The Abbey Design Process

1. CONCEPT:

   First, let’s meet and talk about what you have in mind. Do you need flooring for just the kitchen, the master bathroom, or the entire house? Call or e-mail us and we will set up a time to come to your home and take measurements and photos. This will help us to understand the full scope of your project! We offer a FREE consultation, which gives us the opportunity to learn even more about your ideal flooring options!

2. BUDGETING:

   After your first consultation, we will be able to provide you with an estimate for your new floors based on your initial requests. You can’t find a better price with the quality and dedication of the Abbey team!

3. DESIGN:

   Once we have agreed on a budget, we will then begin the design process. Abbey Design Center will collect a design fee for design work, but this fee is credited back to you at contract initiation. While we’re designing the layout, we’re also helping you select all the products and finishes for your complete flooring remodel. Once we’ve put everything together, you will have a contract ready detailing the complete project for your approval!

4. PREPARATION:

   Once you have approved the plan, we will start ordering the flooring we’ve selected. We’ll procure any necessary permits and begin to choose and schedule the tradesman for your project. We’ll keep you updated on the arrival of the flooring and let you know the starting date of your renovation so that you have time to temporarily empty the space. We will introduce our installers to you so that you can discuss the necessary details of your home operations and other important information they will need to know before beginning (i.e., don’t let the cat out).

5. INSTALLATION:

   The day you have waited for has finally arrived! – Oh, wait, that’s the completion date. The amount of time it will take to complete the installation varies depending on the type of flooring, any damage to the subfloor, the amount of flooring being installed, and other factors. Rest assured that we will try our best to keep all disruption to a minimum. You will find Abbey’s craftsmen to be conscientious, personable, and respectful of your home and time. Your tradesman will be hard at work crafting your flooring according to your design plan. You can expect daily clean ups and/or cover ups to help protect your home. We’ll do a walk through with you several times to make sure everything on the punch list has been completed to your satisfaction!

6. COMPLETION:

   After we have checked the last item off the punch list and have confirmed that you are satisfied, Abbey Design Center certainly permits victory dances on your brand-new floors! We hope we exceeded your expectations and you’re in love with your flooring, but don’t keep it all to yourself. Please take a couple of pictures of your dazzling new flooring and share it with us on Facebook! We always appreciate our satisfied customers sharing photos of their new flooring on social media!

Cork & Bamboo Flooring: The Abbey CHARM

If you’re looking for something besides traditional flooring options such as carpet and hardwood, you’ve come to the right place! Abbey carries cork and bamboo flooring options that are stunning in both look and feel. They’ve also started to become increasingly popular because of their comfort and the fact that they’re environmentally friendly. Could one of these options give your house the CHARM you’ve been looking for?

• Care:

  Both floors are relatively easy to take care of. Cork is actually resistant to mold and mildew, which makes it a great material for your basement or other areas where mold and mildew could be a concern. Something you’ll want to keep in mind if you’re considering cork floors is that they shouldn’t be exposed to a lot of sunlight and humidity, as it will expand and shrink with temperature changes.

  Bamboo is chosen for flooring in residential and commercial spaces for its strength and scratch resistance. You should have no problems vacuuming or light mopping the area, and no special treatments are needed to have your floors looking spotless.

• Hearth:

  There are two main types of cork flooring: cork tile flooring and “floating cork” flooring, which consists of planks that very in size. Cork provides a homey feel to any residence, and can give your rooms a welcoming, informal, and natural feel to them. Cork can come in many textures, styles, and finishes, but the color can fade in direct sunlight over long periods of time.

  No; bamboo flooring doesn’t just come in the shade of green you see pandas nibbling on. There is a ton of versatility in color and shade for these floors! Quality bamboo is chosen for its regenerative properties and natural beauty, and all designs are unique, much like hardwood options. If you want your house to have a clean, modern aesthetic, consider bamboo flooring

• Affordability:

  Cork isn’t inexpensive, but certainly manageable on a budget. Bamboo is slightly pricier than cork as well, and can increase depending on type and finish. Nevertheless, you will still be getting an elegant look similar to more expensive hardwoods, but for two-thirds the price.

• Repair:

  Cork can undergo water damage, so make sure to mop lightly if you do. Make sure to be wary of standing water if you choose to install this flooring in a bathroom or kitchen. Don’t skimp on quality for your floors, as cheap, lower-density cork won’t hold up in the long run. Bamboo is more resistant to water damage, but still prone to warping and discoloration. Bamboo is prized for its renewability though, so if a problem arises, it won’t be difficult to replace a floor plank.

