Floor covering has come a long way in recent years in regard to durability. Still, our floors take a lot of wear and tear from everyday living, and regular care and maintenance is required to keep them in good shape. Let's look at some helpful tips for taking care of two kinds of popular flooring: carpet and vinyl.

When it comes to carpet care, we generally think of vacuuming and the occasional professional cleaning. It’s best to have a vacuum with a brush roll setting to better capture dirt and shedding. Professional cleaning is needed to keep dirt and spills from building up and may be part of your warranty requirements. For more on cleaning specific stains, click here.
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In addition to regular vacuuming and cleaning, there are other carpet maintenance tasks that help keep it fresh and beautiful. Furniture and heavy objects often cause depressions or indentations from resting on carpet for long periods of time. To remedy this, move your furniture occasionally. Be sure to work the carpet pile that is indented back into place using your fingers or the edge of a spoon. Also use furniture gliders or cups under the legs of heavy furniture.

Fluffing and shedding (this is the balls of carpet fluff you see sitting on the surface of your carpet) naturally occurs with newly installed carpet. With regular vacuuming, most shedding will gradually disappear within the first year after installation. When new carpet is installed, there may be an odor caused by installation materials or the removal of old carpet pad. Ventilation with fresh air is recommended, and windows and doors should be opened with the HVAC turned on for 48 to 72 hours.

Shifting gears to vinyl, vinyl flooring is very easy to care for, and it stands up to spills and scuffs. A daily sweeping to keep the dirt and grit from accumulating and a weekly mopping are sufficient to keep most vinyl in good condition. For general cleaning, it is recommended that you use the manufacture’s cleaner for your brand of vinyl. For example, Mannington Vinyl Floors have their own Rinse-Free Cleaner.

Other helpful tips for vinyl:
*Use floor mats at the entrance doors.
*Use floor protectors under furniture such as tables and chairs.
*Any rugs should not have rubber or latex backing, this can discolor vinyl.
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With today's durable floor coverings, care and maintenance can be a breeze. Always be sure to follow any specific manufacturer instructions and clean up spills and messes promptly. For more on floor care, be sure to visit our website at shopabbey.com.

Today’s tile is rising to new heights with variations in style, textures, shapes, and more. While traditional tile looks like travertine remain popular, hardwood looks, metals, and many other materials are emerging. Let's take a look at some classic tile designs and some of the trends for 2017.

Wood-look tile is taking over the tile market. Darker, rich looks remain popular to get the look of hardwood without the maintenance, but a whitewashed look has also made its way onto the design scene. The whitewashed look is very versatile. It goes perfectly with streamlined, contemporary designs for a clean, fresh look, but it’s also great for coastal and even rustic motifs. If you’re working with a smaller space, lighter colors and clean lines will make your space feel more open.

Wood-look tile has also taken over the bathroom, allowing you to have the look of wood with the durability of tile in areas with high moisture exposure. Long plank wood-look tile that continues to a tub surround or into the walk-in shower makes for a clean, flowing design. Take your décor up a notch by pairing wood-look tile with other materials such as glass or marble.
Designers still love the clean, simple look of Scandinavian style wood floors, and a popular wood-look that tile will take on this year is larch wood—a lighter wood look popular in the United Kingdom. Gray wood-look continues in popularity. It comes in many different tones or mixed with browns and beiges, matching well with many styles.

Tiles are also coming in many different shapes and sizes now. Daltile is introducing a 4” x 28” size tile that's perfect for a herringbone pattern. Daltile even has larger tiles, some 60 inches long. Hexagonal subway tile floors have reemerged in bathrooms, and the black and white patterns still make for a clean, open look. However, if you have a large bathroom, you may want to avoid using smaller patterned tiles that cover the whole floor. This can cause the space to feel busy and take away from the look of your bathroom.

In 2016, brick and subway tiles became all the rage for focal walls, backsplashes, and bathrooms, and they are still popular today. For brick walls, you don't have to have actual bricks to get the look you want. Tile can be found in brick styles and brick-shaped subway tiles. If you’re looking for an industrial, modern style, try a brick-look tile backsplash or focal wall with concrete and metal-look tile floors. Metal-look tile comes in more color options than just stainless, such as gun metal and pewter. Metal-look tile is more authentic but also offers styles you can't get anywhere else, like metal-influenced concrete looks. Pairing brick and metal tiles is a great way to accomplish an industrial, rustic style.
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This year is shaping up beautifully for tile lovers. Brands such as Emser, Daltile, Marazzi, American Olean, and more continue to roll out new styles and designs. Stop by our showroom to browse our selection of in-stock and special-order tile and imagine the possibilities!

