Discover Top Posts Tagged with #wandwflooring

Tips for Cleaning Your Tile Shower

If you’re like most homeowners, then you dread cleaning the bathroom. Of all the components in the bathroom, the shower is always the most challenging to clean. Below are some tips to help you clean and disinfect your shower more effectively:

Removing Soap Scum

The most difficult part of cleaning the tub and tile in a shower is removing old soap scum. Soap scum builds over time when homeowners do not clean their showers regularly. One of the most effective methods for removing the scum is by using a non-abrasive pad such as a Dobie pad and a proven cleaning agent. Dobie pads are gritty enough to work on the scum, but will not scratch the tile in the process.

Soak the Tile and Tub Using Your Favorite Cleaning Solution

Before scrubbing the tile or the tub, one of the simplest things you can do is to spray it with a non-toxic cleanser and let it soak for up to fifteen minutes. Some eco-friendly solutions would include applying baking soda and water to the surface and allowing it to sit for a few minutes before scouring. You can also use a 1:1 vinegar and water mixture that will cause the baking soda to lather and break down the scum.

Mold and Scum Prevention

Although there are several cleaning agents, tools, and other high-end supplies for cleaning the tub, the best method is to prevent the dirt and grime from building in the first place. Simply use a squeegee or a dedicated cloth to wipe down the shower after each use. By utilizing this simple technique, you will cut down on the amount of cleaning you’ll have to do to the tub. It is also an environmentally friendly method that will save you money in the long run.

How Often Should the Shower be Cleaned?

Even with preventative measures, a shower should be cleaned at least once a week. When cleaning the shower, you should be as thorough as possible. Wipe down the doors, wash or bleach the shower curtain, scrub all floors and walls, and clean the grout out using a soft scrub brush. Try to keep away from harsh chemicals that can eat through the grout and tarnish the tile surface. Also, make sure you seal the grout one to two times per year. This will prohibit mold from growing behind the tile.

What You Should Use to Clean the Grout

Expert opinions vary on what you should use on the grout. Although there are lots of options, there are three products you should consider: OxiClean, Eco Orange Citrus Cleaner, and standard bleach like Clorox. In each of these cases, it is a good idea to let the cleanser sit for at least 15-30 minutes before cleaning. You will notice a remarkable improvement in the look of the grout as well as a natural shine to tile.

If you want to know more about how to effectively clean your shower, then contact W&W Flooring and Design. Our cleaning technicians have the experience and knowledge to guide you through the cleaning process. Call us today at (251) 970-5244 or visit us on the web at WandWFlooring.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

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The Top 5 Rooms to Install Tile Flooring in My Home

Let’s face it; you love tile flooring. With all the benefits and features that tile has to offer, it makes an irresistible addition to any room. But is it the best choice for the room you want to install it in? Below we rank the top five room options for tile flooring:

Kitchen If you’re thinking about implementing flooring other than tile, then you may want to reconsider. Although the kitchen can be the most ornate room in the house, it can also be the messiest. Liquid and food spills occur frequently and can permanently soil most surfaces such as carpet or linoleum. Tile, however, is impact resistant, spill resistant, and lasts a long time.

Bathroom If the kitchen is the messiest room in the house, then the bathroom is the wettest. It is essential that you create a waterproof environment beginning with the floor. Tile is simply the only option that can guarantee that water will not get below the surface into the woodwork. By installing quality tile and filling it in with solid grout, water cannot invade the subflooring. Your bathroom will also be well insulated.

The Hallway The highest traffic area in your home is the hallway. Although it is a small space, it connects all of the major rooms throughout the interior. For this reason, you should reinforce your hallway with a solid tile surface that can handle the day-to-day activity in your household. When installing tile in the hallway, you may want to have an additional thick layer board underneath to keep it level and solid.

