go for it - aug. 2011 - rancho cordova

16

Upload: susan-dakuzaku

Post on 26-Mar-2016

214 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

DESCRIPTION

Rancho Cordova - Gold River - Rosemont - College Greens

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

August 2011 GO FOR IT 1

Page 2: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

2 GO FOR IT August 20112 GO FOR IT August 2011

2801 Zinfandel Dr.Rancho Cordova, CA

(916) 858-2801 www.groceryoutlet.com

Mon–Sat: 8am–9pmSun: 8am–7pm

August 2011 GO FOR IT 3

Every year during the month of August, we like to slow down a little bit and take the time to thank all of our customers for their patronage, loyalty and friendship. We’ve had a busy year and brought you many sales, produce stands, wine sales, food drives, fundraisers, sponsorships and even our first appearance in the fourth of July parade with a float!

We want to thank all of our friends and customers for your continued support. Please join us every Saturday during the month of August for a celebration. We’ll have free refreshments and many special activities; like a free spin on our Wheel of Bargains for a chance to win a great price or a gift card. We’ll also have face painting for the kids, food sampling and much more.

Why shop at Grocery Outlet? Because we can save you up to 40% off your grocery bill every time you shop; with no coupon, no membership or loyalty cards needed. Because we bring you new bargain treasures every day, shopping with us is like a treasure hunt every day! If that’s not enough, we guarantee everything we sell with our unconditional money back guarantee.

Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ranchocordovagroceryoutlet, then like our page and let us share our new arrivals, special event pictures, drawings and giveaways. If you don’t have Facebook, that’s not a problem. Join our email club and get updates and special offers and coupons as well as our monthly ad, right in your mail box.

August is Customer Appreciation Month! By Monica Ortiz

Page 3: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

August 2011 GO FOR IT 3

2801 Zinfandel Dr.Rancho Cordova, CA

(916) 858-2801 www.groceryoutlet.com

Mon–Sat: 8am–9pmSun: 8am–7pm

August 2011 GO FOR IT 3

Every year during the month of August, we like to slow down a little bit and take the time to thank all of our customers for their patronage, loyalty and friendship. We’ve had a busy year and brought you many sales, produce stands, wine sales, food drives, fundraisers, sponsorships and even our first appearance in the fourth of July parade with a float!

We want to thank all of our friends and customers for your continued support. Please join us every Saturday during the month of August for a celebration. We’ll have free refreshments and many special activities; like a free spin on our Wheel of Bargains for a chance to win a great price or a gift card. We’ll also have face painting for the kids, food sampling and much more.

Why shop at Grocery Outlet? Because we can save you up to 40% off your grocery bill every time you shop; with no coupon, no membership or loyalty cards needed. Because we bring you new bargain treasures every day, shopping with us is like a treasure hunt every day! If that’s not enough, we guarantee everything we sell with our unconditional money back guarantee.

Find us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ranchocordovagroceryoutlet, then like our page and let us share our new arrivals, special event pictures, drawings and giveaways. If you don’t have Facebook, that’s not a problem. Join our email club and get updates and special offers and coupons as well as our monthly ad, right in your mail box.

August is Customer Appreciation Month! By Monica Ortiz

Page 4: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

4 GO FOR IT August 2011

After I graduated from college, my big dream was to work for a successful advertising agency. I mailed out close to 100 resumes to every agency in town and then waited for the phone to ring. When that didn’t happen, I did what many people do: I gave up on my dream and settled for the first full time job I could get, which happened to be in the retail industry.

For the next five years, I existed in a life of quiet desperation, counting down the minutes until I got off work. You can tell a lot about a person when you ask them how they are doing and they answer with statements like “Not bad for a Monday” or “Great, it’s Friday!” When I was in a job that I had no passion for, I was that guy.

Then, a miracle happened when I heard those two little words that many of us associate with Donald Trump, “You’re fired!” When my district supervisor broke the “bad news” to me and dealt me a “Trump card,” I wasn’t the least bit upset. As a matter of fact, I was ecstatic as a strange and surreal sensation swept over me. I felt a euphoric lightness, as if a heavy set of invisible chains had been lifted from my shoulders. I was finally free to pursue my passion full time, which made me a little nervous but very excited about the future!

