Q.  How do I select the best carpet for my home? A.  Here are some points to consider: 1.        The construction of a carpet affects both its appearance and performance. 2.        Each fiber type has different characteristics.  Be sure you know what you're getting. 3.        The interior of your home should be decorated as an interrelated unit.  Treat your floor   as the "fifth wall" of the room. 4.        Be sure to ask your salesperson about the durability of the carpet you are purchasing, and how well it will keep its original good looks. 5.        Don't skimp on padding. 6.        Proper installation is critical. Selecting a carpet is an important process because it's a decorating investment you'll want to enjoy for years to come. Q.  What do you mean by "construction of a carpet"? A.  The specific construction or manufacturing method of a carpet affects both its appearance and performance.  Most carpet is made by one of four methods: tufted, woven, needle-punched, or hand-knotted. Tufted carpet is made on a high-speed machine that stitches big loops of yarn through the backing fabric.  A latex coating locks the loops in place, and then a secondary backing material is applied for strength and stability.  Over 90 percent of the broadloom carpet made in North America is tufted.  It's efficient and less expensive to produce than woven carpet, and offers consumers a complete range of styling. Woven carpet construction is similar to woven fabric.  The pile, weft, and warp yarns interlace on the loom, allowing for wide versatility of design.  Velvet plush, Axminster, and Wilton carpets are all woven. Needle-punched carpet is made by punching layers of fiber through a mesh fabric by thousands of barbed needles.  The result is a felt-like carpet.  This type of carpet was developed first for indoor-outdoor use.  It's relatively durable but limited in available styles. Hand-knotted carpets and rugs have been made (mostly in wool) for centuries, primarily in the Middle East and China.  Commonly referred to as Oriental rugs, they follow distinct traditions of color and pattern and are usually very expensive. Q.  What are carpet styles and textures? A.  Texture.  Curled or twisted tufts make for a textured surface that helps mask footprints.  Especially suitable for less formal decors. Frieze.  A type of textured carpet with highly twisted tufts that curl at the pile surface.  Especially suitable for higher traffic areas. Loop.  Loop pile with tufts of equal height or multi-level loops.  Multi-level loops form beautiful patterns using solid colors.  Broad application with durable wear in either construction. Pattern Cut Pile.  Sophisticated look made using saxony yarn, but generating a pattern look by tufting cut pile and loop pile with a level pile height.  Appropriate for formal or informal room schemes. Cut Pile Berber.  Casual cut pile construction using a combination of big tufts and small tufts.  This type of carpet usually contains small flecks of dark color on lighter shade background colors.  Informal in construction but adds excitement to any room. Saxony.  A dense level-cut pile.  Yarn tufts are closely packed, presenting a smooth, luxurious surface.  Generally for formal settings. Cut-Loop.  Yarns are tufted into large islands of high cut tufts and lower loop tufts to form a sculpted pattern.  Suits settings that are more informal. Q.  How do I choose the right carpet fiber? A.  Carpet fiber and how the carpet is constructed affect the appearance, performance, and value of your carpet.  During manufacture, fiber is converted into yarn, which is tufted or woven to form the pile - the surface you see and walk on. Retailers' carpet samples are labeled to identify fiber content.  Most carpet styles are made entirely of one fiber type - nylon, olefin, or polyester.  Some styles may contain blends of these fibers. There are two fiber classes - natural, such as wool, and man-made, such as nylon, olefin, and polyester.  Each has different characteristics. The following can help you make the right choice for your needs. Nylon continues as the ideal carpet fiber.  Its many attributes combine to provide outstanding durability, performance, resilience (the ability to spring back), and appearance.  Nylon lends itself to an unlimited variety of styles and colors at reasonable prices. Polyester fiber produces carpets that are soft to the touch but not as resilient as carpet of nylon.  Polyester is best suited for low traffic areas. Olefin (also called polypropylene) is often used in indoor/outdoor carpet and in loop-pile carpets.  Due to its relatively low resilience, its use should be restricted to areas of low traffic. Wool, of course, is a natural fiber and presents a beautiful appearance in carpeting.  However, wool may not be as resilient as man-made carpet fibers and is quite a bit more expensive. Q. How do I choose carpet color and design? The interior of your home should be designed as an interrelated unit.  Think of it as a whole rather than a series of unrelated spaces.  Rooms open into other rooms.  