7 tips to preserve and maintain your hardwood floors One of the most common questions I get is prevent scratches in hardwood floors, so I thought these tips would help.   First, let me preface this by saying that ALL hardwood scratches. It's just a matter of time. Yes, some are harder than others and yes, some have a bit more scratch protection than others.   So given that all hardwood will scratch, here are some tips to MINIMIZE the scratches and prolong the life of your hardwood floors.     By far, the #1 culprit of scratches is dirt/grit, so do whatever you can to minimize this.   1. Take off your shoes! It is amazing how large an impact this can have on your floor. I just went to a repeat customer's home...a rental. We installed the hardwood over 2 yrs ago and it looks like the job ... 08/26/2013

What types of wood species can I use for my hardwood floors? I thought it would be helpful to gather a collection of the recent posts I've written on hardwood flooring species.  Soon, I hope to do some more posts on other hardwood species.  Oak hardwood flooring Oak hardwood is the most common species in the US and it's the most popular choice in Westchester County. Oak is reasonably priced, durable, accepts stains well (so it's easy to change the color), and oak flooring tends to hide scratches well. Most homes that already have hardwood have oak, and many homeowners would prefer to match what's already there, if they are adding to other rooms/floors.     There are 2 species of oak - red oak and white oak, and you can read more about the differences here: Red Oak flooring vs. white oak... 07/22/2013

As you guys know, I love Starbucks, and I'm here all the time.  On different days, it's a different Starbucks,  I'm finding that over time, I'm running into more and more people I know, especially  customers.  I also run into real estate agents and other networking contacts.  I have to say, my customers frequent this place a lot - it's a good fit with my target.  This does tend to lead to more closed business, more repeat business and more referral business, so I think Starbucks is a good habit...and worth well more thatn the $3.65 I spend on the coffee.   Today, it was a super nice customer.  She just closed on her new home on Friday, and tomorrow we are refinishing her hardwood floors in Cortlandt Manor.   LOL...as I was about to push submit, someone else I knew walked in.  He is in m... 07/01/2013

Installing hardwood flooring - how long does it take? How long does it take to install hardwood floors for your home in Westchester NY? This is a common question among Westchester homeowners, especially if deadlines are attached (e.g. a move in date) or coordination with a larger project (e.g. kitchen remodel or new addition).     While all projects vary in length, usually the largest factor is whether you are installing Prefinished or Unfinished hardwood. Generally, prefinished hardwood will take longer to arrive, but less time to install, while unfinished hardwood will arrive quickly, but will take longer to install due to the drying time. Every situation is different and sometimes the focus is on meeting a specific deadline; other times the timing is flexible but the customer wants ... 03/17/2013

I was so excited when I saw my Google Analytics today and realized that I now have 4 posts with over 10,000 clicks.  And, I even have 1 post with 20,000 clicks.   One of the great things about blogging is that your posts have a long shelf life.  These 4 posts keep growing, and in fact many have accelerated.  One of the things I do to give them a minor boost is to link to them from other posts.  This is one example of it, but I do it in many of my posts....feed the strong.   BTW, these posts were written about a year ago or so.   What's the difference between red oak and white oak flooring? 20,061 Oil based vs water based polyurethane.  15,779 Can you change the color of your hardwood floors? 11,536 How long does it take to refinish hardwood floors?   10,525   So, check out your google a... 02/20/2013

Leveraging your hardwood floors to help sell your house In Westchester County, hardwood flooring is the preferred flooring type, especially for the main level of the home.  If you have hardwood floors (rather than carpet), your house will generally sell for a higher value and sell faster.  Any real estate agent will confirm this...after all, this is what buyers are looking for.   I work with a lot of real estate agents, stagers, home sellers and home buyers.  And, the preference is consistent.  And, it's especially apparent when I'm working with new home buyers...they are almost always ripping up carpet and refinishing the hardwood underneath, as well as adding hardwood to rooms where it is missing.   It is rare for carpet to remain in place with a new home buyer...they will almost alwa... 12/23/2012

