Carpet Archives - Page 13 of 13

proflooring-admin
Carpet, Flooring
February 17, 2015

How Well Is Your Carpet Made?

What gives carpeting its durability, its longevity, and ensures that it will look good and wear well in the years to come? There are many factors that go into carpet construction, each playing a role in the process: Carpets consist of:

Fiber
Backing
The latex used to hold the backing together
Density of pile
Pile weight
Twist of the fiber
Finishing
Stain resistance
Dye method

Each part of the process plays a role in the durability. For instance, the best backing material wouldn’t give carpet strength if weak fibers were used in the process. While each plays a role, there are a few things you can look for when shopping for new carpets for your home.

Most carpeting is tufted or punched through the backing with a series of needles. Backing is a layer of material sandwiched together using latex glue. Fiber is pushed through the secondary backing, held in place with latex glue, and finished by the primary backing which holds the carpeting together. While the backing plays an important role, the glue will also determine the longevity. If the latex fails, the two backings will delaminate over time, causing the fibers to release and begin to fall out.

Most backing materials are a weave of plastic materials, but foam rubber, urethane and jute are also involved in the carpet making process. Foam rubber is often used in kitchen or indoor/outdoor carpeting and provides the cushion-like feel. Urethane holds fibers tighter and bonds the fibers to the backing, decreasing the risk for delamination. Jute is a superior backing, and was often used in decades past. However, the US is not able to import jute on a regular basis, and therefore you’ll usually only find jute in carpeting such as heavy berber or some wool carpets.

When shopping for carpet, you will find terms like “weight, density and twist”. These refer to the construction of the carpet’s surface.

Weight is the amount of fiber on the surface of the carpet expressed in ounces per square yard. Never buy carpet based on weight alone.

Density refers to how close together the strands of fiber are together at the base of the carpet. Density effects how the carpet is going to look and perform.

Twist level is the amount of twist the fibers are given during the time of construction. The more twist a carpet has, the less dense the carpet has to be, and can even impact the amount of fiber necessary during production.

A short, tight twist carpet is called a frieze, and is known to be the best wearing style of carpet outside of a loop pile, which you’ll often find in commercial carpets.

After production, finishing work is completed to give your carpets the final look and its durability factor. If the fibers are not crimped, the are sheared several times, and will eventually take on a velvet appearance (a super dense construction), a plush (less dense), or a saxony (even less dense construction). Velvets are formal and tend to show the most footprints and marks as you move across the floor. Plush are not as tight as the velvet construction, will still feel thick to the touch, and typically come in solid colors.

Some sort of stain treatment is added to virtually all types of carpeting today. However, there are no miracle stain treatments. Most treatments will wear off in five to seven years, leaving your carpeting more at risk as time goes by.

There are no right or wrong choices when it comes to choosing carpeting for your home. With many styles, options and durability factors, it depends on your tastes and how much traffic your room will ultimately receive. If you have any questions, we’d be happy to help you see the differences in the many samples we have on display.

proflooring-admin
Carpet, Flooring
January 14, 2015

How To Extend The Life Of Your New Carpeting

First impressions aren’t limited to people; your home makes a first impression too.

Imagine entering a home for the first time for a dinner party. The first thing you notice is worn out carpeting with stains in multiple places.

Or imagine entering a home as a potential buyer. A simple coat of paint is easy to apply. But carpeting – that can be a deal breaker if you know it’s a major expense that will be added if you make an offer.

Carpeting is a major investment. And if adding new carpets to you home is on your to-do list this year, make sure you also consider the best way to extend the life in the process.

Invest in a good vacuum

You know the vacuum you’ve been dragging with you when you move from home to home? The one that’s lasted for years? Its time to put it into retirement. It’s the small stuff that can ruin your carpets the quickest. Dirt and grime can grind into the backing and carpet pile, and will quickly show its age through wear and tear. All vacuums are not created equal. The best vacuums are those with strong suction to pick up and collect small particles that are nestled deep down into your carpeting.

Hire a cleaner

While you may have relied on your personal carpet cleaner for years, the home models rarely get out the dirt and grime a true professional can with professional equipment. Make sure you choose a solution that will not leave residue in your fibers; residue will attract dirt quicker than a carpet that hasn’t been cleaned.

