800 West Main Street, Springfield, Ohio 45504
Phone: 937-325-8731, Toll Free: 800-796-2064
Fax: 937-325-0578
Business Hours:
Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Carpet & Rugs
Buying Tips for Carpets
Don't Take the Quality of Your Carpet Cushion Lightly
The performance of many carpets will hinge on the performance of the cushion. Spending a few extra dollars on cushion can mean extra years of performance for your carpet. Some carpet warranties also hinge on the grade of cushion you select.
Carpet cushion affects the luxury feel underfoot, quietness, resilience, cleaning, insulation and, ultimately, the life of your carpet.
Crushing or flattening of your carpet fiber causes it to look ugly long before its useful wear life is over. Quality cushion helps to resist this condition.
Don't Judge the Quality by Feel Alone
Thick and luxurious carpets can fool you at times. Determine the performance you want and the conditions affecting your carpet. A tighter twisted fiber doesn't feel as soft but it will generally give you better performance over the life of the carpet. A tightly twisted yarn will resist soiling, matting and crushing. When a yarn is not tightly twisted, it may feel more luxurious, but it will tend to crush and flatten out more quickly.
Read the Labels
Generally speaking, you can review the stain resistance, anti-static claims and wear warranties right on the back of the sample. You also will see the type of fiber (nylon, polyester, polypropylene, etc.), the face weight, density and twist.
There Is No Substitute for a Knowledgeable Sales Person
As you can see, there are a wide variety of issues to resolve in buying the best carpet for your needs. The performance and quality characteristics of carpet vary more widely than that of other flooring materials, and a knowledgeable sales person will help you match up your performance needs.
- Sales, Service & Installation
- Materials for Do-It-Yourselfers
- Colors & Textures for Any Palette
- Free Estimates
- Well-Trained & Qualified Installers
Paint
Our paint professionals offer excellent color matching services with quality customer service.
Benjamin Moore's Commitment to the Environment
Recently, the Benjamin Moor Eco Spec® primer and finishes received both Green Seal® and Greenguard® certification, having met their stringent, low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) rules for primers and finishes.
With exclusive lines that cater to environmental sensibilities, Benjamin Moore Paints offer freedom, versatility, ease and simplicity with their signature lines.
Flooring
- Sales, Service & Installation
- Materials for Do-It-Yourselfers
- Colors & Textures for Any Palette
- Free Estimates
Ceramic Tile
Buying Tips for Ceramic Tile
The Correct Subfloor Structure Is Critical to Performance
Ceramic tile, more than any other form of flooring, requires the proper subfloor system and setting materials. A double subfloor system with the total thickness of 1-1/4 inch, over floor joists 16 inch on center is required. The top subfloor layer should be exterior grade plywood or an underlayment specifically designed for ceramic tile installation, like cementous backerboard.
Special setting materials are available which will allow ceramic tile installations over existing floors that are solid and already meet the above requirements. Failure to provide a sturdy base can cause grout to crack and release, or tile to crack.
Although Many Ceramic Tiles Look the Same, There Are Quality Differences
The quality of raw materials, the firing process, and the sophistication of glazing applications that create realism will determine the quality of the finished product. These quality differences are often reflected in the price.
Selecting the Right Surface Glaze Is an Important Step When Selecting Floor Tile
Floor tiles are rated for glaze wear and slip resistance, which are important factors to consider. Glaze ratings should exceed 3 for residential applications, with the exception of bath areas that can use tiles rated 2. Tiles with a slip resistant rating of 0.5 or better should work well in most indoor residential applications.
Use caution when selecting tile for installations outdoors. Unglazed quarry tiles, tiles with heavily textured surfaces or porcelain paver tiles, all with slip resistant ratings of 0.6 or greater are possibilities. They must also be frost resistant.
Request the Best in Setting Materials
New latex modified mortars and grouts provide better strength while also allowing greater flexibility.
Special Caution
Dropping objects on ceramic tile - particularly heavy ones - can chip even the best tiles.
Hardwood Flooring
Buying Tips for Hardwood Flooring
Factory Finish vs. Custom Sand and Finish On-Site
You should feel comfortable with either choice of finishes. However, factory finishing offers many nice advantages. Factory finished flooring is inspected for defects at the mill, so you receive first choice every time. On-site finishing depends on the quality of the workmanship that day.
Factory finished flooring usually installs more quickly and without the dust and odors that are involved with on-site finishing. However, even though factory finished flooring comes in a variety of colors, on-site finishing allows for closer color match with existing woodwork or cabinets.
Both factory finishes and on-site finishes are available in either high gloss or matte. Both types have exciting new finishes developed with space-age technology. These finishes are not like grandma's old wood floors because they require no waxing.
