ICC Floors Blog

Your Home. Your Memories.

You are here: Home / Home

Remodeling for Beginners: After the Project | Part 2

by Leave a Comment

Tips for Cleaning & Maintaining Your New Floors 

Flooring can completely transform a room in more ways than one. Not only does flooring help offer a beautiful aesthetic upgrade, but newer flooring comes with significant upgrades. In fact, many flooring options have featured a substantial amount of updates over the last decade. For instance, flooring today can offer better stain-resistance, more durability, and better longevity. So now that you have gotten your new floors, you need to make sure you help prolong its lifespan with the correct maintenance and cleaning. If you just got new flooring, here is what you need to do:

Prevention

Your best plan of attack is to prevent the mess. Whether carpet, hardwood, LVP, or tile, dirt can be your floors enemy. Consider making your new floor a shoe-free zone and facilitating a welcome mat. Preventing dirt from getting on your floors is your first step to help prolong the life of your floors. Additionally, you will find that carpet and hardwood are vulnerable to liquids. You may want to stop eating or drinking in rooms where you put this flooring or be extra careful with spills and accidents.

Cleaning

Each flooring system can be cleaned a little differently. Dirt can compact deep down into carpet fibers and begin to initiate wearing. So make sure to vacuum your floor consistently and steam clean new carpet once a year. Hardwood floors are durable, but water can wreak havoc on them. So avoid liquids from coming into contact with them and use a broom to remove dust and debris regularly. If your hardwood floors do begin to show traffic wear over the years, remember you can always sand and refinish them. LVP is pretty easy to keep clean. Typically, a broom or wet-mop is enough to maintain this flooring’s cleanliness. Tile can be cleaned by a quick sweep. For more caked-on dirt, you can use a mop with a vinegar and water solution. Grout lines can be cleaned with a grout brush or toothbrush and a baking soda paste.

Maintainance

Lastly, keep up with your flooring’s maintenance. This step will include projects like sanding your hardwood or steam cleaning your carpet once a year. Manufacturer-recommended products will always give your floor the best longevity. For more insight on your floorings annual maintenance, make sure to check with your sales representative or check your flooring manufacturer’s website.

Do you have any post-renovation questions? We would love to answer any and all of your questions below in the comment section. Thanks for reading!

Remodeling for Beginners: After the Project

by Leave a Comment

How to Move Furniture Back into the Room 

As we have learned in our previous ‘remodeling for beginners‘ blog series, remodeling your home can change the entire feel or function of a room. From remodeled kitchens and bathrooms to even renovated bedrooms and living rooms, every project comes with a new set of dilemmas. For instance, furniture that worked in your old design may not be functional with the new layout. In fact, a new design can also mean new room themes.

During these extensive renovations, all your previous furniture is removed from the room. However, whether new or old, the furniture will need to come back into the room. Have no fear; while this may seem like a daunting task, with a little preparation and planning, this can be done safely and quickly. Here is everything you need to know:

Start with The Big Furniture

Every room can come with its own set of challenges, from doorways to hallways and everything in between. Know your limits. Most moving projects will almost always require a team of two. If you are moving a bed, start with the frame. Build your bed completely before bringing in the box spring or mattress. Remember, disassembly is your friend. Sectionals can also be a real hassle. Many sectionals can be taken apart; however, they cannot fit through doorways by being carried at 0 or 90 degrees. Chairs or sectionals may need to be carried into the room at a 45-degree angle to fit through doorways. You may also need to remove legs or feet. If you must take anything apart, make sure you put all hardware in screws in a safe spot. Extremely large, bulky, and heavy items like billiard tables and pianos are very meticulous. They need to be moved exceptionally carefully, balanced or turned, and should not be tackled without experience. These items may take several men or women to move and may need to be adjusted after they are moved.

Move to the Smaller Items

Smaller items or furniture can be handled by one individual. This category may include chairs or nightstands. Always be safe and pick up with your legs, not letting your back round. It is safest to carry items close to your body as well. Once the big pieces are in place, you can fill the room with the rest of the smaller furniture. Begin with items that will reside furthest from the entry point. You do not want to bring in furniture and begin to create a puzzle around yourself and lose access to the entryway. Lastly, your final items will be your décor and wall-mounted items. These may require tasteful and careful placement in your home but should not be over encumbering.

