Your flooring conveys a look and a feeling that echoes throughout your home. Change this one element and your home feels very different. That’s why it’s important to choose the right material and the right forms of upkeep.
“The greatest change in flooring in recent years is the realistic look of wood or tile in luxury vinyl,” says Lisa Carlson Nelson, co-owner with her brother, Gregg, of Carlson’s Floors, in Geneva. “It’s hard to tell the difference just by looking.”
Similarly, porcelain tile can now look like natural stone but, like luxury vinyl, it’s more durable and easier to maintain.
When choosing a new floor it’s important to consider the look of the floor, the location where it’s going, the customer’s budget and their plans to stay or move in the next few years, says Carlson Nelson.
There are endless possibilities in the family-owned business’ 3,000-square-foot showroom, with everything from solid colors to plaids, stripes, patterns and interesting designs. Each item has its strong suits.
“Just when you think rug manufacturers can’t come up with anything more, they do,” Carlson Nelson says.
Once you have new flooring, it’s important to maintain it properly. Start with a neutral PH cleaner for hard floors. The urethane finish on most hard wood floors is made from a petroleum product and using soap or an oil-based cleaner will make the finish look cloudy and dull, says Carlson Nelson.
With carpets, it’s important to get a good vacuum and use it regularly. Spot clean a carpet by quickly saturating the area with warm water and blotting up the stain. Don’t rub it or let it sit for long, because that will make the stain harder to get out, she says.
Some warranties require carpets be professionally cleaned every couple of years, but that doesn’t necessarily mean applying harsh chemicals, says Carlson Nelson. Warm water works well to extract dirt from carpet.
Carlson’s Floors is located at 728 W. State St. in Geneva, (630) 232-4964, carlsonsfloors.com.