Is Vinyl Out?

Is vinyl a practical flooring solution... or is it soooo last century?  Well we’d probably argue a little of both.  Vinyl has some clear advantages and disadvantages.  If you’re considering vinyl for your home or commercial space, here’s some information to help in your decision.
Vinyl entered the flooring scene in the 1930s, and has experienced peaks and lows in popularity throughout the decades.  While vinyl is currently not the most popular flooring option, the product has evolved immensely over the years, and has come a long way in style and durability.   Vinyl does offer some key advantages:
-Durabilty. Vinyl is a durable product that is resistant to scratches and moisture, making it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.  It is also available with an enhanced urethane finish, for even greater resilience to scratching and helping to keep its new appearance for longer periods of time.
-Affordability. Vinyl is the most affordable flooring option.  Period.
-Large selection of colors and designs. Because vinyl is a man-made product, it can be produced in almost any color or pattern, giving homeowners a wide range of options.  Vinyl is also available in planks and tiles (as opposed to the traditional sheet vinyl) to replicate the look of hardwood and tile.

-Comfort. Vinyl is more comfortable underfoot than tile, and is not as cold or hard.
-Easy to clean. Vinyl can be mopped using a variety of cleaning products.  There is no concern about cleaning grout, as with tile, or having to purchase special products, as with hardwood.
With all these advantages, you may be thinking why wouldn’t we choose vinyl?  First, vinyl does not offer the same natural beauty and appeal of other flooring options.  In essence, it does have a cheaper appearance.  You’re not likely to hear someone viewing a home say, “Ooooh look at those nice vinyl floors!”  or “It’s got vinyl throughout!  Just what I was looking for!”  Also, while vinyl is durable, it cannot be refinished or restored, so it will have to be replaced sooner than hardwood or tile would.  Lastly, vinyl typically does not add value to a home or offer a return on investment for most homeowners.
So when does vinyl make sense?  There are a few situations for which we believe vinyl is a viable option:

• Commercial spaces.  VCT (vinyl composition tile) is great for schools, offices, stores, and other commercial settings.  Vinyl can also be made with a slip resistant surface, to minimize accidents.
• Homes under $125,000, particularly in bathrooms and laundry rooms.
• Rental properties.

So that’s our take on vinyl.   We hope the information helps in your floor selection process.  For more advice on vinyl or any other flooring options, call us at 678-687-8693 or visit http://www.pizazzfloors.com.

Study Reveals New Flooring to be Among Top Home Improvement Projects for 2011

Is new flooring on the top of your list of projects to do around the house?  If so, you are in good company.  A recent study conducted by Kudzu.com concluded that flooring projects are among the most popular home improvement projects for 2011.  The study discovered that nearly 80% of homeowners are considering a home-related project this year, and 33% of those homeowners will install new flooring.  Flooring came only behind painting (49%), landscaping (38%), and refurnishing (35%).

Rhonda Hills, Kudzu.com vice president and chief marketing officer expresses, “The floors are one of the first things someone notices when they walk into a home.  Good flooring improves the look of a room and can also increase the value to the home. It’s no surprise that flooring projects are at the top of most homeowners’ lists.”

The study, which involved 3500 participants, also revealed that many homeowners (50%) are undecided on which flooring brand they will use.  Among the brands most considered are Armstrong (24%), StainMaster (19%), Mohawk (15%), Shaw (14%), and Bruce (10%).  All of these brands and more are available at Pizazz Floors & Interior Design, and your design consultant can help you select the best product for your budget and lifestyle.  Pizazz can handle all of your flooring needs, from hardwood to carpet to tile to laminate.  Let us help you check one more thing off your list for 2011!

Spice Things Up with a Custom Hardwood Design

Do you tend to go against the grain?  Swim upstream?  Walk to the beat of a different drum?...OK, enough analogies.  Whether you’re looking for a floor that is as unique as you, or you just want the baddest floor on the block, a custom hardwood design from Pizazz Floors may be right up your alley (hey, how about your own bowling alley!?)  

When it comes to the possibilities with your hardwood design, the sky is the limit!

Pizazz Floors has created countless hardwood masterpieces for homes all across Atlanta.  Design possibilities include borders, medallions, maps, monograms, vines, compass, or even your favorite sports team’s logo or mascot. Designs are cut by hand or laser cut (depending on the intricacy) out of different wood species and inlayed into your hardwood floors. Inlays can be installed in pre-existing hardwood floors, and can even be removed and replaced with the pre-existing hardwood planks, so you can take your design with you if you move.  We also specialize in mixed media designs, which take another form of flooring, such as travertine tile, and inlay it with hardwood in a pattern of your choice for a one-of-a-kind design.