• More information:

  One of cork’s top selling qualities is its comfort. Cork has a soft “bounce back” texture, which makes it great for families with children, or individuals suffering from joint and knee pains. It’s also great at muffling sounds and can help contribute to quiet and calm mornings. In regards to bamboo, quality bamboo flooring is 160% more durable than oak, and has a tensile strength comparable to steel!

Ceramic & Porcelain Tile Flooring

Ceramic tile is simply a very practical and functional flooring material, and has been used in homes for centuries for nearly every surface. Porcelain tile is similar to ceramic, but is made with different materials and is formed with intense pressure and heat which makes it denser and absorbs less water than ceramic. Make sure to brush up on Abbey’s information to determine whether or not ceramic and porcelain tile floor has the right CHARM for your home!

• Care:

  Who wants to spend hours cleaning floors? Tile can resist stains and odors, and cleaning up dirt is as simple as using a broom, mop, or sponge. You may periodically need a professional cleaning to take care of the grout. When properly installed though, ceramic or porcelain tile can last longer than nearly any other flooring material.

• Hearth:

  Whether you’re looking to update the floors or walls in your bathroom, kitchen, or any other area, ceramic tiles can fit any style and design. If you’re new to ceramic and porcelain tile, you’ll be amazed when you see the new colors, sizes, shapes, and textures that are available today!

• Affordability:

  Neither type of tile is truly pricey, but as you shop around you’ll notice a clear trend that porcelain is a might more expensive. While both options fare well in terms of price, ceramic tiling is better on a budget.

• Repair:

  The most common damage for tiles is minor wear and tear, but luckily most scratches and chips can be filled with an epoxy or other similar material. If a tile is truly broken though, it needs to be replaced rather than fixed.

• More information:

  Ceramic and Porcelain are good for the environment! Both are natural products and repel odors, bacteria, and allergens. They also don’t burn or let off toxic fumes, and since ceramic tile has a dense body, moisture doesn’t accumulate on it.

Carpet Flooring: The Abbey CHARM

Carpet trends may come and go, but the idea of carpet flooring has proven to be quite timeless. This classic style provides the least costly plan of any flooring option, and Abbey Design Center offers a myriad of patterns, colors, and textures to choose from! But before you go on an eye-shopping spree and browse the various styles and sizes of carpeting, see if carpet flooring provides the right CHARM in your home:

• Care:

  An important thing to keep in mind with carpeting is that you must maintain it for it to last. If done properly, carpet can last a lot longer than most people assume. With regular vacuuming and carpet cleaning, you’ll be able to get a lot more life out of your new carpet so you’re not left with stained and dingy flooring in a couple of years.

• Hearth:

  Carpets provide a cozy feel to any room, making the area warm and personal. One of the best parts about carpet is the selection of design and types available. Today we’re able to have rich vibrant colors in carpeting that we didn’t in the past thanks to advances in technology and dyeing methods. The sky’s the limit!

• Affordability:

  Carpet is priced by the square foot, and is very affordable for most budgets. Even higher-end material and designs won’t hurt your bank!

• Repair:

  It’s only natural for flooring to experience wear and tear in due time. As far as carpeting goes, the repair can be cheaper than most. Most stains can be removed with the right product. If the damage is a little more serious, like a burn or withered patch in the middle of the floor, it can be surgically removed and replaced without taking out a large chunk of the flooring. If you spill milk on your carpet floors, remember not to cry over it!

• More information:

  Carpet is comfortable and plush, which makes it safe for children! Wool carpeting will absorb common contaminants and keep the air free of many harmful pollutants. While it’s a benefit that carpets can free the air of certain pollutants, dirt and dust mites can cling your floors, too. If you or your family suffers with indoor allergies, carpeting may not be recommended due to its ability to retain dust and other allergens.

Hardwood Flooring: The Abbey CHARM

If you’ve decided that hardwood flooring is the style for you, that’s great! Trees are like snowflakes, in the sense that no two are truly identical. So, you’ll receive the pleasure of knowing that nobody else has the exact same floor design as yours! However, there’s more to consider than just picking out a type of wood. With Abbey’s informational guide, you can figure out if hardwood flooring provides the right kind of CHARM in your home:

• Care:

  You don’t want to invest in beautiful new hardwood floors and have them go to waste because of poor upkeep, do you? Neither do we! Hardwoods are great for people who don’t mind taking a little time to sweep and mop every now and again. Luckily, hardwoods are also very easy to clean. Vacuuming and mopping are usually enough for regular maintenance.

