BASIC PRODUCT COMPARISONS
Carpet? Laminate? Vinyl? Hardwood? Ceramic and Stone? Decisions,
decisions, decisions! Choosing flooring that best fits your client's lifestyle
is really what it's all about. Following is a quick rundown of products,
their characteristics, and what they're best suited for.
CARPET
Offers a broad price range, extensive selection to meet most decorating
styles and budgets. Carpet is soft and warm underfoot, creating a luxurious
feeling. Most carpet fibers are either nylon, olefin, polyester or wool.
They vary in wear and stain resistance, resilience, cleanability and price.
Types include saxony, plush, texture, cut-loop, level loop, multi-level
loop and frieze. Carpet works well in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms,
hallways, family rooms, dens.
LAMINATE
High-performance laminate flooring can look like wood or tile, is extremely
durable and easy to clean. Laminates feature engineered, layered construction
and can stand up to just about anything. Laminate flooring does not scuff
or show wear-through. The surface is burn-resistant and resists scratching
from pets. The surface will not indent with normal family usage nor will
the color fade. Clean-up is easy, requiring only a damp cloth or vacuum.
Good for moisture-prone areas: Kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, family rooms,
dens, laundry rooms, as well as all high-traffic areas.
CERAMIC AND STONE TILE
Creates an elegant, natural look. Ceramic and stone are almost indestructible,
easy to maintain. Ceramic tile can be glazed or unglazed. Stone tiles vary
in texture and color for a distinctive look. Both tiles are suitable for
moisture-prone and heavy-traffic areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, foyers,
laundry rooms.
VINYL
Vinyl is easy to maintain and very durable, making it suitable throughout
the home.
Sheet Vinyl - Available in 6 foot and 12 foot widths, in any
length needed.
Tile Squares - Available in rich, luxurious squares, perfect
for the
finest interiors.
Colors and Styles - From warm, subtle colors to bold brights,
today's vinyl has
it all. Vinyl comes in an extensive variety of patterns, designs and
textures available in a stylish palette of color combinations.
Performance - Vinyl is great for active families. It can withstand
heavy household traffic, children and pets, providing years of carefree
beauty. Quality vinyl is available in good, better and best categories,
enabling you to plan your flooring investment according to your budget.
HARDWOOD
Many people prefer the natural, rich beauty of genuine wood floors. Upscale
and elegant, they create a warm, inviting look. You can choose from two
categories: Solid wood and engineered wood.
Solid Wood - The most common wood flooring consists of solid,
one-piece boards. Solid wood flooring is usually nailed to a subfloor of
wood. Solid wood is not recommended below-grade or for basement installation.
Engineered Wood - Consists of two or more layers of wood laminated
together. The top layer is usually a hardwood veneer of varying thickness.
The lower layer is a softwood backing.
Installation - Most engineered wood floors are glued down, rather than
nailed down. Some are installed as "floating floors", meaning the edges
of the panels are glued together but not attached directly to the subfloor.
It can also be glued directly to a concrete slab which means it can be
used below grade.
Variety of Styles - Most wood flooring is available in three
formats, the most common being the familiar wood strip. It is also available
in wider width planks or as parquet squares.
Finishes - Unfinished floors, installed on-site, allow you many choices
for colors and types of finishes. Most solid wood flooring is unfinished,
while most engineered floors are prefinished.
AREA RUGS
Bring warmth to hard-surface floors. They also help decrease the noise
level of foot traffic. Area rugs are available in a wide range of sizes,
colors, patterns, textures – the choices are almost infinite – from traditional
to Oriental to contemporary to Persian.
|