Hardwood floors:  Brazilian Cherry flooring - it gets richer with age Brazilian Cherry hardwood grows in Brazil (obviously) and is often referred to as Jatoba, its Spanish name. It's one of the more popular (and expensive) hardwoods.  Due to the climate and growing cycles, Brazilian Cherry is much harder than the typical oak you see in most Westchester homes. On the Janka hardness scale, Red Oak is a 1290 while Brazilian Cherry is 2350 - almost twice as hard as oak.     But, the main reason customers love Brazilian Cherry hardwood is its unparalelled beauty. The redness and depth of color is unparalleled, along with the richness of its smooth graining. Even if you stain oak to be red, you can't get same effect - it's impossible. Take a look.     Brazilian Cherry typically comes in wide... 12/13/2012

Selecting carpet for your home in Cortlandt Manor NY has never been easier...now, you can Shop at Home for your carpeting in Westchester NY. Have you ever been to a carpet store and just felt lost and overwhelmed?  Sometimes, there are so many options that you don't even know where to start.  Sometimes, you may go into a store and find so many choices that you leave you more confused than you felt when you entered?  How do you know what's the best type of carpet for your home in Cortlandt Manor NY?  What's the right one for your budget?  And, what's the right color?  Here's where we can help. We make shopping for carpet in Westchester fun and easy. Everything starts with the area you are looking to carpet.  Is it for a bedroom or a living room or a family room or basement or the steps? ... 07/10/2012

In my industry, customers mistakenly use the wrong terms for products, especially for some items. For example, they say laminate flooring, but they really mean vinyl (or vice versa); same thing goes for vinyl vs linoleum.  Today was one of those perfect examples of where a customer said something, but meant something completely different...and I'm glad I caught the mistake before I left.   My customer had a flood (they are covered by insurance) and they wanted to replace what they already had.  They said they wanted laminate flooring that looked like maple.  They also said they wanted Pergo, which is a brand name of laminate flooring.  So, since they used both terms (several times) and they described how it was installed, I took them for their word.  They had already spoken with 2 other... 06/16/2012

When it comes to carpet, stain protection is very important. In fact, staining is usually the primary reason that carpets need to be replaced (along with odor).  We know that stain protection is important to our customers, especially those with young kids and pets.  That's why virtually all of the carpet we sell comes with stain protection.   Recently, Shaw upgraded their stain protection.  Shaw is the only one in the industry that now places a warranty on their carpets for pet stains, human stains and even places a warranty on carpet placed on the steps.  But, if you don't believe me, check out these 2 videos.   To demonstrate how resistant their carpets are to stains, they created the world’s largest pie throwing contest. Check out how this carpet survives.  See how well their carpet ... 06/08/2012

Is laminate flooring waterproof?  The answer is NO, laminate flooring is NOT waterproof.   There is a common misperception out there that laminate is waterproof, and I believe this is due to the fact that many customers mistakenly confuse vinyl and laminate flooring.     Many types of vinyl flooring are waterproof and/or highly water resistant. Laminate, on the other hand, is made out of recycled hardwood, so it is not waterproof. Due to its melamine wear layer, it has a tough finish which resists against scratches and may have minor protection against minor water (quick spills). But, like hardwood, laminate does not do well with standing water...regardless of whether this water is topical (on top) or seeping into the sub-floor from below. Laminate also does not do well in areas with h... 06/03/2012

Which type of flooring is better for your bedroom - hardwood flooring or Carpet? Believe ir or not, my customers seem to be split on this one, and my simple answer is that it depends on 2 things: 1) what is your budget and 2) what did you grow up with?     Most customers and real estate agents agree that hardwood is preferred for common living areas such as the living room and dining room. In Westchester NY (as well as Mid-Atlantic and Northeast), by far, hardwood is the preference. It looks better, it's easier/less expensive to maintain, it lasts longer and it improves the value to the home. Even though hardwood costs more than laminate flooring or carpet, it will last so much longer so it will cost less in the long run.     But, for the bedroom, customers seem to be split - probably 5... 04/15/2012

Are you looking to sand and refinish hardwood floors in Cortlandt Manor NY?   It's amazing what a difference refinishing your hardwood flooring can make.  Your floors will look brand new and you even have the option to change the color.  You can go light, dark, mid tones, or red tones. It can really give your home (or room) a whole new look.   If you have hardwood underneath your carpets, we can restore the beauty of the hardwood underneath. It's amazing what a big difference this can make in your home.  And, believe it or not, it is usually less expensive to refinish your floors than to recarpet.  Refinishing your wood floors will also improve your home's value and it will be easier to clean and maintain.   At Floor Coverings International, we are a shop at home service.  We will bring... 04/03/2012

