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Address
67 U.S. 31 S,
Traverse City, MI 49685

Contact

231-947-6900

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Sat: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sun: closed

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We also offer in house measurements

Latest news, promotions and cleaning tips from Bay View Flooring located in Traverse City to help with your home & office design and flooring inspirations


Benefits of Luxury Vinyl Flooring

Benefits of Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Beautiful Looks of Luxury Vinyl

Luxury Vinyl offers you  a high-end look at cost effective price tag. Our huge selection of hardwood and stone looks can give any room—even a bathroom, utility room, or mudroom—the upgrade it deserves. Luxury Vinyl Flooring combines both style and durability.

  • Cost Effective
  • Nature & Environment Friendly
  • Easy Maintenance
  • Highly Durable
  • Huge Selections Available
  • Pet Friendly & Resistant
  • Waterproof

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Porcelain vs Ceramic Tile

Whether ceramic or porcelain, tiles offer a combination of durability, versatility and convenience and are available in hundreds of different styles, shapes and colors. They create beautiful floors for much less than the cost of stone. Ceramic tile and Porcelain tile are two of the most popular flooring options, and each has its own benefits. Some of them are listed below

Benefits of Ceramic Tile

Rock Creek Tile 127 Whitewater

Maintenance: Ceramic flooring is easy to care for. Dirt, stains, and liquids all rest on the surface of the material, which allows you to easily wipe them away. Typical maintenance of ceramic consists of sweeping or vacuuming with the proper brush attachment. When stains do set in, most heavy duty cleaners can be used to remove the stain without having to worry about damaging the material.

Cost Effective: Ceramic tile generally costs less than other tile options. Though this material may cost less, there are various textures and patterns to choose from. This type of flooring is cost effective. Though it may be more costly to install than other hard surfaces its limited upkeep and maintenance adds to its value over time.

Design and Style Flexibility: Varying in sizing options allows for ceramic tile to have design flexibility. Ranging from 6” x 6” to 24” x 24”, give more options to the customer to create unique designs. For many customers style is vital when choosing a product. Ceramic is no exception to this rule. There are various finishes to choose from to fit any personal style.

Installation Variety: There are numerous online platforms that show the variety of how tile can be installed. This gives today’s customer’s options for laying tile in more areas than on a floor only. Backsplashes, porticos, and murals can be tiled artistically. You can match tiled floors to tile on walls or contrast the two to create a stand out vision in your home.

Benefits of Porcelain Tile

Rock Creek Tile 212 Millstone

Durability: Porcelain is some of the toughest flooring available. It is hard, thick, and very solid. Due to its strong characteristics, porcelain is resistant to heavy impact and can be used in commercial environments. This type of flooring is equipped to handle high traffic areas.

Stain Resistant: Another benefit of porcelain flooring is that it is naturally stain resistant. Porcelain is able to repel liquid penetration, so staining agents aren’t able to soak into the material. Once porcelain is glazed this effect is even more dramatic.

Low Maintenance: This material is tough, and simple to maintain. It does not require any special sealing to keep out water as other materials do. Water can be wiped right off of this material and won’t cause any damage. Typically porcelain is used in kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, and mudrooms where moisture is most common.

Style: Porcelain is offered in many different colors and textures. The design options are endless. Many companies are recreating natural surfaces, such as wood grain and marble patterns.

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Benefits of Tile & Stone

Tiles whether it comes in Ceramic, Porcelain or Accents are creative, affordable and elegant. Tile & Stone come in variety of colors, shapes, textures, and sizes which gives you many options that make your home so stylish.

Classico 100 Ivory
Advantages of Tile & Stone Flooring

Tile & Stone is a great flooring option because of its versatility and durablity. One of the best things about tile is the ability to install it in special patterns that add interest to your floor. These patterns are easy to create and offer endless variety—another plus. Try alternating colors for a dramatic, two-toned effect. Mix sizes and shapes; choose between repeated or random patterns. No matter how you lay tile, it’s sure to make a statement.

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Care & Maintenance of Tile & Stone

Tile and stone floors are perhaps the easiest type of floor to keep clean. Dusting, vacuuming & sweeping the tile floors keeps accumulation dirt or girt that can cause surface to scratch.

