A Short Guide to Carpet

carpeted room with red couch

If you’re in the market to purchase carpet for your home or business, you will find you have many choices. Which carpet should you choose? Below is a brief explanation of the choices in flooring.

Carpet comes in many different types. Aside from the fact that carpet comes in set sizes or “room sized” rugs, carpet tiles, and carpet sized to fit the room exactly. When carpet rolls become low, the store may sell remnants. These remnants may be large enough to fill a room wall to wall. Remnants can also be bound on the edge and converted to a small rug.

The types of carpeting are: Residential, Commercial, Hospitality, Hotel and Motel, Public Spaces, Indoor / Outdoor or Grass, Berber, Church Sanctuary, Builders, Glow in the Dark, Woven Wilton, Spike Proof, Man Cave, and Boat. Carpet supplies include padding, carpet tape, carpet tacks. These are all in place to work with the carpet and to help keep the carpet in place.

Energy Saving Tips

The heating and cooling of your home takes more energy than any of the other systems. On the average, heating and cooling makes up just over 40 percent of your utility costs and uses the most home energy. In addition to the costs, in the United States alone, heating and cooling systems emit around 150 million tons of CO2 (carbon dioxide) into our atmosphere every year. They also generate sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are both chief components of acid rain. Making your home more energy efficient will not only save money spent on utility bills, it will reduce the amount of these emissions, which will help the environment.

One of the best ways to save money on heating and cooling is to make sure that your home is well insulated. Weather proofing windows and door will help to a certain extent, but if the heat is being lost through uninsulated walls it won’t make much of a difference in the overall picture. Older homes are most at risk unless you’ve added insulation yourself. Most of the homes built before 1980 are not properly insulated and should be inspected. Adding or replacing insulation will make your home easier to heat and cool so that your furnace or air conditioner doesn’t constantly run and you aren’t faced with sticker shock when it’s time to pay the utility bills. There are various types of insulation available today, from the traditional rolled insulation to that which is blown in through the walls. Having your home inspected to see which is best for your situation can save you a great deal of money in the long run.

On top of insulating your home and weather proofing problem areas, you should make sure that your heating and cooling system is running at maximum efficiency. This means replacing filters monthly (or as needed) and having them inspected and serviced yearly. Also make sure that floor vents are cleaned regularly and kept free of obstructions in order to allow your system the proper amount of airflow to operate at peak performance. If your system is older, you may want to consider replacing it with a newer, more energy efficient model. Many improvements that reduce home energy use, such as insulating, replacing doors and windows, and replacing heating and cooling systems with newer models, not only save energy and money, but are tax deductible as well.

These are simply ideas for saving energy, there are many more ways to save on home energy costs and some or as simple as keeping your thermostat as low as your are comfortable with in winter and just high enough to be comfortable in summer. While you shouldn’t have to walk around the house in a parka during winter or swelter during the hotter months, wearing a sweater or running a fan in the house is a small inconvenience when you thing of the energy that you’ll save.

Air Conditioning and Politics

There were a number of articles published in a journal not too long ago that reported some fascinating findings. These articles were about the fact that people’s belief can influence how they feel the cold.

Some researchers questioned a large group of people about their perception on climate change, political views and beliefs. It resulted in some amazing results. People with left-leaning beliefs thought that the weather was hotter than what it was, while people with right-leaning beliefs thought the opposite.

This also was reflected in the means of cooling their bodies. Political views also influenced whether people thought air conditioning was or was not beneficial for them.

People with views to the left thought the use of air conditioning was beneficial and that it prevents exposure to certain pollutants from outdoors. They also feel that air conditioning helps them be healthier. People holding views to the right thought air conditioning is okay for occasional use, but also felt that fresh air was important, as much as possible. The line of employment people are involved in will also influence how they feel about using air conditioning. There are people, who feel air conditioning is not conducive to ideal healthy. There has long been the perception of air being recirculated a cause for illness to happen, and this has been proven to a certain extent.

Many experts have debated the issue of whether it is healthier to recirculate air or to breathe in fresh air for many years. The truth is that both are fine depending on the environment in which you live and your particular circumstances.

The truth is to neither the right nor left, as most truths are. Air conditioning in some cases protects people’s health. In offices, it can be a means for preventing pollutants to circulate and cause various respiratory issues or other illnesses. Many offices are in the city and it seems that people are healthier, who use air conditioning under these circumstances. They are breathing in recirculated air that has fewer pollutants in it than the outside air, which makes it healthier. This fact lessens the amount of respiratory issues suffered and keeps the pollution out of the office, when the open windows would just let the pollution in.

This post was contributed by Conditioned Air Solutions of Madison Alabama.

