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Everything You Need to Know about Carpet Fibers

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Not all carpets are made alike.  There are many different carpet types,  styles, makes, and fibers available on the market today.  With different manufacturers always thriving to get a competitive edge, new fibers are being engineered with better wear durability, stronger piles, stain-resistance, and even some waterproofing.  Without getting into every single carpet fiber available, we broke down the top style choices of carpet. Let’s take a look!

Nylon

Nylon is a highly desirable flooring choice for many reasons.  It is known to be the most exceptional when in come to wear, stain and abrasion resistance.  It is extremely easy to clean and typically does not mat down easily, depending on its pile construct.  This synthetic fiber choice is excellent for anyone wanted premium carpet in their homes.

Polyester

Polyester is a chemically engineered synthetic fiber used in the textile industry.  Formerly, polyester carpeting was not on par with nylons; however, with all the other elements incorporated into the engineering of these polyesters, today, they can be equally as durable and built to be longlasting.  With the twist and density of each fiber and the filament type, polyesters have proven to be a great choice to stand up against wear and tear.

Olefin 

Another synthetic fiber material is Olefin.  Olefin is a great, lightweight option and is specially engineered to withstand the outdoor conditions.  It is highly resilient to color change and stain-resistant.  Being universal enough to be installed outdoors allows this versatile carpet to be an excellent option for many unique and tough projects.  Olefin can come in many forms and be multi-filamented or mono-filamented as well as tow, staple or film yarns.

Wool 

This natural product comes from sheep or goats.  The wool fiber is an excellent choice for your home and insulates heat phenomenally well.  Wool is extremely durable and can hold up, typically, longer than most synthetic fibers. However, direct sunlight can cause the fibers to break down and gradually become weaker leading to wear over time.

All these carpet fibers have come a long way in their engineering and design. For more information on ICC Floors’ carpet selection, click here to view our online showroom.

What You Need to Know about The New Tariff

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Trump’s Tariff

One of our government’s primary responsibility is to ensure the economic growth of our country.  The government has many different ways of analyzing and managing our nation’s finances.  Currency values and trade play a crucial role in our nationals financial economic. Establishing tariffs is one way the government can help influence domestic investments. By adding tariffs to foreign goods, it influences the consumers to buy more domestic goods. 

What is a Tariff

A tariff is an increase taxed placed on imported and exported goods to manipulate the buying market towards more domestic purchases.  This means that international flooring prices in the United States will be increased to help keep money inside our nation. These tariffs are set to restrict consumers from wanting to buy foreign products and make domestic purchases more appealing.  Many foreign flooring products have had a competitive advantage on low pricing because of the cheap labor outside the states; however, now with the new tariff on international floors, a forced tax puts these floorings at a significant pricing disadvantage.

Domestic Advantages

This artificial inflation promotes consumers to purchase domestic flooring.   There are many great, reputable domestic flooring companies like Armstrong and Shaw Flooring. Buying from these domestic companies helps support our nation’s economic growth. Domestic flooring companies will benefit primarily from the reduction of competitive foreign flooring industries because of artificial inflation.   

How This Affects You

A lot of flooring is imported into the United States, so unfortunately many prices have increased in hard surface flooring category as well as carpeting.  Choosing the floor you want is always an option; however, domestic flooring will be at a much more competitive price range.  These tariffs will significantly impact foreign goods.  There is a 10% increase effective immediately as well as a 25% increase at the start of the new year.  We want to inform our customers of the change as well as offer a better understanding as to why our prices will increase on foreign goods. 

Ultimately, the choice of flooring you want in your home is up to you.   Understanding the new tariff and how it affects you though is vital to help you in your purchasing process. Whether you choose to invest in domestic or foreign flooring, we look to make your buying process as uncomplicated as possible.  We offer financing through Synchrony Financial to help you get your dream floors. We also offer many different options of flooring for your home to assure you find the perfect flooring for your home today. If you have any further questions or need assistance, we would be happy to help! Call or visit us for more information. 

Flooring Trends 2018

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Trends are always changing in the fashion and marketing industry while we still find new colors, styles, and designs trickling into the market.  Luckily, interior design has long runs of trends in the flooring market.  These timeless styles have helped developed many of today’s modern designs and styles.  Different feels and textures have evolved into sought-after investments people are always trying to incorporate into their home.  The evolution of flooring has grown into some very distinct trends over the last decade.  Today’s flooring styles have some fundamental characteristics which you should stay on the lookout for when buying for you for your home.  Here are the top five elements in the flooring industry to have a better understanding on to keep your home trending yet timeless: 

Natural Elements

  • A timeless factor that homes will always invite into their design is natural elements.  From hardwood floors to brick walls and even ceramic tiles, all of these elements encompass the natural feel of the outdoors.  Natural features are vital to giving a home character and charm.   You will find that items like distressed woods, weathered finishes, and hand scraped floors can strengthen character to your home as well as make it feel homier and cozier. 

