Floor to Ceiling Interiors Blog

Getting Started

2012-02-18T23:59:00.000-08:00

Ready to shop for a new Floor, Window Treatment, or Cabinets? Need to redo your Kitchen or bath? Need to organize your closet, office, or garage? Do your carpets need to be cleaned? So much lies ahead, let our expert staff guide you through the entire process. The better you understand not just what you like, but what your room needs, the better your selection will be. We are to here to help make you the expert!!! So, let's start!

Think about room logistics:

How do you use the room most?
What types of activities are common in this room?
What are the room's lighting sources?
What is the size of the room?
Do you need room darkening fabrics?
Do you need more cabinets or a more modern kitchen or bath?
Do you need the organization of a closet organizer?
Does the room flow into others or stand alone?

Think about existing or intended aesthetic:

How do you want to feel when they are in this room?
What types of furnishings do you have?
What's the style of the room? Traditional? Contemporary? Rustic?
What's the feel of the room? Casual? Formal? Somewhere in between?

Consider risk factors for the room:

Will people have food in this room?
Will kids play in this room?
Will kids play with their food in this room?
Does the room directly open up to the outside?
Do you have indoor pets?
Do you need to keep this room cooler or warmer?

Understand expectations for the room:

Is your new flooring purchase motivated by style or practical reasons?
Are you living in this home long-term or planning to sell?
What's the first thing you want to notice when guests enter the room?

The better prepared you are to answer these questions, the easier it will be to select the best choices for your home and the easier for our staff to assist you in making the right choice! We are here to help you be the expert and are glad to help guide you through the entire process. We are here to help make you the expert!!!

Here are some of the things that we do at Drapery Affair/Floor to Ceiling Interiors:

Interior Design
Floor Coverings
Window Coverings
Custom Drapery
Custom Bedding and Pillows
Kitchen and Bath Remodel
Custom Closets
Wall Paper
Carpet Cleaning and Restoration
Paint Colorist
Upholstery
Blind Repairs

At Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors, we are not just Sales People or order takers, we live and breathe Interior Design. Let us help you make your house feel like home!!!
Contact Us to get started.

Hardwood Flooring and Humidity: Know Before You Purchase

2011-12-28T15:24:00.000-08:00

In a comfortable home with slight humidity variations through the seasons, wood flooring responds by expanding and contracting. These changes may be noticeable. During humid weather or coastal fog, wood expands. During dry weather, wood contracts. This seasonal movement is a normal characteristic of wood flooring, and it never stops, regardless of the age of the wood. One of the best and most recommended ways to ensure that wood flooring will give the performance homeowners expect is to install humidity controls and ensure that they are functioning before the flooring is installed.

Working with humidity controls
A homeowner who chooses hardwood flooring is making an investment in a floor that will last 40 years or more, and he or she should protect that investment by installing humidity controls--a tool that helps the floor maintain a beautiful, trouble-free appearance.

Cracks and separations between boards
Nearly every floor endures some separation between boards. In winter, when homes are heated and the air is dry, wood flooring gives up some of its moisture and therefore shrinks. When that happens, thin cracks may appear between boards. This is normal, and homeowners should be forewarned of this. It is acceptable, and customers should not be calling the installers at the first sign of cracks. Once the indoor heat goes off in the spring, and the indoor environment regains moisture, most of these cracks will close up.

Cracks in winter--in the drier months--may easily develop to the thickness of a dime (1/32 inch) for solid 2 1/4-inch wide strip oak floors. Floors with light stained woods and naturally light woods like maple tend to show cracks more than darker, wood-tone finished floors.

The cure for cracks? Homeowners should add moisture to the air during dry periods. It's their choice-live with the cracks and wait until spring, or else add humidity by opening the dishwasher after a rinse cycle, switching off the bathroom fan or hanging laundry to dry in the basement near the furnace. Better yet, install a humidifier in the furnace, or an exterior air vent for the furnace burner.

If cracks are a concern, laminated flooring moves less and shows fewer gaps.

"Cupping and crowning" are common complaints that develop with high humidity. Both problems occur across the width of the flooring material.

Cupping is when the edges of a board are high and its center is lower. It can occur after water spills onto the floor and is absorbed by the wood, but high humidity is more often the cause. If the wood expands significantly, compression set can result as the boards are crushed together, deforming the boards at the edges.

Cupping is caused by a moisture imbalance through the thickness of the wood: The wood is wetter on the bottom of the board than on the top. The moisture imbalance can be proven by taking moisture meter readings at different pin depths.

The first step in repairing a cupped floor is to identify and eliminate the moisture source. In the kitchen, it may be a leak from the dishwasher or icemaker. From outdoors, it might be the terrain of the lot, with rain and runoff not moving away from the house and foundation. Indoors, the humidity may need to be controlled, or a plumbing leak may be causing excess moisture in the basement, which migrates up into the subfloor and from there into the wood flooring.

Once the source of the moisture is controlled, cupping can usually be cured. The floor may improve on its own as it dries out over time. Other times, fans may be needed to speed the drying process. Once the moisture content has stabilized, the floor can be reassessed. Choices may be to do nothing at all, to recoat the floor or to sand and refinish the floor. However, it should not be sanded until moisture-meter readings indicate the floor is thoroughly dried.

Crowning is the opposite of cupping: The center of a board is higher than the edges. Moisture imbalance is sometimes the cause of crowning if excessive moisture is introduced on the top of the floor, perhaps from water used in maintenance or plumbing leaks from an overhead sprinkler system. However, a common cause is that the floor was previously cupped, but was sanded at the wrong time-before the moisture content returned to normal and the board flattened on its own.

It should be noted that some slight cupping and crowning may occur naturally, and should be tolerated: The bark side of lumber shrinks and swells more than the side closest to the center of the tree. Largely seasonal in occurrence, it's common in wider planks. Its appearance can be minimized by using a beveled-edge flooring product with a satin finish, rather than square-edge flooring with a high gloss finish.

Buckled floors

The "buckling" of hardwood floors-when the flooring literary pulls away from the subfloor, lifting up to several inches in one or more places-is one of the most extreme reactions to moisture that can occur. Fortunately, it is not a common occurrence.

Buckling happens most often after a floor is flooded for a time, but there are numerous other causes. On nailed floors, insufficient nailing, incorrect nails or incorrect subfloor construction are possibilities. On glue-down floors, the causes range from the use of incorrect or insufficient mastics to an inadequate mastic transfer, a subfloor separation or a subfloor contamination.

In flooded hardwood strip flooring, the swelling stress is theoretically high enough to push out walls. However, before that can happen the nails or the glue holding the flooring to the subfloor wil1 usually give way, so that the floor bulges upward.

If buckling floors are caught early, spot repair and replacement may be possible. Once the standing water is removed, several boards may be taken up from the floor so that air can be circulated across and below the floor more effectively. Once the floor has dried to a more stable moisture level, repairs can usually be made.

Some tips on maintenance
The enjoyment of wood flooring depends on some routine but minimal maintenance details. These include:

Sweep your floors or use a dust mop daily, but do not use a household dust treatment, as this may cause your floors to become slick or dull the finish.
Vacuum your floor regularly, as often as you would vacuum carpets.
Clean your floor's coated surface with a lightly dampened cloth using a recommended cleaning product, and according to the manufacturer's directions for use.
Never damp mop a wood floor. In all cases, use minimum water, because water causes deterioration of the wood itself, as well as the finish.
Buy a "floor care kit" that your installer or flooring retailer recommends instead of counting on a home-made remedy of vinegar and water to clean your floors. Different finishes have different maintenance requirements, and it's best to follow professional advice in this area.
Clean light stains by rubbing with a damp cloth
Avoid using mops or cloths that leave excessive water on the floor. Never let a spill of water dry on the floor.
Control humidity levels by use of a dehumidifier or humidifier. You may need to add portable units in some rooms.
Have your floors recoated periodically as the finish shows wear.
Do not clean your wood floors with water or water-based products on a regular schedule. Clean only when necessary and clean only the soiled areas.

Introducing Prescott Laminate

2011-11-28T13:42:00.001-08:00

We proudly feature Prescott Laminate flooring. This new product comes 12mm thick and 7 1/2" in width with random length up to 6 feet. It is available in seven gorgeous colors and mimics the wire-brushed hardwood that is very popular. For less than $2.75/foot, it is 1/3 the price of its hardwood equivalent.

Come by our Showroom to check out the new styles and schedule your complimentary in-home measurement and estimate today. Prescott Laminate...this is not your grandma's laminate flooring!!!

Ventura County Toys For Tots Toy Drive

2011-11-17T13:07:00.001-08:00

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors is pleased to be working with the Marine Toys For Tots Foundation of Port Hueneme this year and we ask for your help this Holiday in making a difference in the life of children here in our community.

You can drop off an unwrapped gift for a child and place them under our Christmas Tree in our Showroom between now and December 9th.

You can also donate money by clicking here.

Thank you for your generosity and Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!!

CARPET CLEANING: Spot Solver

2011-10-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

It is inevitable...someone in your home is going to spill something on your carpet. From red wine to baby formula, from egg nog to egg coloring dyes, check out our Carpet Spot Solver to find the correct way to remove your spot or spill.

If these steps do not work, contact us to schedule a professional carpet cleaning, or worse case scenario, a carpet patch.

CLICK HERE to go to the Spot Solver Page

Zoroufy Stair Rods, Wall Hangers, and Floor Registers

2011-10-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors proudly features Zoroufy Stair Rods and Stair Holds, Wall Hangers, and Floor Registers. They specialize in home décor featuring custom accents for some of the most prevalent features in your home: the staircase, walls, and floors. Browse through their products by collection and customize your order by selecting your choice of rods, finials, brackets, wall hangers, and floor vents in finishes and designs that represent your personal style.

You can call us for pricing or come by our Showroom to see their catalog for yourself.

CLICK HERE for their website or Click Here to see Featured Homes

Moda Carpet Now Offered

2011-10-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to launch an exciting new line of Carpet to our Showroom. Moda Carpets are made in Southern California and are all exclusively StainMaster products with a high density backing. They offer dense, stylish, versatile, quality carpets at a mid-range price. And, every carpet contains post-consumer recycled content!!! They also offer custom area rugs of any of their products and custom dyeing with a 60 yard minimum and no overage!!!

Come by our Showroom to see these beautiful styles.

CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment for a complimentary measure today.

CLICK HERE to look at their products online.

We Clean Carpets Too!!!

2011-10-04T08:26:00.000-07:00

New carpet can improve the appearance of any room, but how can carpet that is walked on every day continue looking new? To keep your carpet clean, it's necessary to vacuum regularly with a strong, well-functioning and properly-filtered vacuum cleaner. Unfortunately, due to traffic, children, pets and normal wear, carpet fibers inevitably become soiled, and a dull appearance results. And no matter how much you vacuum, eventually you will need to call a professional carpet cleaner.

Regular professional cleaning is as important to your carpet as having a trained mechanic perform routine tune-ups on your car. While your carpet may appear clean on the surface, periodic cleaning by a certified technician can remove what you can't see and help your carpet retain its fresh, beautiful appearance.

In order for your floor covering manufacturer warranties to stay in effect, you must have your carpets cleaned every 18 months. You will need your receipt to document the professional cleaning. Most manufacturers still recommend the hot water extraction method.

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors offers Professional Carpet Cleaning Services. Call us at 805.339.0883 x 129 to schedule your carpet cleaning today.

Need Help Choosing Paint Color?

2011-10-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

Is this your bedroom or living room? Do you have paint swatches taped to your wall or have you painted squares of different colors all over to help you decide? We can make it easier for you.

For a nominal fee, our Interior Designers can come to your home or business and help guide you, whether you want to make the room feel larger, smaller, warmer, or more contemporary.

Contact us today to schedule an interior designer!!!

Cabinet Categories

2011-09-30T16:39:00.000-07:00

In the beginning, most cabinetry was custom built by local cabinet shops, or mills for each house, one kitchen at a time. In some cases, they were actually built on site, in the house. The finish was then applied after the cabinets were secured to the wall. Very few door styles or finish colors were available. Today, the sky is the limit for options, and the majority of kitchen cabinetry is produced in highly sophisticated factories around the world.

Three main cabinet categories exist today. Stock, Semi-Custom, and Custom cabinet definitions are outlined below. Within each of these categories, quality, lead time, price, options, and reliability will vary.

STOCK
Stock cabinet manufacturers offer a range of cabinets in specific sizes. these cabinets are made in a large quantity and stored in the manufacturer's warehouse, or shipped to a distributor for fast delivery to the end user. Because these cabinets are produced in large quantities, the line cannot be stopped for modifications. There are few factory installed options, like roll out trays. Stock cabinets are a great option for large projects that are budget sensitive. In some cases, lead time may require that stock cabinetry be used. Stock cabinetry will vary in quality. Some stock lines use lower quality woods, thinner shelves and end panels, and fewer finishing steps.

SEMI-CUSTOM
Semi-Custom cabinets are typically produced by both stock and custom manufacturers. This cabinetry is built on an assembly line, but offers much more flexibility than stock cabinetry. It can be produced a kitchen at a time or in batches of like cabinets, depending on the manufacture's model. A wide variety of accessories, sizes, finishes,and door styles are what set Semi-Custom cabinetry apart from Stock. Semi-Custom cabinetry is built on the three inch increment system, where cabinets change width every three inches. typically, cabinets start at six inches and got forty-eight inches wide. Some base cabinets go all the way up to sixty inches wide. Semi-Custom cabinets will have a wide price range as door styles, wood species, finishes, and construction options all factor into the price.

CUSTOM
Custom Cabinetry is produced one kitchen at a time. Custom cabinets may be made in a small one man shop, or by a large national manufacturer. Custom cabinetry offers an endless range of stain and color options. Many wood species are available to choose from. Cabinets can be ordered in virtually any combination of height, width, and depth; creating the perfect fit without the need for fillers. Specialty pieces such as mantle hoods, curved cabinetry, stand alone islands, and panels are also available.

Custom Cabinetry really is built-to-order, and offers the greatest amount of flexibility. This is also the most expensive category and generally has the longest lead time. Like fine furniture, expect eight to twenty lead weeks time.

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors offers a wide assortment of Semi-Custom and Custom cabinets. We can offer a complimentary measure of your kitchen and can help you with layout for a nominal fee. Come by our Showroom to see samples on hand and take the first step of the kitchen of your dreams. CLICK HERE to contact Theresa Stark, our Kitchen and Bath Designer via e-mail.

Drapery Rods and Options

2011-09-29T11:30:00.000-07:00

Draperies and window treatments are a major part of an interior decorating project and are quite often a dilemma because draperies, curtains, and curtain rods seems to be the least understood aspect of a interior decorating project. Those who can afford the extra expense will hire an interior designer, who will use their knowledge and expertise to choose just the perfect window treatment. However, those who cannot afford to hire an interior designer will have the seemingly arduous task of deciding which draperies and drapery hardware can be used at their particular type windows. However, by purchasing your draperies at Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors, you can utilize our Staff Designers and we can you help you make this often difficult decision much easier.

Before choosing your curtain or drapery rod you must first determine what style of drapery you want. This actually means,what type of drapery heading style you prefer. Some of the drapery headings are often seen in a casual setting, while others are used for a more formal setting. The type of drapery heading you choose will determine what type of drapery rod/hardware you will need. For example, if you choose a grommet top drapery you cannot use this on a traditional traverse rod to hang your draperies.

Drapery poles are quite versatile, as shown above, they can be used with or without rings. Pinch pleated draperies, or any type of pleated drapery with hooks, can attach to rings which are then attached to a drapery pole. The drapery pole can be a wooden or metal finish. Some poles are exceptionally beautiful and take on styles of their own.

Come by our Showroom today to see the beautiful rods and fabrics. We have a Work Room onsite and your drapes will be made right here and can be professionally installed upon completion.

