Brighten Your Home With White Washed Wood Floors

Whether you want to build a home with a coastal feel, update your Carolina Beach or Wrightsville Beach bungalow, explore the simple beauty of Scandinavian-inspired dcor, or simply freshen up your home, white washed wood floors might be the answer.

Are you wondering what on earth we?re talking about? If so, you?re not alone! We?ve had a lot of questions about this unique and fun look, so we decided to answer the most common ones in a blog post. Let?s start at the beginning?

What exactly are white washed wood floors? Sometimes known as ?pickled wood flooring? or ?pickled hardwood floors,? white washed wood floors by any name are gaining popularity across America, including right here in Wilmington, NC. It?s a technique that allows you to brighten wood floors that may have grown dark and dingy with age, without losing the natural grain pattern. Another bonus: they can also make a small space seem larger, especially when paired with white walls.

How is it done? To get this breezy coastal look, white stain is applied to the floors and then wiped away. The different names of the process simply refer to which way the stain was applied. If you go against the grain, it?s called pickled wood flooring. If you go with the grain, your floors have been white washed. Pickling will saturate the wood more, and looks best when applied to oak floors. White washing, on the other hand, is a great way to highlight the natural grain of pine floors. No matter which direction you go, you end up with a modern, transitional look that?s classy and clean.

Should I DIY? You can DIY almost anything, but that doesn?t mean you?ll get the best results?especially when it comes to a job as large as your floors. We may be biased, but we think this is a look best accomplished by a professional. The easiest way to guarantee that you get the look you want is to buy engineered hardwood flooring that is pre-pickled or white washed, rather than painting the floor you have. Not only is painting your floors labor-intensive and time-consuming, but there?s no way to tell how the paint will take until you start?and then it?s too late to change your mind. Buying it when it?s already been white washed or pickled means you can get the exact look you want, without any unpleasant surprises.

Carpet Versus Hardwood: The Great Debate

One of the most hotly contested issues in the flooring industry comes down to one not-so-simple issue?wall-to-wall carpet, or hardwood floors? We?ve seen this decision cause a rift in happy marriages, bring roommates to tears, and act as a deal breaker for homeowners. The problem is that it?s not a cut and dry issue. Both options have benefits, and it can be difficult to decide which is best. To help settle countless arguments once and for all, we?ve brought carpet and hardwood together to go head-to-head in the following five categories. May the best flooring win!

1. Comfort: Hardwood floors are beautiful, but they can?t compare to the soft, plush surface that carpet provides. It?s especially lovely in places where comfort is key or where small children will be playing on the floor, such as bedrooms and family rooms. Carpet can also help a insulate a space, so if you live in drafty house or are worried that Wilmington, NC might get hit with another ice-storm, hardwood floors might not be the best choice. The winner: carpet.

2. Cleanliness: Hardwood is nearly impossible to stain and can be cleaned with a simple mix of soap and white vinegar. Meanwhile, dust and bacteria can catch in carpet?s fibers and are much harder to remove. You probably don?t want to picture this, but every time you walk across your carpet, you release millions of tiny particles?many of which can trigger allergies. Hardwood floors are an easy way to avoid this problem. The winner: hardwood floors.

3. Safety: Hardwood floors are slick and area rugs can be a tripping hazard, especially in homes with small children or elderly adults. If safety is a concern, then the soft, plush surface that wall-to-wall carpet provides is a better choice. A fall will be automatically cushioned, and injuries sustained from accidents will be minimized. The winner: carpet.

4. Longevity: No matter how careful you are with your carpet, normal wear and tear means you?ll probably have to replace it every few years. While a change can be nice, the costs eventually add up. Hardwood floors, on the other hand, can last decades. And, if something does happen, you can hire a professional to refinish and restore them to their natural splendor. The winner: hardwood floors.

5. Cost: This is a tough one. Carpet is less expensive to install than hardwood floors, so the upfront costs are lower. But hardwood floors have a lengthier life, so you save money in the long run. The winner: it?s a tie.

Ceramic Tile Versus Porcelain Tile:

Which is Right for You?

The two most popular kinds of tile ? ceramic tile and porcelain tile ? are closely related, but they have some key differences. Ceramic tile is made from a mixture of clays and other natural materials, which are then fired in kilns. While porcelain tile is also made from clay, it is fired at a much higher temperature, which makes it denser and less porous than its ceramic counterpart.