Engineered Products Install Where No Solid Hardwood Dares to Go
Prior to the development of engineered hardwood flooring, hardwood products could not be installed on slab or in your basement without a special subfloor system. Now you can enjoy real hardwood flooring in those areas without all that fuss and expense. A special cross-ply construction eliminates the problem of expansion and contraction usually associated with solid hardwood.
Don't become overly concerned with thinner or thicker top wood layers associated with engineered products because it's the finish you are walking on. Generally speaking you won't need to re-sand and finish these products; just re-coat them unless you need to change the color.
Special Considerations When Selecting Hardwood Flooring
Direct sunlight can affect the color of hardwood stains. Therefore, closing curtains or shades during peak periods will reduce damage. Area rugs left in place for extended periods of time may expose a shading difference once they are removed from the remainder of the floor.
Large pets with sharp toenails can also damage even the best finishes.
Laminate Flooring
Buying Tips for Laminate Flooring
Why Has This New Product Category Been Such a Hit?
Laminate products feature a newer type of wear surface that resists scratching, denting and burns better than many existing products. They also offer extended product warranties to back up these claims for superior performance.
Much of the styling is done in wood grain patterns taking advantage of the popularity of hardwood. Still, other styling resembles natural stone like you would find in ceramic tile. Laminates offer a popular trade-off for people wanting wood or ceramic. Laminate floors are more scratch resistant than most regular hardwood finishes, and easier to clean than the grout lines associated with ceramic tile installations. Laminates also require less demanding preparation of the subfloor because they are not glued directly to the subfloor. Most of these products are glued or snapped together over foam padding. This feature has made laminate flooring popular in areas where vinyl flooring traditionally was installed.
Custom floor design is also very easily done with products that offer planks and squares that mix and match together.
High Pressure Laminate vs. Direct Pressure Laminate
You'll hear conversations on this difference, but both products perform equally well in most situations. The high pressure products have greater chipping and impact resistance. High pressure laminates also have a separate wear surface protecting the pattern, whereas the pattern and the wear surface is the same with direct pressure products.
Laminate Flooring in Wet Areas
Many of the products are okay for wet areas, but the core is made of wood fiber. Look for products that have warranties that cover water damage. All of them will insist on proper installation.
Finishing Touches Are Important
Look for products that can provide the needed accessories like reducer strips, stair nose and even air vents that either match or coordinate with the flooring.
Vinyl Flooring
Buying Tips for Vinyl Flooring
Inlaid Sheet Flooring vs. Printed Cushion Vinyl
Inlaid products will resist the rips, tears and burns far better than printed cushion vinyl products. New innovations like ToughGuard backing from Armstrong help cushion vinyl floors to resist tearing.
Residential inlaid products are generally 6 feet wide and require seams, while most printed cushion vinyl products are available in widths of 12 feet and can offer seamless installation. However, most residential inlaid product patterns are designed so the seam falls in a grout line, and is therefore not obvious to the eye.
In recent years, backing materials have been affected by back staining. Ask for newer backings like Armstrong's ToughGuard, which are designed to resist back staining.
Most residential sheet floorings offer no-wax performance and a wide variety of colors and patterns - more than any other flooring product. Printed products offer the widest assortment. Some commercial rated inlaid products require waxing.
Generally speaking, cushion flooring is the most affordable of all flooring choices.
Some Products Are Designed to Help You Reduce Subfloor Preparation Costs
Next to ceramic tile, vinyl flooring installation demands properly prepared subflooring. Many of the printed cushion vinyl products are very thin. When they are installed with a full spread of adhesive over a poorly prepared subfloor, irregularities can telegraph through. Products designed for perimeter installation will greatly reduce the effects of subfloor irregularities while lowering subfloor preparation costs. In fact, many of these products can be installed over your existing flooring.
Special Considerations When Choosing Sheet Vinyl Flooring
Asphalt staining or dragging heavy objects across the floor can result in permanent damage to vinyl surfaces.
Other Products
Services
Interior Design
800 Paint Place offers custom interior design services with wallpaper, custom drapes and window treatments, along with a full line of Hunter Douglas blinds. We also do custom upholstery and custom slipcovers.We offer many brands of fabric and wallpaper.
For Full Service Interior Decorating, Call Linda Isaacs
With 17 years of experience at 800 Paint Place, Linda can help you from start to finish. Please call for an appointment so that we can assist you with the selection of your window treatments, wallpapers, paints, carpets and flooring. And, don't forget to ask about the custom upholstery and slipcovers that we can provide for your furniture.