Be smart and know your limits. You may need to remove doors to bring furniture into the room. When you remove a door, place the door’s pins back in the hinges on the frame to keep track of them. Also, make sure to check out the rest of the series to understand how to manage other challenges that may come after remodeling.

Shop from the Comfort of Your Home

by Leave a Comment

Currently, many homeowners find themselves quarantined and working from the comfort of their own home. While this transition can at first be difficult, we want to reassure our customers that we offer a variety of tools for your convenience. In fact, many of our website features allow you to shop and browse online galleries right from your living room couch. Today, we are going to take a look at several website tools that ICC Home offers to help make life a little easier. Let’s take a look!

Online Showroom

Our online product catalog allows you to browse a variety of high-quality flooring brands right from the comfort of your house. From hardwood and carpet to tile and luxury vinyl, we have all of the hottest styles and trends right at your fingertips.

Shop at Home

Are you looking for a little more personalization and assistance? If so, our shop at home brings the showroom to your living room. We bring the best samples right to your home. Simply fill out our form to set up an appointment that fits your schedule.

Order Samples

While browsing our online showroom, did you find a product that you may want to try in your house? Fortunately, you do not have to make a commitment without seeing how it would look in your lighting and layout. On ICC Home’s website, you can conveniently order samples of your favorite products.

Square Footage Calculator

If you need to determine the square footage of your room, no worries! Our website provides a quick and easy tool for determining the (approximate) square footage of a room.

Virtual Room Designer

Are you looking for inspiration and want to see what products will look like in your space? If so, look no further than our virtual room designer tool. From upload your room to our room gallery, we provide a variety of design resources for your next project.

Free Estimates

While you are spending your days working from home, one of our experts can come out and provide a free estimate for your project. Simply fill out our form to get started!

With all of our website tools and resources, you can shop from the comfort of your home. That being said, if you have any questions about products, tools, or anything else, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at ICC Home.

Remodeling for Beginners: During the Project

by Leave a Comment

Last month, we focused on remodeling for beginners, and we discussed how to start your project. This month, we wanted to focus on what to do during your remodeling project. Let’s get started!

Prepare Your Space

Before any home renovation or remodeling project, it is imperative to prep the space for your workers. However, the amount of work you do entirely depends on the type of project. If you are just having your floors redone, you will need to remove everything off of the floors. But if you are doing an entire kitchen renovation, you will need to take everything out of the room, much like you would do when you move houses.

Also, remember to be courteous of your workers’ time and schedules by preparing the room one or two days before their arrival. If there are large appliances that you physically cannot move on your own, mention the items to your workers and see if they can assist you. Otherwise, items in drawers and cabinets should be fully boxed up before their arrival to ensure a quick and easy transition.

Be Flexible

While it is important to have a timeline in mind, it is also essential to be flexible. Unfortunately, manufacturer delays and unforeseen circumstances can disrupt timelines; therefore, try to roll with the punches.

Create a Secondary Kitchen & Bath

If you are having your kitchen or bathroom remodeled, it is crucial to create some sort of “backup” room. For instance, when your kitchen is out of commission for several weeks, you should capitalize on another spacious area of your home to hold your backup kitchen. For example, you may have room in the corner of your living room for a small table. This table can house your microwave, toaster, and convection oven during the remodel. Plus, having this area will allow you to still eat meals at home during the renovation.

Communicate Kindly & Effectively

Whenever possible, try to be a nice boss by communicating your thoughts, ideas, and feelings kindly and effectively. If you are frustrated by any hold-ups, kindly let your contractor know your concerns. You do not want to build any unneeded tension between you and your workers because remodeling should be a fun experience.

Set Aside Extra Money

Lastly, when budgeting for your project, it is important to set aside a little extra money. This money will help be a cushion in case any unforeseen circumstances or additional costs arise. Plus, if you do not end up needing/using it, you have extra money saved for a rainy day.

We hope that you found these five ideas helpful, and be sure to check back weekly for more expert advice. Thanks for reading!

Benjamin Moore Paint Colors for Spring

by Leave a Comment

Paint can completely change the entire feel and look of a room. Hence, paint is typically one of the first steps done by new businesses and homeowners to help tailor their space to their desired look. To help you create your dream oasis, we only provide the best products for your home projects. At ICC Home, we carry Benjamin Moore paints. Benjamin Moore is a paint company that creates exceptionally durable paint options for a variety of applications. Many people love this company for its price points and how efficiently one coat of paint can go. Plus, Benjamin Moore has a large variety of great colors. So if you are looking for some great spring colors, look no further. Today, we will focus on five colors that are perfect for your home design this spring. Let’s get started!

