achieve a match.
•Make sure the pattern is properly trimmed (row cut).
•As per the CRI 104 and 105 the use of a power stretcher is mandatory.


installation_576


PLEASE REMEMBER: This carpet is synthetic and will not shrink to fit. You must plan your work so you can always stretch the short patterns into register with the long ones! (i.e. “D” stretches to match “B”, “A” stretches to match “D”, “C” stretches to match “A”)


SEPT 19 2011- Hello check out these pictures of designed concrete flooring


concrete5_400

concrete2_400

concrete7_400_01
some brands we carry
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