Beyond the Welcome Mat » Carpet

Behind the Scenes of a First Time Homeowner

Team Carpet Wagon — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:35:01 +0000

Today, a friend of Carpet Wagon is going to come a little bit out of the woodwork, so to speak, and share some of her personal experiences about being a first time homeowner.

My husband and I just became first time homeowners. We’d heard all these crazy stories about how stressful escrow can be, and I won’t lie to you, it was truly nail-biting at times.

Our new house has really good bones, so to speak, but it’s been a rental house for decades before we bought it – so it definitely needs a little bit of TLC. New floors, fresh paint, new kitchen cabinets, and some beautiful outdoor landscaping are all on our “short list” of things we want to tackle. To be honest, we’re a little nervous about suddenly being the sole people responsible to make all those little (or big!) repairs that may come up in the near or distant future.

First up, what I’d love to tackle is the floors! The bedrooms all have carpet in them, but it’s not in the best shape. Actually – it’s horrid. But part of what attracted me to the house is that I know that there are wood floors lurking under that threadbare carpet. I’ve helped friends pull up carpet before – so I know it only take a few strong arms and some determination – but what do we do beyond that? I’m tempted to see if we can sand and refinish the floors under the carpet all by ourselves – but I’m also aware that it might be a bigger and more complicated job than we can deal with ourselves.

Stay tuned with us here in the next few weeks and months as I share our experiences of being new homeowners and all the fun adventures that ensue!

[photo by Diana Parkhouse]

Carpet Wagon Q & A: Best Flooring Choices for A New Home

Team Carpet Wagon — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:37:38 +0000

Question:
I am having a house built, and trying to find out what is more economical and durable, carpet, tile or wood flooring? Do you recommend any brand over another?

Answer:
There are many great brands and types of flooring. If you are going strictly for price – then carpet is probably your best choice, as it tends to be the most economical. However, you’ll get more durability from tile and hardwood flooring.

You say you’re building a new home… you may want to consider a combination of at least two or three different types of flooring, depending upon the floor plan and the functions of the rooms. We’ve all heard the phrase “Wall-to-Wall Carpeting”, but in reality – do you really want carpet in your bathrooms or entryway where the constant moisture or heavy traffic can permanently damage carpet? As a general rule, carpet is more desirable in bedrooms, and often family rooms as well, while tile, stone or hardwoods do better in heavily used areas such as the kitchen, dining and entryway areas. Also something to consider: the more formal the room the more you may want to consider the timeless elegance of hardwood flooring.

Some of the best brands to look for in flooring are Mohawk, Mannington, Bruce, Armstrong, Pergo, Milliken, and just to name a few. Carpet Wagon carries all these brands plus many more.

[photo by Nancy Hugo]

Carpet Wagon Q & A: Flooring Replacement Costs

Team Carpet Wagon — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 17:40:57 +0000

Question:
How much would it cost to replace the existing carpet in one room with a wood floor? The room I’m thinking of is pretty small – like a child’s bedroom or home office. Also, can you recommend anyone who specializes in replacing carpet with wood? Thanks!

Answer:
There are many variables that can determine how much a simple replacement will cost. Some of the things to consider are: the size of the room, the difficultly of the installation, and most importantly; the type of hardwood that is used in the new floor.

Some woods are less expensive than others. Standard North American hardwoods such as red and white oak, black walnut, beech, and maple are usually less expensive. Exotic woods that are found outside of North America feature unique colors and unusual graining. Exotics include such as woods as Brazilian Cherry, Teak, Santos or African Mahogany, Tigerwood and Patagonian Rosewood, and can be pricier.

Another less expensive option is to opt for unfinished wood flooring. This is a good option if you are a ‘do-it-yourselver’ with a small budget. However, it will require you to finish, sand, and stain the floor yourself after professional installation. Most installers do not recommend this because of all the potential for mess, hassle and mistakes that can happen when you finish your own floor.

Carpet Wagon specializes in the replacement of floor coverings. I would suggest you call and have a representative come out or visit one of the L.A. locations.

