Although hardwood is beautiful flooring material, it’s not always the right choice. Parents frequently want to do
hardwood in their childrens’ rooms, particularly if the children have allergies, asthma or a sensitivity to dust. Although hardwood is an easy surface to clean, it is more sensitive to the wear and tear that a young or teenage child produces than laminate. Laminate is characteristically a harder surface, more resistant to the nicks and dings that children can inflict on hardwood. Additionally, laminate is usually less expensive than hardwood and, if a laminate plank is damaged, it can be replaced without color match being an issue (unless the product has been discontinued). The downside of laminate is very straightforward. Cosmetically, it’s improved dramatically over the last 5 years – but it still isn’t the equal of hardwood for depth or detail. So that’s your trade-off. The durability and cost advantage of laminate versus the superior cosmetic depth and detail of hardwood. It all depends on what your application is.
Laminate vs. Hardwood
August 17th, 2010The Old Installation Cost Scam
August 11th, 2010Ever seen a newpaper ad offering “Installation for $99″, no matter how many yards the job is? The next time you see this offer, find out how much the padding costs are…A 6 lb 7/16″ pad costs around $1.65/sq. yd. When you check the padding costs of the retailer making the $99 installation offer, you’ll find that their padding costs are in the $5/sq. yd. range. So what did they do? They hid all the installation charges (usually around $3-4/yd, depending on the type of product) in the padding price – and they charged an extra $99 on top of the installation charges hidden in the padding price. If you’re familiar with the installation business, it’s easy to spot phony offers like this. If not, beware!! Installation is very rarely free – and it’s certainly not free in the $99 offer.
Wood vs. Carpet: Relative Costs
May 21st, 2010These numbers will apply to Arizona residents. Installation costs outside Arizona can be very different!! To begin with, many of our clients are trying to make up their minds whether to buy carpet or hardwood flooring. Here are some applicable numbers that will help someone facing the wood vs. carpet decision.
Let’s look at installation costs first. Wood costs $3-$3.50 per square foot to install. Carpet costs $.35-$.45 per square foot to install. Please notice the significant difference in installation costs. From a cost of materials standpoint, intermediate quality hardwood flooring costs $4-$6/sq. ft. Intermediate quality carpet costs $2.50-$4/sq. ft (padding is included in these cost numbers). Adding the materials and labor costs together, hardwood flooring costs $7-$9.50/sq. ft. fully installed vs. carpet at $2.85-$4.45/sq. ft. fully installed. Granted, these numbers are approximations. Costs will vary according to the products selected and the labor market where the installation takes place, but the cost relationship will not change significantly. The general rule is this: hardwood flooring costs approximately 2 1/2 – 3 times as much as equivalent quality carpet. When you’re working on a flooring budget, bear these numbers in mind. You’ll find them to be a helpful rule of thumb.
Carpet Tiles
April 21st, 2010Doing a commercial office with high traffic? Or a craft room at home where things may get spilled? Or a kids’ playroom where anything may hit the floor at any time? Standard carpet in 12′ widths may not be the answer. You might want to try carpet tiles. They’re 2′ square pieces of carpet that are installed by simply gluing them to the floor. Carpet tile installation is quick and relatively simple. If a particular area is spotted, stained or worn excessively, the effected carpet tiles can simply be taken up and new, clean carpet tiles put in their place. The advantage of being able to replace only soiled or worn areas is significant. Replacing standard carpet can be extremely inconvenient. Replacing carpet tiles is far simpler and quicker. Although carpet tiles are initially more expensive than regular 12′ width carpet, the ability to refurbish your carpet by only replacing specific areas that need replacement provides a substantial cost savings over the long run. So if you’re facing a carpet replacement in any of the above situations, give carpet tiles some thought. Price them and think in terms of replacement convenience over a period of time and the resulting cost savings. Carpet tiles may well be the way to go.
APRIL CARPET & WOOD SALE
March 31st, 2010Now that everyone knows how big their tax refund is (Hopefully, it’s a refund), it’s time to stop putting off the remodeling that you’ve wanted to do. To help you get into the remodeling mood, Carpet-Rite is having a major sale throughout April on all carpet and wood. Our prices are generally very hard to beat, but for April, we’re doing something special. With over 400 carpet products and 300 wood products in our 7848 E. Redfield Road showroom, you’ll find a very broad selection of carpet and wood at very, very good prices. Come see us. And, if you mention that you found us on the internet, we’ll have a small gift for you.