My young family and I went through some very difficult months as we struggled to make ends meet, but I was determined to never go back, no matter how bad things got. And things got bad, really bad. The stress in my relationship with my first wife became almost unbearable as we argued constantly over my decision to stay the course. Fortunately, my stubborn resolve finally paid off. In less than a year, I was hired by a local advertising company and was making a living in the field of my dreams. By

By Bob Cox

4 GO FOR IT August 2011

the end of my first year, I was making more money than ever and loving every minute of it!

I became completely committed to being the best advertising rep I could be, so I invested my money and time by reading books, listening to cassette tapes in the car and attending seminars to improve my knowledge and skills. I followed the single best piece of advice I’d ever received from motivational speaker Brian Tracy. I’ll never forget that “aha moment” when he said, “If you forget everything I’ve said in this seminar and only remember this one thing and commit to doing it, it will transform your life in the most amazing and unexpected ways. If you set aside 30 minutes every morning to read something positive and inspiring, it will change your life forever…I guarantee it!”

I followed Tracy’s prescription to the letter and he was absolutely 100% correct. I became so inspired, within a few years I went on to publish my own positive and inspiring magazine, which lead me to the most amazing people I’d ever met, including my current wife, my soul mate and the love of my life, Diana. These past 20 years have been truly amazing and I am grateful beyond words to Mr. Tracy and his excellent advice. If you want to life your dream and not someone else’s, don’t settle for less. Follow your passion, read something positive and inspiring every day and invest in yourself. Don’t put it off, go for it!

Bob Cox is the founder and publisher of Go For It Magazine. He can be reached by phone at (916) 266-3115. His email address is [email protected]. Go For It Magazine is owned and operated in Rancho Cordova, CA. Copyright © 2011.

INVE$T in YOUR$ELF!

August 2011 GO FOR IT 5

Q: Sherm, when is my car safe to drive after I’ve been in an auto accident?

A: Never. Do not drive the vehicle whatsoever. Even if it looks like a fist sized dent, have it towed. In most cases, towing is available at no extra charge through your insurance company, so why not utilize it? You might be considered liable if you drive an unsafe vehicle that causes another accident!

Q: Is it common for people to under-estimate the severity of the accident based solely on the appearance of the exterior damage?

A: Absolutely, that happens all the time! There could be impact to your wheel or wheels that you don’t even see. I’ve had people come in and tell me time and time again that a C.H.P. officer has told them that it’s okay to drive with a bumper hanging, a fender dragging or a damaged wheel. A savvy attorney representing the other side could say you were driving an unsafe vehicle and knew it, which would be cause for you to be held negligent.

Q: What are the most common things that happen when a car is unsafe?

A: An entire wheel could come off. In the 27 years I’ve been in this business, I’ve seen that happen on at least four occasions. People have driven their car after the accident, not

knowing that they could have wheel studs broken off or damaged that cause a tire to just go rolling off on the freeway at 60 plus miles an hour. That’s very dangerous. Suspension could be affected, causing the tires to wear unevenly. I’ve seen cases where the tire treads were completely warn out in just a few short miles. In one extreme case, a customer came in and told me they drove just two miles, which was all it took for the right front tire to become completely bald!

Q: So, not only are you risking the safety of yourself and others, you’re also taking a huge risk in terms of increasing the out of pocket expense for additional repairs. Is that correct?

A: Yes and your insurance company is going to ask you why you drove from the scene with your vehicle damaged. They might even question your coverage or liability. I’ve seen that happen many times. I’ve always thought we should do a public service announcement on T.V. and tell people not to drive their car after it’s been in an accident. Instead, tow the vehicle to a body shop instantly. If you don’t have an auto body shop of choice, call your insurance company or ask a friend or family member to refer somebody. Whatever you do, don’t drive the car!

When is my car safe to drive after an accident?With Randall Shepard, Manager

Q: Does Sherm’s Gold River Auto Body offer a free visual inspection to determine if a car is safe to drive?