Choose padding wisely

Your padding is as important as the carpeting you choose. Padding has a variety of purposes, it makes your floor more comfortable to sit and walk on, it absorbs noise, it absorbs heavy traffic, and it can cut your carpets life short if it doesn’t do its job. Talk with a flooring consultant to have the best padding for your carpet choice, and the amount of traffic in your room.

Leave shoes by the front door

Wearing shoes from outside can escalate damage to a carpet. As you walk around your community, you pick up all kinds of grit, grime and dirt. Depositing them into your carpets means your flooring will soon have a variety of things embedded deep inside.

Remove stains immediately

Accidents happen. When they do, be sure to clean them appropriately as quickly as possible. The faster you treat a stain, the less likely it will make its way through the carpet backing and into the padding. Which means you’ll have less damage overall.

Use rugs and carpet runners

In places with exceptionally high traffic, such as stairs, hallways and entryways, its important to add further protection with carpet runners and rugs. Easy to clean runners allow you to isolate dirt into one area, and clean it in an easier way. Its easier to wash a rug or shake out the dirt then it is to clean your entire carpet.

proflooring-admin
Carpet, Flooring
January 10, 2015

How To Select The Best Quality Carpet For Your Money

We all have made purchases we regret. That bright red blouse that you bought for a bargain, for instance. It looked great on the rack; not so much when you got it home and hung it in your closet.

There is a big difference between regretting your decision to buy a bargain shirt that was bought on a whim, and something as large as recarpeting several rooms of your home. You can’t take new carpeting back. And because of its cost, it can easily be one of the biggest mistakes you’ll have to live with for years.

Carpeting is an expensive endeavor. And if you will be recarpeting several rooms of your home, the cost can rise exponentially. Its easy to understand why we go searching for a great deal. But because of the implications of having to live with this “deal” for a long time, its more important that you get the best quality for your money, not just the best “cost”.

When you’re carpet shopping, look for these things:

Room Choice

Some rooms receive more traffic than others. A family room will receive more wear and tear than a guest bedroom. A room frequented by children and pets must be more durable than a master retreat. Think about the type of traffic your room will receive, and the daily activities that will take place there.

Fiber Type

Nylon is strong and durable, making it the perfect choice for high traffic areas. Polyester is stain resistant and retains its color when exposed to sunlight. Olefin is inexpensive and is often used in indoor/outdoor situations. Wool is luxurious and very soft, is crush resistant and stain resistant. Each are best suited for specific needs and uses.

Fiber Style

Carpet fibers are woven in different ways. Looped carpet has the yarn attached to the carpet backing in small loops. It makes it very durable in high traffic situations. Cut pile has a smooth pile where the individual strands of yard are left standing up. It gives a traditional look and a versatile style. Twist carpet twists fibers in may directions, giving it a casual look and feel. You’ll also find patterned carpet that combines several fiber styles together to give it a distinct look that can hold up to the toughest of situations.

Density

The density of a carpet refers to how much yarn is used in a square inch of carpeting. High density carpet has more yarn than a low density carpet. The more yarn, the less space between them. This means carpet will not mat as easily, and will retain a new look longer. However, low density carpet is typically softer to the touch, making it the perfect choice for jumping in and out of bed on a cold winter morning.

Is there a right or wrong choice? No – it depends on your style, your preference, and your budget. The best place to start is to talk with a flooring consultant who can help you make the perfect choice for your home. Stop by today.

proflooring-admin
Carpet, Flooring
January 7, 2015

Selecting The Best Neutral Color For Carpeting

In remodeling and choosing new carpeting for our homes, we usually play a little back and forth game to determine the best color.

“What’s the best color for my décor?”

“What’s the best color for resale value?”

Even if we have no immediate indication that we will sell our home’s in the future, there’s always this little voice inside that says to think about the possibility and choose wisely.

Which is why you’ll find the vast majority of carpeting options available in beautiful neutral colors.

The color you choose will impact the final look and feel of the room. It has the ability to make the room larger or smaller, open and airy or enclosed and cozy. It can be bright and vivid, or calming and restful. And while your décor will ultimately command a great deal of attention to the overall effect, its your carpets that will set the stage.

We have a few favorites that do well in every home.

Think taupe. Taupe is a tan color that is natural and earthy. It starts with a tan base and adds just a hint of gray. You can also move into a taupe tweed, which will combine the tan-gray color with random specs of color, giving off just a hint of blues, greens or other colors.

