Check out the Floor Care Blog of Bode Floors

By MicheleSarsitis@cbflooring.com | January 8th, 2020

General Flooring Archives

The kitchen is a frequently used room by homeowners, and can even become a gathering space for family events and holidays. Having the right floors in place can help to ensure that this space not only looks beautiful but is also a functional and enjoyable place to be.

Consider Your Lifestyle

Homeowners shopping for new kitchen floors should take their lifestyle into consideration. Young kids or pets create the need for flooring that is durable and easy to clean. Porcelain tile flooring is hard, durable, and stain-resistant, making it an excellent choice for a large and busy family. For a more mature couple or a family that’s going to be partaking in fewer activities, however, hardwood might be the way to go.

Review Care and Cleaning Instructions

Don’t forget to think about the ease of care and material cleaning requirements when choosing a kitchen floor. Research floor care instructions for each option to understand how much work each material will require before investing in the project. To keep the flooring looking its best, understanding how often and how much time maintenance will take, as well as any specific cleaning materials required can help with making a decision.

Work Within Your Budget

Cost is one of the significant factors homeowners should consider when shopping for kitchen floors. Set a budget before looking around, so that it’s easy to quickly see what flooring products fall within the desired price range. There’s going to be a difference in cost between natural stone and vinyl flooring, so it’s a wise idea to shop around and keep an open mind when trying to find a kitchen floor that’s attractive and affordable.

At Bode Floors, we can help make sure the process of choosing a kitchen floor is a painless and smooth experience for you. Contact us to request a free quote or to schedule an appointment so that we can assist you with your kitchen home improvement project.

By MicheleSarsitis@cbflooring.com | January 3rd, 2020

General Flooring Archives

Luxury vinyl flooring has emerged as a top choice in residential and commercial settings. This flooring option combines the appearance of natural hardwood and stone with high performance and premium comfort. Luxury vinyl flooring offers property owners variety because it comes in three different styles: plank, tile, or sheet. Vinyl is an eye-catching design feature that provides a high-end look to floors without breaking the bank. For homeowners who want to add a touch of glamour to their living space, here’s what to expect from luxury vinyl flooring.

Depth and Realism

Advances in vinyl flooring technology have made it easier to mimic the look of hardwood and ceramic tiles. Residential and commercial property owners who want the classic look of wood for an affordable price should use vinyl. Cutting-edge 3D printing technology also adds depth and realism to luxury vinyl tiles, planks, and sheets.

Exquisite Comfort

One of the main advantages of luxury vinyl flooring is its comfort. This flooring is soft and comfortable to walk on, and it maintains a consistent temperature all year round, making it ideal for homes and offices.

Durability and High Performance

Property owners who opt for luxury vinyl flooring can expect high levels of performance. The tight, waterproof fit of these resilient tiles and sheets can withstand kids and pets without any damage. The smooth surface is also easy to maintain, making it the dream flooring for homeowners.

Versatility

The best thing about luxury vinyl flooring is that it works well in every room. Homeowners can install vinyl flooring in their kitchen, bedrooms, living room, and more. For high-traffic or high-moisture areas, waterproof vinyl tiles and sheets are also available.

Easy Installation

With any flooring material, installation is a significant consideration. Luxury vinyl floors don’t necessarily need an underlay. As long as the subfloor is flat and smooth, adhesives is all vinyl flooring needs to be securely installed. Some vinyl flooring is already lined with adhesives, which makes the process even simpler.

If you’re thinking about upgrading your home or office with elegant flooring, Bode Floors is here to help. For decades, we’ve offered a variety of high-quality flooring solutions to people in Howard County, Ellicott City, and the surrounding areas. To schedule an appointment with one of our flooring experts, call us at 410-381-5900 or contact us online.

By MicheleSarsitis@cbflooring.com | October 30th, 2019

General Flooring Archives

Homeowners who prefer manufactured wood but desire the look of genuine hardwood will be surprised at the authenticity of modern wood replacement flooring. Here are options that best mimic the look of real wood with the added benefits of affordability and resistance.

Engineered Wood Flooring

These planks are made from a thin piece of hardwood mounted on plywood, so they provide the most realistic appearance compared to other hardwood substitutes. Compared to real hardwood, engineered hardwood offers several convenient installation options. It’s also more durable when exposed to moisture, which makes it a great choice for the kitchen. Although homeowners in the market for engineered wood have fewer options to choose from than with hardwood, selections include walnut, maple, and various exotic Asian wood species.

Laminate Flooring

High-quality laminate floors are available in endless colors and finishes, including styles that look like real wood, porcelain, or even natural stone. Homeowners with children and pets often prefer this option to real hardwood because these floors are water-resistant and stand up to scratches and wear. They also offer the benefits of easy installation and several available wood species, including pine, maple, cherry, and oak.

