Answers to the most common questions about flooring.

Visit us.

Come in and see the products for yourself. Our team of Nufloors Fernie sales associates will help you select the perfect flooring for your home. Be sure to bring furniture swatches of fabric, bedspreads, wallpaper and paint that will be in the room.

Free In-home estimate. 

Nufloors provides a free in-home measurement and estimate. This is when we determine how much flooring you’ll need.

• Is there light or heavy traffic in this room?
• What is the room used for?
• Do you want a casual, formal or somewhere in between look?
• Do you have children or pets?
• Do you have a certain colour in mind?
• Is there a style you’ve owned or seen that you really like

This depends on your flooring choice. Delivery can be anywhere from same day (in-stock goods) or up to 4-6 weeks for special items. It is recommended that you select your flooring well in advance when renovating. Your Nufloors Fernie sales associate will help you understand when to expect your flooring.

Installers will arrive in the morning, unless otherwise notified. Some installs may take more than one day, your sales associate will let you know. Our flooring installers will always treat your home with respect. However, flooring installation is a renovation to your home and some mess is unavoidable. While we are working please make sure the space is clear. Our sales associates will review with you in detail what to expect and how to prepare for your installation day.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, How to Prepare for Installation Day.

Yes, working through an insurance claim is stressful. Nufloors co-ordinates with both adjusters and restoration companies to help you on flooring related insurance claims.

Each floor is unique, which means the cleaning and maintenance are too. Visit our Floor Care page, and download the corresponding cleaning information for your flooring of choice.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a real solution to repair a dent in flooring. The only real solution is to replace the damaged board or tile. Contact Nufloors Fernie and we will investigate to determine if your flooring can be replaced.

You can purchase stain markers/blending pencils that are available in a variety of tones from your local hardware store. Always use the wood flooring manufacturer’s cleaning, repair and finish products.

The type of flooring you choose is dependent on what you’re looking for and what room you’re installing it in. Hardwood that is high-quality can last generations, making it a great investment. One of the biggest benefits of hardwood is the pure, natural beauty of it. It’s something you can’t get with other flooring options.

Solid wood is made from a single piece of hardwood flooring. Engineered wood flooring is multiple layers of wood glued together to counter the forces of expansion and contraction that happen with wood flooring. Laminate flooring is not real flooring. It’s a wood pattern that is printed on paper and then glued to high-density fibreboard backer.

Installing new flooring involves making a lot of decisions. One of those decisions is whether to have a Nufloors Fernie professional install your new floors or to do it yourself. To help you make the best decision, we are sharing the pros and cons of hiring a professional flooring installer vs doing it yourself.

A good cushion is important to carpet performance, but keep in mind that you walk directly on the carpet, so you want carpet constructed to meet your needs and lifestyle. If you buy a cheaper carpet that does not meet your needs, you will have a cushion that feels great, but you may not be satisfied with the look or wear of your carpet.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Why Your Carpet Cushion Matters.

Snip the end of the tuft to even the carpet surface. NEVER pull a long or loose end as this can damage your carpet.

If you want to minimize the visibility of footprints, work with your sales associate to select a very tightly constructed carpet. Carpet is much softer making the fibers finer. The downside of this innovation is that it makes foot traffic visible, even with looped carpets.

Wool is making a place for itself in the market thanks to its sustainability and durability.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Wool Carpet Pros and Cons

A carpet installer can fix that wrinkle. Your carpeting may have stretched or pulled away from the tack strip at one side.

Lighting can change your perception of carpet colour, making it look like particular areas are lighter or darker than others. The lighting environment between a carpet retail store and your home may also vary, therefore we recommend that you take a sample of carpet and view it in your home for colour before making your final purchasing decision.

This is due to light that is reflecting differently as the pile is pushed in different directions. This can be caused by foot traffic. Vacuum the pile in one direction to alleviate this issue.

It is not uncommon for some new carpet to shed for up to 120 days. The main reason for carpet shedding is due to cut fiber left from the milling process. It is recommended that the carpet be vacuumed frequently to minimize the shedding.

Refer to the manufacturer’s recommendations as this will affect your warranty, usually every 12-18 months. Ensure you follow the guidelines and keep a copy of your professional cleaning invoice in case needed if you must file a warranty claim.

It is essential to use a good quality cushion to ensure your new carpet’s performance. Carpet Cushion – also known as underpad, undercushion, padding, cushion and underlay – is the hard working, important and often overlooked part of your carpet flooring. Not all carpet performs the same and not all carpet cushion does either.

