How Winter Weather Effects Your Floors

Winter is just around the corner, and StarFloors wants to help you maintain and protect your beautiful hardwood floors during this chilly winter season.

It’s important to remember that hardwood floors are natural products that already carry moisture. As the moisture in the environment changes, so does the moisture in your hardwood floor. It's natural for your hardwood floors to adapt to these environmental factors with the seasons. However, sometimes these natural adaptions can lead to bigger issues.  By protecting your floors this winter, you can avoid such issues so you can enjoy your hardwood floors all winter long.

StarFloors team of experts complied their most commonly asked questions to assist you in maintaining your floors' natural beauty this winter.

How does cold weather affect my hardwood floors?

As the winter rages on and temperatures drop, you may begin to notice cracks in your hardwood floor. If you live in an area that is especially dry and arid this is  very common. 

As the air dries out, so will the wood. Your floors might begin to shrink causing the appearance of cracks between the boards.

What causes the cracking and shrinking in the hardwood floors?

Turning your heat up in your house will cause the inside air to dry out thus pulling the moisture from the floor. As the temperature outside drops below freezing, the moisture in the air will be very minimal and drop as snow, frost or ice and this may cause the shrinking and cracking in your hardwood floor as well.

Are there solutions to preventing or minimizing cracking and shrinking hardwood floors?

·         By using a humidifier in your home you can drastically minimize the effects of the cold weather.

·         By sealing up cracks around windows and doors, this will reduce the drafts coming into your home.

·         Have all family members and guests remove their shoes at the entryway on a mat, the standing water can affect the finishing on the floor as well as seep into the cracks causing possible bacteria and mold growth.

The cracking and the shrinking of hardwood floors is not permanent. As the temperature and the humidity levels begin to rise, the wood will absorb that moisture and return to its original state.

Don’t forget that our flooring specialists are always here to answer any questions and concerns you may have regarding your area rug choice. We are available toll free at 866-503-STAR (7827) or on the web at www.starfloors.com. You can also submit your questions to us at www.facebook.com/starfloors or on twitter @starfloors_

A Floor Without A Rug is Like a Kiss Without a Hug!

Have you ever looked at a room and knew something was missing? Chances are that an area rug will be your solution to tying your well decorated home together.  Area rugs do more than merely cover your beautiful floors; they offer style and functionality to your living space. StarFloors provides an array of area rugs including various sizes, colors, textures and patterns all designed to match your home décor.

Now is the perfect time to give your bare floor a complete makeover before your holiday guests arrive. As you may know, StarFloors offer an extensive selection and variety in area rugs. Some things you may want to consider when deciding what area rug to purchase are:

1.       Aesthetics: color, texture, design/patter, luster, appearance or “look”

·         Desired Ambience

·         Color Selection

·         What pattern, style and texture will match my home?

2.       Appearance:

·         Durability

·         Color retention

·         Texture retention

3.       Primary end-use considerations:

·         Traffic Level

·         Projected life span

·         Moisture/weather

Our floor specialists are here for you! They will provide you with their knowledge of area rugs and work with you to ensure your area rug is exactly to your liking.

Once you have picked out your perfect area rug to match your living space, it is important to know how to clean and care for your area rug.

·         Vacuum high-traffic areas frequently and less frequently used areas on occasion

·         Clean spills by blotting as oppose to rubbing and scrubbing

·         Use a pad underneath your rug to prevent slipping and to provide greater comfort, pads also help prevent dyes and colors from bleeding through to the floor below

·         Rotate rugs every 6-12 months to prevent uneven wear

Don’t forget that our flooring specialists are always here to answer any questions and concerns you may have regarding your area rug choice. We are available toll free at 866-503-7827 (STAR) or on the web at www.starfloors.com. You can also submit your questions to us at www.facebook.com/starfloors or on twitter @StarFloors_

StarFloors Pink-Out Day! Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

 

  

Dallas Office Staff

StarFloors Annual Pink-Out Day was a huge success!

All accross the nation StarFloors staff members supported the cause by decking out in pink attire and participating in a "Decorate for the Cause" Contest.

Colorado Territory Manager celebrates Pink-Out Day!

Corporate Offices in Dallas Celebrate Pink-Out!

