Lumber Liquidators

Preventing Moisture Damage

 

Whether through a humid environment, wet shoes, a roof leak or a spilled drink, moisture damage can ruin a floor. Wood flooring is a big investment, which is why we want to share tips for keeping your floors safe from damage through all seasons.  

NEVER wet mop. Never damp-mop, swab or flood your floor with water or anything else.

Never leave liquid on your floor. Clean spills up as fast as possible with a soft cloth.

Lumber Liquidators does NOT recommend “water brooms,” “Wet-Jet Swiffers” or steam cleaners on laminate, cork or hardwood floors. The vapor can ruin wood or the urethane finish, causing cupping or warping. Use at your own risk!

Check your warranty for specific products to use or not to use, to avoid voiding the warranty.

 Place rugs and mats in “high-risk areas” where you expect spills, such as near the sink and stove. This includes welcome mats where family members and guests can wipe shoes, hopefully eliminating moisture (and dirt) from being tracked throughout the house. 

When using area rugs, use a rug pad with a felt, plant or PVC based backing. Never use a rug with petroleum based rubber backing. (This can cause permanent chemical damage and staining.)

  Virginia Mill Works Matterhorn Birch Handscraped

Virginia Mill Works Engineered Obsidian Plank

Morning Star Qing Kobra Strand Bamboo

 

If you want something a little different than a rug, we found this great idea on Pinterest! Leave wet shoes at the door without a soggy mat. Find it on our “Affordable at Home” board. 

 

 

Keep pet paws clean! Make sure the animals in your house don’t track in grease, oil, water or dirt.

  Chilton Woods Oak Laminate

Other ideas? Let us know in a comment!

Fix It Fast

Your floor can take a beating over the holidays. Whether it’s visiting family, holiday parties or winter weather, we have easy solutions for some of your biggest problems and advice from our installation professionals!

For Scratches and Gouges

Scratches can happen on all wood flooring. Luckily, our installation pros have a few ideas for getting rid of physical damage. First, repairs should be made immediately to fend off potential water damage. Second, always make sure the repair products you use are compatible with clear waterbase urethane finishes. For hardwood or bamboo:

Is it a surface scratch? Try a scratch cover, spray concealer or lotion to camouflage the scratch (but not remove it). There are also color satin markers which have a satin and urethane mixture, giving the repair a shine.

Is it a deep scratch? Wax color-fill sticks might work, which you can find at home repair stores. Just rub into the scratch and buff with a cotton rag. To see instructions for a light sanding and recoating, and for more detailed directions on scratch repairs check here.

Lumber Liquidators offer repair products that can help you, too:
Engineered Flooring Repair Kit
Solid & Bamboo Flooring Repair Kit
Engineered Repair Adhesive 

 

For Squeaky Floors

 

Squeaks are a result of board movement, whether wood-to-wood or wood-to-nail. If the cause is environmental, humidity can bring about noise. Humidity over 55%, for example, can cause boards to expand and rub. Always try to keep indoor humidity before and after installation between 30-50% with temperatures between 60 and 80. Another easy solution is to sprinkle baby powder in squeaky areas, as Bob tells us in the video above. Silica talc in the baby powder will work as a dry lubricant to lessen minor squeaks.

To learn more about squeaks and humidity, check here. 

 

Removing Marker

If you have laminate flooring, you’re in luck! Here’s one easy way to remove marker from your floor.

 

We hope some of these flooring fixes will help keep your floors safe and beautiful over the holidays! If you know of some others, share in the comments with your fellow floor fans!

Most Loved Laminates

We’re sharing our most popular laminates, customer reviews and more! If you want to know all about our top customer-rated laminates, this post is for you.

Customers love Dream Home Nirvana PLUS 10 mm laminates!

Rolling Falls Oak (4.6 stars)

What You're Saying:

Replaced wall-to-wall carpeting with this beautiful oak floor with area rug. The room has a warm, lovely new look, yet it seems like it's been this way forever. Love it. 