The Benefits of Ceramic Tile

• Ceramic tile is less expensive than porcelain tile. If your budget is a concern, ceramic is more economical choice.
• If you want to go the DIY route, ceramic tile is easier to cut. Porcelain tile, on the other hand, requires the expertise of a professional to cut and install.
• Are you redoing your kitchen back splash, tiling a section of the house that doesn?t see a lot of traffic, or remodeling a protected area? If so, ceramic tile is a contender, as it?s less durable than porcelain.
• Will the tile be used in a bathroom or other humid environment? In that case, you may want to choose ceramic?it?s easy to clean with the added bonus of being waterproof.

The Benefits of Porcelain Tile

• Porcelain tile is less absorbent than ceramic, and thus more stain-resistant. If you?re worried about messes or accidents, porcelain is the way to go.
• Porcelain tile is stronger than ceramic, and can be used indoors, outdoors, and in high-trafficked areas without fear that it will chip or break. It?s a great choice for businesses and commercial buildings.
• The design on a porcelain tile goes through the whole tile, so it will last longer. If you want beauty as well as function, then porcelain is for you.
• While cold weather might not seem like an issue in Wilmington, NC, the ice storms from our past two winters beg to differ. Porcelain tile is better for cold-weather climates. Because it?s less porous, it?s unlikely to absorb moisture and crack during freezing weather.

Still confused?

3 Easy Ways to Care for Carpets this Winter

It?s that time of year again. The Christmas ornaments are back in the attic, the New Year?s Resolutions have already been forgotten, and even in Wilmington, NC the temperatures are plunging. You?ve probably noticed, especially on those mornings when you have to convince yourself to get out from under your warm blankets, already dreading the cold air waiting for you.

If, on the other hand, you?re lucky enough to have carpet floors, your mornings are much more pleasant. When you get out of bed and take those first steps, your feet are cradled by plush carpet, easing you into the day with comfort and warmth.

Because carpets take such great care of you during these long, dark, cold months, it?s only right to return the favor. Here are three ways to care for carpets in the winter, and reward them for a job well done.

1. Vacuum more, clean less! Sure, vacuuming is an easy way to pick up dust and dirt, but did you know it also keeps you healthy? Running your vacuum two or three times a week, especially in highly trafficked areas, will pick up dry soil, allergens, and dust. This is even more important in the winter, since the windows are often shut tight and ceiling fans are turned off. Think of vacuuming less as a chore, and more as an easy way to extract pollutants from your carpet and quickly enhance the quality of your environment. Plus who doesn?t love the look of fresh vacuum lines in their carpet?

2. Be strategic! The easiest way to keep your carpet clean is to minimize the amount of dirt and contaminants that make their way into your home. More than 80% of the soil and moisture in your carpet is tracked in from the outside, so make sure you have a sturdy welcome mat in front of your door. When you do get around to cleaning, begin with the lower floors first, to keep dirt, dander, and allergens from traveling upstairs. Finally, spot clean as needed. This will keep your carpet pristine, prevent stains from settling in, and maintain freshness between deep cleanings.

3. Speaking of deep cleanings: now is the time! Many people think summer is the best time to have their carpets cleaned, assuming that warm weather will help their carpet dry faster. In reality, the opposite is true?at least here in coastal North Carolina. Our summers are notoriously damp and humid, which means a freshly cleaned carpet will take twice as long to dry, putting your floors at risk for mildew and mold. Clean them in the winter instead, when the air is dry and the heater is on.

The Best Carpets For Rental Properties

Get a Feel for Fiber: When choosing the best carpets for rental properties, first consider the carpet?s fiber. Nylon is often considered to be optimal for rental properties, due to its durability. Continuous Filament Nylon, sometimes labeled as BCF or Bulked Continuous Filament nylon, eliminates the short, shedding fibers that can be an issue with some carpet fibers. If cost is a key factor, consider Solution Dyed Polyester carpet. These carpets are incredibly colorfast, and can even be cleaned with bleach in case of spills or stains. Original Polyester carpet is also a great choice for those looking for a completely green option, as many of these carpets are crafted from recycled plastic materials.

Padding Is Paramount: Carpet padding provides a necessary under layer, protecting and giving a foundation to your floor covering. Neglecting to install quality carpet padding can lead to carpet that deteriorates rapidly and requires frequent replacement. Never use plain foam padding ? quality carpet padding is crafted from Rebond, a type of composite foam industrially recycled from automobile and furniture padding. Rebond is available in a variety of densities and thicknesses, and each carpet manufacturer typically includes a recommendation. However, it is also a smart idea to consider your tenants when purchasing padding. For example, tenants with pets will be more likely to require replacement padding, but if you do not allow renters with pets in your unit, you?re probably better off springing for the more expensive, longer-lasting carpet padding.

A Bonus Tip for Landlords: Take photographs of your flooring post-installation, but prior to your tenants? move-in date, for a visual record of how your floors should look. This will save you headaches when it comes to tenant claims down the line.