Free Resources
Flooring Guides & Resources
Download our free guides to help you make informed decisions about your flooring project. We believe in education first—no pressure, just facts.
Flooring Selection Guide
PDF Guide
Tips and tricks for choosing the right floors for your home. Covers key questions to ask, room-by-room considerations, budget planning, and preparation checklists.
What's Inside:
- Key questions to ask before shopping
- Room-by-room flooring considerations
- Montana climate factors
- Budget planning worksheet
- Installation preparation checklist
Flooring Comparison Chart
PDF Guide
An objective, fact-based comparison of different flooring options including hardwood, LVP, tile, stone, carpet, and more. No bias—just the facts to help you decide.
What's Inside:
- Side-by-side comparison of all flooring types
- Durability, water resistance, and maintenance ratings
- Price ranges and lifespan expectations
- Special considerations for pets, kids, and allergies
- Detailed profiles for each flooring type
Have Questions?
These guides are meant to give you a head start. When you're ready to explore options in person, visit our showroom where you can see samples, feel textures, and speak with our knowledgeable team.
(406) 314-8713 | will@northernlightsdesign.com
Planning Tools & Pro Guides
- Tile calculator
Tiles and boxes from room size, tile size, joint and waste.
- Flooring waste factor calculator
Order quantities in whole cartons for plank and tile.
- Installer & pro supplies
Grout, self-levelers, leveling systems and spacers explained.
Care & Maintenance
General care basics by material. Always follow the manufacturer's care and warranty instructions for your specific product.
Hardwood flooring care
- Sweep or vacuum on a hard-floor setting to remove grit that dulls the finish.
- Damp-mop only with a cleaner approved for your floor's finish; avoid standing water and steam mops.
- Keep indoor humidity within the range the manufacturer specifies — dry Montana winters can open gaps between boards.
- Use felt pads under furniture and mats at exterior doors to catch snow, salt, and gravel.
Luxury vinyl plank care
- Sweep regularly and damp-mop with a pH-neutral cleaner; skip wax, oil soaps, and abrasive pads.
- Protect the wear layer with furniture pads and non-rubber-backed mats, which can discolor some vinyl.
- Wipe up spills promptly — the plank may be waterproof, but the subfloor and perimeter may not be.
- Check the manufacturer's temperature limits for unheated cabins and sun-exposed rooms.
Luxury vinyl plank buyer's guide · Winter floor care in Montana · Luxury vinyl flooring
Tile & natural stone care
- Clean porcelain and ceramic with a pH-neutral cleaner; glazed tile does not need sealing, but cement grout usually does.
- Sealing needs vary by stone and finish. Follow the stone supplier and sealer manufacturer’s instructions; test absorption as they recommend before deciding to reseal.
- Avoid acidic or bleach cleaners on marble, travertine, and limestone; they can etch the surface.
- Follow the grout and setting-material manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and resealing grout joints.
Porcelain vs ceramic tile · Natural stone tile · Tile & stone
Carpet & area rug care
- Vacuum high-traffic areas often so grit does not wear down the fibers.
- Blot spills from the outside in; avoid rubbing, which can distort the pile.
- Schedule professional cleaning at the interval the carpet warranty requires, and keep the records.
- Use a rug pad suited to the floor underneath so the rug stays in place and the floor is protected.
Countertop care
- Quartz: clean with mild soap and water, and use trivets — high heat can damage the resin.
- Granite and quartzite: seal as the fabricator or stone supplier recommends and clean with a stone-safe cleaner.
- Marble: expect etching from acids like citrus and wine; wipe spills quickly and use cutting boards.
- Your fabricator's care and sealing instructions for the finished slab take priority over general advice.
From Our Blog
Expert tips, design trends, and helpful guides for your home.
Built to Last: Choosing Durable Finishes for a Flathead Remodel
A room-by-room guide to picking flooring, tile, and countertops that survive Montana boots, snowmelt, and dogs — plus maintenance, repairability, and the manufacturer requirements that keep a warranty intact.
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Mountain Modern Interior Design: A Field Guide to Getting the Finishes Right
What actually makes mountain modern work: a restrained palette, real texture, layered light, an entry built for winter, and flooring, tile, and countertops that agree with each other.
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Log Cabin Interior Design Ideas for Montana Homes
How Flathead Valley log-home owners balance dominant wood tones with flooring, tile, stone, and countertop choices — a finish-by-finish guide from the Northern Lights Design team.
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