Decorating a Baby's Nursery

Our wonderful little addition to the GR Flooring family has us engrossed in the world of all things baby! We thought this would make a perfect opportunity to share some pictures of nurseries decorated with hardwood flooring. 

There are a number of advantages of decorating a child's room with hardwood floors. First is the mess factor. Babies, infants, and toddlers are messy little humans! Everything from biological matter to play doh will eventually wind up on the floor. Hardwood floors will make clean up easier. Also, hardwood floors make it easier and less expensive to change the look of the room as the child grows up. It is easy to go from Winnie the Pooh to Star Wars without worrying about the matching the color of the carpet. Just change or add a throw rug to make the look complete. Here are some cute rooms we found!

Decorating Rooms with Hardwood Floors for the Holidays!

One of the benefits of having hardwood floors is the ease in changing a rooms decor. As the air turns colder and we enjoy the holiday season, many people will be changing up the look of their home.

One way to instantly change the feel of a room, is to change the rugs. Area rugs in warm, deep colors can help a room feel cozy and inviting. Throw rugs in holiday themes can infuse holiday spirit in to the home. Throw pillows and blankets can coordinate with the rugs to complete the easy transformation. 

Here are some pictures of rooms decorated for the holidays to inspire you!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM 

GR FLOORING!

Thanksgiving and Harwood Floors

So much effort goes into creating a warm and welcoming home for the holidays. Friends and family sit back, relax, and enjoy all the fruits of your labor while you sit nervously hoping no damage comes to your home. You deserve to relax and enjoy too!  Here are some tips to ease your worry!

• Welcome your guests at the door with a basket of warm slippers. Ask that your guests remove their shoes and make themselves comfortable. The slippers provide warmth and encourage relaxation while reducing the amount of dirt tracked inside and scratches from shoes.
• Spills happen! Ask your guests to let you know about spills as soon as they happen to reduce damage to hardwood floors.
• Catch the spills before they hit the hardwood floor. Place a large rug under the dining room table and all areas where people will be eating. Felt pads placed on table and chair legs will also help prevent scratching the floor.
• Clean floors immediately after guests leave. 

If damage does occur, don't worry.  GR Flooring can help! Our UV Curing method can even refinish your floors with NO DOWNTIME! Have questions on how to protect your hardwood flooring?  Give us a call!

From our families to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!

Hardwood Floor Repair After Hurricane Sandy

The residents of Long Island were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy last week.  As a Long Island based business, GR Flooring saw first hand the damage and destruction the storm caused. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to everyone who has been affected.

If your home or business has sustained damage to hardwood flooring, please give us a call. We will determine if the floor needs to be replaced or if it can be repaired. We are the only flooring company on Long Island that utilizes UV Curing which allows us to refinish a floor with NO DOWNTIME!  Let us help you return to life, and business, as usual.

Decorating Rooms with Dark Hardwood Floors

Your hardwood flooring has been installed and looks amazing! Enhance the beauty by coordinating the decor with the shade of the flooring. Light shades are relatively simple and many people find it easy to decorate a room with light flooring.  The darker shades are the ones that sometimes result in a challenge.  GR Flooring has some tips to decorating a room with sark hardwood flooring.

• Use color to make the room appear brighter. Choose a paint that has just a slight hue to it for the walls and paint the ceiling with a semi-gloss white.
• Light will also help the room appear larger and brighter. Use window treatments that allow light to filter through. Wall sconces, chandeliers, or high hats are good choices for adding light to the room as well.
• Accent pieces help add depth to the room. Reflective surfaces are a good choice. Hang mirrors and place metallic picture frames around the room. Choose rugs, pillows, throws, etc. in bright colors and add accent pieces with texture such as bamboo.

The accent pieces can easily be changed along with the seasons. Mix it up and enjoy a new look every few months!

Grades Make the Difference

Color and style are typically the choices most people think they will need to decide when choosing the hardwood flooring for their home. There are actually a number of variables which influence the how the wood looks.

The first variable to consider is the grade. The appearance of the wood determines its grade. Each grade offers a different look, but is equally strong and serviceable.

