Choosing the Perfect Floor Rug pt. 6

Shopping for a new rug can be daunting.  With so many sizes, looks, designs, and textures, the process can be overwhelming.  Here at Carpet Wagon we want to help you choose the perfect rug for your home. 

Below are some key terms to know when you go rug shopping.  

Call Carpet Wagon at 1(800) 57-WAGON today to schedule a free consultation at home or visit our showrooms to see all the great rug products we have for you.

Key terms and phrases about rugs:
Pile: The visible surface of a rug, consisting of a loop and/or cut yarn tufts.  Also known as “face” or “nap.”

Pile Height: The height of face yarns from the backing to the tip of the piece of yarn.

Points: The tip end of a pile yarn and refers to the number of yarns that make up an area rug.  The more points per square meter the denser the construction, and the denser the construction, the more detail an area rug will have.

Polypropylene: A petroleum-based fiber which is formed in to yarns by a process of extrusion, whereby pre-dyed polypropylene pellets are melted and extruded into a continuous fiber.

Savonnerie: A popular French-designed area rug of pastel colors and featuring a floral center medallion set on an open field and framed by broken borders.  Many modern Indian and Persian rugs are inspired by this style.

[Photo by ccarlstead]

Flooring Removed Due to Flood Damage

Here's an interesting article about one family's incredible spirit to go on in spite of "no luck." http://m.eastoregonian.com/mobile/news/family-rebuilds-after-flood/article_fe...
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Can New Carpet Go Over Tiles? #expertadvice

Question:
Is it possible to install carpet on ceramic tile directly?
 
Answer:
Yes!  It isn't always necessary to remove your exising tiles unless the tiles are damaged or missing in places.  Missing and damaged tiles can cause an uneven look on your new carpet.  However, there is always the possibility that the grout lines could show through, which is why choosing a quality carpet cushion as well as a quality carpet will minimize that possibility. A tackless strip is glued directly onto the tile to hold the carpet. If the tile is in good condition, there shouldn't be any reason to have to remove it.

Call Carpet Wagon at 1 (877) 57-WAGON for a free at home consultation and estimate.  We're experts in replacing or updating your old floor with lovely new carpet.

 

Choosing the Perfect Floor Rug pt. 5

Shopping for a new rug can be daunting.  With so many sizes, looks, designs, and textures, the process can be overwhelming.  Here at Carpet Wagon we want to help you choose the perfect rug for your home.  Below are some key terms to know when you go rug shopping. 

Call Carpet Wagon at 1(800) 57-WAGON today to schedule a free consultation at home or visit our showrooms to see all the great rug products we have for you.

Key terms and phrases about rugs:

Knots: The portion of the yarn that is attached, or knotted, to the backing material.  In cut-pile, machine-made rugs, the knots are comprised of two points. In other words, the face yarn is looped in a “U” shape under the backing materials which, when finished, will form two points and one knot.

Loom: A frame or machine for weaving thread or yarn into textiles.

Loop Pile: A woven or tufted carpet construction having a pile surface consisting of uncut loops.

Medallion: The large, enclosed portion of a design, usually in the center of the rug field.  Common shapes are octagons, hexagons, and diamonds.

Nylon: And extremely durable and resiliant, synthetic fiber used in area rugs featuring a rich luster and inherent stain resistance.

[Photo by ccarlstead]

Does Carpet Make a Room Look Smaller? #expertadvice

Question:
Does carpet make a room look smaller?
 
Answer:
No, carpet itself doesn't make a room look smaller. The thing you’d want to consider would be your carpet color selection.  White and cool colors create an effect of vastness, making a room look larger. Another thing you may want to consider is your choice of paint.  Choose a color for the trim and baseboards that is lighter than the walls as this creates the optical illusion that the walls are set back further making the room look even larger.

Choosing the Perfect Floor Rug pt. 4

Shopping for a new rug can be daunting.  With so many sizes, looks, designs, and textures, the process can be overwhelming.  Here at Carpet Wagon we want to help you choose the perfect rug for your home. 

Below are some key terms to know when you go rug shopping.  

Call Carpet Wagon at 1(800) 57-WAGON today to schedule a free consultation at home or visit our showrooms to see all the great rug products we have for you.

Key terms and phrases about rugs:
Hand-Knotted: Tying or knotting pile yarns around woven backing fibers (warp and weft). The resulting face of the rugs is then sheered to a pre-determined height to give the pile uniformity.  The more knots per square foot the more valuable the rug.

Hand-Tufted: Using a tufting gun, pile yarns are forced through a primary backing material known as a scrim.  This process forms a looped pile, and if left uncut the rug is referred to a as hand-hooked.  If the loops are sheered off to create a cut-pile look, it is referred to as hand-tufted.

Hand-Carving: Specialized tools are used to accentuate details of some tufted and even some machine made rugs.  Carving creates added texture and dimension giving the rug a greater apparent value.

Heat-Set: A stage in the yarn production process whereby two or more yarn fibers are twisted together and then heated to ensure the yarns remain joined.  This process allows each yarn point to become fixed, permitting greater design flexibility and appearance retention. 

Hand-Spun Wool: Wool that is spun by hand absorbs more dye in areas that are tightly spun and letss in areas that are more loosely spun, giving it textural detail and an arbrash effect.  Hand-spinning is less abrasive to teh wool allowing it to retain more natural lanolin, which in turn, makes the fiber more resilient.

