Spring is coming, are you ready?

Hello everyone! Hope the snow, cold, ice, and winter freeze hasn't put you in too much of a funk. If so, rejoice, because in just a few short weeks it will be spring once more! We will be again welcoming a new season with renewed life! Although, right now if you look out your window, you'll most likely see nothing more than a bleak grey scene, but, soon it'll be sunshine and flowers! So, what do you plan to do to prepare for this renewed season?? We here at Americarpet will be participating in some SERIOUS spring cleaning. After doing some reading around the web, I've found that we aren't alone. Come on, Martha Stewart even has a whole printable list of what you should hit during your spring cleaning, which can be found here. Personally, a part of your spring cleaning process should include some personal cleaning. I'm not talking about taking a shower or washing your car. I'm talking about taking an inventory and doing a self-check, check in with yourself to see- how are you doing? Are you taking time to make sure that you're taking care of you? If not, here are a few tips that we found to help you check in with you.

 - Put ALL of your technology away. Yes, I mean it, trust me I know how hard this is I too feel as though my phone is literally attached to my hand but if you want to reach a point where you can really hear yourself the tech needs to go bye-bye.

 - Choose a quiet spot and or moment. Some people find this "personal space" while running, biking, doing yoga, cleaning, or just sitting alone by a beautiful place in nature.

- Now here comes the tough part, stop thinking. I mean it, really stop thinking. Let everything just dissipate from your mind. Allow yourself to be present in that moment, and take in what’s around you, think of what you're grateful for, pet, partner, place to live, job, family, whatever it is that you're grateful for and focus on those things. From this point think about what you can improve within yourself, maybe volunteer more, give to the less fortunate, etc.

Congratulations, you've completed some "meditating" feels pretty good right? Now, onto other business, you should also clean up around the house, yes going back to that #fabulous spring cleaning list Martha has blessed us with. Don't forget to have your carpets professionally shampooed and vacuumed. However, if you have pets, you should be doing this at least every six months. If not and the only pets you have are of the human kind, then we recommend only cleaning once a year or every other year.

For more information feel free to contact me:

Juan Werner 
(305) 945-2973
 www.americarpetfloors.com

You are also welcome to visit us at our showroom located in:

Americarpet

364 NE 167th St

Miami, FL 33162

How to make the best choice for you Condominium flooring.

After nearly 30 years in this business, I have learned through experience, shows, and seminars; also by looking at hundreds of condominium hallways what will work best according to budgets, wear and designs.

First, commercial carpet fibers are made from wool or a wool / nylon blend (wool 80% / nylon 20%) and 100% nylon.  All of the carpet fibers have advantages, disadvantages, design, colors and different prices.  Please read our blog before you buy a carpet for your condominium hallways.

    100% Wool (natural fiber)

Wool takes colors perfectly, which makes it incredibly easy to print and dye. The advantage is that it has great wear durability.  The disadvantage is that it will discolor with bleach.  This fiber has to be cleaned properly in order to last and it is very expensive between $8 to $10 per square feet without labor.  Wool face fiber weight is 36 to 40oz & 1/10 gauge.

80% Wool-20% Nylon (Natural fiber/man-made fiber)

When printed with a pattern, it comes out beautifully every time!  It will have superior performance than 100% wool.  It will wear through the years and bleach will also discolor it.  This fiber is expensive between $6 to $8 per square ft without labor.  Nylon face fiber weight is 36 to 40oz. &  1/10 gauge.

-100% Nylon 3 Ways to do it (man-made fiber)

Print Dye Nylon

Print dye nylon is like an apple.  The color goes on top of the fiber.  With this dye method you can choose any design you want and the patterns can be more intricate.  Your order must be over 2,000 yards for the factory to make your custom design and colors.  Many hallway carpets are made from print dye nylon.  This dye fades in the sunlight and will go white with bleach.  This is true especially for condominiums which have washer & dryer for common use in the hallway.  The price is between $3 to $4 square foot without labor.  Nylon face fiber weight is 36oz & 1/10 gauge for best performance.

Solution Dye Nylon with Tapistron Technology

This carpet is made with a special machine that makes the carpet as expensive as print dye nylons, but you have more designs and patterns options.  It should be 36 oz and 1/10 gauge and the price is between $4 to $5 square foot without labor.  This carpet is also bleach resistant.