PHOTO GALLERY: Kitchens

2011-09-23T15:24:00.000-07:00

The following is a highlight of some of the work Theresa Stark, our Kitchen and Bath Designer has done recently. CLICK HERE to contact her for a Free Consultation for your next kitchen remodel.

PHOTO GALLERY: Baths

2011-09-10T15:25:00.000-07:00

The following is a highlight of some of the work Theresa Stark, our Kitchen and Bath Designer has done recently. CLICK HERE to contact her for a Free Consultation for your next bath remodel.

Measuring For Pinch Pleat Drapes

2011-09-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

We are often asked, how do you measure for draperies? Before measuring your windows for pleated draperies you must first determine if you want a full view of the glass when your draperies are in an open position. If the answer is yes, and ideally draperies should clear the window, follow these instructions.

Step 1. Measure for the width first. Measure from the outside of the window frame (assuming there is a window frame) on the left to the outside of the window frame on the right. If there is no frame just measures the opening from left side to right to get the width of the window. Take this measurement and add 20% to what ever the measurement is. For example, if you measured 100 wide add 20 to that to totally 120. Then add 12 more inches on to that for overlap (this is were the draperies will meet and overlap in the middle) and return ( this is were the draperies on each side comes to the end of the rod and go back to the wall. Take note of how much space is available on left beyond the frame, then on right beyond the frame. This is the area where your draperies will stack back when they are open.

Now, let’s get the measurement for the length of the drapery.

Step 2. Measure from the top of the frame (if there is no frame, measure from the top of the window) to the floor. If you do not want you draperies to hang to the floor measure to 3″ below the window sill. This measurement will be the length of your draperies.

That’s it! It’s as simple as that.

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors offers a complimentary measurement to double check your dimensions or to explain options. Contact us today to schedule your complimentary measure and estimate.

Shaw Announces New Warranties on All Anso, EverTouch, and ClearTouch Products

2011-09-01T08:56:00.000-07:00

Shaw is more than a name or label. It's a promise of outstanding performance, unique styling and overall value. For more than 50 years, consumers just like you have trusted Shaw products to stand up to their busy lifestyles. Now the warranties have gotten even better, including Lifetime Stain Warranties including Pet Urine, they are now transferable, and not pro-rated. They have three residential fiber brands that support the Shaw brand. Each brand includes exclusive features and benefits. Warranties that apply to Shaw fibers are outlined below:

Anso Nylon

Anso® Nylon:

Lifetime: Stain, Soil, Pet Urine Stains.
20-Year: Texture Retention, Abrasive Wear Quality Assurance, SoftBac® Platinum.
Non-Prorated
Transferable
Labor Inclusive
30 Day Customer Satisfaction (labor excluded).
Recyclable* /SCS Certified

EverTouch

EverTouch® Nylon:

Lifetime: Stain, Soil, Pet Urine Stains.
15-Year: Texture Retention, Abrasive Wear Quality Assurance, SoftBac® Platinum.
30 Day Customer Satisfaction (labor excluded).
Recyclable*

ClearTouch PET Polyester

ClearTouch® PET Polyester:

Lifetime: Stain, Pet Urine Stains
15-Year: Soil
10-Year: Texture Retention, Abrasive Wear Quality Assurance, SoftBac® Platinum
30 Day Customer Satisfaction (labor excluded)
25% Recycled Content

Warranties that apply to other Shaw carpets

For those Shaw carpets not made with Anso® nylon, EverTouch® nylon, or ClearTouch® PET polyester*, below is a list of applicable warranties:

Limited 10-Year Quality Assurance Warranty
Limited 10-Year Stain and Soil Warranty
Limited 10-Year SoftBac® Platinum Warranty where applicable

For more information, including informative sections on how to maintain your Shaw carpet, stain removal procedures, and the warranty service process, please refer to the Shaw Residential Carpet Fiber Hierarchy Warranty brochure.

VIEW

DOWNLOAD.

Shaw Carpet and Anso Nylon Introduce a New iPhone App For Stain Removal

2010-05-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Shaw Carpet and Anso Nylon introduce a new iPhone app. This app contains stain removal procedures for some of the most common household spills, over 300 of them to be exact!!!

These stain removal and cleaning procedures have been carefully developed for use on Shaw Floors' carpet made with Shaw's carpet fibers and may not be appropriate for use on other types of carpet. The stain removal procedures are provided to assist in maintaining your Shaw Floors' carpet and reflect the best information available. Remember, no carpet is stain proof.

5 Carpet Myths Debunked

2010-05-17T14:25:00.000-07:00

Carpet has been the most popular floor covering in America for decades for good reason - carpets feel soft, reduce noise, and insulates rooms. But, some common misconceptions deter people from buying carpets. Before purchasing flooring, consider the following information from Shaw Industries, the world's largest carpet company.

Myth 1: Asthma and Allergy Sufferers should not have carpet in the home.

FACT: EPA scientists have concluded that carpet fibers, in trapping and immobilizing potential allergy-causing particulates actually help people with allergies. If allergens are in the carpet fibers, they're not circulating in the indoor air stream. Shaw recommends using a HEPA filter vacuum to fully remove such particles from the indoor environment.

Myth 2: Carpet is hard to maintain - it stain and wears out easily

FACT: Simple steps can extend the life of your carpet and keep it looking new. Frequent vacuuming removes soil particles before they get below the surface of the pile, where they are far more difficult to remove. Carpet in a typical household should be thoroughly cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Hot water extraction systems provide the most effective cleaning. Professional carpet cleaners generally get the best results.

Myth 3: Carpet is outdated and boring.

FACT: Carpets come in patterns ranging from traditional, houndstooth, shags, to exotic zebra, and in stylish colors like chocolate, mint green, dozens of shades of beige, and thousands of colors. Many customers use a mix of carpet, hardwood, and tile in their homes.

Myth 4: Carpet emits harmful chemicals that cause health problems

FACT: Carpet is one of the lowest emitters of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) among household furnishings and building materials. Shaw carpets meet the industry's highest VOC standard, the Carpet & Rug Institute's Green Label Plus program.

Myth 5: Carpet is bad for the environment

FACT: Floor manufacturers nor provide eco-friendly options for environmentally-conscious consumers. Shaw carpets made of Anso or EverTouch nylon can be recycled at Shaw's Evergreen Nylon Recycling Facility, where they are broken down and remade into carpet fiber. The process helps turn carpet into a renewable product and keeps carpet waste out of landfills. In fact, Shaw has collected 178 million pounds of post-consumer carpet since 2006.

For more information on Shaw products, carpet recycling, and environmentally friendlier carpet options, stop by our Showroom to learn more.

Shaw Hardwood Flooring

2010-01-01T16:45:00.000-08:00

Choosing hardwood flooring can be a challenge. Those homeowners trying to match existing floors have it a bit easier. They have a place to start. However, those that are putting in hardwood floors where carpet or tile sits have a challenge. Which species do they want? What shade of stain works best? Is there a particular finish that would work better? The options can create quite a challenge. For those who want selection, however, Shaw Hardwood flooring is good place to start. It brings together environmentally conscious wood selection with beauty and durability.

Species of wood each have their own look. Some species vary depending on the sub species you select. For example, oak covers many domestic types of wood. White oak is different from red oak in both grain and color. Red oak is different from Northern red oak in grain and texture. When you look at each type of wood, you will see differences in the way it reacts to stain. Some woods have a range of shades with a stain while others come with a uniform spread of color. Shaw Hardwood flooring includes American cherry, birch, hickory, maple, and red maple. Bamboo is also an option, though not technically a wood.

Stains of wood are another consideration in Shaw Hardwood flooring. You can start by breaking it down into light, medium, and dark tones. Nevertheless, the variations go much further than those three categories. Light tones cover everything from natural finish woods through blonde bamboo. Some have yellow tones while others border on tan. Medium shades range from medium browns to cherry or walnut with a lighter stain. These stains bring out the natural tones in naturally darker woods without creating a dark surface. Dark tones range from deep browns through almost black colors. You can find a full range of stains in the hardwoods we carry at Smart Carpet and Flooring.

In Shaw Hardwood flooring, you have a choice of finishes. DuraShield is a popular option for bamboo floors. This finish provides an extra layer of protection against the wear and tear of a busy household. Most of the Shaw options have another finish called Scufresist Platinum.

Shaw has added a new, high performance hardwood flooring finish to its popular Epic ® brand, named ScufResist Platinum. ScufResist Platinum enhances hardwood flooring by significantly increasing the product's durability while keeping aesthetics intact. According to Shaw Floors, with ScufResist Platinum, Shaw hardwoods resist scuffs up to six times better than the competition. This resistant finish resists the scuffs of shoes and the imprints of dirty feet. If you are ready to put hardwood floors in your home, give us a call. Our Staff can help you make the right choice.

Shaw Carpet

2010-01-01T16:41:00.000-08:00

Shaw Carpet has a well-deserved reputation for being among the best in floor coverings. This company has its roots going back to the years after World War II. Over the past 60 plus years, the flooring options coming from this company have continued to improve and become among the best on the market. Today, it is a leader in both innovation and beauty in a full range of floor coverings. Carpet is one of their original products that just keep getting better and better with every innovation the company brings to textile fibers. For quality and beauty, Shaw is a good choice.

Choosing a Shaw carpet begins with deciding on what style to use. The company offers four different styles in carpeting. Textured carpet is good for casual living with its smooth twisted yarns. This style has an even finish that works well for families and busy households. Looped carpet has a tighter feel. It comes in uneven levels to give the floor a pattern or in even levels to increase durability. Patterned carpet is perfect for those that want something different. Pattern in carpeting is created by mixtures of loop, texture, and color. Twisted carpeting is very soft and casual with long cut piles.

Color is another big choice when selecting Shaw carpet. The company has many collections. Each collection brings its own set of colors and patterns. The colors in your home may help you decide if you would like carpeting in beiges, blues, browns, golds, grays, greens, oranges, reds, or violets. Each carpet collection has its own unique blends of colors. These options provide homeowners with the ability to find the perfect selection for their home.

One of the best things about Shaw carpet is the quality of fibers they bring to their products. The company has fibers that stand up to the wear and tear of normal life. The EverTouch fibers bring both softness and high-end durability. These carpets are very soft to the touch yet stand up to the traffic and wear of a busy household. Care is easy and the carpeting remains looking good with a minimal amount of care. Shaw's Evergreen Nylon Recycling program converts old nylon carpet into new fibers for new carpets. If you want innovation, look through the many Shaw Carpet collections for your home.

Armstrong

2010-01-01T07:25:00.000-08:00

The Armstrong history begins back in the 1860s in Pittsburgh. The company's founder, Thomas Armstrong, built his business from a cork cutting shop into a world leader in flooring. Today, the company puts its efforts into innovation in a full line of flooring products. Armstrong Vinyl is a leader in resilient flooring. The company works to give lasting beauty that will be affordable and durable at the same time. They design this resilient flooring to be practical for many areas of the home. The ease of cleaning makes it a popular option for many homeowners looking for floor coverings.

Quality is an important factor when choosing a floor. Armstrong brings you the highest quality flooring in the widest selection of the latest floor styles.

PRODUCTS WE CARRY:

Armstrong Vinyl

Armstrong Vinyl

2010-01-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

The days of few choices in vinyl floor options are long gone. Today, you can find vinyl floors that give you the look of natural stone, distressed wood, slate and other patterns. You have the option of taking your home's decor in a new direction if you want it with geometrics and decorative patterns. The options are just about endless with this durable flooring option. Armstrong Vinyl is one of the best vinyl flooring manufacturers on the market. We are very proud to carry Armstrong products here at Floor to Ceiling Interiors. This flooring has a reputation that it well deserves. With this manufacturer, you know you are getting quality as well as beauty in a durable surface.

Armstrong Vinyl has several layers that provide the durable beauty you want in a hard floor covering. The bottom layers provide the durability and softness you expect out of quality vinyl flooring. On top of those bottom layers, you see the pattern imprint. Armstrong provides a slew of options when it comes to patterns in many different collections. A realistic natural stone pattern is a choice that many homeowners make. However, Armstrong also offers options that look like traditional or distressed wood floors.

Color comes in a proverbial rainbow when it comes to Armstrong Vinyl. The company provides colors ranging neutrals through greens and oranges. Strong, bold blacks and whites are also in the mix. Many patterns are a blend of several colors to give stone, wood, and other patterns a natural look. All of this comes with Armstrong quality and durability built in. If you are looking for affordable, quality flooring, you need look no further. Here, at Floor to Ceiling Interiors, we carry a selection of resilient flooring for your home. Whether you want it in your bathroom, utility room, kitchen, or foyer, it will keep going for years.

SmartStrand Carpet

2010-01-01T07:11:00.000-08:00

Mohawk leads innovation in sustainable flooring with SmartStrand® carpet with DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sourced polymer. In a partnership with DuPont, this carpet exclusively offers fiber made with Bio-PDO™ (the key Sorona® ingredient), which is produced from corn sugar.

By utilizing this new ingredient, 37 percent of Sorona® is being made from renewable resources. This marks the first time that a luxuriously soft carpet offers durability and stain protection, while also making less of an environmental impact.

The superior stain resistance of SmartStrand® carpet is engineered into the fiber and will never wear or wash off, meaning consumers will never need to retreat the carpet with stain protectors after steam cleaning.

And this engineered-in stain resistance reaches new levels of protection, allowing tough stains such as mustard, red wine, and cherry Kool-Aid® to be removed simply with warm water and a mild detergent, or with Mohawk FloorCare™ Essentials. The fiber even resists discoloration from bleach.

It goes without saying that SmartStrand can be found as a major component in inspired homes everywhere. Come by our Showroom for an extensive collection of SmartStrand Carpets.

Mohawk Carpet

2010-01-01T07:07:00.000-08:00

Floor to Ceiling Interiors carries the leading brand in carpeting -- Mohawk Carpet. When selecting carpet options for our customers, we want the best manufacturers on the market represented. Mohawk is definitely one brand we had to have in our selection. This manufacturer has over 120 years of experience in floor covering of many types. It has been an innovator in carpeting for over a century. This history continues in the latest carpeting options from this company. The company is moving its carpeting towards more environmentally friendly options without compromising the quality and options they have a reputation for providing.

For those that want an environmentally friendly flooring option, the Mohawk Carpet brand EverStrand is one to consider. The company makes this carpet from fibers made of recycled plastic bottles. In making those fibers, the company consumes one out of every four plastic bottles recycled in the US and Canada. Despite its recycling origins, the carpeting keeps a beautiful texture and is very easy to clean. Another option Mohawk provides is SmartStrand. This carpeting option comes from fibers blended with DuPont Sorona. DuPont Sorona comes from corn sugar. This fiber requires less energy to produce and will generate over 60% fewer emissions than normal nylon manufacturing.

The superior stain resistance of SmartStrand® carpet is engineered into the fiber and will never wear or wash off, meaning consumers will never need to retreat the carpet with stain protectors after steam cleaning.

And this engineered-in stain resistance reaches new levels of protection, allowing tough stains such as mustard, red wine, and cherry Kool-Aid to be removed simply with warm water and a mild detergent. The fiber even resists discoloration from bleach.

Mohawk flooring company has other environmentally friendly brands, including Wear-Dated Revive.

Mohawk Carpet offers customers other carpeting options as well. One of the leading lines is Wear-Dated carpeting with Scotchgard Advanced Repel Technology. These carpets come with stain resistance built-in with Scotchgard protection. The carpets also wear well and many of them have 20-year warranties. The company shows its place in the market by offering many colors, styles, features, and even patterns. We make this wide selection available to our customers here at Floor to Ceiling Interiors. It is one that many customers find work well in their homes.

Making the decision to put carpeting your home is about comfort. Here, at Floor to Ceiling Interiors, we want to provide you with the flooring options that will give you that comfort, but also the style and wearability that you want. That reason is why we take pride in offering Mohawk carpet. Their history of excellence and quality make them a great option for many homes. If you are looking for a beautiful flooring option, look at the selection we offer from Mohawk. You will find a carpet option that will work well in any room you want a soft durable floor covering.

