What is Mohawk RevWood? The Benefits & More

Written by Dolphin Blogger on October 8, 2018. Posted in Bathroom, Environmental, Family, Floors, Hardwood, Kitchen and Bath, Reader Question, Tips and Advice

In flooring & home improvement, as in many industries, a common misconception is the need to sacrifice beauty for reliability, performance for low-budget.

With Mohawk’s self-described revolutionary woods, RevWood & RevWood Plus, this is most certainly not the case! Designed by Mohawk to make homeowners, builders and designers rethink wood flooring altogether, RevWood is actually not what you may traditionally think of as wood.

The Benefits of Mohawk RevWood & RevWood Plus

So if it’s not true wood, then just what is RevWood? Put simply, it’s an eco-friendly product that combines the beauty of real wood with the durability of laminate flooring. Let’s break down the benefits:

Waterproof installation means that, unlike 100% real hardwood, RevWood Plus can stand up to spills and humidity without buckling, warping, or being damaged in any way. Note that RevWood Plus is waterproof, but regular RevWood is not.
Resistance to stains, scratches & dents is built in to RevWood thanks to a durable wear layer and construction.
Mohawk’s All Pet Protection & Warranty gives RevWood coverage against messes from any type of pet & pet-related accident, all the time.
RevWood comes in a variety of trending colors and textures, each with distinctive wood knot and grain patterns. These include time-worn looks and planks in varying lengths and widths.
RevWood & RevWood Plus are available at outstanding price points compared to their real wood competitors.
Finally, Mohawk manufactures RevWood & RevWood Plus right here in the USA!

How does RevWood work?

So RevWood Plus is essentially waterproof wood – but how? It’s the result of two main features – a click & lock tongue-and-groove installation with beveled edges and a water-repellant HydroSeal coating developed by Mohawk. The tightly-locking planks block moisture from entering through the sides, and the coating blocks it from the surface.

One final step – a perimeter sealing of 100% silicone – seals the deal on the cut edges of the floor.

This moisture-resistant surface also makes cleaning up a breeze. These are the first laminate floors on the market that can be safely wet-mopped without worry about peeling or damage to adhesives – because there are no adhesives required in installation!

How & where to use RevWood & RevWood Plus

RevWood is perfect for any part of your home where you wish you could have hardwood floors, but where it just doesn’t make sense to do so. One of the key benefits of RevWood and RevWood Plus is that they can be installed on any level of your home, over nearly any type of existing subfloor.

Hardwood, being naturally porous and flexible, does not handle moisture and humidity well. In areas like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms and even finished basements, it’s best to avoid installing real wood.

With RevWood, you get the look and feel of natural hardwood in a form that’s suitable for all of these areas and more. With so many great looks and textures from which to choose, you’ll find yourself with far more design freedom than you’d have with hardwood.

Learn more about RevWood & RevWood Plus on our website, or at one of our 10 convenient locations in the greater Miami area!

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milk spilled from glass on oak wooden surface

Caring for your Resilient Flooring

Written by Dolphin Blogger on September 30, 2018. Posted in Care and Maintenance, Floors, Hardwood, Tile and Natural Stone, Vinyl

Congratulations! Your new resilient flooring is installed and looks beautiful! If the flooring you’ve recently installed new is RevWood, RevWood Plus, or SolidTech Luxury Vinyl Tile, from Mohawk Flooring, or Luxury Vinyl from COREtec, then you have resilient flooring. This type of flooring is great for spaces where moisture is generally an issue. They are pretty simple to care for, but we have put together some easy tips + tricks to share with you on how to care and maintain them so that you can enjoy your beautiful flooring for many years to come!

Basic Maintenance + Care

To remove dust and loose particles from your RevWood + RevWood Plus flooring on a regular basis, use a soft bristle broom, a dust mop or a suction only vacuum cleaner. Avoid a vacuum with a beater bar. For a slightly damp cleaning, apply Mohawk’s FloorCare Essentials RevWood Cleaner to a cotton or microfiber mop and wipe down your flooring. We advise to avoid any wet-mop cleaning or using liquid cleaners. Always remember to wipe up any excess water right away with a clean, dry cloth.

Wooden floors professional washing with mop in the room. Regular clean up. Maid cleans house.

A dry mop is one of the best ways to take care of resilient flooring.

With your Mohawk SolidTech Luxury Vinyl Tile flooring, you may use a soft bristle broom to remove loose dirt. Go ahead and use a damp-mop when needed but be sure to use a nonabrasive floor cleaner.