Solution Dye Nylon

Solution dye nylon comes in cut, loop, or cut and loop patterns.  This dye is priced between $2.50 to $3.50 per square foot without labor. This fiber is like a carrot the color goes throughout the fiber.  This is great for carpets with heavy graphic designs which also includes a lot of colors and curves.  The advantages of this carpet are that it is hard to fade, it’s bleach resistant, its also easy to clean out stains and one of the least expensive of the carpets already discussed.  The disadvantages are that intricate designs and colors are not possible as in print dye.

There is also Polyprolene and Polyester fibers available for lower prices but these compromise wearability, cleanability and flammability standards for condominium hallways and prices between $1.50 to $2.50 square foot without labor.  It is not recommendable to use this carpet for condominium hallways.

For more information feel free to contact me:

Juan Werner 
(305) 945-2973
 www.americarpetfloors.com

You are also welcome to visit us at our showroom located in:

Americarpet

364 NE 167th St

Miami, FL 33162

Floor buying guidelines!

Below are some tips to make your floor shopping experience the most enjoyable one.

DO

- Have a rough idea of how many square feet you're trying to cover. Many times here at Americarpet we have clients come in and want a price, but they don't know the size of the area. Without this we can only give you a ballpark figure. Of course, when this happens we will gladly go to the job site and measure.

- Understand that with all carpet there might be a little variation of shade from what you see on the sample to what you actually get. Most, if not all factories are consistent in their color, but since the end result of adding color is called “dye lot” and not “replicate lot” there is chance for a small color shift.

- Buy more than what you need. The actual percentage varies depending on the product, but it usually is about 7%. This is especially useful if in the future you need to replace some damaged areas. Spend more now and less later.

- Realize that if you need a large area rug we can actually order regular carpet and cut it to size and bind it. This method is more time effective then custom ordering a large rug, which would have to be hand-made.

DON'T

- Expect your purchase to arrive here by next day. Most places do not carry many things in stock. If you need something TODAY then call ahead of time and ask the business if they have those items in stock. Furthermore, don't expect it to arrive in a day. Driving, even for professionals such as truckers, take time. We will usually have your goods within 4 business days.

- Be surprised when you can't find the same piece of tile, carpet, hardwood, laminate, etc you bought 5 years ago. Fashion and styles are ever changing, and therefore so are flooring products. Chances are you are looking for only a bit of flooring to replace a damaged area: speaking from experience, you will most likely not find it and will have to settle.

- Most factories will not ship through UPS or Fedex when it comes to an order. This means that if you need only 40 sq. ft. of synthetic grass, carpet, hardwood, etc the store will have to add a freight charge. Depending on the good this will add and estimated $50-$100 to the order. When you buy less it costs more.

For more information feel free to contact me:

Juan Werner 
(305) 945-2973
 www.americarpetfloors.com

You are also welcome to visit us at our showroom located in:

Americarpet

364 NE 167th St

Miami, FL 33162

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Rubber flooring: your best friend for your many flooring needs.

It’s easy to see why rubber is the flooring of choice for many commercial, educational and government establishments – and even, in some cases, a good choice of flooring for areas of the home. It has outstanding durability, as well as resilience and is also resistant to burns, scratches, dents and stains, as well as being completely waterproof. Furthermore, it comes in a stunning array of colors and designs and can also incorporate textures for additional luster. Surprisingly, it can also be a very environmentally-friendly option!

What is Rubber Flooring?

Traditionally, rubber came from the milky sap of the rubber tree and natural rubber is still harvested in this way. However, the majority of rubber flooring is now often made of synthetic materials. Rubber has always been popular in industrial settings because it is one of the most hard-wearing and resilient floor coverings available and yet still offers a remarkable level of cushioning underfoot and impact absorbency. Its water-resistant and stain-resistant surface, as well as its chemical stability, means that it is ideal in high moisture areas and where thorough cleaning (with water and harsh cleaners) is regularly required. This also makes them ideal for bathrooms in domestic settings. (Note: in heavily wet areas, rubber flooring must be combined with a wet room system to provide a reliable moisture barrier and prevent water leakage).

Where is it Used?

Rubber flooring is used in a huge variety of settings, from airports to schools, hospitals to clinics, farms to restaurants, as its high durability and resistance to wear and tear means it can cope with just about anything, from dogs claws to stiletto heels! In many of these cases, particularly in areas of high traffic, it is worthwhile applying a maintenance layer of polish to the surface to make cleaning and maintenance of the rubber flooring easier!

