8 Signs it's Time to Replace Your Flooring

Keeping up with flooring is a crucial aspect of keeping a well-maintained house. Wear and tear on floors affect the visual appeal of the home, impacts the resale value, and can be a safety concern. Damaged flooring such as loose tiles, uneven surfaces, peeling vinyl, and exposed transitions can pose tripping hazards and become a cause for injury. While those signs may be easily spotted, some require closer inspection. Let’s dive into how to know it’s time to replace your floors!

 
 

1)     Visible wear and tear

Dents and scratches are a normal part of everyday use, but over time those scratches accumulate and start to detract from the appearance of the material. Stains, discoloration, and buckling are all visually unappealing aspects of a worn carpet that let you know it’s time to be out with the old and in with the new!

 

2)     Water Damage

Hardwood and laminate floors will show water damage by starting to warp and buckle. Wood naturally swells to absorb water, then contracts as it dries. This process causes separating, uneven boards. Water damaged floors also have the risk of harboring mold and mildew. Carpets can soak up moisture, and being unable to dry correctly, start to breed mold and mildew spores which pose numerous health risks.

3) Persistent Odors

As we all know, accidents happen. And with pets and young children, those accidents only go up in number. Lingering smells in carpets could indicate deep-seated grime that cannot be fixed by cleaning. Get rid of musty smells and say hello to fresh fluffy carpet!

 

4) Loose or Cracked Tile

Although tile is an extremely durable product, overtime uneven subfloors can cause cracking and breaking in the tile. Broken and lifted tiles pose a sharp edge that can be a safety hazard. Replace tile with an even subfloor and proper installation to ensure years of use with minimal sign of wear and tear!

 

5) Outdated Style

Flooring is the starting place for an aesthetically pleasing space. Trends for flooring change every few years and are an important aspect of creating a space that you feel reflects your style as an individual. Using flooring as a basis to design a room ensures that you create a place where you feel drawn to.

 

 

6) Difficulty Cleaning


With repeated foot traffic floors get worn down, leaving room for dirt

and grime to get engrained in the fiber of the product, leaving the

appearance of perpetually dirty floors. Don’t do more work than you

need to! Replace those old floors and instantly upgrade the

cleanliness of your home.

 

7) Noisy Floors

A common occurrence in older homes is squeaky, creaky hardwood and laminate floors. Not only is this an annoying disturbance, but it can contribute to higher costs for heating and cooling due to low insulation from cracks in the floors. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes from quiet floors and lowered utility costs.

 

8) Resale Value

Keeping floors well maintained and up to date significantly enhances the resale value of your home. Buyers are looking for modern, well-maintained floors that they won’t have to worry about replacing shortly after buying. Increase the value and attractiveness of your home to future buyers by installing contemporary floors that elevate the house.

Help us help you! Stop by our showroom or set up a free estimate today!

Project Story: Fox Meadows

Industrial Flooring Solutions

Recently, we had the privilege of providing Fox Meadows Creamery, a fantastic place for ice cream, with a much-needed flooring solution for their new location. Informed by their poor experience with epoxy-coated floors at the first store, Fox chose another direction for their Leola, PA location. This time, they decided to install Altro Floors, a hard-wearing, hygienic product ideal for commercial kitchens, and employed our team of technicians for the project.

The Fox team needed a floor that combined a number of qualities. It needed to be easy to clean, have long-lasting, heavy duty slip resistance (ice cream contains a heavy concentration of fat particles that tend to build up on surfaces making them slippery), fatigue reduction, and be rigorous enough to withstand the heavy traffic demands for their ice cream production space.

Their Choice

The Cream Team executed a three-part plan with Altro’s products: Atlas 40 (pewter) and Stronghold 30 (tundra) for the floor and Puraguard in the color salt for the walls. With their new durable, non-slip floor, the creamery is looking forward to serving heaps of their delicious ice cream to hungry, Leola patrons! May the meadows of Lancaster be dripping with the sweet cream of the Fox!


SPC

SPC

solid polymer core vinyl flooring with a wood look

Wood-look SPC installed by D&S Flooring in 2022

Vinyl flooring is the most popular and fastest-growing hard surface flooring in the United States, and the biggest contributor to that growth is the innovative, “rigid core” sub-segment. Thanks to this latest introduction, vinyl is not only budget-friendly, waterproof, soft underfoot, and easy to maintain, it’s even more durable, dimensionally stable, and dent resistant. 

SPC Vinyl

As we explain in our All About Vinyl article, rigid core or stone polymer composite or solid polymer core (SPC) is a luxury vinyl plank (LVP) or tile (LVT) with an engineered core. Like LVP, SPC has several layers: a finish layer, wear layer, print layer, and backing. In addition to these layers, it has a dense, engineered core typically comprised of 60% calcium carbonate (powdered limestone), polyvinyl chloride, and stabilizers. This dense core adds dimensional stability to the product, which means it reduces expansion and contraction with changes in temperature and humidity. As a thicker LVP product, SPC also absorbs and blocks more sound and is more dent-resistant.

Many SPC products also come with a click-together system for easy installation. It’s better at hiding subfloor imperfections (no telegraphing) than standard LVT and comes with all the attractive features of LVP: beveled edges, textured wear layers, and high-definition print designs for added realism whether you want a wood look or a tile look. As for price point, SPC costs between $3.50 and $7 per square foot.

With these practical improvements, visual appeal, and competitive price point, it’s no wonder rigid core/SPC flooring has been flying off the shelves. Here are the recent stats per Floor Covering news:

“...the rigid core subsegment of the resilient category is driving the overall growth [of resilient vinyl flooring sales]. FCNews research shows that rigid core/SPC garnered 45.6% of total resilient sales in 2021 and 34.8% of volume. That translates to $3.845 billion in sales and 2.047 billion square feet. Compare that to 2020 when rigid core/SPC checked in at $2.617 billion and 1.63 billion square feet. To put this in perspective, total LVT sales just six years ago were $1.45 billion. So, rigid core alone is nearly triple the entire LVT market in 2015.” 

The Difference Between WPC and SPC

The second type of rigid core flooring is called wood plastic (polymer) composite (WPC). WPC is made with the same idea as SPC, only its engineered core is softer, thicker (taller), and less dense. The core is made up of wood pulp, plasticizers, and foaming agents. WPC resilient vinyl is still more resistant to indentation than traditional LVP or sheet vinyl while maintaining the soft feel customers have come to love about vinyl.

Our Offerings

The next time you’re in your local flooring retailer or here at D&S, be sure to give rigid core flooring, and specifically SPC flooring a good look! Here at our showroom, we carry and display the following SPC options from these companies: 

  • Armstrong

  • Novafloor

  • Azul Tortuga

  • Chesapeake

  • Coretec Pro

  • Mannington

  • Karndean

  • Shaw Floors

  • Mohawk

We welcome walk-ins during our normal business hours Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. If you’d like to guarantee an available sales team member, then we’d recommend setting up an appointment ahead of time. You can do so by filling out the form below to connect with Josh or give us a call at (717) 553-2900.

Contact JOsh for An Appointment

We Are Hiring // Tile Installation Technicians

We Are Hiring

We’re in search of self-motivated tile installers who are passionate about what they do. These flooring technicians need to be skilled in floor tile, wall tile, backsplashes, showers, and Schluter Waterproof Systems.

At D&S, we are committed to our craft, customers and employees, and because there has been such a high demand for our work, we need more quality team members to help us meet the need. Those who have worked with us will tell you, we do everything in our power as a company to support and promote our installation team. Between the monthly meetings and a boss who has spent more than a decade installing himself, there’s a lot of respect and understanding for our flooring technicians. We would love for you to be a part of our team! 

Requirements

  • 5 years of Installation Experience

  • Respectful to all

  • Strong work ethic

  • Excellent craftsmanship

  • Be able to work independently and in a team

  • Valid Driver's License

Think you might be a good fit for this position?

Apply today!

All About Resilient Vinyl Flooring

Resilient Vinyl Flooring

ABOUT RESILIENT VINYL FLOORING

Resilient vinyl flooring is the most popular and fastest-growing hard surface flooring in the United States. At D&S, we often find ourselves installing sheet vinyl, luxury vinyl plank (LVP), luxury vinyl tile (LVT), or rigid core vinyl. Resilient vinyl is affordable, waterproof*, and low maintenance. Plus, thanks to advanced engineering, modern, high-definition printing technology, and embossing techniques, resilient vinyl is durable, practical, appealing, and realistic. At a glance, some vinyl flooring can easily be mistaken for real hardwood or tile! (And well, with new engineering that combines rigid core construction with real hardwood veneers, it actually is real hardwood you’re looking at!)

(*the flooring itself is waterproof, but water might still penetrate to the subfloor through joints in click-together planks or tiles. We recommend reading the warranty information provided by the manufacturer to be best informed about your purchase.)

Construction of Resilient Vinyl

BF Goodrich scientist Waldo Semon

Scientist Waldo Semon.