A Pizazz design consultant can collaborate with you to develop a concept and work with you through the entire process.   Once you have Pizazz create your custom hardwood design, your floor will become a conversation piece at dinner parties and the focal point of your home.  For design ideas, view our Hardwood Gallery, and call us at 678-687-8693 if you want to put that extra pizazz in your home.

What’s the Difference between Laminate and Engineered Wood?

Laminate, engineered, unfinished, prefinished…oh my!  With all of the options in hardwood available today, selecting the right wood for your home can be a little overwhelming.  The classics, unfinished and prefinished solid wood, are no longer the only type of flooring that falls under the hardwood umbrella.  Two new players, engineered and laminate floors, have entered the hardwood arena in recent years, giving more homeowners the ability to afford and enjoy the style and sophistication of hardwood floors.  If you’re considering one of these flooring options, but aren’t quite clear on the difference, here’s some information that might help.

Let’s start by giving a brief overview of traditional solid hardwood.  With this flooring, each plank is made from a single piece of wood and is generally ¾” thick.  Solid hardwood floors tend to expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity.  In summer, increased humidity causes the planks to expand and buckle.  While in the winter, when humidity decreases, the planks contract, leavings gaps.  For this reason, solid hardwood is not recommended in basements or on top of concrete floors.  While solid hardwood is the most expensive option, it also adds the most value to your home.  Homes with hardwood sell faster and at higher price points.  Not to mention, it looks beautiful in any room and can be refinished to change the look. Solid hardwood also offers the widest selection, with many different wood species available (ex. bamboo, Brazilian cherry, maple, etc.) and endless color options.

Laminate flooring is produced by attaching a photograph to a high density fiberboard through the use of heat and pressure.  The photograph is covered with a layer of polyurethane to protect the floor from scratches, fading, and wear.  Higher quality laminates use a form of urethane infused with aluminum oxide, which further increases its resistance to scratches.  Laminates are often textured through an embossing process for a more realistic look and feel.  Higher end laminates can also use high definition imaging for more authenticity.  Laminate floors offer several advantages to homeowners.  First, they are extremely versatile and can be installed on virtually any solid surface.  Because of laminate’s construction, the concern of buckling and gapping is nonexistent.  They are also significantly less expensive than solid hardwood.  Laminate floors never have to be refinished (and in fact cannot be refinished).   They are incredibly durable and have a greater scratch resistance than most hardwood and engineered floors.

Engineered flooring refers to multi-layer, cross grain constructed hardwood.  Despite its somewhat misleading name, engineered hardwood is 100% real wood.  It is made by taking multiple layers of hardwood (between 3 and 5 layers, depending on quality) and fusing them together at 90˚ angles to create a strong, durable hardwood.  The top layer of engineered floors is made from the species of wood that defines its look (ex. oak or cherry).  The inside layers are made from hard, but less expensive, species of hardwood.  The advantages of engineered wood are that it is often less expensive and more stable than traditional hardwood.  Because of the multiple layers, it is also less likely to expand and contract with changes in temperature, decreasing the likelihood of it warping or buckling.  This also allows it to be installed on concrete and below grade subfloors.  Engineered wood can be refinished up to 3 times, depending on the quality.

No matter what your flooring needs, a Pizazz design consultant can help you choose the type of hardwood that is perfect for you and your lifestyle.  For more information on laminate, engineered wood, or any other hardwood inquiry, call Pizazz Floors at 678-687-8693.

Spotting the PizazzFloors.com Truck Could Be Worth up to $250!

Where’s Waldo?  Who cares?!  But spotting the PizazzFloors.com truck could save you up to $250!   After just getting our new work truck wrapped in vinyl lettering from In-Depth Wraps, we are ready to show it off!   To get our customers involved, we’re going to make it worth your while to find this new cherry red F-150.   If you spot the PizazzFloors.com truck anywhere around town, just post exactly when and where you saw it on our Facebook wall, and we’ll give you $150 off your next design project with us.  To sweeten the deal, if you snap a picture of the truck and post it, we’ll make it $250 off!   Use your discount towards hardwood, carpet, tile, granite, kitchen & bath remodeling, or whatever your home design need might be.  We realize you may not be ready to do a home renovation right now, so your discount will be good for up to six months from the time you spotted the Pizazz truck.