Living Room The reason most homeowners do not install tile in the living room is because they’re looking for an element of comfort. While it is true that carpet can be a more comfortable option, it’s not necessarily a more cost effective or practical one. Carpet is less expensive than tile, but it also requires more cleaning and maintenance and will need to be replaced more often. If you want to create a more comfortable vibe in your living room, then simply lay down some area rugs. Tile is still the best choice for living room flooring.

The Front Porch Homeowners along the coast regularly cover their front porches with tile. The main reason for this is due to the atmospheric weather conditions. Tile can hold up to outside elements better than any other type of flooring material. Tile also gives you more options for enhancing your front porch than other types of flooring.

W&W Flooring and Design can help you with all of your tiling needs. We provide a wide range of service that includes tile design, installation, repair, and full replacement. We offer exceptional quality work for home and business owners in Foley, Alabama and the surrounding area. Contact us today and let us help you launch your next tile flooring projects. Call us at 251-970-5244 or visit www.wandwflooring.com. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook and follow @WandWFlooring on Twitter!

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How to Protect Your Wood Floors from Scratches and Dents

Hardwood floors add warmth and elegance to any room in which they are installed. They also add significant market value to your home and give it an added layer of stability. You can take care of your wood floors by implementing a few hands-on behaviors on a routine basis. Below are some tips to help you along the way:

Get Practical

The best way to protect your floors is to monitor and control your daily activity with good habits. For instance:

· Remove the grit and dirt from your shoes before entering the room. Small pieces of dust and sand can scratch the floors. Although the scratches are tiny, they build up over time and wear the floor finish down. Protect your floors by placing a rug at every entrance.

· Remove high heels or hard-soled shoes before you walk on the wood. Sharp-bottomed footwear can cause dents and scratches.

· Attach felt pads to all items that have direct contact with the floor. This could include living room furniture, entertainment centers, chairs, flower pots, and other décor. Make sure that the felt pads completely separate the item from the floor surface.

· Although it is almost impossible to keep food and drinks out of a room, try to refrain from hot foods or beverages. If they are spilled on the floor they can weaken the surface and leave it vulnerable to dents and scratches.

Have Your Hardwood Floors Professionally Cleaned

You should sweep and clean your floors regularly. It is recommended, however, that you have your floors professionally buffed and cleaned at least once a year. A professional will use the right equipment and cleaning solution that is specifically designed for your floor. A floor cleaning company can restore your floor’s finish, remove tiny scratches, and give your floor a beautiful shine that will last a long time.

Avoid Harsh Chemicals

One of the main causes of hardwood deterioration is using harsh cleaning agents on the surface for a prolonged period of time. In some cases, only a few applications can do permanent damage to the surface. With that in mind, avoid cleaning solutions that contain the following:

· Ammonia

· Vinegar

· Wax

· Polish

· Oily soaps

In essence, the type of cleanser you use should not leave a film. If you’re not sure about the product you’re using then do this: spray it on a window and wipe it off. If there’s a residue left on the window, then avoid using the agent.

Use the Proper Tools

Many of the tools we use every day to clean our floor can scuff up a hardwood surface in no time. Hardwood floors require the use of proper tools that can do the job without damaging the wood.

Mops. Washable soft-cloth dust mops are preferred.

Moisture. If you must use moisture to clean your floors, then use a slightly dampened cloth. Refrain from using hot water. Lukewarm water is best. After you clean, you should dry the surface immediately.

Vacuum. If you decide to vacuum the floor, make sure you turn off the rotating brush, as it will scratch the surface. Apply the vacuum gently with the grain. You can also use a hardwood-ready vacuum extension.

Dusters. If you use a duster to remove dust from the floor, then use a microfiber duster that is specially designed to attract and lift dust.

New flooring is an investment in your home or business! Take care of it with these tips and feel free to call us if you ever have questions. W&W Flooring and Design is here for all of your flooring needs and we have the experience and knowledge to guide you from start to a finished project. Contact us in Foley, Alabama at (251) 970-5244 or check out our website at www.wandwflooring.com. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook and follow @WandWFlooring on Twitter!

