People in Jacksonville, Florida often ask us the best ways to maintain their carpets. Our professionally trained and dedicated installers enable us to offer a lifetime installation guarantee on all of our flooring. We want to do everything we can to help you keep your carpets looking as good as new. Here are a few tips for caring for and maintaining your carpet.

The easiest and most effective way to maintain the beauty and freshness of your carpet is to vacuum regularly. Use a rotating brush, a beater bar or suction-only vacuum cleaner. However, if your carpet is shag, it is best to use a suction-only vacuum without a beater bar. Carpets that appear light in color and maintain high-volume traffic should receive professional carpet cleaning approximately once a year.

So what if you come across a hefty stain? A wet/dry vacuum cleaner is the best way to remove it. Once you discover a stain, treat it immediately to ease the removal of the spot. Continually add water to the stain while you suction the spot with your wet/dry vacuum. If you must use a spot removal solvent, the Mohawk FloorCare Essentials Spot Remover or low residue carpet spot remover will provide the best results. It is important to apply the spot remover to the area immediately. If the stain remains after cleaning, moisten the spot with a dab of 3% hydrogen peroxide and let sit for one hour. No rinsing is necessary, but you can repeat this process until the stain is gone.

Now that you’ve removed the stain, you may like to rearrange your furniture. As you’ve noticed, your furniture may have dented your carpet due to its weight. A fun trick to remove the dent is to stroke the carpet with the edge of a coin. A hairdryer works just as well, and you can heat the spot while tugging upwards on the tufts.

Filed under: Carpet Floors by About Floors n' More Monday, April 30th, 2012
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People in Jacksonville, Florida often ask the question, “What are the best ways to keep my tile floors looking as great as the day I had them installed?”

Here are ten ways to ensure your tile floors stay looking like brand new:

1. The most important thing is to NOT use cleaners containing acid, chlorine bleach or ammonia for routine maintenance.
2. Do not use wax-based cleaners, oil-based detergents or sealants to maintain your tile (sealants may be used on grout joints).
3. Do not use a cotton mop, cloth, or non-metallic brush for cleaning unless instructed differently for specific products.
4. Do not use harsh cleaning aids like steel wool pads or any scouring pads containing metal.
5. Do not use cleaning agents that contain color (unglazed tile only).
6. Sweep or vacuum floor areas prior to cleaning to remove any dust or debris.
7. Rinse entire area with clean water to remove any cleaning solution residue.
8. Test scouring powders and sealants on a small area prior to full application.
9. Wait until grout has cured before sealing grout. Reseal grout joints every year. You may need to have grout professionally cleaned and sealed every few years.
10. If a tile is damaged or broken, have them replaced immediately. This will prevent tiles in surrounding area from becoming damaged.

Filed under: Tile Floors by About Floors n' More Thursday, April 5th, 2012
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Introducing Stanton Carpet Line

About Floors n’ More is proud to announce the addition of Stanton Carpet to our product lines in Jacksonville. Stanton’s predominantly wool and patterned carpet line features high-quality, designer-driven patterns and styles. Stanton produces a number of high-quality, specialty collections including the Royal Sovereign, the Savoy collection and the semi- worsted New Zealand wool. Many of the carpets come in both broadloom and runner for stairs. Stanton Carpet was selected because of their outstanding quality and unique looks and style.
One of Stanton’s many unique carpets is its Royal Dutch line made with Royaltron fiber. It has decorative patterns with multicolor that are both attractive and durable.  This new line of carpet will be a welcome addition to our customers and fit in to our complete carpet line including Mohawk, Karastan, Dixie, Smartstrand & Maslin.
Whether you need wall to wall carpet for one room or the whole house or an area rug, About Floors n More can handle all your carpet and flooring needs.

Filed under: General by About Floors n' More Saturday, December 17th, 2011
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Questions to ask when looking for tile materials and installation

When it comes to shopping for tile, getting the right information to make an informed buying decision can be extremely difficult in today’s market.  At About Floors n’ More in Jacksonville, we want to take much of this anxiety out of the tile buying process.  Here are a few questions to ask when buying tile and hiring an installer:

Tile Purchase

1. Who manufactures the tile ( brands in store:Mohawk, Megatrade, Daltile, SICS, Emser,Imola)
2. What type of tile is it: ceramic or porcelain
3. If porcelain, is it a color body or a glazed
4. Do they use the right tile for the right application, especially weather or water exposure
5. What size is the tile
6. What size should I use

Installer:

1. What setting material do they use
2. What grout do they use
3. Do they adhere to proper installation techniques as per the Tile Council of America
4. What is their installation guarantee
5. In bathrooms, what moisture precautions do they use
6. Do they use any type of crack isolation products and if so what brand
7. Does the installer have proper insurance (such as workman’s comp) & license for this type of work
8. Do they undercut the door jams
9. Do they re-enforce the floor on upper floors
10. Do they leave proper expansion joints
11. Do they butt tiles to reduce grout lines
12. Do they have a cell phone or do they also have permanent office
13. If there is a problem, will you be able to reach them, even years later
14. Will they stand behind their work and fix problems after the job is done

These questions are a great starting point if you are in the market for tile floors.  Feel free to call or stop by to get additional information, see some of the great tile floors and our life time installation  guarantee.

