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| Posted Date: 5/28/08 12:00 AM | Direct Link |
The New Bellawood.com
If you haven't checked it out, Bellawood just launched their new state-of-the-art website. It's got new great features and a new "find a floor" function. Check it out at www.bellawood.com .
| Posted Date: 2/29/08 7:00 PM | Direct Link |
The start of August means Summer will soon be over and another "back to school" season will soon be upon us. But just as kids get ready for another school year, homeowners can also go "back to school" themselves. With kids back in class, homeowners can take some time to learn something new about home improvements. One aspect of home improvement that can provide a great look, but also a great return on investment is new hardwood floors. And, as hardwood has become more and more popular, surfacing options have increased to offer homeowners even more choices, including a wide variety of exotic colors and textures, to select for their homes. But before you go ripping out that carpet or tile, you should educate yourself on the different hardwood flooring options on the market today.
Many flooring experts and flooring companies will walk homeowners through the process, even if the homeowners are not quite sure what they want. For example, Lumber Liquidators, the largest independent retailer of flooring in the United States, enjoys helping customers during this learning stage. "At Lumber Liquidators, we are always happy to help people find the floor that is right for them," said Tom Sullivan, founder and chairman of Lumber Liquidators.
Solid Hardwood
Solid hardwood floors are known for their beauty and durability, and provide the look of luxury, making them perfect for any room of the home and a much more attractive choice than carpet. Because solid hardwood can be re-sanded over and over, it can last for 100 years, much longer than any carpeted floor. Plus, solid hardwood is easy to clean and maintain making it a good flooring choice for allergy sufferers.
Bamboo
With the growing interest in environmentally friendly, renewable products, bamboo flooring has become a popular option for homeowners. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth making it an ecologically sound choice in flooring. Bamboo is actually a grass and has an extensive root system that creates new bamboo shoots and requires no replanting. The bamboo that Lumber Liquidators uses in its floors is at least four years old, thereby increasing hardness. Bamboo floors create a naturally beautiful, eco-friendly product to provide a feeling of luxury in any home.
Cork
Cork flooring is another option for those who want renewable materials in their home. It is durable, acoustical and an insulator making it a great option for those high-traffic areas of your home. Cork flooring comes from harvesting the outer bark of the Cork Oak tree and is considered a renewable product because the same tree can be harvested numerous times. Cork is also a great choice for bathrooms and basements as it has a natural resistance to mold and deals well in high-moisture areas.
Engineered
Engineered hardwood floors make an excellent choice over concrete sub-floors, radiant heat or areas with high moisture. Engineered hardwood floors are usually offered in glue-down or nail-down and handscraped/antique options. Engineered hardwood flooring is produced by adhering a layer of real hardwood to a plywood backing or MDF. Since it is bonded together, this type of flooring is less likely to be affected by changes in humidity, making it perfect for areas with high moisture such as bathrooms and basements.
Laminate
Laminate flooring is durable and low-maintenance, making it a good choice for those high-traffic rooms. They are also nice for the homeowner on a budget. These floors mimic the look of hardwood at a more reasonable price. Laminate flooring is typically constructed with a high-density fiber board core, sandwiched between a melamine laminate backing, high-quality photographic paper with an image of wood and a ceramic finish, abrasion-resistant laminate top. Laminate floors are often available in multiple widths.
By doing your research on the different types of hardwood floors and how they would work in your home, you"ll be well on your way to getting an "A" in home improvements.
To learn more about hardwood flooring, visit your local Lumber Liquidators store, or visit www.lumberliquidators.com.
| Posted Date: 8/13/07 12:00 AM | Direct Link |
Getting Floored By Style and Personality
What Your Flooring Choice Says About You
Many homeowners set various home-centric buying patterns according to their lifestyle as well as their personalities. Paint color, flooring style and furniture can help homeowners create a unique environment to fit their style.
Some retailers will take this into consideration when helping customers find perfect home items. 'At Lumber Liquidators we're committed to providing our customers with the best in flooring so they can improve the look, feel and value of their home. With hundreds of options, there's literally something for everyone, no matter your style or price range,' said Tom Sullivan, founder and chairman of Lumber Liquidators, the largest independent retailer of flooring.