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Tips for Being Prepared During Hurricane Season in Foley, Alabama

Hurricane season runs June 1st through November 30th. What that means for homeowners in Foley is a six-month wait hoping for the best but fearing the worst. If you want to ease your mind this season, then have a plan of action ready for both your family and your home. Failure to prepare can lead to disaster in more ways than one.

Do You Know the Evacuation Route Where You Live?

Every city along the Gulf Coast has an evacuation route no matter where you live. Although Foley is roughly 10 miles from the beach, dangerously high winds and rising waters can still affect several households in the area. Your best chance at getting out of the city and heading north is to take a city-approved evacuation route. You can find it here. It is best to stay away from roads where traffic congestion is likely or roads that are near water.

Assemble an Evacuation Kit for Your Family

Hurricane evacuation causes interstate gridlock, no-vacancy hotels, jammed phone lines, and the liquidation of food and supplies. Arriving to a safe destination could take longer than you think. For this reason, you need to assemble an emergency evac kit that will sustain you and your family for at least 2-3 days. Most evacuation kits contain the following:

Food that is not perishable

Plenty of bottled water. Do not rely on tap water, as hurricanes can compromise sewage systems.

First-Aid kit

Flashlights and batteries

Extra clothing, towels, and toiletries

Additional bedding and linens – You may be sleeping in the car.

Vital household documents stored in a watertight safe. Essential documents include:

Driver’s id. / social security cards / passports

Can and bottle openers

Some household tools

Tent for camping

Insurance policies

Home warranties

Birth certificates

Secure Your Home from the Hurricane

Unless you live on or by the beach, most of the damage that your home may incur will be caused by the wind. Flooding is likely to happen in low-lying areas, so securing your home should happen from the bottom up. Below are some basic guidelines:

Purchase sandbags – lots of them – and place them around your door, basement windows, garage or other areas where water can get in the home.

Purchase or make window barricades. Buy some plywood and custom cut each piece to fit tightly into your window frame on the outside. You can secure the plywood using window anchors. Ask for them at your local hardware store.

Trim away all heavy tree limbs that are hanging over or nearby your roof upstairs windows. The likelihood of your tree falling down or losing branches in a Category 3 hurricane is very high.

Place as many items as high as you can off the ground. If you have a second floor, then develop a plan to move as many household items up to the second floor as possible. Start with your most expensive or valuable items first. If your house only has one floor then you can stack your items or place them in the attic if possible.

Communication Checklist

Below is a list of every single phone number you should have in your phone (assuming you’ll be able to use it).

Nearest relatives and extended family

Neighbors on all sides

Insurance Companies

Contractors – roofing, window, drywall, flooring, framing, general (the reason for this is that upon returning to your home, you’ll want to get the damage inspected by a contractor before an insurance adjustor comes to pick it apart.)

Utilities

The last thing you need to remember is this: preparation should begin in May. Purchase non-perishable food and water in advance, and store it in airtight containers at room temperature. Buy all other supplies in advance and formulate your game plan so that there’s no confusion on the day you have to evacuate.

If you’re looking for tile floor installation in Baldwin County, AL then contact W&W Flooring at 251-970-5244. We have the experience and knowledge to guide you from start to a finished project. You can message us at [email protected] or check out our website at www.wandwflooring.com. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook at W&W Flooring and Design and follow @WandWFlooring on Twitter!

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4 Reasons Tile is King for Condos in Orange Beach, Alabama

Today’s tile is more durable, attractive, and easy to install than ever. Tile manufacturers such as Mannington and Daltile carefully craft each piece of tile in order to exceed industry standards for tile flooring. Home and business owners in Orange Beach have benefitted from tile flooring for decades. They have seen firsthand how beautiful tile makes their building’s interior look as well as how long tile has lasted on their floors.