Resilient vinyl flooring gets its name because it ‘bounces back’ to its original form after being compressed. In terms of makeup, its main component is polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a synthetic plastic polymer. Polymers are both durable and resilient which gives this type of flooring its strength, flexibility, and also its waterproof quality. Interestingly, vinyl was discovered by accident when in 1926, the BF Goodrich scientist Waldo Semon failed at creating an adhesive and discovered the rubber-like vinyl (polyvinyl chloride) instead. Thank you, Waldo!

Layers of Resilient Vinyl

There are typically 5 layers that make up resilient vinyl. The topmost layer is either a urethane or aluminum oxide finish which gives the product the appropriate sheen depending on the desired style. Directly underneath the finish is a clear PVC film layer called the wear layer, the most important layer of the product as it determines its durability over time. A vinyl product with a thin wear layer will be less expensive, but it won’t last as long. The wear layer provides a high degree of protection against scuffs, scratches, stains, and well, wear, and can range in thickness from 6 mils to 12 mils for residential flooring and 20 mils or more for commercial flooring. (Mils are distinct from millimeters. Mils is a measurement of plastics like grocery bags and plastic drop cloths. For you math people out there, 1 mil is equal to .0254 millimeters.) Except for VCT and rigid core vinyl with wood veneers, each vinyl product will have a wear layer. Both the finish and wear layer work together to prevent damage to the rest of the material. The third layer is the print layer which gives the resilient vinyl flooring its look. Among the most popular looks are wood, stone, or patterned designs. Because the third layer is printed, vinyl can have any look people can dream up! Underneath the print layer is the middle or core layer, the real “meat” of the product. The core gives vinyl most of its thickness and adds to the product’s durability. Thicker vinyls like those in the rigid core family score high in the durability category while also doing an excellent job at hiding subfloor imperfections. Last is the backing layer which is the bottom-most layer that rests against the subfloor. Resilient vinyl backing can include felt, PVC, rubber, or cork materials, the purpose of which is to insulate sound, protect against mold, and increase comfort underfoot. Depending on the product, the backing is either glued down to or ‘floated’ on the subfloor.

Armstrong Flooring’s Vinyl Composition Tile // Standard Excelon Imperial Texture

Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) doesn’t fit the above description as it lacks a print film layer or PVC wear layer. VCT is a through-body design, which means it is the same color and look throughout the whole of the material. One benefit of this construction is that scratches and nicks can be buffed out and the surface refinished. A drawback, however, is the amount of maintenance required to keep VCT looking its best and to resist wear. While up-front costs are low, the cost comparison between VCT and LVT over time shows LVT to be the more cost-effective investment.

Resilient vinyl flooring falls into three basic categories of composition: traditional sheet vinyl, flexible luxury vinyl plank or tile, and rigid core vinyl.

Traditional Sheet Vinyl

Traditional vinyl flooring is composed completely of PVC and other similar natural and synthetic polymers. From the wear layer to the backing, PVC is the main component.  People often mistakenly refer to sheet vinyl as ‘linoleum’. Though it looks similar, linoleum and sheet vinyl are different products. Read more about linoleum here. Unlike linoleum, traditional sheet vinyl can come in a myriad of designs including wood looks, stone looks, patterns, and abstract designs.

If you’re looking for a cost-effective option with many of the benefits of resilient vinyl, sheet vinyl is the way to go. With improved printing technology, thick wear layers and improved finishes, some of the products in this category boast 25-year to lifetime warranties for residential use. Additionally, sheet vinyl’s waterproof quality is greater than tiles and planks as it lacks the many joints for water to penetrate that come with those formats.

Flexible Luxury Vinyl Plank or Tile

Resilient vinyl got its first big upgrade in the 1970s when manufacturers began producing vinyl in individual planks. These planks soon started coming with beveled edges that added to the realism. With imprinted wood or stone designs and these additional features, planks looked a lot more believable than sheet vinyl. It wasn’t just called “sheet vinyl” anymore, it was “luxury vinyl plank” or LVP for short. Indeed, it was more luxurious. Since those early days, luxury vinyl plank and luxury vinyl tile (LVT) have only been improved upon. Besides the removal of asbestos from the manufacturing process in the 80s, a number of innovations and improvements have added quality and value to LVP and LVT. These improvements include better graphics thanks to advanced digital printing, embossing techniques that add texture to compliment the graphics, improved backing layers to increase softness and sound dampening, thicker wear layers to withstand commercial applications, and more durable and UV resistant finishes. 

Rigid Core Vinyl

In 2013, vinyl flooring got another upgrade when US Floors introduced the first rigid core vinyl planks to the market. Rigid core vinyl, also referred to as Engineered Vinyl Plank (EVP) can be up to 5 times thicker than traditional vinyl flooring. This comes from its more dense, engineered core. US Floors’ CoreTec Plus engineered vinyl planks, for example, come with an extruded core made from recycled wood and bamboo dust, limestone, and virgin PVC. Rigid core planks and tiles also come with a click-together system which makes for easy, floating installation; there’s no need for glue! The extra thickness does a lot better at hiding subfloor imperfections which makes for less subfloor preparation and does a better job at absorbing sound. The dense cores also help with dent resistance and, like flexible LVP, the option of thick wear layers keep the product looking new for years. 

WPC and SPC

Within the rigid core vinyl category are two subcategories of product: wood polymer composite (WPC) and stone polymer composite (SPC). WPC products are thicker and though dense, are more resilient and less rigid than SPCs. Consumers will have a softer walk across the room with WPC vinyl. WPCs are made up of wood pulp, plasticizers, and foaming agents. WPC resilient vinyl is more resistant to indentation than traditional LVP or sheet vinyl while maintaining the softer feel of vinyl underfoot. SPC vinyl products are thinner and more rigid. SPC cores are typically comprised of 60% calcium carbonate (limestone), PVC and plasticizers. As technology progresses, companies are manufacturing WPC options with even better-performing cores for greater dent resistance and higher dimensional stability. Companies are starting to use magnesium oxide (MgO) in the rigid core construction as well, so look for that the next time you’re in the market for rigid core LVP!

Examples of WPC resilient vinyl include Mannington Adura Max LVP, US Floors CoreTec Plus, Tarkett ProGen, and Shaw Floors Floorte Pro, pictured in that order below.

With many advancements in LVT, people can enjoy the look of tile and the benefits of vinyl. As we mentioned, vinyl is easy to maintain and is itself waterproof. Compared to ceramic or porcelain tile, it’s warmer underfoot, making it perfect for bathrooms and kitchens. Examples of SPC resilient vinyl are Armstrong Flooring’s Alterna and Congoleum’s Duraceramic products, pictured below in that order.

FORMATS OF RESILIENT VINYL

Resilient vinyl comes in 3 basic formats: sheets, planks, and tiles.

Sheets

Resilient sheet vinyl, often mistakenly called ‘linoleum’, typically comes in 12 ‘ 6” rolls, though some companies produce 13’ or larger rolls. The sheet vinyl option boasts a low price point with entry-level sheet goods starting at $1.00 per square foot. As we already mentioned, in addition to the price point, a significant benefit of the sheet format is the waterproofing provided by one continuous sheet. Since there are no seems within the 12-foot sheet, the chance of water penetrating through them is eliminated!

Planks (LVP) + Tiles (VCT & LVT)

Planks and tiles offer a high degree of realism. With beveled edges, graphics that vary from piece to piece, embossing that compliments the stone or wood look, and the introduction of rigid cores, planks and tiles do a much better job mimicking real hardwood and stone. Planks can vary in size from your 4” x 36” to as wide and long as 9” x 72”! Tiles are available in dimensions of 12” x 12”, 16” x 16”, 12” x 18” or 12” x 24”. SPC resilient vinyl tiles can also be installed with spaces for grout to simulate a tile floor look. An additional benefit is the option to “float” the floor as the tiles or planks with interlocking mechanisms can be installed without flooring adhesive!

Our Fun Radio Ads 📻

“Welcome to the D&S Family” Radio Ad

In October 2020, we aired our first radio ad. In it, our owner, Derry Weaver, shares about our satisfaction guarantee, his 30 years of experience, and going the extra mile. Whether it’s tile, hardwood, carpet, vinyl, laminate, or other specialty type of flooring, we install it. Visit our showroom and get your hands and eyes on some real samples here in Lititz, PA!

“Meet My Three Sons” Radio Ad

In D&S's second radio ad, Derry Weaver introduces his three sons. Jordan, Jared, and Jude have all been instrumental in D&S's success as they've helped their Dad since they could spell. Now, Jordan is full-time in sales while Jared helps out on installations and various things, and Jude assists in the warehouse and out in the field! Together, the Weaver men make quite a team!

“Meet My Wife” Radio Ad

In this video, listen to our third radio ad as aired on WDAC, the voice of Christian radio. Derry introduces his wife Sherri while Jordan joins in the conversation. Hear how Sherri has been supporting Derry since the early days. From measuring on the job site and cutting flooring materials for installation to working on the books, Sherri has been such a strength to Derry, even decades before D&S was established!

