Your Own FLOOR SHOW

 

Today I learned a valuable lesson about our environment.  I’m not speaking about pollution or global warming, but rather our home.  We spend a great deal of time at home.  It is a place where we learn and apply practical knowledge and skills we have learned from the symbols of our life.

Think about it!  Almost everything in our home that we use to beautify and make our surroundings comfortable has a much deeper meaning than the physical object itself.  Someone visiting your home that isn’t familiar with you and your family would think and may even comment on its beauty, but the “true” beauty is known to but a few.  In my home office I have a small Buddha statue that is maybe two inches tall.  I very seldom have anyone ask where I got it or what its for, but when they do I tell them.  My father was in Japan just after the conclusion of WWII.  There was a great deal of poverty and destitution.  A woman who had lost her husband in the war was selling this hand carved ivory statue, and other items, to help support her family.  This statue has meaning to me and my family and gives me a chance to teach a history lesson to the curious onlooker. 

This morning I was reading a blog that I read most every day.  The name of the blog is “One Designing Woman”.  In the post “Ahh Its Done” she mentions many of the symbols  used to decorate her new kitchen.  She has made her new environment very personal and beautiful with the use of symbols.

Now what does this have to do with floors.  I asked her how could a floor be a symbol.  And her answer was; “The Stage Upon Which You Live Your Best life”.  Your floor covering is your floor you see and use each day.  It must enhance your environment.  It’s a stage for the “Floor Show”.

Is Your Carpet Shedding?

Don’t let the “so-called” carpet experts tell you that carpet made with staple fiber will stop shedding in any given time frame because it won’t. The amount of shedding will diminish over time, but spun yarn will shed forever.

Shedding is the loss of loose fiber in a cut pile carpet or any carpet made of staple fiber. If your carpet is made of CFN (continuous filament nylon) there should be no shedding. You may get a minimal amount of shedding on CFN when the carpet is new from loose fibers left in the carpet during manufacturing. One or two vacuumings will remove all the loose fibers.

There are certain instances where the yarn may be defective and excessive shedding will occur. If you suspect this contact your carpet dealer and he should be able to determine if the shedding is from a defect or just a normal amount of shedding. Make sure you vacuum the entire carpet not just the traffic areas and the largest amount of loose fibers will be removed.

Remember shedding in a staple yarn is NOT a manufacturing defect. Your carpet is not falling apart. Check your vacuum to insure it is in good working order and there are no sharp objects caught in your beater bar. There are a lot of opinions about shedding, but rest assured that staple yarns will shed. With this knowledge you will be much happier with your new carpet.

IT REALLY IS EASY BEING GREEN

“Green” is important in all facets of our lives. We need to preserve our environment for those who will follow us on this planet. How we live our lives is just a fraction of the total impact mankind makes on this planet, but we must do our part. We must consider how we manage our personal stewardship, by being conscientious as we “consume” the resources of our planet.

When considering new floor coverings you might want to consider products that can give you the beauty and comfort you are looking for, but are derived from renewable resources. One such product is a cork floor. This may sound strange, but cork makes a beautiful floor and will last for many years.

This comment from the Natural Cork Company is very helpful:

“Cork is a truly sustainable "green-building" material. Trees are grown and the bark is harvested in the centuries old tradition without harming either the trees or their habitat. Bark is initially sent to a factory to create stoppers for wine bottles. Cork flooring is then created from post-industrial by-product of the bottle-stopper industry. This 'waste' material is ground up and then formed into sheets using minimal amounts of adhesive to bind the particles together under high pressure. Natural CORK is environmentally correct as well as improving health and comfort for human indoor living. In our homes, cork floors create a warm, comfortable, resilient surface that is gentle underfoot, is anti-microbial, will not spread flame, and is inherently resistant to molds, mildews, and common pests. From harvest to production to installation, cork is environmentally sustainable, non-toxic, and healthy.”


Contra Costa Floor Club understands all types of floor coverings and can assist you in the selection, installation and maintenance of your new floor. Cork is one of the many floor coverings we can assist you with.

WHICH CARPET FIBER

One of the most frequent questions I receive is; which fiber is the BEST for carpet? Always the answer is “It depends”.

