Existing-home sales rose to an impressive 5.03 million units, which is a 7.7 percent improvement over August of last year. Some of the conditions leading to this have been a nationwide increase in rent prices which has motivated consumers to consider investing in equity, as well as wider availability of credit for homebuyers and low overall housing prices that still persist from the housing collapse.

At the same time, environmental associations as well as builders and construction companies have mounted renewed efforts to make home building a more sustainable and less polluting industry. Several “green” organizations, such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the United Nations Environment Programme’s Regional Office for North America (UNEP RONA) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) are scheduled to launch a new initiative that will appeal both to industries and worldwide governments, including the Obama administration. The initiative will discuss methods and approaches to enable a broad global shift towards green and sustainable economies in developing and advanced industrial nations alike.

The initiative will pay particular attention to deforestation and sustainable lumber growth. The Forest Stewardship Council has been playing a significant role to promote environmentally responsible wood harvesting for the past two decades; the new “Rio +20″ initiative will build on those efforts by also promoting energy-efficient building standards, more sustainable city planning standards and greener vehicles.

Floormall is proud to be part of this effort, with our online store stocking a wide number of green flooring options, as well as helpful information and guides. We are always there to help homeowners make an environmentally responsible choice while sacrificing neither quality nor affordability.

This is great for you, because you can reliably count on getting the best deal on, for instance, hammocks or patio benches at FloorMall.com, no matter what time or what day.

The Simple Patios line is both diverse and beautiful. Whether you need stone tiles, wood tiles, or composite deck tiles to restore your outdoor patio, or chaise lounges, swings and umbrellas to spruce up your backyard for a party – floormall.com/outdoor is the place for you.

As if this is not enough, shipping is free on all Simple Patio orders. For patio furniture that is as durable, and thus heavy, as these products, free shipping is quite a deal.

What’s more, the warranty on all outdoor furniture from Simple Patios lasts for half a century. That’s right – 50 whole years! Just think, you will be able to sit on this patio furniture with your girlfriend, your wife, your daughter, your granddaughter, and if you should be so lucky, your great granddaughter!

So, what are you waiting for, go ahead and browse our high-end competitively-priced outdoor and patio furniture products now!

I was really impressed by UA’s Grecian floors. One of the best things about this flooring line is all of the options that are available with it. Their engineered flooring comes in a number of elegant species of wood that range from Asian Teak, Brazilian Walnut and Australian Cypress—just to name a few. The flooring is very easy to install. It features a tongue and groove and micro-bevel installation feature. These are precision milled, high quality floors that I believe would be a great fit for almost any household.

There are quite a few websites out there that offer honest, unbiased reviews of flooring products.  It may seem surprising, but I’ve found that one of the best places to go for hardwood flooring reviews is About.com.  For those of you who don’t know, About.com is a mega site that provides a vast amount of advice and information on a widespread assortment of topics.   It’s owned by The New York Times Company and it has a lot of helpful information related to home repair, flooring and so on.

Woodfloordoctor.com is another place to search for reviews of different hardwood flooring products.  Not only do they review different floor coverings but they even touch on an array of flooring tools such as sanders, steam mops and so on.  Overall, it’s a great flooring resource site and has sections dedicated to walkthroughs and more general flooring information.

Viewpoints.com is a good place to find reviews on just about anything.  This website is focused on helping consumers make better decisions.  Viewpoints builds communities where consumers can share their experiences with a specific product by writing reviews, blog posts, how to guides and much more.  They cover everything from electronics, to hardwood flooring products, to video games.  It’s truly a great resource for consumers.

These days more than ever it’s important to make sure that you’re getting value with each purchase.  I hope that these sites will provide you with some help in doing just that.

And there are some very important questions to ask the floor installer. The research doesn’t just stop after you pick out your floor. You should ask them a variety of questions and find out if they have experience working with the type of flooring that you’re having installed in your home. And if they have, then you should find out if they’ve done any projects similar to the one you want done. If possible you can see if they have any pictures of past work to see if they have the level of skill and attention to detail that you’re looking for.

Having new flooring installed can be very stressful but ultimately it can also be incredibly rewarding. A good place to look for Virginia flooring installers, or a local floor installer in your area, is FloorMall.com, the online flooring store. They have a nationwide network of flooring installers that they’ve utilized and relied on in the past. These are professionals who are used to working with the numerous flooring types that FloorMall has available. You can check out floor installers organized by the installers’ region of influence..

First, you can choose between tile flooring or laminate flooring. The difference between the two is something only you will know, and that great difference is the cost. Tile flooring gives a shiny and lively look to your home while laminate flooring is very affordable and easy to install. Pick one which suits your needs and enjoy whichever is best. Also hot on the popular list of flooring solutions is decorative hardwoods.

These are more expensive options, but its quality is one you would not be disappointed at. Hardwood flooring is exceptionally durable and gives any interior a classy, wealthy feel to it. Where hardwood flooring is involved, choose only the best materials and floor installer as mistakes show easily on this delicate floor.

Another cost effective option, although not appropriate for everyone, is turf carpeting. No matter what your recreation of choice is, there are few better choices for home recreation areas than outdoor turf carpet. Resistant to the natural elements, outdoor turf carpet is great for a barbeque area or a home putting green.

If you have a deck where your children will play while you cook up some burgers, you can ensure that they don’t splinter on the wood or stub their toes on concrete by adding some outdoor turf carpet. The applications for outdoor turf carpet are almost limitless for home recreation. Go for the comfort and durability of outdoor turf carpet over harder or dirtier surfaces.

One of the first things a guest, potential buyer or appraiser notices upon entering a home is the condition of your floors. Worn carpeting or dingy, scratched floors make a negative impression. Floors in good condition sell a house’s first impression of being an inviting, well cared for property. It shows that you not only take good care of your house, but also recognize the value of good foundations.

When choosing new or remodeled flooring, there are a few considerations. Generally speaking, hardwood floors offer the home owner the greatest value. Durable and easier to care for the carpet, hardwood floors can be adapted to many designs by the addition or area rugs and soft furnishings. They can create a more visually appealing canvas for a potential buyer than carpeting chosen for someone else’s design aesthetic.

Another important feature of hardwood flooring is environmental. Hardwood flooring does not trap allergens and mold in the ways that carpeting can. While hardwood can be easily cleaned at minimal expense, mold and mildew trapped in carpeting only builds over time. The only solution to that problem is removal of the entire carpeting.

Once you make the decision to improve the flooring in your home, you need to consider two practical points. You need to carefully consider the budget you want to spend. The options for hardwood floors have changed since the days of wood or stone. Hardwood floors are still the most attractive surface in a home, but other materials are gaining popularity. Slate, stone, laminate – even the eco-friendly bamboo and cork – allow the home owner greater flexibility in choosing materials to meet their budget.

When considering a flooring project, think of how that floor will be used, in addition to your budget. A simple tile floor in the mudroom can save wear and tear on flooring in the rest of the house. Replacing worn carpets and waxing existing hardwood floors make a definite improvement while leaving room for larger budget projects like a new sealed surface for your garage or hardwood floors for your dining room. It’s a practical consideration that is just as important as the furnishings you put into a room.

In a competitive market, a home has to stand apart from the rest. A warm, welcoming environment starts with beautiful flooring. Combining the right look and the right materials will add value to your home and increase its desirability to prospective buyers.