It’s carpet cushion, not the carpet itself that determines how a carpet feels beneath your feet. However, carpet cushion isn’t just about feel. A quality carpet cushion helps preserve the look of the carpet, and can even extend the life and comfort of a carpet, providing it with tougher protection against wear and tear.

Dirt can grind down carpet fiber the way sandpaper wears down wood, and thus shortens carpet life. A quality cushion makes cleaning more efficient because it raises carpet off the subfloor and provides an air space underneath, allowing the carpet to breathe. When you vacuum, that space allows more air to come up through the carpet, carrying more dirt along with it. The result is more effective cleaning every time.

A quality carpet cushion helps decrease pile crushing, the acute compression of fibers in a high-traffic area, particularly in hallways. The pad allows the carpet to maintain its pile height and stay looking new for much longer.

Also, understand that carpet cushion is sold using quality specifications, not color specifications. The color of the sample you see in the store may not be the same color as the carpet cushion installed in your home.

The label makes for valuable reading. Be sure to become familiar with all of the product specifications and warranty coverage on the back labels of the carpeting you’re purchasing. Doing so will protect your investment today and tomorrow.

Start with the table. Make a plan for the number of guests you will have, and determine your set-up. Do you have enough chairs? Table space? Are you doing paper or cloth napkins? Will you have a children’s table? Gather everything you will need – linens, plates, glasses, silverware and serving plates or bowls. You could actually set the table or tables a few days ahead of time and have one less worry.

Have you planned your menu? Collect your recipes together and make your shopping list. Be sure to get to the store well before the last-minute crowd. Are there any menu items you can make ahead of time and just warm up on Thanksgiving day? Can you prep some of the food ingredients so you can pull them out of the fridge and add them to your last-minute dishes? Anything you can tackle ahead-of-time makes Thanksgiving morning easier.

Large meals often mean spills. If your dining room has a floor that needs immediate cleaning such as a nice rug, wood or carpet, prepare for accidents. Put together a kit with your preferred cleaning products and a good stack of white cleaning towels. That way you can address any problems quietly and quickly. You may want to keep your cleaning kit intact for future spills.

Finally, make a plan for Thanksgiving morning. Schedule your food preparation and cooking so that everything will be done in time. And take a few extra minutes to enjoy the day with your family and friends.

I

At Pierce Flooring and Design, our concern lies with the contribution of floor covering waste to Montana landfills.

For the approximate weight of the contents of one 53′ semi trailer (that’s properly loaded) which equals 20,000 pounds of carpet, the EPA estimates recycling this carpet will result in saving the equivalent of 3,000 gallons of fuel. By our estimates, it will take a maximum of 653 gallons of fuel to transport this material. The net effect is a savings of the equivalent impact of 2,347 gallons of fuel for each 20,000 lbs of carpet that is recycled. We will also reduce the impact to our local landfills.

As of Oct 1, 2008 Pierce Flooring has committed to recycling carpet and carpet cushion in all 8 locations. We estimate diverting up to 2,000,000 sq. ft. of carpet from local landfills annually. Or, over 1,000,000 lbs of carpet annually.

The Pierce green effort also includes REUSE. Reuse is possibly the most efficient form of recycling.

Let’s do the right thing…….together. Call us today for more information. 1.877.525.0066.

When shopping for carpet cushion, you will want to look for the warranty, comfort and performance that’s right for you. The best test is actually placing the carpet cushion sample under the carpet sample and walking on the two. If you really want to see how it’s going to feel, take your shoes off and walk on the samples in your bare or sock feet! Your feet will tell you everything. You may want to consider a softer cushion in living areas or master bedrooms and a cushion with more support in areas with more active use.

Like any foundation, you want a good, high quality choice. When you choose a higher quality cushion, you get added benefits such as absorption of moisture, stain and odor control and minimal sound transfer between rooms. With some of the newer cushions, you can get name brand odor and spill protection. Leading brands include Odor-Eaters®, Arm & Hammer® and STAINMASTER®. These products last the life of your carpet cushion.

Ask your Pierce Flooring representative today about the different grades and choices of carpet padding. Come in and feel for yourself!