Choosing Your Next Carpet

When it comes to selecting the best carpet for your needs, where do you start? If you’re like most people, walking into a fully stocked showroom can be overwhelming.

It’s like this… You’ve just entered the flooring showroom and upon traversing the foyer, your eyes are met with a sea of carpet displays. You’ve never seen so much tufted fiber in all your life …and it all looks the same. Broadloom, carpet tiles, wool, nylon, plush, Berber, waterproof backing, padding… Information overload! How do you begin to cut through the jargon and marketing to decipher what’s most important and avoid overspending? How do you get the quality product that fits your needs and meets your budget? In this article, we hope to give you the information you need to make the best selection when choosing your next carpet!

Let’s get started.

Five Categories to Consider

We recommend starting with these five categories when making a new carpet purchase. Consider…

  1. Budget

  2. Type of Fiber

  3. Durability (which includes choosing carpet pad!)

  4. Style

  5. Color

First Category: Budget

budget-choosing-carpet-dandsflooring-min.jpg

When entering the carpet buying decision, it’s helpful to have a good idea of your budget. What’s your range? Knowing your spending range can help you eliminate options outside of it. Because there are so many options of carpet in today’s market, prices vary from less than $2 per square foot to over $15 per square foot, which is a $500 to $3,750 swing for a 250 square foot room! Knowing your budget range can narrow your options which will aid you in making your final selection.

Determining Your Needs

Once you know a range of how much you want to spend, consider what you need your carpet to do. What’s your specific situation? What strengths are you looking for in your carpet? Knowing what you need will help ensure you spend money only on the essential qualities that you need in your carpet. Durability, stain resistance, style, look, etc… These are some of the elements that can factor into the cost (and quality) of a carpet. You want to make sure you’re getting what your situation demands and avoid spending money on the aspects of carpet you don’t need.

Here are some examples of situations and our recommendations:

If you’re a landlord renting out your property, for example, we would advise you to spend your money on a durable carpet with good stain and soil resistance. You can save money by choosing a straightforward style like a level-loop or a high-density, high-twist, cut-pile carpet. (The term pile refers to the carpet’s surface or “face” and twist refers to the amount of twist in each strand of carpet.) Having a dense carpet with high twist adds to the durability! Avoid unnecessary expense from styles like shag, intricately patterned, or cut-and-loop options. Longer strands will cost you more because it’s more material while cut-and-loop carpets cost more because of the extra time and effort in the manufacturing process. Also, a tip for landlords is to educate your tenants on carpet care, which will save you money on carpet replacement in the long run.

If you’re planning on selling your home, look for an option with a lower price tag but still has a full and appealing look. Wool, nylon, and triexta are the best carpet fibers for longevity, stain-resistance, and comfort, but they’re also the most expensive, and you’re not even going to get to enjoy them! That’s why polyester is probably your best choice; It’s less expensive, provides good value for your money, and looks nice. Olefin (or polypropylene) is another inexpensive option, but it’s more commonly used in commercial applications.

If you’re a homeowner with kids, a triexta or polyester carpet will provide inherent stain resistance while a nylon or wool will keep looking good longer. Polyester will crush sooner than nylon, showing wear in a few years in high-traffic areas. So polyester can definitely be a win for kids’ rooms while nylon would be a good choice for hallways, stairs, and the main living room. Also, we recommend getting a multi-colored (marbled) option that will hide dirt and stains better than a solid colored carpet. Avoid a white carpet! The darker/marble-colored carpets will save you money from having to replace a worn-looking carpet.

If you’re a homeowner with pets, avoid getting a loop-pile carpet as your pet’s nails can snag the loops. While loop-pile carpets are acclaimed for durability, they’re no match for those claws! Stain resistance will be an important quality to spend money on as well, so a polyester carpet would be a good option. Where durability is key, we recommend a quality nylon carpet.

If you’re a homeowner without kids or pets (and you’re planning to live in your house for 10+ years), we would recommend spending the money for a quality carpet that will last. Wool, nylon, or triexta are good options. If you want to save money, polyester can be a good option for low-traffic areas. If you’re not often entertaining and spills aren’t a constant concern, you can go with a lighter color to make your rooms feel bigger!

Some More Heads Up Related to Budget

As you’re considering your budget, remember to think in terms of total project spend. You’re buying carpet, carpet pad, and likely the labor to install it as well. This includes a lot more than that dollar per square foot price you’re looking at on the display. We advise you to come to the store with a rough estimate of room sizes and layout. This will help us give you a ballpark idea of total project cost while you’re perusing.

Our process at D&S: When you're ready to buy, a sales team member from D&S will come out to you, take a free on-site measurement, and send you an estimate within seven business days.

This estimate will include padding, installation, seaming, stairs (if applicable), thresholds, the moving of furniture, and the removal of old carpet or other flooring and materials. You can save money by doing the demolition and carpet removal yourself!

Keep in mind, there may be extra carpet that you’re paying for. At D&S, we never add more carpet than is needed, but there can be excess carpet in certain situations. If a room is over 12 feet wide and 12 feet long, as in a room that’s 15’ x 18’ for example, there’s going to be a good chunk of carpet cut and not used. This is because of two reasons: One, broadloom comes in 12’ wide rolls, so a seam will be needed. Two, the seams needs to be made with a carpet that’s running in the same direction. (It has to do with how the carpet is constructed in the backing.) If two sections of carpet of the same colored carpet are installed in different directions, they will look like two different colors! When there is a pattern in the carpet, there can be even more excess carpet because of cuts needed to make the carpet’s pattern match up as well as to reduce the amount of seams needed. Similarly with padding, which comes in 6-foot-wide rolls, you’re likely to spend some money on excess padding depending on room size and layout.

Tip: Get multiple bids from installers when shopping, but remember to compare apples to apples. Also, once the carpet arrives, double check the tag that it’s the carpet you paid for. It could be an honest mistake or the company you’re getting carpet from is actually scamming you!

Now that you’ve got an idea of your budget, the aspects of carpet you want to spend your money on, and room sizes and other factors considered, let’s take a closer look at a few more categories of the carpet buying decision.

Second Category: Type of Carpet Fiber

sheep-wool-carpet-fiber-dandsflooring-min.jpg

The next thing you’ll need to decide is the type of fiber that makes up your carpet. There are a number of different fiber options on the market, and they fall into two main categories: natural and man-made fibers. Natural fibers include wool (which you can see so beautifully pictured above), sisal, cotton, seagrass, jute, silk, and coir. Synthetic fibers include nylon, Triexta (PTT), polyester (PET), olefin (polypropylene), and acrylic.

Each fiber has its strengths and weaknesses, and, to be clear, there’s not one super fiber. You should get to know the pros and cons of each fiber and how it performs to determine which best fits your needs.

NATURAL FIBERS

In the natural fiber category, the most commonly used fiber is wool. Its elasticity enables it to be used in broadloom (wall-to-wall) carpet in both loop-pile and cut-pile styles. Wool is completely natural, super-soft, flame-resistant, and great at hiding dirt. When compared to other common fibers on today’s market like nylon and polyester, wool comes out on top as the most sustainable and environmentally friendly. Sheep just keep growing their wool back, and that wool is 100% biodegradable! It’s also a durable fiber. Unlike synthetic fibers that are either good at resisting oil stains or water-based stains, wool is good at resisting both, and It does this naturally without added chemicals. We will note it does have some susceptibility to mildew because it absorbs water and maintaining it is different than synthetic fibers. You and the carpet cleaner will need to be informed of the specialized cleaning process. Also, wool is the most expensive of the fibers that make today’s carpets. While some entry-level wool carpets can be as inexpensive at $3 per square foot, mid to high-end wool carpets can cost up to $15 or more per square foot.

Sisal, cotton, seagrass, jute, silk, and coir are other natural fibers used mostly in the production of area rugs and woven carpets. Jute is the most popular of this group for its softness and price point. Jute is the most inexpensive natural fiber for carpet, but because it’s so soft, it’s not the most durable.

In our carpet showroom, customers can see and feel some real wool carpets at our Godfrey Hirst display. This line of wool carpet is made from the coats of the generous sheep of New Zealand. 🐑

👆🏼Godfrey Hirst Carpet Samples!

MAN-MADE FIBERS

In the man-made fiber category, nylon is still the most popular fiber on the market today. Invented in 1935 by DuPont and first introduced to the carpet industry in 1948, nylon has gained the reputation as the most durable of synthetic carpet fibers. Nylon accounts for over 65% of the carpet produced in the U.S. There are two types of nylon: 6,6 and 6. The strongest, softest type, and most expensive is type 6,6 nylon. Nylon is versatile, abrasion-resistant, and resilient. (It’s more abrasion resistant than wool in fact.) It resists wearing over time and its flexibility allows it to be used in a variety of different carpet patterns and styles from ultra-plush to dense and tightly packed. Nylon is not inherently stain-resistant, but when treated with protective solutions, as with branded nylon from Shaw Floors or Mohawk, for example, it does a good job at resisting stains and soiling. We should also mention that nylon carpets can be recycled, lessening their negative impact on the environment! (In fact, nylon has less of a negative impact on the environment than PET carpets, since PET carpets can’t be recycled once they’ve been used.) Prices for nylon carpets average between $3 and $8 per square foot.