We do! In many situations we may need to do more than a cosmetic visual inspection and get a closer look by removing such items as wheels and tires, bumpers, etc, to try and determine the extent of the damage. Oftentimes, we can do a simple visual exterior inspection and get a pretty good idea by looking at the gaps and lines on the sheet metal and the way the wheels and tires are sitting in direction and in relation to the wheel well.

Q: Is it common to have what appears to be very minor exterior damage but have major structural problems?

A: Yes, you could look at your car and think it’s safe to drive and have thousands of dollars worth of hidden damage. In today’s world, many cars are made out of plastic and plastic hides internal damage real well. The crush is all behind the plastic and it’s manufactured to return back to its normal position, even when the internal structure is damaged or destroyed.

Editor’s notes: Alan Sherman is the owner of Sherm’s Gold River Auto Body in Rancho Cordova and their phone number is (916) 631-1444.

ASK SHERM

Page 5: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

August 2011 GO FOR IT 5

By Bob Cox

INVE$T in YOUR$ELF!

August 2011 GO FOR IT 5

Q: Sherm, when is my car safe to drive after I’ve been in an auto accident?

A: Never. Do not drive the vehicle whatsoever. Even if it looks like a fist sized dent, have it towed. In most cases, towing is available at no extra charge through your insurance company, so why not utilize it? You might be considered liable if you drive an unsafe vehicle that causes another accident!

Q: Is it common for people to under-estimate the severity of the accident based solely on the appearance of the exterior damage?

A: Absolutely, that happens all the time! There could be impact to your wheel or wheels that you don’t even see. I’ve had people come in and tell me time and time again that a C.H.P. officer has told them that it’s okay to drive with a bumper hanging, a fender dragging or a damaged wheel. A savvy attorney representing the other side could say you were driving an unsafe vehicle and knew it, which would be cause for you to be held negligent.

Q: What are the most common things that happen when a car is unsafe?

A: An entire wheel could come off. In the 27 years I’ve been in this business, I’ve seen that happen on at least four occasions. People have driven their car after the accident, not

knowing that they could have wheel studs broken off or damaged that cause a tire to just go rolling off on the freeway at 60 plus miles an hour. That’s very dangerous. Suspension could be affected, causing the tires to wear unevenly. I’ve seen cases where the tire treads were completely warn out in just a few short miles. In one extreme case, a customer came in and told me they drove just two miles, which was all it took for the right front tire to become completely bald!

Q: So, not only are you risking the safety of yourself and others, you’re also taking a huge risk in terms of increasing the out of pocket expense for additional repairs. Is that correct?

A: Yes and your insurance company is going to ask you why you drove from the scene with your vehicle damaged. They might even question your coverage or liability. I’ve seen that happen many times. I’ve always thought we should do a public service announcement on T.V. and tell people not to drive their car after it’s been in an accident. Instead, tow the vehicle to a body shop instantly. If you don’t have an auto body shop of choice, call your insurance company or ask a friend or family member to refer somebody. Whatever you do, don’t drive the car!

When is my car safe to drive after an accident?With Randall Shepard, Manager

Q: Does Sherm’s Gold River Auto Body offer a free visual inspection to determine if a car is safe to drive?

We do! In many situations we may need to do more than a cosmetic visual inspection and get a closer look by removing such items as wheels and tires, bumpers, etc, to try and determine the extent of the damage. Oftentimes, we can do a simple visual exterior inspection and get a pretty good idea by looking at the gaps and lines on the sheet metal and the way the wheels and tires are sitting in direction and in relation to the wheel well.

Q: Is it common to have what appears to be very minor exterior damage but have major structural problems?

A: Yes, you could look at your car and think it’s safe to drive and have thousands of dollars worth of hidden damage. In today’s world, many cars are made out of plastic and plastic hides internal damage real well. The crush is all behind the plastic and it’s manufactured to return back to its normal position, even when the internal structure is damaged or destroyed.

Editor’s notes: Alan Sherman is the owner of Sherm’s Gold River Auto Body in Rancho Cordova and their phone number is (916) 631-1444.

