Does New Carpet Mean New Carpet Pad Too?

You’ve decided to have new carpet installed. Yet its only been a few years since your current carpet was installed. Is the padding underneath still okay? Can you get by with shopping for carpet only?

Great question. Lets look at it from a variety of ways.

Carpet padding is simply the foundation of your flooring. Its installed to act as a cushion and a shock absorber between the subfloor and your carpet. When a carpet is manufactured, they stipulate the minimum pad weight density and maximum thickness required to assure this foundation is adequate enough to meet their expectations … and yours. While carpet padding is designed to insulate, add comfort, and improve vacuuming efficiency, the most important role is to limit movement in the carpeting itself. The less movement, the more your carpet stays in shape for years to come. In this case, every carpet comes with its own recommended padding … which may not be what was installed with your current carpet. Does New Carpet Mean New Carpet Pad Too

Technology also increases every year. And carpeting is no exception. With technological advances and an assortment of warranties on everything from material quality to texture retention, padding plays a big part in holding your flooring together. Just like you wouldn’t use a floppy disk in today’s computer, using yesterday’s padding with today’s carpet can seriously damage the warranty and the life of your new carpet choice.

When you purchase carpet and carpet padding, its easy to assume they are two separate units. But in reality, carpets life cycle stems from the wear and tear on the carpet padding. Yes, your carpet will undergo stress and strain from every day life. It will take the brunt of living – stains, pet odors, dirt and grime – and that must be cleaned and maintained every day. But the padding is what keeps your carpets looking good. Even if your pad is only a year or two old, it still sustained wear and abuse from use with your current carpets. New carpet is a major investment; and because new padding is only a fraction of the investment, why compromise quality? You may lose warranties or years of wear without replacing … why take that chance?

With these things in mind, and considering the vital role padding plays on the long term use of your carpet, its definitely worth the small investment for years of enjoyment in the future.

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Is Carpet Dead?

Have you watched any of the home buyer shows on television? If so, you’ve probably noticed the one thing on everyone’s wish list … wood/tile floors. It seems as if everyone grimaces at the thought of carpet. But does that mean carpet is dead?
Carpets
Flooring is one of the most important features of a home. If you are buying a home, the flooring is likely to have a big impact on whether you make an offer. If you are selling a home, the flooring is likely to have a big impact on the number of offers you receive.

While carpet is still a popular flooring choice, it is quickly losing ground to wood, laminate, tile, and stone. [Read more…]

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Types of Carpet

Whether you are moving into your first home or you are thinking about changing your existing carpet in your home now, it is important to understand the different types of carpet available.

Not all carpets are created equal. They have different qualities and different advantages/disadvantages. Before purchasing carpet, look at where the installation will take place, who will be walking on the carpet, and how often it will be walked on. Because there are so many options, it is important to weigh each one with care.

Pile

Cut pile is the most common type found in most homes. Made by cutting the regular loops of carpet fibers at the top, this carpet, gives the illusion of many yarn bundles piled on top of one another. People choose this texture because of its durability and resistance to looking crushed.

Cut and loop is another version of cut pile. This take on cut pile offers a bit more texture and durability. Available in solid and multi colors, this carpet is popular in areas of high traffic or areas with children.

Saxony

When two carpet fibers are twisted together, you get Saxony’s carpet. Similar to the cut pile, they are cut off at the top, yet the combination of the two fibers creates a softer, more luxurious texture. It can be used in many different settings, but it should be known that it shows footprints and other marks very easily.

There are also textured Saxony’s that offer a softer version of the regular Saxony’s. The textured version offers various colored combinations that make it more durable. It also makes footprints and other marks less visible.

Plush

For formal areas, plush carpet is common. It offers a look of luxury along with a feeling of softness underneath your feet. The level feeling of this carpeting offers the look of sophistication, but care should be taken because it does show every mark or footprint.

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What Carpet is Best for Allergy Sufferers?

If you are an allergy sufferer, you could find that when you are around various carpeted rooms, your symptoms become worse. This is a common reaction for those with allergies and asthma, simply due to the presence of toxins, molds, dust, and debris that are trapped in the fibers of various carpets. If you are one of these allergy sufferers, there are a few things you should know about carpeting and minimizing your symptoms.

Type of Carpeting

Carpets that are made of synthetic materials are the best type for allergy sufferers simply because they repel the normal allergens that are found in carpets, such as dust or other harmful particles. The carpeting that you need to look for should have short hair, tightly woven fibers, and have a low VOC level in order to reduce the amount of chemicals that enter your home upon installation. [Read more…]

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How to Remove Candle Wax from your Rugs and Carpets

Candles are beautiful, but when the wax drips on your carpet, it can be very frustrating. There are several simple steps to take in order to remove the wax from your carpet, but it is important to act quickly. The faster you attempt to remove the wax, the easier it will come up.

Scrape

As soon as you realize that wax has spilled, use a butter knife to try to remove as much as possible. A simple scraping motion will remove any hardened wax. If there is wax that is not yet hardened, you can use an ice cube on it instead of the butter knife to cause the wax to harden. You can then resume scraping with the butter knife to remove as much as possible. [Read more…]

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How to Remove Red Wine from Rugs and Carpets

There is no fear quite like the one that you feel when you see red wine spilling onto your rug or carpet. Your first thought is to cringe, knowing that the stain is never going to come out. Luckily, with a few easy steps, you should be able to remove the stain without any traces of it ever existing.

Homemade Solution

It might surprise you that all it takes is a solution made up of hydrogen peroxide and Dawn dish soap. Combine equal amounts of both products into a spray bottle and shake thoroughly. Spray the solution directly onto your wine stain, thoroughly soaking the area. Once the area is soaked, use a clean, white cloth to blot up the stain. You will likely go through many cloths as you blot the stain up, as it will come onto the towel in large amounts. Continue this step until you have blotted the entire stain up. [Read more…]

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Christmas Trees and Carpets

Christmas trees are a gorgeous addition to your home during the holiday season. They instill a feeling of holiday spirit and have incredible meaning when they are filled with your cherished ornaments from years past. Unfortunately, these beautiful trees bring with them unpleasant sap. When sap gets on your carpets, it can be the recipe for disaster.

Natural Method

If you catch the sap on your carpet right away, you can use the natural method to remove it. Regular rubbing alcohol is the only substance you need to remove the sap because of its drying nature; it dries the sap, making it much easier to remove. With a soft cloth that is moistened with rubbing alcohol, blot at the sap stain. If the sap is not deep down in the carpet, a few blots with the alcohol and a few blots with a clean cloth should remove it. If this does not remove it, you can help the alcohol work by rubbing it in with your fingers and then blotting with a clean cloth. [Read more…]

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How to Choose the Perfect Color for your Carpet

When it is time to replace your existing carpet, you have a large number of decisions to make. Carpet is not something that you purchase very often, which means that it is a purchase you will have to live with for many years. Understanding what to look for when you shop for carpet will help you make the decision that is right for you and your family.

Stay Neutral

One of the best ways to ensure that you will still love your carpet a few years down the road is to choose neutral colors. Choosing colors that are in the brown family, including beige, will allow you to work your decorations around your carpeting, no matter how many times you wish to change them. Just because your carpeting cannot be changed often does not mean that you cannot change the furniture, wall décor and various other accessories as often as you want.

Color Theme

If your room is already complete and you are simply changing out the carpet, you should choose a color that compliments the color scheme that you currently have. If you are changing everything, including the color on your walls, you should make the decision regarding your walls and carpet together to ensure that they are within the same color family to maximize the size and style of your room. [Read more…]

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Should your Carpet Color Match your Walls?

Every homeowner has his or her own tastes when it comes to decorating the interior. There is no one rule that applies to every home. The décor that you choose is based on your personal preference. The color of your carpet and walls will be determined by the look that you desire for the rooms in your home.

Same Shade

It is possible to purchase carpeting in the same shade that you paint your walls. When the colors match it gives the illusion of more space in the room. If you are going to choose the same color carpeting as the color on your walls, you should choose a neutral color and keep that same trend throughout your entire home to have a natural flow that is not suddenly broken up by a much different color.

Complementary Shades

If you want to break things up in your home, you can choose your carpeting color first and then the paint color that complement either the walls or the furniture in the room. It is typically recommended that you choose the carpeting color first because it is the most expensive purchase and one that you will be unlikely to change in the near future. Once you have the carpet color chosen, you can take a swatch of the carpeting to the paint store to find the perfect paint color to complement your carpet. [Read more…]

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Cleaning your Carpets the Green Way

Today, the trend is moving towards eco-friendly ways to clean your home. More people are frowning on purchasing harmful chemicals and looking for just-as-effective alternatives. They are finding products that claim to be friendly to the environment, as well as the people and pets in your home.

If you want to take your eco-friendly cleaning a step further, consider what you use to clean your carpets. A simple solution of vinegar and water could do the trick.

Kids’ Messes – Everyone has been there at one point or another – crayons, markers or glue on the carpet. You probably think it is a lost cause – do not despair! For crayons, all it takes is vinegar, a toothbrush and a little elbow grease to rub the stain right out. Glue might take a little longer with a vinegar and water solution spread on the stain. After a few minutes, blot the glue up.

Food Messes – Ketchup, chocolate, coffee and soda are all common culprits to stain the rug. Luckily, with a mixture of 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar, the stains should come right up. All of these stains should be covered with your vinegar mixture and the stain blotted up with a clean cloth until the stain disappears. [Read more…]

For all of your Denver Hardwood Flooring needs visit our site today.