Information

Understanding a few simple basics about carpet construction will help you make the right choice for your lifestyle and budget:

Textured Plush
Most decoratively versatile cut-pile carpet
Textured surface helps hide footprints and vacuum marks
Adds casual beauty to any room
Looks great between vacuuming
Preferred style for busy households
A great "whole-house" carpet

Saxony
Refined cut-pile surface
Luxuriously smooth, soft finish
Beautiful with traditional interiors
Adds distinctive elegance to any room
Ideal for living and dining rooms
Shows subtle highlights and accents

Berber Loop-Pile
A wool-like look and rugged loop surface
Natural, hand-crafted appearance creates a warm, personal atmosphere
Tight loop texture helps hide footprints and vacuum marks
Subtle patterns fit a variety of room styles
Ideal choice for contemporary to country to cottage furnishings

Berber Cut-Pile
A new berber look with all the wonderful color and interest of traditional loop berbers
The great plush "feel" of thick, cut pile carpet
Beautifully crafted and colored yarns add personality to any room
Very versatile decoratively, ideal for casual rooms, kids' rooms, etc.
Subtle color flecks help hide soil that might appear between cleanings

Cut/Loop
Carved definition with cut-and-loop pile
Accent colors spice up floor surfaces
Multicolor effects hide soil and stains
Looks great between vacuuming
Choose from soft tonals to bolder color combinations

Commercial Loop
Versatile styles blend comfortably with any decor
Durable long-wearing surface pile engineered for high traffic areas
Intriguing color choices suitable for professional and practical installations
Textured surfaces provide subtle highlights

"What are the differences between carpet fibers?"

Nylon - extremely strong and resilient, superior to other man-made fibers, requires additives to provide complete stain resistance, because it is otherwise partially pourous.
Polyester - permanently resists staining, has good strength and abrasion resistance.
Olefin (also called Polypropylene) - one of the most colorfast fibers, naturally stain resistant, performs well in tight, low-profile carpets.
Acrylic - has a tendancy to pill and fuzz, is no longer commonly used.
Wool - naturally resists general soiling, crushing and most stains, has a soft look, rich feel, is a long-lasting luxury carpet.
Cotton - long-wearing, used for throw and area rugs, lacks crush resistance and absorbs moisture.
Rayon - used for inexpensive area rugs, is hard to dye and does not stand up to heavy traffic.

"Tell me about stain protection."
Stain protection is very important. A few brands have built-in protection. For example, Stainmaster, Resista and Lee's protectors are built into the carpet fibers, allowing lengthy resistance to staining. Others, such as Scotchguard, are topical and pulled out by cleaning methods, therefore have to be reapplied. Obviously, there is a higher charge for carpets with built-in stain protectors, but there is a longterm savings and benefit.

"What should I do to prepare for flooring installation?"
If you are removing the old flooring yourself, you will need to take up as much of it as possible. In the event of carpet, you can keep the tack strip intact, as it is usually able to be used again. Pad residue and staples are part of removal. You should also take down any valuables from the area of installation, since banging and vibrations may cause items to fall from walls or tables.