Say “Hello,” to Eco-Friendly, Sustainable Carpets

Team Carpet Wagon — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:59:58 +0000

All manufacture of carpeting and flooring has some impact on the environment. The trick is to choose flooring that is the most sustainable, both in your home, and for the planet.

All carpet uses some chemicals during manufacturing or installation due to the glues and padding needed to keep carpet in place in your home. However, some carpet fibers are worse for the environment than others. Carpet or rugs made from synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester, and acrylic is often maligned as the worst because those fibers are all made from petroleum based chemicals.

You can avoid a lot of toxic chemicals if you go with a natural fiber such as wool. One little known fact is that wool is also naturally flame retardant, whereas carpet from man-made fibers is usually sprayed with chemical flame retardants that contain chemicals like as PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ether), and naphthalene.

Wool also is self-sustaining because it is not produced in a chemical plant, but is grown on sheep all over the world. Most wool is harvested once a year when the sheep are shorn. Then the wool is washed with soap and water and spun into thread or yarn to be then turned into any number of warm and wooly things – from your favorite holiday sweater, to the carpet beneath your feet. The people working to process wool are exposed to much less chemicals than the people who work to manufacture carpets made of petroleum based products such as acrylic.

Carpet Wagon cares about the health of the people who are part of the manufacturing, and distribution processes of flooring. Call Carpet Wagon today to find out more about quality wool carpet or rugs that is better for you and for the environment: 1-877-57-WAGON

[ Image by epsos ]

Why Wool is Wonderful

Team Carpet Wagon — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 15:30:41 +0000

Here in Southern California we don’t think about wool very much. Since we are blessed with warm, temperate weather for most of the year, the majority of us only bring out our wool sweaters or even “woolens” (as our grandmothers called it) a few times a year. Most of us in warmer climates have lost touch with the valuable aspects of wool.

Wool is not just used for sweaters and long underwear though, but it is also a popular fiber used in quality carpeting and rugs. There are many wonderful benefits to having wool carpet.

Wool is naturally insulating, which means it helps regulate temperature in your house (or on your body in the case of a sweater). It’s a fabric that “breathes.” It’s also naturally green and sustainable, since it is grown, not made, on the bodies of sheep and goats around the world. Also, because of the wide variety of sheep breeds, many beautiful and natural shades of carpet are made from wool without the aid of chemical dyes. Not only that, but it is soft to the touch while also being extremely durable.

Since wool is an animal fiber, unlike cotton which is a plant fiber, or acrylic which is a synthetic fiber, wool has something called “memory.” Memory is great because it helps the fiber retain it’s original structure. When you vacuum, spot clean or steam clean wool it will bounce back and retain it’s original structure much better than a plant-based or synthetic carpet. This means that high-traffic areas in your house will keep a clean, crisp look much longer than other types of rugs or carpet.

Even more, if you run a “shoes-off” type of house, you can team up with wonderful wool carpet to keep that flooring looking as clean as ever!

In the Los Angeles area? Contact your friendly neighborhood Carpet Wagon to find out more about wool and other excellent carpeting options for your home: 1-877-57-WAGON

Are You a “Shoes On” or “Shoes Off” Type of House?

Team Carpet Wagon — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 18:00:21 +0000

Do you have a “Shoes Off” policy at your house?

For many years this tradition was thought to be something only found in the Middle East or Asia. But more and more American families are taking up the “Shoes Off” call in their own homes.

Thoughtful Moms are concerned about germs and other things being dragged in from the street: No thank you! Others simply don’t want to see their carefully maintained floors scuffed or dented by the errant stiletto or rough boot.

It can be slightly tricky to ask a guest to first take off their shoes before entering your house. We want to be wholly hospitable while still keeping our carpets clean. Here’s a fun recommendation: provide house slippers or socks for your guests! A shoe rack beside the entrance can also help be a hint to your guest to remove their shoes.

What about your family? Are you a “shoes on” or “shoes off” type of house?