First Light |2102-70

Image by Benjamin Moore

Spring is almost here, and it is time to create a more vibrant atmosphere with First Light. First Light is an airy shade with light pink undertones. It works great as an alternative neutral option with a warm hue. Plus, it feels playfully revitalizing and very inviting.  

Golden Straw | 2152-50

Image by Benjamin Moore

Are you looking to illuminate and brighten up your space? If so, consider using Golden Straw! This color is excellent for adding that fun, upbeat spring vibe into the atmosphere. Plus, it is an enriched tone that is never too overpowering. In fact, its beautiful golden tint makes a great statement in any room and truly highlights the Golden Straw name.

Windmill Wings | 2067-60

Image by Benjamin Moore

With First Light and Golden Straw both having warm undertones, Windmill Wing is perfect for finding that balance. This cool tone is a pastel yet bold blue tone. It is clearly distinguished for creating a passive and peaceful atmosphere.

Buxton Blue |HC-149

Image by Benjamin Moore

Another blue option is Buxton Blue. This color is a refined and beautiful shade that has greenish undertones. In fact, this timeless color can help add cool tones to the room while enhancing natural and artificial feeling colors. Working great with all sorts of material, colors, and fabrics, Buxton Blue is a tremendous choice and inspired by America’s historic landmarks.

Crystalline | AF-485

Image by Benjamin Moore

Lastly, to finish off this sophisticated color palette is Crystalline. It has light green undertones but feels flourished in confidence. It is truly expressive and great to enhance the natural colors of nature like trees and grass.

Embracing the spring season is a great way to update your home! So if you love spring’s colors, make your home have that upbeat feeling by adding these great Benjamin Moore color options. And if you are looking for more recommendations, please do not hesitate to call or visit us!

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Purchasing Flooring

by Leave a Comment

Flooring is an excellent investment in order to make a house feel like home. In fact, it allows you to add your own personal touch to an atmosphere while letting you tailor your space to your daily demands. However, no one flooring fits all. It would be best if you considered all options when looking at flooring. Each flooring option can bring its own sets of pros and cons to an environment. So if you are looking to invest in your flooring, here are several questions you may want to consider before purchasing your new floors:

Are You Considering the Resell Value?

What are your intentions for your home? Are you planning on living there for a long period of time or planning on reselling it? This factor is essential to consider because it is not always the best option to tailor your space to your own needs if you plan on selling. Sometimes, it is best to see what the most trending homes on the market have to see what will help sell your home.

How Much of a Concern Is Maintenance?

Maintenance can also be a considerable factor. Some flooring can be extremely durable and low maintenance, while others may take some time to clean and treat. This factor can become an annoyance to some homeowners or not a dilemma at all to others. Therefore, ask yourself, does the maintenance of a flooring concern you? If so, you may want to look into low-maintenance flooring options.

Will You Be Hosting Guest or Events?

What are you planning on doing in your home? Flooring can be manufactured in residential grade or commercial. You may need a more durable flooring option if you will be hosting events or guests frequently. 

What Purpose Does the Room Serve in Your Home?

The purpose of each room can also be a huge deciding factor. Are you using a room for a home gym or an office? Different spaces respond best functionally and aesthetically with certain flooring options. Make sure your floor corresponds with the room’s initial purpose. 

Does Age Restriction Prevent Certain Flooring Options?

What ages are the members of your household? If you have children who may make messes or scratch specific flooring options, you may need to find another flooring choice. Likewise, elder folks may struggle to get over certain flooring transitions and flooring options when limited to wheelchairs or walkers. Always consider your home’s demographics before investing in a floor.

Do You Have Pets?

Likewise, pets can also have a significant influence on what floor works best. Pets can create accidents and scratch some flooring. Make sure if you have pets that your flooring is up for the tasks ahead of you.

Will Your Flooring Be Exposed to Water?

Water can be extremely detrimental to some flooring options. If you are in a space prone to water, you must find a waterproof flooring option. This factor can help save you money and increase the longevity of your investment. 

Remember, one floor will not fit all. You need to make sure the flooring you choose can be reliable for your daily tasks. Ask yourself these questions when browsing our flooring selection, and make sure to check with your ICC Home flooring representative for more insight and concerns you may have. Thanks for reading!