Carpet cushion does more than cushion your carpet when you walk on it – it also does these important jobs:

• Aacts as a buffer between the carpet and the subfloor, allowing fibers to bounce back and retain their appearance
• Will feel better underfoot
• Keeps most common household spills from penetrating the cushion or subfloor
• Adds to the useful life of your carpet
• Protects your carpet investment
• Makes a less expensive carpet feel more luxurious
• Absorbs sounds and reduces noise
• Makes cleaning and maintenance more efficient

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Why Your Carpet Cushion Matters.

A good cushion is important to carpet performance, but keep in mind that you walk directly on the carpet, so you want carpet constructed to meet your needs and lifestyle. If you buy a cheaper carpet that does not meet your needs, you will have a cushion that feels great, but you may not be satisfied with the look or wear of your carpet.

WPC vinyl means wood-plastic composite vinyl flooring. Also known as waterproof core vinyl flooring. WPC vinyl flooring is 100% waterproof. WPC is known as the best of luxury vinyl flooring and is also referred to as engineered vinyl flooring.

SPC means stone-plastic composite or stone-polymer composite. SPC is also referred to as Rigid Core luxury vinyl flooring. The stone-plastic composite core in this luxury vinyl is ultra-dense. It is also referred to as engineered vinyl flooring. SPC is also 100% waterproof.

Both WPC AND SPC have core layers that are waterproof which prevents warping if exposed to moisture. SPC and WPC are available in stone and wood looks. Where SPC and WPC differ is the core layer. In SPC, the core is made up of natural limestone powder, polyvinyl chloride, and stabilizers. WPC flooring is comprised of recycled wood pulp and plastic composites. WPC is more comfortable underfoot and is great for residential spaces. SPC has less give and is sturdier underfoot which makes it an excellent choice for high traffic commercial spaces.

LVF means luxury vinyl flooring. Luxury vinyl flooring encompasses WPC and SPC. Luxury vinyl flooring refers to vinyl that is not waterproof or rigid core. It has a higher-quality visual, and usually a basic glue down or interlocking installation mechanism.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Rigid Core Flooring: SPC vs WPC

LVP is the abbreviation for luxury vinyl planks. LVP indicates the specific shape of the vinyl flooring shape – plank. Luxury vinyl plank flooring often features a wood-look image and the plank format helps finish the look.

LVT is the abbreviation for luxury vinyl tiles. Luxury vinyl tiles often feature a stone-look image and mimics natural stone flooring. LVT indicates the specific shape of the vinyl flooring– tile. These are available in various sizes.

The three main parameters to examine are overall thickness (from 4mm up to 8.5mm), attached pad (either cork or EVA pad) and wear-layer thickness (.012 or .020 are typical).

Yes, most luxury vinyl is compatible with electric heat. However, warranties can vary from supplier to supplier so please check with your Nufloors Fernie Sales Associate to ensure that the product you have chosen is compatible.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Heated Flooring Guide

When you are looking to put flooring in areas that are prone to get wet, such as a bathroom or mudroom, it is a good idea to consider flooring options that can hold up to water. Water damage can occur from water sitting on top of the floor (standing water), heavy moisture in the air, or water seeping from underneath such as in a basement.

Waterproof Flooring can withstand any amount of water, from moisture to flooding, without damaging the floor. Some luxury vinyl lines are waterproof, but not all. Look for a feature that says 100% waterproof when shopping. Keep in mind that some flooring is waterproof, but your subfloor is not. A waterproof floor will not necessarily keep water from damaging a subfloor.
WPC vinyl flooring is a waterproof flooring option, and manufacturers are now introducing waterproof laminate options as well.

Water Resistant Flooring will not handle large spills, floods, or a lot of moisture. But it does handle small spills. Most hard surface flooring will handle small amount of water if it is cleaned up quickly. Water resistant laminate floors is a good option as the outer wear layer is usually waterproof but the seams in between the planks can damage the core if water seeps in. Some water-resistant laminates have a water-resistant core that can last for extended periods of time, but the water must be cleaned up asap.
Some Laminate, sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl and porcelain tile are water resistant flooring options.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Waterproof and Water-Resistant Flooring

Yes. The rule-of-thumb is that they should run parallel to the longest wall in the room in which the planks are being installed.