Whether homeowners have kids, are rough on their home or want something different than their friends, the following playful guide may help you identify your style.
The Classy Host: While interior design is extremely important, quality is also valued when it comes to The Classy Host. He or she enjoys showcasing the home and is proud of recent improvements – especially those that accentuate a particular style.
The Classy Host would no doubt land on a classy and elegant flooring choice as a primary showcase piece. Possibilities may include Bellawood® prefinished hardwood floors Brazilian Cherry, Bloodwood, Birch and White Oak.
Functional Family Guy or Gal: This person needs the home to be safe and functional for the family and or pets, but does not want to sacrifice an amazing sense of style. Wear and tear are the norm for the Functional Family Guy or Gal, which in turn dictates an adequate flooring choice. Hardwood floors not only add value and beauty to a home, but can also be healthier for those suffering from allergies.
For this reason, both hardwood and laminate floors would be an excellent option for the Functional Family Guy or Gal. Lumber Liquidators offers Dream Home Laminate Floors, which come in a variety of styles such as Utopia, Charisma, Nirvana or Nirvana V3. American Cherry from the Bellawood Domestic line would also go well.
The Trendsetter: The Trendsetter lives by the saying 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.' The Trendsetter loves splurging on new, trendy items, but understands that some items are worth keeping for years. The Trendsetter never really settles and always wants to push the envelope with the latest in style.
Today, beautiful and stylish environmentally friendly options like bamboo and cork are all the rage. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth making it an ecologically sound choice in flooring. Thirteen varieties of Bamboo in varying sizes of floor boards and finishes are available through Lumber Liquidators. Cork is another great selection for those wishing to have a 'green' home. Cork is considered a green product because the same tree can be harvested numerous times. It is also durable, acoustical, long-lasting and is the best flooring available for allergy sufferers. Bamboo and cork are trendy and smart.
The Free Spirit: The home is a direct reflection of The Free Spirit. This person likes to be cool and different and clearly walks to a beat of his or her own drummer. The Free Spirit is inspired by the personalized pieces of the home and makes choices accordingly. He or she will try something a little bit different, even if it is not considered the norm quite yet.
Some flooring options can help The Free Spirit make a proud and unique statement. Bellawood Bloodwood has a naturally dark red color and the Eleuthera Natural Ash from the Ty Pennington Collection has a fun aqua tint. Both are truly head-turners, and certainly conversation pieces.
Beautiful floors can be the canvas to your overall home style. To identify yourself in your flooring purchase you don't need to be a millionaire. Lumber Liquidators, has one of the largest inventories of pre-finished and unfinished hardwood floors in the industry. And all of these floors come with a low-price and satisfaction guarantee, no matter your style and statement goal.
| Posted Date: 5/8/07 2:00 PM | Direct Link |
LL Racing: Seventh-place finish keeps Bodine happily 2nd in truck points race
All in all, Germain Racing driver and defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Todd Bodine left the Kansas Speedway with a smile.
Bodine went into the weekend second in points and left second. In a 167-lap race that featured very long green-flag runs, Bodine, driver of the No. 30 Lumber Liquidators Tundra, finished seventh in the O'Reilly Auto Parts 250. Eric Darnell took the victory.
| Posted Date: 5/7/07 8:00 AM | Direct Link |
Lumber Liquidators Hardwood Flooring Sale: April 28-29 ONLY
We are cleaning out our warehouse this weekend - over 1,000,000 sq.ft. of odd lots-closeouts-special buys and excess inventory will be sold at a once-in-a-lifetime prices.
HURRY! THESE DEALS WILL NOT LAST. *While supplies last. In-stock items only. Odd Lots sold as is.
APRIL 28-29 ONLY, Plus the Online Only pre-sale begins Friday April 27, 2007.
