10 reasons to hire your contractor before you choose your tile...

10 reasons to hire your contractor before you choose your tile....

1. To have an accurate measurement of your space
2. To know how much extra tile to order to account for material waste
3. To make sure transition areas are covered
4. To make sure that the materials chosen are appropriate for your space
5. To make sure that the area has been properly prepared for the new tile
6. Contractors often have discounts at tile shops which are better than box store discounts which can be passed on to you
7. Often contractors work with designers that can help you with decorating decisions
8. Contractors will ensure that all materials needed are on site to avoid costly trip charges.
9. Contractors will make you aware of additional costs you may not have factored in like charges for moving appliances.
10. Contractors do tile work day in and out and know the quickest, most efficient ways to procure materials and hire laborers.

Please consider B & R Hardwood and Tile for your project. Find us on the web at www.brflooring.biz or call Kurt at 612-644-8779.


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Location:Minneapolis / St Paul

Beautiful flooring installation

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Location:Victoria

Redstone promotion for hiring B & R

December, January, and February are great times to hire remodelers because remodelers are not as busy. B & R Hardwood and Tile is offering a promotion during the months of December, January, and February. During these months, book a remodel for flooring or tile totaling $2500 or more and we will send you a $50.00 Redstone gift certificate after final payment is made. Call Kurt at 612-644-8779 to book an appointment. We are very competitive on price and provide top quality service. You must mention this promotion to receive the gift card promotion. Check us out at www.brflooring.biz. Offer good from December 2011- February 2012. Offer will end after 15 new bookings.... - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Twin Cities

Asbestos in older flooring

B & R Hardwood and Tile had the pleasure of working with Dan and Kat in Fridley on a porcelain tile project. Our challenge was the old flooring had asbestos in it. Rather than remove the old flooring and have to deal with costly asbestos removal requirements, we decided to place a strong thin set over the vinyl. We then set the porcelain tile over the old flooring saving money, time and minimizing health risks found in asbestos. Below is a picture of the finished floor.

B & R Hardwood and Tile is located in Chanhassen Minnesota. We can be found at www.brflooring.biz or call 612-644-8779




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Location:Fridley

The natural beauty of Tiger Wood flooring

I recently finished a beautiful installation of prefinished Tigerwood. The main level was completely transformed when the homeowner changed from carpet to hardwood. Because we do so much trim work , we were able to reuse the original trim filling in nail holes to make it appear like new. The homeowner was concerned about dust containment so cutting was done outside the home.




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Location:Eden Prairie

Humidity control for hardwood flooring

Question for Kurt:

Why do you need to control humidity levels with hardwood?

Answer:

Hardwood has a memory which makes it expand and contract during different seasons or climates depending on region of the country and the species of the wood. For example, Oak tends to be more stable and does not require as much humidity control. Maple is less stable and denser which causes movement in the flooring requiring humidity control.

Another factor which causes movement in the flooring is the width of the boards. The wider the boards, the less stable your floors will be making humidity control even more important. This is an important factor to remember when choosing your hardwood floors.

Question for Kurt:

How do you control humidity in your home?

Answer:

As a homeowner, you must introduce more moisture into the environment during the dry season which in Minnesota is November through March. The best way to do this is by purchasing and installing an April Air or Honeywell Humidifier through your furnace. A less effective way but inexpensive way to achieve similar results is to place humidifiers in smaller rooms of your home. The down side is they do not cover as well.


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Location:Chanhassen Minnesota

Natural stone tile

B & R Hardwood and Tile is located on the web at www.brflooring.biz






River Rock






Natural tile tends to be the most expensive tile averaging $6-9 per square foot.
The benefits of natural tile are it is visually pleasing to the eye and timeless. It cannot be duplicated. The down side to natural tile is that it can be fragile and the tile sealers don’t last forever making the tile susceptible to body oils and dirt. Labor is also more expensive on natural stones costing anywhere from $1.50-$2.50 because it requires a pre-sealing and post-sealing process making it more time consuming to install than porcelain or ceramic tile.

B & R Hardwood and Tile is located on the web at www.brflooring.biz
Phone: 612-644-8779

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Location:8445 Powers Place Chanhassen Minnesota

B & R Hardwood and Tile, Twin Cities, Hardwood

Recent backsplash project:

















Beautiful Hardwood Flooring

Location:Minneapolis and St. Paul

Before and after pictures

B & R Hardwood and tile has been fortunate to work on some great transformations. Here are some examples:

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B & R Hardwood and Tile
612-644-8779
www.brflooring.biz
Owner.:Kurt Kuhlmann

Location:Metro area

Beautiful kitchen family room remodel, Edina, hardwood, natural stone

B & R remodeled this 1961 Split level with an alley type kitchen and family room addition. Opening up the wall between the kitchen and family room made both rooms feel bigger. Also a new built in for storing components adds beauty while concealing audio components. B & R's cabinet maker designed the audio components and the kitchen cabinets. B & R also did the backsplash in the family room and kitchen.


