Triexta (PTT) is the ‘new kid on the block’ in the synthetic fiber category. It’s only been around for ten years, but there’s quite a buzz about it. Triexta, also known as polytrimethylene terephthalate 🤓 or PTT for short, is another product of DuPont. Where you’ll find Triexta in our showroom is in Mohawk’s SmartStrand Forever Clean line of carpets. Triexta is like polyester, inherently stain and fade resistant, but it’s more resilient, bouncing back to its original shape when crushed. Time will tell how it stacks up against nylon in resiliency and wear, but as far as stain resistance, like polyester, Triexta is already ahead. PTT fibers are hydrophobic (repelling water) and are solution-dyed, which is a process of introducing the color in the liquid chemical stage before the yarn is produced, resulting in fibers that have color locked in throughout each strand. Even bleach won’t take the color out! Any water-based stains can be easily cleaned by water extraction. It is susceptible to oil, however, and will need treatment to resist it and special cleaning to address oily stains. Prices for Triexta carpets average between $2 and $5 per square foot.

Polyester (PET) is a soft fiber that is extremely stain-resistant. It’s less expensive than both nylon and Triexta carpets, and solution-dyed polyester carpets won’t fade in the sun. Because polyester is hydrophobic, it inherently repels water and thus water-based stains. Shaw Floors’ high-performance polyester “Bellera” carpets are a great example of the strengths of PET carpets. They come with a 10-year warranty against stains caused by pets, grease, mustard, coffee, lipstick, cola, and even bleach. They also promise resistance against soiling by common household soil. While Bellera is an example of a quality PET carpet, polyester is not inherently resistant to oil-based stains. It’s also not as resilient as nylon or Triexta, however. So, if you’re looking to install it in a high-traffic area, consider going with nylon over polyester or be ready for it to look warn in a few short years. An environmental plus about PET is that they’re made from recycled plastic bottles and other recycled materials. As we’ve already mentioned, once PET carpets are used, they can’t be recycled again unfortunately. Prices for polyester carpets average between $2 and $6 per square foot.

Olefin, also known as polypropylene, is an excellent choice where budget, mildew, colorfastness, or staining are top concerns. Olefin is the least expensive and most colorfast of synthetic carpets. It’s the most colorfast across the board because solution-dying is the only way this fiber will receive color. It’s also stain resistant because the dye sites are filled with color. Olefin is most widely used in commercial applications and for outdoor carpets. It’s not a very resilient fiber, so it’s often produced in a loop-pile style to hold up against matting and crushing. It’s also susceptible to oil and grease stains. We recommend installing it in low-traffic areas, basements, or outdoors. Prices for Olefin carpets average between $1 and $5 per square foot.

Third Category: Durability

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There are a number of factors that contribute to a carpet’s durability, not just the type of fiber as we’ve mentioned already. A carpet made of high-quality polyester could outperform a low-quality nylon carpet. In addition to fiber type, a carpet’s durability is determined by face weight, density, twist level, padding, and style. Let’s unpack each of these factors.

Face weight is the weight (in ounces) per square yard of carpet. Generally, the higher the face weight, the more durable the carpet. However, this does not take into account the height of each of the carpet fibers. For example, let’s say you’re looking at two carpets with a face weight of 50 ounces each. One of them is a frieze style (long, twisted strands) and the other is a very short, cut-pile style. The Frieze is going to have a much lower density while the shorter carpet’s density will be higher, making it more durable.

Carpet density refers to how close together the fibers are tufted (stitched) into the carpet backing. A carpet whose fibers are really close together will have a high density rating and thus a greater durability. In fact, density is the best specification by which to determine durability, but there are still other important factors to consider.

Twist level is the number of twists per inch in each of the carpet strands. Much like carpet density, the higher the twist level, the more durable the carpet. Each twist strengthens the carpet’s ability to resist wear and being matted down or crushed. When you buy a carpet, you can try to find its twist number on the label (sometimes referred to as turns-per-inch (TPI). If not, you can do the math on it yourself using this formula:

Twist level = [# of twists] / [inches of carpet]

If the carpet you’re looking at is shorter than an inch, measure half an inch and double your number. Carpets with lower twist levels are more susceptible to unraveling. A good twist level is 7 or higher.

Padding or cushion is another factor of durability. Even though the padding is separate from the carpet, the two work together. It’s like the relationship between a bridge and an asphalt road. Without the support of the bridge, the asphalt would fall apart under the weight of the cars driving over it. The same is true with carpet. Cushion (or the bridge) can help keep a carpet new-looking by reducing height loss and crushing of the fibers. Also, the right padding can even stop premature breakdown of the backing. Manufacturers know this and often recommend specific types of padding to go with their carpets. Mohawk, for example, will add ten years to their warranty for customers who purchase their brand of padding (called “SmartCushion”).

Continuing on the subject of padding, the two main things you want to look for when buying cushion for your carpet is pad type and pad density. Here are the pad types available:

  • Rebonded padding - 85% of the padding sold in the US today is rebonded, aka bonded urethane/polyurethane. We recommend rebonded padding in most cases for both the price point and durability.

  • Prime foam pad - The worst. It’s not very dense as the foam is full of air pockets

  • Frothed urethane - Second best and second-most durable & second-most expensive. Shaw Floors offers a frothed urethane or pure foam padding called “Courage” to go with their carpets.

  • Memory foam pad

  • Fiber pad - In some cases, like with a loop-pile (Berber) carpet, the carpet manufacturer’s warranty may call for a fiber pad.

  • Waffle rubber pad

  • Flat (slab) rubber pad - the best (i.e. most durable but also most expensive)

Pad density refers to the measure of how compact a carpet cushion is, and it’s measured in pounds per cubic foot. If you were to grab the carpet cushion by your hand and do a squeeze test, the firmer the feel the higher the density. You don’t want to find the softest, squishiest pad! For durability, we recommend purchasing a high-density, compact carpet cushion. For rebonded padding, that’s anything over 6 lbs per cubic foot. 8 lbs. is recommended if you’re wanting your carpet to last 10+ years. We have both 6 lb. and 8 lb. rebonded cushion in stock at D&S! We also have SmartCushion by Mohawk and “Courage” padding, which is a frothed urethane foam pad, by Shaw Floors. For specifications on carpet cushion, see carpetcushion.org for more info.

The final factor of durability has to do with the carpet’s style. Style contributes to durability because of the loop-pile and cut-pile construction. Allow us to explain. Every tufted carpet starts out a loop-pile carpet with the strands inserted into the primary backing and then looped over and then secured by the secondary backing, locking in the strands. The strands are then either left looped or are clipped and set to stand up or twisted. Carpets that are left looped over are referred to as loop-pile carpets. Carpets whose strands are clipped are referred to as cut-pile carpets. Cut-pile and loop-pile carpets differ in how the surface or pile (also called the “face”) of the carpet is either made up of the sidewalls or the tips of the fibers. Because the sidewalls of the fibers are more durable, loop-pile carpets are naturally more durable than cut-pile carpets of similar quality. Cut-pile carpets can still be durable, but the simple fact that the sidewalls of the fibers are more resistant to wear generally makes loop-pile carpets more durable. In the case of pet’s claws, however, cut-pile carpets are more durable because they won’t get snagged and cause runs in your beautiful carpet! Additionally, tighter loops in loop-pile carpets are more durable as they’re more resistant to crushing and matting.

A Visual Summary: The Durability Puzzle

Here’s a visual that helps explains the relationship between all the factors of durability. Note: The larger the puzzle piece, the greater its factors in a carpet’s overall durability.

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Fourth Category: Style

Pictured: Shaw Floor’s sonora timeless taupe

Pictured: Shaw Floor’s sonora timeless taupe

Now that you’ve considered you budget, type of fiber, and factors of durability, let’s look at the carpet style. Carpet style, as we’ve mentioned, refers to the texture of the carpet, how the strands look and are arranged in the backing. Plush, Berber, level-loop, multi-level loop, Saxony… Perhaps you’ve heard these terms. They all refer to how the strands of carpet are either looped or cut and set together in a number of ways. For example, cut strands can be made long and tightly twisted as in the case of a frieze or they can be left looped in alternating short and tall loops as in a sisal-style, loop-pile carpet. Manufacturers today produce loop-pile carpets, cut-pile-carpets, and loop-and-cut-pile carpets with intricate designs (as demonstrated by Shaw Floor’s Sonora carpet, pictured above).

