Bolder Image Floors

Most affordable and attractive tile, wood flooring, kitchen & bath countertops, and sinks. available to compliment the unique style of your home or business.

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Trend Alert: Geometric Floors

A change is underfoot. We are seeing the exciting emergence of bold floor patterns. Often designed with geometric patterns in tile or wood, this trend keeps popping up in magazines and new restaurants.

One reason could be that tile manufacturers are now able to cut detailed and complex patterns in a way that they couldn’t before. Another reason is that business owners and homeowners have tired of the ever-present, same-old wood and laminate floors.

Here’s how to maximize the potential of your geometric patterned floors:

Choose contrasting colors.

Highly- dramatic black-and-white conveys both a traditional andmodern sensibility

Opt for herringbone and chevron patterns in wood.

Consider the scale of your space.

Select an appropriate pattern for the scale.

Hire a skilled tiler for this labor intensive job or an experienced contractor who will install your floors with a sense of pride. 

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Marble vs Granite Countertops for Your Kitchen

These natural stones are both quarried from the earth and add elegance to any kitchen. Each slab is unique. But which is more beneficial to install in your kitchen?

Consider these factors:

From an aesthetic viewpoint, richly veined marble is a luxurious option. Used since Greek and Roman times, it ages well. Also quite lovely is granite, which is available in a variety of colors and patterns.

Marble is, however, susceptible to staining by foods, liquids and household cleaners. It is more porous than granite. For stains on your kitchen countertop, you’ll need to use a marble polishing/etching remover or hone the marble, which dulls the finish so the etch marks appear less visible.

Easier to maintain in a high-traffic kitchen, granite countertops have become wildly popular. Granite remains resistant to chemicals, heat and chipping. It’s also the less pricey option. Marble still represents luxury, though, so its value to your property might outweigh practical concerns.

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Choosing Grout for Tiled Bathrooms and Kitchens

When tiling a kitchen or bathroom floor, many people spend days agonizing over the choice of tiles: what kind of tile; which shape; and which color.  Selecting the grout that will divide and frame the tiles is often a mere afterthought.  Grout deserves more attention because not only does it fill the voids, it makes the floor, wall or countertop stronger by bonding the tiles together.  It also creates various design impressions.

Choose several colored grout samples and space them in between your tile sample to help you decide which color grout you should choose.  There are three basic approaches often used to determine grout color.

Matching

By matching the grout and tile color, the grout lines become less pronounced and the tile itself is accentuated.  This option is often chosen for a beautiful, streamlined look and basic layout.

Contrasting

By contrasting the tile and grout colors, the attention is drawn to the pattern and layout of the tile.  This option is often used to accentuate a geometric or decorative tile layout.

Neutral

Choosing a gray, beige or brown colored grout is the safest choice in many bathrooms.  You may not be in love with the neutral color, but chances are you will enjoy its serene and calming effect.

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Carpet Padding: Too Soft, Too thick

Carpet padding is the foundation for every residential carpet installation.  Carpet padding plays an important role in the performance of new carpet installation.  Carpet selection and carpet padding must enhance one another.  By selecting a poor quality carpet padding, your guests won’t feel comfortable walking on your carpet and your carpet won’t endure.  

The two most common mistakes many people make is selecting a carpet padding that is either too soft or too thick.  The problem with carpet padding that is too soft is that it tends to bottom out when exposed to heavy foot traffic.  When the padding bottoms out, the carpet itself has to assume the rest of the impact burden, which shortens the carpet performance life. 

The most common problem found when installing carpet padding that is too thick is that the carpet is too high off the floor and will not hold on to the tack strip.  Having a padding that is just right will give your carpet a longer life and keep it bound to the tack strips.  

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Humidity and Your Hardwood Flooring

Summer time brings sunshine, backyard BBQ’s and pool-time with your favorite people.  Summer also brings high humidity along with it.  If you have hardwood floors, there are a few things you need to do in order to keep your floor looking great.