Lastly, your COREtec Flooring should be swept, dust mopped or vacuumed on a regular basis. An occasional damp mopping is also suggested. Be sure to wipe down your flooring with a clean dry cloth right after though. If any excessive water is left, your flooring could expand.

Damage Control

When you have new flooring, it’s always key to know what to do when damage or stains could occur. For instance, with your RevWood floors, if one of your planks is beyond repairing, you can use the Quick-Step UniFix Tool to remove and replace a damaged plank, on your own, in just minutes! If your flooring becomes stained for any reason, (paint, oil, tar or markers for example) you can use an acetone-base nail polish remover. You can also use an acetone-based nail polish remover on COREtec flooring stains, like; nail polish, paint, dye and permanent markers.

When you have furry friends running around, toddlers spilling their cups, family get togethers getting messy…with any spills that happen, make sure to wipe them up immediately! Do not allow any standing water to remain on your flooring though as this may loosen the adhesive.

We love our furry friends – but they can make some big messes!

Dos and Don’ts

Here are some quick do’s and don’ts to CARE for your new flooring:

DO add A Little Extra Protection! At each of the entrances of your home, place floor mats or doormats, so that they collect all of that dust, dirt, substances and moisture that can be tracked into your home and onto your new flooring!
DO use protective pads under the footing of any heavy furniture
DO use pieces of carpet face down under heavy objects to slide across your flooring
DO spot clean and wipe up any spills immediately
DON’T wear high heels on your resilient flooring
DON’T use wax or polish
DON’T try to refinish or sand your resilient flooring
DON’T flood your floor with water or cleaner

Closeup of child's bare feet standing in spilled milk on wood floor

Don’t cry over spilled milk! Wipe up those spills right away to minimize potential damage.

Avoid These Cleaning Methods

To keep your flooring in tip top shape, here are a few products NOT to use when cleaning your floors.

RevWood & RevWood Plus: avoid wax, polish, soaps, shine enhancers, varnish and oils. Do not apply any cleaners directly to RevWood and we recommend not using cleaning machines like spray mops or steam cleaners or mops.
SolidTech Luxury Vinyl Flooring: avoid using a vacuum with a beater bar.
COREtec: never use vinegar, acetone or lacquer thinner to clean.

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Choosing the right flooring for your home gym

Written by Dolphin Blogger on April 25, 2018. Posted in Area Rugs, Carpet, Design and Decorating, Floors, Hardwood, Hints, Tips and Advice, Tile and Natural Stone, Tips and Advice, Vinyl

Looking to furnish your home gym with just the right flooring?

Having home gym can be a great way to save time & money – it’s always open when you want it to be, and it’s a space to work on your fitness in private.

If you’re considering designing a home gym of your own, or simply looking to spruce up your current gym with new flooring, then you’ll want to choose floors that are just the right combination of safe and functional.

There are many options for gym floors, each with pros and cons. You can tile a gym floor, put down industrial carpet, or even lay hardwood. Your decision should be based on your space, the type of equipment you use, and how you want your space to fit into the overall design of your home.

Before you make a decision, consider the safety, durability, functionality & maintenance of different gym flooring options so you don’t have to take a leap of faith with your decision.

Safety

When you think about safety, consider the types of exercises are you going to be doing, how experienced you are, and the type of equipment that will be going into your space.

Carpet is one option. A rubber-soled cross-trainer shoe will have a sufficient amount of traction on a carpet surface, greatly lowering your chances of a tumble. Furthermore, the natural cushion of carpeting provides just enough of a barrier between your equipment and the ground to prevent damage.

Be sure to choose a carpet with a lower pile – too much cushion could also result in injury. Commercial or industrial carpet would be your best bet.

There are various hard surface flooring types that we also recommend. Hardwood, laminate & luxury vinyl all offers a bit of give and can be easier to keep clean. They also feature an attractive, inviting look. You can pair wood flooring with rubber-soled rugs & mats that will grip the floor and give certain areas in your home gym a bit more cushion.

Durability

When considering the durability factor, you have options.

Carpeting provides just enough give in case a piece of heavy equipment is dropped, making it a solid choice. Tile, though durable as well, is also hard and rigid. One slip can cause a serious crack in the flooring, it may not be suited for spaces where you’ll be doing heavier weight training.

Typically your best option is a type of flooring that holds up to lots of movement and deals well with stains. A carpet with a thicker yarn construction will be able to hold up against the pounding and accumulation of sweat that’s inevitable when you’re getting your fitness on! You can also choose from a variety of luxury vinyl tile and laminate options that are designed specifically to resist stains of all kinds!

