tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58656514901095015662024-08-31T11:31:47.487-06:00An open discussion about small business, flooring, and home improvement. A place to debunk misconceptions and share design ideas!Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-22145691895322794202012-11-13T07:42:00.000-07:002012-11-13T07:42:19.139-07:00

A client in the showroom asked me today, "Should I get prefinished flooring or the kind you sand and finish on site?" Excellent question. I hear it almost every day. It's hard though to get a straight answer to such a simple question. Part of the problem lies in vested interest of those giving the answer. First, let me get my cards on the table. Our company sells and installs both

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-28927535084968428652012-11-05T17:23:00.001-07:002012-11-05T17:23:20.625-07:00

Well, after a seemingly endless period of preparation, last week was moving day.  After 20 years in the same location, T&G Flooring moved operations and warehouses to one location - and our showroom to an entirely different location (788 W. 8th Avenue Denver, CO 80204).  While we're excited about the new digs, I have to say that if I ever consider moving a business again, I

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-79949140342760660612011-01-19T12:44:00.001-07:002011-01-19T12:59:30.425-07:00

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Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-30379996529315100442010-07-22T16:46:00.003-06:002010-07-22T16:57:53.959-06:00

Industry colleague, foodie-extraordinaire, &amp; all-around good guy Mark Casper passed along this interesting article on bamboo flooring. This well-written article in SLATE entitled Bamboo and You, Are hardwood floors a crime against the Earth? was authored by Brendan I. Koerner.It echos a lot of what I've been saying for a while now. Bamboo is a great eco-friendly crop; a wonder crop

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-18135412284296674622010-04-16T08:19:00.007-06:002010-04-17T09:23:39.813-06:00

As promised, I'm writing a more detailed blog regarding important legislation that goes into effect on April 22, 2010, regarding safe remodeling in homes that may contain lead paint. If you have a flooring project (or any remodeling project) pending, this will be important to you. I'll save my opinions on this program for another time... let's keep this entry focused on getting you information

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-46012329779830756392010-04-07T18:26:00.003-06:002010-04-07T19:00:23.888-06:00

New EPA regulations take effect on April 21, 2010. These regulations are geared to protect the public from the harmful effects of lead paint, which was prevalent before 1978. These new regulations will impact many construction firms and especially homeowners, but only if your home was built before 1978. In Denver, approximately 80% of existing homes fall into this category.All businesses (

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-72808320756089408022010-03-25T18:21:00.006-06:002010-03-25T18:42:23.642-06:00

The reality of our homes today is that the most prevalent hardwood floor is the 2 1/4" red or white oak. It's also known as oak strip flooring. Oaks have always been plentiful and therefore relatively inexpensive. With the proliferation of wide plank flooring, distressed surfaces, and exciting species like acacia - it is no wonder that owners of good old oak strip flooring gaze longingly at the

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-71171539132574258732010-03-16T09:34:00.000-06:002010-03-16T12:37:06.831-06:00

Here's a blindingly obvious lead: the way people buy today has changed from years ago. Today, the consumer's appetite for information is enormous. Consumers want to spend hard-earned money wisely. They want to invest in products and services that will bring them value. I'm not talking about buying pizza. I'm talking about high dollar luxury items. Yes, there is still compulsive buying out

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-81518493181411227672010-03-10T07:44:00.000-07:002010-03-10T08:05:00.990-07:00

A couple of times a week, someone will write or call and ask me "How can I make my old hardwood floors look new?" The standard answer has been that we can screen the floor (an abrasive on a buffer) and then add a new coat of finish. This process builds up the finish on the floor, kind of like the Zamboni on the ice rink between periods of a hockey game. It is an important maintenance step that

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-3597951742749154052010-03-08T17:19:00.000-07:002010-03-08T18:01:21.566-07:00

We believe that "cut" really matters when you're talking about clothing, diamonds, and meat, but it also matters when you're shopping for hardwood flooring. Yesterday I commented on the risks of using rotary peeled hardwood flooring in dry climates. Some then asked if I'd explain the different cuts of hardwood flooring in more detail. No problem.One of the more confusing elements in buying

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-27300236949877801742010-03-08T14:47:00.000-07:002010-03-09T11:34:44.476-07:00

Chuck Crispin does a nice job in this article "Elements of Design" recently published in the National Wood Flooring Association's e-magazine. Good ideas for those of you with a flair and passion for original design!

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-76107487543467056432010-03-08T13:47:00.000-07:002010-03-08T13:53:44.261-07:00

Nano technology finishes. Engineered or Solid? LEEDS points. Stain techniques. Stability vs. light sensitivity. Yikes! Choosing a hardwood flooring solution is hard!Rest easy friends. To help with the confusion, I present our revised "How to Select & Enjoy Hardwood Floors."I could expand upon any of these 10 items in glorious detail. So, take this as your preliminary guide and know that there's

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-47225878859703655712010-03-06T19:21:00.001-07:002010-03-06T19:31:53.586-07:00

Everyone asks us about pine bark beetle kill flooring. In Colorado, interest is at an all-time high. The ponderosa pines and lodgepole pines that cover the Rockies have been decimated by this little pest. By turning this sad eco-event into a gorgeous by-product, we can salvage a little peace and beautify our homes!The blue-gray stain is the result of a fungus, which is caused by the beetle's

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5865651490109501566.post-47426578255350129252010-03-06T18:35:00.000-07:002010-03-06T18:48:53.470-07:00

I got an email the other day from someone looking for "your cheapest price on engineered oak flooring." Ma'am, did you want a quality floor that will last or simply something budget friendly? I'm not being judgmental. Your budget is your budget. There's a place for both types of products, but you need to know what you're buying.Some of the less expensive products are rotary peeled products. By

Chris Kealehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15909631107621327434noreply@blogger.com1