Questions to ask Yourself Before Buying a New Floor

The options are endless when it comes to choosing the right flooring for you space. Ask yourself these questions to help assess your home’s flooring needs in Orleans so that you can narrow down the choices with Millennium Floor Covering by your side.

Where is the room that is being renovated and how will it be used?

Basements and all cement floors are more susceptible to moisture than upstairs, therefore, you must consider those limitations. If it is for an entry area or a play area for pets and/or children, look for flooring that can handle wear and abuse.

Is the area susceptible to spills like in a kitchen or high moisture like in a bathroom?

Over time, carpets can become rippled (like bacon cooking) in a humid environment, and hardwood can warp and buckle. Ceramic however, or luxury vinyl tiles or planks could be a great alternative. It is also easy to maintain and comes in an extraordinary variety of shapes, colors and textures to suit your personal taste or décor.

Do you plan on installing heated floors?

Not all floors are compatible with all heated floors. Ceramic, most laminates, and some luxury vinyl tiles or planks are suitable for radiant heat.

Are you concerned about colour and scratches? Do you have young children and/or pets?

The colour of your floors is very important as it will impact on the look of the entire room.

Lighter floors can make the room feel larger, however, it will show stains easier as well as wear.

Darker floors can make a room feel cozy but you will see dust and pet hair easily.

Neutral tones will make it easier to change your home décor down the road without having to redo your floors. Neutral tones can also accommodate colourful decors easily.

Take into consideration that if you have young children and/or pets, hardwood floors of any kind will eventually have dents and scratches but it will show less on a neutral-coloured floor with more pronounced wood grain. Also note that hardwood floors can be sanded, stained and/or re-varnished down the road.

Will your new floor coordinate with other floors and style in your home?

Sometimes contrasts or different textures may compliment your overall style or colour scheme. Creating interesting patterns or blending materials or even adding a splash of colour on your walls or décor may enhance your design. You can add colourful area rugs to create the look, warmth and style you are looking for.

Are you concerned about allergies?

Hardwood floors, laminates or ceramics trap fewer allergens than carpet flooring. However, the fact that carpets are trapping those allergens, may be the key to less of a reaction from you. Allergens stay on top of hard surfaces and are therefore easily propelled in the air, so more harmful for you. The secret is to keep those floors as clean as possible and vacuuming your carpets will act like a clean filter on your furnace.

What type of carpet should I use for my stairs?

Contrary to popular belief, a Berber type carpet, in most cases, is not the best option. Because this is a loop type of carpet, and in most cases the loop being quite large and not as dense, your carpet will tend to flatten easily. Using a twist type of carpet, you will have more fibres per square inch and being a straight pile will not flatten as fast.

Can you install your new flooring yourself?

Some floors are easier than others to install. In the case of hardwood floors and laminates, normally each box comes with installation instructions. We’re sure there are also all kinds of instructions on all kinds of flooring you can find on the internet. However, you must also consider the possibility of having to repair a faulty sub floor (squeaky floors).

Also note that you must safely dispose of your existing floor. Be prepared for possible mistakes and thereby ruining part of your new flooring. In that case, more flooring can be ordered unless you bought a liquidated or a discontinued product. Please verify ahead of time. In any case we can install all that we sell at an affordable price and in a professional way.

Have you thought of these additional costs?

Over and above the installation fee, you have to decide if you are going to do the following, otherwise, factor in those costs:

Will I remove and safely dispose of the old flooring?
Will I prep the sub floor, like removing staples? Does it need reinforcing?
Should I have the sub floor screwed due to squeaks?
Do I need to replace my quarter rounds?
Will I be moving all the furniture and appliances?
Do I need to lift and/or replace my baseboards?
Will I remove and reinstall my toilets?

Helpful Tips for Floor Cleaning, Preparing for Installation & More

At Millennium Floor Covering, we want to make sure you get the most out of your experience with us, and that you feel confident with the flooring you’re having installed and taking care of it. Take a look at some useful tips for cleaning your new floors and more.

Most wood flooring performs best at an RH range of 35% to 50%.

Prolonged exposure to high or low relative humidity levels may result in damage that is not covered under warranty.

Be sure to keep your invoice.

It’s important to keep your invoice accessible and in a safe place as this is your warranty.

Don’t use vinegar for cleaning floors.

Contrary to popular belief, it is not a good idea to use vinegar in the water you will use to clean your floors, especially hardwood floors. The vinegar will actually dry and damage the varnish on your hardwood floors and will shorten its life. It almost acts like an acid on your floors.

How to prevent seeing your footprints on your laminate floors.

In most cases, people are using either soap or a detergent that is oil-based. The oil will leave a film on the laminate which explains why you can see your footprints on the floor. Just use a humid mop for your regular cleaning and once in a while give it a good cleaning with special cleaners designed for laminate and hardwood floors.

Don’t be shy – bring in a sample!

When you come in to our showroom to choose a floor for your kitchen or living room, we encourage you to bring in a drawer or door from your kitchen cabinets, or a sample of your counter top. You can even bring a chair from your dining room set or a cushion from your sofa!

Usual steps taken for the installation of a new floor in your home:

a) Come in and visit our luxurious, 5,000 square foot showroom.

b) Let one or our floor specialists/sales person help and guide you to choose the most perfect floor for your needs, and bring your concepts to life.

c) Once the choice is made, we can order the product for you and call you once we receive it.

d) Should you prefer that we do the installation of your chosen floor, we will make an appointment with you to visit your home and take measurements of the flooring to be installed. We will also discuss what you want us to do in addition to the installation. For example, you might want us to remove and dispose of the old flooring, move some or all of the existing furniture, or install new quarter rounds.

e) Then we prepare a proposal with your specific choices and demands.

f) You then approve or renegotiate the proposal. Once approved you give us a deposit, covering the materials to be ordered and sign the invoice.

g) We order the materials required for the job and once they are received we call you to schedule the installation date that is most convenient for both of us.

h) Once the installation is complete you pay us the balance of the invoice and enjoy your new flooring.

Light colours will show more discolourations then dark colours.

Although, most products are UV cured and resistant to fading, light colours will show more discolourations then dark colours. Any covered areas should be moved periodically in order to assist in slowing down the aging, and blocking the sun light from shinning directly on the floor will also help slow down aging. Never expose your floor to direct sunlight as this may adversely damage and/or bleach your floor. Always use proper window light filtering window coverings.

Pet nails will scratch and mark a wood floor surface.

Keep your pet’s nails trimmed to minimize damage to the surface.

Do not drag, push, or roll appliances, furniture or any heavy object across the floor.

Due to the weight, you will have indentations, scratches or rips in your floors. Use heavy duty moving mats, dollies or other moving aids to protect the floor surface.

Use felt protector pads.

It is best to use felt protector pads on the feet of all furniture, display stands, file cabinets and other accessories that will be placed directly onto the floor surface.