Big Dogs & Hardwood Flooring
March 18th, 2010To be direct about it, most manufacturers lead you to believe that hardwood flooring is more durable than it actually proves to be. Two prime examples are big dogs and home offices. If your dogs are 40 pounds or more, do your best to keep your doggies off the hardwood. If your dog(s) are active and love to run and play, don’t let them run and play on your new hardwood. They will definitely scratch the surface of the hardwood, particularly if your hardwood is one of the softer species (eg, birch or walnut). Even hickory, one of the hardest species, can be scratched by a big dog. There are two solutions: Block off the areas of the house where hardwood is – and invest in a can or two of DuraSeal, a wood stain that can minimize the appearance of the damage done by an active dog.
If you have a home office, be sure to get one of the harder species of hardwood (eg, hickory) or try woven bamboo. Although bamboo isn’t a hardwood per se, woven bamboo is extremely durable (it is frequently used for commercial applications) and, depending on the product, looks very much like hardwood. No matter what product you select, however, it is strongly recommended that you use a floor protector under your chair. This will keep the wood in your office looking good for years.
CHEAP CARPET?
March 17th, 2010As much as I hate to use worn out phrases, “You get what you pay for”. It’s definitely the same in the floorcovering industry. There are instances where “cheap carpet’ is appropriate. If you’re recarpeting a rental or flipping a distressed property, expensive carpet isn’t the way to go. For your own home, however, a balance of value vs. cost should be struck. There are many carpet products currently available that combine value, cosmetic appeal and durability. We’d be happy to show you which products these are. Drop by and see us during our March/April carpet sale. We look forward to meeting you.
Carpet Care Tip – Keep it Clean!
December 8th, 2009Sand and dirt act like little razor blades that can cut carpet fibers. Damaged carpet stains more easily and it’s harder to remove the stains too. Vacuum often to remove dirt and your carpet will last longer. Dirt can combine with oil residues carried through the air and eventually glues itself to the carpet. Regular vacuuming helps prevent this problem. Put rugs near the front door and any other entrances. They will catch much of the dirt that people bring in on their feet. That means less vacuuming and longer carpet life. Removing shoes is a sure way to help carpet last longer. If you have a nice home with nice carpet, guests usually aren’t offended if they are asked to remove their shoes.
How To Care For Your Hardwood Floors
December 8th, 2009Hardwood floors add value to the look and feel of your home as well as to your home’s worth. Well maintained hardwood floors are an investment that will last for many years. Dirt, grit and sand are your hardwood floor’s worst enemies. They act like sandpaper on the finish, causing scratches, dents and dulling. Place floor mats at entrances to trap dirt and prevent damage. Water, spills and standing water can warp a poorly finished hardwood floor and can damage the finish. Simply wipe up all spills as they happen. Hard cleaners and harsh soaps can can build up and create problems when it’s time to put a maintenance coat on the floor. Instead, neutral pH cleaners made specifically for wood floors are recommended. Prevention is a big part of the care for hardwood floors. Avoid dragging furniture! Lift the furniture to move it, avoid dragging. Felt contacts under the legs will help prevent scratches. Vacuum with a brush attachment, don’t use vacuums with beater bars. Direct sun can discolor your hardwood floor. Close curtains and blinds or add sheer drapes to protect from the sun’s intense UV rays. Regular care is a big part of maintaining your hardwood floors. Brooms with fine, soft ends trap dust and grit effectively. Canister vacuums with special bare floor attachments are the surest way to get rid of all the dirt and dust. Use a good dust mop, one with a wide cotton head, and a special dust mop treatment. Spray the treatment onto the mop head before dust mopping.
Welcome to Carpet Rite Scottsdale
December 8th, 2009We’re well aware that you can buy flooring from almost anyone… but dealing with a knowledgeable sales staff and getting top quality installation for your carpet, wood or stone is an entirely different matter. Particularly if the entire transaction takes place at very competitive prices and on time. Our product offering is large and our experience in the business is extensive…We’ve done projects ranging from 15,000 square foot homes to the inside of Randy Johnson’s Hummer (shag carpet). So if you have a project ranging from a room or two to your entire house, we’d love to work with you.