From the Floors Up

What Are Remnants and How Are They Beneficial?

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Carpet can add warmth and comfort to any room or office. If you are looking to invest in flooring and you are considering carpet, you may want to look at remnants. Many flooring stores have showrooms with carpets available to order; however, finding a flooring store that offers remnants, may allow you to buy excellent valued carpet at a cost-effective price.

When you typically order flooring, you select your carpet off a display rack. The carpet is specially ordered in for your job and can have additional charges for shipping and handling. While getting the carpet you want and the color you choose is great, you may like to explore the world of remnants. Here are three reasons why remnants may be the best option for your home improvement:

Cost-Effective 

Ordering carpet will guarantee the exact feel, look, and color you want; however, many remnants are available in high-quality looks as well. While your options are limited, you can save a lot by finding a remnant for your home. Remnants are one of the most cost-effective ways to floor your home. While your carpet may not match throughout your home, remnants are great for small offices or bedrooms. 

High Quality and New 

Buying remnants sometimes get a bad rep. Remnants do not insinuate used or low-end carpet. In fact, many remnants are the exact quality of carpet you would have ordered. Remnants can be shipped to distributors for less money when high-end, quality carpet rolls get to a small remaining balance. When mills create rolls of carpet, they can take them to 12×150 feet in space. When these rolls get down to 12×20, it is best the mills sell them to move the product – this allows distributors to carry higher-end carpet for lower pricing. 

No Cutting Fees or Shipping 

Some carpet mills have additional fees for cutting carpets and shipping. When the carpet gets to the end of the roll, there is no additional cutting fee. While shipping may still be included, distributors can purchase remnant packages. These packages allow them to get a variety of remnants at a lower price. All in all, this can be a win-win for the consumer, mills, and distributor. 

So, next time you are looking for carpet, swing into the showroom to look at some remnants. Finding a remnant for your space is the perfect way to complete your home. Remember, remnants are excellent options for small hallways, steps, and even rooms. Be sure to ask your sales representative for more information.

Understanding Your Flooring: Carpet

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As most homeowners already know, not all floors are made equally.  From hardwood to carpet, every flooring option gives you a list of different pros and cons.  While aesthetics is an excellent quality in flooring, understanding which floor is best tailored to your needs is the most important aspect.  You would not want to put a floor in an environment if it is not suited for its traffic and lifestyle. 

With a variety of different flooring options on the market, carpet will always be an excellent option for any home. With so many diverse patterns, textures, styles, and looks, you can tailor any carpet to fit the design theme of your room. Not to mention, carpet is highly desired for its affordability and comfort. While functionality, affordability, and durability can all be determining factors in your flooring, we want to help give you a better understanding of carpet and see if it is best suited for your needs. Let’s take a look!

Generalizing all types of carpet is difficult.  Please note that some carpet will be more durable than others.  Different fibers and pile can all result in your carpet’s performance.  If you are looking for a more durable carpet, ask your flooring sales associate to direct you to one. Their expert knowledge of the product line will help you find one that is suitable for your traffic level and environment.
Your carpet cannot scratch; however, you may be able to tear your carpet with enough force.  Some carpet can also lose its resilience and bounce back which will show traffic patterns.
It is not recommended to install carpet in wet areas.  In doing so, it could lead to unwanted molding.
Carpet is considered one of the most comfortable flooring options available on the market. With the right padding, it is excellent for children in case of falls.  It makes the flooring a more comfortable surface to play on as well.  However, in case of accidents or spills, carpet may not be the best for recovering unwanted stains.
While many carpets are treated with premium stain resistors, carpet is not best for rooms you anticipate frequent spills or mishaps.
Carpet is soft, so this can make for a great play area for kids; however, stains and accidents can happen. If not treated promptly, the liquid can penetrate down to the pad, and this can lead to unwanted lingering odors in your home.
Carpet prices will fluctuate from low to high depending on what quality you invest in for your home.  If you are looking for a quick and affordable option, carpet is your best choice.  However, understand the “cheaper” you go, the less durable and longevity you will get from your carpet.

Remember, carpet can be made of different fibers, thicker pile, and even treated with different chemicals. This is a very general and broad view of carpeting. There are carpet solutions with higher durability, less comfort, and even more water resistance. Make sure to check with your carpet representative to discover which options may be best for you. For more insight on different flooring types, make sure to subscribe and check out the rest of our series!

Building a House…I Wish I Had Thought of That! (Part One)

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Screen Shot 2013-05-07 at 10.37.00 AMWe would like to introduce Megan, one of our readers who has been kind enough to share her story and advice on building a house.

If building a house is in your future there are many things to think about and consider. Below are some helpful tips that will hopefully keep you from saying, “I wish I had thought of that!”

  • Window Shape: When I built my house I was set on having bamboo shades. It wasn’t till after I moved in that I discovered bamboo shades couldn’t be customized to an arched window. This actually made a lot of sense, but I had not thought about it when we were designing the window shapes in the house.
  • Master Shower: This is a brilliant idea instead of installing shelves in the corners of the shower for your shampoo.  You can do pocket shelves on the same wall as the shower knob. This provides a dry area for all your shower essentials and keeps things neat, tidy, handy, and dry!
  • Hallways: For an added touch use arch niches in your hallway. This is great for a picture or plant. Don’t forget the accent light!
  • Screen Shot 2013-05-07 at 10.35.58 AMEntry Area: An insert of tile or slate is the perfect solution for keeping your wood floors from getting moisture from rain and snow. It’s easy to maintain and worry free.
  • Carpet:  Make sure you get a good carpet pad. A good pad will extend the life of your carpet and you’ll be able to feel the difference on your feet!  Also, go one step further and research carpet beyond “base grade”.

You don’t want to miss next week’s post! Megan has even more information she’d like to share.  Stay tuned.

Putting the Family in Family Room

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7596084_SOne of the best ways to create family time is to create a family room that is warm and inviting for the entire family.  Furniture and flooring can go a long way to making the family room a place the entire family will want to hang out.

Starting on the floor, choose flooring that works for your family’s lifestyle.  Super high traffic areas like family rooms mean you’ll want a durable and stain resistant material. Given some activities like gaming and play in the family room mean sitting on the floor, you’ll want flooring that is also comfortable.  Stain-resistant carpet could be a good choice. So could wood floors or laminate flooring with the addition of an area rug in the seating area.  If you have pets, a wood or laminate floor might be the better choice than carpet.

Ample seating for watching movies, the big game or playing games is also key for a family friendly room. A mix of seating options is always a good idea. Sectional sofas or a pair of sofas in an L-shape creates a nice cozy arrangement for conversation and television watching. Portable seating like poufs, ottomans or stools can be moved around the room as needed, or stored out of the way.

Family photos on the walls and good storage to hide clutter are also good additions to a family room. Make the room inviting and you’ll find yourself and your family hanging out there more.

Carpet Cushion for Radiant Heat Flooring

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Screen Shot 2013-03-07 at 1.19.48 PMReader’s Question: What types of carpet cushion can be used with radiant heat flooring?

Answer:  The best carpet cushion to use in a radiant heat flooring application would have the lowest R-value possible.  Carpenter’s product that would be the best suited for heated flooring is the Emerald 1/4″ product.  It has a density of 8 pounds per cubit feet and is approximately a R-1.  There are some low profile rubber products that have R-values that would be alternative to bonded cushion.

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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