The textures, colors, and patterns of your carpets can create a pleasing, harmonious effect - or one that is jumbled and visually disturbing. Your floors are the "fifth wall" of a room, connecting all the design elements.  When choosing a color scheme, consider the walls, window treatments, and other furnishings, as well as any special effects you wish to create. For example, wall-to-wall carpet tends to expand the space of a room.  An unbroken sweep of color, especially a light color with a smooth texture, fools the eye into seeing more space than really exists.  In very small rooms, paint the walls the same light color as the carpet.  Cover the sofa or bed in fabrics of the same hue, varying the texture for visual interest. Conversely, larger rooms can seem more intimate with a rich, deep-color carpet in a sculptured texture.  Upholstered pieces can be covered in contrasting or bolder colors or patterns that a large area can accommodate. Color dynamics.  The right color carpet in a room can affect its character.  A room that lacks sunlight can be warmed by sunny, bright yellows, oranges, and reds.  On the other hand, cool colors, such as blues and greens, can create a serene feeling in a room that's too sunny. Vibrant, lively colors are good for family rooms or kitchens.  Rooms that are more formal are enhance by elegant pastels or traditional, old-world colors. Q.  How do I judge carpet construction and durability? A.  A knowledgeable salesperson can explain the relative merits of different carpets.  There are also some general guidelines to help you determine the durability of a carpet and how well it will keep its original good looks. Durability depends on three important factors: The type of fiber, the yarn twist, and the pile density.  Choosing a carpet based on any one of these factors can be misleading.  It's important to select the right balance of all three. First, choose a strong, resilient carpet fiber such as nylon; this is the strongest, most resilient carpet fiber used today.  Second, carpet with tight yarn twist will resist changes in appearance and texture.  Third, the density of the pile is important for good resiliency and appearance. Look at twist.  Yarn twist, particularly in cut-pile, is critical to carpet performance.  All pile yarns in cut-pile carpets have been heat set for permanence.  The tighter the twist, the better the carpet will retain its appearance.  Look to see that the cut ends of the carpet pile are neat and tight. Check pile density.  Press on the carpet with your fingers to see how easily you push through to the backing.  Then, with tufts facing outward, bend the carpet into a "U" and see how much of the backing shows.  The less backing you see, the denser the carpet. Some practical guidelines.  Light-colored carpets will show soil more than dark colors, and dark colors will show lint more than light colors.  The appropriate color carpet can help disguise soil tracked in from the outside since the colors of dirt, sand, and clay vary widely. Tweeds, pebbled textures, and patterns are good choices for rooms where spills and soiling are likely to be a problem. Final color selection.  In selecting your final color, it's wise to look at large carpet samples in your home - both by daylight and by lamplight in the evening.  The color you choose in the store may appear completely different in the room with your furnishings and under different light sources. Q.  How important is padding? A.  Don't skimp on padding!  Quality carpeting needs quality padding (or "cushion") for maximum durability, comfort, and beauty retention.  That's because the padding helps absorb foot traffic pressure.  Its primary purpose is to provide a firm support for the carpet; thus, a dense, resilient pad is usually recommended, because it performs better than a thick, soft pad. Padding is available in sponge rubber, foam rubber, urethane foam, bonded urethane, or felted combinations of hard and jute.  It is also manufactured in a variety of besities, thicknesses, and weights, to meet light, medium, or heavy traffic conditions. Q.  Can I use carpet if I have allergies? A.  You first need to realize that the term "hypoallergenic" does not mean that there will not be any allergens.  Hypoallergenic means that the item causes fewer allergic reactions, or reduces allergic symptoms.  There is really no way to guarantee that there will be absolutely no allergic reactions from a specific item, simply because each person is different.  The use of a hypoallergenic carpet pad could be the answer.  A hypoallergenic carpet pad usually includes a moisture resistant property that helps to make the carpet pad anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal.  Combine this with an air filter or air purifier and you may find you are breathing easier.  Carpet padding can harbor a wide range of allergens that can be reduced with the use of a hypoallergenic carpet pad.  Also, consider hard surface flooring (wood, laminate, ceramic, etc) alone or in combination with the use of area rugs as a means of greatly reducing the risk of allergies.   