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Carpet
Care and cleaning
Many carpets today come with stain protection, soil protection, and static resistance. New stain- and soil-resistant technology makes carpeting and rugs much easier to clean, but it's still important to remove stains as quickly as possible. Always absorb wet spills by blotting, not rubbing. Most homeowners steam-clean their carpets once a year. In between, regular vacuuming is recommended.
Custom options
To further broaden your options, some carpeting manufacturers are offering custom work for both area rugs and broadloom (wall-to-wall). That means you can virtually create your own design using such elements as borders or have your carpet dyed to match whatever color you like. You can also ask for custom binding to finish the edges of your carpet. Carpeting can be bound to any size you need, whether you're looking for an area rug or a wall-to-wall carpet that can be easily removed as necessary. You can also choose a binding material to match or contrast with the carpet, depending on your preference.
Carpet cushion
Using carpet cushion under a carpet makes it feel and look better longer and helps improve insulation. Carpet cushion is made from polyurethane foam, fiber, or rubber, or from recycled materials. The type and thickness of the cushion you'll need varies according to traffic patterns. Bedrooms, dens, lounge areas, and other rooms with light or moderate traffic can use thicker and softer cushion, while living rooms, hallways, stairs, and other heavy-traffic areas require thinner cushion. A quality sisal, however, will be backed with thick latex and won't require cushioning.
Installation
Carpeting can be installed over wood or concrete. First, the installer fastens tackless strips around the room's perimeter. If carpet cushion is desired, it is put down and stretched to fit. Then the carpet is cut to a manageable size. After rolling out the carpet for the majority of the room, the installer cuts additional pieces for curves and niches. Seams are created where pieces of carpet meet. Using a knee kicker, the installer attaches the carpet to one wall of tackless strips. Using a power stretcher, the carpet is stretched to fit the room. Finally, the installer trims the carpet more closely and cuts out obstacles. In some cases, such as sisal, a direct glue-down installation is recommended in place of tackless strips.
Many carpets today come with stain protection, soil protection, and static resistance. New stain- and soil-resistant technology makes carpeting and rugs much easier to clean, but it's still important to remove stains as quickly as possible. Always absorb wet spills by blotting, not rubbing. Most homeowners steam-clean their carpets once a year. In between, regular vacuuming is recommended.
Custom options
To further broaden your options, some carpeting manufacturers are offering custom work for both area rugs and broadloom (wall-to-wall). That means you can virtually create your own design using such elements as borders or have your carpet dyed to match whatever color you like. You can also ask for custom binding to finish the edges of your carpet. Carpeting can be bound to any size you need, whether you're looking for an area rug or a wall-to-wall carpet that can be easily removed as necessary. You can also choose a binding material to match or contrast with the carpet, depending on your preference.
Carpet cushion
Using carpet cushion under a carpet makes it feel and look better longer and helps improve insulation. Carpet cushion is made from polyurethane foam, fiber, or rubber, or from recycled materials. The type and thickness of the cushion you'll need varies according to traffic patterns. Bedrooms, dens, lounge areas, and other rooms with light or moderate traffic can use thicker and softer cushion, while living rooms, hallways, stairs, and other heavy-traffic areas require thinner cushion. A quality sisal, however, will be backed with thick latex and won't require cushioning.
Installation
Carpeting can be installed over wood or concrete. First, the installer fastens tackless strips around the room's perimeter. If carpet cushion is desired, it is put down and stretched to fit. Then the carpet is cut to a manageable size. After rolling out the carpet for the majority of the room, the installer cuts additional pieces for curves and niches. Seams are created where pieces of carpet meet. Using a knee kicker, the installer attaches the carpet to one wall of tackless strips. Using a power stretcher, the carpet is stretched to fit the room. Finally, the installer trims the carpet more closely and cuts out obstacles. In some cases, such as sisal, a direct glue-down installation is recommended in place of tackless strips.