Plus, check our Facebook page often for updates, because we are also going to be giving away gift cards to local restaurants just for finding the Pizazz truck with no purchase necessary.

With all the driving we do around Metro Atlanta, it won’t be hard to find us.   Just keep an eye out, and you could save some cash!

Rules:  Does not apply if Pizazz truck is in your driveway for consultation.  Pizazz must verify that the time and place the truck was spotted is accurate.  Limit one discount per household.  Not valid with any other offers or for previously contracted jobs.  Project must total $2500 or more.

Pizazz Does Usher’s Hardwood Floors

Who doesn’t love Usher? With seven Grammy Awards and nine number-one hits, Usher is nothing short of amazing. So needless to say we were like “OMG” when asked to do his floors. Pizazz was hired to refinish the hardwood floors in his Atlanta home. We refinished his keeping room, which was about 30’x30’ (not your average size keeping room) with an ebony stain and high gloss finish. We also did a custom hardwood design in his master bedroom. The design was a 4”x4’ hand-scrapped, herringbone pattern. Both rooms turned out phenomenal, and that will be one job we will never forget!

By the way, Usher was just as great in person as he is on TV!

Eric Standing on Hardwood Floors that Pizazz Refinished in Usher's Atlanta Home

Top 6 Home Improvements that Pay Off

Are you ready to upgrade your home but are worried about sinking money into investments that may never see a return?  Well here are a few home improvements that experts say will pay off now and in the future:

                

1.  Kitchen & Bath Remodeling

Kitchen and bathroom remodeling is a sure-fire investment that often returns more than 100 percent of the cost.  People spend a significant amount of time in kitchens and baths, so you want to make them inviting and tranquil for yourself and future buyers.  Buyers are beginning to expect upgraded kitchens and baths now more than ever before.  Upgrades to consider include: tile or hardwood flooring, granite countertops, new or resurfaced cabinets, and stainless steel appliances.  For the master bath, floor-to-ceiling, walk-in showers are a hot commodity (literally).  Sleek, walk-in showers have actually replaced whirlpool tubs on buyers’ wish lists, so if you have to pick one or the other, go with the shower.  Keep in mind, if your home only has one bath, the upgrade you’ll want to make is adding an extra bathroom.  While buyers are still charmed by older homes that may only have one bath, functionality and practically may be a concern.  If you have a three or four bedroom home with one bath, it will certainly pay to add a second bathroom.  For more budget-friendly upgrades, try adding a tile backsplash, updating light fixtures, or replacing cabinet hardware and faucets.

2. Home Maintenance

While not the most glamorous of home improvements, this is one of the most important.  Buyers won’t be enamored by your beautiful new kitchen if there is a musty smell coming from the basement or the siding is rotting.  A top priority should be making sure your home is structurally sound on the inside and out.  Essential home maintenance projects include repairing the roof, replacing the siding, and correcting water leaking from the foundation, just to name a few. 

3. Curb Appeal

Before you can get buyers inside to see your interior improvements, your home has to be appealing on the outside.  Upgrades can range from simple, such as pulling weeds, to more complex, like building a front porch to add interest and charm.  You may also consider planting shrubs and flowers, pressure washing your driveway, painting the exterior, or adding walkways and extra parking space.  If you have outdoor living space (deck, patio, or porch), stage the area with comfortable seating and dining furniture.  In a nutshell, your exterior should convey a sense of welcome.

4. Paint

Painting is an affordable home improvement that can give any home a facelift.  Paint makes a home look and feel younger and better taken care of.  When selecting paint colors, go towards the warmer, more neutral tones in order to appeal to a wider range of buyers.   Try textured or faux paint in a focal space like the dining room for a distinctive, unique touch.

5.  Adding Extra Living Space

According to a study by the National Association of Realtors, every 1,000 square feet added to a home can increase the sale price by 30 percent.  This can include adding a sunroom, bathroom, attic bedroom, or even a deck for outdoor living and entertaining space.  Or if your home has a basement, you may be able to take advantage of a whole extra level of living.  Basements are great for game rooms, guest suites, bars, or play areas.  For some of the more trendy, high-end housing markets, there is a demand for the luxury of home theaters, wine cellars, and yoga rooms, but be sure to consider your housing market and neighborhood before embarking on one of these upgrades.

