FloorAnthropy Northeast Ohio's Flooring Experts

Flooring Installation: Fast fixes for foreclosed homes

2010-09-28T12:41:00.001-04:00

Flooring Installation: Fast fixes for foreclosed homes
(ARA) The high volume of foreclosed homes on the market is allowing some astute buyers to turn eyesores into eye-catching properties with only minimal investment. While not every property can be fixed up affordably, there are some common projects that dramatically improve a foreclosed home's appeal and value.

"Many people are finding huge opportunities in fixing up foreclosures," says Tom Sullivan, founder of Lumber Liquidators, the nation's largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring. "Most of these houses can be completely transformed with just a few improvements. Often, the fixes are easy enough to be do-it-yourself projects."

Here are some popular cost-effective options for breathing new life into a home in need.

Add new countertops.
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in any home, since it is a space where people spend a lot of time - from cooking dinner to entertaining friends.

One of the most dramatic changes that can be made to a kitchen is adding new countertops. It alters the appearance of the space by changing the color scheme, depth and texture of the whole room.

Countertops range in price depending on room size, type of material and mode of installation. In an average kitchen, a new laminate countertop starts at around $1,000, with granite or quartz ranging from $3,000 to $6,000. Butcher-block countertops are another attractive, yet cost-effective option. Williamsburg Butcher Block Company offers options in both maple and American cherry starting around $310.

Replace the bathtub.
Foreclosed houses frequently come with water stains left by standing water in sinks, toilets and bathtubs. Updating a bathroom by installing a new bathtub not only removes the problem, but, because the tub is a core item, it creates a more pleasant feeling in the room. Bathtubs are available in many different styles and sizes, so there is likely to be one that suits any taste, from traditional to contemporary. Bathtubs start at around $300, depending on the size and style.

Trade carpeting for new wood flooring.
Foreclosed houses are frequently abandoned with soiled carpet that continues to gather buildup over time. Mold is also common in homes that have been left bare for extended periods. To get rid of hidden odors, allergens, irritants and mold, replace carpet with wood, particularly in high-traffic areas such as living rooms and great rooms.

In addition to reviving these common areas, swapping carpet for wood adds style and creates a more spacious feel. The choice of wood can also make a big difference. Light wood colors can make a room appear larger, medium-toned woods can make a room appear more traditional and dark flooring can make a room appear warmer.

"The introduction of so many new species, colors and types of wood flooring in recent years gives homeowners a lot of options when renovating a room at different price points," says Sullivan.

Laminate flooring can deliver the appearance of solid hardwoods, but costs less than $1 per square foot at places like Lumber Liquidators. This allows budget-ers the ability to transform a 400-square-foot area for as little as $750.

In addition to making a foreclosed home look new again, completing these easy and affordable updates can go a long way in restoring the value of the property when it comes time to sell.

Courtesy of ARAcontent.

Website Response Form

2010-07-30T21:00:00.003-04:00

To all of you who filled out our website contact form and have not heard back from us, we just realized that the form stopped working and was sending us blank emails.

The form is now working. Please fill it out again and we will contact you ASAP.

I apologize for the inconvenience!

Master bathroom "EXTREME MAKEOVER"

2010-04-07T12:26:00.004-04:00

We recently had the chance to have a little fun with a complete bathroom makeover. Our customer had a vision and color scheme and we helped put it into reality. It turned out great, they loved it, and we've been back since to do more work in other rooms! Enjoy

Elastilon - Self Adhevise Flooring Underlayment

2010-02-02T09:53:00.000-05:00

There is a new product on the market designed for laying hardwood flooring over concrete called "ELASTILON". Its basically an elastic self adhesive pad that goes underneath the hardwood flooring. The flooring sticks to the pad and when the wood expands or contracts the pad moves along with.

Advantages:
-quicker installs
-no messy smelly glue
-high moisture resistance
-can install solid hardwood below grade(in basements)
-noise reducer for condos or high rises
-no need for acclimation process(still i don't recommend)
-less gaps during season changes
-can lay over floor with sealed concrete/cutback adhesive

i'm sure there are a few more benefits I'm missing.

check out there website for more info...contact me about purchasing

http://www.elastilon.com

Lumber Liquidators Canton Ohio Showroom Install

2010-01-20T15:20:00.000-05:00

Recently we had the opportunity to re-install the Canton Ohio Lumber Liquidators store. The Building was redeveloped when the store opened about 8 months ago. Whoever was in charge forgot to slope the concrete parking lot away form the store...oops. No worries though, FloorAnthropy saved the day.
We ended up having to tear the existing floor out and replace its with a much more elaborate and beautiful new one. 32 different species of wood all intertwined in a maple border. If you have time, check out the showroom. Its turned out amazing. heres some pictures of the process....enjoy

Travertine Bathroom w/ Shower Surround.

2008-10-26T21:09:00.000-04:00

This photo gallery is of a small mater bath we gutted and reinstalled a dal-tile travertine throughout. The wall and floor tiles are 18"x18" travertine with a 4" granite inlay that will match their vanity counters. The shower floor was also laid with a 2"x2" travertine. Enjoy the photos!

white subway bathroom tile photogallery.

2008-08-26T20:34:00.000-04:00

In this photo gallery we installed a product bought from dal-tile. We installed all new Hardi-backer board inside the shower and green board around the rest of the bathroom. We also installed the new floor which was again bought from dal-tile. For a house that was almost a hundred years old, the job for the most part went without a hitch. After these photos were taken the bath was updated with a small black granite vanity and some stainless steel fixtures. They really added the final touch.