[Photo by ccarlstead]

How Do I Keep My Carpet Looking New? #expertadvice

1. Walk off mats should be used at all entrances to absorb soil and moisture, and mats should be cleaned on a regular basis so they don’t become sources of soil themselves, especially during inclement weather.  Try to keep your sidewalks and entrances free of excessive dirt and substances which can be tracked into the home.

2. Use a quality pad under your carpet, particularly on the stairs.  Good pads not only give better resilience underfoot, but it can also add to the life of your carpet.  Some carpets carry warranties with specific density and thickness requirements.  Before purchasing your carpet pad, review your warranty.

3. Move heavy furniture occasionally to avoid excessive pile crushing.  Put coasters intended for use with carpet under the legs of tables, chairs and other furniture to help distribute the weight of and prevent crushing the pile.  Do not use chair or appliances with rollers or casters on carpet without a chair pad designed for carpet.  Continued use without a chair pad can cause damage to the carpet.

4. When moving heavy wheeled furniture (pianos, buffets, etc), prevent damage by placing a protective barrier of heavy cardboard or plywood between the wheels and the carpet.

5. If you use area rugs over your carpet, be sure to remove and clean them regularly. Clean and restore the pail of the carpet underneath.  Be certain to check area rugs for colorfastness before putting them back over carpet, as the dyes in some rugs may bleed through to the carpet.  After cleaning your carpet, remember to allow complete drying before replacing rugs.

6. Protect your carpet from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with blinds, shades or awnings.

Call Carpet Wagon at 1(877) 57-WAGON to schedule a free "at home" consultation.

Choosing the Perfect Floor Rug pt. 3

Shopping for a new rug can be daunting.  With so many sizes, looks, designs, and textures, the process can be overwhelming.  Here at Carpet Wagon we want to help you choose the perfect rug for your home. 

Below are some key terms to know when you go rug shopping. 

Call Carpet Wagon at 1(800) 57-WAGON today to schedule a free consultation at home or visit our showrooms to see all the great rug products we have for you.

Key terms and phrases about rugs:
Field: The largest portion of a rug, typically the center, surrounded by the border(s). The field may be solid or contain medallions or an overall pattern.

Foundation: The backing of the rug composed of teh warp and weft threads and often made of cotton, wool, or silk.

Fringe: Extension of the warp threads on two opposite sides of the rug.  Fringe can also be attached to a finished rug to simulate warp threads.

Hand: The tactile aesthetic qualities of carpet and textiles; how it feels to the hand.

Hand-Hooked: Yarn is pushed through a canvas cloth with a hooking needle to form a loop pile.

[Photo by ccarlstead]

More Tips for Flawless Carpet

New carpet represents a substantial investment and, like your other furnishings, requires proper care to keep it attractive over the years to come. 

Carpet rarely wears out in terms of fiber wearing away, but it appearance deteriorates over time and becomes less attractive. 

You can protect your investment, prolong the life of your carpet and improve the quality and beauty of the indoor environment by establishing a regular maintenance schedule.

A comprehensive carpet care program consists of four elements:

- Preventative maintenance

- Regular vacuuming

- Removal of spots and spills

- Overall cleaning on a regular basis

Call the experts at Carpet Wagon 1(877) 57-WAGON to schedule a free at home consultation and estimate.

Simple tricks for carpet maintenance #expertadvice

Even the best carpet will eventually have one or more of these common issues.  Find out what they are and what to do about them to keep your carpet looking brand new for years!

Sprouting: If loose ends or “spouts” extend above the rest of the pile, clip them off even with the pile surface.  Never try to pull them out.  After clipping, smooth the area with your fingers.  Sharp edges on your vacuum cleaner, a child’s toy, high heels, or animal claws can cause this condition.

Pile Crushing: All carpet fibers will crush under heavy stationary loads.  Crushing can be reduced by shifting furniture regularly.  Crushing areas can be usually be improved by covering the area with a damp, clean white cloth and then applying heat to the cloth with an electric iron on the lowest setting.  To ensure that the iron does not damage carpet fibers, test carpet in an inconspicuous location such as a closet.  Remove the cloth and restore the pile while it is still hot by brushing it lightly.  Keep traffic off the carpet until it is dry.

Shading: After certain carpet styles have been subjected to traffic, you may notice areas that appear lighter or darker than other areas. Don’t be alarmed.  Shading is the result of of the change in direction of the pile due to pressure from footsteps and vacuuming.  Brushing the pile all in one direction may temporarily correct shading; however, shading is part of the carpet styling and should be expected in varying degrees.  Do not mistake shading for color fading.

From the experts at Carpet Wagon.  Call 1(877) 57-WAGON to schedule a free consultation at home.

Choosing the Perfect Floor Rug pt. 2

Shopping for a new rug can be daunting.  With so many sizes, looks, designs, and textures, the process can be overwhelming. 

Here at Carpet Wagon we want to help you choose the perfect rug for your home. 

Below are some key terms to know when you go rug shopping.  

Call Carpet Wagon at 1(800) 57-WAGON today to schedule a free consultation at home or visit our showrooms to see all the great rug products we have for you.

Some key terms and phrases about rugs:
Cut and Loop Pile: A combination of cut ends and loops of pile yarn creating a variety of surface textures.

Cut Pile: The majority of area rugs are woven or tufted in loops and sheared after insertion so loop ends stand straight, creating a luxurious appearance and texture.

Dhurrie: A flat-woven rug made in India, usually of wool, and noted for their geometrical or whimsical designs.

Drop-stitch: A technique in machine made rug construction where a line is “dropped” simulating carving in handmade designs and adding a textural element.

Flat-weave: Any rug woven without a cut pile such as a dhurrie.

[Photo by ccarlstead]