Carpet and Flooring Blog - Fred Callaghan Flooring

How To Care For Your Karastan Carpet?

September 30, 2018 By admin

Since 1928, Karastan carpets have been know for their artistry, innovation and craftsmanship. They offer a selection of sophisticated carpet styles that work equally well with both traditional and contemporary décor for today’s homes and offices.

Keeping your carpet looking it’s best requires a few simple steps that will help protect your investment for many years. No matter what method of cleaning you use, there is one universal recommendation: clean your carpet before it becomes too unsightly. And take immediate action on spills. Natural wool fiber sheds liquid spills, so quick action provides the chance of preventing a stain.

There are several cleaning methods that produce satisfactory results, but each has limitations that should be considered. Here’s a handy reference from Karastanto help you decide which cleaning method is right for you and your carpet:

Dry Foam and Absorbent Pad

Fluffy detergent foam is worked into pile by a variety of machines. Once dry, the residue is vacuumed out. This method uses little water, dries fast, and cleans the surface well. Limitation: Over-brushing can damage some carpets.

Steam Cleaning (Hot Water Extraction)

Extraction of the cleaning solution and soil leaves little residue and no pile damage. Recommended for all carpet types, this method is most effective when performed by a professional using an external hot water extraction unit. Limitations: Avoid using too much detergent. Follow up with plain water, but caution is required to prevent over-wetting.

Carpet grooming should be incorporated with all professional cleanings. A professional pile lifter vacuum may be effective in restoring matted or ridged carpeting.

Dry Powder

Absorbent particles are worked into the pile with a machine and removed by vacuum. This method uses no water, little skill is required, and the carpet is ready for use immediately. This is a professional or do-it-yourself method. Limitations: It can be difficult to remove all cleaning residue from deep pile. This method also is not that effective for heavily soiled or matted areas.

Caution: Methods and Products to Avoid

The rotary brush wet shampoo method is not recommended for residential carpet as damage may result. Moreover, some do-it-yourself products in aerosol cans may cause rapid re-soiling due to excessive residues. Test on a scrap of carpet first. If the dried product feels sticky, don’t use it. Also avoid all cleaning agents containing an optical brightener (fluorescence) such as those found in many laundry detergents and some carpet cleaning systems.

Be sure to visit our new showroom at Fred Callaghan Carpet & Flooring and find the Karastan style that works right for you!

How To Prevent Scratches In Your Hardwood Flooring?

July 25, 2018 By admin

Hardwood flooring has continued to be a popular selection by homeowners for a variety of reasons. Hardwood floors are longer lasting and can be refinished many times to freshen the look. Wood is a sustainable, renewable and a natural material. It is easier to spot spills and debris on wood floors to keep floors clean. Wood does not retain allergens. And hardwood flooring is both a traditional and on trend selection for modern homes. But let’s face it, all hardwood floors scratch over time. Here are some tips to minimize the scratches and prolong the life and beauty of your hardwood floors:

DOWN WITH DIRT: The number one culprit of scratches is dirt and grit, so clean regularly to minimize this. Get a vacuum designed for hardwood floors, not for carpets. The wrong vacuum can actually scratch your floors.

SOCKS ONLY: Take off your shoes. Especially avoid spikey shoes like stilettos and cleats. Keep a shoe bin at your entranceway.

AREA RUGS: Use area rugs with an area rug pad. They are particularly helpful in high traffic areas like around the kitchen sink or dining rooms where chairs are frequently pulled out and moved.

CONSIDER WHEELS: Be careful with chairs, cabinets and entertainment centers with wheels. If your furnishings have wheels, make sure they are non-marking rubber wheel balls. Be sure to clean the wheels regularly, as dirt or debris that may adhere to them can cause scratches when the wheels are rolled across the floor.

DON’T PUSH: Most damage to hardwood floors comes from pushing or dragging furniture across the floor when moving or redecorating. Whenever possible find a helper and pick it up and move it.

USE FURNITURE PADS: Furniture pads and glider pads help cushion the feet and corners of heavy furniture and can also serve to slide furniture around so it does not have to be lifted or on wheels. For chairs that sit on your wooden floor, stick felt pads on their feet. If the chairs move when people stand up or move, they won’t scratch your floor.

Be sure to stop by our newly expanded Showroom and a take a look at our latest selection of hardwood flooring.

White Carrera Marble Tile In Your Kitchen and Bathroom

June 30, 2018 By admin

With the rise in the popularity of all white kitchens, and retro European style baths, white Carrera marble has become a sought after choice for many homeowners who love the rich look and feel of traditional white marble. When you get right down to it, nothing really compares with marble. This is the perfect tile for both kitchens and baths and there are plenty of ways to redecorate with it.

For your kitchen tile, white Carrera marble can be a chic addition on your kitchen floor or walls and can add sophisticated elegance when it is front and center on a kitchen island. Polished white Carrera marble gives any kitchen a contemporary ambience, but is not the best choice for flooring as it can become very slippery when wet. Honed white Carrera marble tile provides a warmer, earthier feel in the kitchen for counters and walls and will not scratch or etch as easily as polished marble tile.

