Carpet installations in Alexandria Va

CARPETING IN NORTHERN VA

At TOTAL FLOORING, LLC we don't consider an 8lb rebond padding to be an upgrade. We take everyone of our installations very seriously and do our best to provide every client with a great quality carpet. We understand about indoor air quality and having children in the home, walking, and crawling on it. My personal favorite, besides natural backed, undyed wool...is Mohawks "Smartstrand" It's as soft as wool, extremely low VOC's due to not being toopically treated with petroleum stain guard, and made from recycled materials. Smartstrand is a polymer made from Dupont, a natural corn sugar, and is extremely safe, durable, and stain resistant. www.smartstrand.com. Every 7 yards produced saves a gallon of gasoline. The softness is unmatched. I like to use Healthier Choice padding underneath. www.healthierchoice.com. It's a closed cell memory foam that is the only padding that is "Greenguard" labelled (Safe for children/ schools)and has a lifetime guarantee to not crush or break down. These 2 together are the perfect addition to any home looking for new carpeting. Please contact Total Flooring, LLC for a free estimate and sample of this carpet. My personal favorite when it comes to carpet at a reasonable price and superior performance! Please do the research yourselves before contacting us. The Carpet & Rug institute gives it the CRI+ label, but it far exceeds that in my experience. Whether seeking an Eco-Friendly carpeting or not, Smartstrand is the perfect addition to your home. Thanks again and I hope to be showing it to you soon :) Until next post, Happy Mothers Day, and have a terrific week! Chad Durbin, LEED GA President Total Flooring, LLC

Flooring Gallery... Total Flooring, LLC

Total Flooring, LLC have been making customers very happy for over 5 years, here is some of our work. Turnberry Tower Tile Hardwood Refinishing American Cherry Penthouse Suite Green Flooring Thanks for taking a look, please contact us for a free estimate! Chad Durbin, LEED GA

Turnberry Tower Arlington Va.

When it comes to high end flooring, there are only a few select local companies, that I would recommend besides ourselves. This is wht Total Flooring, LLC built out a large percentage of units in the now, sold out, Turnbery Tower Arlington Va. Not only was one of our model units featured in their number 1 model unit, but we were also featured in a national advertisement from Mirage Hardwood Flooring. The ad was run in the nations top trade magazine, Floor Covering Weekly. We take enormous pride in all of our projects, using the same installers that we have promoted for over 6 years. The same that will show up to do your project. Our list of clients include top ranking politicians, NFL players, and media moguls. Our resume' is astounding even to me and our work speaks for itself. Here are a few pictures of the model unit that we built out at http://turnberrytowerarlington.com/ it is featured in their website on the home page. We take every job as seriously as the next, no matter the size, or location. Our pricing is great due to low overhead and we pass that along to the client. Here is a top level Penthouse that we are completing now. They say that a picture says 1,000 words, so i'll leave you with a few floors that we are proud to post in Turnberry Tower. Thanks for letting us display some of our work. I hope that if in the market for new flooring, you will contact us at Total Flooring, LLC We hope to hear from you and make your home our next masterpiece!

