Without question choosing new flooring can be a scary experience. Especially when you don't know where to start. Educating yourself on different product types is important, but finding a flooring specialist is probably to most helpful thing you can do to help assist you in making these decisions.
With four generations of flooring industry experience, StarFloors has built its reputation of dependability, fair pricing, superior materials and workmanship. As one of the largest independent flooring dealers in the U.S., we’re able to give our customers the lowest possible prices. Whatever your needs, StarFloors has you covered.
StarFloors takes care of all our customers’ flooring needs. Our services go beyond the details of installing flooring. We also make sure your jobs run smoothly and on time. In addition, every customer is asked to complete a customer satisfaction survey to rate your overall experience with StarFloors. We continually work to improve ourselves and give our customers the best experience possible.
When it comes to choosing your flooring, StarFloors offers a variety of products from the best manufacturers available. Our vinyl selection comes in a wide range of colors, designs, and textures. Vinyl is a durable product that is skid and mar resistant, easy to care for and ideal for high-traffic areas. Vinyl is an ideal option if you are looking for a versatile, durable surface that will withstand your busy family and pets. Vinyl is usually used in bathrooms and kitchens because it’s a material that can handle high traffic and is generally easy to clean.
Vinyl flooring is a great option for busy families because it is practical, functional, and budget friendly. Vinyl is also known to be cushiony and comfortable to walk on. This is because vinyl flooring is a resilient floor, meaning it has “give” when you walk across it.
When choosing a vinyl that is right for you, keep your budget in mind. As you move up in price range you have more colors, patterns, and textures available to you. In addition, today’s wear layers offer superior resistance to stains, scuffs, and scratches. Some wearlayers are enhanced with aluminum oxide to increase their ability to resist scratching.
As with anything, when you move up in price you will see improved construction of the vinyl in addition to the variety of colors, patterns, and textures available to you. We invite you to explore your vinyl flooring options and speak with your StarFloors Professional to decide which selection is best for you.
Things to Discuss with Your Flooring Professional
1. The Wearlayer- Discussing the type of wearlayer on the vinyl of your choice is important because the wearlayer is the actual surface layer of the floor. The wearlayer will determine how the floor will stand up to staining, scuffing and scratching.
2. Foot Traffic- When selecting the right vinyl for you, discuss the traffic patterns and the types of activities that will take place in the room you shopping for. Also take into consideration whether or not pets and children will be using the room.
3. Maintenance/Cleaning
4. Manufacturer’s Warranty
The Construction of Vinyl
Vinyl is created in layers, much like laminate. The layers include: the wear layer, the printed or decorative layer, an inner core-made of foam, and a backing.
Homeowners are offered two types of residential sheet vinyl flooring. The older construction type is called inlaid construction and the newer, more common construction type is called rotogravure construction.
The Inlaid Process-
The inlaid process uses solid colored vinyl chips that are laid on top of a carrier sheet and then bonded together with heat and pressure. The inlaid process has been around for years and generally results in geometric type patterns and designs. Residential inlaid floors have a clear wear layer placed over the top of the chips to make the floor's finish easier to maintain. It is important to note that you are not walking directly on the inlaid chips; instead you are walking on the clear wear layer that was placed on top of the chips. The appearance of your inlaid floor is dependent on how long the clear finish will last.
The Rotogravure Printing Process-
The rotogravure printing process is the most commonly used method for making residential vinyl floors and offers unlimited possibilities in pattern and design. This involves a print cylinder that spins around while the vinyl's core layer (called the gel coat) passes underneath. The cylinder systematically prints various colored ink dyes to create the pattern. After the print dyes are set a clear wear layer is applied to the surface. Like the inlaid the appearance retention of a rotogravure floor is dependent on the durability of the clear wear layer.
The Benefits of Vinyl
1. Easy to clean
2. Stays looking like new
3. Resists staining from normal household products
4. Doesn’t show scratches easily
5. Easy to clean up spills
Preparing for Your Vinyl Installation
At StarFloors we strive to make every install as easy and stress-free as possible for the customer.
StarFloors will move regular household furniture in order to complete the installation*
Listed are some things you can do to help the installation process. In addition, please discuss the details of the installation of your new vinyl with your StarFloors Professional.
1. Disconnect phones, computers, and/or audio and video equipment
2. Clear all desk surfaces. Remove pictures, breakables, valuables, and antiques from any area or furniture that will be affected by the installation
3. Remove linens from the beds
4. Empty China cabinets
5. Pick up shoes and clothing from the floor of your closets
6. Keep water and electricity ON
7. Advise your neighbors that you will be getting work done at your home
8. Keep pets outside or confined during installation- for their safety and the quality of the installation
9. Shut the doors to rooms that are not being installed
10. Turn off Air Conditioning Vents
11. Provide touch-up paint to the installers
12. Check the flooring product before it is installed
13. Check in periodically during the installation
14. Be aware of your HOA’s policies and any issues that may arise during install
*StarFloors does not move billiards tables or pianos and we do not empty water beds.