Carrera as a bathroom tile works well on the walls in the shower area. Or perhaps you have a bathtub that needs a revamp from its old look; a mosaic Carrera look is absolutely perfect for this occasion, especially when you want that natural relaxed look. Carrera marble can also be the background that highlights your bathroom vanity, bringing the vanity details to full view highlighting major attractions like the faucets or the traditional design.

White Carrera marble tile is made of natural stone, so it is resistant to splashes or spills but it can be a bit demanding to maintain. If the thought of regularly resealing your marble every six months feels unrealistic, consider the many options of faux Carrera Marble tile that look good, will work perfectly for most kitchen and bathroom projects and can be more cost effective.

Marble, with its pros and cons is truly an authentic look that over time develops a lovely natural patina. Perhaps that is why it has been the stone of choice for hundreds of years in many European restaurants and bakeries.

Be sure to stop by our newly expanded Showroom and a take a look at our latest selection of tiles.

2018 Kitchen Flooring Trends

May 15, 2018 By admin

Is there anything more fun that remodeling your kitchen? Despite the disruption to daily like, a kitchen re-do can be exiting as you select new appliances, countertops, accent pieces and of course flooring. Plus investing in a kitchen upgrade can impact the bottom line when it comes to resale of your home.

With so many options in kitchen flooring you want to be certain you not only select what is trending today, but also styles that have longevity in the marketplace. For starters, wood is in! Or at least floors that look like wood. With modern technology, just about any floor can mimic the look of real wood, without the maintenance issues. Based on FooringInc.com, these are a few trends to look for.

Waterproof Vinyl Kitchen Flooring

WPC vinyl planks usually resemble an upscale laminate floor, giving a modern, convincing wood look. Basically, WPC vinyl is the best of all worlds for your kitchen floor. They are durable, low maintenance, 100% waterproof and on trend

Tile Kitchen Flooring

Tile is durable and easy to clean and has been a flooring staple for year. The wood-look tile kitchen flooring trend is very popular right now.Tile manufacturers are keeping up with the times and following the trends of contemporary wood and stone.

Laminate Kitchen Flooring

As technology improves, so does laminate flooring. You will see even more convincing wood looks and all of the current wood trends including hand scraped wood looks, distressed wood looks and even high color variation.

Engineered Wood Kitchen Flooring

Engineered wood is a relatively new kid on the block. A step up in durability and perception from laminate, engineered wood is the only option (aside from solid hardwood, obviously) that is made from real wood.

Blonde Wood and Wood Look

As more homeowners embrace the light, airy feel in their home, you will see a huge resurgence in blonde wood (and wood-look) floors. Blonde floors, in particular, can give you that light and airy timeless feel.

Espresso Wood and Wood Look

Dark floors are still very popular. In the kitchen, you’ll see these dark floors balanced against bright white cabinets, colorful accent walls and contemporary kitchen decor. Dark floors offer a sleeker look that sets the perfect tone for contemporary lines and minimalist decor.

Gray Kitchen Flooring

Gray flooring, particularly gray wood, has grown quickly over the last decade. Although gray tiles, particularly in stone looks, are also very popular in the kitchen. Gray has quickly become the most popular trend,not just for flooring, but also for kitchens and homes in general.

Stop by our newly expanded and renovated showroom and learn about the many flooring options available for your home.

A Variety Of Hardwood Flooring Surfaces Trending in 2018

April 30, 2018 By admin

The popularity of hardwood flooring surfaces over carpet has become a trend in 2018. New innovations in flooring like wood-plastic composites (WPC), rigid core luxury vinyl and high definition printing, as well as the many option in hardwood, ceramic, engineered and solids have changed what today’s homeowner’s want when it comes to flooring.

Luxury Vinyl Tile

Recent technological advancements in flooring come together to make luxury vinyl tile the fastest growing category in flooring options. According to BuilderOnline.com, previously LVT/P (luxury vinyl tile / planks) found wide acceptance until WPC came along with improvements in both performance and design. The surge in popularity can be attributed to the many formats available. Embossed-in-register design capabilities, strong visuals and waterproof features are grabbing the attention of homeowners. Combined with improved and more flexible installation and a wide range of price points luxury vinyl leads the way in demand.

Ceramics

The durability, style options and easy maintenance of ceramic tile keep it a strong contender when it comes to flooring. Larger format ceramic, rectangles 12 by 24 inches and larger, continue to dominate, aided in part by porcelain’s ability to perform even in these larger formats. Slabs as large as 5 feet are starting to capture attention, especially on signature spaces of the home.

Hardwoods

Traditional hardwood flooring is still a favorite for it’s natural beauty, elegance, and durability but is now facing competition with most other flooring categories that try to emulate the natural look of hardwood. Longer, wider engineered boards with striking visual and surface finishes remain popular. Hardwoods with gray undertones that provide a contemporary look are gaining popularity but hand-scraped looks that offer more character are starting to decline as a first choice for homeowner’s.

Stop by our newly expanded and renovated showroom and learn about the many flooring options available for your home.