Mohawk Flooring

2010-01-01T07:03:00.000-08:00

Mohawk Industries is one of the world's largest floor covering manufacturers and distributors and is a leading producer of yarn, ceramic tile, area rugs and bath mats. Headquartered in Calhoun, Georgia, Mohawk designs, manufactures and markets woven and tufted broadloom carpet, area and accent rugs and mats and a variety of hard surface flooring products. The Company provides goods for all significant market segments, distribution channels and price points. Included in Mohawk's family of brands are some of the most popular and prestigious names in the industry: Aladdin, Alexander Smith, American Olean, American Rug Craftsmen, American Weavers, Bigelow, Dal-Tile, Galaxy, Harbinger, Helios, Horizon, Image, Karastan, Lees Carpet, World, WundaWeve, Custom Weave, and Mohawk and Mohawk Home.

PRODUCTS WE CARRY:

Mohawk Carpet
SmartStrand Carpet
EverSTRAND Carpet

Shaw Flooring

2010-01-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

Shaw got its start in 1946 as Star Dye Company, a small business that dyed tufted scatter rugs. The events that transformed the company into the world's largest carpet manufacturer are too numerous to write...or even fully know. But the philosophy guiding those events meeting customers, determine their needs, and supplying those needs hasn't changed much through the years.

In 1958, with $300,000 in sales, the company expanded dramatically and soon started finishing carpet as Star Finishing Company.

In 1967, a holding company was formed to acquire Philadelphia Carpet Company, founded in 1846. The holding company added Star Finishing to the fold one year later, marking the company's first move into carpet manufacturing. The holding company went public as Shaw Industries, Inc. in 1971 with approximately $43 million in sales and 900 employees. In 1985, Shaw made its first appearance on the list of America's largest corporations--the Fortune 500--with more than $500 million in sales and close to 5,000 employees. The company also merged with Cabin Crafts and Sutton, and Queen Carpets.

On January 4, 2001, under the guidance of CEO and President W. Norris Little, Sr. and owner Bob Shaw, Shaw Industries was sold to Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the holding company of Warren E. Buffett. Today, with the leadership of Vance Bell, CEO, and Randy Merritt, President, Shaw has $5 billion in annual sales and approximately 30,000 employees.

PRODUCTS WE CARRY:

Shaw Carpet
Shaw Hardwood
Shaw Laminates

Shaw Laminate Flooring

2010-01-01T06:52:00.000-08:00

As with its many other products, Shaw Laminate is remarkable for its durability and quality. The Shaw Company has a long-standing reputation in the flooring industry. They have brought this history of innovation and technology into their laminate flooring division. Shaw brings together four different layers in all the laminate products that bear their name. The top layer provides protection from wear and tear. The second layer, called the decor layer, features the natural hardwood or ceramic designs available in each collection. The third layer is the inner core made from recycled wood fibers. The bottom layer provides moisture barrier as well as providing structural integrity to the entire product.

When it comes to manmade flooring, Shaw laminate is a leader in environmentally friendly practices. This company uses a core board made from recycled wood fibers. Because of this and other environmentally friendly practices, this laminate product uses 98% less newly harvested wood when compared to conventional hardwood products. The customer gets the look and beauty of a hardwood without the environmental impact of traditional hardwood processing. If you are looking for an eco-friendly flooring option, laminate from Shaw is one to consider. You will not sacrifice beauty, durability, or quality by making this choice.

Another innovation brought to market by Shaw Laminate is the Lumineire finish. This particular finishing product provides a high gloss, smooth surface that resists the wear and tear caused by busy households. This finish helps the floor retain the beauty of the underlying image and keep it looking as new as the day you had it installed. The remarkable clarity of the finish is another reason why this flooring looks so natural. The finish comes with a 25-year warranty, which puts at the top in this flooring category.

When it comes to options in shades and finishes, Shaw Laminate provide a full lineup. Customers can select from the lightest blond woods through the darkest black ebonies. In finishes, the customers can select from smooth to hand scraped to high gloss. Many customers choose this laminate because of the selection available from Shaw. If you want to look at the many options available in this flooring collection or any other we carry, you can stop by our Design Showroom to see all the options available.

Hunter Douglas & Child Safety - Recall Information

2009-12-17T10:55:00.000-08:00

By now, you may have seen or heard the news stories regarding the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's announcement of a voluntary "recall to repair" roman shades and roll-up blinds to reduce the risk of strangulation to young children. Hunter Douglas and Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors supports these efforts to make window coverings safer.

Hunter Douglas' investment in this area has produced Vignette® Modern Roman shades - the industry's only roman shade with no exposed rear cords. We developed the industry's first Break-Thru® Safety Tassel for horizontal blinds; and introduced a complete line of LiteRise® cordless operating systems for Vignette® Tiered Modern Roman Shades, Duette® and Applause® honeycomb shades, Brilliance® pleated shades and Hunter Douglas horizontal blinds (Wood, Faux Wood and Aluminum); a broad line of products that use the UltraGlide® retractable cord operating system; a full line of PowerRise® cordless battery powered products, plus a full line of screen and window shades and three types of shutters ... all of which are designed with child safety in mind.

Of course, it is important to understand what products are actually covered by the "recall to repair." The "recall to repair" covers traditional roman shades and roll-up blinds. The roman shades that are covered are the ones with exposed cords running down the back of the shade. It would NOT include products like Vignette® Tiered Modern Roman Shades, where the inner cord is contained within the fabric. The roll-up blinds covered by the "recall to repair" are those with a lifting loop that is placed around the fabric at the bottom of the shade which can slide off the fabric to create a free-standing loop. Hunter Douglas and Curtis Carpet DOES NOT sell or offer roll-up blinds or shades.

It is also important to understand that this is not a recall in the traditional sense, but a "recall to repair." The consumer does not actually return any product. Instead, they can contact the Window Covering Safety Council to obtain free CPSC-approved retrofit kits for roman shades and roll-up blinds. Consumers can contact the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) at www.windowcoverings.org or by calling (800) 506-4636.

In connection with the Voluntary Corrective Action Plan submitted by the WCSC, the American National Standard for Safety of Corded Window Covering Products is being revised to include updated requirements to further reduce the potential risks associated with roman shades and roll-up blinds. We are pleased to inform you that product modifications already made to Hunter Douglas's Designer Screen Roman Shades, Alustra® Woven Textures® Roman Shades or Provenance® Woven Woods Roman Shades on September 1, 2009 put these products in full compliance with the new provisional ANSI standard, in advance of the effective date.

Photo Gallery: Hardwood

2009-12-04T16:08:00.000-08:00

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors offers a wide assortment of Hardwood Flooring and complimentary measurement. All floors are installed by our quality installers or can be self-installed. Contact us today to schedule your free measurement.

SmartStrand Given Own Fiber Classification

2009-05-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

Don’t call it polyester. Call it triexta.

Mohawk’s SmartStrand® and SmartStrand® with DuPont™ Sorona® PTT fibers have been given their own fiber classification by the Federal Trade Commission. This is the first classification extension for residential carpet since nylon fiber in 1959.

The FTC has ruled that SmartStrand and SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona have a unique fiber structure, and instead of being classified with polyester, are deserving of their own category. The new subclass is called triexta.

The creation of the triexta subclass gives retailers the ability to emphasize and focus on the outstanding features and benefits of the product, instead of defending the negative perceptions sometimes accompanied with the word ‘polyester’.

Since you’ve been selling a lot of SmartStrand (it’s the single most successful product introduction in Mohawk history), you already know that it’s different than conventional polyester.

This ruling on Mohawk and DuPont’s petition, begun in 2006, confirms this.

And this reinforces the fact that SmartStrand is a fiber exclusive to Mohawk and its dealers. No other company has anything like it.

Retailer and consumer testimonials, along with independent testing, have continually confirmed that carpet made with triexta performs better than conventional polyester. Triexta has the resilience of branded nylons with enhanced, built-in stain resistance and a remarkably soft hand.

In fact, when compared to any other fiber, Mohawk SmartStrand carpets with triexta offer:

Better durability
Better stain protection
Better softness
Better warranties
Better environmental benefits
Better customer satisfaction

SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona is made, in part, with naturally occurring sugars from readily available and renewable crops. Sorona’s key fiber ingredient is Bio-PDO™, produced from corn sugar. By utilizing this central ingredient, 37% of Sorona can be made from renewable resources instead of the more limited petrochemical-based ingredients that are used in most other carpets.

And production of Sorona, when compared to production of an equal amount of nylon 6, uses 30% less energy and reduces CO2 emissions 63%. So every seven yards of SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona used in a home saves enough energy and resources to equal one gallon of gasoline—a total savings of up to 10 million gallons—all without sacrificing performance.

SmartStrand. It’s just better.

Mohawk everSTRAND Carpet: Recycled Plastic Bottles

2009-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

One in every four plastic bottles recycled in North America become luxuriously soft Mohawk carpet.

Mohawk continuously seeks ways to recycle, reduce, reuse, and renew. As a leader in flooring innovation, Mohawk recycles nearly three billion plastic bottles each year. And since 1999, more than 17 billion bottles have been recycled, keeping more than one billion pounds of plastic out of landfills.

Mohawk’s everSTRAND™ carpet fiber, made using PET (polyethylene terephthalate) that is extruded from recycled plastic bottles, contain 100 percent post-consumer recycled content. Because plastic beverage bottles are made with top quality PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resins as required by the US Food & Drug Administration, the recycled product is superior to lower grades of synthetic fibers used in making other brands of carpet yarns.
PET bottles are sorted, ground into fine chips, and then cleaned. These chips are then melted and extruded into fiber and spun into carpet yarn. Every aspect of the process is controlled by Mohawk resulting in the finest quality meeting the highest standards of performance.

And it doesn’t end with the carpet - every part of the plastic bottle is recycled, including the cap, the label, and the bottle. The cap and the label are used to make carpet cores around which the carpet is wrapped. These are reused over and over again, unlike cardboard cores that would typically be discarded. The actual bottle is then used to make the PET carpet fiber.

Fun Fact: On average, 30 plastic bottles are recycled to make one square yard of Mohawk everSTRAND™ carpet. (This number accounts for an average-sized bottle of water and average carpet weight; varies based on bottle size and carpet weight.)

LAMINATE: Installation Information

2009-01-27T16:41:00.000-08:00

Things worth knowing prior to installation day.

You’ve learned all you need to (Hopefully by visiting our store and this website), shopped smart, and made your best purchase decision.

Now we offer two words of advice: be prepared. Get ready for the day your new laminate flooring will arrive for installation.

Being prepared and involved will help insure that the process is done smoothly and efficiently, and, hopefully, eliminate expressions of “I wish I’d remembered to…”.

Knowing what to expect will also be a lot less stressful on you, your family and your home.

Let the pros do the job is our first advice.

Installing this type of floor yourself is difficult work, labor intensive, and extremely exacting.

We recommend you call upon a reliable professional to install your laminate floor. That way you can be assured of a beautiful, efficient and correct installation.

That way you can be assured of a beautiful, efficient and correct installation.

Which is precisely what our goal is for you.

So please allow us to cover some of the basics with you.

Numerous creators, yet a single process.

Today there are many manufacturers producing laminate flooring products.

Most manufacturers have their own specific installation guidelines, however the overall process is the same.

Laminate floors use what is known as a “floating floor” installation. This means the planks or tiles simply lay on top of the floor without being adhered to the subfloor and are only adhered to each other on the edges.

Side seams are either glued together or joined using a “glueless” installation where the planks or tiles tightly interlock together. Both installations are considered floating floors.

First, your floor goes under the glass.

The first step an installer takes when installing a laminate floor is to closely inspect your subfloor for any imperfections.

While no floor is perfectly level, the subfloor should be checked for any noticeable gaps or ridges that could cause problems.

Your floor is then cleaned.

Understand underlayment, for it’s the next step.

The installers now put down an underlayment directly over your subfloor.

This underlayment allows the floor to expand and contract with changes in temperature and also acts as a sound and moisture barrier. Both good ideas.

In some installations, there are two underlayment layers.

The first layer is installed to specifically act as a moisture barrier while the second layer provides a sound barrier and enhances your flooring’s performance.

The underlayment is typically rolled out and taped together at the seams.

Installers will cut the pieces of underlayment where needed with a precision utility knife to make a perfect fit.

Now your laminate planks or tiles are laid.

Installers will typically begin in the left corner of the area and leave a minimum 1/4" space between the flooring and the perimeter walls.

This is done because the laminate requires space around the edges of the room to expand or contract.

Without that “breathing room” your floor will express its discontent. If the floor is touching or too close to a wall, it can buckle in the middle.

Along the wall, the installers use spacers as they work, to ensure the accuracy of this perimeter space.

They use one spacer for each square foot. Once your floor is fully installed they remove the spacers and cover the perimeter gap with quarter round trim or a wall base.

As the installers lay the planks or tiles in the desired pattern, they will carefully measure and precisely cut them to fit.

Clueless about glueless? Here’s what to know.

As mentioned earlier, many laminates today don’t require glue for the installation.

These glueless products have significantly impacted the laminate flooring industry and there are several reasons why the glueless laminates are so popular.

Most importantly, they are easy to install. The installer simply puts down an underlayment and the laminate interlock to each other one at a time.

If something goes wrong during installation, your floor can be dismantled plank by plank, or tile by tile, and re-built.

If one of the planks gets damaged after installation, your entire floor can be removed, the damaged plank replaced, and the floor can be put back together again.

Understand that some floors need glue.

For floors that require glue on the sides of the planks or tiles, the installers begin by gluing the first two panels in the first row together.

Again, they start in the left-hand corner and glue the first row together at the ends.

As they glue each plank or tile they apply clamps or use straps to hold the pieces together.

Although planks or tiles usually fit together easily, installers will sometimes use a tapping block while fitting the boards together.

For installations that use glue, once the floor is completed and the glue is dry, installers then remove the spacers.

To finish your floor, the installers add molding to cover the perimeter gap and install any additional transition trim pieces needed in doorways or where the laminate meets a different type of flooring.

Custom finished moldings and trim will give your laminate flooring a beautiful, finished look. They are all coordinated to match or accentuate the design of your floor. It’s all part of a professional installation.

For your knowledge, here are some finishing terms and definitions.

Reducer Strip is used to create a smooth transition between two floors of different heights, as well as protect the plank or tile exposed edges from damage caused by foot traffic.

Overlapping Stair Nosing is similar to a flush stair nosing except the nosing overlaps the exposed edge of your floor.

The overlapping stair nosing is secured to the subfloor and not to the laminate floor so the floor is free to move. Recall the “floating floor” idea we mentioned earlier in this section.

T-Molding is used to bridge two areas of flooring that are the exact same height.

The T-Molding overlaps the exposed edges of the floor and is secured only to the subfloor, never to the flooring itself.

Generally this trim is used as the transition piece between rooms, or as the expansion piece for areas that exceed 30 feet in length.

Universal Edge is also called a Square Nosing and is used where the laminate flooring butts up to carpeting, or various vertical surfaces where the edge will be exposed, such as along a fireplace.

Quarter Round gives the floor a finished look and protects the edges of your laminate flooring.

The result is a beautiful, professionally installed laminate floor.

What to know and do BEFORE installation day

Furniture is the first step.

Remove all furniture and other objects and materials from the areas where the installation will take place. Curtis Carpet may move your furniture, but there may be an additional charge for doing so.

Before moving, you’ll also need to empty the contents of china cabinets, closets and the like.

Be aware that the area of installation must be climate controlled (heated or air conditioned). Indoor humidity should be maintained between 45-65%.

What about your old floor covering?

Please consider how your old floor covering will be taken up and disposed of. This can be a time consuming task. We recommend that you check with us about the cost and the method of disposal.

