Increase The Value Of Quickly And Affordably With These Helpful Tips (NAPSA)—Whenit comes to making your home moreattractive to poten- 4 has had ample time to cure, sealing sider these two ideas: 1. You don’t have to redo all your floors at once. Research shows that the first two areas of a homepotential buyers look at are the kitchen and the bathroom. Newfloors there can make a powerfulfirst impression. 2. It's a common myth that flooring needs to be expensive to add value. The truth is that kitchens can be patterned with inexpensive floor tiles for a customizedeffect. Similarly, adding accent tiles in a bathroom can makeit appear more finely detailed and attractive. If you do decide upgraded floors are in order, it’s very likely your kitchen and bathroomsdo nottakeup a lot of square footage, which meansrelatively small investments in actual flooring product. ‘That translates into big impact for very little cost. the staining process. “Money invested to upgrade replacement floor covering, particularly tial buyers, one of the most important considerations is right at yourfeet: the floor. According to Realtors and home inspectors, quality flooring is morelikely to increase your home’s value than the roof, windows, even room additions. Fortunately, increasing the value of your home doesn't have to meanreplacing yourfloors. The upside offlooringis that it can be one of the most valuable commodities in a house and oneofthe least expensive to maintain and improve. Residential and industry experts agree that well-maintained floors add instantvalue to your home. Association (WFCA), that cost virtually very durable, it’s not indestructible Easy Care Advice on Hardwoods With ceramic floors, after the installa- A few simple techniques suggested by the experts at the World Floor Covering nothing but your time, may help extend the life of your flooring: For natural flooring such as wood, never use ammonia cleaners or oil soaps. They will dull the finish and performanceofthefloor. These products will also affect the ability to recoat yourfloorat a future pointin time. Since wood naturally expands when it’s wet, never wet moporuse excessive waterto clean a hardwoodfloor. Large amounts of water can make the wood swell and may cause planks orstrips to crack orsplinter. Be sure to wipe up any spills on hardwood promptly. Pets with long nails can cause dents and scratches on hardwoodfloorsthat are not covered by your warranty. Be sure to regularly trim your pet's claws to avoid damage. Carpet Care You maynotrealize it, but carpetis the largestfilter in a home. Itfilters soils, gases, allergens, spills and other pollutants. With this in mind, vacuum it regularly. To avoid running into warranty issues with your carpet (and many other types of flooring), make sure you use cleaning products recommended by the floor’s manufacturer. Be Smart About Ceramics, Stone and Vinyl ‘Try to clean up spills as quickly as pos- sible on ceramicfloors so the grout or tile doesn’t becomestained. Don't use bleach or ammonia-basedcleaners, as these can discolor your grout. Don’t concerned aboutthe possible cost, con- clean glazed tile with oil-based cleaners. While ceramic tile is considered and may crack or chip under extreme force. tion process is complete and the grout the entire floor can provide protection from dirt and spills by slowing down With vinyl floors, avoid using rubber-backed mats or rugs as they can damage and potentially discolor your floor. Instead, use mats or rugs made especially for vinylfloors. With stone floors, always blot spills immediately. A neutral-pH detergent or pure soap, such as Liquid Ivory and warm water, can be used for spills or periodic cleaning. Never use lemon juice, vinegar, ammonia or other ac- ids—or products that contain these fluids—on marble, limestone or trav- ertine. Also avoid using scouring cleaning products or cleaners that contain abrasives on any stone astheywill dullits luster. Limit Sun Exposure Protect the finish of your laminate, hardwood, carpet and resilient floor from the harmful rays of direct sunlight by using window shades and closing drapes. It’s also a good idea to periodically rotate rugs and furniture exposed to direct sunlight so your floors dont develop unwanted “tan lines” and discoloration. WhenIt’s Time for New Flooring Even the best care can't keep your floors at their best forever. If you're thinking of getting new flooring but are Expert Advice in kitchens and baths, prior to resell- ing a house can be expected to return substantially more than 100 percent of the cost of renovation,’ said Scott Humphrey, Chief Executive Officer, WFCA. “For example, if homeowners invest $5,000 to replace worn-out floor cov- erings and then list their home on the market, they should factor in an extra $10,000 to $15,000 on theselling price. We've seen this time and time again for homesofall values in markets across the country.” What's more, for every $1,000 spent on upgraded flooring and financed into the mortgage, the buyer’s payment typically increases by less than $10 a month. The new floors can usually be written off during the first few years of the mortgage. Learn More For further facts and tips on caring for all types of fine flooring, go to www. WFECA.org.There, you'll find an overview of each flooring category including the pros and cons, a productcatalog,varieties and styles available, cleaningtips, things to consider before purchase and how to prepare for installation. There's also a searchable database of reputable WFCA retail membersacross the country.