With solid and engineered hardwoods, humidity levels should be between 35 and 55 percent in your home.  When humidity levels rise above 55 percent, moisture can seep into the wood and cause the floor boards to swell.  Swelling can cause pressure between the boards, which may cause your hardwood floor to warp.    

Low humidity levels can also cause damage to hardwood flooring.  When humidity levels drop below 35%, it can cause the wood to dry out.  When wood dries out, it become weaken and can cause the floor to splinter.  Low humidity levels can also cause hardwood flooring to split along the grain.  Humidity levels can be monitored using a humidistat.  By maintaining the humidity levels in your home, you will help ensure your hardwood flooring looking its best and last for years to come.

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Tips and Tricks for Cleaning Hardwood Floors

Summer is here and with it comes picnics, cook-outs and other summertime events.  With so many outdoor activities during summer, it means a lot of traffic in and out of your home.  Traffic means a lot of dirt and grime on your hardwood floors. 

Here are some tips and tricks for cleaning and maintaining your hardwood floors.

Using interior and exterior doormats at all entrances of your home can help collect dirt and moisture that is brought in from being tracked onto your hardwood flooring.  Rugs that have a vinyl backing can entrap moisture and damage flooring.

Sweeping on a regular basis to remove dirt and grit, can prevent those substances from acting like sandpaper on your hardwood floor.

Spills or water that is tracked in should be cleaned up immediately to prevent damage to hardwood flooring.

Never clean your hardwood floor with a wet mop with water.  Water can permanently damage your floor by entrapping water into it.  Terry cloth or microfiber mops are better alternatives to a wet mop. 

Keep your hardwood floor looking in tip top shape this summer by using these simple tips and tricks.  

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Bolder Image Floors in Phoenix AZ offers affordable and attractive flooring and tile products to compliment the unique style of your home or business. Shop Today to create the home interior you have been looking for.

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6 Reasons to Love Laminate Floors

Laminate flooring is a great option to add to any home.  If you’re weighing the pros and cons of laminate floors, here are all the “pros” laid out for you.

Laminate floors come in a variety of different styles and sizes.  Laminate can actually look like real hardwood, stone, slate and other natural materials.

Laminate can be easily and quickly installed. 

Laminate flooring is a great option for people with dust allergies.  Dust tends to collect in carpet fibers and can be difficult to remove.  With laminate, dust is easily swept or vacuumed away. 

Laminate is kid and pet friendly.  Laminate flooring is extremely durable and resists scratches, stains and indentations better than most flooring types. 

Laminate floors are easy to clean.  They just need to be swept or vacuumed occasionally.

Money can be saved when laminate floors are installed because they are affordable.  You get the beauty and durability at a budget-friendly price. 

Laminate floors come in many different styles and can be made to look like real natural material at a cost efficient price.  Install laminate flooring today to make your home’s beauty shine.

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Choosing Carpet

Nothing compares to the soft, luxurious feeling of carpet under your feet.  Carpeting provides a safe, comfortable spot for kids to play and a place to relax.  Carpet also provides a sound barrier and warm to walk on.  There are many types of carpet and colors that it can fit into anyone’s lifestyle and design. 

Carpeting comes in an array of different colors, materials and designs to choose from to accommodate any home’s style.  Different styles of carpet include: plush, Saxony, Berber, textured and frieze.  The terms of styles describe its pile, which is the surface you see that are created by yarn tufts that are either folded over into loops, cut straight across or both.  Which style you choose will depend on what feel is comfortable and what matches your lifestyle.

With regular maintenance, carpeting can last for a long time in your home.  Weekly vacuuming and an occasional cleaning can keep your carpet looking new for years to come.  With so many styles and colors to choose from, comfortable, luxurious carpeting can make your home complete.

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How To Maintain Porcelain and Ceramic Tile

 come in varying styles and are very durable, making them perfect for just about any home.  Regular maintenance and care are important to keep porcelain and ceramic tile vibrant and last forever in your home. 

Porcelain and ceramic tiles need to be dusted or vacuumed at least once per week using a clean, dry dust mop.  Sand, dirt and grit can scratch the tile or discolor the grout if not cleaned.  Every two weeks, porcelain and ceramic tiles need to mopped with a damp mop and a diluted solution of mild cleanser to remove any substances on the surfaces that may damage the tile or grout.