Think oatmeal. Oatmeal offers a sandy tan color that is surprisingly low maintenance. It can be warmed by adding touches of honey-coloring, or remain more neutral for a warm glow. It will also help brighten even the smallest of rooms because of its light color.

Never rely on a name or a color from inside the store. Ask to take a variety of samples home, and place them in the room you are remodeling. Then view the samples throughout the day to see its appearance in different situations. Morning light is different than afternoon light. Full sunlight is different than the appearance from artificial lighting at night. The key is how color looks both to your eyes, and to match with your overall décor.

If you have questions, talk with your flooring consultant to help you make your final decisions. Keep in mind that all carpeting is dyed in lots – color can change slightly from one roll of carpet to another. The difference is usually minor, and in most cases barely detectable. Carpet color will fill your room, and can alter the entire mood of the room, especially if you are drastically changing colors.

But because trends often change, and color is the one thing that can date a house like no other, neutral colors can bring about its own natural beauty, one you’ll be happy with for years to come.

proflooring-admin
Carpet, Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
January 3, 2015

How To Select The Right Transition For Your Flooring

If you are like many homeowners, your home doesn’t have the same flooring type in every room. You may transition from hardwoods in the living room to tile in the kitchen. Or carpeting in the bedroom to vinyl in the bathroom.

Having a home with multiple types of flooring is the norm; which means that having the right transition from room to room will either make or break the ambiance of your final décor. Without a little planning, and doing it just to get done will only create a floor that is destined for failure. Transitions will make your final look more appealing, and give you the longevity of each flooring option to its fullest value.

There are several issues when determining the best transition:

Elevation – the final elevation of each type of flooring needs to be taken into consideration to determine the best transition
Location of transition – will the transition take place in a door opening or in an open entryway?
Special transitions – stairways pose their own unique set of issues

Elevation

Elevation changes are fairly common in remodeling projects. Because a home is originally designed with one specific flooring in mind, and that flooring may have changed numerous times over the years, you may have flooring of different thickness. Some flooring requires different types of subflooring – large tile, for instance, takes a special underlayment to handle the weight and stability of larger tile. Therefore one flooring may wind up being higher than its counterpart, making a smooth transition necessary for movement between rooms. In this case, a transition molding may be the way to go to connect the two flooring choices together.

Location of transition

Transitions between flooring often depends on where the transition is occurring. If it occurs at a door opening, make sure you know the position of your door so you can install the transition of make sure only one flooring is visible when the door is closed between the two rooms.

Special transitions

Stairways need their own special moldings in order to create a finished look. Stairways often incorporate several looks into one: a hardwood main level, may transition into hardwood stairs with a painted siding, and transition into a carpeted upper level. The key is attention to detail. Lay everything out before final installation to make sure they transition from one position to another. A reputable flooring contractor can help you make the best decision not only for the type of flooring you are laying, but also keeping your taste and budget in mind.

proflooring-admin
Carpet, Flooring
December 31, 2014

How Often Can You Stretch A Carpet?

“I moved into my home three months ago. The carpet appeared to be okay when we bought the house, but now I find myself tripping over the carpet in the hallway several times a week. I occasionally see a small roll in the carpet, but it doesn’t appear to be that bad. Can this be stretched? Or is it time for new carpet?”

Carpet can develop humps and rolls after years of wear and use. But that doesn’t mean your carpet is ready for the landfill once you find these in your most lived-in areas.

Re-stretching a loose carpet pulls the slack out of the carpet, and allows it to lay flush against the floor once again.

Loose carpeting most commonly occurs in older carpeting. Over time, carpeting may begin to lose its elasticity and begins to stretch and move out of its original shape. The problem worsens if the adhesive used to attach it to the floor loses its strength, or if the carpeting begins to pull up from the corners or edges where it has been tacked down.

Loose carpeting also often occurs in very large pieces of carpeting. Because there may be less support holding it in place, it comes up in places as it begins to wear down. Depending on the size of the carpet, a specialized tool may be used to help take up the slack and hold it in place while it is trimmed and refastened.

And when carpet begins to roll, its not only an unsafe hazard, its also an unsightly problem that takes away from the ambiance and the value of your home.

Overall, stretching is not a process that is required in all carpets. If a carpet is of good quality, properly installed and properly maintained, it should stay in place and not need stretching. However, if you do see rolls and decide to stretch your carpet rather than replace it, it should never be stretched more than once. If you see rolls again, its time to replace the carpeting.

If you are stretching your carpeting, and you either tear the carpet in the process, or discover the padding is damaged underneath the problem area, its also an indication that it is time for replacing both padding and carpeting.

proflooring-admin
Carpet, Flooring, Hardwood Flooring
December 26, 2014

Carpets or Hardwood, Which Is The Better Choice For Bedrooms?

Whether you are building a new house, or renovating the flooring throughout your home, you may be considering your options when it comes to hardwood floors. Nothing is as beautiful as hardwoods; why not install them in every room of your home?

Yet something may be holding you back. Is it wise to install hardwoods in every room of your home? Is it the best choice for your bedrooms? Flooring isn’t a decision you can easily replace in a few weeks if you don’t like the looks and functionality. And if you make a decision you don’t like, it can be a costly mistake you’ll regret for years in the future.

Bedrooms are typically thought of as our own personal sanctuaries. We want peace, warmth, comfort and style. Above all, we want a place we can retreat to and feel comfortable with, every day of the year. Will hardwoods be a mistake when it falls below freezing? Will carpet be a regret if you choose the wrong color or style? Overall, your final choice should be made based on your personality and your desires. But there are a few things that can help steer you towards one choice over another.

Benefits of hardwood floors:

Hardwood adds a sense of luxury. With its old world charm and appeal, you can have a prestigious look that compliments any décor.
Hardwood will last and last. Especially in the bedroom where you’ll never have a high level of traffic, hardwood flooring can last indefinitely.
Hardwood are always in demand, and will add in to the resell value of your home.
Hardwood is easy to maintain. With a damp mop, you can have clean floors in a matter of minutes.
Hardwood will help alleviate allergies, especially important if you have a family member with allergies or asthma.

Benefits of carpeting:

Carpeting can add style and color to your décor. With thousands of choices, its an easy way to help with your decorating plans.
Carpeting is an affordable choice, with options only constrained by your pocketbook.
Carpeting is easy to care for. With a simple vacuum every week, and an occasional steam clean to go in depth, you’ll have a flooring choice that will last for years.
Carpeting adds warmth. Nothing feels as good on a cold winter morning as carpet between your toes.
Carpeting adds both a softness and a sound barrier to your home. Something that works well with small children.

So which is the best choice for you? Let lifestyle and personality direct you towards the right flooring choice. There is no right or wrong answer; either way, you’re sure to enjoy your new flooring now and well into the future.

proflooring-admin
Carpet
February 5, 2014

How To Choose Carpet Color

Once you’ve decided its time to lay new carpeting throughout your home, the decisions don’t stop there. In addition to style, kind, pile, you’ll also have to decide on color. After all, carpeting isn’t something you change out with the seasons; you’ll have to live with your decision for years.

Trends in color change throughout the fashion industry. Typically carpet coloring runs one to two years behind that of clothing, which means the most popular colors you see on the racks in your favorite stores today will make it to the carpeting section in a year or two.

“But I won’t use bright blues or oranges in my carpets,” you might be thinking. And that’s true. But colors still affect the overall appearance and selection of carpeting. When you walk into a home with cool golds, shades of greens, silvers, mauves or grays, you’re likely to think the color choice is old and outdated.

Today’s colors lean towards solid earthy colors. You’ll find warm golds and greens that resemble the great outdoors. You’ll find light blues, neutral stone hues, khaki and suede shades. And through it all, beige is continued to be a popular choice that never shows age, no matter what the current trends are.

How should you decide what color is right for you?

Level of traffic – Carpets in a well lived in family room take more abuse than a guest bedroom. They are in more danger of spills, stains and tracked in dirt. And in hallways and other high entry points, they sustain wear and tear all day long.

Use of space – Each room is subjected to different treatments throughout the day. Will it receive harsh sunlight for a number of hours each day? Do you work in the room daily, such as a home office? While its easy to choose one carpet for the entire home, if you don’t keep in mind what each space is for – especially for high traffic rooms – you may be sorry down the road.

Personality – Just because you moved in to a home that used a forest green carpet throughout the main living quarters doesn’t mean you have to live with it. What are your preferences? Does it match your décor?

When all else fails, stay neutral and go with the beige. Beige is a universal color, and is a great color choice especially for investment purposes. If you’ll be moving soon, its one that will appeal to a wide variety of people, and will always work no matter what the situation.