An introduction to warmth & comfort

Nothing says home like a new carpet. It is a smart and popular flooring choice for many commercial and residential applications like offices, lobbies, bedrooms, playrooms, and finished basements. Even outdoor covered decks can be enhanced with a suitable outdoor carpet. Whether you need carpet for a high-traffic family or business area or want a beautiful look and style to complement a room, carpet is a surprisingly versatile and customizable flooring option.

At KYFlooring, we carry an expansive range of carpet styles, textures, colors, and brands including Shaw, Mohawk, and Karastan. Before browsing our inventory, read on to learn more about carpet.

A qualified pro will have the experience and knowledge needed to get the job done right the first time. If you plan to install your own carpet, be sure to check the manufacturer’s warranties and approved installation guidelines. This will help ensure you’ve got coverage and support if unforeseen issues should arise.

Carpet installation is hard work and requires a variety of tools and supplies the average DIY enthusiast might not have on hand. A professional installer will have a broad range of equipment to work with. Here are a few items that you’re sure to see if you watch the installation process.

Tack Strips

Tack strips are slats of wood nailed to the floor around the outside edge of the carpet installation area. There are angled pins sticking off the top surface that catch hold of the carpet and keep it in place, allowing it to be stretched tight into position.

Knee-Kicker

About a foot and a half long, this tool has teeth at one end that grip the carpet and a pad at the other end. The teeth grip the surface of the carpet so it is pushed toward the wall when the installer strikes the padded end with one knee. This causes the carpet to catch on the tack strip in a stretched position.

An experienced professional will know when the surface is ready for use and may be able to assist you with the disposal of your old flooring.

2. All the furniture will need to be removed from the room where your new carpet is to be installed. Professional movers and storage experts can make this much easier, especially for items requiring special care. Professional movers can save you a lot of time without your furniture, too!

During & After Your Carpet Installation

An adult member of your household will need to be present when your carpet installer arrives. This person will need be able to show the installer to the job site. For everyone’s safety and to make the job easier, keep children and pets away from the work area until the job has been completed. Your lead installer will be able to answer your questions about the finished product and advise you on how and when you can start using your new carpet.

Establishing a preventative maintenance routine is a great first step (pun intended!). Remove outdoor shoes before walking across your carpet so you don’t track dirt inside the house and use a good quality carpet pad for additional support. Create a care and maintenance routine that also works with your current cleaning schedule. For most of our products, daily to weekly vacuuming with a manufacturer’s approved appliance is really all you need to keep your carpets looking and feeling great!

Professional Cleaning:

We also suggest either a professional cleaning or giving your carpets a shampoo at home if recommended by your carpet manufacturers guidelines periodically throughout the year. Regardless of what kind of care and maintenance routine you establish for yourself, make sure you’re following the recommendations of your carpet manufacturer, to ensure maximum effectiveness and a beautiful end result.

Incorporate a deeper clean for your carpet into your spring-cleaning to remove any wintery residue, or at the first signs of autumn to prepare your home for each new season.

Stain Removal:

If you entertain a lot or have young children and pets, messes can fall onto your carpet over a period of time, no matter how hard you try to be careful. Many of our carpets are sold with stain resistant technology built into the fibers.

Your first inclination when it comes to common household stains like spilled milk, pet accidents or makeup stains, is to just jump right in and clean up the mess. Before you tackle cleaning any spills, stains or soils on your new carpet, first establish whether it’s an oil-based stain or water-based stain, then consult our common stain removal guides. Some messes will just wipe away with a cleaning cloth while others will require comprehensive stain removal directions, so it’s best to consult with our common stain removal guide.