If you prefer to remove your present floor covering, do it at least one day prior to arrival of your laminate product to allow for cleanup and floor preparation.

Know what to do with your trim.

In many cases, moldings and baseboards need to be removed for laminate installation. Your installer may do this but at an additional charge. Curtis Carpet is not responsible for damage or breakage due to dry or brittle wood.

Painted baseboards, woodwork and paint may need retouching after the installation is complete. If necessary, this is your responsibility.

Subflooring is next.

Your existing subfloor may need to be prepared to receive the laminate, or a new subfloor may be required. We suggest you discuss this with us and, if subfloor work is necessary, that it be done by qualified professionals. It is important that the subfloor be as clean and level as possible.

Doors need your attention.

When laminate is installed, there’s always the possibility that the doors, especially closet doors, basement and bedroom doors, may not clear the new laminate and swing free.

Some installers will remove doors in order to install the laminate and re-hang them if possible. Curtis Carpet doesn't shave or cut down doors to insure clearance. You may need to arrange for a qualified carpenter to provide this service after the installation of your new laminate floor.

Follow-up on the clean-up.

Installing new laminate will produce waste.

Usually these materials are collected by your installer and brought back to our Warehouse.

What to know and do DURING installation day

Installation day is a stay at home day or arrange entry.

Be prepared to be at home the day of installation or be available in case the installation crew has questions. Your presence will insure that the correct laminate is installed in the right areas. Because it is difficult to estimate the length and circumstances of each job, some installers may not be able to give you an exact time of arrival or completion. We will keep you updated on the installer’s schedule.

Your safety is top priority.

Your installers will use a variety of tools and techniques that can make the work area hazardous. Please make sure that your children and pets are kept out of the work area on installation day.

The walk-thru is a key step.

We recommend that, prior to the completion of the installation, you walk thru the job with the installer. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and be clear on any final details.

What to know and do AFTER installation day

Air on the healthy side.

If you are sensitive to dust and odors, good ventilation should be established for 48 to 72 hours after installation.

Be in the know by having a plan.

Being prepared for installation day through careful planning and smart preparing will make your life and the installers a lot easier. It will also make your laminate flooring experience enjoyable right from day one.

LAMINATES: Before You Buy

2009-01-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

Whatever your flooring budget, you need to be assured that once you make your purchase you know all the basic facts about your flooring choice.

Buying laminate flooring is no exception.

It pays, today and tomorrow, to know not only the basics but also some of the specifics.

That’s why we offer you this section.

It’s a summary of many of the things you should know about laminate before you buy.

That way your final decision not only creates a warm, inviting environment in your living spaces but also delivers what laminate floors are noted for: excellent durability and easy maintenance.

This flooring stands up and stands out.

Laminate flooring is a remarkably durable surface, stain resistant, and does not need to be varnished or waxed so it’s very easy to maintain.

These are floors for busy households, especially homes with kids and pets.

Today’s laminate styles consist of authentic wood visuals, rich ceramic looks, or natural stone designs with different surface textures to beautifully accommodate any room in your home.

Understand this about pricing.

When considering laminates, you will notice that there is not much price variation in styles.

This is due to the relatively uniform manufacturing process for all laminates: no matter what the style, color or type, it is still a photograph that provides the decorative surface.

The more expensive laminates include those with a textured and more natural looking surface with a greater number of screens.

Laminate floors that simulate the more exotic varieties of hardwood flooring quickly rise in price. So keep that in mind.

However, higher-end laminates are more durable and have extended warranties.

What you should know about “floating”.

Laminate floors are installed using a “floating floor system” in which a padded underlayment sits between the subfloor and the laminate planks.

The planks sit directly on the underlayment and are not anchored to the sublfoor on the bottom but rather anchored by the edges.

When walked upon, this type of installation can produce a hollow sound and have a slight give.

Slight ridging or peaking where planks are joined together may also occur. This is considered normal and nothing for you to be concerned about.

Most laminate floors lock together without the use of adhesive on the sides of the planks. These are glueless installations.

Glueless laminate floors have planks that simply interlock together. These floors make for easy repair if that is ever necessary for you down the road.

Get on top of the bottom line. Know the entire cost of ownership.

The “cost per square foot” of your laminate floor is just one component of the entire project cost. To ensure there are no surprises, and the laminate you select fits within your overall project budget, be sure to ask us to calculate the total cost of your floor covering project.

Here’s a list of potential additional expenses you may incur:

Furniture removal/replacement.
Demolition/disposal of old floor covering. Depending on the existing floor covering, this can be an expensive item.
Subfloor preparation. Depending on the condition of the subfloor, it may require additional work.
Laminate installation. Determine the cost per square foot to install it.
Materials required to complete the installation. Your new laminate floor may require additional materials and moldings to install it properly.

Be sure to also consult the manufacturer’s warranty and care guide for directions on how frequently the floor should be cleaned and the cost to clean it.

There’s a lot to know and keep in mind before buying a laminate floor, but it’s well worth the effort. If you’re a smart and knowledgeable shopper it will show where it counts – in a beautiful, durable and easy to care for floor.

LAMINATE: Styles and Moldings

2009-01-27T16:33:00.000-08:00

Laminate offers you a large family of styles and our goal is to help you understand the big picture on installation types when it comes to this unique family of flooring products. This information will let you shop smarter and compare with confidence.
For many of us, when it comes to picking a style of any product, we usually “know it when we see it.” Perhaps that describes you, too.
Well, if laminate interests you, it’s virtually guaranteed you’ll find a style that’s right for your home.
This section explains laminate types of installation, and offers you all the information you need to make smart choices.

Is it real or laminate?

If laminates looked fake the last time you checked, it’s time to check again!
Today’s laminates are looking better and better, and often need close examination to be identified.
Laminates have truly come a long way. Why?
Because of the growing popularity of laminates, manufacturers are creating an increasing array of traditional, rustic, and exotic wood grain designs.
In fact, presses have improved to the point where the texture imprinted on top of the design looks more real than ever, even with distressed wood or natural stone designs.

Want to know what’s new under the laminate sun?

As with sheet vinyl floors, some of the new laminates really have the look of natural materials, particularly the textured products that give the floor dimension. The most common, basic laminate designs have a wood grain appearance.
Some of the most popular laminates have rustic or historic wood grain patterns.
If you’re curious about what are the best sellers, it’s the natural stone look-a-likes, particularly slate and tumbled tile varieties.

Quality is focused on the photography.

The quality of the laminate partially has to do with the photography and the number of photographs per style, which is known as "screens".

Here’s an example for you. When manufacturers emulate a natural stone tile, they try to recreate the variation in color, pattern and texture that is a result of cutting a natural product.
The more screens a product has, the more variation it can offer. And the more “authentic” the laminate looks.

Understand this about color.

Like any floor, select the laminate color to compliment the size of your room and the activities taking place in it.
Remember that lighter colors will make a smaller room appear larger, while darker colors will absorb the light and create a more intimate setting.
Choose a color that either coordinates or contrasts with your cabinets and other furniture. Avoid matching everything to the same color and style.
Let your creativity guide you! And remember, contrasts can make your room more interesting.

Laminate flooring types – yours will be installed in one of these two forms.

Glueless laminate flooring.

No mess, glueless installation makes these floors quick and easy-to-install.
They come in a variety of ceramic and wood designs and colorations, as well as some manufacturers offer a real, hardwood veneer instead of a printed layer. It looks amazingly hardwood-like.
These floors come in both planks and squares. A thin, plastic underlayment is needed to seal out moisture from below. (Remember, moisture is the enemy of your flooring.)
In fact, most laminate floors require a plastic underlay sheet (4 mil poly) be installed directly underneath the laminate planks or tiles.
This helps the floor float freely over the subfloor. Another option is to add a vapor barrier or noise reduction underlay before installing the laminate flooring.

Laminate flooring with attached underlay.

These floors come with several different types of tongue and grooved locking systems and an attached underlayment to reduce noise levels. That’s good to know.

Moldings are the finishing touch.
Laminate moldings also affect the overall style and give your room a beautiful finished look.
Moldings are important because they cover the space that is allowed for the flooring to expand and move naturally on top of the subfloor, and they help with the transition to an adjacent floor.

Most manufacturers offer coordinating moldings for all styles and colors for any laminate flooring you choose. However, be aware that moldings for laminates are slightly larger than their wood or ceramic tile counterparts.

Here, to familiarize you with various standard moldings, are some styles and definitions.

The Flush Stairnose is a coordinating piece providing the proper transition for all the steps in your home.
A Reducer Strip is the transitional piece the installers use to connect the laminate with another type of floor covering such as vinyl, thin ceramic tile, or low-pile carpeting.
An End Molding or Carpet Reducer is used as a transition from laminate floors to different flooring surfaces when the reducer does not allow enough height, such as on high-pile carpet or thick ceramic tile.
AT-Molding is commonly used in doorways to join two laminate floors in adjoining rooms. It's also recommended when making transitions from a laminate floor to another floor that is approximately the same height.
Finally, a Quarter Round may be installed wherever the laminate floor meets the wall or baseboard.

We recommend that you work closely with us to become familiar with the moldings and transition pieces. Ask to see samples if possible, so there are no surprises come installation time.

With a lot of knowledge, hopefully from the above, and a little imagination (that’s your department), you will find a laminate flooring that is just right for you and your home. We are the experts to make your project into your home.

LAMINATES: Introduction

2009-01-27T16:23:00.000-08:00

Floor to Ceiling Interiors has a lot of experience with laminate flooring. We’re familiar with all of its characteristics and capabilities. We want to build your understanding of laminate flooring; increase your information about it and decrease any concerns you may have about it.

We want you to know all about the world of laminate flooring. Whether it’s at our store or here within our website, we want you to understand, learn, experience -- know -- as much about laminate products as you need to.

So if laminate flooring is a possibility, you’ve come to the right place and the right people.
You’re certainly in good company. Laminate flooring is the choice for many homeowners.
There are many good reasons why laminate flooring is a popular choice in today’s homes.
But if it’s going to be a possibility for your customer's home, then you need to first understand what laminate is.

Laminate is a manufactured product that simulates the look of hardwood, ceramic tile, natural stone and many other types of flooring.

Now, in the past, laminate floors have been easy to spot, but today’s technology allows manufacturers to create realistic visuals and textures for an elegant and quality floor.
We think you’ll be amazed – maybe surprised -- at how beautifully laminate flooring resembles other premium flooring.

In fact, many of today’s laminate styles consist of extremely authentic wood or natural stone visuals to accommodate any room in your home.

Laminate is well suited to those shoppers who want the look and feel of real hardwood or stone but without the cost or maintenance that can be associated with natural products.

It’s a fact. Laminate flooring costs significantly less than hardwood floors or natural stone tile.
So, laminate seems to be popular among buyers who are looking for a beautiful, durable, yet cost-effective flooring solution for their home.

And laminate floors function well in any space with their many different styles and colors.
You can choose from natural colors and dark wood grains as well as warm or cool color tones to compliment any room décor in the home.

And if the “plank” look interests you, many hardwood plank designs are offered in laminate, including rare, exotic wood species.

Laminate stone and tile patterns will give you the elegant look of tile, but without the concerns of grout cleaning or cracking tile. Something you might want to consider.

And if yours is a busy household or a home with children, a durable, low maintenance product like laminate flooring is a great choice for your active lifestyle.

Because laminate flooring is stain resistant, it doesn’t need to be varnished or waxed. A good thing to know.

Laminate floors are also less likely to fade in direct sunlight, unlike aging hardwood floors.
And don’t worry if you feel a little unfamiliar with this product. Laminate floors are relatively new to this country, but have been used in Europe for more than 25 years.

Why Europe you ask? Since laminate flooring can be installed over many types of existing floors it has made it a natural for old European buildings.

But more and more Americans are becoming familiar with laminate flooring because they have been aware of laminate countertops for years.

By using the countertop technology and adding considerably more resin to the wear layer, some laminate floor manufacturers boast that their laminate floors are now 10 to 20 times harder than laminate countertops.

Since this resin-filled wear layer is so dense, it becomes extremely difficult to stain or scratch.
And here’s something you might find interesting. Laminate floors are never secured directly to the subfloor, instead they are floated over the subfloor.

This allows laminate flooring to be used over a wide variety of subfloors, including wooden subfloors, existing floors and even concrete slabs.

Which may explain why, today, laminate flooring has become one of the best selling floor coverings in the United States.

To recap, you should know that laminate floors offer many benefits to you and your customer's home, including:

Exceptional durability
Easy to clean surface
Superior stain resistance
Superior fade resistance
Install in/on all grade levels, even below grade
Install over many different types of subfloors
Great impact and indentation resistance
Exceptional realism at affordable costs
Easy to replace later on, if desired

We invite you to investigate the other laminate sections to get “in the know” and learn if durable, versatile and cost-efficient laminate flooring is the answer for your home.

We proudly carry the following laminate lines:

Shaw Laminate
Balterio
Alloc
Mega Clic
Scottsdale
Quik Step

QUICK LINKS:

Laminate: Before You Buy

Styles and Moldings

Installation Information

VINYL: Maintenance

2009-01-27T16:19:00.000-08:00

Flooring, no matter how new or beautiful, is meant to be walked upon. Vinyl flooring is no exception. Time and the onslaught of foot traffic will most certainly take its toll. But take heart, keeping your vinyl flooring as beautiful and inviting as the day it was installed just requires a little knowledge.

So check out the following advice and be a little smarter about smart and stylish vinyl flooring.

Consistency is the key.

New vinyl floors are extremely durable and long lasting, but like any floor covering they still need regular maintenance to stay looking like new. Follow these general guidelines for vinyl flooring. For more detailed information always refer to the manufacturer's written floor care procedures.

Know this about time and temperature.

For the first 24 hours after your new vinyl floor is installed, protect all the seamed areas and don't walk on the seam sealer.

Keep the room at 68° F or greater for at least 2 days after installation to allow the adhesives to setup properly.

Do not roll heavy objects directly on to a newly installed vinyl floor for at least 5 days. This can cause the vinyl and adhesive to become compressed, and once the adhesive sets up any compressed marks will become permanent.

Allow 5 days before thoroughly washing your floor. This will give the adhesive time to cure.

It’s smart to spread your weight around.

Before moving heavy objects across your vinyl floor, hold on! Always lay plywood or underlayment sheets down to disperse the weight.

Before placing chairs or furniture on your new vinyl floor check the condition of all the casters or rollers before setting them on your floor. Replace any worn casters or rollers.

Protect your vinyl floor by covering the legs of furniture with felt protectors.

Get down and dirty with dirt.

Remove dust, sand and grit particles frequently by sweeping or vacuuming your vinyl floor.

Don’t use a vacuum with a beater bar as it may scratch your floor.

The attachments that come with your vacuum are useful to clean the edges or to get to hard to reach areas

When sweeping or vacuuming does not remove the dirt, mop the floor with clean warm water.

Rinse the floor thoroughly with fresh water. If water alone does not clean the surface, use cleaning products recommended by the manufacturer.

You can also use one tablespoon of clear ammonia to one quart of lukewarm water. Make sure you rinse the surface to avoid leaving behind a film.

Finally, think prevention. Place non-staining, walk-off mats or rugs at every outside entry to your room.

This will help keep sand and grit from being tracked on to your floor in the first place. Just be sure to avoid using rubber-backed mats or rugs as they can damage and potentially discolor your floor. Instead use mats or rugs made especially for vinyl floors and remember to treat them accordingly. Shake, shake, shake!

Spills happen. Use these tips.

For spots or spills, wipe them up immediately and use a clean cloth to wipe the cleaner onto the floor.

Make sure the floor’s manufacturer recommends the cleaner and that the product label indicates “self-cleaning,” meaning you will not get an accumulation of wax on your floor.

