Author: CarpetsPlus COLORTILE

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UltraTouch Satin – The Softest Carpet Your Fingers (and toes) Have Ever Felt

The softness you’ve always dreamed of is now available in carpet. Introducing UltraTouch® Satin made of soft Anso® nylon – the softest UltraTouch brand carpet yet. UltraTouch Satin carpet delivers unheard-of softness, colors in harmony with nature, amazing warranties, and durability for the most active families.

Not only is it soft, it’s colorful too. Available in an array of colors including soothing aquatic blues, mossy greens, earthy muted browns, dreamy grays, rich reds and comforting neutrals from cream to taupe. With colors inspired by nature, you’re sure to find the perfect color to design your room around.

 

Plus, UltraTouch Satin will perform at the highest level for years to come. Just look at these premium warranties:

  • Lifetime stain & soil resistance warranty
  • 25 year abrasive wear warranty
  • 25 year quality assurance warranty
  • 20 year texture retention warranty
  • 90 day satisfaction guarantee

The only thing we ask is that when you stop into our store, you walk over and simply run your fingers through this carpet. Your perception of softness will be forever changed.

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How to Select the Right Hard Surface Option for Your Home

Choosing the right selection of hard surface flooring for your home couldn’t be easier than with our professional assistance. Our dedicated team of experts simplify the nuances of flooring, allowing you to make an informed decision about the floor that’s just right for you. This post illustrates what’s available in hard surface flooring. Be sure to drop by if you’re in the area and talk with us about your next project.

SheetVinylRS-150x150Vinyl Flooring is more beautiful and stronger than ever before with a variety of new patterns to choose from. It imitates the aesthetics of both stone and ceramic flooring but without the hardness, coldness and is the least expensive option.

Wood has always been a favorite “natural” selection for homes throughout the years.  It also increases the value of any home.  There are thousands of styles and stains of wood floors, with options of width ranging from 21/2 inch to 7 inch wide planks.  Styling includes traditional oaks to the new Hand-Scraped and Restoration looks.  There is definitely a look for every taste. Cork and Bamboo are the “Green” products available that can make any room look modern and fresh.

Laminate is still a strong option for hard surface in the home. The new styles look even more like wood—it is truly difficult to tell.  The beauty of laminate is its easy maintenance.  It is more scratch resistant than wood, as well as being more inexpensive.  If there are large dogs and small children in the household, laminate tends to be a friendlier option.

LaminateRS-300x240Luxury Vinyl Tile is the new kid on the block.  It is probably a great compromise between ceramic/stone and sheet vinyl.  It comes with or without grout lines, and really mimics the look of more expensive stone/ceramic.  It is very good for any household with animals and children, and is softer and warmer on the feet than some other options.  Even though it is a little more expensive than sheet vinyl, it is less so than stone/ceramic.

WoodTile_RS-300x203Ceramic and Stone add a natural elegance to any room.  Because of their scratch resistance and durability, they can retain their beauty for many years.  There is some periodic maintenance for grout lines, but the treatments have drastically improved.  Ceramic and stone also increase the value of  the home, while being an excellent flooring for homeowners with pets.

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Buying Carpet Off the Internet Can Be a Nightmare-In-Waiting

Shoppers buy just about everything from cars to clothes on the internet. You may ask, how does one buy shoes or clothes without first trying them on? Some things don’t seem logical to buy without seeing, touching or trying it on first.

Purchasing Carpet from a Trusted Retailer

Often, people will visit a brick and mortar store, find what looks good and fits right, then try to find the same item online at a discount. Some do the same with carpet. They visit a store to find what they like, then shop the internet for a better deal. The problem is, the installation will probably be your big headache if you buy from an internet retailer.

Three reasons why this is true:

  1. The amount of carpet needed must be determined properly. Measuring carpet yourself isn’t as easy as you might think. You can’t just measure length and width and you’re done. Seaming is required the majority of the time. Where the seams fall and their visibility can present problems.
  2. The carpet must be shipped to someone who not only can receive it, but also can inspect it for manufacturing defects. If there is a problem, there’s no retailer to stand behind what is sold. You are, in essence, the contractor who must handle the many aspects of the job, from measuring to determining the correct cushion to inspection and installation. How will you get the carpet off the truck? Rolls of carpet can weigh over 500 pounds. Do you own a forklift?
  3. Do you have access to a mill rep if there is a problem with the carpet? Retailers do. Many times the measuring and installing is done by their own employees. They know which direction to lay the carpet, how to seam it and can stand behind their work. What happens when the installer takes your money and runs when there’s a problem?