• Clear Wood - flooring product with minimal character marks that provides a uniform appearance.
• Select Wood - flooring product with natural heartwood/sapwood color variations that also includes knots, streaks, etc.
• Common Wood (No. 1 and No. 2) - more natural characteristics such as knots and color variations than either clear or select grades, and is often chosen because of these natural features and the character they bring to a room.  No. 1 Common has a varied appearance, light and dark colors, knots, streaks, and wormholes. No. 2 Common is rustic in appearance and emphasizes all wood characteristics of the species.
• First Grade - uniform appearance, natural color variations and limited character marks. It is similar to a select grade.
• Second Grade - varied in appearance and features knots and some variation in color. It is similar to a No. 1 Common Grade.
• Third Grade - rustic in appearance allowing all wood characteristics of the species. It is similar to a No. 2 Common Grade.

The specialists at GR Flooring can answer all of your questions and help you choose the right grade of wood for you!

Hardwood Flooring is Environmentally Friendly

Did you know that hardwood flooring is not only beautiful, but is also environmentally friendly? With a multitude of choices available, installing hardwood flooring in your home allows you to be creative and care for our environment at the same time!

Sustainable forest management allows wood to be harvested without causing serious harm to the environment due to the fact that trees are a renewable resource. Here are some facts taken from the National Wood Flooring Association's website:

• Average annual net growth for hardwoods is greater than average annual removals (Source: US Department of Agriculture Forest Service)
• Indoor air quality is better with wood floors (Source: US Environmental Protection Agency)
• Wood is a carbon neutral product that produces oxygen during its growth cycle and stores carbon during its service life (Source: University of Wisconsin Wood Products Program Solid Wood Flooring Life Cycle Analysis)
• Wood floors use less water and energy to produce than other flooring options (Source: University of Wisconsin Wood Products Program Solid Wood Flooring Life Cycle Analysis)
• At the end of its service life, wood flooring can be burned as fuel or recycled (Source: University of Wisconsin Wood Products Program Solid Wood Flooring Life Cycle Analysis)
• Wood floors last hundreds of years, so won’t need to be replaced as often as other flooring options (Source: National Association of Home Builders)
• While it takes most hardwood trees 40-60 years to mature, the inventory planted today won’t be needed for 100-plus years (Source: National Wood Flooring Association)
  Learn about installing hardwood flooring in YOUR home by calling GR Flooring and speaking with one of our professionals!

What is the Difference Between Solid and Engineered Hardwood Floors?

One frequent question we get at GR Flooring is, "what is the difference between solid hardwood floors and engineered hardwood floors?" Here is a quick explanation:

 Solid Hardwood Floors: Real wood from a hardwood species is the only material used in solid hardwood flooring. This flooring may be affected by environmental conditions such as extreme heat or rainy seasons which may cause the floor expand and contract. The thickness of the wood allows it to be sanded and refinished many times.




Engineered Hardwood Floors: This flooring is comprised of three or or more layers of HDF or MDF, with a real hardwood veneer, which are bonded together under heat and pressure. This means the wood is less likely to expand and contract in response to the climate.

Call GR Flooring to discuss the best option for your home!

Things to Do Before the Flooring Crew Arrives

Congratulations! You've decided to install new hardwood flooring or sand and refinish the existing flooring in your home. Here are some things to consider before the GR Flooring crew arrives:

• Will you live in your home while the work is being done? Consider how much of your living space will be affected. Is it just one room being done or the whole house? Will you be able to access and use the kitchen or should you plan on eating out? Will you have enough space for your family members to sleep? Will you have access to a t.v. and/or a computer for entertainment?
• Will you work out of your home while the work is being done? Can you work well with noise and activity going on around you?  Will the noise affect your ability to make and receive phone calls or participate in phone conferences?
• Do you have pets? If so, they will need to be restricted or confined so that they do not enter the work area.  We do not want them getting hurt or damaging the flooring as we work.
• All furniture will need to be removed from the work area. Be sure to get any items you may need during the process. Clothing, books, laptops, cell phones, chargers, wallets, keys, and any other items you may need. 
• Have you made arrangements for the crew to be let into the home?

The GR Flooring crews will hang plastic and take every measure to limit the amount of dust and debris in your home. Still, be prepared to do some follow up cleaning. With some forethought and planning, you can limit the inconveniences and enjoy your new flooring!

Water Conditioning Produces Rich, Dense Color on Hardwood Floors

One of the many benefits of hardwood flooring is the ability to sand and refinish it after years of use scratches and dulls it.  If you want a rich, dense color after staining, consider using water conditioning.