Tile & Stone Care

Subway Pattern
Subway Pattern Tile

Recommended Maintenance of Tile & Stone:

  • Use protective mats at all of your entrances. It is a good idea to use them at heavy traffic areas as well, such as your stove or sinks. Good quality mats will help shield your ceramic floor from premature wear and also trap dirt and other substances that can get tracked inside.
  • Use protective pads on furniture. You can protect your ceramic tile by attaching felt pads to the legs of any wood, plastic, metal or iron furniture that touches the tile. Not only can furniture legs be the cause of scratching, but metal furniture outside, on patios or tile floors, may rust and also cause staining.
  • Mop ceramic floors at least once a week, depending on the amount of traffic in that area. Use a damp mop and an approved ceramic tile cleaner or a mixture of 2 gallons of water with 1 cup of white vinegar. Do not use detergents or soaps because they can support mildew growth or dull the tile surface. *Caution: New tile and grout needs to dry for at least 72 hours after installation before you use a damp mop.
  • Only recommended cleaners and sealers should be used. You should use approved floor care products or the vinegar solution described above. Any cleaners or sealers not approved for your flooring type may cause unnecessary damage to your grout and tile.
  • Grout should cure for at least 28 days before applying a sealer, unless a different curing time frame is specified on its packaging.
  • Quarry tiles need a penetrating sealer, they are the only tiles that need this. Penetrating sealers are absorbed into the tile, creating a stain resistant guard right below the surface. The majority of sealers will darken or modify the appearance of the tile, and resealing your tile is usually needed every 12 to 18 months.
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Installation of Tile & Stone

We help you every step of the way after you’ve selected your new floor: professional on-site measurement, removal of old flooring, and skilled installation that includes moving your furniture and replacing trim. We do it all expertly, so your floor will look amazing and give lasting satisfaction.

What to think about before installation of Tile & Stone:

Substrate

  • Tile setting has remained the same over the years. Preparation of the tile foundation, called the substrate, is the beginning of this process. Some tile substrates include plywood, concrete, and drywall. Each substrate is very different and is prepared consistent with industry and manufacturer standards.
  • First, the substrate needs to be cleaned. Moisture, dirt, and oil can interfere with the bond of the tile, so any debris is removed before installation starts. Then, the surface of the substrate needs to be leveled. This step is very necessary to provide a sturdy support base for the tile, and so the individual tiles will look flat when they are installed. Tiles will not set properly if the substrate is not level, and then when weight is added it can cause cracking or chipping.
  • Next, a waterproofing layer is applied to the leveled substrate. This is extremely important in installations where the tile is often exposed to moisture (bathrooms, kitchens, and exteriors)

Create a layout plan

  • After the substrate has been prepared, you need to create a layout plan. It will show the room measurements and help determine the amount of tile and additional materials needed. This will also help the installer plan how much product they need and plan for any architectural features like cabinetsThe installer will use this plan to estimate the amount of product needed, and to anticipate any installation issues that may be caused by architectural features like stairs, transitions, and cabinets. The installers will also use the layout plan to determine the pattern and orientation of the installed tile.

Grout

  • After the tile is set in place, the floor is left to cure for about 12-24 hours, and then the grout is applied. Grout comes in a large variety of colors, and also in sanded and un-sanded forms.
    • Sanded grout: typically used for grout joints that are wider than 1/8th of an inch, usually floor tile, because it helps strengthen tile joint and it will not sag after being cured.
    • Un-sanded grout: typically used with narrow grout joints which are usually found with wall tile and natural stone installations.
  • Grout and mortar need to be cured for 24 hours before you can walk on it. This way you can make certain that the tiles won’t move or loosen before the grout and adhesive thin-set mortar have a chance to set. Some tile installations may be mopped daily for several days in order to keep the grout from curing unevenly, cracking, or pulling moisture from the mortar underneath.

Atomic Glass Mos 425 Oxide
Installing Tiles

Lily Shower Accent

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Care & Maintenance of Laminate

Please be sure to reference your laminate floor warranty for specific care requirements! For your general information, however, here are some basic tips and facts:

Cleaning: For spills and spots use a damp cloth to blot them as soon as the spill occurs. On tougher spots, damped a white cloth with acetone and wipe the spill with the damp cloth. Only use this on things such as paint, oil, lipstick, ink, markers, or cigarette marks. Do not allow liquids to stand on your floor.