ASK SHERM

Page 6: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

6 GO FOR IT August 2011

Page 7: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

August 2011 GO FOR IT 7

According to The Oral Cancer Foundation, someone dies from oral cancer every hour of every day in the United States alone. Over 300,000 new cases of oral cancer are diagnosed every year, worldwide. This is a serious dental disease.

Oral Cancer is defined as the uncontrollable growth of cells that invade and cause damage to surrounding tissue. Oral cancer appears as a growth or sore that does not go away. Oral cancer, can include cancers of the lips, tongue, cheek, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat). It can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

Tobacco use is the number one risk factor in oral cancer. Studies have shown that at least 75% of those diagnosed were either current or former tobacco users. Heavy use of alcohol among tobacco users has been proven to have a 15% greater risk of developing oral cancer than tobacco users that aren’t heavy alcohol users. Age and prolonged exposure to radiation or sunlight are contributing factors as well.

90 Seconds That Could Save Your Life

Dr. Andrade and Dr. Montalvowith son Noah and daughter Ella Luz.

9833 Horn Road(Located in the Old Mills Winery Business Park)

Sacramento, CA 95827(916) 368-2500

www.dynamicdentist.com

Emergencies & Walk-Ins Welcomed!

By Dr. Denisse Montalvo

Complete Exam, X-Rays and Basic Cleaning.

FREE Implant ConsultationIncludes Dental Exam and

Complete X-Rays. A $300 Value!

Boost WhiteningBrighten your smile at least 2 shades lighter in 1 hour!

Reg. $230

Reg. $375

$7999

$229

Not valid with any other offer. Expires 9/30/11.

Not valid with any other offer. Expires 9/30/11.

Not valid with any other offer. Expires 9/30/11.

Unfortunately, in its early stages, oral cancer can go unnoticed. It can look like a common ulcer, cold sore or a discoloration of tissue. The most common symptoms of oral cancer include:

• Swellings/thickenings, lumps or bumps, rough spots/crusts/or eroded areas on the lips, gums, or other areas inside the mouth. • The development of velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth. • Unexplained bleeding in the mouth. • Unexplained numbness, loss of feeling, or pain/tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck. • Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within 2 weeks. • A soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat. • Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue. • Hoarseness, chronic sore throat or change in voice. • Ear pain.• A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together. • Dramatic weight loss.

Fortunately, your dentist can see or feel if a lesion looks cancerous. If you have any type of lesion in your mouth or on your lips that doesn’t heal within two weeks, if the lesion appears to be getting bigger, if the lesion is painful or you have difficulty in swallowing for a prolonged period of time, it is very important to see your dentist right away to make the correct diagnosis and begin treatment.

The treatment for a suspicious lesion in your mouth might be having it removed by your dentist, but your dentist will most

Folsom Blvd.

Business Park Dr.

Horn

Rd.

Horn Rd.

Brad

shaw

Rd.

HWY 50

H

August 2011 GO FOR IT 7

likely send you to a specialist for a biopsy, which is a painless procedure. If oral cancer is detected early enough, it could possibly be treated with surgery alone. Radiation combined with surgery would likely be used if the cancer is in its advanced stages.

The best preventions of oral cancer are not to use tobacco of any kind and only drink alcohol in moderation. Avoid prolonged exposure to sun or use a sunscreen on your lips. Visit your dentist every 6 months for regular check ups. When your dentist examines your mouth at your routine check up appointments, they will also screen you for oral cancer. This process only takes about 90 seconds and consists of a visual examination for any presence of cancer.

Although the number of deaths each year from oral cancer is astounding, it is highly curable if diagnosed early. Prevention is a key factor in oral cancer and a 90 second dental examination could save your life.