• Hearth:

  Both colors and textures vary based on the species of hardwood, so whether you prefer shiny new hardwood floors or more of a timeworn, antique feel under your feet, you can find exactly what you’re looking for. The traditional style of hardwood flooring is constructed of narrow wood strips to give your home the illusion of being extra spacious. Wider planks will provide a more rustic feel to your home, but you can also go with parquet floors for formal spaces, or a combination of rectangles and squares for a more modern appeal.

• Affordability:

  A big part of pricing in hardwood floors comes down to what type of wood you’re interested in. Oak, maple, and cherry are among the most common species due to their nice look and hardiness. More exotic species like mahogany and Brazilian cherry are prized for their intricate grain patterns, but they’re normally less durable and come at a higher price range.

• Repair:

  In time, nicks and scratches in your flooring are bound to happen. Depending on how depth of the scratch or not means using a different restorative solution, but most can be fixed with light sanding, premixed wood filler, and finish. If there is significant damage to the hardwood though you’ll have to consider getting the board replaced altogether.

• More information:

  It’s important to note where you’re getting the floors installed. Solid wood floors can shrink and expand based on humidity and temperature, so it might be a better decision to go with engineered hardwood floors for basements and other rooms where this could be an issue. People with allergies can also benefit by choosing hardwoods over flooring materials with fibers that trap dust and allergens. If you have allergy concerns, hardwood flooring could help you relax and breathe easy at home.

Laminate Flooring: The Abbey CHARM

Laminate flooring might have a reputation for providing that plain white layout through office buildings, but you’re going to be in for a shock when you see all the different options available for laminates today. This style is beautiful and cost-friendly, and with Abbey Design Center we can find out if laminate flooring provides the right CHARM to your home:

• Care:

  One of the great advantages of laminate flooring is their low maintenance. It’s incredibly durable as well as being stain resistant, so they’re no real hassle to keep clean!

• Hearth:

  Laminate floors are extremely versatile, which makes them ideal for almost any situation – what it comes down to is your personal style and preference. You’ve probably lived in a home with laminate flooring at some point and didn’t even know it because its ability to resemble many higher-end flooring options like hardwood and natural stone!

• Affordability:

  Laminate flooring is usually priced by either square foot or by carton. Regardless of the system though, laminate is known for being one of the cheapest options for flooring out there!

• Repair:

  Stains can be quickly and easily removed, but make sure to dry the floor afterwards, as standing water can cause laminate to warp and bend. Luckily,laminate is designed for simple replacement for damaged floorboards, but if most of the floor needs replacing it may be necessary to call a professional for a complete restoration.

• More information:

  Laminate flooring is one of the top choices for family with children! The material is very durable and can withstand a lot of foot traffic. Consider having laminate flooring in walkways and hallways people tend to pass through frequently.

Natural Stone Flooring: The Abbey CHARM

It might be a little pricier than some other flooring options, but the result is amazing. There is a wide variety of types of stone to choose from, and since they’re all natural, your design will be unique no matter what type of stone you go with! Nevertheless, keep in mind the type of CHARM that stone flooring brings to your home:

• Care:

  While it may seem like nothing can permanently affect its cool surface, you’ll still want to clean up spills quickly. Substances like juice, wine, and oil can leave stains on the stone if not properly taken care of. For the most part though, stone flooring is extremely durable and simple to maintain.

• Hearth:

  Nothing says elegance like the finesse that stone flooring can provide a home! They are a ton of different options in design, texture, color, even shape. Whether you prefer stone tiling or a pattern that’s not repetitious, this regal flooring option is grand in every sense of the word!

• Affordability:

  There’s no other way to say it: stone flooring is pricey. Due to the reputation that stone flooring has of being high end and expensive, a lot of homeowners think that they shouldn’t even consider it. But at Abbey Design Center, we don’t see any reason who you shouldn’t be able to get your dream flooring! Even if you’re not working with a huge budget, adding stone floors to a few choice areas in your home can give you the same refined look and feel that you’ve desired. We can discuss whatever possibility you prefer during our initial consultation with you.

• Repair:

  If significant damage such as chips or cracks occurs to your stone floors, the tiles will need to be replaced. Only slight infractions of damage can be repaired without replacing the stone. Loose tiles will have to be re-grouted into place as well. Make sure to take care of your stone flooring on a consistent basis so you can prevent these issues!

• More information:

  Keep in mind how dense stone can be as a material. While this sounds obvious, it’s always good to point out that this material is not ideal for rooms where small children will be running around and playing in. Another thing to note is if you live somewhere chilly and don’t have radiant heat installed underneath the stone floor, your flooring will get awfully cold during the winter.