Sanding hardwood floors entails going over the surface many times using different grits of paper. This will make the floor smooth, but will close up the grain and make it tight. This matters because it will not allow the stain to soak into the wood. The result is that the stain will sit on top of the wood and much of it will be wiped away.

However, if you use the water conditioning process before staining, it will open up the grain.  Once open, the grain will accept the stain properly and evenly.  The final color will be much richer than if the wood had not been water conditioned and the finish will be stronger.

Ensure that you know exactly what the final color of your floor will be.  Ask to see samples of the stain on water conditioned flooring!

For more information, please call GR Flooring.

Protect Your Hardwood Floors from Summertime Traffic

Ah, the sounds of summer.  Hear the birds chirping, the sprinklers spraying, the children splashing, and ... the doors slamming! Outdoor fun and summertime go hand in hand, but outdoor fun is inevitably  brought indoors.  




Adults are happy to see the children in their lives getting fresh air and having fun outside. The problems  arise when the children run inside the house with their wet, muddy feet or even their beach shoes or sports cleats.  Plan ahead with just a few simple precautions and the dirt and damage can be kept clear of your beautiful hardwood floors!

• The first line of defense is the weatherproof mat placed outside the door.
• Then comes the decorative mat placed inside the door.
• Place a mat or boot tray next to the door providing an easy on, easy off, easy storage area.
• For extra protection, place runners in all high traffic areas.

Anything is more enjoyable when it is low maintenance and hardwood floors are no exception.  Enjoy your hardwood floors while preventing unnecessary damage or clean up.  For more tips on caring for your hardwood flooring, contact GR Flooring. 

Hardwood Floors With NO Downtime!

Hardwood flooring can be a beautiful addition to just about any space, whether in your home or in your office.  The downside is often felt to be the installation process. Many people just can't bear the amount of time it takes before they can walk on the new floor or place the rugs and furniture back, or the pungent smell. This can be quite an inconvenience at home and just plain impossible in the workplace.

What downtime are we talking about? Well, a water-based polyurethane coating requires 3 - 4 hours to dry before you can carefully walk on it.  Ok, not too bad. But, it can take from 8 - 9 DAYS to be fully cured which means no area rugs or furniture until then.  Now we see where the inconvenience might come in, especially in the work place. Then there is oil-based polyurethane coating.  This will require 6 - 8 hours before careful walking and 30 DAYS before it is fully cured and rugs and furniture can be placed on it.

Feel your dream of hardwood floors slipping away?  Don't!  GR Flooring has the answer for you! We are the only company utilizing Ultra Violet Curing in all of Long Island. How is this the answer for you?  Let's take a look.

• NO DOWN TIME!

• FLOORS CURE INSTANTLY

• FURNITURE AND AREA RUGS CAN BE PLACED BACK THE SAME DAY

• VOC COMPLIANT

• LOW ODOR

• NON-YELLOWING

• PET FRIENDLY

 Sounds much better, doesn't it?  Ultra Violet Curing can be used on all types of hardwood floors, so you are free to choose whatever you desire. No extra time is involved either.  Depending on the size of the space, the process can take just one day!

GR Flooring is the only Long Island company who can make your hardwood dreams come true without all the inconvenience.  Give us a call to learn more about the Ultra Violet Curing process and how it can work for you!

Why Choose Hardwood Floors?

 

Flooring for your home is an investment and should be considered carefully.  GR Flooring would like to help with the decision by offering the following reasons to consider hardwood flooring.

• Adds value to your residence or commercial space

• Plenty of choice in color and grain of the wood

• Adds a touch of elegance to any space

• Can be used in any area, from high traffic to formal 

• Easy to clean and maintain 

• Helps prevent allergies and respiratory problems

• Ages beautifully with proper care

Hardwood flooring is a long term investment which can add value to your property.  Feel free to call GR Flooring to learn about your options so you can make an educated decision.

Harwood Floors and Pets

We are often asked if hardwood flooring is a good choice for a home with pets.  Pet owners, especially of dogs, worry that the animals nails will scratch the floor or urine will damage the wood.  We are animal lovers too and we say pets and hardwood flooring can peacefully coexist!

Compared to other materials, hardwood floors may be a better choice for clean up and repair of damage. Let's face it.  Keeping animals in the home adds to the wear and tear of any flooring or furniture they spend time on.  The best you can do is take some proactive measures and keep watch for any wrongdoings.