However, for any nail down or staple down hardwood floor the hardwood planks should run against the joists of the house. Any floating hardwood (non-nail down/staple down) is free to run the direction of the customers choosing.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Which Direction Should Hardwood Floors be Installed

It is recommended to use felt pads or barrel-type coasters (do not use plastic coasters) under chair legs and other furniture. The felt pads come in various sizes. Some pads stick on the bottom of the legs and others need to be nailed on. Follow the directions provided with the pads. Check and clean the pads often to prevent debris, dirt, and small particles from being trapped in the pad, which may cause scratches in the floor’s finish

To avoid scratching or denting your hardwood floor, it is best to lift all furniture to its desired location. Refrigerators and other heavy objects should never be moved without proper floor protection. Place them on a rug, wrong side up, and slide the rug.

No. Steam cleaning can damage and warp hardwood or laminate flooring. Visit our Floor Care section, to locate the care guide for your floor.

No. Never use a wet mop or cloth on the floor. It could be very damaging to the wood. Always use a damp mop or cloth only. Water will flow down between slats, penetrate the wood, stain it black. At worst, it will lift the coating, causing it to peel away.

No. Never use wax, oil-based detergent, or any general-purpose household cleaner. These can dull or damage the finish, leaving a greasy film and making the floor slippery or tacky and more difficult to clean properly.

Individual boards can be replaced without having to remove the entire floor, which is why we suggest keeping leftover wood in case you need it.

In general, vacuuming or sweeping twice a week to remove dust and abrasive dirt is optimal for best results. However, the frequency depends greatly on your lifestyle such as having animals, children, a lot of traffic.

A hardwood floor is made of real wood, while an LVT floor is made of vinyl that imitates the appearance of other types of flooring such as hardwood, ceramic, stone, or concrete.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Hardwood and Luxury Vinyl Comparison

Both are great options. A dark hardwood floor offers a traditional look. Light coloured walls blend well with a dark hardwood floor. While dark colors can make a space look a bit smaller, it is important to remember that the floors are just one element of the room, and the colour of the walls has a much bigger impact on space perception. Light hardwood makes the room appear larger and adds to the brightness of a room which can be matched with a vibrant paint colour. Bonus – light hardwoods tend to show less dirt than dark hardwood floors. It is a good idea to see the samples in your own home and lighting as they do look different there vs. the store (lighting has a huge impact). And, you will want to look at the sample vs. your furniture, cabinets, and paint colours.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Light vs Dark Flooring

All hardwood dents and scratches, but dark hardwood tends to show the scratches more. The primary reason for this is that most wood floor species are light and if you scratch through the dark coloured stain, it shows more of a contrast with the wood underneath vs. a lighter colored floor. The lighter your wood floor is, scratches and dust will be less visible. Consider choosing a hardwood floor with a lot of character to hide scratches.

This is not a perfect solution but consider buying a Minwax stain marker. It can help camouflage your scratches, especially if you only have a few. It comes in many colours including ebony, dark walnut, red mahogany, golden oak, provincial and cherry. Some people will even get 2 similar colors (e.g. ebony and dark walnut) as there is colour variation in the wood.

Consider distressed hardwoods It shows the scratches and dents less because that is how the wood is designed – if dented it looks like it fits right in. Likewise, hardwood that has more knots and character marks will hide the dent and scratches more. Woods with stronger graining are better for hiding the scratches. Oh, and try to keep your dog’s nails trimmed.

Hardwood flooring can be used in both high traffic areas and kitchens. Kitchens have become popular for hardwood as family rooms became a significant part of home design. There is a continued concern with kitchens due to is closer proximity to water (dishwashers and sinks) due to the damage that water can do to hardwood. This can be be addressed by not running your dishwasher and leaving your home or cleaning up spills immediately. The main concern is to not to have any standing water on your hardwood floor. It is recommended to have mats in your kitchen high traffic areas to help reduce dents or scratches caused by day to day activities.

High traffic areas are generally less of a concern as in most homes shoes are removed at the front door. The finish on you floor is designed to take on heavy traffic as long as debris is left with your footwear.

Quarter Round moulding is used to hide the expansion gap left around walls during installation.

T moulding is used as a threshold in doorways or as a transition strip where the hardwood flooring meets floor or carpet of similar height. T moldings can also be used to change the direction in which the floor is laid.

Reducer moulding is used as a transition from the height of the sub-floor to the height of the hardwood floor.

Stair nose moulding is used to cover the front edge of a stair tread or step. If used on a stair, flooring is installed behind the Stair nose to cover the horizontal part (the tread) of the stair.