Both vinyl & laminate flooring are available in attractive wood looks that will give your home gym the warm and welcoming vibe you need to get motivated to sweat!

Functionality

Whether your exercise routine consists of cardio, weight training or calisthenics, you need to consider the functionality of your flooring. Carpet, unlike tile, is inviting. If your program requires you to get down onto the floor it has just enough cushion and support to provide some comfort.

Traditional ceramic can be cold, it is most certainly hard, and is generally much less inviting. A gym space should be a welcoming space to encourage you to work out often. Instead, opt for a softer laminate or luxury vinyl tile in the warm look of natural stone or hardwood.

You may also see real hardwood in your fitness center for aerobics classes, but this type of surface tends to wear easily and could require a special sub-flooring for safety, which adds to your overall cost.

Maintenance

After you have made your choice in flooring, maintaining the cleanliness will ensure an enjoyable fitness space.

To keep bacteria buildup to a minimum, start with a quality dust mop & vacuum cleaner. Weekly cleaning will stave off the accumulation of dust, especially if your routine includes exercises performed on the floor. Be sure to address the nooks and crannies in and around gym equipment as these hard to reach areas tend to accumulate the most amount of dust.

If you go with carpet, shampooing is a less frequent but equally important option. This will also keep any unwanted smells and stains from taking away from the overall experience of working out at home.

Conclusion

When it comes to furnishing your home gym, a carpet with a very short pile is definitely our top recommendation flooring for you. It is safe, durable, functional and relatively easy to maintain. If you’d prefer a hard surface, try a laminate, vinyl or hardwood paired with mats & rugs throughout the room. We carry all types of carpet, hardwood & area rug options to suit your fitness needs!

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Seven Dining Room Ideas We Love

Written by creatingyourspace on June 13, 2015. Posted in Hardwood

Dining rooms went kind of defunct 20 years ago when our modern lifestyles evolved into the ‘go-go-go’ that we’re accustomed to these days. But they’re making a comeback as people are starting to realize that there really is huge value in dining with good company. Wondering how to bring yours up to date so it’s a place you love? Check out these seven great ideas!

Replace the table setting after dinner. Pretty dishes, flatware, and place mats all make a dining room look more elegant and inviting. Rather than setting the table right before you dine, set it as part of the after meal clean up. Every time you pass by it during the day your eye will be pleased, and when meal time approaches the dining room will automatically seem comfortable and inviting. You’re going to set the table anyway, just switch up the timing!
Invest in an exceptional overhead light fixture. Try an impressive chandelier for instance. More than any other space a dining area will feel most complete when unified by a main light source.
Make sure that your floor is at its best. Hardwood floors are wonderful for a dining room, but they do need maintenance. Make sure your investment is working for you by having it cleaned professionally or replacing the floor to give your entire home a more elegant room.
Use bright colors. For some reason people tend to favor a reserved aesthetic in the dining room but that’s an outdated standard. If you want to get more use out of your dining space, then make it a cheery happy place where your family will want to spend extended time. Need a suggestion? Try lime, pink, blue, and black!
When it comes to seating choose function over form. The bottom line is that sitting is what we do in a dining room. Skip the fancy uncomfortable chair, and opt for seating that makes dining a cushy experience.
Always feature a centerpiece, and keep it low profile. An attractive centerpiece makes meals feel more elegant and well thought out. At the same time, they can obscure the view from across the table which prevents ample human interaction at the table. Choose something that is short and wide rather than tall and narrow.
Clean the china out of the china hutch and store it in a cabinet. Displaying china is rather out of date and it certainly doesn’t make for an interesting topic of conversation. Remove the glass from the doors and replace the china with a collection of family photos. When you’re dining with your loved ones, the space will feel homey. When you invite guests, they will enjoy perusing the photos while waiting on dinner to be served.

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All About Hickory

Written by creatingyourspace on August 30, 2014. Posted in Hardwood

There are many different domestic hardwoods that can be installed throughout your home. The most popular are red oak and maple, but these are far from the only domestic hardwoods on the market. If you want a floor that has a lot of character, and that can stand up to whatever it is your family has to throw at it, consider giving hickory a look.

Color and Grain

Hickory is the most exotic looking of all the domestic hardwoods. It ranges in color from a creamy white to a rich cinnamon brown, sometimes within the same board. The grain on hickory is wild and thick, which gives a lot of color and movement to the floor. Because of this, it’s usually advised that you use larger planks, rather than thinner ones; thinner planks could make the floor look a little too busy for the room.