A cut-pile style carpet (also commonly referred to as a plush carpet) with the looped strands clipped has a soft, plushy, and often taller surface while a loop-pile style carpet is typically shorter, more rigid, and denser. Loop piles might not be as soft as plush carpets, but they have a uniform look and hold up really well (with the exception of homes with pets and their claws that snag!) In the loop-pile category are level loop, multi-level loop, sisal, and berber. In the cut-pile category are plush pile (velvet), Saxony, cut-pile twist (or textured Saxony), and frieze.

Loop-Pile Carpets:

Level loop refers to a loop-pile carpet whose loops are all the same height.

Multi-level loop refers to a loop-pile carpet with loops of varying heights.

Sisal refers to a loop-pile carpet with short and tall loops that alternate each row, resulting in a linear pattern.

Berber (which is the term often mixed up by carpet professionals and shoppers alike with the term level-loop) is very similar to standard level-loop carpets but has thicker loops and constructed with tighter circles. Of the level-loop carpets, berber is the most durable. Additionally, the tighter the circles, the more durable the carpet and resistant to matting and crushing it will be.

Cut-Pile Carpets:

Plush pile (aka velvet) refers to a cut-pile carpet with a soft, velour-like appearance and even, upright finish that makes for a formal look. In a plush, the strands are densely packed together, short and slightly twisted. While durable, a drawback of this style is that it can display tracking from footprints and vacuuming.

Saxony refers to a cut-pile carpet whose strands are not as dense but are tall and twisted tightly. Saxonies present a smooth and luxurious-looking finish. A drawback of this style is that it can display tracking from footprints and vacuuming.

Textured Saxony (or cut pile twist) is made up of long, twisted strands designed to lay in different directions. This greatly reduces tracking from footprints and vacuuming.

Frieze refers to a cut-pile carpet with really long fibers. Sometimes called California shags, these tightly-twisted strands make for a laid-back feel. These actually tend to be pretty durable since the carpet fibers are laying down and highly twisted.

Manufacturers also produce cut and loop style carpets which, as the name suggests, are made of strands that have been clipped as well as left looped back into the backing. Styles of cut and loop include the pin-dot style, linear patterns, and varying geometric shapes. These can be very elegant and interesting in their look. A drawback to cut and loops is that they tend to show wear sooner than all cut-pile carpets or all loop-pile carpets. This is because the cut fibers will wear at different rates and this more readily show the affects of traffic.

Fifth Category: Color

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Hopefully at this point in the selection process, you’ve narrowed down your choice of carpet based on budget, fiber type, durability, and style and are ready to pick your color. Now you can make your color selection and lock in your next carpet!

First Step

Our first big tip is to start with avoiding the colors you hate! (Obvious enough, right?) That step should help you eliminate several colors right there. 🙂

Your Next Considerations

The next thing you should do is choose a color based on other factors at play in your space. If you’re choosing a carpet color for your main living room, for example, choose the sofa color first! Sofas don’t typically come in as many color options, so picking this first will be much easier. Similarly, choose the paint color in your room last since paint comes in an endless selection of colors. Some other things to consider when choosing the color are needs of your situation. What strengths do you need your carpet to have? Do you want…

  • …stain hiding? Choose solid, dark color to hide that spilled grape juice 🍷 or cat pee 🐈.

  • …dirt hiding? Chose a multi-colored (tonal) carpet to keep that dirty appearance from oil buildup at bay.

  • …seam hiding? Choose a darker color to hide those seams better.

  • …a bigger, more spacious feel? Choose a lighter color to make your room feel bigger.

  • …a cover, more inviting feel? Choose a lighter color to make your room feel cozier and more inviting.

  • …to not have to vacuum up lint and dust all the time? Choose a lighter color to hide lint and dust.

Go Classic

Interior design trends are ever changing. Because of this, we recommend considering a classic neutral color like beige, ivory, taupe, or gray. These timeless colors don’t go out of style with the latest trends. In fact, the most popular colors sold today are gray and beige (gray currently overtaking beige in popularity more recently). Since a new carpet is a big investment, it’s not practical to make a trendy purchase you’ll regret in 3 years. Additionally, choosing gray and beige opens up a lot of design options as these neutrals go with a variety of other colors. On the flip side, neutral colors can lend themselves to a bland or sterile look, so consider adding color to liven up your space. Using contrast and a color family, you can make your rooms spring to life.

The Psychology of Color

Did you know that color can affect your mood? Warmer colors often make you feel energized and can be more inviting while cooler tones provide a sense of calm. Here’s a quick list of colors and their psychological affects:

  • Black - attractive, elegant, sleek, sophisticated and have a grounding effect (bringing calm) but also can be somber, sad, and evoke anger

  • White - cleanliness, freshness, simplicity, youth, and modernity but can also be cold, bland, and sterile, a good color for kitchens, living rooms, and bathrooms.

  • Silver - innovative, modern and cutting-edge

  • Red - an attention grabber, it speaks of warning, passion, and dominance and can also raise the blood pressure and stimulate the metabolism and thus the appetite which is why restaurants often use the color red

  • Blue - calm, serene, trustworthy, traditional and the least appetizing but can also be icy, distant, sad or cold

  • Green - natural, safe, tranquil, calming and sometimes energizing but is also associated with envy

  • Yellow - warm, bright, energizing, cheerful, attention grabbing and can increase metabolism but can also cause frustration and anger

  • Purple - wealthy, royal, symbolic and regal but also can be mysterious and exotic

  • Brown - natural, strong, dependable, down-to-earth and secure but can also be isolating and lack ambition or drive

  • Orange - enthusiastic, energetic, and happy but can also be attention-grabbing and linked to Halloween and spiritual

  • Pink - romantic, kind, nurturing, calm, joyful and creative but can also be feminine and childish

Final Considerations and Tips

Colors look different and often lighter in your home than in our showroom. At D&S, we encourage our customers to take carpet samples home to see how the colors look in their space. If it’s a little too dark in our showroom, take it home and see if it’s just right. If it’s too light in our showroom, keep perusing the displays till you find a darker shade to take home. Finally, if you’re worried that your color is too boring, remember that you can choose a carpet with interesting textures like a cut and loop in a linear pattern or a frieze carpet to add dimension to your space.

Closing Remarks

We’ve done our best to give five categories to consider when making your next carpet purchase. There are many other factors like choosing your installer, warranties, knowing the best time to buy, and carpet maintenance. Check out our carpet maintenance tips on our blog and ask a sales team member at D&S who would love to help you with your carpet buying decision! Give us a call or send us a message by filling out the form below to get the ball rolling on choosing your next new carpet!

Thanks for reading, and we hope this has been helpful!


Send a Message to Shelby

Expert Installation with Josh Plank

What Distinguishes Us

When it comes to being excellent at flooring installation, there’s a lot more that goes into it than just quality craftsmanship. Lead flooring technician, Josh Plank, highlights a number of key components needed.

In our interview, Josh lists “attention to detail”, “professionalism on the job”, and communication as significant parts to delivering quality flooring solutions to customers. To that point, we pay careful attention to what our customers are saying in order to bring their dreams to reality.

Josh also talked about the many hats expert flooring installers need to wear. Today’s technicians need to know how to do trim work and concrete finishing to name a few necessary skills.

The Importance of Floor Preparation

Floor prep. Floor prep. Floor prep. “To me, it always comes back to that,” he says. There’s a lot of hidden work that goes into floor preparation. When installing luxury vinyl plank (LVP), for example, it’s critical that the subfloor is smooth so imperfections like dimples, bumps, or grooves don’t “telegraph” (show) through the flooring material. It’s about the entire flooring system working together from top to bottom, which makes readying the subfloor for installation so vital. From the prep to the glue to the flooring materials, it’s all one system. Cutting corners at any step along the way can result in a poor end product.

Some Mistakes DIYers Make

Where Josh has seen failures in craftsmanship over his 17 years of experience is in the details. He noted the failure to properly undercut door jams, putty nail holes, install trim work, install moldings, install transitions, or caulk. A challenge installers face is making transitions work, especially transition pieces that aren’t engineered for that particular use. Not nailing underlayment correctly is another failure he’s seen, and it can have embarrassing effects. If the underlayment doesn’t have enough nails holding it to the subfloor, over time, the underlayment can bubble up and create a trampoline effect. That is neither professional installation or quality craftsmanship. It doesn’t matter if the flooring material is properly adhered to the underlayment when the underlayment isn’t properly fasted to the subfloor.


Need Some Help With Your Flooring?

Give Us a Shout!

Quarterly Review Drawing

Quarterly Review Drawing

Every three months, we award one lucky winner with a gift as our way of saying thank you for taking the time to submit an online review! Reviews are important for future customers to decide whether they want to do business with us, and since life is busy, we really appreciate it when customers take the time to leave feedback.

We got a little behind in our drawings, so we picked two names in this video! Again, thanks for taking the time to review us! If you’d like to leave us a review, follow this link to do so on Google. Thanks so much!