Senior Territory Manager, Erin Watkins, with her Pink-Out Showroom on Wheels!

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month educates women about the importance of early detection. More and more women are getting mammograms to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. As a result, breast cancer deaths are on the decline. Encourage the women in your life to get mammograms on a regular basis. For more information visit http://www.nbcam.org

 

Decorate for the Cure Winner, Tony!

 

Making Our Mission Go-Pink!



StarFloors Go-Pink Day!

 



 

Decorate for the Cure Contest Facebook Fan Page Winner, Laura!











Which Carpet Fiber is Right for You?

When shopping for carpet, it’s important to think about how your carpet will perform once installed. Two carpet samples may look the same, but there are many differences between the fibers that make up that carpet.

Some carpets look new for a long time, others look old within a short time. The difference is in how well they resist soiling and matting. Most carpets do not wear out. They get soiled, change surface texture, and mat, which makes them look old. Take the opportunity to review the information to help determine which carpet fiber would be best for you and your living space or work space.

FIBER OVERVIEW

Carpet Fiber	Advantages	Disadvantages
Nylon	Nylon carpet wears very well. Nylon provides great style and lots of diversity, it is also the most widely accepted and used carpet fiber. Nylon is easy to clean, extremely strong, resistant to matting as well as moths, moisture, and mildew. Third and forth generation nylon is static resistant and nylon is considered to be a very eco-friendly "green" fiber.	Nylon tends to be more expensive and can be stained by oil and grease. Nylon also degrades and fades in sunlight.
Polyester	Polyester performs and wears almost as well as nylon, and polyester resists stains better than nylon fiber. Polyester is fade resistant and a cost-effective choice for you living/work space. Polyester has a soft luxurious feel, it has excellent resistance to abrasion, and excellent resistance to mildew.	Polyester fiber traditionally does not have the same wear reputation as nylon, but has improved tremendously with new polymers in the last decade. Additionally when polyester has exposure to sunlight, the fiber weakens.
Polypropylene	Very cost-effective The most stain resistant fiber Additionally, polypropylene is colorfast, a strong fiber, soil and water resistant, has good stain resistance, no static problem resistant to moths and mildew, and can be used as an indoor or outdoor carpet.	Polypropylene is limited to mostly loop construction and does have some color limitations.Depending on the carpet construction, polypropylene can tend to mat. Ask your flooring specialist for more information regarding your polypropylene carpet selection to see if this is a factor to consider.
PTT (Triexta)	PTT performs well in high traffic and has a soft hand.	Cannot be stain treated.
Plushes (Cut Piles)	Plush carpet offers timeless style and a great value.	Not as unique as other carpet types.
Cables	Cable carpets are very stylish and have a good hand.	Cable carpet fiber is more costly than other carpet options and has some performance limitations.

Loops	Loop carpet fiber provides excellent performance in high performance areas because it minimizes the appearance of footprints.	Loop carpet does not feel as luxurious to the touch as other carpet fibers.
Friezes	Frieze carpet provides great performance and a soft hand. Frieze carpets are very trendy and offer many stylish options.	Frieze carpets tend to show more footprints than other carpets and can are more costly than other options.

Wool	Wool fiber is crush resistant, has limited pilling problems, wool is very durable, and is very eco-friendly.	Wool soils easily and must be imported because domestic fibers are finer and weaker thus making it more expensive than domestic fibers.
Acrylic	Acrylic fiber has a wool-like appearance with low moisture absorption and cleans easily. Acrylic fiber has good stain resistance and is resistant to moths and mildew as well as  to sunlight damage.	Acrylic fiber is not as strong as other synthetics produced in short fibers and crimped poor resistance to matting stained by oil and grease.

 

Don’t forget that our flooring specialists are always here to answer any questions and concerns you may have regarding your carpet choice. We are available toll free at 866-503-7827 (STAR) or on the web at www.starfloors.com. You can also submit your questions to us at www.facebook.com/starfloors or on twitter @StarFloors_

StarFloors Cleaning Tip of the Month!

At StarFloors, we love to share our tips for keeping your floors as clean and stunning as the first day they were installed. This month's floor care tip features a product that is highly effective but also a staff favorite at StarFloors.