After Installation: Leave heavy weight on glue down molding for at least 2 days.
Residential Care (Provided by our partners at Congoleum)
IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLATION
- Protect and do not disturb the sealed seams on your resilient sheet flooring for at least 16 hours after seam sealer application to ensure a proper seam bond.
- Keep traffic to a minimum during the first 24 hours to allow the adhesive to harden. Then open to light foot traffic only for the next 24 hours. Resume normal traffic after 48 hours.
- Furniture should not be placed on the floor for 24 hours so the adhesive (and grout, if applicable), have had adequate time to dry.
- Always move heavy furniture and appliances with care to avoid gouging or tearing the floor. First, lay strips of plywood or hardboard panels on the floor. Then roll, "walk" or slide these items on the strips. Do not push or pull appliances and heavy furniture without taking these precautions.
- Wash your floor using Congoleum Bright 'N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner or other suitable resilient floor cleaner 48 hours after installation.
- Immediately after the installation of a Connections floor:
- Keep the room temperature between 65ºF and 85ºF for at least 48 hours after installation. Maintain the room temperature 55ºF and 85ºF thereafter.
- Do not wash or scrub Connections flooring for at least 5 days after installation. This allows the adhesive bond to develop by preventing moisture and cleaning agents from interfering with the bonding process. Spot cleaning is acceptable, but do not apply excess moisture of cleaning solution.
Caution: Resilient flooring, like other types of smooth floors, can become slippery when wet. Allow time for the floor to dry after washing. Immediately wipe up wet areas from spills or wet feet. Place mats at outside entrances to prevent water, snow or ice from being tracked onto your floor. Improper polishes or finishes can also cause slipperiness.
PREVENTATIVE CARE
- Make sure furniture legs have large surface, nonstaining floor protectors. Replace small, narrow metal or dome-shaped glides with smooth, flat glides that are in flat contact with the floor. Glides should be equipped with self-adhesive felt pads to avoid scratching the surface of the floor. The pads should be checked periodically for grit and wear and replaced when necessary.
- Heavy furniture or appliances that are not moved often should be equipped with flat, nonstaining composition furniture casters or cups of appropriate size - available square from 1 1/2" to 2 5/8" and round from 1 3/8" to 1 5/8".
- Mobile appliances and furniture should be equipped with easily swiveling casters. They should be at least 2" in diameter with nonstaining hard rubber treads at least 3/4" wide. Do not use ball-shaped casters.
- Place mats at outside entrances to prevent dirt, grit and soil from being tracked onto your floor. Use 100% latex- backed mats, because some rubber-backed mats or carpets may permanently stain your floor.
- To help prevent staining from asphalt tracking, we recommend the use of a latex-based driveway sealer.
- Draw drapes and blinds during peak periods of strong sunlight. Resilient floors, like other home furnishing products, may discolor or fade when overexposed to the sun.
- Heat-producing appliances such as a refrigerator or range, or hot air registers emitting a direct flow of heat in excess of 120º F, even intermittently, can scorch, burn, discolor or fade your floor. Cigarettes, matches and other very hot objects can also damage your floor.
- Avoid wearing stiletto or spiked heels on your floor. These types of heels can indent or damage many types of floors.
- DO NOT USE STEAM CLEANERS ON CONGOLEUM FLOORS, they can permanently damage the floor.
REGULAR CARE (All Products)
- Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove dirt and grit that can abrade, dull or scratch your new floor. Do not use a vacuum with a beater brush, because it may damage the floor's surface.
- Wipe up spills promptly with a damp cloth or mop.
- For a more thorough cleaning, wash your floor with Congoleum Bright 'N Easy No-Rinse Cleaner or other suitable, non-detergent based resilient floor cleaner.
Caution: Avoid one-step "mop and polish" products, dishwashing liquids and oil-based cleaners. These may leave a residue which can attract dirt and dull your floor's finish. Avoid cleaners that contain abrasives or solvents which may permanently damage your floor.
- Remove excess water after washing the floor.
- A copolymer or acrylic grout sealer compatible with acrylic grouts may be used on DuraCeramic grout. Do not use a penetrating silicone sealer on the grout.
- The gloss level may change over time depending on the amount of traffic, care, and maintenance the floor receives. To restore the appearance, first use Congoleum Bright 'N Easy Polish Remover to remove any ground-in dirt and excess polish buildup. Rinse thoroughly. Then apply Congoleum Bright 'N Easy Floor Polish (03002) to obtain a high-gloss finish or Congoleum Bright 'N Easy Satin-Gloss Floor Polish (03007) to obtain a satin-gloss or natural-gloss finish. Do not apply polish to Xclusive, DuraCeramic, DuraCeramic Options, DuraPlank, DuraStone, AirStep Evolution or AirStep Plus.
Visit Congoeum at
http://www.congoleum.com/
If you have any additional installation questions, contact us toll-free (866) 503- STAR (7827)