Like all hardwoods, hickory can be stained a variety of different colors as well. If you want to quiet the grain a little, but still let its character show, consider using a dark stain; the two colors of the wood will take the stain differently, which will preserve the pattern but make it a little less obvious.

Strength and Hardness

Hardwood floors are rated on what is known as the Janka scale. The higher the number on the scale, the harder and more durable the wood is. Hickory has the highest Janka score of any domestic hardwood – 1820 compared to 1290 for red oak – rivaling some of the harder exotic hardwoods as well. This makes hickory much less likely to scratch or dent than maple or red oak, which is highly beneficial in a busy home. To make your hickory hold up even better, consider getting boards that have been presealed or that have a manufacturer’s finish. These floors tend to have a more even finish that lasts longer than unfinished hardwood does.

Consider Hickory

When it’s time to get a new hardwood floor in your home, give some consideration to hickory. With its strength and character, you’ll find that this floor far outshines the competition.

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The Difference between Wood and Bamboo Flooring

Written by creatingyourspace on August 29, 2014. Posted in Hardwood

There are a lot of choices on the market today for wood flooring. There are domestic and exotic wood species that come in a variety of different styles, colors, and finishes that can make it hard to choose. Then come newer flooring options such as bamboo that break most of the rules of wood floors. This green building option is not really made of wood, although it often falls under the hardwood category. Bamboo is technically a type of grass, and therefore has its own set of characteristics.

Engineered versus Solid

For a long time, all hardwood floors were made of what is known as “solid hardwood”. This means that each plank was one piece of wood. In the last several years, however, a push has been made toward engineered hardwood, which is made up of a lot of different layers of wood topped with a wood veneer. Bamboo falls into this second category; each plank is made of a bamboo veneer that is glued to the top of several other layers of wood.

This has advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that the different layers help make the bamboo more stable and able to withstand moisture, so you can install it below grade. Unfortunately, the veneer on top is not thick and bamboo is very soft, so when it scratches (and it will) you can only resurface it a few times before you hit the layer beneath.

Different Hardness Factors

Most hardwoods have a fairly reliable hardness factor. This indicates how dense and durable the wood is. Hickory, for example, is the hardest domestic hardwood, while pine is one of the softest. Bamboo is less easy to classify. Depending on the manufacturer, how old the bamboo plant was when harvested, and what color it is, it can range in hardness dramatically. In fact, a common method of deepening the color of bamboo is to heat it, which makes it darker. This also makes it softer and more likely to scratch and dent, but depending on how much it was heated this tells you just how soft it actually is.

For most residential settings, bamboo reacts and is treated just like hardwood. For high traffic areas, however, it may be considered too soft to withstand many years of use.

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Reader’s Choice

Written by creatingyourspace on May 30, 2014. Posted in Floors, Hardwood

Tell us which kind of flooring is more you! Why would you choose that floor?

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Hardwood Styles Part 2

Written by creatingyourspace on April 10, 2014. Posted in Hardwood

Board widths

boards come in various sizes
narrower board widths called “strips”
wider boards called “planks”
board width visually impacts a room
narrow boards expand a room
wider boards work well in a larger room

Edge knowledge

floors come in either a beveled edge, or a square edge
Each edge creates a specific look and feel

Edge types:

square edge: edges all meet squarely for a uniform, smooth surface (contemporary and formal)
eased edge: boards slightly beveled to length and/or the end joints, hides irregularities, plank heights, also called micro-beveled edge
beveled edge: distinctive groove, informal and country décor, beveled edges sealed completely, dirt easy to sweep or vacuum out of the grooves

Hardness – Janka hardness test

measures the force needed to embed a .444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in a piece of wood
higher the number the harder the wood
one of the best methods to measure the ability of wood species to withstand indentations
general guide when comparing various species
construction and finish also important in the durability and ease of maintenance

WOOD SPECIES HARDNESS RATING

Douglas Fir 660
Southern Yellow Pine (shortleaf) 690
Southern Yellow Pine (longleaf) 870
Black Cherry 950
Teak 1000
Black Walnut 1010
Heart Pine 1225
Yellow Birch 1260
Red Oak(Northern) 1290
American Beech 1300
Ash 1320
White Oak 1360
Australian Cypress 1375
Hard maple1450
Wenge 1620
African Pedauk 1725
Hickory 1820
Pecan 1820
Purpleheart 1860
Jarrah 1910
Merbau 1925
Santos Mahogany 2200
Mesquite 2345
Brazilian Cherry 2350

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Hardwood Styles Part 1

Written by creatingyourspace on April 7, 2014. Posted in Hardwood

The number of hardwood choices, patterns, colors, textures and price points can intimidate even the most experienced shopper. Knowing the basic styles can provide you with a firm foundation upon which to begin your hardwood-shopping journey. Choosing your ideal hardwood style is all about knowing the right combination of aesthetics, performance and budget that meets the needs of your lifestyle.