For more info, visit: www.lumberliquidators.com
| Posted Date: 4/24/07 8:00 AM | Direct Link |
How to Best Select a Hardwood Floor
| Posted Date: 3/28/07 8:00 AM | Direct Link |
With buyers becoming more selective when looking for a new home, sellers are finding more ways to improve their homes that will not only make them more attractive to buyers, but also provide a great return on investment.
One of the best ways to achieve this is by installing hardwood floors. Hardwood floors make a home look newer while also adding quality and character. In fact, a 2003 study by Prof. G. Stacy Sirmans of Florida State University found that installing hardwood floors increased a home's sale price by 6 percent (Source: 'Is Carpet Dead' by Christopher Solomon, MSN Real Estate).
'Floors are important because they provide the first impression to buyers,' said Tom Sullivan, founder and chairman of Lumber Liquidators. 'It's the first thing a buyer will typically notice, so improving the quality of your floors could mean the difference between selling your home or it staying on the market.'
As the popularity of hardwood floors has grown so has the number of options. 'People aren't just looking for solid hardwood anymore,' said Sullivan. 'Pre-finished hardwood is huge, so is cork and bamboo. Even laminate continues to grow in popularity.'
Before installing a new floor in your home, it's best to know your price range and how the floor will be used. Lumber Liquidators offers a large selection of styles in hardwood, bamboo, cork and laminate in every price range.
Hardwood
Hardwood floors give a home the look of luxury and are typically found in living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. Historically, installing solid hardwood floors has been a time consuming task due to the necessary sanding, sealing and staining. But that no longer has to be the case as the trend has been shifting recently toward pre-finished hardwood floors that carry warranties of up to 50 years.
Bamboo
Because it's eco-friendly and provides a handsome grain, bamboo continues to increase in popularity for homeowners looking to improve the value of their home while making it 'green' at the same time. Bamboo is actually a grass which replenishes itself naturally in the wild, so by using bamboo, you preserve the habitat of endangered wildlife.
Cork
Cork flooring is another option for those who want an eco-friendly material in their home. It is durable, acoustical and an insulator making it a great option for those high traffic areas of your home. Cork is considered a green product because the same tree can be harvested numerous times.
Laminate
Because laminate is durable and low-maintenance, it's also a good choice for those high-traffic areas in your home. They are also nice for the homeowner on a budget as these floors mimic the look of hardwood at a more reasonable price.
In this highly selective real estate market, sellers need to make a great first impression on a buyer from the moment they set foot in the home. Those who install a new floor stand a better chance at getting a buyer's attention and sending their home's value through the roof.
Go to www.lumberliquidators.com for all your hardwood flooring needs.
| Posted Date: 3/26/07 7:00 AM | Direct Link |
Get To Know Your Floors: Engineered, Laminate and Hardwood
Every homeowner has a unique preference when it comes to their ideal type of flooring. Figuring out this preference is never an easy task; neither is taking the step to invest in new floors. Many consumers do not know the difference between the multiple flooring options; some also never do research before buying floors.
Many flooring experts and flooring companies will walk homeowners through the process, even if the homeowners are not quite sure what they want. For example, Lumber Liquidators, the largest independent retailer of flooring in the United States, enjoys helping customers during this learning stage, "At Lumber Liquidators, we are always happy to help people find the floor that is right for them," said Tom Sullivan, founder and chairman of Lumber Liquidators.
The three types of flooring that tend to confuse customers the most are engineered hardwood, laminate and hardwood. These options are all aimed at the homeowner who wants to replicate a natural look inside their home.
"Representing 27.4 percent* of the market, hardwood flooring is the fastest growing segment in our industry." However, hardwood floors are not right for everyone. The homeowner should reflect on multiple factors before deciding on which type is right for them, including their lifestyle, budget and personal style. "We offer the perfect type of flooring for everyone, including many that go beyond engineered, laminate and hardwood floors," said Sullivan.
Enjoyable Engineered
Engineered hardwood floors make an excellent choice over concrete sub-floors, radiant heat or areas with high moisture. Engineered hardwood floors are usually offered in glue-down or nail-down and handscraped/antique options. Engineered hardwood flooring is produced by adhering a layer of real hardwood to a plywood backing or MDF. Since it is bonded together, this type of flooring is less likely to be affected by changes in humidity, making it perfect for areas with high moisture such as bathrooms and basements.