Technology Advancements

  • As we previously mentioned, natural elements have been a timeless luxury that has been added into home’s decor for years.  Today, luxury vinyl planking and tiles allow you to capture a timeless look with a more durable, water-resistant surface.  These advance flooring solutions are loved for their adaptability and ability be installed over virtually any surface.  
  • Waterproof carpet with environmentally friendly recycled goods also has changed the market for flooring options. Even wood-styled tiles can be installed in a shower and illusion a wooden wetroom. As more advance floorings enter the market, these multifunctional flooring options allow the consumer to use different flooring in more unusual and unique environments.   

Design and Style

  • Popular home designs and styles directly influence the trending floors in today’s market.  For example, recently homeowners love incorporating Modern and Contemporary designs into their home’s decor. Modern and Contemporary designs incorporate more crisp, sleek looks with neutral-tone floors, whereas a Modern-Rustic may call for a more distressed look. Understanding your design and how to incorporate the right style flooring can help advance your overall style and create a seemingly timeless look. 
  • Hard surface flooring has also really made a strong influence in the modern market.  Vinyl planks can allow you to install a wood- theme design even in a basement or subfloor room.  With such advance prints, you can use different styles of vinyl for almost any looks.

Colors

  • Neutrals are always a timeless, safe choice.  Grey has made a strong statement this year in the flooring industry and has quickly replaced the usual choice of “ beige.”  If your room looks for more beige and tan tones, consider the trending neutral color: gold.   This glamourized blonde tone is perfect for keeping a room feeling airy and fresh while also allowing for a strong statement.  
  • Whitewashed floors have made a strong come back for capturing a more tranquil and relaxed living atmosphere.  
  • Old-fashion darks enrich an elegant, timeless feel and are also a popular choice.  While neutrals have their strengths, high-variety patterned floors and colors make a powerful statement.  
  • Having a fun area rug with colorful patterns or unique textures allows your floors to become the focal point of the room.

Layout

  • Recently, residential design has become a bold player with layout flooring.  Adding a sense of uniqueness and sophistication, patterned flooring with carpet tiles or even herringboned hardwood, can really help make your flooring the stand out feature of your home.  Whereas traditional flooring usually stays to modest angles, contemporary designs strive off angled flooring styles to enhance the room.   

Modern flooring trends have continued to develop into styles that challenge your inner designer.  Do not be afraid to allow your style to express itself through your flooring.  Be original and have fun.  These unique ideas can help guide you on your next project. Stop into ICC Floors for more expert guidance and advice. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you. 

Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Hardwood

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You may have heard the word “engineered hardwood” mentioned before, and you may have been curious about the difference between it and regular hardwood. To help you better understand, we will dive deeper into the differences between these two types of wood flooring. Let’s take a look!

Solid Hardwood vs. Engineered Hardwood: What is the Big Difference?

  • Solid Hardwood. 

When you think of traditional hardwood floors, you are most likely imagining solid hardwood. This type of hardwood is the standard. It is composed of 100% wood. Solid hardwood is admired for its authentic look, beauty, and often durability. With solid hardwood, you can find your perfect style from a large selection of colors and widths. Solid hardwood works well on the first and second floors of homes and inside of living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and even kitchens. When installing solid hardwood, installers will use nails to set the flooring in space. Plus, it is also admired for its endurance; it can truly last you a lifetime if it is well-kept and maintained properly. With sanding and protective finishes, you can renew your hardwood floors to keep them looking pristine. Lastly, the natural look, feel, and sound of solid hardwood can be a big selling point for homeowners. This is the most authentic form, and it is truly worth the price tag. 

  • Engineered Hardwood. 

Engineered hardwood is composed of several layers. In your first layer, you have 100% natural wood. This is the color and style that you will choose for the design aspect. The second/middle layer is made of five to seven layers of plywood, all running in different directions. The last layer is wood. The purpose of this innovation is to create a hardwood surface that can withstand moisture, humidity, and temperature. These factors help to make it the perfect option for rooms that attract moisture (bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, basements). Like solid hardwood, engineered hardwood also comes in an array of styles, colors, and widths to meet your preferences. When installing engineered hardwood, installers have the options of staples, glue, or float. Engineered wood can be sanded which is yet another similarity between solid and engineered hardwood. The construction of engineered wood makes it a primary choice for homeowners wanting the look of wood in moisture-attracting areas of their home.  

Are you interested in viewing our selection of solid hardwood or engineered hardwood? We would love for you to browse our online ICC Floors showroom. 

Please do not hesitate to call or visit us with any questions. 

Everything You Need to Know about a Paint’s Undertone

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If you are interested in learning everything you need to know about paint’s undertone, you came to the right place! First, let us start off by defining an undertone. When you mix together two or more colors, the undertone is the color that shows through a color formula. In essence, the undertone is typically the color that is used the most within the formula. If you used a lot of red in a beige color, there would be a pink undertone. This is the reason that choosing neutrals can be tricky. 