The town of Cortlandt has many moving parts: The villages of Croton on Hudson and Buchanan, the Hamlet of Verplanck, Cortlandt Manor, and right in the middle, the separate municipality of the city of Peekskill. Croton and Peekskill have their own school districts, so the vast majority of Cortlandt is served by the Hendrick Hudson and Lakeland school districts. This is the November 2011 market report for single family homes in Cortlandt covering Hendrick Hudson and Lakeland separately.  Hendrick Hudson Schools November 2011- 6 homes closed at a median price of $427,500November 2010- 2 homes closed at a median price of $610,000 11 homes under contract at a median asking price of $369,90064 homes active at a median asking price of $407,000 Lakeland Schools-Cortlandt November 2011- 6 homes ... 12/10/2011

Are you looking for flooring for your Westchester home in Cortlandt Manor NY 10567? We know there are many choices..and sometimes the process can feel overwhelming. Whether you're looking for hardwood floors, tile, carpet, laminate flooring, or if you just want to refinish your hardwood floors, Floor Coverings International can help make the process fun and simple. We are a shop at home service. Our tagline is "We bring the store your door." This is important because first, you can see the colors in your lighting and color coordinate with paint color, cabinets and furniture. Second, it allows us to provide a true estimate for you. And, third, of course it is more convenient this way. We provide guidance - Which is the best type of flooring for your environment and your budget? We'll hel... 10/14/2011

Why it's important to hire a flooring company that specializes rather than a generalist or a handyman)...no offense to GC's of handymen.  This is prompted by a phone call i got this morning from a customer. Usually, it's better to hire a specialist rather than a generalist.  I think fundamentally, we all grasp this concept.  Who would you rather work on your brain if you need surgery?  A general surgeon or a brain surgeon?  How about your heart?  If you need to list your propety as a short sale to avoid foreclosure are you going to hire any agent or one who specializes in short sales?  You get the idea...the more you specialize in an area, usually, the better you are at that skill...and if you need to obtain materials, generally you can obtain them more cost effectively. Now, getting ba... 09/23/2011

Are you looking for tile flooring and installation for your home in Cortlandt Manor NY? Whether it’s a kitchen floor, bathroom floors and walls, an entry way or mudroom, or even a Kitchen tile backsplash, we can help you at Floor Coverings International. We understand that it can be challenging to find the right type of tile for your floors, walls and backsplashes. What’s the right type of tile – ceramic, porcelain, tumbled natural stone, marble or granite? What’s the best style and color? What types are easiest to clean. Many customers seemed to get overwhelmed when they visit a tile store. Well here’s where we can help. Floor Coverings International makes it simple by “bringing the store to your door.” That way, you can see the samples in your own lighting and color coordinate with y... 07/21/2011

06/11/2011

Are you looking for laminate flooring for your home in Cortlandt Manor NY? We know it can be challenging to figure out which flooring is right for your space and whether a laminate floor is right for you. Which wood species and color will look best? Which ones work with your budget? Who should you have install the laminate floors? What is a floating floor? Well here's where we can help. We make finding laminate flooring simple. We "bring the store to your door." That way, you can see the samples in your own lighting - the way it will look in real life. We'll help you color coordinate with your paint and furniture colors. We'll explain what a floating floor is and, we'll help you figure out whether laminate flooring makes sense for you and your budget. If you want, we can even show you h... 04/21/2011

This past Thursday Luke's Cub Scout den had a visit to Cortlandt Town Court to get their badge for civics. I was eager to go, because I actually know the judge. I sold his aunt's house a few years ago! One thing that struck me about court was the huge number of drunk driving cases we saw. In the 90 minutes we saw people appearing before the judge, at least half a dozen cases of drunk driving or driving under the influence were there. One was even in custody, because the last time they appeared in court they were arrested AGAIN that very day for DWI! You can't write fiction like that!  Clearly, DWI is still a terrible problem, and I am going to be a wreck when my kids drive. As my mom used to say, I am not only worried about them. It is those other cars I don't know about.  After the cou... 03/27/2011