Lovin' Laminate
Laminate floors are durable and low-maintenance, making it a good choice for those high-traffic rooms. They are also nice for the homeowner on a budget. These floors mimic the look of hardwood at a more reasonable price. Laminate flooring is typically constructed with a high density fiber board core, sandwiched between a melamine laminate backing, high-quality photographic paper with an image of wood and a ceramic finish, abrasion-resistant laminate top. Laminate floors are often available in multiple widths.
Hardwood Happiness
Hardwood floors give a home the look of luxury and are typically found in living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. Solid hardwood flooring is milled from one thick piece of wood. It can be sanded and refinished several times. Hardwood floors are available in multiple finishes: pre-finished domestic floors, pre-finished exotic floors, pre-finished stained floors, unfinished floors and hand-scraped.
In addition to engineered hardwood, laminate and hardwood, many companies offer alternative types of flooring. "Cork and bamboo are two types of flooring that are becoming very popular in modern homes," said Sullivan. "We attribute this popularity to the recent trend of homes "going green" as more and more homeowners are being conscientious of the environment while considering the design of their home."
As homeowners look to update their homes this spring, they should consider the many flooring options and what might be best for their home before they buy. Prior to heading to the store, homeowners should ask friends and family about their flooring, check out industry Web sites as resources (www.lumberliquidators.com) and put together a list of qualities they are looking for in a floor.
| Posted Date: 2/5/07 5:00 PM | Direct Link |
Going Green Gets Easier
The country is going green.
As more homeowners struggle with high utility bills and become more concerned about the environment, many are updating their homes to be more eco-friendly.
The latest housing trend shows that many new homebuilders are constructing "green" homes. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders reports that eco-friendly construction will climb from 2 percent of all residential housing starts in 2005 to between 5 and 10 percent in 2010.
For those consumers in older, existing homes, there are many easy, affordable and immediate steps they can take to make their home more environmentally friendly.
Lower the temperature on your thermostat. By lowering it just one degree, you can reduce heating costs in your home by nearly 4 percent.
Install low-flow toilets, faucets and showerheads. These help reduce water consumption and water heating costs by as much as 50 percent.
Repair leaky faucets. One drop per second from a leaky faucet can waste as much as 10 gallons of water each week.
Purchase appliances with the Energy Star rating. An Energy Star-qualified refrigerator would save enough electricity to light a home for more than four- and-a-half months compared to a refrigerator from 1990.
Select renewable resources when purchasing flooring products. Bamboo and cork surfaces are excellent choices for those wishing to purchase an eco-friendly product that will also provide a beautiful look in their home. Bamboo is actually a grass and replenishes itself naturally in the wild, so by using bamboo, consumers preserve the habitat of endangered wildlife. In addition to bamboo, cork is also another great option for those wishing to have a green or eco-friendly home. Cork is considered a green product because the same tree can be harvested numerous times. It is also durable, acoustical, long-lasting and is the best flooring available for allergy sufferers.
One popular retailer of bamboo and cork flooring is Lumber Liquidators. The company offers 13 varieties from three brands—Morning Star Bamboo, Supreme Bamboo and Schön Engineered Flooring—in varying sizes of floor boards and finishes. Lumber Liquidators also offers four different cork flooring options from Lisbon Cork that all come with a 25-year warranty.
"WeÂ?re at an age where consumers are becoming more concerned about what they put in their bodies, and in their homes," said Tom Sullivan, founder and chairman of Lumber Liquidators. "At Lumber Liquidators weÂ?ve recognized this and have strived to make eco-friendly products like bamboo and cork floors readily available to our consumers at a great price."
While constructing a green home from the ground up may not be doable for many homeowners, these suggestions can help make their existing homes more green and even help save some money in the process.
*Source: The National Building Museum
| Posted Date: 1/14/07 12:00 AM | Direct Link |