Rinse the spot or spill area thoroughly and wipe dry with a clean cloth. Avoid using abrasive scrubbing tools as they will leave scratches. Never use abrasive cleaners, soaps, paste waxes, or solvents on your vinyl floor

How to get the old sparkle back.

If your floor becomes dull looking, first, try cleaning it with lukewarm water and clear ammonia to see if there’s a film on your floor causing the dullness. (Exact proportions of water to ammonia are stated above.)

If that doesn’t work, use the manufacturer's recommended floor polish to restore your vinyl floor to its original gloss level.

For serious damage, call on the pros.

If you have a seam open, cover it immediately, do not wash that area, and contact us at 805.339.0883 to repair the seam.

VINYL: Installation Information

2009-01-27T16:07:00.000-08:00

If you’re like many shoppers, you can just picture your new vinyl flooring, all beautifully installed, clean and promising – an inviting new stage upon which life in your home will now unfold.
Well, don’t lose that picture but do be prepared.

Being prepared and involved will help insure that the installation process is done smoothly and efficiently, and, hopefully, eliminate expressions of “I wish I’d known that.”.

Knowing what to expect will be a lot less stressful on you, your family and your home.
To that point, we’ve built this section around many of the things you should be aware of, plan ahead about, and carefully consider before your new vinyl flooring arrives.

Our first tip is about who should do the installation.
Now, you may be wondering if you could install your vinyl floor. Well, allow us to answer that right up front. That way you can be assured of a beautiful, efficient and correct installation.
Installing vinyl flooring is a skill that is developed through years of experience, your understanding of the basics of installation will increase your knowledge of the process, and enhance your confidence in our professionals working in your home.

To begin, our installers get to the bottom of things.

As with most flooring products, the first step is to prepare the substrate, the surface on which the vinyl flooring will be laid. If installing over a wood substrate, an underlayment will generally be necessary.

Installing over a concrete substrate will not require an underlayment but will require some floor preparation. You will need to give attention to the height of appliances to counters and cabinets if an underlayment is required. Moisture testing for installations over concrete is required by manufacturers, so please understand that if your installers perform that task.

Can you install new vinyl flooring over existing vinyl flooring?
In some cases, yes. This is where employing qualified flooring professionals really pays off.
They can determine if your existing vinyl flooring is acceptable or if it will need to be removed.

Three methods are used to install vinyl flooring depending on manufacturer and style: Full Spread, Perimeter Adhered or Floating.

Full Spread means the adhesive is troweled over the entire substrate.

Perimeter Adhered is an installation method in which adhesive is only applied to the perimeter of the flooring and also at the seams.

Floating is a type of installation in which the vinyl flooring is not bonded to the substrate by any adhesive.

Your beautiful new vinyl floor will be professionally installed using one of those three methods.

What to know and do BEFORE installation day

Your furniture is priority one.

Remove all furniture and other objects and materials from the areas where the installation will take place. Our installers will move your furniture, but there may be an additional charge for doing so.

Before moving, you’ll also need to empty the contents of china cabinets, closets and the like.
Be aware that the area of installation must be climate controlled (heated or air conditioned). Indoor humidity should be maintained between 45-65%.

Make a decision on your old floor covering.

Please consider how your old floor covering will be taken up and disposed of. This can be a time consuming task. We recommend that you check with us about the cost and the method of disposal.

If you prefer to remove your present floor covering, do it at least one day prior to arrival of your vinyl product to allow for cleanup and floor preparation. If removing old carpet, please leave tack strips in place and pull the staples out of the floor from the original pad.

What’s to be done with the trim?

In most cases, moldings and baseboards need to be removed for vinyl installation. Your installer may do this but at an additional charge and Drapery Affair - Floor to Ceiling Interiors is not responsible for damage or breakage due to dry or brittle wood.

Painted baseboards, woodwork and paint may need retouching after the installation is complete. If necessary, this is your responsibility.

Next area is the subflooring.

Your existing subfloor may need to be prepared to receive the vinyl, or a new subfloor may be required. We suggest you discuss this with us and, if subfloor work is necessary, that it be done by qualified professionals. It is important that the subfloor be as clean and level as possible.

Get in the know about the clean-up.

Installing new vinyl will produce waste. Usually these materials are collected by your installer and brought back to our Warehouse. .

What to know and do DURING installation day

Be home on the big day or arrange entry.

Be prepared to be at home the day of installation and be available in case the installation crew has questions. Your presence will insure that the correct vinyl is installed in the right areas. Because it is difficult to estimate the length and circumstances of each job, some installers may not be able to give you an exact time of arrival or completion. We suggest you be flexible and keep in touch with us.

Keep safety top of mind.

Your installers will use a variety of tools and techniques that can make the work area hazardous. Please make sure that your children and pets are kept out of the work area on installation day.

Walk through and ask questions.

We recommend that, prior to the completion of the installation, you walk through the job with the installer. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and be clear on any final details.

What to know and do AFTER installation day

Time and temp are key.

For a minimum of 24 hours after your new vinyl floor is installed, protect all the seamed areas, don't walk on them or the seam sealer.

Keep the room at 68° F or greater for at least 2 days after installation to allow the adhesives to setup properly.

If you are sensitive to dust and odors, good ventilation should be established for 48 to 72 hours after installation.

If your vinyl floor was installed using the Full Spread method, no appliances should be moved in for a minimum of 24-72 hours after installation by the customer. Light foot traffic is allowed after 24 hours.

If the Perimeter Adhered installation method was utilized, no appliances should be moved in for a minimum of 24-72 hours after installation by the customer. Light foot traffic is allowed after 24 hours.

If the installers used the Floating method, appliances can be moved in immediately and foot traffic is OK immediately following installation.

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors recommends our installers move the appliances back in place, they work with vinyl on a daily basis and know what amount of pressure the vinyl can take. Do not rely on the wheels that may be attached to the refrigerator to move the appliance back in as they can cause damage to the new floor.

Allow 5 days before thoroughly washing your floor. This will give time for the adhesive to cure.
When it comes to preparing for your vinyl flooring installation, we want you to know all about those things that will make the installation as smooth and efficient as possible. So that the picture of the vinyl flooring you have in your mind today will come true, and stay true for many years.

VINYL: Before You Buy

2009-01-27T16:03:00.000-08:00

Today’s vinyl flooring offers wall-to-wall benefits.

The vinyl offered today is quite different than the vinyl of yesterday. Advances in construction and aesthetics have produced fashionable products that are both durable and affordable.

You should know that many of the popular patterns today are inspired by nature, including those that imitate the exquisite look of natural stone. With an abundance of patterns and new methods of texturing the surface, very realistic vinyl looks have been achieved.

Vinyl flooring made in layers.

Vinyl is constructed of several different layers: the wear layer, the printed or decorative layer, an inner core consisting of a foam and vinyl layer, and a backing.

Don’t automatically pick thick.

When selecting your vinyl flooring, thicker is not always better.
It’s the density of the inner core that will help your floor resist rips, tears, gouges and indentations.

Above all, concentrate on the top layer.

Understand that the quality of the wearlayer, which is the actual surface layer of the floor, will determine how your floor will stand up to staining, scuffing and scratching. For example, a urethane wearlayer will help with stain resistance. We recommend you consult with us about the wearlayer that’s right for your home and lifestyle.

Study and know local traffic patterns.

When selecting the right vinyl for the rooms in your home, consider the room’s foot traffic and the types of activities that will take place. Ask us to review with you the manufacturer’s warranty and performance characteristics of the products that are available. Usually, extended warranties are available with upgraded products, giving you added confidence that your floor will stand up to your active household.

Here’s the line on seams.

Since vinyl comes in 6’ and 12’ widths, seaming may be necessary depending on the area to be covered. Certain patterns will hide seams better. For example, tile patterns with grout lines are better able to mask seams. Additionally, seam sealers may be visible in contrast with different vinyl textures and finishes. Be aware that it is your customer's responsibility to maintain caulking in heavy water use areas.

Get on top of the bottom line. Know the entire cost of ownership.

The “cost per square foot” of your vinyl floor is just one component of the entire project cost. To ensure there are no surprises, and the vinyl you select fits within your overall project budget, be sure to ask us to calculate the total cost of your floor covering project.

Here’s a list of potential additional expenses you may incur:

Furniture removal/replacement.
Demolition/disposal of old floor covering. Depending on the existing floor covering, this can be an expensive item.
Subfloor preparation. Depending on the condition of the subfloor, it may require additional work of new wood subfloor (1/4" underlayment).
Vinyl installation. Determine the cost per square foot to install it.
Materials required to complete the installation. Your new vinyl floor may require additional materials to install it properly.

Vinyl is one of America’s favorite floors, due to its unbeatable offering of design choices, durability, and value. With the added knowledge from this section we hope we’ve made it a popular possibility for your customer's home.

VINYL: Styles and Sizes

2009-01-27T15:36:00.000-08:00

One truth is constant, you get what you pay for.

And as you move up in the vinyl price range there are many benefits. In terms of product selection alone, more versatile patterns, colors and textures will be available to you.

When shopping for performance, today’s premium wearlayers offer superior resistance to stains, scuffs and scratches. That’s worth noting if you live in an active household, or with kids or pets.

Some premium wearlayers are enhanced with aluminum oxide or ScotchGuard, which provides exceptional resistance to scratching. More importantly, these wearlayers make clean up a breeze, making your life a little easier.

You’ll also notice that, as you move up in price, you’ll get enhanced performance constructions designed to protect your floor from rips, tears, gouges and permanent indentations.

Size dictates the vinyl pattern.

When selecting a vinyl pattern, you want to consider the size of the room and the size of the pattern. Keep in minds vinyl comes in three sizes; 6 foot width, 12 foot width, or 13'2" width.

The decorating rule of thumb still applies to vinyl flooring in relation to room size and color.

Lighter flooring colors will make a smaller room appear larger, while darker colors will absorb the light and create a more intimate setting.

When working with vinyl flooring pattern sizes, a smaller pattern works well in small areas or in rooms where the pattern will be visually interrupted with pieces of furniture, or a kitchen island.

However, remember that larger flooring patterns can sometimes actually visually expand a room.

Keep fabric and wallpaper in mind.

When considering vinyl flooring styles you’ll also want to consider any printed fabric on your furniture or wallpaper in the room. If the fabric or wallpaper is a large-scale print you’ll want to look at smaller patterns for the floor. Conversely, if you have a small-scale pattern in the fabric or wallpaper you’ll want a larger pattern for the floor.

Don’t be at a loss about gloss.

Vinyl flooring products come in a selection of gloss levels to suit your needs. Generally speaking, the lower the gloss level, the more forgiving your floor will be to the daily wear of foot traffic. Choose your gloss level accordingly.

VINYL: Introduction

2009-01-27T15:31:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the unique and surprising world of resilient/vinyl flooring and our universe of information, a universe with just one goal. We want you to know. We want you to know all about the flooring called resilient/vinyl.

Whether it’s at our store or here in our website, we want you to understand, learn, experience -- know -- as much about resilient/vinyl as you need to.

We call on our experience to provide you with valuable information, delivered in an easy to understand way, so you make the smartest decisions for you, your family and home.

First, allow us to clear up some of the terminology so you can be a smarter shopper in this category of flooring. Resilient floors, as the name implies, have some "give" or elasticity when you walk across them. Resilient floors are often used in kitchens and baths because of their good looks, resistance to moisture and wide variety of colors and textures.
These floors are relatively easy to keep clean. Their main enemy is grit or sand that can be ground into the surface. (Don’t worry, we’ll tell you how to maintain them in the Maintenance section.)

No matter which resilient floor you choose, you will find stylish options, high performance and tremendous value. You can completely customize your floor by mixing contrasting colors patchwork style, creating medallions or curved cuts that express your unique vision and personality. Let your imagination run free!

Now, some resilient floors are vinyl but not all vinyl floors are resilient. However, the most common type of resilient flooring is vinyl, which is why most of the sections in this part of the website are labeled Vinyl.

There are two types of vinyl flooring: sheet vinyl and vinyl composition tiles (VCT).
For our purposes here, and throughout the rest of the sections, we will refer to sheet vinyl simply as vinyl, or vinyl flooring. VCT has all the advantages of vinyl, is available in a wide array of colors and can look good anywhere. Spare vinyl composition tiles can be kept on hand to repair worn areas, and the VCT format opens up unlimited possibilities for creating your own unique patterns. However, vinyl flooring also offers you many tempting advantages. In fact, no other floor covering category offers you the selection, styling, ease of maintenance and value as a vinyl floor!

Thanks to some great advancements in styling and technology, vinyl floors have been changed forever. Vinyl flooring can now realistically mimic the look and textures of real resilient, stone and wood grain patterns.

These amazing replicas have such incredible realism it is difficult for most people to tell whether it's the real thing or not. Who needs to know, right?

Finally, a note about linoleum, which is not a resilient flooring but the one you probably recall as the original kitchen and bath flooring. While linoleum, because it is a "natural" flooring material, is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance, the most popular floor covering material in this category is vinyl. But never fear, we want you to know about linoleum, and cork, rubber and specialty resilient flooring. Just click on the sub-section called Specialty Products and learn about them.

And don’t forget to explore all the other Vinyl sections for more important information, more exciting, fashionable choices, and a possible flooring solution for the way you live.
Thanks to some great advancements in styling and technology, vinyl floors have been changed forever.

Vinyl flooring can now realistically mimic the look and textures of real ceramic, stone and wood grain patterns. These amazing replicas have such incredible realism it is difficult for most people to tell whether it's the real thing or not. Who needs to know, right?

QUICK LINKS:

Vinyl: Before You Buy

Installation Information

Maintenance

HARDWOOD: Maintenance

2009-01-23T13:10:00.000-08:00

Once installed, your hardwood floor will look beautiful, but time and traffic, stains and spills, will take their toll. So, you need a short course on taking care of your floor, and for that you’ve come to the right place.

We want you to know all about hardwood maintenance because the more you know the better able you’ll be to keep your floor looking new.

Wood is a natural, beautiful and timeless design element. Consistent and correct maintenance will insure it remains that way.

Entrances are your first line of defense.

Place walk off mats or area rugs at each entryway to collect dirt and grit that might be tracked in. These tiny particles act like sandpaper and will scratch your floor. Be sure to avoid using rubber-backed or non-ventilated mats or rugs as they can damage your floor. Instead use mats or rugs made especially for hardwood floors and remember to shake them out regularly. In addition to entryways, remember to place mats in any areas where water may be splashed, such as near a kitchen sink.

Invest in these tools.

Buy a good quality broom and sweep your new floor regularly to pick up grains of dirt, dust and other particles. A vacuum cleaner, without a beater bar, can be helpful in between planks and other hard to reach areas. Once dirt and grease are gone, buffing can help restore the luster of your hardwood floor.

Keep in mind these cleaning tips.

Cleaning techniques vary depending on the installation and finish of your hardwood floor.
For “Finish in Place” hardwood floors, we recommend using an 8”x14” terrycloth mop with a rotating head that makes cleaning corners, under cabinets and along base boards an easy task.

Spray a professional wood floor cleaning product recommended by us to safely remove tough stains and spills without dulling the finish of your floor. Manufacturers of “Pre-finished” hardwood floors recommend their own specific products designed for their floors routine maintenance. Be sure to check with us as well about these cleaners.

All floors with a urethane finish should never be waxed and require cleaners that won’t leave a film or residue. A hardwood floor cleaner is useful in removing occasional scuffs or heel marks. Merely spray some cleaner on a cloth and lightly rub the stained area. Sticky spots can be cleaned with a damp towel or sponge.

Do not use ammonia cleaners or oil soaps on a wood floor, as they will dull the finish and performance of your floor. These products will also affect the ability to recoat your floor later. Since wood naturally expands when it is wet, never wet mop or use excessive water to clean your floor. Large amounts of water can cause the wood to swell and may cause your floor to crack or splinter.

Being a natural product, hardwood will expand and contract due to moisture level changes. Minimize water exposure to hardwood floors and clean up spills as soon as they happen.

Know this about deep cleaning.

If your floor is showing excessive wear beyond normal cleaning you may want to consider screening and recoating. Screening is the process used to abrade the polyurethane finish that is currently on the floor. Then, fresh coats of urethane are applied. Screening and recoating will rejuvenate and prolong the life of your hardwood floor.

If the damage to the floor is severe and has gone through the stain of the boards down to the bare wood, you can sand and refinish. This should only be done if a screening and recoating does not solve the problem. This is an extensive process where the floor is sanded down to the bare wood, restained and then refinished.

If the damage is only in a small area you may want to see if replacement boards are available to alleviate having to refinish an entire area.Be sure to hire an experienced professional when having any work done on your hardwood floor.

Finally, protect against time, sun and traffic.

All hardwood floors will fade, darken or change shades over time. Exposure to sunlight will greatly increase this process.

Window treatments are recommended, as well as rotating area rugs and furniture regularly to allow floors to age evenly from UV exposure. Cover furniture and table legs with protectors to guard your floor against damage. Take care when moving heavy objects across your floor to avoid scuffing.

HARDWOOD: Product Information

2009-01-23T13:01:00.000-08:00

Knowing someone’s style can tell you many things about him or her. The same goes when shopping for hardwood flooring. Understanding the types, species and finishes of hardwood products can provide you with valuable information, let you shop smarter and compare with confidence.

In this section you’ll learn all about the wide array of hardwood styles on the market today. In fact, there are so many design options available you can create a hardwood floor that matches both your lifestyle and your desire for beauty, durability and practicality.

For example, inserting decorative medallions, running the boards on the diagonal, or creating a border are just some of the designs one can consider. But before you get to the design, you need to know how to select the type of hardwood that’s right for you and your home.

Today, you can choose between a pre-finished hardwood floor and one that is unfinished.
Pre-finished hardwood comes ready for installation in your home. The hardwood boards have already been sanded, stained and finished at the manufacturing plant. In many cases this can provide a harder, better- protected surface. Pre-finished floors offer a wider variety of wood species and save hours of labor and cleanup.

But unfinished wood floors allow you to have a custom job – you choose the wood species and it’s sanded and the stain is applied on site. With unfinished you also have the chance to level the surface of the entire floor after it has been installed. You get an extended factory finish warranty with pre-finished floors, but not with most job-site finishes

Location is consideration No. 1.

To begin with, you need to look at where you plan on installing your new wood floor.
There are limitations on where some wood floors can be installed. This is especially true for the 3/4" solid wood floors.

Solid hardwood floors are more susceptible to moisture and are generally not recommended for basements, or installing directly onto a concrete slab.

Be in the know about grain and cut.

Hardwood styles are the result of the wood species available. Some of the more common species are red oak, white oak, maple, cherry, white ash, hickory or pecan. Each species has its own unique graining and texture. The graining on the boards is determined by the way it has been cut.

There are two cutting processes. “Sliced Cut” shows a more uniform pattern, whereas “Rotary Cut” displays a larger and bolder graining pattern.

Keep color in mind.

Within each species of hardwood you will have a choice of color and finishes. Here’s where it pays to shop carefully. When selecting a color, choose one that either coordinates or contrasts with your cabinetry and furniture. Also, keep in mind that darker woods tend to be more formal while natural colors are more casual.

Which finish?

You should be aware that there are different types of finishes depending on whether your hardwood floor is pre-finished or job site finished. In general, lower gloss levels are better suited for active rooms. This is because lower gloss or matte finishes help minimize the appearance of dirt and scratches. Consider the elegant look of the high gloss finish for a more formal décor.

Upkeep is no big deal.

The days of having to wax and scrub your hardwood floors are pretty much gone forever. Manufacturers of pre-finished wood floors have developed sophisticated techniques to quickly apply hard, durable, urethane-based finishes right at the factory.

By using ultra violet lights the pre-finished wood planks can have several coats of urethane applied within a matter of a few minutes. This is helping make hardwood floors both more affordable, and much easier to maintain.

Recently, the hardwood flooring manufacturers have begun to add small chips of Aluminum Oxide directly to the floor's finish which dramatically increases the life of the urethane finish.

Protection lies in numerous coats.

Most factory finished hardwood floors have several coats of finish applied to the wood's surface. As example, many wood floor companies are applying 6-10 coats of a ultra-violet (UV) cured urethane. This would be extremely difficult for someone to duplicate on a job site finish, not to mention how many days it would take.

This is one of the reasons why many flooring mechanics, flooring retailers, and builders are pushing pre-finished hardwood floors. Instead of taking several days to install and finish a new hardwood floor a pre-finished hardwood floor is generally done in one day.

This does not mean you should wash your floor with a mop, but it does mean these floors won't watermark like the old waxed hardwood floors. The UV cured urethane wood finishes do make these floors easier to maintain than the old waxed hardwood floors.

Factory Pre-finished hardwood finishing comes in many forms:

UV-cured – Factory finishes that are cured with Ultra Violet lights versus heat.
Polyurethane – A clear, tough and durable finish that is applied as a wear layer.
Acrylic-urethane – A slightly different chemical make up than Polyurethane with the same benefits.
Ceramic – Advanced technology that allows the use of space-age ceramics to increase the abrasion resistance of the wear layer.
Aluminum Oxide – Added to the urethane finish for increased abrasion resistance of the wear layer, which is becoming extremely popular on the better grade wood floors.
Acrylic Impregnated – Acrylic monomers are injected into the cell structure of the wood to give increased hardness and then finished with a wear layer over the wood.
Job-site hardwood flooring finishing methods are also available.
If you want a custom stained hardwood floor, or a wood floor to match existing trim, than a job-site finish is your answer. Job-site finish means you start with a bare (unfinished) hardwood floor and than the floor is sanded, stained, and finished in the home.

The other advantage of a job-site finish is, if you are concerned with uneven heights between planks, the sanding process will smooth out the floor. Be warned, though, this can be quite a mess and the process does take several days.
Job-site hardwood floor finishing methods include:
Water Based Urethane – Water is used as part of the chemical make up of the polyurethane finish.
Solvent Based Urethane – Oil is used as part of the chemical make up of the polyurethane finish.
Moisture Cured Urethane – A similar chemical make up as solvent based urethanes, but this finish needs the humidity (moisture) in the air to cure.

What to know about board widths.

When shopping for a hardwood floor you will see boards in various sizes. The narrower board widths are referred to as “strips” and the wider units as “planks.” You should be aware that board width can visually impact a room. Narrow width boards will expand a room, while wider boards work well in a larger room or area.

All about edges.

Different hardwood floors have different edges. Hardwood floors come in either a beveled edge, or a square edge. Today, most hardwood floor manufacturers are calling their beveled edge "eased edge" because the tapered edge is dramatically reduced from the old deeply grooved edges. The beveled edges do serve a purpose. The manufacturer can produce beveled edge planks faster than square edge, which in turn lowers their production costs. Also, a beveled edge floor is more forgiving when installed over irregular subfloors and you don't have the problem of overwood (uneven plank heights abutting each other).
To help you understand hardwood edges, here’s a summary of today’s types:

Square Edge:

The edges of all boards meet squarely creating a uniform, smooth surface that blends the floor together from board to board. The overall look of this floor gives a contemporary flair and formal feeling to the room.

Eased Edge:

These products have a very distinctive groove in them. Beveled edge planks lend themselves to an informal and country decor. With the urethane finishes applied at the factory today, the beveled edges are sealed completely, making dirt and grit easy to be swept or vacuumed out of the grooves.

Beveled Edge:

Rating the hardness of wood.

Below are listed the relative hardness for numerous wood species used in flooring.
These ratings were done using the Janka Hardness Test, which measure the force needed to embed a .444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in a piece of wood.
The higher the number the harder the wood. Although this is one of the best methods to measure the ability of wood species to withstand indentations, it should be used as a general guide when comparing various species of wood flooring.

The construction and finish also play an important role in the durability and ease of maintenance of any wood floor.

Wood Species	Hardness Rating
Douglas Fir	660
Southern Yellow Pine (short leaf)	690
Southern Yellow Pine (Long leaf)	870
Black Cherry	950
Teak	1000
Black Walnut	1010
Heart Pine	1225
Yellow Birch	1260
Red Oak (Northern)	1290
American Beech	1300
Ash	1320
White Oak	1360
Australian Cypress	1375
Hard Maple	1450
Wenge	1620
African Pedauk	1725
Hickory	1820
Pecan	1820
Purpleheart	1860
Jarrah	1910
Merbau	1925
Santos Mahogany	2200
Mesquite	2345
Brazilian Cherry	2350

Understanding the hardwood family should help you decide if this is a flooring answer for your client and their home. At the very least, we hope this section has increased your knowledge of hardwood, one of the most beautiful, inviting and enduring flooring options around.

HARDWOOD: Bamboo Introduction

2009-01-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

Why consider bamboo flooring for your home? It’s easier on the earth, harder than some hardwoods and resistant to flammability.

Unlike hardwood, bamboo is not a product of trees, it’s a fast growing grass.

Bamboo can grow from sprouts to harvesting in three to five years, thus an acre of bamboo can provide more flooring than an acre of trees.

When bamboo shoots are cut the roots remain intact and fresh new sprouts grow in their place.

The dense root mass of bamboo helps prevent soil erosion and provides a viable crop opportunity in hilly acres where other crops cannot grow.

The species used for flooring is harvested from selected groves in Southern China. And, good news -- this species is not eaten by Pandas.

Bamboo can be an attractive alternative to hardwood because it is eco-friendly, is dimensionally stable, 27% harder than Northern Red Oak, 13% harder than hard Maple, can either be nailed-down, glued-down or floated, and it’s resistant to flammability.

Bamboo flooring comes in planks and is installed just like engineered hardwood floors. These floors can be installed over many different types of subfloors.

If you think hardwood works, and may be the flooring for you, come discover all the other sections on this beautiful, versatile and inviting product.

HARDWOOD: Hardwood Introduction

2009-01-23T12:58:00.000-08:00

Our knowledge of hardwood is solid.

At Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors we know hardwood. We understand the features, advantages and benefits that make it a solid flooring choice and one of America’s most popular. Which is why we want you to know.

We want you to know all about hardwood; to understand and experience this versatile product so you can decide if it’s the smartest flooring choice for you. Hardwood certainly answers the need for beauty in your home.

The elegant look of a hardwood floor can add warmth and character to any room. In fact, the natural characteristics of wood add depth and a visual appearance that many other types of floors can only try to duplicate.

Rich, inviting hardwood floors are not only beautiful to live with, they’re easy to care for, and can add value to your home at resale time. Plus, today, hardwood types, options and applications are more diverse and delightful than ever.

As the consumer demand for hardwood floors has grown, so has the manufacturer's ability to produce better quality finishes and superior construction techniques. The result of those advancements is that wood floors can now be installed throughout the home and over a wide variety of subfloors.

Click the links to find out more about Hardwood Floors:

PRODUCT INFORMATION

BAMBOO INTRODUCTION

HARDWOOD MAINTENANCE

WINDOW COVERING: Maintenance

2009-01-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

Maintenance

Water, solvents or abrasive cleaners should not be used on wood blinds or shutters.
The best way to remove dust or debris from hard to reach areas on honeycomb, window shades and shadings is by using a hair dryer on a cool setting or compressed air purchased from an office supply store.
Bathtub cleaning or water immersion, ultrasonic cleaning, injection or extraction cleaning and steam cleaning are all specialized professional cleaning treatments. Power washing is not.
Many aluminum and vertical vinyl blinds are specially treated to guard against static electricity and dust. If not, the slats can be wiped with anti-static dryer sheets.
It is best to clean alternative wood blinds and shutters with a soft damp cloth.

For any questions on how to maintain your Window Coverings, please feel free to contact us at (805) 339-0883.

WINDOW COVERING: Shutters

2009-01-23T12:52:00.000-08:00

Shutters

Interior window shutters have long been a traditional and beautiful addition to any home and are also considered an investment that will add lasting value to a home.
Shutters create an attractive, yet functional solution for any room.
Shutters can control heat, noise and privacy. These products offer excellent light control and provide superior ultraviolet protection.
The timeless elegance of shutters adds an enduring touch to traditional, contemporary, city or country surroundings.
Most shutters are offered in multiple configurations to cover all types of windows including bow, bay, French doors, patio doors and specialty shapes.
Most shutters offer varying louver sizes and front tilt or hidden tilt bars for unobstructed views.
Shutters are offered in different materials consisting of real wood, polysatin or vinyl and alternative wood or faux-wood.
Shutters can be installed inside mount or outside mount depending on the window molding and sill construction.
If you are considering shutters, always think about opening the shutter doors and whether or not any obstructions exist. For example, a kitchen faucet can be an obstacle to opening a shutter installed behind a kitchen sink.

Wood Shutters

Capturing the natural beauty of real wood, our shutters are constructed from premium hardwood and feature the centuries-old craft tradition of fine dovetail joinery combined with an innovative multiple-coat finish.
Real wood shutters are most similar to fine furniture and offer the most selection in wood finishes.
While shutters are a great solution for any room in the home, areas that have warm temperatures or where humidity may be a concern for hardwood products, you may want to consider alternative–wood or polysatin shutters.

Polysatin Shutters

Polysatin offers an enduring, custom-crafted, classic style, and a solution ideal for windows exposed to high heat, humidity and other extreme climate conditions.
- Polysatin shutters are made of specially formulated ultraviolet resistant poly-satin compounds, are guaranteed never to warp, fade, chip or peel, regardless of high heat or other extreme climate conditions.
- Polysatin shutters are offered in varying shades of white resembling a painted wood shutter.
- These shutters are a good choice for bathrooms, kitchens, pool and sauna areas or areas such as kids’ rooms that may require frequent cleaning!
Alternative Wood Shutters
- The alternative or faux-wood shutters are made from engineered materials that offer an affordable luxury alternative to a custom wood shutter and are offered in various colors.
- Marking an evolutionary trend in shutters, these hybrid shutters combine the great style of wood with the strength, stability and straightness of advanced modern day materials.
For more information on Shutters, CLICK HERE

WINDOW COVERING: Sheers & Louvers

2009-01-23T12:50:00.000-08:00

The most popular and growing category of window covering options include window shadings, sheers and light louvers.
All three of these products are made from fabric and offer the ultimate in light control. Their versatility can provide complete privacy without complete darkness by simply adjusting the vanes for the desired amount of light.
Shadings, sheers, louvers and panels are made with a wide selection of soft fabrics, including opaque and translucent materials.
Both window shadings and sheers consist of soft fabric vanes that are suspended between two sheet fabric facings. Window shadings vanes run horizontally and sheers run vertically. These vanes rotate for a filtered view allowing for complete privacy or anything in between. Both window shadings and sheers are offered in a variety of fabrics ranging in opacity, texture and color.
Window shadings, sheers and louvers are extremely versatile and can be installed in almost any room in the home. These products blend all the advantages of draperies, shades and blinds into one design. Vertical sheers work particularly well on large window patio doors or on window walls.
The elegant and sophisticated looks of these window coverings make them perfect choice for living rooms, dining rooms or bedrooms. They work well in contemporary and traditional settings.
One of the newest window covering designs in this category is light louvers. This new window fashion has a similar look to traditional wood shutters, but has honeycomb louvers that function much like a blind. Light louvers are made of durable fabric and come in either a translucent or room darkening style. Many colors and pattern combinations are available.
These products can be installed with an inside or outside mount depending on the window molding and sill construction. Vertical sheers also come with option of right, left or split stacking configurations.
It is important to note however, that window shadings and sheers may not be the best fit for pet owners. Being a sheer fabric, they may get damaged at the hand of a cat and its claws.

WINDOW COVERING : Shades Information

2009-01-23T12:46:00.000-08:00

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors and Hunter Douglas offer several options in Window Coverings. Here is information on their shades:

Shades

There are four main types of shades today are honeycomb shades, Roman shades, woven wood shades and the traditional window shades.
There are unlimited choices of fabrics, textures and opacity. All offer varying degrees of light control and privacy.
With the vast array of fabrics and materials to choose from, there is a window shade to suit almost any room in the home.
The privacy and light control needs for the room will dictate which of the many fabrics you can choose from. The more sheer fabric can filter light and the opaque can darken the room.
Fabric texture options with window shades can accommodate formal looks to casual looks and anything in between, making these products popular for any room and its decor.
These products can be installed with an inside or outside mount depending on the window molding and sill construction.

Honeycomb Shades
The honeycomb construction of these soft, yet durable shades—available in single, double and triple honeycombs—make them highly energy efficient.

Choose from a wide variety of sheer, semi-sheer, semi-opaque and opaque fabrics, as well as hundreds of colors.
Honeycomb shades get the name “honeycomb” due to their construction, which it designed like a honeycomb in a beehive. They are made of soft textured, woven and non-woven fabrics with crisp, even pleats. Many shades are available in single, double and triple honeycomb designs, a variety of pleat sizes which provide varying degrees of light control and privacy.
If energy efficiency is a concern, honeycomb shades should be considered. The honeycomb cell construction traps the air inside for maximum energy savings.
They can fit almost any window, including specialty shapes and stack neatly with minimal space at the top of the window when raised.

Roman Shades

Most roman shades are simple, flat fabric shades that draw up in neat, even folds, giving them a tailored look.
Some roman shades maintain their contoured folds while in the down position.
They are available in various types of fabrics ranging from smooth semi-sheer polyesters to highly textured semi-opaque polyester/rayon blends and also in room darkening fabrics.
Sleek and sophisticated, Modern Roman Shades consistently present a clean, neat appearance.

Woven Wood Shades

Woven wood shades are made up of bamboo, reeds, grasses and jutes adding warmth and dimension to a room.
These shades hang flat in the lowered position and then have overlapped folds when raised. They are uniquely textured, adding casual good looks to any room.
Woven wood shades bring nature inside the home with traditional styling.
These shades are well suited in a casual setting, like a family room or den. In a contemporary or tropical influenced design, these shades work well in any room.
These shades are made of all natural materials. Woven wood shades may have knots, slight surface cracks, variations in paint and stain, grain and pattern irregularities and slight distortions. These are considered normal and only enhance the beauty of the natural product.

Window Shades

A vast improvement to the traditional roller shade, window shades come in hundreds of fabrics, colors and styles and you can order select fabrics separately for designing room accessories.
The fabric on these shades can be made from durable polyester to high tech dyed screened fabrics with an array of opacity options.

For more information on our Window Coverings, CLICK HERE

WINDOW COVERING : Blinds Information

2009-01-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors and Hunter Douglas offer many types of Window Coverings. Here is information on blinds:

Horizontal Blinds

Horizontal blinds consist of slats that can be tilted to efficiently control light and provide protection from ultra violet rays.
Horizontal blinds are ideal for windows that are taller than they are wide and are raised and lowered. When the slats are open they can reduce the sun’s glare but not your view.
Horizontal blinds are extremely popular and come in many different materials, colors and finishes.
Horizontal blinds are offered in real hard wood, alternative-wood, sometimes called faux-wood, and aluminum.
For warmth, durability and versatility, real hard wood is the natural choice for almost any decor. Like fine furniture, wood blinds reflect a lasting level of quality and are available in a variety of paints, stains and finishes.
Horizontal blinds can be manufactured to fit almost any size and shape window. This installation versatility, along with the color, finish and material options, allows these products to be suitable for almost any window in a home. They offer optimum light control by tilting the horizontal slat and are available in many design options.
Horizontal blinds can also be used with top treatments, or as under treatments in combination with draperies.
These products can be installed with an inside or outside mount depending on the window molding and sill construction.
Horizontal blinds can be used in almost any design scheme. The type, finish and color of the blind make all the difference.
- For example, a light colored wood blind can easily fit into a causal country or traditional setting, while a cool colored aluminum blind is perfect for a contemporary urban loft. Dark, rich wood tones are a beautiful compliment for a home office.

Wood Blinds

Precision crafted from the finest North American hardwoods, including genuine oak, ash, cherry and Brazilian cherry, our Genuine Wood blinds exude tradition and character.

Alternative Wood Blinds

If you like the warm, luxurious look of fine hardwood blinds, but want something more practical and less expensive, you may want to consider alternative wood blinds.
These blinds are also desirable in extremely hot, humid conditions since they resist warping, cracking and fading.
Alternative wood blinds are made from engineered materials and come in many hues and finishes that can allow you to create a beautiful room while remaining budget conscious.

Aluminum Blinds

Aluminum blinds are a great choice, simply because they offer so many options, including color, texture, design, and most importantly, light control.
Their clean lined design makes them especially well suited for a contemporary setting.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds have vanes that traverse and rotate smoothly, offering privacy and light control as well as UV protection for interior finishes in the home.
Vertical blinds are available in a full range of finishes and textures, from moderately priced vinyl to high quality fabrics. They are perfect for patio doors or windows that slide side to side.
With the multitude of colors and patterns these products can be used in many decorating schemes. They can be installed alone for a clean contemporary look or combined with draperies in a more traditional setting.
These products can be installed with an inside or outside mount depending on the window molding and sill construction.
Vertical blinds also come with option of right, left or split stacking configurations.+
Vertical Blinds are made onsite at Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors!!!

For more information on our Window Coverings, CLICK HERE.

Mohawk's EverStrand Carpet - More Info

2008-08-06T09:39:00.000-07:00

Mohawk's EverStrand Carpet comes in green no matter the color...Those soft plush fibers of their EverStrand carpets come from an unlikely place - the landfill. Mohawk's exclusive process uses recycled plastic beverage bottles to create their most popular carpets, while reducing waste. In fact, one out of every four bottles recycled in North America become EverStrand carpet. That's more than three million plastic bottles a year!

Look for this symbol on tags in our Showroom for EverStrand Carpet

Mohawk actually ships in more trash than they create, diverting three billion pounds of waste from landfills during 2007 alone. Instead of unsightly litter, you will see beautiful designer doormats, pillows, pads, and carpets. Green isn't just a color at Mohawk, it is also a commitment.

Armstrong's StrataMax Vinyl: High Perfromance Floating Vinyl Floor

2008-08-05T15:07:00.000-07:00

StrataMax™ hi-performance flooring from Armstrong piles layers of performance, durability and beauty on a hefty limestone composite base layer. The result is a revolutionary vinyl sheet floor that can be quickly and easily installed as a true floating floor without the need for adhesive or underlayment. That means far less disruption to your household, allowing you to enjoy your new floor faster than you ever imagined possible.

THE STRATAMAX™ ADVANTAGE

• Superior durability for a floor that will last.
• Quick and easy installation requires minimal disruption to your household.
• Wide selection of stunning and realistic designs.
• Resists buckling due to climatic/seasonal changes.
• Available in two price points – Best and Better.
• Our most comprehensive warranty for quality you can trust, from the best selling brand in flooring, Armstrong.

MasterWorks Technology®

* Award-winning technology creates stunningly realistic-looking floor designs.
* CleanSweep® / CleanSweep PLUS
* Offers best-in-class stain protection to guard against common household stains including
asphalt driveway sealer and rubber-backed floor mats. StrataMax Best includes CleanSweep
PLUS which offers additional protection from polycarbonate-fused aluminum oxide nano
par ticles to prevent scratching and scuffing.
* ToughGuard® II
* 70% stone composite layer makes the most durable vinyl floor available tougher; guaranteed not to rip, tear, gouge, or indent from normal household use for the life of the warranty.

Warranty

Our most comprehensive guarantee available – provides up to 20-year residential and 5-year light commercial coverage, for quality you can trust.

Width: 6' and 12'

Specialty Product Vendors

2008-08-05T13:07:00.000-07:00

The following Specialty Manufacturers are proudly featured by Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors'

CORK FLOORING:
Qu Cork
US Floors

LINOLEUM:
Forbo Marmoleum
Armstrong Marmorette

Laminate Vendors

2008-08-05T12:57:00.001-07:00

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors proudly features the following Laminate manufacturers:

Quick-Step
Armstrong
Shaw Laminate
Balterio
Mega Clic
Scottsdale Collection
Alloc
and other Premium Laminates

Sheet Vinyl And Vinyl Plank Vendors

2008-08-05T12:50:00.001-07:00

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors proudly carries the following Sheet Vinyl and Vinyl Plank Manufacturers:

Flexitec
Congoluem
Armstrong
Shaw Vinyl
Metroflor
Konecto
Earthwerks
Free Fit LVT
Adore Naturelle

Hardwood Vendors And Links

2008-08-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors proudly features the following Hardwood Manufacturers:

Shaw
Shaw Epic
Provenza
Appalachian by Anderson
Higuera Hardwoods
Elegance
CA Classics Hardwood
Reserve Collection
Pacific Treasures
Style
Max Windsor

Carpet Vendors And Links

2008-08-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors proudly carries the following manufacturers of Residential Carpet:

Mohawk Carpet
SmartStrand
Tuftex
Royalty
Shaw
Moda
Kane
Gulistan
Couristan
Godfrey Hirst
Hibernia
Fibreworks

Photo Gallery: Carpet

2008-08-05T11:43:00.000-07:00

Commercial Carpet Vendors

2008-08-05T11:17:00.000-07:00

Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors proudly carries samples of the following Commercial Carpet manufacturers:

Mohawk Commercial
Karastan Contract, a division of Mohawk
Bigelow, a division of Mohawk
Lee's, a division of Mohawk

Shaw Contract
DesignWeave/PatCraft (newly merged), a division of Shaw
Philadelphia, a division of Shaw
Queen Commercial, a division of Shaw
Cambridge
Durkan
Mannington
Bolyu
Beaulieu

Carpet Warranties Explained

2008-08-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

To begin with, warranties have conditions. These exact conditions are available in brochures in our showroom. Floor to Ceiling Interiors does not push warranties as they are written for extreme circumstances. Typically, if there is a problem with your carpet, it is known on the day of installation or within days thereafter. The following is a clearer explanation of the most common warranties.

WEAR WARRANTY: is offered by most carpet manufacturers. The carpet label tells you this carpet has a 10, 15, 20, or 25 year wear warranty. The conditions require that you lose 10% of the fiber, and that if you do in fact have an area of the carpet that has lost 10% of its face weight, the mill, under the 10 year warranty (or other length of time), is only obligated to replace that area of the carpet that has lost the 10%. I know of no mill that has had to replace a carpet under this warranty in the last 20 years.
Another variation on the warranty above is extending it to 20, 25 or even "lifetime" wear warranty. This is usually done by manufacturers that want to make their product appear of a higher quality than that of their competition. It is not always an indicator of a carpet's quality. A Wear Warranty has nothing to do with how a carpet looks in 10 years, but that it does not wear out.

STAIN WARRANTY: On the surface this sounds too good to be true. Please be advised that no carpet is STAIN PROOF! This warranty excludes stains from a) Non food and non beverage items i.e. your cat pukes on your carpet; no warranty. b) Certain foods and beverages that contain strongly colored natural substantive dyes as found in mustard, red wine, or herbal tea, c) Substances that destroy or change the color of carpet like bleaches, acne medications, drain cleaners, and plant food, and d) vomit, urine and feces.
Some manufacturers further limits the stain warranty by stating that "there can be some slight loss of stain resistance in high-traffic areas such as stairs (and hallways, in front of doors). The warranty excludes any residual stains that my occur in those areas." They also want you, the consumer, to only clean the carpet using certain procedures, and if unsuccessful in removing the stain, to call a professional cleaner. If the professional cleaner cannot remove the stain, and it did not fit into the limits above, then , and only then will the carpet or yarn manufacturer will consider your claim under their stain warranty.

Some yarn types are more forgiving when it comes to household spots and spills and the new yarn, Sorona Polymer, or SmartStrand, is more forgiving when it comes to mustard, red wine, and bleach. Their products carry a lifetime stain warranty.

TEXTURE RETENTION: also known as the "no crush, no mat warranty". If your carpet has this warranty then it is most likely better constructed than many other carpets without it. However, like all carpet warranties, this one too is limited. You must maintain your carpet by having it professionally cleaned every eighteen to twenty-four months, and stairs are expressly excluded from this warranty. Furthermore, the twist level in the fiber is what determines if the texture is damaged enough to warrant replacement. If just the very top of the fibers are a little frayed, you will not have a valid claim.

Say you have a valid claim. What can you expect from the fiber producer, or the mill? All of the warranties mentioned have a sliding scale of replacement value. For example, if the carpet is just one year old, you can expect 100% of the cost of a new carpet and labor to be offered to you. If, however, your carpet is two years old, you can only expect 80% of the cost. If your carpet is three years old, the reimbursement is only 60% and so on until after the fifth year, when you can only reclaim 20% of the original value of your carpet. These vary depending on yarn or carpet manufacturer. For your particular warranty, ask your Salesperson.

When you shop don't be misled by the warranties. In general, the more you pay for a carpet, the longer it will wear. Make your buying decision based on your faith in your carpet dealer, not based on warranty claims. If you have any questions regarding carpet, warranties, please feel free to speak with our Design Team.

Photo Gallery : Ceramic Tile

2008-08-04T16:03:00.000-07:00

WHAT I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CARPET CUSHION:

2008-08-04T15:15:00.000-07:00

Why is Quality Cushion Important?

CUSHION, not your carpet, determines how carpet feels when you walk on it, and helps maintain your carpet's original appearance.

What Cushion does Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors Sell and Is It Environmentally Friendly?

Our standard cushion is 1/2" 8# Cushion for residential homes and 1/2" 6# Cushion for Property Management.An upgrade to a moisture barrier which prevents spills and accidents from penetrating into the cushion, so they can easily be blotted out of the carpet is also available.They contains a minimum of 20% renewably sourced ingredients by weight. It is made from 100% recycled urethane trim and is 100% recyclable. It's core includes natural organic materials, reducing reliance on petroleum based products. It is hypoallergenic and ozone friendly - with NO CFC's. It reduces impact noise to make homes quieter and insulates floors to resist energy loss.

How Does Cushion Work?

Cushion absorbs foot traffic and makes carpet feel better, last longer. Better quality cushion blocks moisture, fights stains and odors, minimizes sound transfer between rooms, provides thermal insulation and increases air flow between the floor and your carpet for better, more efficient vacuuming.

Does Cushion Prevent The Carpet From Wearing Out?

Today's carpet rarely wears out. Selecting the correct cushion helps resist "uglying out" due to premature matting and crushing - and now soiling and staining.

How Do I Know Which To Buy?

Typically, we carry 1/2" Premium cushion for cut-pile carpets and most shaggy carpet. We install loop berber carpet over 3/8" premium cushion. We also offer Commercial Fiber Cushion and Urethane Cushions.

What About These New Spill and Odor Protections?

Spill and odor fighting capabilities are the latest advancements in carpet cushion. Leading brands include Odor-Eaters® and STAINMASTER®. They are exceptionally effective, and they work for the life of your cushion.

Conventional Carpet Cushion

With conventional carpet cushion, liquid seeps through the carpet to the cushion, which acts like a giant sponge. Once liquid has been absorbed by the carpet cushion, blotting the top of the carpet won't do any good!

Spillguard™ Barrier Technology or MoistureGuard

With Moisture Barriers, liquid can't penetrate the cushion. Blotting the carpet cleans spills quickly, thouroughly and easily.