Your primary colors (red, blue and yellow) do not have undertones. In essence, you only have pure red, blue or yellow. You cannot have an undertone within a pure color. 

Now you may be intrigued. You may be thinking that you need to know more in order to choose the right color. Exactly! That is why we created this resource for you. This is everything you need to know about a paint’s undertone. Let’s get started! 

Everything You Need to Know about a Paint’s Undertones: 
Matching Undertones. 
Undertones have matching colors that look good with them. You will need to select the colors that work with them in order to create harmony. For a more detailed explanation, keep on reading. 

Masstones vs. Undertones. 
Whatever room you are currently sitting in, look up at the wall and take a look at the color you see. The color that you quickly assessed to be your wall color to be is called a “masstone.” Typically, we refer to the color by its masstone, but it is highly influenced by its undertone. The undertone is what gets people into trouble when selecting a color. The undertone is the “subtle” appearance of color underneath of your masstone color. 

Determining an Undertone. 
Now we are going to talk about the complicated part, determining your color’s undertone. If you are trying to figure out a color’s undertone, the easiest way to find it is to compare it next to a color wheel. Your color wheel provides the purest form of your three primary colors; therefore, it is easy to find an undertone for primary colors (red, blue and yellow). But what about non-primary colors? Experts recommend sampling a few paint swatches inside of your home to determine the undertone. 

What Undertones to Avoid. 
The undertones that give homeowners the most issues are: green and pink. Green undertones become problematic against your cabinetry and wood floors. The orange/yellow hues inside of wood often clash with a green undertone. If you think about it, blue is the primary color that creates green. Blue is what is creating an imbalance of color against your warm-toned cabinets and floors. For matching your floors and cabinetry, we recommend trying a yellow or red undertone. Secondly, pink becomes an issue. This undertone is most often a problem with green, blue or violet. Instead of choosing a pink undertone, experts recommend opting for a warm yellow. 

Now that you have mastered the art of undertones, you are ready to take on the paint store! Did you know that ICC Floors offers a vast selection of Benjamin Moore products? Our sales staff would love to assist you in selecting a paint color with the perfect undertone for your space. Stop by one of our beautiful showrooms for more information. 

Project Completion – Tile

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Welcome to the final week of our guest blog series! If you are new to this series, during the month of August, ICC Floors will be featuring a guest blog series from our very own, Blake Powell. In this series, Blake Powell tackled an extraordinary DIY project, where he built a custom outdoor bar that features a big green egg smoker. He is here to share with you what he learned and show you how you can do it yourself. No professional experience is required! Let’s take a look at the final part: 

 

“In this week’s post, we will take a deeper look at the tiles I chose, how I installed them, and everything else I did to finish up my outdoor bar.”

“Beginning with tile, I used custom Schluter pieces to help give the tiles a nice, clean break. You use Schluter pieces in order to not have two pieces of tile against one another. You will see in the image that the Schluter pieces are featured as corner and transitional pieces to create a much cleaner look.”

Schluter Edging Materials:

Pro-Tip: Make sure you use a good tile saw when resizing porcelain or retrofitted tile. You want a straight-edge for clean cuts, angle cuts, and timing.” 

“When adhering down the tile, I used two different products from Mapei: Kerabond & Keralastic System. I used these specific products because they can hold up a long time against outdoor elements and environmental changes in the Midwest.”

“When tiling the bar, you want to make sure that the tiles lay at the same height throughout the entire surround of the bar. This will guarantee a smooth transition from one piece to the next.”

Pro-Tip: “I also used tile clips and wedges when installing my bar’s tile. The clips are placed on the corners or middle of the tile to ensure that you get the right spacing (grout joints have the same spacing) and combat that with the tile wedge to help make sure that the tile faces are flush together. The wedges help guarantee that if you were to run your hand against the tile, it would be a smooth transition.”

“For grouting, I chose a similar color to the tile’s color; it was a dark grout color which worked out perfectly for the outdoors.”

Grout Information:

TEC’s Power Grout in Raven. 

Lesson Learned: “When grouting outdoors, I realized that I was not doing it during the ideal times of the day. The hotter it was outside, the fastest it will set. I ended up having to restart areas because it was set before I could get to it.”

Pro-Tip: I recommend doing 1/4 or 1/5 of the material at a time. You do want to get too far because you will still need to wipe down your time. During this process, you will learn it is a “go, go, go” process. To avoid extreme heat and the inevitable setting from the intense heat, I recommend doing outdoor areas in the early morning or late at night. Like I previously mentioned, the hotter it is, the faster it will set. 

“I bought this door from Amazon and I actually purchased it a little bigger and cut it down. After I resized it, I adhered the door to the fixture with cutterfix.”

Finished Product:

“All in all, I learned a lot from this experience. I genuinely hope that my trial and errors give you guidance and direction for your next DIY project and also give you hope that you too can do it yourself.”

“I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback below in the comment section. Thanks for reading!” 

-Blake