Green Flooring in Alexandria Va

TOTAL FLOORING, LLC (Green Flooring) In the LEED A personal insight on” Green” Flooring To be defined as “green,” or environmentally friendly, a floor needs to satisfy certain standards. Some of these standards include; sustainability, low VOCs (volatile organic compounds), recycling capability or creation from recycled materials. Over the past decade, major advancements have been made in manufacturing floors using these standards. These have created a wonderful means of improving the indoor air quality in your home and reducing the depletion of our planet’s natural resources. Some of the common misconceptions, are that "green products" are different than traditional, or that they are more expensive, these are both untrue. Eco friendly floors range from modifications to traditional floors such as hardwood and carpeting to the new and beautiful floors made from cork or bamboo. Sustainability applies to a natural resource that can replentish itself within ten years or less by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. The materials highest in sustainability include cork, bamboo, eucalyptus, and linoleum. Another major factor in the production of sustainable flooring is the diversion from landfills. Is the floor made from post-consumer recycled materials? Can it be recycled? Is it biodegradable? Low-emitting, or low VOC, is a measure of the chemicals used in manufacturing that “off gas” or release toxic gasses into your home after installation. Many of these chemicals top the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of extremely hazardous substances, including Benzene, Toluene, and Urea Formaldehyde. Third party testing and green labeling programs have greatly reduced, if not eliminated, the use of these chemicals in flooring products. The carbon footprint is defined by greenhouse gasses released into the atmosphere through extraction, manufacturing, and shipping of your flooring. Whenever possible, search for a local dealer for your new floor. The less shipping involved, the smaller the footprint. Cork floors are quickly becoming a favorite among customers due to their uniquely beautiful look and their durability. Cork is bark that is harvested from the cork oak tree after it has matured to 25 years of age. The harvesting does not harm the tree and it replenishes itself every 8-10 years. Cork floors have a great insulation value (R-value) and are warmer/ softer than most hard surfaces. Cork is also moisture friendly, making them mold and mildew resistant, and a great option for kitchens or basements. Bamboo floors are also very unique and beautiful. Bamboo is a grass that is harvested every 3-5 years, making it a highly sustainable product. The bamboo harvested for flooring is different from that eaten by pandas. Bamboo comes in three styles: vertical, horizontal, and strand-woven. Vertical and horizontal bamboo floors are similar in hardness to American Red Oak floors, whereas strand-woven bamboo is often harder than Brazilian cherry. When shopping for a bamboo floor, make sure you find a reputable, knowledgeable dealer; this will insure that your floor will be Urea Formaldehyde free, meet or exceed the E1 standard, and be a stable product. Bamboo will add a beautiful and unique look to your home, and is very reasonably priced. Hardwood floors have always been an American favorite. In 1993, an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organization called the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was established. Their mission is to stop deforestation globally, and is widely regarded as one of the most important initiatives of the last decade to promote responsible forest management worldwide. They prohibit the destruction of natural forests and habitats, the use of hazardous pesticides, and the cultivation of genetically modified trees (GMO’s). They also respect the rights of indigenous people to preserve their tribal lands. We carry and promote FSC hardwoods as well as reclaimed. Reclaimed hardwood floors come from old barns, mills, and factories that are torn down. The salvaged wood is manufactured into new flooring and are some of the most beautiful/ unique hardwoods available. We use local mills in West Virginia to cut the footprint to a minimum Carpeting is your highest emitting floor. Originally, over 400 toxic chemicals were used in the manufacturing. Many improvements have been made in the last decade, but I would still recommend selecting a carpet labeled CRI Plus. This is the Carpet and Rug Institutes most stringent indoor air quality testing label. Other than un-dyed, natural-backed wool, that have no VOC’s, one great option is Mohawk’s Dupont Sorona. It is also known as Smartstrand; Smartstrand with Dupont’s Sorona is made from naturally occurring corn sugars and renewable crops. 37% is made from recycled sources instead of petroleum-based ingredients. Every 7 yards of Smartstrand produced saves 1 gallon of gasoline. The production also requires 30% less energy than nylon and reduces greenhouse gasses by 63%. The carpet is extremely durable, stain-resistant, and cost-effective. Linoleum is one of the most environmentally conscious floors on the market. The ingredients include linseed oil, natural tree resins, wood flour, and jute. The plants that contribute to the raw materials also contribute to the production of oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Linoleum comes in three forms; tiles, sheet, and click (Floating floor). The first two are glued down with a solvent-free non-toxic adhesive. Linoleum does not off-gass in your home and is fully biodegradable. There are more than forty colors available and it can be installed in numerous patterns. It is an incredibly green option to add color to any room or office. The growing trend to “go green” reflects a desire to live a healthy and productive life while minimizing our impact on the planet for ourselves and our children. The demands of lowering our environmental impact is leading us towards resolving the growing concerns about global warming, depletion of natural resources, pollution, and the disruption of natural habitats. American households account for about 1/5 of America’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Many organizations and manufacturers are making efforts to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and develop renewable energy. Please do your research on a particular floor before putting it into your home or around your families. Always find a knowledgeable, local dealer, that is implementing best practices into their company. At Total Flooring, LLC, we not only continue to educate ourselves on best practices, but are also a working part of the communities that surround us. We volunteer, donate, and give back whenever possible.