The Installation is Just as Important as the Carpet

Putting in new carpet is a good way to make your home more beautiful. Create an interior design that has your personal style. Contemporary carpet choices are very strong, affordable, easy to clean, and comfy.

How your carpet is installed is equally important as how it looks and feels. It’s not hard to find carpet installation companies that offer cheaper prices for basic services.

Most people are easily suckered in by these types of low quality carpet installation companies. But there are a few things that you should be aware of when choosing a reputable and experienced carpet installation company.

Choosing a Big Box Retailer?

A large amount of big box retailers will install all of the carpet in your home for a hundred dollars or less. They call this a basic installation, but understand that there is a catch. The word “basic” means that you will get the least amount of service available. Understand that this type of installation won’t fair well because it is done with the cheapest materials available. Also, many of the things that you would normally expect might not be included in a basic installation. For instance, don’t expect to get carpet on the stairs or on split level steps.

Try to stay away from big box retailers. Or, maybe you might want to buy the carpet from them, but use your own professional carpet installers. Understand that your carpet installation might not be as affordable, but at least you know that it will be done correctly. The carpet will last longer, and you won’t have to pay money to repair a subpar installation.

Does Your Chosen Installer Have a License and Insurance?

Make sure that your chosen installer has a license and insurance. This means that he is professional, and that you have liability protection if anything goes wrong with the installation.

Get References

It does not matter what type of reputation a company has. You should always do your own research first. Try to get two or three references. This will tell you if the company does quality work and what to expect. If a carpet installation company cannot provide references, then move on to another company.

Get a Comprehensive Warranty for all Installation Work

The quality of the installation determines how well your carpet looks and how long it lasts. Keep in mind that some manufacturers may not honour the carpet’s warranty if it is installed improperly. It could be patchy in spots and misaligned in the corners. It could also come apart in specific areas.

Make sure that the installation has a warranty. This will provide protection if the installation is done incorrectly. It will also tell you if the installation company stands by its workmanship.

When it is done correctly, a new carpet installation can really make your home look better. The carpet will enhance your home’s decor, but realize that the installation is just as important as how it looks. Unfortunately, if the price sounds too perfect, then move on to the next carpet installation company. When you find the right company, make sure that it is licensed, bonded, provides warranties and has plenty of solid references.

Change a Room with Carpet

carpet tileIn interior design there are few improvements that make as much of an impact as flooring. What we step on every day plays an integral role in setting the mood, and turning any drab space in to something fantastic. If you’re looking to increase the comfort, appeal, and even the value of your home, there’s no better way to do it than with quality carpets.

Hardwood flooring, laminates, and even ceramic tiles all have their places in the home. They’re perfect for kitchen and dining areas because these materials are almost impossible to stain and are a breeze to clean. However, think about you when you want to sit back and relax, how you want your bedroom to feel, and where you want to entertain guests or have your children play. In all of these situations carpet makes the most inviting spaces, and because carpets can be dyed, cut, and threaded in hundreds of different ways they’re a great way to express yourself through interior design.

Deciding which carpets you need for each room will depend on the purpose and the mood you want to create. Taking a little extra time to pick the right carpet will make the difference between a home that’s comfortable and functional, to a home that is both of these, but also stunningly beautiful.

There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing your carpets. Carpets come in different pile heights, which makes a difference as to how much actual fabric you have under your feet. A carpet with a heavy pile will provide more cushioning, but it can also mean more maintenance, and that it has more affinity for trapping dirt and debris. However, if you’re carpeting a living or comfort room then long pile carpet might be the best option.

For other spaces like offices and children’s play areas, low pile carpet is preferable. Plush carpet that is cut has a velvety texture that still feels luxurious underfoot while still being easily maintained through regular vacuuming and the occasional professional cleaning.

When you’re looking to make a statement in a special room like a games room, or a media room, designer carpets are the best choice. Carpets with multi-colored sections can work great in a space like this. If you go with something darker such as a deep maroon, or navy blue colored carpet it will look stunning with leather sofas in your entertainment suite. Carpets come in so many colors and designs that you can get as creative as you want, just be sure to settle on a look that you love.

Specialty carpets like sculpted cut carpets are perfect for bedrooms. These carpets have both cut, and regular pile height in one carpet to form embossed patterns. Imagine your master bedroom with a carpet that creates the sense that you’re in a boutique hotel. You’re only ever going to be able to achieve that look with carpet!

There are so many fabric choices, designs, colors, and textures available from carpets that they’re easily the most versatile and important home improvement you could choose. Carpets are the perfect investment that can last for a lifetime, Best of all they let you express yourself with standout interior spaces that you’ll love to live in.