Dynamic Dental

Dynamic Dental

Open Saturdays Hablamos Español

Caring Dentistry For The Entire Family

Page 8: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

8 GO FOR IT August 2011

I happen to believe that the sign of a great leader is someone who surrounds himself/herself with great people and has the humility to share the credit for a job well done. By that definition, Steve Hawkins, the owner of Alco Siding and Windows, Inc. is a great leader. He also happens to be one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Even though Steve has over 30 years experience in the vinyl siding industry, he was eager to recruit two other experienced members of his team to help answer my questions. Dave Palmer and Mike Walesch were on hand and kind enough to share their knowledge, experience and insights of the siding industry. Here’s how our conversation went…

Q: Tell us about your experiences in the siding business? Steve: Well, I started out in the vinyl siding business 30 years

ago. Actually, I started with aluminum siding and then I went to steel and then vinyl. It’s generally vinyl nowadays. The aluminum and steel have kind of gone by the wayside. But floating right on the heels of vinyl are fiber cement products as well. They’re coming in pretty hot and heavy right now. The advantage of the

fiber cement is that you can change the colors.

Q: Are you getting more fiber cement jobs?

Steve: I think all in all yes, but we still honestly like to work with vinyl. They’ve come out with some new innovative vinyls that have really enhanced the vinyl industry. The

beauty of the vinyl is that it’s an absolutely maintenance free product. You never ever have to touch it.

Q: What are some other benefits of siding? Mike: There’s an increase in the R values and that can be

a 25% increase in insulation in a home. Siding also makes the home a lot quieter too. Most importantly, for most people it’s a 100% maintenance free product. You throw the paint away and no hassles again. It’s also impervious to any termite damage and comes with a lifetime warranty that covers everything such as cracking, denting, peeling, etc. If anything were to ever happen, you have a lifetime warranty on the product.

Q: Are a lot of clients you work with going green? Mike: That average homeowner is not, but I think everyone

wants to be green conscious and know the materials they are using are saving money and preserving the environment. We don’t put anything on that isn’t supported by the manufacturer and they are always conscious of saving and offering a green product. All the manufacturers that we use have been around forever. The CertainTeed product, which we lead with, has been in business 104 years. CertainTeed is the largest building material manufacturer in America, so they have tremendous experience with vinyl siding. They are very conscious of our environment and their siding is definitely a green product. I think it’s important that homeowners know that the siding manufacturer is going to stand behind their product.

Q: Does Alco Siding and Windows stand behind their work?

Mike: Yes and we have a warranty as well. Steve is one of the best siding applicators I’ve ever seen and right now we have a

Upgrade Your “Castle” WithBy Bob Cox

Traditional wood siding will fade, chip and peel over time.

Vinyl siding is built to stand the test of time. It will not fade, chip and peel over time.

SIDINGBEFORE aFtER

Page 9: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

August 2011 GO FOR IT 9

group who’s never done anything but siding. We do not sub out our siding jobs. Our siding applicators are employees and they are probably the best I’ve ever seen in the business. They aren’t a carpenter who is just doing siding on the side. Our installers have installed siding their whole life. That is really important because vinyl siding will expand and contract, more so that any other exterior. Every vinyl panel is made with what’s called a nail hem. You bring the panel in just enough so when it expands and contracts it can move in that nail hem and keep the panel running flush and smooth down the wall. A bad siding job is typically one done by a carpenter who nails everything up hard and fast. The panel can’t expand and contract and will start warping down the wall.

Steve: If the job is done right, vinyl siding can stand up to winds up to 160 mph because there aren’t any exposed nails, like with conventional wood siding. You’ll never see a nail on vinyl applications.

Q: Would it be safe to conclude that vinyl siding is more beautiful and durable then standard wood siding?

Steve: Correct. The application is the key on the vinyl siding though. Don’t trust just anybody.

Q: Isn’t it a huge benefit to your clients that you have your own crew of installers?

Steve: Yes. All of our installers are VSI (Vinyl Siding Institute) certified. That means they have gone through all the training and know how to install siding. It’s a big investment and you don’t want to trust someone that might not know that they are doing. You can offer the best product in the world, but if it’s put on improperly it will fail.

Q: Do you offer financing? Mike: Yes, we do offer a number of different financing

packages. A lot of people are in a state where they can’t replace the home they presently live in so they are looking to fix it up and this is a great way to go. It’s a one time thing and you are completely done with it. The warranty is then transferrable to the next owner per resale. It’s win-win either way. If you’re going to stay in the home, you’re covered with the lifetime warranty and if you sell the home it’s a great selling point to that new potential buyer to have that warranty transferred to their name.