Rubber flooring is used in commercial and industrial settings for heavy traffic areas due to its combination of aesthetics, functionality and value. It is also widely used in public transport as it meets the stringent requirements of public safety and durability – not only does it have slip resistance and abrasion resistance but it also performs highly against fire and smoke emissions. Lastly, rubber floors are embraced in the sports and fitness industries where their flexibility and cushioning, together with their resiliency and hygiene-promoting properties make them the ideal flooring material.

Rubber floors have also gained in popularity with modern designers as it gives a room a unique ‘high-tech’ look and feel, as well as being versatile enough to match a variety of design schemes. Modern rubber flooring comes in solid sheet or tile form and is available in wet suit finishes, primary and pastel colors and with embedded textures, such as studs or ribbing, for potentially wet areas to prevent slipping and accidents.

Features of Rubber Flooring:

Stable: Rubber has in-built UV-stability which makes it ideal for outdoor use, weathering very well in semi-UV exposed areas. For strongly exposed areas, the rubber can be treated with a special sealer coating which will prevent fading and make it more resistant to strong sun exposure. Rubber also has good dimensional stability, which means it shows no noticeable shrinkage or expansion in fluctuating temperatures.

Durable: Most good quality rubber is guaranteed to last the life of the application without cracking, wearing or breaking. In fact, it is not unknown for the rubber floor to outlast the life of the premises in places such as airports, stations and public transport such as buses and trains. Their longevity is due to their high abrasion resistance and also to an in-built system of self-releasing wax which helps the rubber “heal” against scratches and abrasions. The other factor that helps their longevity is rubbers inherent resilience and flexibility.

Anti-Fatigue: One of the key benefits of rubber flooring is its cushioning effect which dissipates impact energy and thus reduces strain on joints and muscles. This then helps to provide comfort underfoot and prevent fatigue. This makes it an ideal flooring for situations where people will be standing for long periods, from the domestic kitchen to commercial settings such as factory conveyor belts, bars, shopping centers, cash registers and transit areas. This cushioning comes from rubber’s highly-elastic polymer chains arranged in a unique cross-linked network, which enables them to act like miniature springs beneath your feet and gives rubber some of its great resilience under heavy weights.

Hygienic and Safe: Rubber’s smooth surface means that it does not easily harbour pet hairs, dust mites and other allergens. The elastomers within rubber also give extremely high surface traction, making rubber flooring an ideal anti-slip floor covering in both work and home environments. Furthermore, good quality rubber is formulated so that it does not produce any toxic substances when incinerated, thus giving safety in the event of fire – particularly important for public places.

Low Static: Rubber flooring can be available in a static-dissipative version which is of key importance in certain settings such as hospitals, computer rooms and electronic manufacturing plants, where control of build-up and static discharge is vital.

Oil-Resistant & Water-Resistant: Rubber flooring can also often be formulated to withstand oil, grease and chemicals which makes them ideal for settings where these compounds are present in high amounts – e.g. car dealerships, beauty salons, food processing facilities and laboratories.

Long-Term Economy: Because of its longevity and durability, leading to a long life cycle – together with its low maintenance – rubber is without question one of the most economical flooring types in the long term.

Insulating: Rubber is a fantastic insulator, both of temperature and sound. The molecular density of the elastomers in rubber helps it absorb sound and impact, and reduce the transfer of noise, resulting in a quieter environment. Its thermal insulation properties also provide comfort in winter and even in summer, keeping the environment warm and cool respectively.

Environmentally-Friendly Flooring?

Rubber flooring may not be your first thought as environmentally-friendly flooring but it actually has a lot of eco-friendly properties. Because of its long life cycle, there is no need for frequent removal and disposal of flooring materials plus regular installation, thus reducing use of chemicals (e.g. adhesives), wastage and demand on natural resources. Once it is finally removed, rubber can be recycled. Even if it is not, it is easily disposed of in landfills and in many cases, if it has been formulated without PVC’s, there will be no toxic plasticizers, halogens, or dioxins to seep into the groundwater. Lastly, rubber has been shown to significantly improve indoor air quality.

For more information feel free to contact me:

Juan Werner 
(305) 945-2973
 www.americarpetfloors.com

You are also welcome to visit us at our showroom located in:

Americarpet

364 NE 167th St

Miami, FL 33162

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A few helpful tips for your commercial carpet shopping experience!

