Choosing the Right Floor for Your Lifestyle

When it comes to flooring options in Madison, Wisconsin, your choices are endless. Flooring plays a major role in not only the look, but also the feel and functionality of your home. From hardwood to tile to carpet, you should explore all types of flooring surfaces to best fit your lifestyle and budget. Here are a few things from HGTV to consider when choosing your Madison flooring:

1. Know Your Style. 

Your flooring choice is about balancing your needs with your style. What colors and patterns do you like? Since the floor is usually the largest surface in the room, it lays the foundation for the entire look of the space, from color to style, texture to pattern. Think about which textures appeal to you, the rich grain of a nice hardwood or the fluffiness of a soft carpet. You should also take into account the current decor, unless you plan on redecorating with the addition of the new flooring.

2. Consider Your Lifestyle. 

Think about the use of the room your adding new flooring to. If you're an avid cooking that stands on the kitchen floor all day, tile can get very uncomfortable when standing on it for long periods of time. If your remodeling the bathroom however, tile stands up well to water. Your floor will need to be able to stand up to the wear and tear from your family, while also accommodating your activities.

3. Crunch the Numbers. 

Along with your lifestyle comes a budget. In order for your lifestyle to stay the same while undergoing this large investment, you need to consider a budget and sticks to it. Keep in mind that in addition to the cost of the floor materials, you will need to include the cost of underlayment, delivery and installation. You should also consider the cost of removal and disposal of your previous flooring.

A new floor can be a big investment, so you'll want something you like and that will last for years. At Floors for Less, we have all types of flooring to fit your needs, from engineered hardwoods to tile and carpet. Stop by our Wisconsin flooring showroom or give us a call at 608-442-1200 today to start your search!

For all your flooring needs, contact the BEST flooring company in Madison, WI! 

Floors for Less

1017 Applegate Rd., Suite 200

Madison, WI 53713

Phone: 608-442-1200

LIKE Us on Facebook 

FOLLOW Us on Twitter

CONNECT with Us on LinkedIn

FOLLOW Us on Google+

5 Tips for Picking a Wood Floor Color

Hardwood flooring in Madison, Wisconsin, can not only increase your home's market value, but also add some beauty and charm to a room. You can't go wrong with hardwood flooring, unless you choose the wrong color. With so many choices, how do you know which color hardwood will work in your home? The color you choose needs to complement your walls, furnishings, architecture and color scheme. If you just choose the color you like best in the store, you're probably going to be disappointed once you see it installed. Here are 5 tips for choosing the right hardwood flooring color from HomeGuides.SFGate.com.

1. Visit the showroom at Floors for Less. 

When you go, take along a throw pillow, paint chip or cabinet wood sample from the room that you will be installing the wood floors. A flooring showroom can be overwhelming if you don't have anything to compare the wood samples with. Taking along some items from your home will help you determine which wood colors would coordinate best with what is currently in that room. 

2. Narrow your choices down. 

Once you've looked through all the choices, narrow it down to several of your top choices. Its not necessary to match your wood cabinets with your floor color. Instead, choose colors that will compliment your cabinets. If your cabinetry is a light oak color with a dark grain, you might select a dark floor color to enhance the cabinets. Keep in mind that warm reds, browns and golden wood tones tend to make a room cozy, while cool white and gray wood floors can make a room feel more spacious. 

3. Take samples home with you. 

Choose 3 different Wisconsin flooring samples to take home with you. Taking more than 3 samples can confuse your final selection, rather than helping to narrow it down. If you are having trouble narrowing it down, consider the price as well. Oak and maple are typically less expensive than walnut, Brazilian cherry and hickory. Oak, however, can often be stained in a variety of colors, such as reddish hues and golden or chocolaty browns. 

4. Consider the lighting. 

Be sure to take a look at your samples in daylight and under nighttime artificial light. Slide the samples next to the baseboards in your room and step back to see how they look against your walls and woodwork. You should also position samples next to adjoining floors and beside furniture pieces. Leaving the room for a few minutes and coming back to view the samples will give you a fresh persepective, getting your inital reaction upon entering the room. This is a good measure of how you'll feel about the entire floor being covered in a particular wood color. 

5. Eliminate your least favorite. 

While this can be the trickiest step, try to eliminate your least favorite of the 3 samples. Then continue examining and compairng the other 2 pieces until you reach your final decision. Make sure you compare the choices with everything that will be in the completed room. While you may like one better by itself, what really matters is how that flooring is going to bring the entire room together.

Our Madison flooring professionals are here to help answer all your hardwood flooring questions! At Floors for Less, we only sell products that we can buy directly from local distributors to save you money. We specialize in "hard-to-find at reasonable prices" 4-inch wide wood. Stop by and check out our flooring showroom today!

For all your flooring needs, contact the BEST flooring company in Madison, WI! 

