Empire Today Blog
The Real Deal: How Real Hardwood Floors Can Benefit Your Home
Achieving a wood look for your floors has become easier over the years. Laminate, vinyl plank, and even porcelain have made it possible to have an authentic look for less. However, having real hardwood floors can still be a benefit to your home. Here are a few reasons why the real deal might be the right choice.
Natural Hardwood Gives a True Timeless Look
Hardwood alternatives can look relatively close to the real deal, but, in the end, it won’t be the exact same as natural hardwood. Solid or engineered, hardwood’s attractive appearance can be only be mimicked. Although laminate and vinyl plank can get detailed, even replicating groves and grains, real hardwood floors have a true timeless look like no other.
Hassle-Free Cleaning Means Less Stress
Hardwood doesn’t hold dirt, dust, or other allergens. This makes it easier to clean by simply sweeping or vacuuming on a regular basis. Excessive moisture can damage hardwood, but you can still clean thoroughly. Simply use a damp mop to clean routinely and help maintain your floor’s appearance.
Fix Imperfections without Replacing Your Floors
Even if you take proper care of your floors, they can still get scratches and other imperfections. The great thing about hardwood is that this can be fixed without necessarily replacing your floors. Real hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished to give your floors a fresh look. While this process may seem like a hassle, it can be less stressful than getting new flooring from scratch. Keep in mind, engineered hardwood can only be refinished a few times while solid hardwood’s construction allows it to be sanded continuously.
Get a Long-Term Investment
Hardwood can be more susceptible to scratches than vinyl plank or laminate, but it can have more longevity in the long run. In addition to being able to be refinished, natural hardwood is long lasting. With the right care, hardwood can last for generations, meaning less money and stress on replacing your floors.
Real Hardwood Floors Add Value to Your Home
While carpet can still be a modern and functional option, home buyers are looking to purchase homes with a wood look. The hardwood alternatives may mimic hardwood, but having natural and long-lasting wood floors can add value to your home more than the other options. Not only does this mean it could increase its worth, but it may be able to help your home sell faster if you’re looking to put it on the market.
There have been many innovations for wood looks over the years, and real hardwood floors still remain a classic and functional choice. Whatever you end up choosing for your home, Empire can help make it easy! Schedule an Estimate with Empire Today and have a flooring professional help you pick the best floors for your home.
6 Simple Techniques to Keep Hardwood Floors Dust Free
Hardwood may not naturally hold dust mites and other allergens, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be cleaned regularly. Keeping hardwood floors dust free requires giving your floors the proper TLC. Follow these simple tips to help keep your hardwood looking fresh.
5 Rustic Flooring Design Ideas for a Craftsman Look
If you’re trying to add a rustic feel to your home, your floors can make a major impact. You need an “effortless” style that can add a natural character to your home’s ambience. Here are five rustic flooring design ideas to help you achieve the perfect look.
Carpet, Hardwood, or Laminate: How to Choose the Perfect Flooring for Stairs
Your staircase is more than just a pathway to different levels in your home. Like other spaces, it can be used to help elevate your home’s décor and overall look. However, choosing the right flooring for stairs can be tricky if you don’t know where to start. Here are a few tips to help make your decision a lot easier.
Styling on a Budget: How to Shop for Affordable Carpet
Finding flooring, especially carpet, on a budget doesn’t have to be hard! With the right knowledge and approach, you can easily give your home a new look without emptying your pockets. Read and discover how you can find affordable carpet that’s perfect for your lifestyle.
Why Pattern Carpet Might be the Style Your Home Always Needed
Don’t be so quick to count carpet out of your home’s contemporary updates. While hardwood, laminate, and vinyl plank flooring are popular for their modern styles, carpet can still have that up-to-date look. See why pattern carpet just may be what your home has always needed.
Empire Today Wins a Golden Bridge Award for Customer Service Department of the Year
Empire Today is honored to receive a Golden Bridge award for customer service. The Golden Bridge Business awards were created to honor and generate industry-wide recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and businesses worldwide. Empire joins a long list of successful organizations who choose to put customers first.
Fact or Fiction: Can Hardwood Be Considered Eco-Friendly Flooring?
Trends come and go, but eco-friendly flooring is more than just a buzzword. For some homeowners, it’s a must-have in the bigger picture of living in an environmentally sound home, with as minimal a footprint as possible. Installing eco-friendly hardwood could be more feasible than you think. We’ve compiled several facts about hardwood floors to help you make an informed decision.
Why Vinyl Flooring Might Be Your Best Option for a Modern Look
Choosing contemporary new flooring for your home can be a hassle. Although hard surfaces are the common choices to stay on trend, porcelain tile and hardwoods aren’t the most affordable options. Luckily, vinyl can give you the stylish look you want for less. But what exactly is vinyl flooring, and what makes it such a popular alternative to the real deals? Keep reading to find out.
6 Fall Interior Design Trends That’ll Make Your Home the Talk of the Season
This fall is giving more than apple cider, cozy sweaters, and loads of turkey! Check out our favorite interior design trends for this fall that perfectly capture the look of the season.