Care should be taken to control humidity levels within the 35-55% range. During dry seasons, a humidifier is recommended to prevent excessive shrinkage in hardwood floors due to low humidity levels. During wet seasons, proper humidity levels can be maintained by use of an air conditioner or dehumidifier. Avoid excessive exposure to water which can happen when tracking water indoors during periods of inclement weather.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Hardwood Floors and Humidity  

Typically, ’gapping’ occurs when the humidity in the house falls below the recommended level. This causes a drying of the floorboards that results in slight shrinkage, creating gaps between the boards. You will often see this in the winter, especially in houses with dry heat. One way of mitigating the situation is to increase the humidity in the home.

That depends on the climate where you live and type of heating you use in your home. In more temperate climates with variable humidity they aren’t really required, but in cold, dry regions where homes are heated in winter, humidifiers can be very helpful.

The durability or ‘dent ability’ of hardwood is often expressed in terms of its Janka hardness. The higher the number on the scale, the harder and more scratch resistant a wood is. The test uses a 2″ x 2″ x 6″ piece of wood and a 0.444″ steel ball to determine how hard the wood is. The test figures out how many pounds per square inch, or PSI, of force is needed to push the steel ball halfway into the wood plank. Use the Janka rating to gauge the hardness of the wood as an indicator of how well the wood will be able to stand up to furniture, pets, children, and everyday life.

Wire brushing a floor involves brushing the wood with large rotary wire brush causing the wood grain to open up and resulting in a two-toned look and a unique texture. Not all wood species are suitable for wire-brushing, the most common species is oak, both red and white. A textured hardwood offers many practical benefits as it is a lot more forgiving than smooth surfaces to the hazards of everyday life. Kids rough-housing and pets can damage a smooth hardwood floor.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Wood Flooring Texture Guide  

No. Steam cleaning can damage and warp hardwood or laminate flooring. Visit our Floor Care section, to locate the care guide for your floor.

This means that it is “floating” on top of the floor underneath it, and it is not directly secured to the floor (i.e. no nails and no glue). Instead, the floating floor is held down or secured around the edges of the room – the base molding/shoe molding and transitions. A floating floor is often used if it is going over an existing floor or on top of concrete. Because the floor is floated and not secured to the sub-floor, there tends to be a bit more movement in the floor – you especially see and hear this in laminate floors and it’s more noticeable if the floor is uneven or if it was poorly installed.

Yes, underlay is necessary for all laminate floor installations. It helps soundproof the floor and hides very minor deviations in the subfloor. Underlay with a vapour barrier is recommended for all below grade installation to keep the moisture away from your floors.

Embossed

Some laminate comes with a textured finish to the surface and this laminate is called embossed. The pattern is pressed into the laminate to create a texture that makes your flooring look and feel more like real wood. However, regular embossing doesn’t match exactly with the grain on the printed layer of your laminate.

Registered embossed

The process for registered embossed is the same as for regular embossed whereby a pattern is pressed into the surface of the laminate to create texture. However with registered embossed the texture follows the grain of the printed image, creating a really authentic look and feel underfoot. Innovation in the industry’s technology enables each individual laminate plank to be matched with perfect precision.

Hand scraped

The surface of the laminate flooring is pressed in such a way that it creates the appearance of wood that has been scraped giving it real rustic feel. The laminate appears old and distressed which is a very popular look and your feet will feel the contours of grains and indentations

Quarter Round moulding is used to hide the expansion gap left around walls during installation.

T moulding is used as a threshold in doorways or as a transition strip where the hardwood flooring meets floor or carpet of similar height. T mouldings can also be used to change the direction in which the floor is laid.

Reducer moulding is used as a transition from the height of the sub-floor to the height of the hardwood floor.

Stair nose moulding is used to cover the front edge of a stair tread or step. If used on a stair, flooring is installed behind the stair nose to cover the horizontal part (the tread) of the stair.

When you are looking to put flooring in areas that are prone to get wet, such as a bathroom or mudroom, it is a good idea to consider flooring options that can hold up to water. Water damage can occur from water sitting on top of the floor (standing water), heavy moisture in the air, or water seeping from underneath such as in a basement.

Waterproof Flooring can withstand any amount of water, from moisture to flooding, without damaging the floor. Some luxury vinyl lines are waterproof, but not all. Look for a feature that says 100% waterproof when shopping. Keep in mind that some flooring is waterproof, but your subfloor is not. A waterproof floor will not necessarily keep water from damaging a subfloor.
WPC vinyl flooring is a waterproof flooring option, and manufacturers are now introducing waterproof laminate options as well.