It really is beautiful once installed. We put it in the 3 bedrooms and hallway in the upstairs of our home. With attached padding and moisture barrier it is really quiet. We tested it with 3 grandkids and their parents visiting. Can't say how pleased we are.

 I wanted a floor that would withstand the constant use of people in and out. My den has three entries; back door, den opens to kitchen, & entry. All three areas are tromped thru with family & friends. Shouldn't have waited so long. Got is at great price. Looks smashing!

 Flooring looks good and fits good. Easy to install. We put it in daughters’ bedroom, they helped, it turned into a great family project. Doing another room soon.

 The Pros:

easy to install, easy to clean, beautiful finish, scratch resistant, feels great

The Look:

 

Hot Springs Hickory (4½  stars)

 What You're Saying:

The flooring was easy to install, not that it still wasn't hard work. I love my new floors. Makes the whole house seem more spacious.

Quality product, durable and attractive.

Great product. Easy to install. Since this was our first laminate floor to install, it took a while to finish the first room, but my husband and I were experts by the second room. It's very hard to mess up. The only time consuming part was try to match up patterns, but you probably don't have to. That's just me :-)

Very happy with laminate. Oh so needed, Oh so beautiful!

 The Pros:

easy to install, good price, great color, not super high gloss, great textured look 

The Look:

 

Boa Vista Brazilian Cherry (4.2 stars) 

What You're Saying:

Great flooring. My contractor had no issues putting this down.

Great look and feel

This is the first time I have ever ordered laminate flooring. I ordered it on line and hired someone to install it. Once the floor was installed I was very impressed with the look. The floor looks better in person once installed then in the pictures some people have posted...The planks are wide and have a beveled edge with a 2mm underlayment already attached. I also purchased the ECO Quiet Underlayment which makes walking on the floor very quiet.

We used about 300sqft for our living room and a small hallway in our condo. It turned out great. Wife was very pleased. Some of the boards were hard to snap in place, but it only took two days and two people (me being one of them who has never done this before) to finish. Very pleased with the quality and definitely would recommend this product to others.

The Pros:

easy to install, high quality, rich color, very scratch resistant, very affordable 

The Look:

Madison River Elm (4.2 stars)

 What You're Saying:

Great floor, great price. Also used a recommended installer, stiles flooring. Love the floors. Great job on install. Saved about $400 over big stores and got better floor. 12mm with padding.

Looks clean and brightens the room

This flooring is AMERICAN made, is very easy to install and really looks great!!!

I used it for the upstairs bedrooms, hallway and livingroom. Its not as bright as others, but not too formal as the darker woods, its a nice in-between pattern.

Product in easy to move cartons, easy to install, large planks look great, surface cleans easily - even paint glue or food spills!

The Pros:

easy to install, looks like real wood, durable, beautiful wood grain, pre-attached pad

The Look:

 

Lake Toba Teak (4 stars) 

What You're Saying:

I have been wanting a new floor in my kitchen for quite a few years and when this was put down I was not disappointed. Looks great and makes my kitchen look amazing.

It went down relatively fast for the first time ever laying down laminate. The hardest part was removing tile that we had in our house. That was horrible!!! But once that horrendous task was done, the laminate went down easy. It brighten up the room and what a difference it makes. The room picture is pretty accurate, but it looks even prettier in person. You won't be disappointed.

This is a very, very good wood laminate product. We put it in our kitchen and utility room. I really like the warm background colors and darker wood grain/striations.

We chose Lake Toba Teak for our attic floor. It was our first time installing a floor on our own, and while there was an initial period of trial and error, the installation was smooth and easy once we got the hang of it. We love the way it looks --- it has a bit of a rustic feel and complements the room perfectly. Very pleased.

The Pros:

durable, beautiful, easy to install, pad attached, simple locking mechanism

The Look:

Dream Home Nirvana PLUS 10 mm laminates aren’t the only floors our customers love. See the rest of the top-picked laminates, as well as other popular hardwood, bamboo, cork, vinyl and tools!

Flooring FAQs: Laminate

If you have questions about laminate flooring, we have the answers! Laminate can be confusing, so here is Part One of your Frequently Asked Questions and answers.