If you do purchase carpet from the internet, you are responsible for anything and everything. For peace of mind (and to avoid a costly headache later), why not purchase from the flooring experts at your local CarpetsPlus COLORTILE store? You’ll be greeted by friendly faces who stand behind their work. You’ll also find them eager to do everything possible to make sure you are happy with your flooring investment.

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Laminate Flooring Care and Maintenance

COLORTILE® Laminate Flooring is naturally durable and can stand up to the toughest household conditions. Learn how to keep it looking great.

Follow routine maintenance guidelines to clean your laminate flooring

Use a damp cloth to blot up spills as soon as they happen. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.

For tough spots, such as oil, paint, markers, lipstick, ink, or tar, use acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth, then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue.

Sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly with the hard floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.

Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care. For optimum results, we recommend Shaw’s R2X Hard Surfaces Flooring Cleaner.

Do not wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent, or any other liquid cleaning material. This could cause swelling, warping, delamination, and joint-line separation, and void the warranty.

Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong ammoniated or chlorinated type cleaners.

Do not use any type of buffing or polishing machine.

For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.

A more frequent dust-mopping or vacuuming schedule may be required in very sandy areas such as a beach home.

Protect your laminate flooring to keep it looking like new

Entry mats will help collect the dirt, sand, grit, and other substances such as oil, asphalt, or driveway sealer that might otherwise be tracked onto your floor. Ask your local CarpetsPlus COLORTILE® retailer about the EcoChoice® Matting System, part of the Metropolitan Collection.

To prevent slippage of area rugs, use an approved vinyl rug underlayment.

Use floor protectors and wide-load bearing leg bases/rollers to minimize the chance of indentations and scratches from heavy objects. As a rule, the heavier the object, the wider the floor protector.

Maintain a normal indoor relative humidity level between 35% and 65% throughout the year to minimize the natural expansion and contraction of the wood.

a. Heating season (Dry): A humidifier is recommended to prevent excess shrinkage due to low humidity levels. Wood stove and electric heat tend to create very dry conditions.
b. Non-Heating Season (Wet): An air conditioner, dehumidifier, or periodically turning on your heating will help to maintain humidity levels during summer months.

Avoid excessive exposure to water during periods of inclement weather.

Keep your pets’ nails trimmed to prevent them from scratching your floor.

Never try to slide heavy objects across the floor.

A protective mat should be used for furniture or chairs with casters.

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Study Says Carpet No Problem for Children with Asthma

According to an old wives tale, carpet flooring can adversely impact childhood asthma.

According to science, this isn’t true.

The Study

If you have a child with asthma and you have carpet in your home, your child is not being adversely affected, according to the “Results of a Home-Based Environmental Intervention among Urban Children with Asthma” study published by The New England Journal of Medicine.

A study of inner city children with asthma confirms that clean, dry carpet is a healthy flooring choice for everyone, including children and adults with asthma and allergies. The study followed nearly 1,000 children from seven major U.S. cities over the course of a year.

The Results

The study showed that removing carpet from the bedrooms of asthmatic children made no difference to improve their symptoms. However, elimination of tobacco smoke and improved cleaning in general did make a difference, such as cleaning with a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum cleaner.  Beyond that, no difference was found in the levels of allergens measured in carpeted homes compared to homes with hard surface floors.

At the outset of the study, researchers sought to remove carpet from the children’s bedrooms, but factors such as rental agreements kept them from it. Family members were still instructed to remove the carpet from their children’s bedrooms wherever possible.

Contrary to researchers’ expectations, children with carpet in their bedrooms improved as much and did just as well as children who had hard surface floors.

The study was sponsored in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Center for Research Resources of the National Institutes of Health.

Source: http://www.floordaily.net and the Carpet and Rug Institute.