Water Resistant Flooring will not handle large spills, floods, or a lot of moisture. But it does handle small spills. Most hard surface flooring will handle small amount of water if it is cleaned up quickly. Water resistant laminate floors is a good option as the outer wear layer is usually waterproof but the seams in between the planks can damage the core if water seeps in. Some water-resistant laminates have a water-resistant core that can last for extended periods of time, but the water must be cleaned up asap.
Some Laminate, sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl and porcelain tile are water resistant flooring options.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Waterproof and Water-Resistant Flooring

Hopefully, you have a few tiles from the original installation for just this moment as well as a note on the grout colour. Then, the grout surrounding the broken tile, the tile, and the adhesive beneath the broken tile all must be removed. A new tile is set, and re-grouted. There are tools designed to enable this work or you may wish to hire a professional to do this for you.

While tile flooring is a classic choice for kitchens, it is a hard surface and likely dishes dropped will break or potentially cause damage to your tile. Recommendation is to use a carpet runner near your kitchen work area, this may help in such an event. Keep in mind the luxury vinyl option as this flooring is softer than tile.

Yes, we offer supply and install of electric heat option to tile installations.

Floor tile is thick and sturdy enough to hold up against foot traffic, while wall tile is thin and light for easier installation.

“Resilient flooring” is a term used for vinyl flooring. The terms vinyl and resilient flooring are often used interchangeably.

Vinyl Flooring has a protective wear layer to help prevent scratches. The thicker the wear layer, the more protection you will have. Keep in mind though that no vinyl floor is 100% scratch proof. Try to keep the dog’s nails trimmed to help prevent scratches.

Vinyl flooring is measured in two thicknesses: Total product and wear layer. Total product thickness, measured in millimeters, determines how well the vinyl hides subfloor imperfections. Total wear layer thickness, also measured in millimeters, determines the vinyl floors durability.

Yes, if they are labeled “colourfast” by the manufacturer. Non-staining, polypropylene-backed mats or woven rugs are best. Not recommended is the use of rubber or latex-backed mats because the chemical (antioxidant) used to keep the backing from becoming brittle can permanently stain your floor.

When you are looking to put flooring in areas that are prone to get wet, such as a bathroom or mudroom, it is a good idea to consider flooring options that can hold up to water. Water damage can occur from water sitting on top of the floor (standing water), heavy moisture in the air, or water seeping from underneath such as in a basement.

Waterproof Flooring can withstand any amount of water, from moisture to flooding, without damaging the floor. Some luxury vinyl lines are waterproof, but not all. Look for a feature that says 100% waterproof when shopping. Keep in mind that some flooring is waterproof, but your subfloor is not. A waterproof floor will not necessarily keep water from damaging a subfloor.
WPC vinyl flooring is a waterproof flooring option, and manufacturers are now introducing waterproof laminate options as well.

Water Resistant Flooring will not handle large spills, floods, or a lot of moisture. But it does handle small spills. Most hard surface flooring will handle small amount of water if it is cleaned up quickly. Water resistant laminate floors is a good option as the outer wear layer is usually waterproof but the seams in between the planks can damage the core if water seeps in. Some water-resistant laminates have a water-resistant core that can last for extended periods of time, but the water must be cleaned up asap.
Some Laminate, sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl and porcelain tile are water resistant flooring options.

For more information on this topic, please visit our blog, Waterproof and Water-Resistant Flooring

Think about why you need to cover your window and what are your primary concerns, privacy, insulation, energy savings, security, light control, or style? Our Nufloors Fernie sales associates can help you select the perfect window covering solution.

The mount refers to the way in which the window covering will be hung, this can be either inside, outside, or on the side of the window.

Convenience
The ability to adjust every window covering in your home with a simple touch of a button. This is a time saver for homes with a lot of windows, or those hard to reach windows.

Security
Automation of your window coverings can make your home look “lived in” while you are away. Some motorized window coverings can be opened or closed using an app on your phone, others can be set on a timer.

Child Safety
The elimination of the pull cords makes motorized window coverings the ideal option for families with babies and young children. With the flip of a remote switch, or through your phone the motorized technology allows for safe, and effortless control.

Yes, using a cordless system is one of the safest options for homes with babies and young children as there are no dangling cords to get caught on. This is also convenient since it makes raising and lowering blinds and shades easy. Cords are out of reach and provide a clean and uncluttered look while holding blinds and shades securely in any position.

Yes, rug underpads protect your floors from scratching and provide slip resistance and cushioning under foot.

Rug pads should be smaller than your area rug by at least 2 inches on each side. This allows the edges of the rug to lay flat against the flooring, preventing a tripping hazard.

Be sure to clean your rug first, then roll it and wrap it in heavy-duty plastic with moth balls before sealing the whole thing with tape.