Nylon   Nylon is the most common of all carpet fibers, and its high durability makes it a popular choice for areas of the home that receive high foot traffic. Resistant to most dirt, mildew, and moisture, this fiber is also known for its ease of maintenance and non-allergenic properties.   PET Polyester    This is an excellent fiber choice for the budget conscious. Polyester shares many of nylon's non-allergenic, moisture and wear resistant properties but lacks the same degree of durability.                                                                                                                     PTT Polyester   Fibers are extruded from a new generation of polymer giving it exceptional durability along with built-in stain resistance, color clarity, colorfastness, luxurious softness, and ease of maintenance. Q.  How do I choose tile? A.  Consider Function ♦ Be sure that the tile you're looking at is suitable for your application.  Some rugged tiles can be installed outdoors in almost any climate, while some can stand up to wear and tear on indoor floors only, and still others are strong enough only for walls and countertops.  Ask at the store if in doubt. ♦ Bear in mind that tiles are rated for slip-resistance, and generally, the heavily glazed, high-sheen tiles won't work in wet areas such as bathrooms, entryways, and kitchens.  If slip-resistance is important in your application, ask for this information at the store. ♦ Note that larger tiles usually will install more quickly.  Mosaic-tile sheets glued to a backing will also install relatively quickly. ♦ Ask whether trim pieces such as bull-nose tiles (tiles with one or two rounded edges rather than four 90-degree corners) and cove (curved) tiles are available in a tile you're considering.  For installing tile on steps and in bathrooms and kitchens, these pieces can be critical to aesthetic success. Consider Aesthetics ♦ Choose a pattern with care; tiles will last many years - possibly a lifetime - and trendy patterns quickly look dated.  Solid or lightly patterned tiles in neutral colors, as well as stone-look tiles, are classics that are easy to decorate around. ♦ Remember that solids, especially very light (almond and white) and very dark tiles (navy, black, and chocolate brown), will show more soil. ♦ Remember that high-sheen tiles will quickly show dull footprints from people and pets. ♦ Choose a large, light-colored tile if you want a room to seem larger.  Choose smaller, darker tiles to make a space seem smaller and more intimate. 10. Is vinyl still a good choice for flooring? Vinyl is still a great choice in some rooms and has a lot of advantages over more expensive flooring materials such as stone or ceramic tile, wood or wood laminate flooring products. Long regarded as a relatively inexpensive option, vinyl flooring has evolved over the decades to provide attractive design options, colors, patterns, and improved finishes and is quite well suited to flooring at least some rooms in any home! The better quality vinyl flooring provides a thicker finish, less maintenance and a wider range of design patterns and styles. Advantages of Vinyl Flooring Materials Vinyl flooring is durable and stands up well to heavy foot traffic.  It is comfortable under foot and reduces noise, which can be important for owners with kids or pets.  It is also less expensive than many other flooring options and is easy to install and maintain.  Vinyl flooring comes in a broad range of colors and patterns to match every décor, including a variety of lifelike wood grains. Easy to install and maintain, vinyl flooring provides many benefits over other types of floors: Still a preferred flooring option in high moisture areas such as kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms, where durability, resiliency and stain resistance are most important Easier to keep clean than most other flooring materials; if you have kids around the house you can live without fear of liquid spills and stains Wider range of design options, colors, patterns, styles and textures than any other flooring material Higher resilience reduces noise and cushions feet and fallen objects ... including children for better flooring safety at home Still comparatively cheap as a flooring material, with a wide range of price points available Home Applications for Vinyl Flooring Use vinyl flooring in a second bath, basement bathroom, laundry room, closets, mud rooms, utility rooms, etc. where design is less important than function; you'll be quite glad you did when it comes time to clean up Especially if you have kids and/or pets, consider using vinyl in the kitchen; when the kids leave the house you can always redo the floor, knowing you got the most of your investment in a vinyl floor Use vinyl in a multi-purpose room used for exercise and fitness, game room and entertainment room for the kids, etc. Use area rugs to soften your vinyl floor, keep the noise level down and enhance your room décor. Q.  Can you give me some information on laminate flooring? A.  