Q: Doesn’t siding add quite a bit of value to the home as well?

Mike: Yes. In curb appeal alone, people can recoup their investment immediately.

Dave: Plus all of our products are class A fire rated products. Vinyl will not ignite, unlike wood. There was a house we did in Tahoe a couple years back and all the houses around it burned up. It did melt one wall and it blew out some windows of course because it was a hot fire, but it saved the house.

Q: Are there any other benefits with siding? Mike: Yes, it’s impact resistant. The new insulated panels are

rigid solid core panels so they are a lot more impact resistant than they’ve ever been in the past. You could drive a truck on this thing!

Q: How does impact resistance benefit the consumer? What are some things that could happen that could cause damage to someone’s home?

Steve: I think just basic maintenance of a home, like gardening can cause damage. For instance, flying debris from weed whackers can even damage wood. But the siding is so impact resistant that’s it’s pretty hard to break it.

Mike: The manufacturers go through such rigorous testing. They do a weathering test, oil can test, gloss test, rigidity test, a color read test and vertical height impact tests. These manufacturers really put these panels through the ringer to really make sure it’s going to hold up before they put their name on it and give it a lifetime warranty. Homeowners know that they’re covered.

Q: Is vinyl siding an affordable option? Mike: Compared to any other cladding it’s very affordable

when you consider the maintenance free aspect. Almost any other exterior cladding will require maintenance. The average paint job it could be $6,000 every 4 or 5 years. So you won’t ever have that maintenance cost again, and the cost per square footage comes in comparable to any other cladding, stucco or fiber cement products. It’s very competitive and a very good value.

Steve: Ultimately the vinyl will pay you back over time. The average amount of time is about 12-15 years and you’ll have paid for the siding at that point. After that, it’s just a bonus.

Editor’s notes: For more information about Alco Siding and Windows Inc., visit their office at 10255 Old Placerville Road in Sacramento, log onto their website at www.alcohis.com or call (916) 362-1400.

Page 10: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

10 GO FOR IT August 2011

Page 11: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

August 2011 GO FOR IT 11

Some of us may remember a time when the TOWN SQUARE was the hub of the community. (For those of us who are not personally famil-iar, we may have seen movies like Back to the Future or The Music Man) It was where the community would gather to discuss local happenings and politics, hand out flyers for events or causes, and get to know your neighbors.

In this day and age, you may think this is missing but NOT TRUE. It has just taken TWO different forms.

On the third Friday of every month, a monthly luncheon is hosted by the Cordova Community Council and the Rancho Cordova Chamber. Here businesses, residents, and civic leaders gather to discuss local happenings and politics, hand out flyers for events or causes, and get to know your neighbors. A guest speaker will share information about a topic relevant to the com-munity. You will learn of local news, volunteer opportunities, and be invited to share what is important to YOU!

Also, the website GoRanchoGuide.com, is a virtual bulletin board where upcoming events are posted (you can post your events as well) and you will find links to local business and orga-nizations (you can list yours as well). Check the calendar** for the next luncheon and get on the newsletter list to stay current...

So the BUZZ is out there... you now know where to plug into it!

**Calendar brought to you by:

Where the BUZZ be found...

*Visit www.BobsPocket.com for links, resources and Bob’s bio.

Page 12: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

12 GO FOR IT August 201112 GO FOR IT August 2011

Page 13: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

August 2011 GO FOR IT 13

RC

Page 14: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

14 GO FOR IT August 2011

Page 15: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

August 2011 GO FOR IT 15August 2011 GO FOR IT 15

When it’s time to replace the floors in your home or business, the number of flooring options can be overwhelming. So much so you may feel like putting it off for as long as possible. Instead of caving in to the urge to procrastinate, start your search by getting answers to your questions. If you’re not sure what to ask, here are some answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions.

Q: If two different brands each call the grade of their floors “select and better,” why do they look so different?