​The rustic look is a very popular décor style and for good reason. The look feels homey and welcoming with an aged style. You don't have to live on a farm or in a cabin in the woods to have a beautiful, rustic home. Follow these design tips to bring this style into any space.
 
Garage sales and thrift stores are great places for finding furniture and treasures that can be repurposed. You can easily turn an old window into a picture frame or even a table top with a new coat of paint, some sanding, and a little hardware. For more window ideas click HERE. Find an older-looking piece, such as a dresser, and paint it a creamy white or beige, and then stand it down to create a gently-worn look. If you prefer a pop of color, you can use just about any color you like if used correctly. The most important thing to do when using a bright color such as red or turquoise is to sand off some of the color, making it look worn. For more inspiration, click HERE. A little paint and a sander make it easy to turn something into a beautiful rustic piece.
 
Other rustic touches are old clocks and woven baskets for storage. Textures are another quality of the rustic look, like old metal, rope, burlap and maybe one of the most important, wood. Another key component is the color pallet: creamy whites, beiges, and browns are the primary colors of the rustic look. If you’re looking for even more projects and décor ideas, check out our Farmhouse Pinterest Board.
 
Your floors will be an important factor to your rustic-style home. There are a variety of rustic, weathered looks available in hardwood, LVT, WPC, tile and laminate. The color of wood flooring you will use depends a lot on the color of wood used in the furniture in your home. Do you want to coordinate or contrast? Many hard surface floorings come with aged features like wire brushing and distressing in any color from black to blonde. In addition, there are many selections in rustic, wood-look tile that make it difficult to tell tile from wood.
 
When designing your rustic home, don't be afraid to bargain hunt and break out the sander. Keep your colors rustic by giving the surface a worn look. Find flooring with distressed features and a color that complements your décor. Before long, you’ll have your whole design put together and can enjoy the farmhouse life!

Tile and laminate are very popular and durable flooring choices for active homes. However, they must be taken care of properly for them to last. Following these tips and any additional manufacturer instructions can help increase the life and beauty of your floors.

Tile is often mistakenly thought of as waterproof; however, it is a strong material and will last a long time if cared for correctly. For general maintenance, sweep or vacuum the tile regularly to remove any loose dirt or grit. When a deeper cleaning is required, mop with water and an added tile cleaning solution. Be sure to follow up with a rinse using fresh water; this keeps the cleaner from building up or leaving a film. It’s not recommended that you use any cleaners that are oil based or have a wax polish as these can cause a film to build up.

Never use cleaners containing acid or bleach for routine maintenance. Don’t use harsh cleaning tools such as steel wool or scouring pads that contain metals. These can scratch and damage your tile. Also, be careful not to use ammonia because this can discolor your grout. Make sure you don't clean your tile for about a week after installation so the grout will have time to set. After installation, grout joints should be treated with silicone to insure they do not chip.

Laminate is a great choice for active homes because it has superior scratch and stain resistance. Laminate is not indestructible though and does require regular maintenance. Dirt that goes unattended can be very abrasive to any floor, and laminate is no exception. For routine maintenance, just use your vacuum cleaner. Make sure to use the hard surface setting on your vacuum and turn off the beater bar.

For both tile and laminate, an excellent cleaning solution is Bona Hard Surface Cleaner. Bona cleaner is easy to use and effective. Bona Kemi Pro Series Hard Surface Cleaner is a Greenguard Certified solution with pH balanced formulation to thoroughly clean grout, laminate, and stone surfaces without dulling finishes. It's also non-toxic, so it safely cleans hard surfaces without leaving behind any residue. Even though the Professional cleaners from Bona Kemi are more aggressive than the original strength Bona cleaners, it is safe for use around children and pets.

​If you ever have problems or questions about caring for your floor, consult your flooring specialist or the manufacturer’s instructions. With proper care, you can keep your floors sparkling and looking fresh for years to come.