debbie gartner: Have Flooring Questions? Call THE FLOORING GIRL! - 04/11/13 07:18 AM
Have Flooring Questions? Call THE FLOORING GIRL!
Active Rain is a community of Real Estate professionals. Most of the members are Real Estate agents, Home Stagers, Inspectors, Loan Officers and Title Associates. We also have a few Real Estate Investors and some other ancillary businesses that are connected to Real Estate, so is there any surprise that we would have a Flooring Expert?

Debbie Gartner, also known as The Flooring Girl, "brings the store to your door". As she explains, it allows the homeowner to view the color of the hardwood, tile, carpet, etc. in the true lighting of their … (11 comments)

debbie gartner: Weekend Flooring Feature: Trends in Kitchen Flooring - 09/23/12 01:03 PM
Weekend Flooring Feature:  Trends in Kitchen Flooring
As Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl, mentions in her blog post, remodeling your kitchent is where you get the most bang for your buck (pardon the expression).  Whether you are planning to stay in your home, or sell it, remodeling your kitchen will be worth it.
Debbie shares the trends she is seeing in Westchester, NY.  If you live in the Metro Denver area, the trends are similar.  Hardwood floors and tile are #1 and #2.  From a care and look stand point, these to flooring choices are the most popular.
Compliments of The … (2 comments)

debbie gartner: Weekend Flooring Feature: Family Room Flooring Trends - 09/08/12 02:56 AM
Weekend Flooring Feature: Family Room Flooring Trends
Where do you spend most of the "waking" hours in your home?  Probably the family room.  So much happens in the family room.  It's a common place for tv watching, game playing, music listening, and sometimes food eating.  The flooring you choose needs to stand up to the traffic that may occur in the family room.
Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl, gives us the top three best choices for family rooms.  Whether you live in Westchester, NY or Denver, CO, the advice holds true.
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, … (4 comments)

debbie gartner: Weekend Flooring Feature: Which types of flooring are less expensive? Which costs more? - 09/02/12 02:23 AM
Weekend Flooring Feature: Which types of flooring are less expensive? Which costs more?
Are you considering a flooring change in your home? Are you working with a budget? Have questions about the cost of flooring? Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl, provides a good summary regarding the costs of carpeting, laminate, hardwood and tile flooring.
Their are many variables in determining the cost.  Debbie does a great job of explaining.  
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554


How much does flooring cost? Which types cost more? Which cost less? Now, of course, these are loaded … (5 comments)

debbie gartner: Weekend Flooring Feature: What is Pergo flooring? - 08/24/12 11:37 AM
Weekend Flooring Feature: What is Pergo flooring?
Many consumers assume that if it's laminate flooring, it must be Pergo.  As Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl shares with us, there are many brands of laminate flooring including Pergo, Armstrong and Shaw.
So what's the answer?  Pergo is a well known laminate flooring that was introduced in the mid 70's.  Debbie takes the question a little bit further and she defines laminate flooring for us!
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554


Pergo is a BRAND NAME of Laminate Flooring. It is similar to how Kleenex is … (2 comments)

debbie gartner: Weekend Flooring Feature: Dark Hardwood Flooring - 08/19/12 11:13 AM
Weekend Flooring Feature: Dark Hardwood Flooring
No matter where you live, dark hardwood is sleek, stylish and sophisticated.  If that's the look you want in your home, you have a few options.  Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl tells us all about it!
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554.


 In Westchester County, dark hardwood floors are very stylish. Many of my customers love the dark look...they even ask for Ebony. Dark hardwood is sleek and stylish, and it gives your Westchester home a sophisticated look.
 