 

1.  What is laminate flooring? Laminates are made of wood and plastics compressed and bonded under high pressure. The result is an extremely hard plank! Laminates are made by bonding photograph paper to a fiberboard with heat and pressure, which is then covered with polyurethane to protect from fading, scratching and general wear.

2. What’s an underlayment? Any roll or sheet product designed to be installed between the sub-floor surface and laminate flooring material.

3. Why do I need an underlayment? It's used to improve acoustical properties, smooth out minor sub-floor imperfections, improve insulation properties, reduce walking fatigue, and help to protect the material from sub-floor moisture. Sound isolation can be increased with an additional Cork underlayment. Some laminates come with pre-attached foam pads, and in this case you wouldn’t need any other underlayments.

4. How does Laminate flooring measure up? Compared to other flooring types, laminate is typically more durable, less prone to indent, has better stain resistance, resists shrinkage and swelling due to seasonal changes, and is easier to install.

5.  How do I know the laminate I want is a good quality? Lumber Liquidators’ laminates are manufactured to stringent requirements and most carry an AC rating of 3.

6.  I have kids and pets. How would laminate flooring perform in my house? Laminate flooring is recommended for an environment where the "challenges" of children and pets exist! It’s not significantly noisier than other hard flooring surfaces. The underlayment chosen will have the greatest effect in reducing noise from foot traffic. We offer laminates with pre-attached foam backing, or you may want to use our Bellawood Premium  and Eco Silent Sound HD underlayments for additional sound deadening qualities.

7. Can I install laminate flooring on walls? Although laminates and wood flooring are primarily used on the floor, many DIY’ers have successfully applied flooring to ceiling and wall applications! When doing so it is best to first think safety and to consult with your local building codes.

8. Can I install laminate flooring in an unheated space (e.g., garage, cabin, porch)? Laminates like cork and wood flooring need to be installed in climatically stable environments, avoiding extreme temperature swings and excessive humidity. Ideal acclimation values are between (55°-85°) temperatures and (20% - 70%) humidity.

9. Can laminate floor be installed in a basement? Yes, laminate flooring may be installed in a basement in accordance with the manufacturer product specific installation recommendations. Always use a 6mm-8mm plastic moisture barrier over cement.

10. How long will a laminate floor last? It depends on the product you choose, the use it sees, and how well it is cared for.

11. Can laminate flooring be installed over a radiant heated floor? Yes. However, there are special installation procedures required for radiant heated sub-floors. The manufacturer's installation recommendations must be followed to ensure a successful installation! Most laminate flooring can be used in combination with many types of in-floor heating. The heating system can be embedded in a concrete floor or in a thin layer of filler on the surface of a concrete subfloor. It can also be installed retro fitted under a wood subfloor or installed on the surface of a subfloor as matting, electric or hydronic. Note the instructions from the supplier of the floor heating system. Before installation, the heating system must be in operation for at least 2 weeks prior to the installation of laminate flooring, this helps to dry out any remaining hidden residual moisture. The system may be turned off or set to a suitable installation temperature (65 – 72 degrees F.) After installation, the temperature may be increased slowly at the rate of approximately 5 degrees per day, and should not exceed 85 degrees F. Follow the instructions from the manufacturer of the floor heating system that do not conflict with the above requirements. 

12. Can laminate flooring be installed in a bathroom? Most manufacturers offer laminate products for use in ½ bathrooms. However due to high humidity, Lumber Liquidators recommends against laminates in full bathrooms.

13. Will laminate flooring fade? Not Normally. It is possible that over the years you may find a small difference under rugs and furniture due to UV light or cleaning products.

Right now, through December 17, 2012, you can get 20% off ALL Dream Home laminates!

Dream Home Nirvana PLUS Springer Mountain Oak is one of our highest customer-rated laminates. One fan wrote, "I laid about 400 sq ft of this in one day at one of my rehab homes and it came out great. Matched my standard builder grade trim very well and feels very solid with it being 10mm. Easy to cut, easy to work with and the number of 'misfits' in the box was very low, almost non existent. I would highly recommend this to others and I will certainly use it again."