A: Each brand has to meet a certain criteria to be able to call their product select and better. Some manufacturers will just meet these standards and some will meet and then exceed them. If you have any questions as to which brands are better then others when it comes to grading, just give us a call and we will be more than happy to share our experiences with you.

Q: My wood flooring is cupping and buckling. Is my flooring material defective?

A: Excessive moisture is the most common cause of buckling floors. Moisture can come from leaking pipes, wet crawl spaces etc. You would need to identify the problem and eliminate it. Floors can also buckle if a proper expansion gap around each wall is not used.

Q: Can wood or laminate floor be wet mopped?

A: Yes, but very little water is needed. You can’t mop today’s floors like we used to with a sopping wet mop. You do not want a lot of water sitting on top of the floor. It will ruin the finish. They make a special floor cleaning kit that usually comes with a spray cleaner and a micro fiber mop. One of the biggest mistakes made by consumers is using the spray cleaners with a dry mop. If your mop is dry, all you are doing is rubbing soap on your floor and it will leave a smudgy dirty look on your floor. If you get your micro fiber mop wet, ring it out as much as you can so when you mop the floor dries very quickly. Only mop as needed. Only use products made for prefinished or laminate floors.

Q: How can I prevent my wood from scratching?

A: Many steps can be taken to reduce scratches on a wood floor. First, you can put throw rugs down in any high traffic areas such as in entry ways, in front of your

furniture back into the room and enjoy. An unfinished floor requires sanding and then the application of urethane. This can take a couple days labor with an incomparable amount of aggravation and extra cost. Pre-finished floors also have an incredible finish warranty that usually consists of 10-25 years, depending on the brand of the flooring.

Q: Why doesn’t my floor look like the sample in the showroom?

A: Although your floor should look similar to the sample in the showroom, there are certain instances when your floor might look slightly different. As a tree grows and matures (approximately 60 years), it absorbs minerals and other essential elements, which can change the color and appearance of the wood. Even wood from the same tree can show signs of variance. For instance, “younger wood” closer to the outside of the tree will be lighter than the wood from the center portion. Also, depending on how old the sample is, wood color can change over time. If you are doing a large project and want to make sure the wood is exactly what you want, it would be my suggestion to order a box and check it out before ordering a large amount of square footage only to find out it is not what you really wanted.

Editor’s notes: Lynn Lawson is the owner of Ralph Opfer Floors in Sacramento. Their showroom is located at 10265 Old Placerville Road, #14 and their phone number is (916) 366-1672. You can also visit them on the web at ralphopferfloors.com for more information.

sink or refrigerator or down a highly traveled hallway. One of the best things you can do is dust, sweep or mop on a regular basis to keep any dirt or debris from collecting on the surface of the floor. You can also put felt pads under the legs of any chairs or tables.

Q: Why would people choose prefinished over unfinished flooring?

A: Pre-finished flooring has a great advantage over unfinished flooring. Both floors install exactly the same; however, once the prefinished floor is installed, you’re all done. The only thing to do is move your

The Bargain Floor HunterAnswers to Some Frequently Asked Questions

By Lynn Lawson

FREEBottle of BonaFloor CleanerWhen you bring this ad

40% OFF7/16 Red Oak

Engineered Floor Self Locking Like Laminate

(Limited to stock on hand

Reg $2.99 — Now $1.79

FREEUnderlayment

with purchase of 500 Sq. Ft. or more of hardwood

or Laminate.

(Limited to stock on hand)Plus Tax. No PurchAse NecessAry

We’re off the beaten path but worth the search!

Hwy 50

Old Placerville Rd.

Ro

uti

er R

d.

Mat

her F

ield

Rd.

Sys

tem

s P

wy.

H

We’ll go the extra mile to find the perfect flooring at the best price!

License # 757522

10265 Old Placerville Rd., #14Sacramento, CA 95827 (916) 366-1672(916) 870-0270

RalphOpferFloors.comMon-Fri: 9am-4pm • Sat: 10am-2pm

Page 16: Go For It - Aug. 2011 - Rancho Cordova

16 GO FOR IT August 2011