Floors for Less

1017 Applegate Rd., Suite 200

Madison, WI 53713

Phone: 608-442-1200

LIKE Us on Facebook 

FOLLOW Us on Twitter

CONNECT with Us on LinkedIn

FOLLOW Us on Google+

5 Tips for Protecting Your Hardwood Floors

Madison hardwood floors can be a wonderful investment, but you have to know how to take care of them. They take such a beating! We walk all over them, track dirt on them and still expect them to shine at the end of the day. Floors for Less is here to help you keep your new flooring in tip-top shape. Check out these 5 tips for protecting your hardwood floors from the Readers Digest:

1. Vacuum or Sweep Your Floors Every Week

As you walk around on the hardwood floors moving around dust and dirt, the fine grit in dust, similar to sandpaper, will slowly wear through your floor's finish. A good weekly clean will keep your floors appearance up! If you're using a vacuum, use an attachment with a brush or a felt surface that runs along the floor. Attachments with rotating brushes or a beater bar can actually scratch the finish. You can also just use a dust mop or one of the microfiber sweepers instead.

2. Wipe Up Water Immediately

Water can not only ruin the finish on a hardwood floor, but can penetrate deep into the wood, staining it. Be sure to close your windows if you are expecting rain. If you have any potted plants, be sure to put trays under them and always immediately wipe up any water you see.

3. Be Careful with Cleaners

You should always wipe up spills and dirt immediately. Then you can use a cleaner to remove any residue that is left over. Be sure to use cleaners that are not harmful to your hardwood floors. Many liquids can damage the finish or stain the floor. Once you do find an appropriate cleaner, be sure not to saturate the floor. Using a damp rag or mop will get the job done without damaging your new hardwood floors in Madison, Wisconsin.

4. Use a Door Mat

While vacuuming, mopping and spot cleaning are great for protecting your floor, wouldn't it be better to just keep the dirt out in the first place? Door mats, inside and outside, are both helpful in keeping dirt and grime off your floors. Be sure to have people wipe their feet as they enter your home. If you want to take extra precautions, you could even ask guests to take their shoes off when they enter and leave them by the door. While these tips may not prevent dirt and dust from building up on your floors, they can certainly reduce it.

5. Protect High-Traffic Zones with Rugs

Walking across the same area several times can eventually wear down the floor's finish in that area. Nice looking area rugs are the easiest way to reduce the wear. However, you want to make sure the rug you choose does not have a backing. Vinyl or rubber backing will trap humidity, which can ruin your floor's finish and even stain or damage the wood. 

By following these tips, you can reduce the amount of wear on your flooring. If your hardwoods have taken enough beating already, consider replacing them. Our Madison flooring company can help you find the perfect flooring at a great value! Stop by the showroom or contact us at 608-442-1200 today!

For all your flooring needs, contact the BEST flooring company in Madison, WI! 

Floors for Less

1017 Applegate Rd., Suite 200

Madison, WI 53713

Phone: 608-442-1200

LIKE Us on Facebook 

FOLLOW Us on Twitter

CONNECT with Us on LinkedIn

FOLLOW Us on Google+

Why Choose Engineered Hardwood vs. Solid Hardwood Flooring?

Hardwood flooring is an easy way to improve the look, durability and value of your home. When it comes to hardwood flooring in Madison, Wisconsin, you have many different options to choose from. The color choices are endless and you will need to choose between engineered flooring or solid wood. What's the difference you might ask? Floors for Less is here to help you understand the differences!

Solid Hardwood Flooring

Solid wood is single piece of thick wood. Solid wood flooring will expand and contract with changes in your home's relative humidity. To compensate for this movement, solid wood flooring is typically installed by leaving an expansion gap between the floor and the wall. Base molding or quarter round can be used to hide this extra space.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered wood on the otherhand, is produced with 3-5 different layers of hardwood. Each layer is stakced in a cross-grain configuration and bonded together under heat and pressure. As a result, this type of flooring is less likely to be affected by changes in humidity.

Why Engineered? 

The greatest advantage of Wisconsin engineered flooring is that it is more stable in "un-stable" climates compared to solid wood floors. Generally, engineered flooring can be installed over concrete, as well as wood sub-floors. For many customers, due to their sub-floors, it is the only flooring option for them. Engineered flooring, like all things in life, is available in quality flooring, as well as bargain sub-quality flooring. Since there is less need to sand your hardwood flooring than in the past, the thinner hardwood surface layer that is common with engineered flooring can and will last a long time. This is, however, dependent upon the individual product.

With today's moderate use of climate control systems (air conditioning and humidity systems) the biggest problem facing hardwood flooring is abrasion of the urethane finish. There are various degrees of finish and all are not equal. Depending on th amount of wear from kids, cats and dogs, all that is usually needed is a simple buff and recoat process. The urethane is lightly roughed up and then the new coat is applied. The wood is never sanded, thus the need for solid flooring is not as important as years gone by.

