When it comes to floor coverings you have a tremendous number of options. In addition to different colors, textures and patterns, there are many different types of flooring. Common choices include carpet, wood, vinyl, laminate, tiles and area rugs. Less common choices include bamboo and cork.
What you recommend to your client will depend on their needs and wants. Flooring choices are made for both decorative and practical reasons. Not only does flooring need to look good but it also needs to fit the purposes of your client. For example, if your client wants to decorate a bathroom or kitchen, you need to take into consideration not only how the flooring will look but also how the flooring will perform in these rooms. In a kitchen and/or bathroom, the flooring must also resist moisture so, although it might feel warm and soft underfoot, carpet is not a good choice for either of these rooms.
Many people like the color options, warmth, comfort, texture and feel of carpet. Additionally, carpet is quiet underfoot, acts as a form of insulation from both cold and heat and absorbs sound (which is great if your client has a two-story home or lives in an apartment or condominium). Another advantage is that carpeting can be relatively inexpensive.
If the above advantages of carpeting appeal to your client, they may wish to have wall-to-wall carpeting installed. There are two commonly used types of wall-to-wall carpet in North America: berber and broadloom. Berber carpet is often made from a synthetic fiber and has looped pile that runs in parallel lines and it has a tweedy look to it. Berber is becoming increasingly popular and, although it is more casual, it is very durable and often has a stain-resistant finish which makes cleaning spills much easier. Broadloom carpet is any carpet that is made on a broad (wide) loom and the carpet can either be tufted or woven. Normally, broadloom carpet is anywhere between 12 to 15 feet wide, which minimizes seaming on wall-to-wall carpeting.
Another type of carpet is Axminster carpet (this originated in Axminster, England in the 1700's) and this is a patterned, woven carpet that can be used as wall-to-wall carpet or can be custom cut for area rugs. This type of carpeting isn't as popular as berber or broadloom for homes; however, because of its durability and ease of cleaning and the wide range of patterns and colors, it is often used in commercial areas (such as hotel lobbies, etc.).
The expense of carpeting depends on the carpet's fiber, finish and construction including the pile (height of the fiber), density (the amount of fiber tufts per square inch) and texture (how the fibers are twisted or looped). Some of the synthetic fiber types are nylon, acrylic, polyester and olefin (also known as polypropylene) and a natural fiber type is wool (which is often more expensive).
Carpet manufacturers are making carpets more durable and stain-resistant nowadays which, besides the advantages listed above, is why carpet remains a popular flooring choice.
Carpeting experts recommend that good quality underlay (also known as padding) be used especially in areas with high traffic (to increase the durability of the carpet), in areas where your client wants a soft and cushy feel under their feet and in areas where they want extra sound absorption. It is important to note that good quality underlay will increase the life of a carpet.
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Note: This article was sent to us by: Victoria Liann at 03012010
1. Wood floors are growing in popularity and this has helped with manufacturers
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