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Laminate Installation Preventing Gapping and Buckling in CA’s

Laminate Installation Preventing Gapping and Buckling in CA's Dry Air by Flooring 101

In the sun-soaked regions of Southern California, from the high desert of Bakersfield to the coastal winds of Ventura and the inland heat of Simi Valley, the climate plays a massive role in the performance of your home’s interior finishes. Laminate flooring is a favorite among our customers for its incredible durability and realistic wood…

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Refinishing Your Hardwood Floors: When Is It Time to Restore Their CA Shine?

Refinishing Your Hardwood Floors to Restore Their CA Shine by Flooring 101

Hardwood flooring is one of the only design elements in your home that can actually get better with age, provided it is properly cared for. In the active households of Southern California, from the sandy feet of Ventura to the busy families in Santa Maria, floors eventually begin to show their history. But before you…

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Wide or Narrow Planks? Hardwood Dimension Trends in Southern California Design

In the world of Southern California interior design, the width of your hardwood planks is just as important as the color or the species. Whether you are renovating a mid-century modern home in Thousand Oaks or a coastal cottage in Goleta, the dimensions of your flooring will dictate the visual “rhythm” of the entire house.…

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Hardwood and Radiant Heat for Simi Valley Cooler Days

Hardwood and Radiant Heat for Simi Valley Cooler Days by Flooring 101

While Southern California is famous for its warmth, residents in Simi Valley and the surrounding inland valleys know that winter mornings can be surprisingly brisk. To combat the chill, many modern homes are opting for radiant floor heating systems a luxury that provides consistent, even warmth from the ground up. However, the intersection of heat…

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Fade-Resistant Laminate: Protecting Your Floors from Intense California Sunlight

In Southern California regions like Bakersfield and the Santa Clarita Valley, sunshine is our greatest natural resource, but it is also the greatest enemy of your interior finishes. Many homeowners who install beautiful new flooring in sun-drenched rooms find that, within just a few years, the areas near floor-to-ceiling windows have shifted in color, leaving…

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Simple Laminate Cleaning Guide for Busy Families

The Simple Laminate Wax Cleaning Guide by Flooring 101

Laminate flooring is incredibly popular among modern California families due to its exceptional durability and low-maintenance profile. However, its cleaning requirements are distinct from those of hardwood or tile. To maintain the floor’s protective finish, preserve its warranty, and avoid dulling, there are two cardinal rules: laminate should never be waxed and it should never…

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Understanding Laminate Flooring AC Ratings

AC Rating Decoded the Right Laminate Durability by Flooring 101

Laminate flooring is a complex, multi-layered engineered product, and its primary selling point is durability. But how do you objectively compare the toughness of one laminate plank to another? The answer lies in the Abrasion Class (AC) rating, which is the standardized measure of a laminate floor’s resistance to abrasion, impact, staining, and heat. Detailed…

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How to Choose the Right Hardwood Janka Rating

Janka Rating for the Right Hardwood Hardness by Flooring 101

When selecting hardwood flooring for your home, the look and the color are often the first factors considered, but the most critical factor for long-term durability and longevity is a measurement you can’t see: the Janka hardness rating. Named after Austrian researcher Gabriel Janka, this test measures the resistance of a wood species to denting…

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Is Exotic Hardwood a Good Fit in the CA Climate?

Exotic Hardwood for Ventura County California Climate by Flooring 101

Exotic hardwood species, such as the deep, rich reds of Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba), the dramatic striping of Tigerwood (Muiracatiara), or the near-black elegance of Wenge, possess an undeniable visual appeal that can instantly elevate a home’s luxury. These woods offer colors and grain patterns unavailable in domestic species like oak or maple, making them highly…

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UV-Resistant Hardwood Finishes for California Homes

UV-Resistant Hardwood Finishes for California Homes by Flooring 101

California living is defined by abundant sunshine, large windows, and bright, open spaces but this blessing of natural light poses a significant threat to hardwood flooring. Over time, the intense, unfiltered ultraviolet (UV) radiation present in sunlight penetrates the wood’s surface, breaking down the chemical bonds in the finish and the pigments within the wood…

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