Hardwood floor refinishing

Thinking of refinishing those scratched hardwood floors in your home? Found an old hardwood floor under your carpeting?
The questions asked when I speak with clients about refinishing are usually: "How much dust should I expect after sanding?" And "Is the smell going to be toxic and strong?"
The process of refinishing hardwood floors has come a long way in the past decade and remains very simple. The improvements are in the finishing products used and the dustless sanders that have hit the market.
I'll start with the finish, your 2 basic options are oil based or water based.
Oil based finish can have a strong odor, sometimes causing your client to leave the home during the work. It has a distinct look to it, usually more glossy than water based, and it's a clients personal preference to select it. Oil based finish is also less expensive in most cases, bringing down the overall cost of the job. It's drying time is twice as long as water based and the durability is a close second.
My advice is to always use a water based finish, my personal favorite being BONA. It's a Swedish made, fast drying, low VOC (volatile organic compounds), tough as nails finish. You don't want harmful chemicals in your home or around your family. You can choose a semi-gloss or satin look and they also make a terrific cleaner that you can use after, to keep your floor looking great!
Next is the mess that's created by the sanding process. If you haven't had this done in a while, I'm sure you're thinking that it will be everywhere, and clean up will be a nightmare. That's not the fact these days. With the introduction of dustless sanders, the clean up is quite easy. No one can claim 100% dust free, if they do, hang up the phone. Its about as believable as Empires "Free flooring" :) The sanders will however catch 98-99%, leaving just a very slight dusting that can easily be wiped up. A good contractor will also hang barriers to close off their work area to the rest of your home and cover any vents.
Make sure that if not going with a natural finish and using a stain, you have the contractor test out your color choices after sanding. They can look very different than what's on the can or color key. Not only stain a small portion with the color, but put a coat of finish on it as well. The look can vary and you only get 1 shot to make it perfect.
Total Flooring, LLC doesn't cut corners. There are small things a "bad" contractor can do that make a big difference in how your floors will look and perform. Ask questions, don't be talked into a finish that you don't know of, or want. I've been in the business over 20 years and have been asked to fix newly refinished floors many times. That can't be done, you'll pay for it twice, or be an unhappy consumer. This is usually because the contractor dragged the sander backwards and there are noticeable ripples in your floor, or they had claimed to know how to use a natural oil finish....and didn't.
These are just a few of the basics that can help guide you when selecting a good company to refinish your hardwood. For more, please contact us at www.totalflooringva.com and we are ready to answer all of your questions. We take pride in your home.




Until next post and thank you for reading.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Chad Durbin, LEED GA
President
Total Flooring, LLC
www.totalflooringva.com
571-245-4660

Location:Fairfax, Virginia

Green Flooring Advice

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Respect.

What is “Green?”

For many of us, awareness of our individual impact on the life of our planet is just coming into focus. Recent initiatives by local utility companies, local builders and local and national governmental agencies have served to heighten awareness of every human being’s impact on the global environment. “Greening” our homes is a wonderful investment. The impact can be felt immediately within our own families and what’s good for us is good for our planet and future generations.

Going green, according to the U.S. Green Building Council, means looking at these factors when building or remodeling our homes:

• Energy savings
• Water efficiency
• CO² emissions reduction
• Improved indoor environmental quality
• Stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Saving energy may mean choosing a natural flooring that requires little energy to produce; buying locally so that transportation energy is minimal; choosing flooring with no or low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions because they can contribute to health problems; or choosing flooring that is made from renewable resources.

Every little step counts. And rest assured there are many flooring choices that will contribute to the notion of leaving our planet just as beautiful as it was when we arrived, so that our children and our children’s children can enjoy it as much as we did.

World Floor Covering Association and “Designing Spaces” Provide Tips on Creating Eco-Friendly Living Spaces

Ever wonder what makes a product “green”?

Get all of the answers you need and more by tuning into The Learning Channel’s Designing Spaces cable program which features the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) in a segment on green, environmentally friendly floors. You'll get an overview of every kind of eco-friendly flooring on the market from carpets made of corn sugar to bamboo area rugs. And, you can learn about what makes a product environmentally friendly as well as the carbon “footprint” a product leaves from the time and place it is sourced to final installation.