How do you get dark hardwood flooring?  
Most … (5 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: Should You Do Your Own Floor Refinishing? - 08/11/12 10:01 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: Should You Do Your Own Floor Refinishing?
All homeowners are looking for ways to cut costs with home remodeling projects.  Why should refinishing our hardwood floors be any different?
Reason #1: You learn how to sand your floor by reading this blog, or getting a "quicky" training session at the "rent a center".
Reason #2:  The equipment you are going to rent probably won't be able to do the job.
Reason #3:  You could do permanent damage to your hardwood floors.
Some jobs can be done by a handy homeowner, or a local handyman/woman, but this is a … (3 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: What Type of Polyurethane is Better? - 08/03/12 10:32 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: What Type of Polyurethane is Better?
Are you thinking of having your hardwood floors refinished?  Not sure if you should use water based polyurethane or oil based?  Ask the expert!  Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl shares the pros and cons of both.
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554


Which type of polyurethane is better for refinishing hardwood floors - water-based or oil-based polyurethane?
We offer both options, but I strongly prefer oil based poly over water based because:
1.  It looks better
2.  It lasts longer
3.  It costs less.
So, … (6 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: Is it better to paint or do the floors first? - 07/28/12 02:13 PM
Friday Flooring Feature: Is it better to paint or do the floors first?
I thought this was going to be an easy question to answer.  Paint first.  Not so easy.   Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl gives us some "issues" to think about.
1) Are you hiring professionals to paint and to replace the flooring?
2) Do you have wallpaper or paneling to remove?
3) Will the change in flooring effect the baseboards?
Debbie suggested prepping the walls for paint FIRST.  Paint the ceiling FIRST.  Then do the flooring.  Finish by painting the walls.  By doing the work in this order, … (3 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: How well does this carpet hold up to stains? - 07/20/12 11:02 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: How well does THIS carpet hold up to stains?
The most common reasons for replacing carpet are odors and stains.  If you can control the stains, your carpet may have a longer life.  Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl, recommends Shaw.  They have recently upgraded their stain protection.
The World's largest pie throwing contest demonstrates the brand's resistance to stains!
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554.


When it comes to carpet, stain protection is very important. In fact, staining is usually the primary reason that carpets need to be replaced (along with … (2 comments)

debbie gartner: Can you change the color of your hardwood flooring? - 07/13/12 09:23 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: Can you change the color of your hardwood flooring?
Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girls says the answer is usually YES!  (There are some instances where the answer is no, so be sure to completely read Debbie's post.)  Debbie shares the sanding and refinishing process with us and then she talks about color.  How light or dark you can go will depend on the type of hardwood.
Isn't it great to know you have options? Maybe you just bought your home and you are unable with the current hardwood floor color.  Of course the change will cost you some … (7 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: What species of hardwood flooring are there? - 07/07/12 06:12 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: What species of hardwood flooring are there?
In this post, Debbie Gartner, the Flooring Girl, educates us on the various types of hardwood flooring.  Some take stain (color) better than others, some are stronger than others.  Your choice will be personal based on the look you want in your home and of course, your budget.
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554, Original post by Debbie Gartner
 
 
There are many species of hardwood flooring, and I thought it would be helpful to visualize and explain the different types.  I'm going to … (4 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: Maple Flooring - 06/29/12 12:20 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: Maple Flooring
OK, you've made the decision to put in hardwood flooring.  Have you decided what type of hardwood?  Did you know you have choices?  Have you considered Maple?  As Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl shares with us, if you are looking for a light colored hardwood floor the maybe Maple is the right choice for you.
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554


If you're looking for a light colored hardwood floor, consider maple  flooring for your home in Westchester NY. Maple flooring is a light blond color with low graining. … (3 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: What is engineered hardwood? Is it real or is it fake? - 06/22/12 05:45 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: What is engineered hardwood?  Is it real or is it fake?
As Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl and my personal flooring guru, states below, "engineered hardwood, sounds fake, but it's NOT".  As with most of your flooring choices, their are pros and cons to engineered hardwoods.  Debbie shares those advantages and disadvantages.  She also recommends consulting with a flooring expert before making a final purchase.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us, Debbie!
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554


