Get New Kitchen Floors in Time for the Holidays!
Imagine that – a brand new floor installed in your home for the holidays. And the best part, you’ll be shocked at how quickly you can have it done. In fact, the part that will most probably take the longest time is picking out the floor you want. How about that?! And for those who already know what they want, new floors can be installed in a matter of days. How? Read on.
Haven’t You Heard? Christmas Is Coming Early This Year
We’ve checked the list twice, and you’ve definitely been good. Very good. For the last two years, Covid has played havoc with the holiday season. Celebrations have been interrupted, family gatherings with friends have been challenging, and so many of the activities we all enjoy have been curtailed.
Well, this year, we can thank our lucky stars – Thanksgiving and Christmas and all the other celebrations enjoyed around this time of year are back. Haven’t you earned yourself a bit of joy with a new kitchen floor?
Professional Floor Installers Can Finish 1,000sq ft of Flooring In Day or Two
In fact, it takes longer for some flooring materials to acclimatize to your environment than it does to install. What is “on-site acclimatization”? This is one of the most important steps to ensure a quality installation, and many DIYers forget about it.
The majority of flooring options need to be stored in the actual room they are going to be installed for an average of three days. This gives the material to be used a chance to adjust itself to the temperature and humidity levels in the room. If this step is skipped, the finished floor may shrink, swell, and or warp, and this may invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty.
Keep in mind that if you choose a ceramic tile or solid hardwood floor, it will take a bit longer. These types of floors are meant to last a lifetime, so the extra day or so will be worth it.
The Important Steps Involved In Flooring Installation
The required number of steps depends entirely on the type of flooring and the condition of the subfloor on which it is to be installed. On the simple end of the spectrum are installations and subfloor preparation for luxury vinyl tile and laminate flooring. The kitchen flooring options on the complex end of the spectrum include solid hardwood, natural stone, ceramic, or porcelain large format tile. Experienced DIYers can tackle simple installations on a bare concrete floor; the more complex varieties are best left to the professionals.
The First Step Is Even Easier Now
Have you heard of “SHOP-AT-HOME” service for flooring? As the name suggests, you don’t even have to leave your home. Just one phone call or website request, and a qualified flooring expert will make an appointment to meet you at your home and show you all the actual flooring samples you might want to have in your kitchen.
You’ll be able to examine and stand on all the colors and patterns that will compliment your particular interior design. You can see for yourself how the floor matches up with your modern kitchen or traditional kitchen. No more guessing about how the floor will look with the type of lighting you have in your home.
Why a Kitchen Upgrade Is One Of the Most Rewarding Home Improvements
Despite how much money we spend on the other rooms in our homes, doesn’t it always seem most of your guests end up in your kitchen? During the holidays, it often becomes the most popular and busiest room in the house. This is especially the case with family. More and more new home architects and interior designers are making the kitchen the focal point.
It’s the same with potential buyers. Even though you may not be interested in putting your home on the market anytime soon, if and when you do, a kitchen refresh can provide one of your biggest returns on investment.
A Quick Overview Of Kitchen Flooring Options
Solid Hardwood Floors: Years ago, a solid hardwood kitchen floor would have been unthinkable. Depending on how much wear and tear your family (or your furniture) can dish out, it might still be inadvisable. However, today’s finishes are so tough that they can withstand a surprising amount of use – even in a kitchen. And there are few materials that create the kind of rich and warm glow of a solid hardwood floor.
In general, these floors are ¾ of an inch thick, and they come in varying widths. Subfloors need to be checked for stability. Professional installation is recommended.
Engineered Hardwood Floors: These are arguably one of the toughest floor options you can put in your home or kitchen. These floors have multiple layers of scientifically developed coatings that are cured at the factory. Wood varieties and textures are plentiful. You can even have the popular “lived-in” look on a brand-new floor.
Almost all of this type of flooring comes in only two thicknesses – ½ or ⅜ of an inch. These floors are extremely stable and durable. They can be glued down to a concrete floor. Installation is beyond the skill level of many DIYers.
Natural Stone: The most popular choices are marble and granite, although other materials like slate are also available. These floors create an upscale feeling in any kitchen. When sealed with today’s new protectants, they stay stain free and easy to clean.
Colors are limited to natural tones, but there is a surprising degree of variety in format size and installation patterns. Professionals only, for installation.
Ceramic and Porcelain Tile: Although these have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years, there have been many updates in shape, size, and textures. You can even have tiles that mimic the look of hardwood floors. Warm tones and grain patterns paired with virtually indestructible porcelain or ceramic glaze.
Professional installation is recommended.
LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile): Endless variety of colors, widths, textures, and installation patterns. This is one of the toughest floors you can put in your home. This floor will stand up to even the wear and tear busiest families and pets can muster.
One of the easiest floors to install for an enterprising DIYer. (Although, you may want to opt for a professional installation in order to be sure your floor will be ready for the holidays.)
Carpeting: Nope. Don’t do it. For the love of interior designers everywhere, please refrain.
At Flooring Direct, we wish all the best to you this holiday season!
Dan Ratcliff
Dan Ratcliff is the CEO and President of Flooring Direct in Dallas / Fort Worth. Over the last two decades, he has grown Flooring Direct into a premier Shop-at-Home traditional & hardwood flooring company. With a true dedication to customer service and integrity, Flooring Direct has become DFW's largest highest-rated Dallas-local flooring dealer. Dan has lived in Dallas all of his life and was raised in Dallas with family roots and love for the community and local sports. It's with that sense of family that Flooring Direct has contributed to and sponsored children's organizations like Jonathan's Place and scholastic athletics like Plano's Girls Soccer.