Enjoy!

"Boost your home's value with hardwood flooring"

2008-08-06T11:42:00.000-04:00

I came across a great article on bizjournals.com. It explains the benifits of having hardwood flooring when trying to sell your house. Enjoy....

"In today's volatile economy, it's very difficult to predict what will happen in the housing market. In fact, Colorado has the highest home foreclosure rate in the country, according to RealtyTrac.

That doesn't mean consumers shouldn't invest money into a home, rather that they must be conscientious when making home improvements to ensure money spent will provide a good return on investment when it's time to sell.

One of today's top trends in home improvements is the addition or renovation of hardwood floors. With many decor trends, fads change and go out of style before a project can even be completed. However, hardwood flooring offers a timeless and classic design that will stand the test of time. Consumers have a wide array of choices when it comes to hardwood flooring, from which rooms to install it in, types of hardwoods to install and floor-laying designs.

Home decorators and designers will be the first to tell you that hardwood flooring offers ageless elegance and style to any living area.

"Hardwood flooring is the one of the most popular design elements in Colorado residential design projects. The new styles and materials available offer homeowners the ability to completely redefine a room with just one element," said Kristin Schmidt of Amirob & Associates, a Denver-based interior design firm.

This is especially true of kitchen renovations. Years ago, it was unthinkable to put hardwood floors in a room such as the kitchen, with the risk of water damage and dings or scratches. However, with the new types of hardwood floors available today, homeowners needn't be concerned about damaging a floor by dropping an item while cooking, or spilling liquids on the floor. In fact, floors such as bamboo and walnut are incredibly strong and perfect for withstanding an environment such as the kitchen.

Bamboo and walnut aren't the only new types of hardwood floors hitting the market. Exotic flooring such as Brazilian cherry hardwood, Santos mahogany, Tiete chestnut and even cork are in high demand.

Exotic hardwood flooring was once available only to architects and designers for high-end commercial use, but now numerous national retailers are offering a wide range of hardwood species. These hardwoods come from all over the world, offering a great variety for consumers.

For example, tigerwood, from South America, has bold black striping that accents reddish-brown hues. The Brazilian cherry is available in tan to reddish brown with black streaks. With so many options, consumers can find nearly any look they desire to perfectly complement any room in their home.

To add additional charm and value to the home, some consumers are opting to add designs to their hardwood flooring. The days of simply installing a one-length staggered oak are long over.

To create individuality, consumers are integrating design and patterns into their hardwood flooring. Custom stains and finishes, adding patterns such as geometric medallions and specialty borders, and even integrating wood flooring with other materials such as stone or slate have become popular choices with homeowners.

Consumers can accent hardwood flooring by adding a painted border or design to reflect their own personal style or even mix species of hardwood floors to create a unique, one-of-a-kind look. It's always important to work with an experienced design expert on any of these options to be sure the look is exactly what you want.

When working with designers or installers, always ask to see photographs of their past projects. Many designers can provide you with ideas and options for your flooring that you may have never seen before. Also, ask your designer to show you samples of the flooring options he or she has in mind for you. You might be surprised how different a shade of wood can look when it's standing alone compared to when it's next to your cabinets and counters.

Finally, talk to your designer or installer about your options. No one knows the benefits and downfalls of a product better than those that install and sell it every day.

Although hardwood flooring is more durable than consumers may think, it does require special care. All-purpose cleaners can leave soap or residue on the hardwood floor, and vinegar and water solutions are acidic and can damage the gloss or finish.

It's advisable to invest in a cleaning system designed specifically for hardwood floors, such as the Orange Glo Hardwood Floor Care System. Keeping hardwood floors looking shiny and new is essential for protecting the investment and increasing home value. In fact, the addition of hardwood floors can raise the value of your home by up to $10,000, according to the Hardwood Information Center, more than justifying the cost and effort of installation.

Hardwood floors long have been a beautiful accent in the home, but today are becoming a popular focal point. Whether you love wood for the natural tranquil feeling it provides, because it's a cost-effective design option, because you can custom-design your own floors or simply because of ease of maintenance, hardwood flooring is a great choice in any home.

Mallori Hamilton is an interior designer for Mitchell Plus, a Denver-based architecture firm. Reach her at 303-477-2770 or mallorih@mitchellplus.com."

Brazilian Cherry Lite Hardwood w/ Flush mount Vents

2008-07-23T23:14:00.000-04:00

These pictures our from when we installed about 750 sqft of Builders pride Brazilian Cherry lite that was bought from Lumber Liquidators. It was a great product and turned out very nice. You can also see we installed three flush mount vents. Two by the big bay window and one by the support beam in middle of floor. We also installed the floor on the hallway upstairs that included one stair nose.

Enjoy the pictures.

Welcome to My New Flooring Blog!

2008-07-22T21:07:00.001-04:00

Essentially, I've created this blog to help my business and my customers. I'm hoping this can be an interactive approach for customer correspondence, flooring Q&A's, slide shows of jobs we've done, and much more. So I'd like to personally thank you for stopping by! Please feel free to come and go as you please, as i intend to update this regularly. Also feel free to check out our website. OHIO'S HARDWOOD & TILE FLOORING INSTALLERS

Until Next Time....