The 5 Steps to Hardwood: Step Five

Once your new floors are installed, there’s only one thing left to do…
Step Five- Brag!

  

Our customers love their Lumber Liquidators floors! Watch customer testimonial videos to see what they’re saying. We have a bunch on our YouTube page.

To show off your project, post a review to the Lumber Liquidators website, upload photos, recommend helpful tools and products and give others advice.

You’ve seen Before & After shots from real makeovers in our customers’ homes.

 Now, send your own Before and After photos to gallery@lumberliquidators.com and “Like” us on Facebook, and we’ll send you a FREE Bellawood Floor Cleaner! It’s that easy:

You can also share your photos on our Facebook page. We love to see how your rooms turned out and we love rave reviews! Your photos may even be featured on Raving Fan Friday.
www.facebook.com/lumberliquidators 

Bottom line? We want you to be happy with your new floors and we want to hear about it!

 

 

The 5 Steps to Hardwood: Step Four

Once you've considered the investment of hardwood, done your research about different options, and planned out your new floors, you'll get to see your vision come to life off the screen and in your home. The next piece in the Steps to Hardwood puzzle is
Step Four - Installing Your Floor

 

Once you purchase your new floor, how will it be installed? Will you do it yourself or use a professional installer?

For the do-it-yourselfer:
If you have questions, ask associates in the store! They know what they're talking about and are always happy to help. You can also ask questions on our website: 

...or read questions other customers had and see the answers our installation pros gave: 

 

Always check out installation instructions we offer online for additional tips, or send an email to our in-house installers with your questions or concerns. 

If you need assistance immediately, use the online chat feature on our website to instantly connect with our installation team!  They can help you before you begin installation and during the process. If you run into problems while you're installing, stop and get help.

How To videos are also useful. Find them on our YouTube account: www.youtube.com/user/lumberliquidators and on our website!

To make your jounrey to hardwood floors even easier, you can now find the tools you need in your local store or online! Browse the tools we offer to make Lumber Liquidators your one stop shop. 

Installing flooring isn't for everyone, so if you aren't into DIY we can recommend installers to do the job for you. We want you to love your floors as much as you did when you first decided to purchase hardwood!

The 5 Steps to Hardwood: Step Three

Learning and shopping gave you a bunch of great ideas for your home. Now, you're moving on to
Step Three: Planning Your New Floor   Choosing the right flooring can be confusing. You love Bellawood Brazillian Cherry, but what will it look like? Will it clash with your cabinets? What about wall color? Is Handscraped Knob Hill Birch too dark for your bedroom? Will it be too much with your furniture? Finding your floor doesn't have to be difficult. In fact, we've tried to make it as easy as possible!

 With the Lumber Liquidators Room Designer you can design your own room online. If you’re redoing a kitchen, cabinet color and the look of appliances can make a big difference. See how Brazilian Cherry looks with light cabinets vs. dark. Get an idea of what the dark wood furniture in your bedroom would look like with a dark hardwood. The Room Designer lets your vision come to life.

 Plus, we have the Floor Finder App for iPhone and iPad users. The app lets you pick the room, floor color, and room color to visualize your new designs with your own photos. Occasionally, we offer special deals for app users only!

We know it's tough picking your favorite, (how can you choose just one?) but these tools will help make the process easier. With our Lumber Liquidators Credit Card you can qualify for no money down and no interest if paid in full within 6, 12 or 18 months. Get more details and you'll be well on your way to laying new flooring. 

Some other options for getting a visual: check out the Before & After gallery, look for customer photos and reviews on our website by clicking on the flooring you're interested in, and get free samples by visiting your local store or ordering them online.

Use our store finder to locate the Lumber Liquidators closest to you! 

 

The 5 Steps to Hardwood: Step Two

You've considered the investment. Now it's time for
Step Two: Learning and Shopping for Flooring

There is a lot to learn about switching to or updating hardwood, and we have another video from our customers to help you out!