Filed under: General, Tile Floors by About Floors n' More Monday, September 26th, 2011
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With all the information, brands, colors, fibers, how do you select new carpet?   There are many factors to consider in selecting carpet in Jacksonville , FL:

1. Do you have children?  How old are they?
2. Do you have pets and are they trained?
3. What room or rooms will the carpet be installed in.
4. What is the light in the rooms?
5. What is your design of the room look like?  Modern, traditional?
6. Is there a particular fibre I want?
7. How long will I be in the house in Jacksonville, FL.
8. How important is the color of the carpet?
9. Do you need the color of the carpet to match something existing in the room.
10. What is your budget for the room?
11. What cushion will be under the carpet?
12. Who will install your carpet and what is their guarentee?

The answers to all the questios above, will effect which carpet you should purchase.   At About Floors n More, we offer carpets for all budgets, style and taste.  At About Floors n More, our trained staff will help you select the best carpet for your needs and busget.   Whether it is Mohawk, Dixie, Karastan, Masland,  we have a carpet for your needs.  The selection of carpet is the best in Jacksonville.  

Filed under: Carpet Floors by About Floors n' More Monday, August 22nd, 2011
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In cooperation with Mohawk Industries, About Floors n More and our customers will be donating a portion of all our sales of Mohawk Smartcushion and Karastan Karastep Primapad to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure for ongoing breast cancer research. These donations will be made to the organization on a national level through Mohawk Industries.

To bring attention to this carpet promotion, our SmartCushion carpet cushion is now pink and has the breast cancer awareness ribbon embolized on the moisture barrier of the cushion. Our Karastan Karastep PrimaPad has the breast cancer awareness ribbon embolized on the moister barrier of the cushion. Although this cushion is installed under the carpet, our customers will know that while enhancing their homes, they have taken a step towards enhancing lives in the fight against breast cancer. About Floors n More have put up information in our store to bring attention to this easy way for our customers to contribute towards the cure. With 1 in every 8 women and 1 in every 1000 men diagnosed with breast cancer every year, every household is affected through family, friends or associates. So it is perfect that now every household has the opportunity to help in the fight and have some wonderful new carpet in their home.

Filed under: Carpet Floors by About Floors n' More Friday, August 5th, 2011
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Bamboo Flooring
A member of the grass family, bamboo reaches maturity in only 6 years. When harvested, new bamboo stalks regenerate from its extensive root system making it renewable for generations to come. Not only is bamboo renewable, it’s also recyclable and biodegradable as well.  Strand woven Bamboo is twice as strong as regular Bamboo and comes in many colors.

Cork Flooring
A member of the beech family, the cork oak tree grows in coastal regions of the Mediterranean. Unlike most trees where primary value is derived from the lumber of the trunk, cork is actually obtained from the bark of the tree and is able to harvested every 9 to 11 years.

Reclaimed Hardwood Flooring
Made from old barns, buildings, rural structures and other sustainable sources of reclaimed timber, reclaimed hardwood reduces a home or building’s environmental impact by using wood that would have previously gone to waste.  This lessens the negative impact on landfills.

Laminate Flooring
Made of easily renewable species like pine and oak, laminate provides natural, exotic looks without the negative environmental impact. It is long lasting so fewer discarded floors end up in landfills and its easy maintenance does not require harsh chemicals for cleaning.

Carpet and Area Rugs
Wool is a renewable, biodegradable natural fiber. Carpet and area rugs made from wool have a longer life cycle that other fibers resulting in a smaller environmental footprint.

SmartStrand® with DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sourced polymer contains ingredients made from corn sugar – 37% of renewable resource. These renewably sourced ingredients replace ingredients that traditionally were derived from petroleum – a limited resource. Every seven yards of SmartStrand® with DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sourced polymer saves the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline.

EverStrand™ carpet fiber, made using PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is extruded from recycled plastic bottles, containing 100 percent post-consumer recycled content. PET bottles are sorted, ground into fine chips, and then cleaned. These chips are then melted and extruded into fiber and spun into carpet yarn. On average, 30 plastic bottles are recycled to make one square yard of EverStrand.

At the end of its useful life, carpet and area rugs constructed of Nylon 6 are recycled back into the raw materials needed to make new carpet and area rugs.

Filed under: General by About Floors n' More Monday, July 25th, 2011
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When looking for a wood floor or a wood installer in Jacksonville, Florida,  About Floors n’ More has been asked many questions to guide customers in making an educated decision.  Here are some of those questions to make sure you are getting what you think you are getting.