Ephrata Community Church Project

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This summer, we had the privilege of installing over 100,000 square feet of flooring and tile at Ephrata Community Church for their new building project. The first phase of the expansion of their facilities included a bigger cafe, a completely new 1600-seat auditorium, new classrooms, offices, meeting rooms, and even an indoor jungle gym!

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The facility and the process of construction was very well done. Fantastic design, Cornerstone Design-Architects and great job running things, Horst Construction!

Of that 100,000+ square feet of flooring, D&S Flooring installed broadloom carpet and carpet tile, ceramic and porcelain tile and vinyl composite tile (VCT), rubber stair treads, and rubber stair nosings throughout the space. We also installed over 10,000 linear feet of vinyl cove base! Our team was busy!

A big thanks to Ephrata Community Church for trusting us to provide you with quality flooring solutions!

Here’s a look into the project, one space at a time.

 

Connection Cafe

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On the cafe floor, we installed LVT in a brick-set pattern at a 45 degree angle. Altogether, we covered almost 4,500 square feet with the vinyl tile. Notice the precise work completed by our flooring technician along the edge where the flooring meets the brick wall! Well done, Mike Bires.

Foyers & Entrances

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The new foyers and hallways received commercial broadloom by Patcraft product in style Audio Echo, color Equalizer. The walk-off carpet at the entrance was also a Patcraft product, and we installed a total of 3,000 square feet of walk-off carpet in the facility. The grand total of the broadloom in all the spaces was 80,000 square feet. That’s 50 rolls of carpet!

Our main sub-contracting carpet installers, Jeff and Ted Eck, did several months of tireless work putting in about 75% of that 80,000 square feet of carpet. They’re our go-to guys when it comes to carpet, especially the challenge of matching up patterns in carpet. Great job, gentlemen! Our in-house technicians Mike Marinari and Nate Siegrist were also a significant part completing this massive task. Go, team!

Bathrooms

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The main bathroom downstairs just outside of the auditorium received porcelain and ceramic tile on the floor and the walls. One of our main sub-contractors, Jordan Weaver, installed American Olean 12” x 24” Theoretical Imagination Gray (Color #97) porcelain tile in a brick-set pattern with Laticrete Permacolor Select Dusty Gray (Color #60) grout. For the walls, a beautiful Roca White Ice 3”x6” ceramic subway tile was chosen and installed in a brick-set pattern with the same grout. Along the base of the walls, Jordan also installed tile base.

And before there was electricity throughout the building, our lead technician Josh Plank installed VCT in several smaller bathrooms while wearing a head lamp! The grand total of VCT in the whole space, which included some stair landings, was 1,400 square feet.

Classrooms & Hallways

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Now we’re starting to have some fun!

Downstairs and down the hallway from the main auditorium are the 8 new classrooms, full of color. The foyer just outside the classes features all the carpet tile colors found also in the classrooms. The tiles were a J&J Commercial product in style Madras with the main color Jersey with accompanying accent tiles in three different colors pictured, teal, light blue, and lime green.

Wisely chosen for the high probability of spills and messes, carpet tiles cover the hallways. And look at that Roppe Vinyl Wall Base in color Smoke (#174)! You can see how we quickly climbed up to that 10,000 linear feet of it that our team installed.

Stairs

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The stairs in the foyer of the auditorium received Patcraft Color Your World broadloom and rubber stair nosings. In the stairwell up to the offices, we installed VCT on the landings and Johnsonite rubber stair treads.

Offices

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We’re not done yet!

Another space that received a beautiful upgrade were the offices. The new u-shaped layout and glass walls keeps everyone connected in this naturally-lit environment. The offices received Patcraft Audio Echo color Distortion. Distortion has more of a gray tone than the Equalizer which displays more brown tones.

An Indoor Playground!

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Now parents can watch their kids in a climate controlled environment, either in the room with the three-story jungle gym or in the next glass-enclosed room with plenty of seats!

These rooms have the same Patcraft broadloom as the offices in the Distortion color, adding the comfort of carpet for shoeless kids and parents sitting with (and/or chasing) their toddlers.

New Auditorium

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The most remarkable upgrade would be the new 1,600-seat auditorium with risers at the back of the space, covered in carpet. Again, thank you very much, Eck brothers! There’s just nothing like carpet to make you feel comfortable and welcome.

Perhaps the most overlooked but most time-consuming flooring feature would be the hundreds of feet of rubber stair nosings installed in the auditorium. Many thanks to our main man, Josh Plank for his tireless work on that aspect of the project!

Adjacent to the auditorium are a green room and an even bigger nursing mother’s room. Look at all those gliding chairs!

The D&S Crew

Here are some shots of the crew, many of these taken by Sherri Weaver, wife of our owner Derry.

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Thank You, ECC!

What a privilege it has been to be entrusted with your project! We think the space looks great and are looking forward to phase 2.

Thanks for reading.

Grand Opening Recap

With Grateful Hearts

Here's a quick recap of our grand opening celebration from May 4, 2019 at our new location in Lititz, PA!

Thank God for an amazing team of employees and their spouses and family members as well as all our great customers who've trusted us with their flooring projects these past 5 years! We're thankful for the past and excited about the future! Here’s to serving Lancaster county, PA and surrounding areas for many years to come!

Grand Opening

Hooray!

On Saturday, May 4th, 2019, we are celebrating the grand opening of our new location in Lititz, PA! Between 10 AM and 2 PM, everyone’s invited to join in the festivities with free food, raffle prizes, some games for kids, flooring deals, and the $1,000 grand prize of flooring material installed by us!

For more information on it, check out our event page.

Interior Transformation | Building Update 5.0

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We already showcased our new showroom, but we thought to take another opportunity to highlight the dramatic before-and-after transformation throughout the inside of our new space. In a matter of 13 months, by the grace of God and the hard work of many people, we were able to convert an old printing facility into our new showroom and warehouse. Enjoy the before-and-after pictures!

Upstairs Offices

Here’s a quick shot of the whole office from September 2018 when the flooring was finished, before we installed the partitions.

 
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Hallway to Showroom

Showroom

Warehouse

LunchRoom


We are grateful to the Lord for giving us this opportunity and the ability to invest in this new building and expand our operations. And thanks to you all for reading!

Skim Coating | Floor Preparation

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About Skim Coating

Skim coating in floor preparation is a process in which a compound is applied to the subfloor as an underlayment to reduce variations in the floor and provide for a smooth and adherable surface over which new floor coverings can be installed. Sometimes a floor requires a thick layer (up to a 2 inches) of cement patching compound to eliminate issues and make it ready.

In our case in New Holland, PA where we were installing sheet vinyl over a previous layer of sheet vinyl, all we needed was a thin skim coat layer. We used Ardex Feather Finish to smooth the surface as well as to introduce a drying agent for the adhesive. Feather finish is self-drying. It crystalizes the water enabling it to dry without the need for evaporation. If, for example, you install your new sheet vinyl directly over vinyl without embossing (putting a thin layer of mud over the surface and thus providing a gripping surface), the glue is not likely to dry and may not grip to the finish of the vinyl.


Do you need to update your old floor with some new luxury sheet vinyl? Give us a shout!


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Our installers Chad and Joel Martin made this skim coat as smooth as butter for the new sheet vinyl to be installed. The layer of coat is very thin, measuring 1/16” to 1/32”. It’s just thick enough, however, to eliminate telegraphing of the old floor (where the patterns, lines, and bumps in the subfloor’s surface show through to the new layer of flooring). You wouldn’t want this straight-lay pattern showing through to your new flooring with, say, a brick-set pattern. Besides the problem that would be presenting by glue that didn’t adhere, it would be unsightly!

Good work, gentlemen.


Did you know that much went into installing vinyl flooring in a kitchen?

New Holland Transport

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In the summer of 2018, New Holland Transport (NHT), temperature controlled trucking and cold storage warehouse, completed their new facility in Denver, PA. We had the privilege of providing flooring for their project, installing tile, carpet, and vinyl in several rooms and spaces. Here are some shots with details about the work and specific products!

STAIRWAYS | Steps + Landings

For the stairs, Josh Plank, our lead flooring technician, installed Roppe Heavy Duty round nose treads and risers in steel blue. The treads are constructed of a highly durable rubber with a raised design. These treads are going to last a long time and look great! For more detailed information on this product, check out Roppe’s site. Great choice, NHT!

On the landing of the stairways, Josh installed Parallel 20 Los Angelimed wood-look LVP manufactured by Armstrong Flooring with 1/4” plywood underneath as well. Each glue-down plank, measured 6” x 48”. LVP should serve them well as it’s easy to clean, scratch resistant, and resilient. You can learn more about this product on Armstrong’s site. There was also some carpet on one of the landings that we will talk about in the next section…

UPSTAIRS BANQUET AREA | Kitchen + Carpet

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Upstairs, we installed some more Armstrong Parallel 20 LVP and a backsplash. The tile used in the backsplash was a 6” x 6” tile by Vallelunga in style Pietra Romana and color Grigio. For grout, we used Laticrete Spectralock Epoxy grout in light pewter. In terms of stain prevention and durability, epoxy grout is excellent and outperforms all other types of grout. For more information about the grout, visit Laticrete’s site.