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Location:Edina

Ceramic tile verses Porcelain

I have been asked to give a brief summary of the difference between Ceramic and Porcelain Tile. The simple answer is price, composition, and durability. Ceramic tile averages about $2-$4 per square foot and is made of clay with a baked color finish placed on top of it. When it chips, the layers below show through. Because Ceramic Tile is not as durable as Porcelain, I do not recommend ceramic tile for floor surfaces.

Porcelain tile is $3-$5 per square foot and has color all of the way through the tile. When Porcelain chips, it does not tend to show like Ceramic Tile. Porcelain is a durable tile and withstands floor traffic well.


B & R Hardwood and Tile is located in Chanhassen Minnesota and serves the metro area. Kurt Kuhlmann is the owner of B & R Hardwood and Tile. He would love to hear from you. He can be reached at 612-644-8779 or on the web at www.brflooring.biz.




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Location:Twin Cities

Common mistakes made by tile contractors

There are many mistakes made by contractors that impact the quality and the durability of your tile project. Some common mistakes are:

• Improper subfloor preparation which can create serious problems with cracking and durability of your floor.

• Choosing the wrong tile for your space. Tile can be too large or small and can make your space look visually smaller. Certain types of tile are too slippery for floors and can cause slipping or falling.

It is very important to have your contractor involved with the selection process of your tile. By involving the contractor, you will avoid transition problems, get feedback on tile size and pattern issues and avoid trip charges that contractors will charge if they have to go back and forth to the tile shop.

• Tile setters that do not lay out the pattern before setting the tile, risk making serious mistakes during tile installation.

• Tile setters that use inexpensive tub cutters and cheap tools tend to end up with a final product that shows the rough cuts and inferior results.

B & R Hardwood and Tile avoids all of these mistakes by properly preparing surfaces, using the best equipment, and hiring professional tile setters to do the work. We also get involved with the tile selection process to ensure that the customer has help visualizing the final product. We layout the tile before tile is set and walk through each project with our certified tile setters to enhance communication and make sure expectations are met. We have a solid track record of serving the community for over 12 years.

Please contact Kurt at 612-644-8779 or check us out on the web at brflooring.biz

B&R Hardwood and Tile
8445 Powers Place
Chanhassen, MN 55317


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Location:Minneapolis

Things to look for when choosing a tile contractor

When evaluating a tile contractor you need to look at the following:

1.The contractors reputation- check out their references on Angie's List, Better Business Bureau, or other consumer agencies. Ask them to provide photos of recent work they have done and to provide names of past customers that would be willing to talk with you. Review their website for current information about their business. We have outstanding ratings with the Better Business Bureau and Angie's List. We keep our website up to date and you can find us on Facebook.

2. Ask the contractor how long they have been in business? Find out any trade associations that they are affiliated with like The National Tile Association. Find out if they follow trade associations recommended standards and guidelines. Is the contractor insured and bonded? Who are the contractors employees and what makes their work superior? Good project management is a key factor in providing high quality. B & R Hardwood and Tile has been working with quality providers for over 12 years. We have wonderful project management ,highly skilled laborers and certified tile setters.

3. Go with you instincts about their character. Are they clean, punctual, and do they communicate well? Are they in a hurry? Are they listening to what you want? Do they provide creative solutions and ideas? At B & R we listen to what our customers want keeping in mind their overall budget.

4. Does the contractor provide a detailed bid of what is included in the project? Can you tell what is included in the price and what is excluded? Are they willing to help you with tile selection? B & R works with the customer during the selection process to ensure all supplies are ordered, to help with design ideas, to assist with transition areas that the average consumer does not think of, and to avoid costly trip charges for forgotten items.

5. Does the contractor finish jobs in a timely fashion? Does the contractor run multiple jobs at the same time and if so, does the contractor have enough resources to complete quality work. B & R Hardwood and Tile prides itself on staying on schedule and managing projects to the smallest level of detail.

6. What kind of materials does the contractor use. Professional grade products are higher in quality and last longer than products purchased from local hardware stores. We use only the highest quality products for our customers.

7. Beware of "low cost " providers. Quality workmanship has fixed costs associated with it and low cost providers often have to cut quality to be the low cost provider. We will never be the lowest cost provider. We provide fair pricing for the customer and provide fair compensation to the individuals working on our projects.



Give Kurt a call for a bid at 612-644-8779 or check us out on the web at www.brflooring.biz


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Location:Twin Cities

Current tile project

I wanted to share some progress pictures on a porcelain tile porch floor remodel that I am working on in Edina. The homeowner removed an old Pergo floor which had warped and is replacing it with a porcelain tile using a pinwheel design. The new surface is better equipped to deal with the temperature swings this three season porch experiences.





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Location:Edina porch

B & R Hardwood and Tile stairway photos

B & R Hardwood and Tile specializes in hardwood products including stairways. We have an A rating on Angies list and have won numerous service awards. Check us out on our website at www.brflooring.biz or call us at 612-644-8779. Below are examples of completed stairway remodels. Kurt Kuhlmann, owner


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Location:Twin Cities