In general, engineered floors are more stable than solid hardwood floors. So when extra wide boards are desirable, engineered flooring presents a big advantage! To learn more about what flooring option best fits your needs, contact Floors for Less at 608-442-1200. Get good Madison flooring at a great price when you choose Floors for Less!

For all your flooring needs, contact the BEST flooring company in Madison, WI! 

Floors for Less

1017 Applegate Rd., Suite 200

Madison, WI 53713

Phone: 608-442-1200

LIKE Us on Facebook 

FOLLOW Us on Twitter

CONNECT with Us on LinkedIn

FOLLOW Us on Google+

Choose Pre-Finished Hardwood Flooring for Your Home

At Floors for Less, we only sell products that we can buy directly, to save you money. Therefore, our hardwood comes from local distributors! Almost all of the major American brands are controlled by distributors who then sell to retailers and they resource wood from many parts unknown by the average customer. When you purchase flooring from our Madison flooring company, you know your getting the best value around!

Unfinished vs. Pre-Finished Hardwood

Why should you use pre-finished hardwood? The short answer is no muss, no fuss. The finish is applied at the factory and all you do is nail it down and you're done. Generally speaking, due to mass production, pre-finished hardwood costs less overall. Unfinished hardwood first needs to be nailed and then sanded, which creates a lot of fine dust that is a challenge to clean. Once the sanding is done, stain and a final finish is applied. This process generally costs more than pre-finished flooring because of the labor. It also adds time to the houshold disruption while each layer dries. Also, if anyone in your household has repiratory issues, using pre-finished flooring is the safest choice for their health.

Pre-Finished Hardwood Flooring 

With pre-finished Madison hardwood flooring , the urethane finish is applied under factory controlled conditions using nultiple thin coats. The urethane is instantly cured, first with UV lighting and then a ceramic based material, usually aluminum oxide, is mixed into thhe urethane which in turn makes the water-based urethane much more rugged and abrasion resistant. The result is a floor that will hold it's original beauty longer than a job-sanded-on-site application.

Most quality pre-finished hardwood has a microbevel on all four sides, which ensures that you don't vatch splinters if you run your feet across the floor. If your sub-floor is not perfectly level and the wood is square edged, there's a chance you would catch a tiny edge and splinter the floor. Many low-end hardwood floors, especially some of those found in big box stores, are beveled only on the sides and not the end joints.

Wearmax Finish 

Our supplier uses a patented formula and much higher level ceramic in it's finish and produces one of the very best, if not the absolute very best finish available today. The "Wearmax" finish is actually tested to the industry standard (Taber Test) and it has almost double the wear than it's competitors with normal aluminum oxide! Wearmax also brings out the natural beauty of the wood and grain. Wearmax offers a 50 year wear warranty and also offers a superior commercial finish.

At Floors for Less, we specialize in "hard-to-find at resonable prices" hardwood flooring. Since we buy factory direct in large quantities, we can bring you fine quality wood in the popular 4 inch width and we can often do so for the price of the 3 1/4 inch wood. Our flooring store in Madison, Wisconsin has all your flooring needs covered. We also buy special manufacturing lots of first quality wood, so be sure to ask about our specials!

For all your flooring needs, contact the BEST flooring company in Madison, WI! 

Floors for Less

1017 Applegate Rd., Suite 200

Madison, WI 53713

Phone: 608-442-1200

LIKE Us on Facebook 

FOLLOW Us on Twitter

CONNECT with Us on LinkedIn

FOLLOW Us on Google+

Welcome to Our Blog!

Why FloorsforLess.com? 

It's simple! Our Madison flooring company is focused on a select group of reliable products. We emphasize service, knowledge and the ability to help you get started, whether you are going to install the flooring yourself or have someone do it for you. We have significant experience in the flooring industry.

At Floors for Less, we buy our products directly from the factory, so our prices provide a real savings without resorting to a sale on inflated prices. However, low prices don’t matter unless the flooring is good. Low-end flooring quickly looks dirty and old, and in the long run most people regret choosing it. It just doesn’t perform well.

For All Your Flooring Needs

• Hardwoods
• Laminates
• Engineered
• Green Products
• Carpet

Good flooring at a great price adds to the beauty and value of your home. Choose the BEST flooring company in Madison Wisconsin for all your flooring needs. Give us a call today at 608-442-1200. Be sure to follow our blog for information on the flooring industry, flooring tips and more! 

For all your flooring needs, contact the BEST flooring company in Madison, WI! 

Floors for Less

1017 Applegate Rd., Suite 200

Madison, WI 53713

Phone: 608-442-1200

LIKE Us on Facebook 

FOLLOW Us on Twitter

CONNECT with Us on LinkedIn

FOLLOW Us on Google+