The carpet tile installed is a Philadelphia Commercial product in color “Embrace Courage”. The 4.5” carpet base installed is also a Philadelphia Commercial product in their Emphatic II 30 style line in color Weather Vane. Who knew you could use carpet as baseboard?

TILE | Upstairs Bathroom & Downstairs Kitchen

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On the floors in the downstairs break room, bathrooms, and at the foot of the stairs is a tile from American Olean (AO) style Bevalo measuring 18” x 18” in color Charcoal grouted with Laticrete Spectralock Epoxy color Natural Grey. The tile base was the same style and color tile from AO measuring 3” x 12”. A durable tile that will serve them well!

On the walls in the bathrooms, we installed a Marazzi tile style San Savino measuring 12” x 24” with the same Natural Grey Spectralock grout. Finishing the top row of tile is a bullnose tile. Tile can be set in a number of different ways. NHT chose a brick set pattern for the wall tile and straight-lay pattern for the floor.

THANK YOU

Thanks for reading and thank you NHT for the privilege of providing you with quality flooring solutions for your new space!

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Our New Showroom | Building Update 4.0

In January 2018, Derry and Sherri purchased the old H&E Litho offset printing company building along route 322. Within 12 months, they renovated almost the entire space to make it ready for D&S Flooring’s warehouse, offices, showroom, and parking space.

Here’s a photographic tour of the new showroom space.

FOYER

As you walk in, make yourself comfortable and refresh yourself with some free and delicious coffee!

 

HARDWOOD

On the left side of our showroom as customers traverse the porcelain-tile path, they will find our hardwood flooring displays. We have products from LM Flooring, Mirage Flooring, Somerset, Chesapeake, Mannington, Shaw Floors, Kraus, and other companies for customers to see and feel with their own hands. Some of these products are even installed underfoot.

TILE

With more varieties of tile than we’ll detail here, customers can get an up-close look and feel of a variety of products installed on the floor as well as displayed on racks from companies including Daltile, Marazzi, Shaw, Interceramic, Artisan, Chesapeake, American Olean, Glazzio, and Conestoga Tile to name a few.

Some up-close shots of the different types of tile installed on our showroom floor.

COMMERCIAL ROOM

In addition to residential solutions, we offer a number of options of commercial grade vinyl, linoleum, and carpet products. Customers can access a wide variety of choices in our dedicated commercial space.

 

CARPET ROOM

With three different products installed on the floor with our charity carpet pad and a large number of displays, customers can get a real feel and look at their carpet options up close. Take a soft walk through this room and your hands on products from Mohawk, Shaw Floors, and Anderson Tuftex.

Here’s a shot of the installed carpet up close as well as some more up-close shots of our carpet displays.

VINYL ROOM

The most popular hard surface product in the US, vinyl flooring has a number of looks and types, and we’ve installed a bunch of them on our floors for our customers to be inspired. Check out both glue-down and floating LVP as well as sheet vinyl from a number of manufacturers in our vinyl room including Tarkett, Coretec, Mannington, Shaw, Karndean, Congoleum, Armstrong, and Nova floors.

Here are some close-up shots of vinyl products installed as well as some of our favorite vinyl flooring displays.

A Project in Brownstown, PA

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D&S had the opportunity to install flooring on this creative project in Brownstown, PA. Homeowners Josiah and Kayla completely transformed the space, doing work on both floors and in loft spaces above some second-floor bedrooms as well!

Our work consisted of installing 3 types of flooring: Mohawk Flooring carpet, Beauflor luxury vinyl plank (LVP), and some sleek Armstrong Flooring sheet vinyl.

UPSTAIRS

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In the kids’ bedrooms upstairs, we installed this Mohawk Flooring carpet (Product #; SP038, Color: #01). It goes well against the Barley-colored LVP by Beauflor.

LIVING ROOM + KITCHEN

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In the open family room and kitchen area, we installed this Beauflor Barley-colored LVP, part of the Parkway line. It’s a light brown which they contrasted with some dark shades as well as mimicked with similar tones in their furniture and area rugs. Looks great!

MUDROOM

Who knew sheet vinyl could look so good? Cost-effective, waterproof, and beautiful! This Armstrong Flooring sheet vinyl, color Amalfi Black offers practicality and good looks, if you ask us.

LAUNDRY + POWDER ROOM

The sheet vinyl extends into both their powder room, right off the mudroom space, and it also extends into their laundry area. They contrasted the dark-colored floor with white walls and accented with wooden trim. The rustic barn wood-look with plants set around set both a classic feel and refreshing mood.


Great job with the project Josiah + Kayla! The space looks great, and thank you for choosing D&S to be a part of your renovation.

A Conversation with Josh Plank, Lead Flooring Technician

There’s a lot more to installing new floors than securing them in place. From material selection to properly preparing the subfloor to putting the finishing touches on the project, there are many details to take into consideration to make the final product excellent. It’s these fine details that separate the good from the great. In this video, we’re talking to our lead technician, Josh Plank, to hear of the provisions our installers make to ensure a beautiful and enduring work. With this presentation, we are also aiming to prepare customers for what to expect on a new flooring project and if they would happen to run into a need for repair down the road.

Transcript

Nick: Tell us a little bit about your experience in the flooring industry. You’ve been doing it for like 10 years or something like that?

Josh:  Actually, I have 17 years experience. I started working for my stepdad when I was 17 as a carpet helper. I’ve been at D&S for about a year and a half.

Nick: Having a good time?

Josh: Yeah, I like working here. I specialize in hard surface installations, anything other than carpet and ceramic.  I do do some of those from time to time. It’s not really my specialty but..

Nick: You can do it and get it done.

Josh: You have to be well rounded. Yep!

Nick: That’s excellent! From your perspective what should a customer take into consideration when they’re choosing a new flooring product?

Josh: That’s a good question. I mean, typically I would say skies the limit at this point. Most flooring now is designed for families with pets and kids. And there’s carpet with waterproof backing and pad with waterproof membranes on the top. A lot of the vinyl products that are popular right now. Vinyl planks, tiles.. the floating ones are waterproof. They’re putting more aluminum oxide in the finish of hardwood for scratch resistance. So I would say it’s really about what you like and how much you want to spend. I wouldn’t put carpet in a kitchen/bathroom obviously. As far as other things, I mean, I’ve seen lot of hardwoods going into kitchens now. 

Nick: Is it like a newer trend, the hardwood in kitchens?

Josh: The past 5/7/10 years has been, you know, coming around more. People do a lot more open layouts. They’re running the same thing throughout the whole downstairs her house. Whether it be hardwood or vinyl plank. The printing abilities they have now it looks more realistic now (vinyls) than they did 10-15 years ago. I’ve seen pictures of stuff… I’ve taken pictures of jobs where I was impressed with how it looked, and people were like, “Oh is that wood?”  And I say, “No, it’s actually a vinyl product.”

Nick: So you’ve worked with a lot of different materials. If you’re recommending to a customer in terms of what’s going to last the longest, what would be some of the top few things you would mention?

Josh: There’s two products to get out to me for for longevity and durability. They would be in cork (solid cork) and linoleum. They’re the two most green products, if you will, natural products. If they’re installed properly they can last 40 to 50 years or longer. Now the cost on those is fairly high and you really have to like what you’re putting in obviously if you want a floor to last that long. I would say right under that would be ceramic tile and solid wood, would probably be your next step down. And then you’re looking at your engineered’s, your vinyl products, your sheet vinyls, your vinyl planks/tiles that sort of thing. Then carpet would be at the bottom of the list. I’m not saying that carpet’s going to last you two days or anything like that, but it’s not, I would say, as durable. It’s a softer product than some of the more hard surface things. 

Nick: There really are a lot of options out there for customers. Options out there for customers so let’s talk a little bit about demolition and removal what should customers expect and what typically goes into that part of the process

Josh: Removal and demolition is typically your job most labor-intensive part of the job depending on, obviously, what you’re removing. Ceramic tiles for example, if you are tearing out a bunch of that, I mean, that can take a week depending on the size of the job. Usually, we plastic stuff off as best we can. Carpet… I mean, you can go from that end of the spectrum down to carpet which is usually cutting stuff up and taking out the tack strip and the pad staples. Typically, that’s not quite as long of a process. We do try to keep, you know, dust down/noise down as much as we can. However, we are a construction company. I know a lot of people don’t typically put flooring in that category because it’s more of a decorating type of a thing, but we still are a construction company. 

Nick: So sometimes customers will do the demolition, but we also offer that?

Josh: sometimes people want to tear it out themselves, save some money. That’s fine. But typically I say about 80 to 90% of the projects, we do the tear out/demolition. 