Shaw’s R2X Stain and Soil Remover

If you know Shaw that you have probably heard of R2X before.
R2X is Shaw’s patented carpet protective system, which is applied to most of the carpets they manufacturer. R2X represents a breakthrough in soil and stain resistance technology. Most stain and soil resistance systems are topically applied and provide adequate protection only around the surface of the carpet. Comparatively, the R2X system produces total fiber coverage and protection from the top to the bottom of the yarn. The superior repellency of R2X keeps liquid stains on the face of the carpet where they can be easily removed by blotting.

"Shaw's patented and exclusive R2X system goes beyond conventional repellents that only protect the surface of the carpet. With R2X, carpets are armed with total fiber coverage, offering complete protection from the top to the bottom of the yarn. This total fiber coverage offers unprecedented protection against household spills and everyday soiling. With R2X, spills that reach the base of the yarn don't penetrate and wick back to the top as they do with conventional solutions."
-Shawfloors.com

Fortunately, for us, Shaw also created an effective household cleaner, R2X Stain and Soil Remover, which harnesses this R2X power. To date, this is one of the most effective and convenient ways to clean tough household spills and stains that attack your floors. The best part is that R2X is available for soft and hard surface flooring!

R2X Carpet Stain & Soil Remover for Carpet

Shaw’s R2X Carpet Stain & Soil Remover for Carpet is an extremely effective spot cleaner for most household stains and soiling, and its use eliminates the need for rinsing. With R2X, there is no residue to rise out of the carpet, and the cleaned area has been re-protected to guard against future problems. R2X gets rid of tough household spills and stains on carpet and can be used on all water-safe fabrics and upholstery (including wool). With R2X Carpet Stain & Soil Remover, just clean, blot dry...and forget about it!


R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner

Shaw’s R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner leaves your ceramic, laminate, pre-finished hardwood, and vinyl flooring sparkling clean. This stain remover is gentle enough for all types of flooring and powerful enough to tackle the toughest stains.

The benefits of using R2X for your hard surface flooring include:

• R2X is a multi-purpose cleaner that removes tough dirt, grease, and scuffs
• R2X will not cause dulling or leave a sticky residue
• R2X does not need to be rinsed


Best of all, R2X Stain and Soil Removers and R2X Flooring Cleaner have been tested and given the coveted Good Housekeeping Seal by the Good Housekeeping Institute. R2X Stain and Soil Remover also earned the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval and the Wool Safe Certificate of Accreditation.

For a rather inexpensive cleaner, R2X really packs a punch.
If you are looking for an effective floor cleaner that will get the job done, use R2X from Shaw.

This cleaner can be purchased at a retailer near you or by visiting: Shawfloors.com

A DuraCeramic Love Story!

I am getting old. I know this because when I visit my parents, we always end up talking about things like the garden, mom's new counter tops, and how they plan to hang a picture on their freshly painted wall in the hallway. Strange. Anyways, one topic of conversation this weekend was their kitchen flooring. After 14 years, they've decided it's time to update. The ceramic tile in their kitchen has several mementos left from my childhood including chips, scrapes, and stains.

My mom was quick to remind me of all the times I would come home after school and rush to the cabinet to get a snack or drink. On several occasions, in the midst of my fury and snack-madness, I managed to drop one my mother's beautiful drinking glasses on our ceramic tile floors. Inevitably the glass broke, which put mom in a bad mood, and left me sweeping and searching for shards of glass throughout our kitchen.

I was thrilled when they mentioned they were ready for a change because I could not wait to talk about my new DuraCeramic floors. When my husband and I moved into our new home, DuraCeramic tile was already installed in our kitchen. At first, I was unsure, given that dear mom had ceramic tile.  Usually, I do everything that mom does, so naturally I planned to put ceramic tile in. However, after spending 3 months on DuraCeramic, I would never switch. So naturally, I told mom she had to use DuraCeramic too!

"Really?!" Mom says. "What do you love about it?"