No More Stains on the Floor

Carpet soaks up stains and retains them. So does hardwood flooring. Tile on the other hand naturally repels stains and keeps them from settling beneath the surface. For this reason, you simply need to use a gentle soap or detergent when cleaning tile. Harsh chemicals can ruin the tiles finish. If tile does not retain stains, then it takes the work out of cleaning your floor.

Tile Flooring Has Unmatched Durability

Compared to other types of flooring, tile outlasts them all. The average tile floor that is taken care of and treated can last more than fifty years. This towers above carpet that only has a life expectancy of 6-10 years. Hardwood can last for up to five decades, but it requires far more maintenance and care than tile does. Tile’s unmatched durability makes it a far greater investment in both the initial purchase and the long-term results than any other flooring material.

Tile Flooring is Sanitary and Environmentally Safe

In addition to being stain resistant, tile is also bacteria and contaminant resistant. It is easy to sterilize and will not soak in harmful substances the way carpet or hardwood will. With regular cleaning, you can keep bacteria off the surface and you’ll never have to worry about it burrowing underneath. This is why hospitals and other businesses choose tile over any other flooring material. When cleaning tile, simply use a mild anti-bacterial cleaning agent. Your floors will stay sanitized.

Natural Beauty and A Wide Array of Design Options

Like hardwood, tile is made from natural materials. Tile options include ceramic, vinyl, quarry, stone, and granite as well as polished concrete. Tile offers authentic stone colors that range from light earthy colors to deep tones of all shades. Tile gives you unlimited design choices. You can mix and match colors and get creative with flooring concepts in any room in the house.

If you’re looking for tile floor installation in Orange Beach or the surrounding areas, then contact W&W Flooring Design at 251-970-5244. We have the experience and knowledge to guide you from start to a finished project. You can message us at [email protected] or check out our website at www.wandwflooring.com. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook at W&W Flooring and Design and follow @WandWFlooring on Twitter!

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4 REASONS PEOPLE ON THE GULF COAST LOVE TRAVERTINE FLOORING

When it comes to picking the flooring for your home, the choices are overwhelming. Even if you narrow it down to stone, there are thousands of choices. Each type of stone has its own merits, and here are a few things you should know about travertine:

1. IT NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE. The natural colors are timeless. The neutral beiges and browns are the normal colors, but some dark browns and chocolates are available. This limestone rock is porous and striated with color, so instead of choosing a single color, you will choose a palette of colors to adorn your floors.

2. IT WORKS WITH ANY DÉCOR. The stone can be filled, and smoothed to a polished finish for an elegant and sleek look and feel, or left rustic for a more original appearance and rough texture. You may change your interior design years down the road, but you can count on the travertine flooring being a beautiful complement to any design elements you bring in.

3. IT WILL LAST FOREVER. One of the oldest building materials, travertine was an ancient building material in the Greco-Roman era. Many of these pieces are still intact. The Colosseum was built with travertine, and it stands, although in ruins. It was so durable that it was used for roads! Its durability is renowned, and it is a onetime application, lasting as long as the building surrounding it. If you seek something that you truly will never have to do again in your lifetime, consider travertine.

4. IT WILL GO FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE SEAMLESSLY. Although beautiful inside the home, this gorgeous stone will also shine when carried through to the outside living space. Very popular around pools and hot tubs, it is slip-resistant and heat-resistant. Even in the Gulf Coast sunshine the lighter colors will stay cool on bare feet. As outdoor living has become an extension of our indoor space, using more durable tiles in the outdoor area has become the norm, and nothing says this is part of your main living space like using the same flooring.

As well as the floors, you may want to consider travertine for other tiling projects through the house. It makes beautiful shower surrounds, countertops, and backsplashes. Hours may be spent looking at the hundreds of options for travertine tile. For some applications, you may want to seal it occasionally, as it will stain. However, with proper care, it will be beautiful for generations.