Personal Style

designs: medallions, running on the diagonal, or creating borders

Types

Pre-finished:
- ready for installation
- boards already sanded, stained and finished
- harder, better- protected surface
- wider variety of wood species
- save hours of labor and cleanup
- extended finish warranty
Unfinished:
- allow you to have a custom job
- you choose the wood species
- it’s sanded and stained on site
- can level the surface after installation
- no extended finish warranty

Location

look at installation site for location limitations
solid floors -susceptible to moisture, not recommended for basements, or concrete slabs

Grain and cut

styles are result of the species available
species: red oak, white oak, maple, cherry, white ash, hickory or pecan
Each species has unique graining and texture
graining on the boards determined by the way it has been cut
two cutting processes. “Sliced Cut” -more uniform pattern and “Rotary Cut”- displays a larger and bolder graining pattern

Color

each species gives choices of color and finishes
choose coordinating or contrasting with cabinetry and furniture
darker woods- more formal
natural colors- more casual

Finish

different types for pre-finished or job site finished
lower gloss levels- better for active rooms
lower gloss or matte finishes minimize dirt and scratches
high gloss finish for formal décor

Upkeep

no more waxing and scrubing
pre-finished- hard, durable, urethane-based finishes
chips of Aluminum Oxide added to increases the urethane finish’s life

Floor protection

factory finished: several coats applied to the surface
many companies apply 6-10 coats of a ultra-violet (UV) cured urethane
UV cured urethane: difficult to duplicate on a job site finish
factory finishes – more consistent and durable
do not wash your floor with a mop
water is not a friend of hardwood
floors won’t watermark like old waxed floors
UV cured finishes do make floors easier to maintain than waxed floors

Pre-finished choices:

uv-cured – factory finishes cured with Ultra Violet lights versus heat
polyurethane – clear, tough and durable applied as a wear layer
acrylic-urethane – different make up than Polyurethane, same benefits
ceramic – advanced technology allowing ceramics to increase wear layer resistance
aluminum Oxide – Added to urethane finish for increased abrasion resistance
acrylic Impregnated – Acrylic monomers injected into cell structure for hardness, then finished with a wear layer

Job-site hardwood flooring

start with a bare (unfinished) floor, than sand, stain, and finish
if subfloor is acceptable you can have a custom stained
can have a floor to match existing trim
advantage: smoother floor between planks
process is messy and takes several days

Methods:

Water Based Urethane – water used as part of the make up of the finish
Solvent Based Urethane – oil used as part of the make up of the finish
Moisture Cured Urethane – similar make up as solvent based urethanes, finish needs moisture to cure

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Why Caribbean Pine Floors Will Make Your Heart Sing

Written by creatingyourspace on September 9, 2013. Posted in Hardwood, Uncategorized

What is Caribbean heart pine, and why is it so popular?

The heart is the center of the pine tree, where the wood is harder and more durable, and usually a deeper color. The softer exterior wood, surrounding the heart is known as sapwood. In the United States, heart pine is only available as reclaimed lumber, since there is a small portion of living longleaf pine forest remaining. True Caribbean heart pine (botanical name Pinus Caribaea) is native to Central America and Cuba where there is still a substantial living pine forest.

The beauty and luster of Caribbean heart pine makes it a popular choice for hardwood flooring. It’s available in many different colors, grades and finishes. Natural heart pine has a tendency to become richer and darker with age, and can feature yellow, red or copper tones. The “knotted” look of heart pine is also part of its appeal, lending a more natural look to any space. Heart pine floors will generally show less uniformity of color, especially in a larger space, than other hardwoods, which also promotes a more natural look and feel.

Of course, heart pine can also be used for ceiling beams and wall paneling. When selecting heart pine flooring, consider the percentage of heartwood vs. sapwood as well as the amount of variegation, including knots and resin streaks, to fit your budget as well as your desired look. Since heart pine is harder than sapwood, it is more resistant to dents and scratches.

Engineered laminate designed to simulate heart pine is another great option for a lower budget.

Heart pine floors are very versatile, and can be used in either contemporary or antique design spaces.

Here are some examples of heart pine floors in a contemporary setting: