Home Improvement Information


Shopping For Carpet


The allure of carpet lays not only its soft and luxurious texture, but also in its ability to enhance and match any décor. It is suited to both formal and casual environments, while offering a palette of colors that cannot be found in any other flooring material.

The interior of your home should be designed as an interrelated unit. When choosing a color scheme, consider the walls, window treatments, carpet and other furnishings. It is always a good idea to bring paint and fabric swatches to the store when shopping for carpet.

The shade of carpet you choose can greatly enhance the other design aspects in the room, bringing continuity and overall balance. Lighter shades and colors will visually enhance the room and make it appear larger, however lighter colors show more tracking and dirt. Darker colors and multi colored patterns do not show as much dirt or wear and tear, but they do make rooms appear smaller.

When selecting carpet, one must consider many aesthetic as well as technical issues. Of all the factors, fiber selection is the most important. The most widely used fibers in the manufacture of carpet are: olefin, polyester and nylon. All three fibers display unique inherent characteristics that affect the way the carpet performs and making each fiber suitable to a different application.

Nylon fiber is the softest and most luxurious of all synthetic fibers. It is a highly resilient fiber and displays excellent resistance to matting and crushing, making it perfect for high traffic areas. It has good stain resistant properties, but can also fade when subjected to direct sunlight. The combination of its qualities makes nylon the best fiber for carpet construction.

Polyester fiber is not as soft as nylon; however it is more stain resistant and is available in a wider range of colors. Polyester is not very resilient and tends to show more matting and crushing than nylon, making it unsuitable for high traffic areas. The high sheen and elegant looks of polyester fibers are well suited to formal environments such as dining rooms, and the combination of a high level of stain resistance and affordable price make them the perfect choice for low traffic areas such a bedrooms.

Olefin fiber is the least expensive of all synthetic fibers used in the manufacture of carpet. Olefin is a solution died yarn, making it unique among the fibers in that it is the only fiber that can be cleaned utilizing a bleach water solution. Olefins are mold and mildew resistant, and will also not fade when subjected to direct sunlight, making this fiber perfect for indoor/outdoor areas. Olefin is however the least resilient of all fibers and should only be considered in the berber construction. Although not suitable for a plush, olefin berbers will stand up to the heaviest traffic without showing any wear and tear for years.

Pile height and density are also important factors that must be given consideration when shopping for carpet. Although soft to walk on, carpets with a high pile height do tend to matt and crush easily. When selecting a carpet with a high pile height, ensure that it is constructed from nylon fiber, as nylon has the best retention qualities and will resist matting and crushing. Denser carpets have more vertical support, resulting in better performance, less matting and crushing, and will hide track marks and foot prints.

The quality of pad you choose will have a direct impact on the performance of your carpet. There are many types, densities and thickness of pad available, each one purporting to have better qualities than the next. As a rule of thumb, the denser a pad, the better it will wear, and this will translate directly to improved performance from your carpet.

This flooring article was written by Barry H. Get more tips and techniques at: Carpet-flooring.


MORE RESOURCES:

Home improvement stores in Manatee prosper
Bradenton Herald
BY JOSH SALMAN MANATEE - Lingering struggles in the housing market have furnished a jolt to home improvement retailers, as consumers look to cut costs by tackling home improvement projects themselves. More homeowners across Southwest Florida, ...

and more »


OnTheRedCarpet.com

Home Improvement Star Arrested for DUI, Drug Possession: Report
People Magazine
By Tim Nudd Taran Noah Smith, who played youngest child Mark Taylor on the '90s sitcom Home Improvement for eight years, was arrested early Wednesday for DUI and drug possession, according to a report. Smith, 27, was arrested around 1 am in Los Angeles ...
'Home Improvement' actor arrested on suspicion of DUI in BurbankLos Angeles Times
'Home Improvement' Star Taran Noah Smith Arrested for DUI & Drug PossessionThe Daily Blabber from iVillage
Tool time: 'Home Improvement' actor arrested for DUI, drug possessionYahoo! Contributors Network
Cinema Blend -OnTheRedCarpet.com -Television Week (blog)
all 139 news articles »


BBC News

Simplified home improvement rules introduced
BBC News
New regulations have come into force to make it easier for Scots to make changes to their homes. The move means many home improvements will be able to go ahead without planning permission. Projects including extensions, sheds and garages will not need ...

and more »


Daily Mail

'Home Improvement' kid suspected of driving stoned
San Jose Mercury News
(Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images) BURBANK -- The actor who played the youngest brother on "Home Improvement" was arrested Wednesday in Burbank on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, police said. Taran Noah Smith, 27, was arrested ...
"Home Improvement" actor Taran Noah Smith arrested for DUI, reports sayCBS News
Home Improvement star Taran Noah Smith arrested for 'DUI and possession of ...Daily Mail
Former Home Improvement child actor Taran Noah Smith in drink driving and drug ...The Daily Telegraph
Ology -Perth Now
all 28 news articles »


Milwaukee/NARI Offers Free Panel Discussion on Roofing Options
Wauwatosa Now
By Dave Amoroso The Milwaukee chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (Milwaukee/NARI), celebrating 50 years as the area's leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource, will sponsor a free consumer panel discussion ...



InComm Awards "Dreams and Drywall" Sweepstakes Winner with $25000 in Gift ...
MarketWatch (press release)
InComm's Do It Yourself Home Improvement(TM) gift card is available in any denomination between $20 and $500 and is a flexible, secure option for home improvement enthusiasts to accomplish any project. The card can be used at identified home ...

and more »


NARI Home Improvement Show set for State Fair Park
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The best place might be at the 50th Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Show to be held Thursday through Sunday in the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park. The show includes hundreds of exhibitors offering home improvement advice, products and ...



Breath of spring at Eastern Iowa Home Show
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
A whiff of spring at the Eastern Iowa Home Improvement and Landscaping Show will cure what ails homeowners in a fever-pitch to paint, wallpaper, redecorate, refurnish, refurbish, remodel, build, landscape or garden. Nearly 200 home improvement and ...



The Consumerist

Home Improvement Projects To Warm Up Cold Rooms
The Consumerist
A quick home improvement project can make the room more livable. Family Handyman has several ideas to help you warm things up. Here are a few: * A toe-kick heater. A type of space heater you'll need to wire in to your main electrical panel, ...



Home improvement for your health
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By (ARA) (ARA) - When considering home improvements, people tend to choose projects that will improve the value of their home. While this is important for a healthy bottom line, investing in the health of those living inside the home also is a ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2007