Dec
29
It is normal for me at the end of the year to look forward to the next with respect to floor covering trends and plans for improvement. I am confident that 2010 will see a slow and steady recovery in consumer remodeling and building. Smart consumers will want a combination of accurate information and hands on comparison in order to make the right floor covering decision. Based on this observation, here is our focus for 2010 and the tools we will be using to get there:
- By the end of January we will have our newly remodeled ceramic tile showroom completed.
- New ceramic displays such as a walk in shower and whirlpool will aid our clients in actually seeing how easy and fun it can be to design the bath & kitchen of their dreams.
- Our showroom floor is subdivided into 12 different ceramic floors with a wide variety of colors, sizes and designs to show you some of the options available.
- Our newly remodeled bathroom will feature in floor heat and unique floor and wall ceramic tile patterns.
- A greater selection of glass & accent tiles.
- Actual room scene pictures of completed projects.
- Our newly remodeled website and Face book site is more interactive to better answer your floor covering questions.
Stop in and let us show you first hand what innovative design and outstanding service can do for you.
Dec
22
Like many things during this holiday season, it is the small things that make the biggest impact. With respect to ceramic tile designs on floors and walls, this is true also.
Take for example the below kitchen back splash. Our client knew that she wanted a classic look but also wanted to add some design impact. By adding a few key elements we were able to achieve both goals:
- Subdivided the lower and upper areas of back splash by changing layout and size of tiles.
- Bordered 2 x 2 tiles with accent strips.
- Supplied coordinating outlet covers to complete the look.
- Used marble tiles which have a wide variety of color variance.
These elements really added to the uniqueness of this project and made the back splash one of a kind.
Dec
14
With today’s focus on eco-friendly floor coverings it is only natural that we take a closer look at one of todays most asked about products: Bamboo.
Bamboo is technically a grass not a wood product. And because of this you can have bamboo ready to harvest in 4 to 6 years instead of decades like traditional wood flooring.
Bamboo comes in 3 different cuts or looks.
The first type of cut is horizontal. This style is the result of a bamboo stalk being cut across its length. Below is an example of this:
Horizontal cut.
Next is the vertical cut of bamboo flooring. This is the result of bamboo being cut and bound across the thickness of the stalk. Below is an example of this:
Vertical cut.
Finally we come to a cut which is a combination of the leftovers from the first two methods. What you have is a very hard and dense combination of bamboo which has a hardwood appearance. The name of this cut is called Strand-woven bamboo. Below is an example of this.
Strand-woven bamboo.
Bamboo is a very unique and durable floor covering along with being one of the most “green” products on the market today. At Duralum Carpets we have a wide variety of styles available.
Dec
8
We have been in the floor covering business since 1962 and have seen many trends come and go: green shag carpeting anyone? 
One trend that always seems to be in style is the issue of quality over quality. In today’s economic environment all customers are researching their floor covering options to get their best value. I agree with this 100%, but be careful. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. My main focus for my clients is to, first and foremost asses their needs by asking these questions:
- Where will you be using this product?
- How long do you want this to last?
- How many kids, pets, etc do you have?
- How well do you intend to maintain your new floor?
- What are your tastes regarding style & color?
- What is the budget?
Armed with this information and more I am now able to recommend certain floor covering options that will give my customer what they really need. From time to time it is clear to me that a client needs a better quality product than they can afford at this time. Luckily I have a variety of financing options to allow clients to spread the cost over time. But sometimes financing is not an option, what do you do? In my case I always suggest what my grandfather and my dad always told me: “Good quality is always the best option and if you can’t afford it now, save up for it and buy it later.” I have advised many clients to do just this and they thank me for the advice. Later when they can and do purchase the floor covering that best suits their needs they are much happier. Good quality almost always pays for itself!
I want to take this time to thank a friend who was very honest with regard to insurance for my business. He did just what I would have done. In the end he said I should stay with my original coverage and not buy from him. He lost a sale but made a customer for life! Here is a link to Eric Nier’s AllState Insurance.