Many of my customers get confused about engineered hardwood flooring vs. … (4 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: Going Green - 06/15/12 11:28 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: Going Green
Are you looking for ecofriendly, green flooring products for your home?  Did you know that you have quite a few options?  My favorite flooring expert, Debbie Gartner, the Flooring Girl from Westchester NY, educates us on the various options.  Your decision will depend on the look you want, the comfort you are interested in and of course, your budget.
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554
 
 
Green Flooring options for Westchester County Many Westchester homeowners are proactively asking about green flooring products. Going green with your flooring is now … (5 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: Laminate flooring - Is it waterproof?? - 06/08/12 09:16 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: Laminate Flooring ~ Is It Waterproof?
There is a common misconception about laminate flooring, most folks believe it's the same as vinyl flooring.  After reading this post from The Flooring Girl, Debbie Gartner, you will have learned THREE valuable lessons when it comes to choosing the right flooring for your home improvement project.
 
Lesson #1 ~ Vinyl flooring and laminate flooring are NOT the same! 
Lesson #2 ~ Laminate is made out of recycled hardwood.
Lesson #3 ~ Laminate is not waterproof.
 
 
Is laminate flooring waterproof?  The answer is NO, laminate flooring is NOT waterproof.
(2 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: Grades of Oak Flooring - 06/01/12 05:39 AM
Friday Flooring Feature:  Grades of Oak Flooring
What is the difference between select grade and No 1 Oak hardwood?  Did you even know there was a difference.  Debbie Gartner, my go-to-girl for all questions related to flooring explains the 3 main grades of oak flooring.  Of course, there's a difference in price, but the most important diffference is look.
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554


Which is better... select grade or Number 1 oak flooring? Most customers don't realize that there are different grades of oak flooring. They just assume all oak flooring … (2 comments)

debbie gartner: Black and white hardwood floors - 05/25/12 06:20 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: Black and White Hardwood Floors
Are you looking for a chic and unique flooring option for your home makeover?  Have you considered black or white hardwood floors?  What?  You didn't even know about those options?
Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl, writes about Shaw's Cosmoplitan Maple floors.  Painted hardwood floors that are both sleek and stylish.  Have a look....
Compliments of The Foerster Team, Rocky Mountain Real Estate Advisors, (720) 530-5554


One of the coolest hardwoods I've seen is Shaw's Cosmopolitan Maple.  It's sleek and stylish and fabulous all over. 
 
It actually comes in black … (7 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: What is a Berber Carpet? - 05/18/12 06:16 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: What is Berber Carpet?
Everyone has differing opinions about what type of flooring they like and for what rooms.  Some folks love hardwoods, but wouldn't have them in a bedroom, bath or kitchen.  Others like the look of tile, but would only have that in a bathroom or finished basement.  It's my opinion, that Berber Carpet is one of those things.  Not everyone likes and even if they do, they wouldn't want it in every room in their house.
In this post, Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl, compares modern and traditional Berber Carpeting.  Then she continues to educate … (3 comments)

debbie gartner: Friday Flooring Feature: Waterproof Flooring for Your Basement - 05/11/12 06:10 AM
Friday Flooring Feature: Waterproof Flooring for Your Basement
Do you have a finished basement?  Are you thinking about finishing your basement?  Maybe addint a few bedrooms, a bath, a rec room for a pool table?  What about the flooring?  Have you given it much consideration?  Do you have issues with flooding?  What about your neighbors?
Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl, recommends Luxury Vinyl planks that look like hardwood.  I personally love the look of hardwood floors and it's what we have in all the living spaces on the main floor of our home.  When we finish the basement, it's something I … (6 comments)

 
Donna Foerster, Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant (HomeSmart Realty Group)

Donna Foerster

Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Parker, CO

More about me…

HomeSmart Realty Group

Address: 12760 Stroh Ranch Way, Suite 101, Parker, CO, 80138

Mobile: (720) 530-5554



Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog