A great way to counter this is to use an area rug over your hard surface flooring. Area rugs can add warmth, soften sound and create a focal point for your room.

There are such a wide variety of colors and styles available to suit everyone’s taste. Whether your home features oriental decorations, is more traditional or contemporary; a well-placed area rug can be a great anchor for the accessories in the room.

Area rugs fit well in front of a couch or love seat, under a coffee table, dining room table and the foot of the bed. You can add a spark to your room with a fluffy shag or an elegant wool. There are even water-resistant rugs that are designed for outdoor areas such as patios and lanais.

The most common sizes for area rugs are 5’ x 8’ – 6’ x 9’ and 8’ x 10’ ,and while other sizes are available in many styles, you can always get the exact size you want by creating a custom rug.

Custom rugs allow you to select the style and color (or styles and colors) for your décor. You can mix and match a patterned design with a plush border or inset a solid with a short shag style. The size and shape of a custom rug is only limited by your imagination. Square and rectangle are common shapes, however round, octagonal and even triangle custom rug designs are possible. The different patterns are seamed together and then professionally bound to keep the edges from unraveling.

Not all area rugs have a soft backing that prevents scratches to hardwood so it is important to use a pad specified for area rugs. A specialty pad also prevents rugs from moving on hard surfaces, helping to secure them in place. In rooms where you like to sit on the floor, a heavier pad can add more comfort. You can even put an area rug down over wall-to-wall carpet for an added design layer.

If you think your furniture needs a pick-me-up or your room needs a new punch of color, consider accessorizing from the floor up with a stylish area rug.

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The best defense against sand and dirt in general on flooring is the vacuum.

The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) recommends vacuuming areas
often that receive the most traffic, such as hallways, stairs, and
exterior entryways in the home. Ideally, vacuum all the floor
coverings a minimum of once a week, and the high-traffic areas
more often, based on the usage. If you have pets, you may need to
vacuum some areas daily. Removing loose soil while it remains on
the flooring surface is important so that it is not walked into the
carpet pile or wood finish.

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Pad basics: Height vs. density

The Carpet and Rug Institute, as well as the carpet manufacturers, recommend that for most installations, a 7/16 – 6lb pad be used. 7/16 refers to the height (other common pad sizes are 3/8, and 1/2 inch.  A 3/8 pad height is generally used under flat carpets such as patterned, Berbers and commercial installations. There is only 1/16 of an inch difference between 7/16 and ½ padding – and the difference is hard to distinguish.

Padding also has a density. Generally 6lb and 8lb pads are the most common. Pad density refers to how much one cubic foot of material weighs when put on a scale – 8lb pad will feel slightly firmer than 6lb pad and provides better back support.

Pad structure

The majority of padding used today is a rebond that is made from unused, leftover scraps of foam used in mattresses, furniture, and car cushions. These scraps are chopped up and then bonded together to create the padding.

Although there are other cushion-types available, such as rubber and urethane products, rebond remains the padding of choice for most installations. It is a tried-and-true product that offers superior performance and comfort underfoot.

Not all rebond padding is created equal though. Better-grade products have a webbing on the back, which gives the product stability so that it doesn’t deteriorate.

You can increase the performance of your new carpet even more by upgrading to a pad that has a moisture barrier on top. This prevents spills from depositing into the padding and then wicking back up into the carpet.

Many customers have complained that they clean their carpet only to have the stains come back months later. As you walk on your carpeting, any moisture and staining properties down in the pad will be pulled up and restain the carpet. A moisture barrier padding will keep the spill and stain up in the carpet itself. Once you clean the spot – the stain is gone. Moisture padding is a great investment for dining rooms and family rooms where most food and beverage stains happen. It is also a great product for people who have pets that aren’t house-trained and tend to return to the same spots, because the scent won’t penetrate into the pad.

In addition to moisture padding, you can add even more protection to your flooring by using an antimicrobial pad that prohibits the growth of mold and bacteria.

Finally, if you want the ultimate comfort and performance, select a pad that combines the moisture and antimicrobial protection with a viscoelastic foam made from heavy mattress padding that springs back into shape after each step. (Think Tempur-Pedic mattress) This superior product offers outstanding performance and comfort that you could easily fall asleep on.

Good-quality padding is an excellent investment and will prolong not only the life of your carpet, but also the relationship with your carpet for years!

Animicrobial, Carpet, Cushion, Moisture Barrier, Padding, Stains, Viscoelastic Foam

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Ceramic and Porcelain tile are very popular flooring solutions in Florida.  Sand, dirt and other substances tracked in by people and pets clean up fairly easily. Tile can feel cool to walk on in the heat of summer. Pets often like to lounge on tile for that reason. There are so many sizes and patterns to choose from, but it is important to know that not all tiles are made for all applications.

All tiles have a PEI rating. The rating was derived by the Porcelain Enamel Institute (PEI) to rate the strength of the glaze against wear and scratches. The rating system ranges from a 1 – least resistant to a 5 – most resistant. Testing is done on a machine that utilizes a carbide wheel and weights for even pressure that is placed on the tile. As the wheel turns, the number of revolutions it takes to penetrate the glaze of the tile is recorded.

PEI Class 1 Rating (No foot traffic) –

 Recommended for wall use inresidential and commercial applications only.

PEI Class 2 Rating (Light traffic) –

 Recommended for both wall use and bathroom floor applications only.

PEI Class 3 Rating (Light to moderate traffic) -

 Recommended for countertops, walls and floors where normal foot traffic is expected.

PEI Class 4 Rating (Moderate to heavy traffic) -

Recommended for all residential applications as well as medium commercial and light institutional.

PEI Class 5 Rating (Heavy to extra heavy traffic) -

Recommended for all residential as well as heavy commercial and institutional applications.

In addition to the PEI ratings, consumers should be aware of the difference between Ceramic and Porcelain tile. Ceramic tile generally has a red or white clay color structure with the pattern of tile you see glazed on top. If this tile is chipped, you will see the color underneath.

Porcelain tile is more dense. The color goes all the way through so that if it were to chip, it won’t show as blatantly as ceramic. Additionally, thru-color body porcelain is the most dense and the color and texture go all the way through. While porcelain usually cost more than ceramic it can be a worthwhile investment in a beautiful floor.

An other consideration is tiling outdoors on a porch or patio. Not all tiles are rated frost proof which help prevent cracking from very cold weather. This is less of situation in Florida than in other states, but does happen. Porcelain tiles are more suited for outdoor use.

Floor tiles range vary from 8 x 8, 12 x 12, on up to 24 x 24 inch. The larger tiles, mostly 16x 16 and 18 x 18 are very popular and they visually expand the look of the room. However, the larger the tiles the more level the floor needs to be for a quality installation.

A little bit of information will go a long way in selecting the perfect tile solution that will be beautiful for years to come.

Ceramic, Flooring, Porcelain, Tile

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What then are options for people who want the comfort of vinyl, but the durability of ceramic or porcelain?
Say hello to vinyl tile and plank. They offer the look of ceramic and wood, without moisture problems, side effects of achy legs, dirty grout, and most objects dropped on them will not break.
Vinyl tile comes in a variety of sizes, 12 x 12, 16 x 16, 18 x 18, modular and even brick patterns. Plank echoes wood in many ways including color variety and textured grains and comes in several width sizes.
One of the greatest benefits of vinyl tile and plank is that it diminishes waste, especially in kitchens and baths with narrow or wide shapes, or areas that jut out, such as closets or behind appliances.
Other benefits are the ability to do repairs easily. One tile or plank can be removed and another put in its place. These floors are thicker than sheet vinyl and more resistant to scratches. Most of the patterns are slip resistant making them a great choice for wet areas such as kitchens and baths and laundry rooms.

70s, Baths, Flooring, Kitchens, Laundry Rooms, Vinyl

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Whether you are building a new home or remodeling your existing one, deciding on which product to use is more than choosing the color.

Thinking about hardwood?  Should you choose a solid floor or an engineered?  Exotic or standard wood?  Narrow planks or wide?  Matte finish, piano finish, handscraped or distressed?  Glue-down, staple, nail or click installation.  Wait, is hardwood right or is laminate better?

Here are several factors that can influence the selection.

*COST – Hardwood generally cost more for materials and installation.  Because laminates are reinforced core board balanced on either side by a formica-type material, the product cost is less than from a natural resource.

*PETS – If you love your dogs and cats inside and are worried about them ruining your new wood floors, laminate may be the product for you.  Larger dogs can easily scratch hardwood.  Laminate is manufactured to be structurally capable of withstanding a large can of tomatoes dropping on it from several feet up, denting not the floor, but the can.  Pet nails are no problem as well.

*HARDNESS – If hardwood is your choice, it is important to know that different woods have different hardness ratings.  Hickory and Maple are two of the hardest species of wood and therefore more resistant to scratches.  At the other end of the spectrum is Pine – a much softer product.  In the middle are Oak and Cherry.  

*SOUND – Laminate floors are floating floors.  The boards click together and “float” over a thin layer of material designed to insulate and protect the floor from moisture. Because the space between the flooring, the underlayment and the installation surface allows air to circulate through, a hollow sound can be heard when wearing hard shoes and heels, as well the sound of your pet’s nails.  Hardwood is either glued directly to the concrete or nailed or stapled to a sub-floor making the floor much quieter.

*INSTALLATION ATTRIBUTES -

Hardwood and laminate work well upstairs, downstairs and on stairs.  Since laminate is a manufactured product that is fairly consistent among companies that make it, installation requirements are the same over concrete and wood subfloors.  Hardwood has many different attributes that affect where and how it can be installed.

·      Solid Wood – Must be stapled or nailed to a wood subfloor as the thickness of the product prevents adhesive from properly securing it a concrete floor. 

·      Engineered Wood – Can be glued to either a wood subfloor or directly onto concrete.  The manufacturing process of alternating layers of wood make it a structurally–sound product

·      3/8 Solid Wood – Manufacturers claim this shorter, solid product can be glued on concrete, however, the prep process is quite costly.  If not done properly, the installation will fail, so it is still best used over a wood subfloor.

·      Click Solid – Equally strong installation over wood or concrete.

Wood products are not recommended for wet areas such as kitchens and baths as excessive water from a leak can damage the floor, causing it to swell and buckle.  However in all other rooms, hardwood or laminate floors will add value and beauty  to your home.

Engineered, Flooring, Hardwood, Laminate, Remodel, Solid

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Barbara Abramson and her husband, Ira, are owners of Sanford Carpet, a full-service flooring store in Sanford.

Carpet, Environment, Flooring, Green, Hardwood, Laminate

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Awning, City, Flooring, Ordinance

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Today, a new customer came in to look for carpet for her home. We spent a lot of time first discussing why she was replacing her flooring and gathering information about her likes and dislikes in order to find her the perfect carpet. Part of the information gathering process was her email. In this age of technology, it is important to be able to reach our customers in many ways.

But back to being nice! After she left the store, I sat down at the computer and launched our brand new video e-mail system, Talk Fusion. I quickly created a stunning template and recorded a video THANKING her for coming in to our store today, confirming the appointment to measure her floors on Friday and bring the samples she selected.

Moments after I saw she had viewed it (what great marketing feedback is that), I received an email back from her, THANKING me, for the thoughtful video e-mail. She said she had never seen anything like it and really enjoyed the personal touch.

There are so many ways this fabulous new technology can be used. I’d be happy to share this with you, Send me an email and I’ll send you back a video email!

Carpet, Customer Service, Flooring, Hardwood, Laminate, Tile, Vinyl

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