6. Flooring

Flooring is one of the first things that will be seen (and felt underfoot) by a potential homebuyer.  The most in-demand flooring choice is hardwood floors, which is a proven resale value booster.  A classic like red oak is always a good choice, while trends are also moving towards exotic woods like bamboo and wider-planked boards.  If you already have hardwood, refinishing your floors is a great way to bring back their luster and brilliance.  Tile is also a popular flooring solution for bathrooms, kitchens, foyers, and laundry rooms, and should replace any existing vinyl flooring.  Lastly, the softness and comfort of carpet or areas rugs is perfect for bedrooms and play areas.  If new flooring is not in the budget, be sure to have your carpets cleaned before putting your house on the market.

When considering all home improvements, be sure to keep in mind a few key factors.  What you'll get back on your investment is dependent on how soon you sell after making improvements, the value of your house, the value of houses in your neighborhood, the housing market in which you live, and the quality of the project itself. 

Code:  JPWFVHBBYG9S

Baby Bulldog: The Newest Pizazz Member

It’s never too early to start a little Bulldog in training!  Moriah is the newest addition to the Pizazz team.  She is granddaughter of owner, Claire Barany, niece to owner, Eric Barany, and daughter of marketing director, Gloria Williams.  Moriah is 4 months old and is already a big fan of the Bulldogs and the design work of her Uncle Eric.  She is pictured on a custom University of Georgia  hardwood floor, created and installed by Pizazz Floors using select, exotic woods.  

Goooooo dawgs!  Sic em!

Not Your Average Map: Pizazz Offers Wooden Map of Lake Lanier

Every lake enthusiast needs a good map of the lake, right?  No, we’re not talking about the folded map that never comes out of the glove compartment because you already know every square inch of the lake.  We’re talking about an 8 foot map carved of the finest wood of your beloved Lake Sydney Lanier.  That’s right, Pizazz Floors & Interior Design is now offering wooden maps of Lake Lanier.  These intricate maps can be created with your choice of wood, and can either be used as wall art or inlayed into your pre-existing hardwood floors.   In either case, a map of this caliber is sure to be the focal point of any room.  Customize your map by adding a star indicating your location on the lake.  You’ll even be able to show your passengers where you’ll be taking them before setting sail on a lake voyage.  If you are interested in having your own custom wood map of Lake Lanier (or any lake that you call home), give us a call at 678-687-8693 for more information.

Pizazz Completes Border on Custom Georgia Bulldog Hardwood Floor

Pizazz Floors completed the second phase of a custom Georgia Bulldog hardwood floor by installing an intricate border around the University of Georgia logo.  This French knot border is made of all exotic woods, including African wenge (black boards), hard maple (white boards), and blood wood (red boards).  The last step in this design process will be refinishing the floors to bring out their brilliance and luster.

Let Pizazz take your sports team devotion to the next level and design a custom collegiate or pro team logo for your home.  It’s the  perfect addition to any office, basement, bar, or “man room” and can easily be removed and taken with you if you move.

Check back for updates on this project or call 678-687-8693 to get in on the action.

Discover the Pizazz Difference

Hi, I’m Eric Barany, President of Pizazz Floors and Interior Design.  Our family owned and operated business has been serving Metro Atlanta for over 15 years with the very best in flooring and home design.  Our services include:
-Hardwood installation with unfinished, pre-finished, engineered, and exotic woods.  We also specialize in custom hardwood creations using borders, inlays and mixed media designs.
-Hardwood refinishing, where we offer a dust-less system that cuts down on 90% of dust
-Carpet
-Tile
-Vinyl
-Kitchen and Bath remodeling; including granite countertops, custom backsplashes and tile design
-Laminate, and
-Commercial flooring.
We even offer faux and antique painting, stone work, trim and cabinetry. Whatever your home design dream is, we can make it a reality.
At Pizazz Floors your satisfaction is our top priority.  We offer a Free In Home Consultation where we’ll meet with you in the comfort of your home and educate on the product and the process and help you pick out a design that best fits your lifestyle.  And once you partner with Pizazz, we will communicate with you every step of the way.
You can be confident knowing that I will personally oversee your project and make sure it exceeds your expectations.  I invite you to browse our website at www.PizazzFloors.com and call us today to schedule your free in-home consultation.  I look forward to working with you!