Laminate wood flooring is a fairly new alternative in home flooring options.  It is made to resemble natural hardwood floors.  The quality has improved in recent years and today's materials are very durable and beautiful.  It can be difficult to tell them apart from real hardwood.  Most major manufacturers make these floors including Armstrong laminate flooring, Mannington flooring, Shaw laminate flooring, and Bruce flooring. You have a wide variety of choices in both style and color for laminate floors.  Styles are available that mimic natural hardwood or ceramic tile.  Wood styles come in every tone from very light to darker tones.  Choose darker tones for a formal environment.  Keep in mind that dark colors tend to make a room look smaller, while lighter colors make the space appear larger A quality laminate product is one of best flooring options in terms of durability.  A quality product should last 15 to 30 years.  Its good performance is due to good inner core stability and a tough wear layer.  The aluminum oxide in laminate's topcoat is unsurpassed for wear and stain resistance.  Even though laminate stands up well to wear and tear, keep in mind that if it does scratch, it can't be resurfaced like hardwood can.  Scratches can be concealed using special pencils made by the manufacturer.  Care & Maintenance Easy-living laminate needs minimal care and never needs waxing.  When necessary, mop using a cleaner recommended by the manufacturer.  Exposure to water can damage laminate flooring, so if you choose to clean with water, make sure to use a damp mop. Keep in Mind: Sand and grit are the main culprits in damaging the finish of a laminate floor.  Practice preventative maintenance by removing dirt regularly with a vacuum that has a wand attachment, or dust mopping.  Do not use brooms-they can drag the grit across the floor, creating scratches. Chair and table leg protectors will help extend the life of your floor. Q.  I hear a lot about Cork flooring, can you give me some information about it? A.  Cork flooring products are made from all natural raw materials; offering the resilience and excellent performance of cork as an insulator, while providing amazing decorative possibilities.  Cork Floors offer a very attractive range of designs, which are the result of marketing research and testing to obtain the highest quality construction and decorative appeal for floors in residential or light to medium commercial applications for the US market.  Our decorative styles of cork flooring create a warm environment, both contemporary and unique that achieves maximum comfort and insulation from noise.  Cork floors can be installed in kitchens with good performance and protection from moisture.  Cork flooring is a widely applied construction material that has been used for centuries due to its unique natural technical characteristics and surprising decorative appeal.  The raw material for cork floors is obtained by harvesting the cork oak tree bark; with the tree never being cut down.  This enables the bark to regenerate itself within a few years.  Cork floors are an ecologically sound building material that allows for continual harvesting of cork for centuries making it a renewable resource for generations to follow.  Cork Oaks grow very slowly. A cork Oak can grow to be 200-250 years old. The first Cork is peeled at age 20-30 yrs and subsequently every 9-10 yrs. Cork Forests cover worldwide an area of 2.5 million ha, of which 1 million is located in Portugal (1/3 of the country). Other countries cork grows include: Algeria, Spain, Morocco, France, Italy and Tunisia. Cork is harvested from the beginning of June to the end of August. This is possible only every 9 years, 20 times all together. The first cork peeling is called the maiden peeling. Peeling cork bark requires a lot of experience, only specialists are employed. Cork is peeled only from the trunk and from branches of a specified circumference down to the thin reddish parent layer, below which new cork is growing (approx. 1.5-4mm per year) 20 % of the cork bark is left intact to protect the tree from drying up. • After peeling, the cork bark is stored in collecting areas to dry and stabilize for 6 months. Q.  What about wood floors? A.  A crucial decision to make when you decide to install a hardwood floor is what kind of wood to choose.  There are issues of both substance and style that need to be taken into account.  For instance, light wood may be more appropriate for a casual setting, while dark wood lends itself to surroundings that are more formal.  There are no hard and fast rules, simply select what strikes your fancy and fits into your budget.  Remember that different types of woods can vary greatly in price. Wood Finishes A finish is a top coat that will protect your floor from everyday wear and tear.  The finish is also what gives the floor its color and luster.  Finishes are a great way to personalize your hardwood floors.  Whether you like light-colored wood or dark, a satin finish or high-gloss, the options are endless.