1. Determine Foot Traffic

- Determine if it is medium, high or severe foot traffic and choose carpet for this use. This is the most important step in your floor shopping experience, the amount of traffic that your carpet will have to withstand will have a major effect on the type of commercial carpet you'll be selecting. 

2. Budget Estimate

 - Get the square footage and foot traffic so you can plan a budget with our commercial carpet store. Additionally, having a budget in mind will not only make the shopping experience easier for you, but it will make it easier for us to assist you in selecting the best commercial flooring for your needs and budget! 

3. Style

 - Up to a certain point more money spent on carpet decides how long it will look good for. After that threshold more money equals more style and better quality! 

4. Get Acquainted With Carpet Fibers and Construction

 - The most common commercial carpet fibers are Nylon, Polypropylene, and Wool/Nylon Blend. The most common types of Carpet Construction are Loop, Cut Pile, Cut Pile & Loop. Each of these fibers have their strengths and weaknesses, which is why it's absolutely important that you acquaint yourself with these fibers as to make an informed decision based on your needs.  

5.  Commercial Carpet Fibers

- See our Blog Entry on Carpet fiber by Clicking the Link Below

http://bit.ly/1Af6tsB

6.  Commercial Carpet Construction

Cut Pile Carpet – Usually used for borders, solid colors, more luxurious commercial carpets, or prints, this is a nice carpet if you are looking for extra style and class. Cut pile commercial carpet is a tight plush, softer than the loop construction.

Carpet Tile – Loop or cut pile carpet that is set into a rubber backing. The benefits of this type of carpet are that sections are replaceable if they get damaged and the loops cannot pull because they are individually set into the rubber backing. It is the most expensive of the three but well worth the cost for the extra functionality that it offers.

7. Choose Underlayment...or Not?

Underlayments or carpet pads lay between the subfloor and carpet. Most commercial applications do not require and should not use a pad. However, there are certain applications where commercial carpet pads are suggested and very beneficial.

Required in areas where people will be standing for long periods of time.

8. Consider Carpet Maintenance Requirements

Like anything else, carpet – in order for it to give you good longevity  – must be maintained properly. Consult with Americarpet for more information.

For more information feel free to contact me:

Juan Werner 
(305) 945-2973
 www.americarpetfloors.com

You are also welcome to visit us at our showroom located in:

Americarpet

364 NE 167th St

Miami, FL 33162

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The top 10 reasons why you should choose carpet tiles for your commercial carpet needs.

11.)    Carpet tiles like carpet, provides a warmer more insulated floor than a hard tiled surface.

22.)    Carpet tile is acoustically superior due to its dense face construction and four-layer condensed backing system.

33.)    The condensed vinyl backing of carpet tile is the best of all carpet backing systems. Carpet tile is moisture resistant and does not allow bacteria or spills to penetrate the tile. It is firmly bonded to the back of the carpet so it cannot be delaminated by either foot or rolled traffic. This backing system prevents the edges or seams from raveling.

44.)    Unlike rolled goods, carpet tiles are easily shipped, stored, and moved around within a facility. Portability is one of its best attributes.

55.)    Carpet tiles can easily be installed by non-expert installers.

66.)    In an occupied interior, the furniture does not have to be moved out. Heavy workstations files, pianos, and pool tables, can be jacked up or slid as the tile is being installed.

77.)    Carpet tiles can be easily replaced (if you order a few extra when placing your order) when they become soiled or worn. You can also rate worn or soiled tiles to a less obvious spot within the room to extend the life of your carpet tiles. Also, you can easily remove a soiled tile and clean it at a utility sink and replace it after it has dried.

88.)    Although the entire carpet industry recommends chair pads under roll chair casters, carpet tile performs the best without them and can be replaced after excessive use!

99.)    Carpet tiles allow for creativity. They can be quarter-turned to create a pattern. You can make a border with a different color pattern. You can rearrange the tiles to give a new feel to the room. Ask about our pre-cut borders and area rug tile packages.

110.)  A study on different floors like Terrazo, vinyl tile & carpet tile found carpet tile is the preferred environmental stressor because of sound reduction & reduced discomfort from reflected glare on the floors. 1a

For more information feel free to contact me:

Juan Werner 
(305) 945-2973
 www.americarpetfloors.com

You are also welcome to visit us at our showroom located in:

Americarpet

364 NE 167th St

Miami, FL 33162

Are you wondering which flooring is best for your budget?