If you have an idea for your home, but aren’t sure how to implement it, come see us. Bring your color and design ideas and any color swatches, pictures, and samples, and let us show you some options. We are sure we can find one that you will fall in love with. We can find the right look for any room in your home, or your entire home if that is your desire.

Our installers are skilled with stone flooring and will make your new flooring the heartbeat of your home. Let us make your vision a reality.

W&W Flooring and Design is here for all of your flooring needs and we have the experience and knowledge to guide you from start to a finished project. Contact W&W Flooring in Foley, Alabama at (251) 970-5244 or check out our website at www.wandwflooring.com. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook at W&W Flooring and Design and follow @WandWFlooring on Twitter!

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5 Tips for Flooring Installation

If you are looking for new floors in your home, you have come to the right place. First and foremost, W&W Flooring provides some of the best work along the Gulf Coast, but before we actually install your new flooring, you must follow some very important steps in order to prepare your home for this new installment. Before we get into the list of tips for different types of installments, you need to know the basics of preparing your home for the installation.

First, it is important that you move as much furniture that you possibly can out of the area. By doing so, your contractors are able to get to work right away, not having to move any furniture before they begin the process. Next, it is just as important to clean the area that the floors will be installed onto. You want to minimize dust and dirt from getting into the work area. After you have completed moving furniture and cleaning the area, it is always a great idea to do any remodeling you have planned, such as painting or knocking out a certain wall in your home. On the actual day of the floor installment, it is crucial that you confine any pets or small children you may have in your home with you from the rooms having renovations. With children or pets running around while your contractor is hard at work, there comes the risk of damaging the new floors, the children or pets being harmed, or even the contractor getting into harm’s way. Now we will get into specific tips for different types of floors that you might want to have installed.

Hardwood

When you plan on implementing hardwood into your home, there are certain measures that must be taken before work begins. You need to have your contractor come to your house and first assess the floor situation; this is where the contractor will tell you what first needs to be done before they start installing the wood. Hardwood must set to the environment of your house after it is installed for four to five days. All subflooring, trim, disposal of old flooring and door clearance will also be assessed during the pre-installation walkthrough. Plan for proper ventilation after the floors are put into place, this is due to the chemical fumes that may occur after the work is completed.

Carpet

Above all else, your contractor will need a path to carry all the padding and carpeting materials to its destination spot. This is something you definitely need to plan ahead for and figure out the best possible route. Wall trim pieces may be removed during the process of putting in your new carpet and removing your old carpet, so it is important to remember that the paint might need to be touched up down the road. Once the installation is complete, new carpet usually leaves behind a new smell from being treated with stain-resistant sealants, but as long as you have proper ventilation in your house, this should not be a problem.

Vinyl

As with other types of floors, a pre-installation walk-through with your contractor to assess the situation should be the first thing accomplished. After that has been completed, matters of removal of the old flooring, and so on will begin in order to prepare for the vinyl to be put into place. You also want to plan for proper ventilation for vinyl as related odors may occur from this type of floor plan after the first few days.

Tile

Starting with your consultation with your contractor, you will begin to figure out what type and style of tile flooring would go best with your house. This is due to tile requiring specialty trim pieces. Your local professional will aid in picking out the perfect trim pieces, as well as the grout you should have installed along with the tiles. As with the other types of installments so far, you need to plan out proper ventilation for the area after the job has been finished.

Laminate

This type of work requires careful attention to detail, and that includes the molding where the floor will be placed. Most of the time, laminate manufacturers will offer matching molding for the style you choose for your home. These types of molding typically sit a little bit higher than the laminate flooring itself. When a professional installs laminate, they will typically place a few sub-layers for the laminate floors to be installed upon, such as the moisture absorbing level and cushioning/sound reduction levels. It is just as important, as with any other type of floor installation, to have a professional come to your home to assess the situation of installment. Also plan for proper ventilation, as always, laminate flooring will also leave behind a small odor, but it can be taken care of through the proper measures and guidance from our professional staff members.

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