 

If you’ve narrowed it down to a few floors you like, read reviews on our website! Want to know how easy our Easy Click engineered hardwood flooring really is? One customer wrote this review of Virginia Mill Works Tobacco Road Acacia Easy Click: “We put this floor in last weekend. About 900 sq ft. I was ecstatic how easy it was to install. We planned the whole weekend and were finsihed by 2pm on Sunday. Enough time left to clean, put all furniture back, wash up and go out for celebratory dinner. The look of the wood is beautiful and we are happy with our choice.” Plus, she uploaded photos, listed pros and cons and suggested where the floor would be best used.

If you’re deciding between Morning Star Qing Kobra Strand Bamboo and Songjiang Strand Handscraped Bamboo, you can read the comments and advice of customers. They’re both dark bamboos, but what are the real differences? 14 customers commented on how easily Qing Kobra Strand Bamboo can scratch, but scratching wasn’t mentioned by customers who bought the other type.  Comments like these can help you decide what is important for your home and what might not matter as much. 

You can also ask questions about specific products and read the questions other customers asked. If you love Casa de Colour Lucia Maple, but want to know more:

When you’re shopping, think: what type of room are you putting hardwood in? Who’s going to use the room? Will you do it yourself or hire a contractor?

Sign up for a free catalog so you can browse products and keep track of what you like. Just enter your information and we’ll send one your way. 

We’ll also send you our deals. Click here to sign up.

If you want even lower prices, watch our daily deals for products you love. You can check the website or follow @LLDailyDeals on Twitter for updates. See today's Daily Deals here. 

You can even find new arrivals for the latest and greatest products we're offering, like Morning Star Danyang Strand Handscraped Bamboo!

  

The 5 Steps to Hardwood: Step One

We're sharing the hard truth in five steps to having new hardwood floors!
Step One: Consider the Investment.

You may think the battle between hardwood floors and carpet is all about the look, but there’s much more than meets the eye. If you’re considering trading in your carpet for hardwood or even just switching up the wood you already have, there are a few things to think about! Check out our YouTube video from our customers who love their new floors.

 

Things to consider:

 1. Carpet can smell, and all the dirt and dust it holds onto may not be visible. One of our customers says it best: “With carpet, you never know what’s in there.”

2. If dust and dirt can hide from view, what kind of things are you breathing in just by sitting or sleeping in a carpeted room? If you or a family member has trouble with allergies, carpet isn’t helping.

3. Carpets can require extensive cleaning, especially with pets and children. Products like our Bellawood cleaner are simple to use and keep your floors looking like new.

4. Hardwood flooring lasts. Bellawood prefinished hardwood comes with a 100 year warranty! How long could you keep a carpet?

See the difference Bellawood Select Ash made in this kitchen?

The proof is in the pictures, and we have plenty more on the Before & After section of our website. Plus, if you have questions, you can check out our Flooring 101 guide and find a store near you with our Store Locator!  

 

What Kind of Solid Hardwoods Can I Install on Concrete?

Have you considered new hardwood floors but are unsure if you can do real hardwood over your concrete subfloor? Not to worry, we're here to help understand what you can use.

 

If moisture conditions are acceptable, there are three types of wood products available for placement over concrete; An engineered glue down, an engineered floating floor or solid wood under 3/4" thick can be used.

  

Several adhesive manufacturers warrant solid 3/4"wood installations, those that do require the use of shorts or board lengths under 36" such as our Virginia Millworks. These should only be installed on or above-grade. Lumber Liquidators recommends 100% urethane flooring adhesives and moisture barriers. Some styles of engineered wood such as the Schon product can be edge-glued and floated over padding. Floating floors are also available in a glueless click-together style.

 

The more traditional ¾" solid hardwoods on concrete can be accomplished with the addition of a *plywood sub-floor used as a nailing base over the concrete.  However, this can raise floor height problems with door entries and thresholds. Engineered hardwood floors eliminate vertical height issues and can be re-finished twice.

 

*See our "Flooring 101" for these details.

If moisture conditions are acceptable, there are three types of wood products available for placement over concrete; An engineered glue down, an engineered floating floor or solid wood under 3/4" thick can be used.