   Yes you and many others are caught in the same boat- you would love to change your flooring, but you're on a tight budget. In this situation, there are several options. Budget aside, you can still make that dream room come to life, this will become a reality with the use of some thrifty shopping habits.

If you're looking for a laminate wood flooring option, then I would recommend making sure to look at the quality and thickness of the sample. The thickness will tell you how tough the laminate flooring is going to be, and how long it will last you. It's also imperative that you ensure that the flooring you're looking at purchasing your new laminate wood floors that you check that the flooring has a protective layer. This layer is what will protect your floors against scuffing, water damage, and general damage from foot traffic.

On the other hand, when looking at purchasing carpeting, there are a few more factors to keep in mind. My mom's old saying is so true in this situation "what you buy cheap, will cost you". If you choose to go on the cheap end for your carpeting you will, note WILL, have to replace it sooner rather than later. Additionally, with a really cheap carpet it's more likely to be much less resistant to traffic and stains. Many of the mid-range priced carpets will have a basic layer of defense against stains and will be much more resistant to everyday wear-and-tear. My recommendation is when shopping for your new carpeting, don't be afraid to get up close and personal with your carpeting. When shopping around don't be shy, lift up the sample and read the materials used and the warranties and so forth.

Same goes for any rug purchases. When you’re shopping around for a new area rug it’s basically the same principals as for when you’re shopping for your new area rug, don’t shy away from looking at the nitty-gritty details about the rug you’re about to purchase. Also, I recommend doing your homework on which rug you feel will be most appropriate for your home. For example, if you have small children running around then it would be in your best interest to get a rug that can handle high traffic and is resistant to stains. However, if you don’t have any children and, say, you’re into high fashion- your options are nearly endless. In this particular case, you can go with basically any carpet you wish.

As with any other large purchase, I highly recommend starting to set up a budget in order to plan for your new flooring purchase as soon as possible. Doing this will make your purchasing experience much easier and ultimately give you a much wider array of choices when it comes to your next flooring project.

Now, don’t discount the cost of installation. This is something that is frequently overlooked and people will assume that the installation is already worked into the sticker price- it’s not. We use only the best installers that we know, but luckily for you, they work for very competitive prices. But, you can also shop around to see what works best for you, that’s the beauty in the whole process. 2a

For more information feel free to contact me:

Juan Werner 
(305) 945-2973
 www.americarpetfloors.com

You are also welcome to visit us at our showroom located in:

Americarpet

364 NE 167th St

Miami, FL 33162

Which flooring is best for my kids?

The various answers are far and wide. It all depends on the age of the children we're talking about. Here are a few hypothetical situations, say you have two toddlers and they are still using walkers and are running all around the entire house, running into anything and everything. In this case, it would be in your best interest to invest in a carpet that has a short loop, and that is tough against high traffic and stains. We all know how messy kids can get, especially during those terrible two's.. Here's an example of the carpeting you should be looking for.

 Now, let's say you're dealing with a pack of tweens, just for the sake of example, tween boys! At this stage of life, I'm sure your boys will be running in and out of the house between baseball, football, soccer, or track practice- these boys are notorious for tracking dirt everywhere and anywhere. In this case, I can tell you, you're going to want to stick to either tile or laminate- especially if you're in Florida. The major benefits to laminate and tile especially with active kids, is that these are easy and fast to clean. Unlike carpet where dirt is easily trapped and can be a hassle to clean, laminate and tile can be cleaned as easy as 1, 2, 3.

Both of these flooring options can be easily swept and mopped with no problems. However, I do have to advise this, do not let water to sit for a long time on your laminate, that's the only time when laminate is likely to warp. In addition to being easy to clean, these flooring options are likely to last you a very long time. In my Grandparents house, they've had the same tile floor for over 40 years! But, when dealing with toddlers and babies, I would be extremely wary of tile, mainly because of how hard a fall on a tile floor is, as compared to falling on laminate floor or carpeting.

For more information feel free to contact me:

Juan Werner 
(305) 945-2973
 www.americarpetfloors.com

You are also welcome to visit us at our showroom located in:

Americarpet

364 NE 167th St

Miami, FL 33162