The team at Guhde Flooring America weighs in on the most frequently asked customer questions
By Patricia Nugent
Since 1957, three generations of the Guhde Family have kept the passion alive at Guhde Flooring America, working with folks to make their dream homes a reality.
Each day the family and staff make connections with countless customers to exchange ideas and design beautiful things.
So, we thought it would be insightful to ask those on the frontlines the top questions people want answered today about flooring and cabinetry. Here’s what they said.
Mike Guhde, Jr., General Manager
Do you install the flooring you sell? “Yes.”
Will installation disrupt my home? “Yes, but the level of disruption depends on how much work is being done. Throughout the installation process, we do our best to make sure your space is as usable as possible. And we communicate upfront what you can expect before the job starts.”
How long does it take after I order flooring? “Generally speaking, the waiting period from the time you contract with us to when the flooring is delivered is three to four weeks for carpet, and six to eight weeks for hard surface flooring. That being said, we always try to accommodate a client’s time restraints.”
Shawn Rosa, Sales ManagerHow do I clean my floors, and with what type of products?
“Each type of flooring has its own recommended cleaner. We carry the best product lines here in the store for every type of flooring we sell. In addition to cleaning products, we carry hard surface cleaning kits, which include a mop, microfiber cleaning cloth and dusting cloth to use with the cleaners.”
What kind of experience do your installers have? “Our installers are career professionals, true craftsmen, and we’re proud of the outstanding work they do. Most of our installers have over 20 years of experience.”
Nikki Weber, Sales Specialist
Do we have to remove existing flooring ourselves before having new flooring installed? “The answer is almost always no. We can handle all tear-out of existing flooring for the customer. In some cases, certain types of flooring are able to be installed over what’s existing without a tear-out.”
Is it okay for me to clean my carpet with a heavy-duty steam cleaner? “No. Steam cleaning carpet yourself with rented machines will result in voiding your carpet warranty. You take a big risk of oversaturating the carpet fiber and this can damage it permanently. We, and carpet manufacturers, recommend steam extraction cleaning done by a professional carpet cleaning company. At the store, we offer a dry system for cleaning, with a soil-releasing pre-mist and a dry powder that you vacuum up when done.”
Will my floors scratch? “Technically, any floor can scratch. The most durable, least likely to scratch flooring is ceramic or porcelain tile. Hardwoods and, in certain instances, vinyl and laminate flooring can get nicks, scratches and dents.”
Will my carpet or hard surface flooring fade in the sunlight? “Yes, this can happen in areas that receive lots of direct sunlight. With hardwoods especially, as soon as you take them out of the box, when exposed to air and sunlight, the color may begin to change. The lighter color your flooring, the less likely you are to notice any possible effects from sun fading. And treating your windows with a UV protectant can help.”
Cait Rudolph, Special Projects Manager
What’s the average cost for a total kitchen remodel? “While it varies depending on the products you select, the average cost of us doing a remodel, including flooring, countertops, cabinetry, electrical, sinks and faucets, is about $27,000.”
How long does it take for cabinets to come in? “Usually around four to six weeks. And if people have their own installers or choose to DIY the installation, we are happy to sell them just the materials for their job.”
Guhde Flooring America is located at 1880 Mentor Avenue in Painesville Township. Hours are Monday, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Tuesday, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.; Friday, 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Call 440-639-1990, or visit GuhdeFlooringAmerica.com for more information.