4 Reasons Why Faux Wood Blinds are What Your Home Decor Needs
Achieving a modern look can be as simple as adding a finishing touch to your windows. While researching new blinds and shades can seem overwhelming, the right choice for your home isn’t out of reach!
Faux wood blinds bring a more contemporary aesthetic to any room of the home. Window treatments from Empire aren’t all about looks – they’re durable and sustainable as well! Faux wood blinds may be exactly what your home décor needs.
The Best Time to Shop for New Floors
You’ve probably seen the shopping guides based on seasonal demand before. Buy lawnmowers and printers in September. Gas grills in November or December. Winter coats and sports gear in March. But what about flooring? The best time to shop for new floors is right before the holidays kick in. Here’s why.
How to Choose the Best Laminate Flooring for Your Home
The wood look is a great look and we’ve extensively covered why laminate is one of the best ways to get there. However, with various styles and features, it may seem hard to choose the perfect one for your home. Empire Today is here to make things a lot easier. Keep reading to see what factors you should look for when picking the best laminate flooring for your home.
Empire Today Wins Five Major Awards for Company Excellence in 2018
Empire Today® is both fortunate and thrilled to receive FIVE major awards for company excellence in 2018, including three Stevie® Awards from the American Business Association, a Confirmit® Achievement in Customer Excellence (ACE) Award, and an Employee Engagement (EE) Award. (more…)
Wood Look Porcelain Tile Isn’t Just a Trend, It’s Here to Stay
Wood look flooring is here to stay. What’s constantly evolving is the many ways to pull off the look if you aren’t shopping for traditional hardwood. Laminate and vinyl plank arepopular alternatives, but a certain flooring type might surprise you with its realistic wood styles. Keep reading to see why wood look porcelain tile took this summer by storm and is likely to remain a household flooring staple.
10 Small Room Decor Ideas You’ll Wish You Thought of First
Decorating a small space can be tricky. You may have tons of ideas, but some of them may be too big for the room you have in mind. Don’t get discouraged—Empire is here to help you make your home truly inviting – no matter the size. Here are 10 easy and functional small room décor ideas.
Refinishing Hardwood Floors 101: When, Why, and How
Hardwood flooring is timeless, stylish, and can increase the overall value of your home. But heavy traffic and improper care can lead to long-term headaches. Refinishing hardwood floors is a great way to make them look brand new without a complete replacement. Here’s what you should know before getting started.
Carpet Padding Types: Everything You Need to Know About Carpet’s Hidden Teammate
While a lot of carpet’s comfort is provided by its fibers, carpet padding adds the cushion that your feet feel when walking on your flooring. Want to learn all about the different carpet padding types? We’re here to help familiarize you with padding.
5 Summer Decor Ideas to Give Your Home a Fresh Look
It’s finally summer! Don’t just have fun in the sun. Add some fun décor inside your home. From flowers to flooring, these summer decor ideas are sure to help give your home a fresh look for this vibrant season.
5 Things to Consider to Make Floor Remodeling Easier
Getting beautiful new floors is a great way to update your home with a new look. However, a lot of thought goes into getting the perfect end result. Here are a few key things you should consider to make your floor remodeling process go as smooth as possible.
What is a Subfloor? The Foundation Beneath the Beauty
If someone asks you “What kind of flooring do you want?” the first thing that may come to mind is wood look vs. carpet. Instead, you should be asking yourself, “What’s beneath the surface?” Hardwood, vinyl, tile, and carpet may be the only thing your family and guests see, but where there’s beauty, there’s a subfloor providing support. What is a subfloor? Let’s find out.
Modernize Your Home with Affordable Flooring
Home is where the heart is, and it’s also where your style is. If you want to demonstrate your unique personal style, décor can make all the difference. But how much does it all cost? Whether you prefer tradition or following the latest trends, affordable flooring is not as hard to find as you think. Here’s where to start.
Should You Consider Tiles for Living Room Floors?
The first room that comes to mind when you hear “tile floors” may be a bathroom, kitchen or even the laundry room. Because of a built-in resistance against moisture, tile is often the preferred choice for these rooms. But have you considered tiles for living room flooring? Your family spends a lot of time in the living room, you should always have décor that’s not only stylish but functional everyday. Here’s why tiles for living rooms are a great idea for your home.
Getting Kitchen Floor Tiles to Enhance Your Home
When remodeling your home, every detail matters. The blinds and shades, furniture, and, most importantly, flooring are all big factors that can make a difference in your home. One of the common rooms people choose to transform is the kitchen. Choosing the right kitchen floor tiles can not only elevate the kitchen itself but your home in general. Learn what you should consider when choosing tile and what styles are available to help you transform this special room.
How to Choose the Right Bathroom Floor Tiles for Your Home
Your bathroom is more than just a room. It’s a place where you can escape with a relaxing bubble bath, a judgment-free zone for you to sing as loud as you’d like, or maybe it’s where your kids will first learn to grow out of diapers. Whatever your bathroom means to you, it’s important to take proper care of this sanctuary and choosing the right bathroom floor tiles is a big component. Never fear, Empire is here to help you pick the right flooring for you and your family.