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How to Choose Carpet

HOW TO CHOOSE CARPET: Introduction

Deciding on the perfect carpet can be a daunting task with all the choices available but it doesn’t have to be. It’s easy when you visit the clean, well-lit, easy-to-shop showroom of a CarpetsPlus Color Tile design center. Plus, with an expertly trained staff, you’re sure to find what you want at the price you need in a fraction of the time. To find a retailer near you click here.

By reading this short article you will familiarize yourself with common terms and it will save you time when you get to the showroom. Let’s begin with the basic choices you’ll have to make.

STYLE: The carpet you choose for your home reflects your personal style and your practical requirements just as much as the clothes you wear. Choose a style or construction of carpet that appeals to your personal taste and suits your lifestyle.

COLOR: Carpet comes in many colors, from solids and tweeds, to berbers and jewels. Making a selection can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Trust your instincts in coordinating colors that enhance the design of your room.

FIBER: To make the right fiber choice, it’s important to consider some simple questions:  Do you have children or pets? Will your carpet be in a high traffic area? Will it be exposed to direct sunlight? Will it be near an entrance from the outdoors? The ideal carpet for you is one that appeals to you visually, and is also durable enough for your lifestyle.

HOW TO CHOOSE CARPET: Carpet Stylescarpet style categories

CABLE: Characterized by thicker, heavier yarns, cables make a bold design statement and provide exceptional comfort underfoot. Cables can also combine a variety of yarn thicknesses, twists and textures to produce a shag-like effect. Great for any room where a touch of luxury is desired.

SAXONY: A smooth and luxurious surface with classic styling appropriate for more elegant spaces with less traffic such as a formal living room or dining room.

TEXTURE: The most popular style of carpet. Slightly twisted fibers create a textured surface with traditional styling that’s perfect for any casual room. Textured cut pile carpet performs well in high traffic areas and is available in a wide range of colors.

FRIEZE: Tightly twisted fibers create a curled surface with contemporary styling. Friezes provide resilience and comfort for active spaces and are less likely to show footprints or vacuum marks than any other style of carpet. A distinctive and upscale look for bedrooms and family rooms.

LOOP: Often referred to as “berbers,” loop pile carpets have a continuous, uncut surface that wears well in high traffic areas. Durable yet comfortable, loop piles are perfect for casual spaces with lots of activity like family rooms, dens and play rooms.

PATTERN: Unique and expressive, patterned carpets use cut and lop pile combinations to create a sculpted look. Available in organic, trellis and geometric designs, this carpet can evoke a dramatic style in bedrooms and living rooms.

carpet colorsHOW TO CHOOSE CARPET: Color

Neutral colors are the easiest to decorate with and can give a room a spacious, airy look. While beiges are the most popular, neutral colors have expanded into other color families such as pale greens, sun-washed yellows, lilac and sky blue.

If you want a bolder statement, use a more dramatic color to add flair and create an upbeat and sophisticated room. To achieve this look, identify a common accent color in your decor, and then find a coordinating carpet color.

As a basic rule, warm colors can add comfort to a room that lacks light, while cool greens and blues can bring a calming ambiance.

Lighter colors can make a room seem larger, while darker colors can often make it more intimate and cozy. Darker colors, berbers and tweeds also help disguise everyday soiling in high traffic areas.

HOW TO CHOOSE CARPET: Carpet Fiber Comparison

NYLON: It’s the most versatile of all fibers, providing exceptional softness and excellent flexibility in creating a wide variety of carpet styles. Nylon is also the most durable and resilient carpet fiber available. Though not inherently stain resistant, most nylon carpets include a stain-resistant carpet treatment like R2X or Scotchgard.

TRIEXTA: Combining the resilience of nylon and the stain resistance of polyester, Triexta provides excellent performance and value. It’s also exceptionally soft and offers a wide array of styles and design options.

POLYESTER: While not as durable as nylon, polyester offers exceptional color clarity, and it is also naturally stain and fade resistant. Polyester carpet offers the best value in floor covering.

POLYPROPYLENE: Polypropylene offers excellent resistance to fading and is inherently stain resistant – useful in rooms with direct sunlight.

NATURAL FIBERS: Wall-to-wall carpet and area rugs are also available in a variety of natural fibers. Wool, sisal, sea grass, and jute are all sourced from renewable resources and provide excellent options in sustainable floor covering.