Fixing broken or scratched porcelain or ceramic tile is also an important part of regular maintenance.  If a tile is broken, it needs to be repaired quickly, or it may cause further damage. Sealants aren’t always helpful on tile floors, but they can help protect high traffic areas from grout stains.  Grout should also be added when it begins to break down or is broken to ensure no further damage is done.

Porcelain and ceramic tile can look great in any home with regular care and maintenance.

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Marble Kitchen Countertops

One of the most highly prized materials for a kitchen countertop is marble.  The popularity of marble countertop is the beautiful appearance of stone, but there are many other properties that make marble a great kitchen countertop.  Marble countertops are one the most expensive countertops to put in your home, but if they are properly cared for, they can last forever.

Marble countertops come in a wide variety of different hues and colors.  The color of the stone is determined by where the marble was mined and how the finishing process brings out the natural color of the stone.  Because marble is mined, each piece is unique and no two pieces can be the same. 

Because marble is made of natural stone, they are highly resistant to scratches, cracks and breakage.  In many cases, the only way marble is damaged is by a natural disaster.  The sealant finish of marble can become damaged, but can be easily remedied by having the sealant stripped and reapplied. 

Marble countertops make it an attractive addition to any home and the expense is worth the length of time it will last in your home.  

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Advantages of Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring is a timeless classic that makes a definitive statement in your home.  Hardwood is one of the most enduring floors, is a healthy choice and feels good.

Investment

Hardwood flooring can actually raise the value of your home and help it sell.  Hardwood floors retain their beauty, character and structural integrity for decades.   It also never goes out of style.

Comfort

Wood flooring adds a degree of elegance and warmth and elegance to your home.  Hardwood flooring is warm and comfortable to walk on, even in the winter and are easier to walk on and stand all day. 

Design

Hardwood comes in a variety of different thickness and lengths, and can give you a great deal of versatility of design.  There are dozens of different hardwoods to choose from as well.  Each type of hardwood offers a different grain, feel, hardness and color to choose from. 

Durability

When properly cared for, hardwood is one of the most durable flooring options.  They have been known to last a hundred years or more and can be refinished to restore its original beauty.

Allergies

Dirt, dust and hair cannot become trapped or embedded into hardwood flooring, making it a great choice for people who suffer from allergies.  Running a dust mop over the floor will remove everything and keep the floor clean.

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Choosing The Right Laminate Floor

Flooring can make or break the look of a room, but with laminate flooring, you can’t go wrong.  Laminate flooring is one of the best flooring options available on the market.  It comes in many different types of patterns and colors and can fit any room. 

When choosing the right laminate floor for you room, make sure to think about these things…

Moisture levels

Make sure you think about what the moisture level will be in the room you would like to install laminate flooring in.  Moisture levels determine what type of underlayment needs to be used and what type of core you should be looking for.  A laminate floor with a denser core is more stable, less vulnerable to moisture and will sound more like real hardwood when walked upon.

Color and pattern choices

Flooring is the biggest feature that will tie a room’s look together.  Choosing the wrong color or finish can detract from the rest of the room.  Lighter laminate flooring works well in a neutral colored décor and a cherry-colored laminate will complement rich-colored furniture better.  Also, consider the color you choose can cope with the amount of foot traffic the floor will have.

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Tile Floor Tip

An inexpensive and effective trick to protecting your tile flooring is by affixing felt or similar pads to the bottom legs of your furniture. Especially if your furniture is metal, iron, or wood furniture. Also, be sure to prevent any accidental falls of heavy furniture.

When cleaning your tiles, make certain that any cleanser you have chosen is compatible with grout cleaning, (neutral pH), and will not stain the grout. Be sure to never use detergent or soap. It can dull the surface or promote the growth of mildew.

Cleaners should also never contain acids, vinegar, chlorine or ammonia, as these chemicals can damage and discolor the grout or the surface of the stone or tile.