Dogs shed, get fleas/ticks, track in dirt, vomit, etc. Carpet confines the dander, dirt, fleas and ticks making it difficult to remove it all.  Oils from dogs coats can transfer to carpet and cause discoloration. Urine stains are all but impossible to fully remove from carpeting.  The urine seeps below the carpet and is absorbed by the padding and the smell almost never fully goes away.

Laminate flooring makes wiping up messes easy, but any damage done is permanent. Scratches, nicks, and dents will be there for good and if a wet mess is not cleaned up promptly, laminates may buckle.

Hardwood floors can be repaired if needed.  This is the big difference.  Scratches and dents can usually be sanded out. Dirt, dander, fleas, and ticks are more easily removed from hardwood flooring as well.  Follow these tips and you should be able to keep your hardwood floors in good repair and enjoy your pets!

• Place food and water dishes on a rug or mat.

• Place a rug or mat by the doors the animals use most often.

• Keep the nails trimmed.

• Wipe up urine or any wet mess immediately or as soon as possible.

 Enjoy your floors and enjoy your pets just as we do here at GR Flooring!

Reduce the Allergens in Your Home

Everyone's been saying it.  Allergy season seems to be worse than ever this year.  If you suffer from allergies, you know there is little escape from those nasty allergens that have your eyes puffing up and tearing and your nose running all day and night. That is why it is so important to make your home as allergen free as possible.

Allergens, such as dust mites, pollen, and animal dander are nearly invisible and will intrude into your home no matter how often you clean. There are, however, steps you can take to reduce the misery may they be causing.

Carpets may be warm and comfortable, but they trap allergens and hold and tight.  Frequent vacuuming will help, but this is not ideal for an allergy sufferer.  Conversely, hardwood floors offer allergens no place to hide because they are free from fibers and grout lines.  People with allergies should vacuum or sweep once per week or when dust is visible.  Hardwood flooring has the clear advantage here as dust build up can be seen.

Hardwood flooring comes in many varieties and some are better choices for an allergy sufferer.  The experts at GR Flooring can help you decide which will be best for you!

How to Maintain Your Flooring

Signs of spring are all around us.  The days are becoming warmer and longer and birds have begun their yearly ritual of nest building.  Many of us have also begun our yearly ritual of spring cleaning.  So in honor of attacking dirt and grime, GR Flooring offers the following floor maintenance tips.

First and foremost, preventative maintenance will help keep your floors looking beautiful. There are a few tips which apply to all floor types:

• Follow manufacturer's recommendations.
• Install floor protector pads on the bottom of all furniture.
• Place protective rugs or mats at the entrances to the area to trap grit and absorb moisture. 
• Keep high heels in good repair so they do not dent the floor.
• Sweep, vacuum, and/or dust mop with a recommended hardwood floor cleaner on a regular basis.
• Frequently shake out rugs. 
• Wipe spills immediately.  Be sure to check manufacturer's recommendation to determine if you should use a dry or damp cloth and if you should follow up with a cleaner.
• Never use wax on top of a non-wax finish.
• Never use petroleum based cleaners on water based finishes.
• Never use a water based cleaner on a wax floor.

Follow these tips and you will be able to enjoy your flooring for years to come.  Of course, if you have any questions, one of the experts at GR Flooring will be happy to answer them for you.

Welcome to GR Flooring!

We are excited to introduce our new blog, but first let us introduce GR Flooring!  We are a family owned and operated wood flooring specialty company which was built on the principals of honesty, quality, and integrity. Our knowledgeable and experienced craftsman have helped GR Flooring rise to the top of the flooring industry and set the standards that other wood flooring companies strive to meet.

GR Flooring supplies and installs unfinished and prefinished hardwood flooring, laminates, exotic and engineered woods.  We also provide floor repairs and refinishing of existing floors. We handle new construction, renovations, and residential properties. Large or small, we will provide stellar service and beautiful results.

As a family owned local business, our customers satisfaction is of the utmost importance to us.  We deliver personal service and strive to ensure each customer is 100% satisfied with our work.  Our business thrives largely due to referrals so we are successful when our customers are happy!


We look forward to providing helpful tips and useful information in our future blogs.  Keep an eye out for our new website too!