Porcelain Tile

Tile floors that resemble wood earn high marks from homeowners for their affordable cost, easy cleaning regimen, and durability. These tiles are even appropriate for bathrooms and other rooms with significant moisture exposure. As with other hardwood substitutes, porcelain tile comes in a diverse range of styles and tones to fit any design aesthetic.

Vinyl Flooring

Like laminate, vinyl is a popular choice for parents because of its ability to withstand heavy foot traffic and muffle noise, especially with the right cushioned underlay. Vinyl provides water resistance, scratch resistance, and comfort at a lower cost than other faux wood flooring materials.

With Bode Floors, homeowners don’t have to sacrifice style for practicality while shopping for new flooring. Our trusted team can help you with this important decision to achieve your style goals for your home’s floors. Call (410) 381-5900 to schedule an appointment today at our expansive Columbia showroom to view these attractive options in person.

By MicheleSarsitis@cbflooring.com | September 25th, 2019

General Flooring Archives

There are many factors homeowners should consider when shopping for new flooring, including price, durability, appearance, and how much maintenance will be required. Compared to hardwood floors, laminate and vinyl floors are more affordable and offer more durability and flexibility, but how do the two compare? Here’s a look at the differences between laminate and vinyl flooring.

Laminate Floors

Laminate floors are extremely durable, pet-friendly, and aren’t likely to fade much over time, but they can be prone to scratches and chips in high-traffic areas. They’re also available in a diverse variety of textures and styles, including a range of natural wood looks such as mahogany, oak, and cherry, or colors such as white, gray, and black. However, as laminate floors are made from 99% wood materials, they aren’t waterproof, so they shouldn’t be used in rooms exposed to high moisture levels such as bathrooms and should be cleaned with laminate-specific cleaning products or steam mops rather than traditional wet mops.

Vinyl Floors

Vinyl flooring is similar to laminate flooring in that it’s highly durable, pet-friendly, and available in a range of wood and color varieties, but unlike laminate, its material is more likely to fade over time due to heavy sunlight exposure. Vinyl flooring is also waterproof, which makes it a much better choice for use in rooms that see a lot of moisture. Although vinyl floors are susceptible to scratches and dents from heavy furniture, they are quite easy to clean with a simple wet mop. Additionally, while laminate flooring can only be installed in floating planks, vinyl can be installed either as floating planks or adhesive strips.

The Bode family has been in the flooring business in the Maryland, D.C., and Virginia markets for over four decades. Bode Floors offers area residents a variety of flooring products, including laminate, vinyl, tile, stone, and carpet options. Give us a call today at 410-381-5900 to schedule an appointment in one of our showrooms.

By MicheleSarsitis@cbflooring.com | August 5th, 2019

Carpet

Choosing a carpet flooring type is a decision homeowners shouldn’t take lightly, as the right carpet can have a big impact on a room’s visual appeal, function, and comfort. But with so many varieties and styles available, it’s sometimes challenging to narrow down the search. Here’s a look at some of the basics of the most common varieties of carpet flooring fibers.

Nylon

In the world of carpet flooring, there’s no beating nylon when it comes to versatility and durability. Nylon’s color flexibility, easy maintenance, and powerful resistance to wear, mildew, rot, and other types of damage make it the most popular carpet fiber type on the market. It’s also static-free, stain-resistant, and often exceptionally soft. Nylon carpeting comes in a variety of colors, heights, textures, and styles, and it can last for many years.

Acrylic

Although it’s an artificial carpet fiber, acrylic is sometimes referred to as man-made wool because of its soft, warm, wool-like texture. Like nylon, acrylic is static resistant, available in a variety of colors and styles, and it doesn’t easily mildew, fade, or become crushed under heavier furniture. Because it’s so soft, however, acrylic is best reserved for low-traffic rooms where its luxurious feel can be maintained.

Olefin

Olefin, or polypropylene, carpeting is second only to nylon in popularity, especially in commercial installations. That’s due to its ability to maintain color and resist wear and mildew. Olefin is also very easy to maintain and tough against foot traffic, making it an ideal carpet fiber for rooms that see a lot of use. It’s also one of the most affordable carpet fiber varieties, which, when combined with its appearance and performance, makes it a great option for homeowners on a budget.

Wool

Wool is a strong, all-natural carpet fiber option that adds extra comfort and luxury to a room. It’s soft and exceptionally dense, and it also maintains its height and resists crushing very well. Additionally, unlike artificial carpeting, the fibers in wool are opaque, which means that it hides dirt and other debris easily.

Bode Floors offers Columbia-area residents a large variety of carpet flooring, as well as hardwood, tile and stone, and other flooring products. To request a free quote or schedule an appointment, contact us online or call (410) 381-5900.