General Maintenance: Dust, sweep or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard surface attachments to prevent any buildup of dirt. Dirt or other gritty substances can cause scratches or dull the finish of the laminate. On occasion, clean the floor with a floor cleaner specifically made for laminate flooring.

Things to Avoid When Cleaning: Do not wet-mop the floor with water and soap, oil-soap, or any other liquid cleaning material. This will result in warping, swelling, delamination, and joint-line separation. Polishing or buffing the floor will result in damage as well. Chlorinated products and steel wool scrubbers are too abrasive to use on this type of flooring.

Humidity: A normal indoor relative humidity level is between 35 and 65 percent. This level of humidity needs to be maintained throughout the year to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of laminate. During the winter, a humidifier can prevent excess shrinking due to low humidity levels. In the summer months, using a dehumidifier and air conditioning can maintain the humidity during this warm time of year. When there is severe inclement weather, make sure to avoid over exposure to water.

RS Mount Everest 272 ClassicHickory

RS Antiquation 373 IceHouse

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Installation of Laminate

We help you every step of the way after you’ve selected your new floor: professional on-site measurement, removal of old flooring, and skilled installation that includes moving your furniture and replacing trim. We do it all expertly, so your floor will look amazing and give lasting satisfaction.

Installation of Laminate Flooring

Installation: Installation of laminate usually starts in the left corner of the product and leaves a ¼ inch space between the walls and flooring. This gives the laminate enough room to expand and contract. Installing laminate too close to the walls can result in buckling in the middle of the floor. During installation spacers are used every one per square foot to keep an accurate and similar spacing around the perimeter of the space. These are spacers are removed once the install is complete. Finally, wall base or quarter round trim is added to cover the perimeter gap.

Glueless Laminate: Many laminate flooring products do not require glue for installation. Customers are able to put their floor together without professional installation this way. Laminate planks or tiles simply interlock with each other after an underlayment is laid down. This is convenient when damage occurs, a piece of the flooring can simply be taken out and replaced.

Laminate Needing Glue: This type of installation may require professional installation. Installers will start by gluing the first two panels together on the left corner of the product. Special tools are needed to install this type of product. To keep the plans or tiles in place clamps and straps are needed. Often times a tapping block may be used to help join pieces of flooring.

Finishing: Moldings should be added by installers in order to hide perimeter gaps and to complete the flooring. Many times other types of transition pieces are needed to finish the look, these can be used in doorways or to transition from one type of flooring to the next. Custom moldings and trim help to piece everything together and typically involve professional installation.

Installing Laminate flooring

Installing Laminate flooring

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Benefits of Laminate

Cost Effective: Laminate flooring is most cost effective in comparison to any other flooring option, especially compared to hardwood and tile. This material will most likely save you money in the long run because it lasts and doesn’t need to be replaced often. Unlike hardwood, tile or carpet, laminate does not fade from exposure to sunlight. Laminate is also stain resistant and generally scratch resistant as well.

Easy Install: Installing laminate flooring may be the easiest flooring material to install for someone that is a DIY’er. The tongue and groove click systems that come with laminate are user friendly, and make putting the floor together a “snap.” Laminate can also be placed on any type of subfloor because it doesn’t need to be nailed down or glued. Another benefit is that laminate can be installed over radiant heat floors.

Style Variety: There is a wide variety of high-resolution “wood variations,” and “tile variations” which gives you a multitude of style options. One of the best advantages to laminate is the abundance of choices that are not restricted by price.

Easy Cleaning: Cleaning laminate flooring does not require and special products in order to clean it. Dusting the floor or running a hard surface vacuum over the floor is all that is needed. Using vinegar and water will clean heavily soiled spills. Laminate is also a very sanitary product due to its airtight locking system, which also creates a shield against moisture. Unlike hardwood, laminate will not swell or shrink if moisture gets in.

RS HarbourTowne 7013 SableHickory

RS HarbourTowne 5011 WeatheredHickory

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