Nick: So taking care of the environment, I know, is important to us. What are some of the things we do to ensure that?

Josh: For example, if we are tearing out hardwood, typically we burn that; as opposed to putting that in a landfill. Cardboard we recycle. The only problem is, construction waist is hard to dispose of to wear it doesn’t go into a landfill. We strive for the best we can do in that area.

Nick: so tell us a little bit about what goes into floor preparation.

Josh: floor preparation would be, especially on the hard surface end, Going to be the foundation that you build upon. A good analogy is a foundation like a house. You could have the nicest looking house in the world put your foundation could not be up to par…

Nick: and that would make all the difference..

Josh: Exactly. So as far as floor prepped, mostly for what I do… Typically you’re looking to get a floor smooth. OK? And as flat as possible. We don’t want to say level because unless you’re pouring self leveler, you’re not going to get a level floor. That can be done at a cost… Basically from my end of it, I am looking at.. concrete: is there a hump that can be ground out? Is there a low spot that can be filled in by pouring on cement patching compound? Holes: they need to be filled as well. Wood substrates: You’re looking at your subfloor joints. They need sanded. Another key thing for what I do typically is under cutting. That could be door jams, brick hearths, stone hearths, brick walls, even ceramic tile walls in bathrooms can be undercut. It gives you a more finished look to a job, almost like it was meant to be there, as opposed to (scribing). We are able to scribe material, but to me, the more you can undercut the better of the job you’re going to get as far as aesthetics go.

Nick: Wow! So a lot goes into floor preparation.

Josh: yeah, I would say typically, 60% of the work that’s done for me would be floor prep.

Nick: if you don’t do floor preparation right, it’s not necessarily going to be hidden by the product that goes on top.

Josh: Correct. Yeah. Typically, floating floors are usually the real key to that one because they are floating, and if you have a lot of variance in your floor, you can feel movement up-and-down. Say for example you’re working in a house that was built in 1870, say. The subfloor in there can be fairly wavy. It’s not going to be like you’re working in a house that was built 10 years ago that you’re trying to redo where everything is a lot more flat. We do the best we can with what we have to work with and communicate that with the customer to handle their expectations as well.

Nick: We make it a point at D&S to be excellent at what we do. What would you say distinguishes us as ‘expert installers”?

Josh: There’s plenty of things in that. Attention to detail is definitely A big one. Professionalism on the job… We are a service business. It’s not just about putting a floor in. I mean, it’s about communicating with the customer, handling their expectations, holding ourselves to a high standard as far as installation goes, installing a floor properly per manufacturers recommendation, (and) making every job look the way a customer in vision is it looking. Technically, you could be the best flooring installer in the world and not be able to communicate with someone and it’s basically pointless. That to me is what really separates the good ones from the great ones. The attention to detail thing is definitely key. Flooring installers have to wear a lot of different hats. We do trim-work. We do concrete finishing if you want to call it that. I mean, we do a lot of different things.

Nick: You’ve been installing for 17 years, what are some of the top mistakes you’ve seen made or maybe some DIYers would make?

Josh: floor prep is a big one. I mean, again… To me it always goes back to that. Undercutting jams… Not Knowing how to properly finish the floor as far as, like, on a hardwood installation puddy-ing nail holes correctly, Installing trim-work correctly, installing… Moldings or a big one. Transitions. Transitions our very difficult to install sometimes..

Nick: Transitions.. so one type of flooring goes into the next?

Josh: Correct.

Nick: Or maybe different levels?

Josh: Yep. Different levels of floor, different heights. What do you do here or there? Making transitions work that aren’t necessarily designed for the use that you need them to do.  Not nailing underlayment correctly Is another one I see. If you don’t have enough nails in your underlayment, overtime they could bubble up, almost like a trampoline type of fact. When you push down… Your flooring is glued or adhered to the underlayment but the underlayment is not adhere to the sub floor… Not caulking properly is another one. I mean, the sky is the limit. I’ve seen all kinds of stuff.

Nick: (Laughing) yeah.. One time there was like a hole, right? And someone took a soda can?

Josh: Oh yeah yeah.. i’ve seen soda cans nailed on top of holes in the floor. I mean, just anything you can imagine.

Nick: So something that would distinguish as Expert installers is, yeah the final product, but all that goes… All that hidden stuff that goes into floor preparation.

Josh: I would say… There is a flooring company where part of their name is flooring systems. So basically, they are saying that from their glue to the prep to the material is one system. And that’s what we’re trying to do. Everything in the system plays a part from top to bottom.

Nick: So in terms of percentage, how much time is spent on installation?

Josh: So percentage of time on installation I would say depends obviously on the type of flooring you’re doing. Sheet vinyl’s: it could be as little as 20% of actually installing sheet vinyl on a job, and the rest could be floor prep and installing trim-work. Hardwood: a little bit more, probably 40%. Same thing with carpet, but again, a lot of your time and hard surface goes into floor prep and a lot of the finishing stuff. 

Nick: You’re going into a customers home, and they are excited. They are getting their new floor, you know, put in that day or, you know, The next two days. Maybe what’s something customers should expect for like the day of installation or like maybe even before hand?

Josh: If we are moving furniture, we can do that. We typically ask if a customer can move some of the small items out, out of their furniture. Say if you have a China cabinet where you have a bunch of breakable things in there, we ask that you remove those. If, you know, in a residential house if we need access to water or power… If we can use those things, that we have access to them as well…  if we are grouting a floor or gluing a floor, pets should be put away where they’re not going to, you know, run through something you can track throughout the house.

Nick: When you’re installing, is that room typically off-limits?

Josh: Depending on what you’re doing, it can be. With grouting especially, you don’t want any traffic on that for 24 hours. Heavy rolling loads on vinyl floors, anything glued down. I mean, we can put fridges and stoves back. Once it’s installed, we roll them or carry them in on something to protect the floor. Foot traffic is normally is ok. Typically I say if I’m walking on the floor, you can. Showers and things of that nature, I’m not 100% sure on the timeline for that. I believe its 3 days after, 3 to 4 I think.

Nick: In terms of getting it wet?

Josh: Right. Exactly. If I’m installing vinyl in your bathroom and I caulk at your tub, you know, silicone caulk your tub. You can use your shower but just be mindful that caulk usually takes 24 hours to cure. 

Nick: So we’ll talk about repairs at this point. What are some of the most common repairs that you find yourself doing?

Josh: I would say, carpet: “Oh my dog tore a hole in something..” or “my cat”. You spill something on your carpet or burn it (with a) hot pan/candle. Hardwood would probably be like a scratched board or something you drop something on and put a ding in it. Same thing with vinyl plank. Sheet vinyl I see a lot of, “Oh! I moved my fridge out to clean it. And I… there’s a divot when I rolled it back.” 

Nick: As you’re going out to make these repairs, what are some of the easier flooring types to fix

Josh: Carpet is probably the easiest. That and sheet vinyl. Typically you can, you know, cut a square out or cut a tile in your vinyl pattern out and put another one in. Hardwood and like glue-down vinyl planks fairly easy. Engineered wood would be easier. Typically you’re cutting a board out and glueing another one in place. Solid wood is a little trickier than that. It’s a little harder to get that in. The two hardest would probably be a floating floor and ceramic tile. Floating floors are notoriously hard to fix because, you know, it’s a floating floor and you’re not adhering it to anything except the locking system. So typically, it can be… tricky. It’s very time-consuming because they don’t always want to go back together properly. You’re having to glue and this and that but not glue to the floor. 

Nick: So it’s possible but just maybe something customers can be aware of when they’re purchasing a floating floor. Hey, if this plank gets ruined it’s fixable but it’s going to take a little bit of time.

Josh: Right. Yeah. And I’m not saying it’s going to take days. It would just take an extra hour or two.

Nick: Any other general comments you would have?

Josh: I know all of our guys are passionate about what they do and are striving to do the best job that, you know, that we can for you. To me, if you’re not passionate about something, you’re not going to be good at it. I know for myself, I’m really passionate about flooring and I have been and I will be. I mean, I can’t see myself working in any other industry. When you’re shopping for a company to use is to keep that in mind because you do ultimately get what you pay for and that all goes into it. 

Nick: Thanks for sharing that Josh!

Josh: Yep, (I) appreciate it. 

Building Update 3.0 / Exterior Transformation

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Exterior Transformation

December 2017, Derry and the D&S team were looking at this old yellow building and dreaming of future plans. 11 months later, the plans and dreams have come to reality before our eyes.

To name a few of the major renovations, we installed a new standing seam metal roof, asphalt driveway, and garage door. We had the exterior painted and put up Dryvit on the face of the showroom. We took the power lines down and ran them to the building underground. There’s new lighting and even road signage. We think it looks pretty great!

Thanks to all who had a hand in this great undertaking!

Read More About the Progression

Building Update 1.0

Building Update 2.0