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7 min read
Laminate AC Ratings: What AC3, AC4 and AC5 Mean
AC3 suits most homes, AC4 adds a margin for kitchens, entries, pets and rentals, AC5 is commercial. What the AC test measures and what it misses.
Blog
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10 min read
Oriental Rugs Explained: Hand-Knotted vs. Machine-Woven
What makes a rug Oriental, how hand-knotted and machine-woven rugs are made, how to tell them apart in a minute, and what names like Kashan mean on a tag.
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9 min read
Why Is My Carpet Rippling, and Will Re-Stretching Fix It?
Carpet ripples when it loses tension. Match what you see to its cause, see when a re-stretch fixes it for good, and when the pad or backing must be fixed first.
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9 min read
Engineered Hardwood vs. Laminate: Which to Choose
Engineered hardwood is real wood you can refinish; laminate resists scratches and costs less. How they compare on water, pets, sound, radiant heat and resale.
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9 min read
Prefinished vs. Site-Finished Hardwood Floors
Prefinished hardwood is ready the day it goes in; site-finished takes days but matches any color or old floor. Compare finish, looks, time and cost.
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8 min read
How Long After Refinishing Hardwood Can You Put Rugs Back?
Rugs can go back once the new finish fully cures: about 3 to 7 days for water-based, 3 to 5 for hardwax oil, up to 30 for oil-based. Plus the rug pads to use.
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8 min read
How to Turn a Carpet Remnant Into an Area Rug
A carpet remnant makes a real rug once it is cut square, bound or serged and laid on a pad. See the sizes, edge finishes and what to check before you buy.
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7 min read
Can You Put Laminate Flooring on Stairs?
Yes, laminate can go on stairs if every tread is glued, not floated, and finished with a stair nose. Carpet removal, step heights, grip, cost and runners.
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12 min read
Can Water-Damaged Hardwood or Laminate Floors Be Saved?
Most water-damaged hardwood can be dried and kept if drying starts within 48 hours; swollen laminate can't. What to do first, when to sand and what to replace.
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13 min read
Hardwood Floor Cleaning: When a Deep Clean Is Enough and When Your Floor Needs Refinishing
Hardwood floor cleaning fixes dirt on a sound finish, but gray or worn-through wood needs refinishing. Use the water-drop test and see which cleaners to avoid.