U.S. Manufacturing of Carpet

2008-03-28T16:42:00.000-07:00

THE UNITED STATES CARPET INDUSTRY
240 MANUFACTURING PLANTS LOCATED IN 21 STATES

Industry shipments (1999) totaled 1.9 billion square yards (17.1 billion square feet). The United States supplies 45 percent of the world’s carpet. Approximately 70 percent of the country’s carpet is produced in and around Dalton, Georgia. Of the total carpet market, appromately 74 percent is residental; 26 percent is commercial.

Carpet, The Environment, & Sustainability

2008-03-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

The Facts about Carpet and Sustainability

For Dealers and Consumers

Issue
The carpet industry is reducing its impact on the environment for present and future
generations.

What You Should Know

The carpet industry is concerned about the amount of old carpet that ends up in
landfills each year. Carpet manufacturers are voluntarily addressing this problem by
recycling old carpet materials back into carpet production, recycling old carpet into
alternative uses such as building materials and auto parts, refurbishing old carpet
into new carpet tiles and even hauling away old carpet so it can be reused or
recycled.

Through the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), carpet companies,
government entities and product suppliers are working to develop market-based
solutions for the recycling and use of post-consumer carpet. Visit carpetrecovery.org.

It is estimated that carpet recycling efforts currently save about 200 million
pounds of waste from being deposited in U.S. landfills.

Many times, carpet is replaced not because it has actually worn out, but because it
no longer has the appearance of a new carpet. CRI understands the investment put
into a carpet - but also the environmental ramifications of replacing carpet before its
time.

Learn more about how the carpet industry is reducing its environmental footprint in
the CRI Sustainability Reports, which can be accessed from the CRI home page by
clicking on Carpet Industry.

You may notice in your Quote or Invoice a California Carpet Stewardship Fee of $.05/per yard. AB2398, the California Carpet Stewardship Law, supports the recycling of more carpet into valuable new products and materials. When you purchase new carpet in California, a stewardship assessment is added to your invoice by law. It does not apply to carpet purchased in California and shipped to another state.

For more information on Stewardship or the Assessment, please contact your Sales Person.

CARPET, ASTHMA, & ALLERGIES

2008-03-28T16:33:00.000-07:00

The Facts about Carpet and Asthma and Allergy

For Dealers and Consumers

Making the right decisions about carpet starts with having the facts. That is why the
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) sponsors scientific research and gathers data from
independent sources to help professionals and the public make educated flooring
choices. Visit carpet-rug.org to learn more.

Issue
Carpet is perceived as a potential contributor to asthma and allergy.

What You Should Know
• There is no scientific study linking the rise of allergy and asthma to the use of
carpet. Indeed, several studies actually disprove any correlation.

• A 15-year Swedish study found no link between carpet usage and the incidence
of allergy or asthma. In fact, even when carpet usage in Sweden decreased by
70 percent, allergy reactions in the general population increased by 30 percent.1

• Carpet may even be helpful to people with asthma: an 18-nation study of nearly
20,000 people found a statistical relationship between carpeted bedrooms and
reduced asthma symptoms and bronchial responsiveness.2

• A 2003 study of more than 4,600 school children in New Jersey found that having
carpet in a child’s bedroom was associated with fewer missed school days and
less need for asthma medication.

• Carpet acts like a filter, trapping allergens away from the breathing zone so they
can be removed through proper vacuuming and deep cleaning extraction. For
best results removing pollutants trapped in carpet, use CRI Green Label
vacuums and CRI Seal of Approval cleaning products. Details on these
certification and testing programs can be found at carpet-rug.org.

o Studies have measured the distribution of airborne dust associated with
normal activities on smooth surfaces and carpeted floors. The findings
show that walking on hard surfaces disturbs more particles, which become
airborne and enter the breathing zone. In contrast, carpeted surfaces trap
more particles so that walking disturbs fewer particles, resulting in fewer
particles in the breathing zone.3

1 Shishoo, R. and Borjesson, A. 1996. Allergy claims ‘unproved’. Carpet and Flooring Review (January 5).
2 Zock, J.P., D. Jarvis, C. Luczynska, J. Sunyer,, and P. Burney. 2002. Housing Characteristics, reported mold exposure,
and asthma in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, Journal Allergy and Clinical Immunology 110 no. 2:
285-292.
3 Cicciarelli, Bradley A., David L. Davidson, Edward H. Hart and P. Robert Peoples. CFD Analysis of the Behavior of
Airborne Allergens in Carpeted and Uncarpeted Dwellings. Solutia, Inc.

CARPET & INDOOR AIR QUALITY

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The Facts about Carpet and Indoor Air Quality

For Dealers and Consumers

Making the right decisions about carpet starts with having the facts. That is why the
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) sponsors scientific research and gathers data from
independent sources to help professionals and the public make educated flooring
choices. Visit carpet-rug.org to learn more.

Issue
Carpet positively affects indoor air quality (IAQ) and is the lowest emitter of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) of common flooring choices.

What You Should Know
• Carpet manufacturers were the first in the flooring industry to thoroughly study
their products for indoor air quality effects. CRI worked with the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC),
academic institutions and independent laboratories to evaluate carpet’s role in
indoor environment.

• In 1992, CRI launched its Green Label program that sets limits for how much
VOCs from carpet, adhesives and cushion can be released into the air. Since
then, the program has voluntary raised IAQ standards four times by requiring
even lower emission levels and increasing the number of compounds studied.

• As a result, carpet has become the lowest VOC-emitting floor covering and one
of the lowest-emitting products used in new construction and renovation – much
lower than products such as paint. The already low VOC emission of new carpet
drops significantly after 24 hours—even sooner with fresh air ventilation.

• CRI set the standard again when it worked with California's Sustainable Building
Task Force and the Department of Health to establish Green Label Plus, which
certifies carpet and adhesives. Green Label Plus meets, and even exceeds, the
low emitting product testing protocols used by the Collaborative for High
Performance Schools (CHPS).

• Carpets also play the role of an air filter: they trap dust, pollen and other
particles, taking them out of the breathing zone until they can be removed easily
by vacuuming.1 Choose vacuums that bear the CRI Green Label for assurance
of effective soil removal and good air quality.

• Carpets also improve the indoor environment because they are easier on the
feet, help prevent slips and cushion falls, reduce noise levels and have insulating
properties.

1 Lang, Susan S. 2001. “Carpets in Schools Don’t Compromise Air Quality . Human Ecology quality. (Spring) 29: 24.

CARPET: Pre- Installation

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What to do before the day of installation

Begin with your furniture.

Remove all furniture and other objects and materials from the areas to be carpeted. Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors' installers can move your furniture, but there is an additional charge for doing so.

Before moving, you’ll also need to empty the contents of china cabinets, closets and the like. The contents on the floor of the closet need to be removed including longer hanging clothes. Any items on a shelf can remain as they are.

Please remove all fragile items such as glass, pottery, collectibles, lamps, etc. and clean off dressers, desks, tables, and night stands.

Please strip all beds where installation is to take place. ALL WATERBEDS MUST BE DRAINED PRIOR TO INSTALLATION BY THE CUSTOMER.

Please detach any intricate wiring including speaker wiring, alarms, stereo, television, cable, satellite, and/or computer equipment. We do not disconnect or reconnect said equipment.

Out with the old – if you remove your present floor covering.
Please consider how your old floor covering will be taken up and disposed of. This can be a time consuming task. Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors will pull up and dispose of your existing floor covering. If you are wanting to treat or fix the sub-floor, this should be completed prior to installation day.

If you prefer to remove your present floor covering, do it at least one day prior to installation to allow for cleanup and floor preparation. If removing old carpet, please leave tackstrips in place and pull the staples out of the floor from the original pad.

Don’t be left out on a limb about your trim.

You should know that, in very rare cases, moldings and baseboards need to be removed for carpet installation. Baseboards may be marred or damaged during installation with the tools used, Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors is NOT responsible for damage.

Painted baseboards, woodwork and paint may need retouching after the installation is complete. If necessary, this is your responsibility.

Do this to insure an open door policy.

When carpeting is installed, there’s always the possibility that the doors, especially closet doors and bedroom doors, may not clear the new carpet and swing free.

Normally, our installers will remove doors in order to install the carpet and re-hang them if possible. Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors' installers DO NOT shave or cut down doors to insure clearance. You may need to arrange for a qualified carpenter to provide this service after the installation of your new carpet.

Check-up on the clean-up.

Installing new carpet will produce waste.

Usually these materials are collected by your installer and disposed of unless the homeowner wants to keep any pieces. There are occasions where we are forced or have chosen to order a roll balance and will have ordered more carpet than what is necessary for your home. In these instances, a large piece may be left over and is the property of Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors. For clarifications on what we billed you for and what was ordered, please contact your Sales person.

The Benefits of Carpet & Rugs

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Provides warmth and comfort

Carpet provides actual thermal resistance, or R-value. In colder climates or seasons, it retains warm air longer, an energy conservation benefit. Carpet also provides a comfortable place to sit, play or work and gives a room an overall warmer feeling.

Adds beauty and style

You can choose from many thousands of carpet styles and colors. That means your ultimate choice will reflect how you want to personalize your living space. Carpet can be a neutral foundation, or it can be a focal point with vibrant colors and stronger bolder patterns and textures.

Softens slips and falls

Carpet is ideal for cushioning our footsteps, reducing slips and falls and minimizing injuries when falls do occur. Carpet provides safety protection for the whole family, but especially for toddlers and older individuals.

Reduces noise

Big screen TVs, speaker phones, computers, and modern sound systems make our homes noisy places. Carpet helps absorb these sounds. Adding a cushion beneath your carpet reduces noise even further. Carpet also works as a sound barrier between floors by helping to block sound transmission to rooms below. Carpet on stairs helps mask the sound of constant foot traffic.

Wears well

Carpet will maintain its life and beauty for many years when properly cleaned and maintained. Certain styles can influence how well your carpet choice will perform. Overall, Carpet wears well.

CARPET: Where To Start

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Where to start

Before purchasing carpet, you should answer the following questions:

How is the room going to be used?
Will it have heavy or light traffic?
Will the room be the center of activity for family and entertaining?
Is there direct access from outside, or will the carpet be away from entrances?
Will the carpet receive direct sunlight?

Today’s carpet options can hold up even to the most challenging home requirements. Ask our Designers which product is right in your home. Contact us to schedule a FREE In Home Estimate today.

Facts On Fiber

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The type of fiber used and the way the carpet is constructed determine how well the carpet will stand up to spills, pets and daily traffic. The better the fiber and the denser it is packed, the better the carpet will perform. Approximately 97 percent of all carpet uses synthetic fibers designed to feature style, easy maintenance, and outstanding value. There are five basic types of carpet pile fibers.

Nylon: Nylon is the most popular and represents two-thirds of the pile fibers used in the United States. Nylon fibers are wear-resistant, resilient, and provide brilliant color. Nylon fibers withstand the weight and movement of furniture and are generally good for all traffic areas. Nylon is also a great choice for the home because it resists soils and stains. Nylon is made from oil and fluctuates in price depending on the oil market.

SmartStrand with Sorona Polymer:
Mohawk leads innovation in sustainable flooring with SmartStrand^® carpet with DuPont™ Sorona^® renewably sourced polymer. In a partnership with DuPont, this carpet exclusively offers fiber made with Bio-PDO™ (the key Sorona^® ingredient), which is produced from corn sugar. By utilizing this new ingredient, 37 percent of Sorona^® is being made from renewable resources. This marks the first time that a luxuriously soft carpet offers durability and stain protection, while also making less of an environmental impact.
Why is this carpet environmentally smart?
DuPont™ Sorona^® plays a major role in the worldwide objective of a renewable economy and represents a new frontier in sustainability. This carpet is environmentally smart because:

The production of Sorona^® polymer requires 30 percent less energy than the production of an equal amount of nylon.
Greenhouse gas emissions from the production of Sorona^® are 63 percent lower than nylon manufacturing.
This energy reduction results in approximately one gallon of gasoline saved per every seven square yards of carpet.

The superior stain resistance of SmartStrand^® carpet is engineered into the fiber and will never wear or wash off, meaning consumers will never need to retreat the carpet with stain protectors after steam cleaning. And this engineered-in stain resistance reaches new levels of protection, allowing tough stains such as mustard, red wine, and cherry Kool-Aid^® to be removed simply with warm water and a mild detergent, or with Mohawk FloorCare™ Essentials. The fiber even resists discoloration from bleach.

DuPont™, Sorona® and Bio-PDO™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.

Kool-Aid® is a registered trademark of Kraft Foods.

Olefin (polypropylene): Olefin fibers are strong, resist wear and permanent stains and are easily cleaned. These fibers are colorfast. Olefin resists static electricity and is often used in both indoor and outdoor installations because of its resistance to moisture and mildew. Olefin is used in synthetic turf for sports surfaces and in the home for patios and game rooms. Many Berbers are made of olefin.

P.E.T. Polyester: Polyester carpet fiber is produced from recycled PET (ie., soda and ketchup bottles). The carpet resists stains, fading and abrasion. PET fibers are naturally stain resistant and do not require the chemical treatments commonly used on nylon carpet. Scotchguard coating increases the stain resistance properties. Fibers retain their color and resist fading due to sun or harsh cleaning. Shades can be richer and brighter than those found in nylon yarns. Because plastic beverage containers are made with top quality PET resins as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, recycled PET is superior to lower grades of virgin synthetic fibers used in making other brands of polyester carpet yarns. PET has exceptional strength and durability and the value of these properties is not lost in their recycling process. Polyester has fewer emissions than nylon because it is made with fewer additives, and because it is inherently stain resistant. Easier maintenance reduces the use of cleaners which also emit VOCs.

Wool: Wool is noted for its luxury and performance. It is soft, has high bulk, and is available in many colors and patterns. Generally, wool is somewhat more expensive than synthetic fibers.

Blends: A wool/nylon blend combines the superior look and comfort of wool with the durability of nylon. Acrylic/olefin and nylon/olefin are other popular blends, offering good characteristics of each fiber.

Each fiber has strengths and weaknesses that need to be carefully considered when choosing a new carpet for your home. There is no perfect fiber and a good general rule to follow is that you will get what you pay for.

In other words, the wool vs. synthetic fiber question is less important than the overall quality of the carpet. If you can afford it, wool is an excellent choice and your carpet will look great for years to come, but don’t be fooled into thinking wool is the only fiber that makes a good carpet; nylon also offers exceptional value.

For best performance, the primary thing to look for is fiber content, a tighter twist and denser weave. The twist is the number of “turns” in a fiber. A carpet with six turns in a half-inch is better than a carpet with only four turns in a half-inch, for instance. For density look at how close the rows of fibers are woven into the backing. A dense carpet will retain its shape but one that is not as dense will begin to flatten.

Don't be overwhelmed by your carpet decision, let our Designers help guide you and educate you on the best Carpet choice.

TYPES OF CARPET

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Understanding a few simple basics about carpet will help you make the right choices for your lifestyle and budget.

Cut pile: Still one of today's most popular constructions, cut pile achieves its durability through the type of fiber used, density of tufts, and the amount of twist in the yarn. Highly twisted yarn will hold its shape longer, making it a smart choice for high-traffic areas. Styles that are more dense will look newer longer and hold their appearance.

Level loop pile (Berber): Here loops are the same height, creating an informal look. This style generally lasts a long time in high-traffic areas. Many of today’s popular Berber styles are level loop styles with flecks of a darker color on a lighter background. This is a good choice for contemporary to cottage furnishings. One of the drawbacks to this style is that the larger the loop, the easier to snag. This style is not recommended for homes with pets.

Multi-level Patterned loop pile: This style usually has two to three different loop heights to create patterned effects, providing good durability and a more casual look.

Cut-loop pile: This carpet style combines cut and looped yarns. It provides variety of surface textures, including sculptured effects of squares, chevrons and swirls. The multicolor effects hide soil and stains.

At Drapery Affair / Floor to Ceiling Interiors, we showcase each of these styles of carpet in the latest fashions. Come by our Showroom or schedule your free in-home estimate and measurement today.