<![CDATA[Tradition Flooring - Blog]]>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 22:22:44 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[The Great Spaces - How Long Will This Carpet Last, Checklist (Residential Edition)]]>Tue, 08 Nov 2022 03:32:19 GMThttps://www.traditionflooring.com/blog/the-great-spaces-how-long-will-this-carpet-last-checklist-residential-editionWhen people ask how long will this carpet last, what they are really asking is, “how long will my carpet match the visual appeal of the product from the first day of installation.” Here is a checklist to help you maximize your dollar, regardless of your budget.
  1. Feel a sample of a commercial carpet (extreme durability)
  2. Feel a sample of the softest and fluffiest carpet (extreme lack of durability)
  3. Consider the space for which you’d like new carpet:
    1. Is this a “higher traffic area”? (Hallway, bedroom, family room)
    2. Is this a “lower traffic area”? (Formal living room, basement, guest room)
  4. If (a) - “higher traffic area”: Select a carpet as close to the density of the commercial carpet that you can find that suits your style and taste.
  5. If (b) - “lower traffic area”: Select a carpet somewhere in between the commercial and soft/fluffy carpet (unless of course, you prefer a more dense look and feel)
  6. Select a carpet cushion/pad with AT LEAST an 8lb density.
    1. Looped/Patterned carpets: ⅜” thickness
    2. Thicker cut pile/plush carpets: 7/16” is recommended - -  ½” is fine.
    3. If you have messy kids & pets. Get a cushion with a plastic moisture guard on one side.
  7. You won’t know if your carpet was poorly installed until it’s too late. At GS, we pay our installation crews more, because they deserve it. They’re good people, hard working professionals, and meticulous with every detail. 
  8. Price. More often than not, when it comes to carpet and if you follow the first 7 steps on this checklist, you will get what you paid for. 
  9. Get a good vacuum and use it a lot. Vacuum in both directions of the room, several times per week.
  10. Get your carpet cleaned by a professional once per year in the traffic areas of your home. No need to move every piece of furniture into the bathroom or garage. 
  11. None of the items on this list are more important than any other. They are all equally important.
  12. Obviously there is a catalog of detail I could add to this, but it's a list, not a dissertation. Call, Text, Email - We can talk about specifics to help you make the best decision for your needs. 


***Disclaimer:
This list is a guide, not a guarantee.
]]><![CDATA[How long will my carpet last...?]]>Tue, 08 Nov 2022 03:30:07 GMThttps://www.traditionflooring.com/blog/how-long-will-my-carpet-lastTalk about a million dollar question! The best way to answer this question at a high level is to compare carpet to a set of new tires…. And to do that, we will use some hypotheticals on the basis of us being flooring experts, not tire experts.
After a quick internet search, I found tire mileage ratings for a basic pick-up truck for very “little” money with no mileage rating at all -  up to 50,000, 55,000, 70,000, and 80,000 miles. The higher the rating, the more money. Makes sense, right? Can we all agree that if you buy the 80,000 mile tires and they don’t “last” you 75,000 miles, that you most likely WILL NOT get your money back? GREAT! I’m glad we agree on that. The tricky part about tires is that relatively speaking, they all look and feel the exact same. (Carpet can be that way also….another post will cover that) 

Ultimately, when it comes to carpet or tires, we have a general idea of what kind of mileage we want to get out of it. For tires, we don’t want to slide off the road in the snow or a rainstorm. For carpet, we don’t want it to look like a black-top steamroller lives in our home. So the answer to that million dollar question, is……..it depends!
Now, the person writing this post sold carpet for two of the world's largest carpet manufacturers for the better part of ten years, has been behind the curtain inside the manufacturing facilities, and has had several conversations with carpet designers, product managers, and manufacturing professionals. We could seriously get into the weeds here! So, in lieu of confusing and boring you to death, I’ve made a checklist. You’re welcome!
]]><![CDATA[So you want a REAL wood floor!?! Solid vs. Engineered Hardwood]]>Fri, 14 Oct 2022 12:54:49 GMThttps://www.traditionflooring.com/blog/solid-vs-engineered-hardwood“I want new wood flooring, but I want REAL wood, NOT the FAKE stuff.” This is a fairly common statement from consumers considering new wood flooring, and rightfully so! Typically consumers make this statement for fear of winding up with a floor that looks like wood, but is made from other materials. Also, solid wood flooring has been the so-called “gold standard” for centuries, and for good reason. It’s a great flooring material with many variations available to suit differing styles and tastes. ​
What is solid wood flooring? It’s as simple as it sounds. Picture a solid log cut down to floor board specifications. It can be finished in a variety of shades of stain, high gloss, low gloss, matte finish, oil rubbed, etc. A solid wood floor can also be refurbished or refinished several times to maintain or update its appeal. It’s warm, inviting, and can be quiet underfoot. A solid wood floor is a great investment and would be considered by many to be a luxury flooring option. 

What is engineered wood flooring? Engineered wood flooring is a wood flooring product that is manufactured to provide the same luxurious visual appearance and feel as a solid wood floor, but with some added perks. First, because of the way it’s made, it does not expand and contract nearly as much as a solid wood floor, which allows it to be used in more areas of the home in which solid wood is just not an option (concrete slab basements especially). Engineered wood flooring makes it much easier for a consumer to achieve an aesthetically pleasing floor style. There are a wider range of options to suit varying budgets. And amongst other benefits, the top veneer of the product is REAL WOOD! This means it can be re-finished!

Solid and Engineered wood floors are both great options. Another type of wood flooring is a laminate floor, we will discuss this topic in more detail later.
]]><![CDATA[We Believe In a Better Way...]]>Fri, 14 Oct 2022 04:19:42 GMThttps://www.traditionflooring.com/blog/we-believe-in-a-better-wayRecently, we received a generous referral from a friend and fellow construction industry professional.

The homeowner communicated exactly what they wanted for their new flooring. Style (high fashion), comfort (very comfortable), durability (very durable), and budget (conservative). ​
As in many situations, not just flooring. We could EASILY accommodate 3 out of 4. Obviously budget is the one constraint here, it can certainly be attained with relinquishing one of the other 4 criteria. We are honest. We won’t lie to get the sale. Here’s what happens when trusted professionals lie to get the sale:

1. The product does not hold up to the needs of the consumer 
2. Consumer is upset (after all they were told they could have 4 out of 4 from their request.)
3. The business that lied lost that customer and any potential repeat or referred business
4. The business that lied damaged their relationship with their friend/referral partner
5. What is the consumer supposed to do now? If hindsight truly is 20/20, most people would have preferred to get it done right the first time.
​
 The point here IS NOT to belittle anyone's budget. There is a threshold to what 99% of the world can afford and we are no different. “When it comes to flooring, we believe in a better way.” That starts with the truth.
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