So I told her: DuraCeramic has so many benefits. First of all, our DuraCeramic is beautiful. It's also QUIET, which is so important, given I have two rambunctious pups.Apparently, it's DuraCeramic's overall construction that absorbs sound, making steps quieter.  Best of all, my husband dropped one of my favorites dishes on the floor last night and I was stunned to find that the dish was left fully intact. Can you believe it?! (My husband was so grateful to escape that storm!) My husband is definitely happy that DuraCeramic is less likely to shatter my precious dishes when he fumbles.

I love my DuraCeramic so much that I met with a StarFloors Flooring Specialist to discuss our options for bathroom flooring.  I was definitely happy to discover that DuraCeramic now features Scotchgard TM Protector built into the wear surface which repels soil and stains. DuracCeramic also had Silver Antibacterial protection to guard against mold, mildew, and bacteria (thank you!!! **reminder** I have two dogs!)

What amazed me the most in viewing the DuraCeramic line-up is how beautiful and natural looking all of their products are. DuraCeramic has the elegant look of upscale ceramic tile without the price. I debated whether I wanted to go with marble or natural stone. Eventually, with my flooring specialists help, I decided on DuraCeramic: Dreamscape Bleached Almond. I loved the color and it fit in our home perfectly. You can see this product on the DuraCeramic website here.

I decided to get my DuraCermic tile installed without grout, just my personal preference, but I should mention that the DuraCeramic in our kitchen is installed with grout and looks fantastic too! My husband's favorite part of our DuraCermic tile is the Lifelong Limited Warranty.  Congoleum made the process so easy for us by posting all of their warranty information online and all of the information my husband needed to feel confident in my buying decision.

I'm proud to say, this story has a happy ending. Mom is meeting with StarFloors next week to talk about DuraCeramic for their kitchen.....maybe I can convince her to update her bathroom floors too! :)

A Night of Giving...

Last night, StarFloors and Starpower employees gathered together at ReMax Premier's Hero Happy Hour and Silent Auction for the Texas Sentinels Foundation of Collin County. The Collin County Texas Sentinels Team, led by Mal Smith, is made up of over 30 real estate professionals and concerned citizens who are already working hard to make the home of Texas Sentinels Sergeant Justin Feagin a reality.

The Hero Happy Hour and Silent Auction took place at Hexter-Fair Title Company in Plano, Texas. Star Companies was honored to be a part of the event and ecstatic to see so many people excited about the the plethora of silent auction items donated to the cause. Friends, colleagues, and contributors gathered in Plano with their check books open and ready to bid on silent auction items for Sergeant Feagin and his family.

Starpower donated a 24" flat screen TV, which had auction attendees excited and ready to bid! StarFloors contributed a large room of carpet with a choice of 6 different styles and textures. The room of carpet included installation and pad, and flooring consultation with StarFloors' Phil Kenton.

Anne-Marie Hosler and Paige Haga from StarFloors and Starpower

"The best part of the evening was getting to meet Mal Smith and his team. The dedication that this group of individuals displays is truly inspiring. I think it's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine of our lives and forget about the brave individuals who have fought, and are still fighting, for our country. I was so impressed with the overall event and proud to be a part of something so great! I am also so thankful to work for Star Companies. Starpower and StarFloors are generous is so many facets of the word, but getting to see how their generosity directly benefits this cause was truly inspiring. I was honored to represent StarFloors last night."

 - Anne-Marie Hosler, Marketing Manager - StarFloors



The Texas Sentinels Story:

"RE/MAX of Texas has taken a leadership role in the development of a Scholarship Program designed to support our severely wounded and injured members of the Armed Forces returning to Texas.

The Texas Sentinels Foundation Scholarship was created to benefit qualified members of the U.S. Armed Forces severely injured in the line of duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001. The program helps them readjust to civilian life and prosper in their hometowns ornew communities.

Through their personal sacrifice and heroic dedication, we enjoy the freedoms and security of this great nation. The Texas Sentinels Foundation is an opportunity for all citizens to help create a better life for wounded veterans and their families. It’s an opportunity to say ‘Thank You’.

The Texas Sentinels Foundation provides qualified wounded veterans and their families with new debt-free homes in Texas in conjunction with our Texas Sentinels Foundation life scholarship, job placement and ongoing mentorship, enabling returning veterans to realize their families’ dreams." - Texas Sentinels Foundation