1. Is the wood manufactured by a reputable company?
2. Does the wood meet the Lacey Act?
3. Does the wood have formaldehyde-based glue,does it have low VOC emission? 
4. Is the wood engineered, so it can be installed on concrete?
5. What glue is required by the manufacturer?
6. What experience does the installer have with engineered wood flooring?
7. What is the installation guarantee?
8. Does the installer use test for moisture with a  meter?
9. Is a calcium chloride test needed to test the moisture level? (the only true method)
10. Does the installer properly prep the floor? (approx 2 days for 1000sf of wood)
11. Does the wood get properly acclimated in your home?
12. Does the installer have proper insurance (such as workman’s comp) & license for this type of work?
13. Where did the installer receive his training?
14. Does the installer provide a list of references if requested?
15. How long should the job take?
16. Does the installer/dealer undercut the door jam?
17. Do they leave expansion joints?
18. Will they move furniture at no charge?
19. Do they remove the existing flooring and dispose of it properly?

These are questions to ask about engineered & solid wood floors, but in general, for any type of flooring installation these are additional questions to ask.

Overall

1. Do they have only a cell phone or do they have permanent office?
2. If there is a problem, will you be able to reach them, even years later?
3. Will they stand behind their work and fix problems after the job is done?

The average person is in the market for a new floor only once every 7-10 years.  So this makes it difficult to know all of the new innovations that have occurred during this time.  This list is a good starting point for any consumer.  At About Floors n’ More we want to make sure we educate each customer and ensure they purchase the floor that meets their needs in every aspect.

Filed under: Wood Floors by About Floors n' More Tuesday, July 5th, 2011
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Mohawk leads innovation in sustainable flooring with SmartStrand® carpet with DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sourced polymer. In a partnership with DuPont, this carpet exclusively offers fiber made Sorona®, which is produced from corn sugar.

By utilizing this new ingredient, 37 percent of Sorona® is being made from renewable resources. This marks the first time that a luxuriously soft carpet offers durability and stain protection, while also making less of an environmental impact.

Why Is SmartStrand Environmentally Smart?

DuPont™ Sorona® plays a major role in the worldwide objective of a renewable economy and represents a new frontier in sustainability. This carpet is environmentally smart because:

• The production of Sorona® polymer requires 30 percent less energy than the production of an equal amount of nylon.

• Greenhouse gas emissions from the production of Sorona® are 63 percent lower than nylon manufacturing.

• This energy reduction results in approximately one gallon of gasoline saved per every seven square yards of carpet.

The superior stain resistance of SmartStrand® carpet is engineered into the fiber and will never wear or wash off, meaning consumers will never need to retreat the carpet with stain protectors after steam cleaning.

And this engineered-in stain resistance reaches new levels of protection, allowing tough stains such as mustard, red wine, and cherry Kool-Aid® to be removed simply with warm water and a mild detergent, or with Mohawk FloorCare™ Essentials. The fiber even resists discoloration from bleach.

It goes without saying that SmartStrand can be found at About Floors n More in all styles and price ranges.  Come by and walk on the carpet on our floor for the past six years.  It looks and feels like it is brand  new carpet.  It even has it’s own cushion that increases its warranty.

Filed under: Carpet Floors by About Floors n' More Monday, June 13th, 2011
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Maintenance for Wood Floors

1. With all the ads and people telling consumers how to maintain their woods floors, it is no wonder consumer are confused. Some brief tips:
2. Water and wood do NOT mix. Unless the manufacturer says it is ok, do NOT use steam cleaners on a wood floor.
3. Vinegar and water used to be recommended for cleaning wood floors. However, today manufacturers recommend cleaners that are specially formulated for wood floor finishes. In fact, vinegar is acidic and too much could damage the finish.
4. Most floors today have urethane-type finish whether finished at the manufacturer or on-site. For those finishes, a cleaner recommended by any major wood manufacturer would be fine. About Floors n More stocks a full line of green products made by Mohawk specifically for wood floors.
5. Do not use any polish or conditioner product on your floor, even if it says it is for wood floors. Many of these products leave a sticky film on the floor that can only be removed professionally, at great cost.
6. Vacuuming wood floors is a good idea. Dirt particles that are left on the floor act like an abrasive. Vacuuming as often as possible will prolong the life of the finish. Do not use a vacuum bar which can damage the finish.
7. Some products you buy in the store, say they can be used on your floors but check first with your manufacturer before using them. Most of them will harm your floors and ruin your finish.

Overall follow these tips:

• Sweep and/or vacuum the floor as often as possible.
• Never ever wet mop a floor.
• Only use cleaners that are recommended by major wood manufacturers.
• Use mats at all doorways.
• Put floor protectors on the bottom of all furniture.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
• Keep pets nails trimmed. Know that dogs running through the house will scratch any finish.
• Keep your home at normal living conditions.

Filed under: General by About Floors n' More Monday, June 6th, 2011
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