Carpet Knowledge

Here is some basic carpet knowledge I have gathered and think it will be very useful. 

Carpet is measured in yards.

1 square foot is equivalent to 9 square yards. So if your room is 300 sq ft then divide it by 9 to get how many square yards you will need in carpet.

You want to make sure the nap of the carpet is running in the same direction throughout the entire space. 

There are many types of carpet fibers and ways they are formed. They are listed below….

Saxony

• Smooth, soft, cut-pile surface
• Versatile in performance and in appearance
• Works well with traditional rooms
• Used frequently in formal areas

Textured Saxony

• Textured surface helps hide footprints
• Great casual appearance
• Extremely popular style
• Ideal for active families
• Used in any room

Velvets

• Fine, tip-sheared surface
• Elegant style, very formal

Frieze

• Textured surface, with nubby appearance
• Extremely durable and long wearing
• Great for active rooms

Cut and Loop

• Distinctive carved appearance
• Cut and loops give a variety of surface levels
• Multi-colors help hide stains and traffic
• Can really spice up a room
• Fits a variety of room settings

• Several different levels of loops
• Creates a unique-looking, pattern effect
• Has a casual appearance
• Very durable, hides traffic well

Level Loop

•  Loops are all the same height
• Usually made with olefin fiber
• Casual appearance, but extremely durable
• Great for active family rooms, game rooms, or media rooms

Carpet Fibers

Nylon: 

This is the most popular synthetic carpet fiber used today. It offers tremendous value, performance, and ease of maintenance. Nylon provides brilliant colors and hides soil and traffic well.

Olefin: 

This fiber is also called polypropylene, and is extremely popular in berbers and level loops. Olefin carpets are highly stain, static, mold, and mildew resistant. They can be used for indoor or outdoor carpets, including outdoor turf. Their resistance to matting and crushing are not as good as a nylon fiber.

Polyester:

Gives excellent color clarity with a soft feel to the carpet. Lacks the durability of a nylon carpet.

Acrylic: 

Has a real wool look and appearance. Used mainly in level loops, bath mats, and some velvet carpet styles. Offers good mold and mildew resistance with low static levels.

Wool: 

Wool offers the ultimate rich, warm appearance, as well as outstanding performance. Its elegant look is unsurpassed.

The Pros and Cons of Wallpaper

I love wallpaper! It has and will always be in style. I decided to compile a list of paint vs. wallpaper pros and cons. This way you can see the facts of both, and how you shouldn't rule out wallpaper.

• Preparation: How long it takes to prepare a wall when deciding to paint or wallpaper needs to be taken into account.  If you’re starting from a bare wall then you can skip this tip, if you have an existing finish applied to the wall read on…

o   WALLPAPER: CONS: Removing existing wallpaper can be a tedious task that requires patience and the right tools to be effective.  Stripping wallpaper can be done with chemicals or stripping tools, but care must be taken or damage can result to the wall. Consult a home improvement store for specific instructions for your application.

*****Putting a mixture of downy fabric softener and water in a spray bottle makes the removal process much easier.

o   PAINT: PROS: If you are painting over a damaged wall, prepare imperfections with spackle and let dry 24 hours in advance.  Applying primer paint in advance to painting over darker color paint will make your painting preparation easier. Painting requires considerably less preparation time than wallpaper.

• Selection & Durability: Both paint and wallpaper comes in unlimited varieties and colors.  Paints come in various glosses and sheens, while wallpaper comes in paper and vinyl surfaces for durability and finish variation. The lifestyle of your family can make a considerable difference in which finish you select.

o   WALLPAPER: PROS: Very durable and will hold up to wear and tear of children, high traffic areas and many varieties are scrubbable. CONS: Since wallpaper is applied with an adhesive, high moisture bathrooms and kitchens may cause wallpaper to peel away from the wall.

o   PAINT: PROS: Depending on the sheen/finish paint is a good option for areas that need to have an inexpensive and easy application.  Semi-gloss to high gloss paints are durable and are usually reserved for trim, exterior doors, etc… Satin, Eggshell and occasionally Flat sheens are used on interior walls. CONS: When walls are damaged, scraped or hit, paint can chip and repairing and repainting will be necessary.

• Expense: Wallpaper and paint can range in price from the low end to the high end of the cost spectrum. Wallpaper on average is more expensive to purchase the rolls, supplies and to have it installed.  Paint on average is cheaper and requires very few supplies, and an amateur can apply it.  It should be noted that inexpensive wallpaper can be purchased and if you do it yourself can cut down on installation costs. Similarly with paint, higher end faux paint finishes, and textured paint can be expensive especially if it needs to be professionally applied.
• A combination of both: Many people want the versatility of adding a texture to their wall with customizable paint colors.  Paintable wallpaper is a product that comes in rolls or adhesive squares. After the textured wallpaper is applied it can be left bare or it can be painted.  Paintable wallpaper is the best of both worlds!

Can Concrete Get Any Better Than This!

Board Formed Concrete is the name. I love this stuff! I think it is such a great accent to put into your home, especially if you are like me and lean more towards the modern appeal. What they do is pour concrete into forms made out of wood or plywood and leave them there to cure. Once cured they remove the forms and you have gorgeous concrete walls. It really adds some warmth and texture to your typical concrete walls. It has the gorgeous natural wood grains engraved in the concrete. Let me know what you think about this product and if you are as obsessed with them as I am.