Every fiber has a reason for being made and/or used in carpet. Your uses and your preferences will determine which fiber you should consider when purchasing carpeting either for your home or office. However, I will quote from the Carpet and Rug Institute Web Site:

“Every fiber has it’s own characteristic (we give each fiber characteristic) and no one single fiber has everything. Regardless of which fiber you choose, the construction of the carpet is what makes carpet durable. For durable, heavy traffic carpet you want to look for a dense construction (you don’t want to be able to easily see, or feel the backing of the carpet through the fiber). Shorter pile heights perform better in heavy traffic areas (like entry ways, stairs, halls, playrooms) so choosing a pile height with a ½ of an inch or less will be more durable. If choosing a cut pile carpet, a tighter twist will be more durable than a looser twist. If choosing a Berber carpet, the smaller tighter loops will be more durable than the larger looser loop.” (http://www.carpet-rug.org/about-cri/what-is-cri/frequently-asked-questions.cfm#18)

Even though some carpets are made from a blend of different fibers, most carpets are made from one of the following four fiber types. 1)Nylon, 2)Polypropylene, 3)Polyester and 4)Wool.

Each fiber and its characteristics should be considered, however the fiber alone should not be the determining factor for deciding on which carpet to purchase.

NYLON CARPET FIBER - Durable and versatile, nylon is the most widely used carpet fiber. Most nylon styles today receive a stain-resist treatment for protection against household spills and stains.

POLYPROPYLENE (OLEFIN) CARPET FIBER - The use of polypropylene in carpet has grown dramatically over the past ten years. Polypropylene will not absorb water and is extremely resistant to stains, fading, and moisture.

POLYESTER CARPET FIBER - Polyester offers exceptional softness and color clarity, and it is also naturally stain and fade resistant.

WOOL CARPET FIBER - The preeminent natural fiber, wool is luxurious and much more expensive than synthetic fibers. Wool offers moderate soil and stain resistance.

Do your homework before purchasing carpet for any use. Fiber, construction, color and price. Come into Contra Costa Floor Club and discuss your needs and how you will be using your new carpet. Our highly trained staff is very familiar with all the fibers and construction types of todays carpets.

The Revival of Patterns

The revival of pattern in the home has meant that, at long last, beautiful designs are making a welcome return to our carpeted areas. Although solid colors remain the most popular, the elegance of the patterned floor can bring to a room scheme much luxury and comfort.

In years past this type of luxurious carpet could only be afforded by the affluent, however Stanton Carpets has made patterned carpets very affordable and practicle.

Come into Contra Costa Floor Club to see the complete line of Stanton Carpets.

The Impact of Color

I recall while in college I took a class in industrial psychology. A guest lecturer came to our class to discuss the work environment and its impact on the workers. With the manipulation of the environmental design which includes colors he could increase or decrease productivity.

“Color Psychology” is being used in many industries to create the desired effect. In healthcare you want the environment to promote blood flow, optimism and a cheerful attitude. The hospitality industry relies on telling “a story” to the guests that will make them want to stay because of a “home-like” environment.

Colors have been proven to create a psychological response that effect many physical responses, such as blood pressure, mood etc. Our home is our castle. It is a place we wish to go to escape from the outside world and find sanctuary.

The color, style and texture of your floor coverings will tie all of your color and style preferences together to create “Home Sweet Home”

Contra Costa Floor Club’s ultimate goal is to provide our clients with, as stated by Emily Morrow, “color as you crave it, comfort as you need it, value as you demand it, style as you want it, i.e. self-expression....home!”

Attention to Detail!

I’m sure you have encountered many situations with clients, friends, relatives and merchants who failed to pay attention to the “little things” and as a result you were disappointed or upset. The details in most things matter, and if they are considered by those with whom you deal you will be much more satisfied.

I have many examples of small things that made me uncomfortable when they were ignored. A workman came to my house to repair a shower door. He came early in the morning shortly after the shower was used so the floor of the shower was still wet. He stepped on the wet shower pad without drying it and left mud and dirt for me to clean up. Needless to say his workmanship was inferior in my eyes. He didn’t seem to care.

Details in the floor covering installation are of supreme importance. Details such as the installation of carpet on stairs, carpet seams and transitions are certainly an indication of the skill and care of the installer. Most any apprentice can measure, cut and lay out the carpet, but it requires a skilled mechanic to seam, trim, stretch and finish off the edges of the carpet so you will feel you have received what you paid for. This skill requires many years of experience and training.

Also in the installation of ceramic tile, wood, laminate floors and vinyl the details make the job a thing of beauty. Every job must be a work of art and must be treated as such. As a designer, either a professional or for yourself, you require beauty for the end product. Your floor covering professional must be just that “PROFESSIONAL”

Contra Costa Floor Club can sell you beautiful floor coverings of superior quality at a extremely competitive price, but the installation is the detail that is most important. Whether you do-it-yourself or hire a professional installer pay attention to the details. If we are contracted to install you new floor coverings we will only send ‘PROFESSIONAL” installation mechanics.