CARPET CUSHION: TO PROTECT AND SERVE

Carpet Cushion – also known as padding– is the important, hard working and often overlooked component of your carpet.  It’s important to know that not all carpet performs the same and not all carpet cushion does either.  Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo can help you purchase the cushion that works best with your carpet.

Carpet cushion does more than cushion your carpet when you walk on it – it also serves a variety of purposes.

-                Acts as a buffer between the carpet and the subfloor, allowing fibers to bounce back and retain their appearance

-                Feels better underfoot

-                Keeps most common household spills from penetrating the cushion or subfloor

-                Extends the life of your carpet as well as adding to its luxurious feel.

-                Protects your carpet investment

-                Makes a less expensive carpet feel more luxurious

-                Absorbs sounds and reduces noise

-                A pad makes cleaning your carpet more efficient.

-                It provides thermal insulation.  It stops the drafts that can seep through some porous carpeting.

Many carpet cushions today have extra features worth the money, such as STAINMASTER^® carpet cushion which is available with Odor Guard technology which helps to reduce odors caused by most common household spills and pet accidents.  It is also available with antimicrobial treatment, which helps to resist bacteria, mould and mildew in the padding.

It is also important to never install a new carpet over old carpet cushion or over the old carpet and cushion.  If your carpet needs replacing, so does the carpet cushion.

How much padding to too much?  Although it’s a good idea to buy good quality padding, you don’t want to go overboard.  Cinderella Carpet One notes that carpet padding should not exceed 7/16”.  Excessively thick padding can void the manufacturer’s warranty for your carpet, because it can cause carpet to wear faster than it should. 

Additionally, always check to see if your cushion has received the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval.

So, when choosing a carpet it is very important to choose a carpet that will perform the way that you expect it to but it is also important to choose a padding that properly supports the carpet that you purchase.  Our sales associates at Cinderella can help you make the right choice.  Contact us today for your FREE In-Home Consultation or come by our showroom at 6 Rossi Circle in Salinas.

A YUMMY RECIPE TO GO WITH THAT NEW KITCHEN FLOOR FROM CINDERELLA CARPET ONE IN SALINAS!

If you’re thinking about getting new flooring in your kitchen you need to come to Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas or San Luis Obispo. And, after you have that new floor installed by our installation experts, you should know that pretty soon you’ll be looking for reasons to spend more time in your new kitchen. What better reason than to try out a new recipe? Here’s one of our favorites, courtesy of goddessofscrumptiousness

Spaghetti in Garlic Gravy with Herbs and Lemon Marinated Chicken and Cherry Tomatoes

This pasta recipe I came up spontaneously. And cooked this dish 30 minutes right after I conceptualized and imagined how the taste would be.

I just thought that lemon (juice and zest), thyme, rosemary, extra virgin olive oil and salt and pepper to marinate and flavor the chicken chunks would already make the meat so delish. I had a tray of cherry tomatoes in the chiller and the sauce… I figured that it would be wonderful if I can taste some chickeny goodness in the pasta itself, so I decided that instead of making a proper pasta sauce I’ll make a gravy (make that as the sauce), flavor it with a tiny hint of basil and some big savory punch of garlic.

Ingredients:

500 grams spaghetti pasta (cooked al dente)

1 pound chicken breast fillets (skinless and boneless, sliced into 1 inch chunks)

For the chicken marinade:

2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped

2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped (if using dried, use half of the amount)

Zest of 1 lemon

Juice of ½ a lemon

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon coarse salt (not table salt)

½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (to sauté the marinated chicken)

-  Add all the marinade ingredients into the chicken and marinate for 20 minutes (if making this dish in pronto) or over night (if making this dish the next day… much better).

-  Saute the marinated chicken in extra virgin olive oil until cooked (about 4-5 minutes) then set aside.

For the garlic gravy:

½ stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 large cloves garlic, finely minced

2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 ½ cups chicken stock

1 Tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

¼ cup parsley, chopped (to sprinkle/finish the pasta)

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

2 cups whole cherry tomatoes

-  Place sauté pan over medium heat and add butter and olive oil.

-  Saute garlic until fragrant and soft.

-  Add the flour and cook for a minute.

-  Add chicken stock and simmer gravy until thickened then add the chopped basil.

-  Season with salt and pepper.

-  Add the sauteed chicken in the gravy then toss the cooked spaghetti into this sauce.

-  Add the cherry tomatoes and finish the dish with the chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese (serve extra on the side).

Makes 5-6 servings.

FACTORS TO THINK ABOUT PRIOR TO CHOOSING FLOOR COVERINGS FOR YOUR HOME

Establishing the right floor for your home isn't easy. You need to think about traffic flow, maintenance, durability and how the particular flooring will make the room look and feel. At Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo we can outline the key factors to consider when buying a floor and then help you look at varying floor types that match your needs.

PRICE

When you are choosing any type of flooring, price is always a consideration. The trick’s to not settle for inexpensive flooring when you can improve quality at a great price, which will last longer, look better and add more value to your home.  It’s worth setting a price range first and looking at what’s available in that price bracket.

TRAFFIC FLOW

The amount of traffic to an area should influence the flooring you choose. People tend to go for carpet in bedrooms and some living areas, as the traffic flow is low. For high traffic areas such as stairs and hallways you will need a hardwearing surface that is easy to clean.

Maintenance and durability

When making your flooring choice you must consider cleaning instructions, long-term maintenance and life-span. What seems like a cheap option now may not be the case if you have to replace it in a couple of years. Think about characteristics of the particular area and how they'll affect the floor such as direct sunlight, water spills, furniture scrapes, termites and dirt from outside.

Comfort versus function

Comfort of flooring can refer to how it feels underfoot, its insulation properties and whether it carries sound. Polished concrete, for example, is extremely hard and may not be suitable for young families. The importance of comfort is dependent on the area of the house. For instance, comfort in the bedroom ranks more highly than function, whereas functionality in the laundry is more important.

 

Appearance

Appearance is often the most important aspect determining floor choice. Many designers suggest deciding on flooring before anything else in the home, even the paintwork. Different textures, patterns, colors and tones all create a certain effect.

Environmental considerations

What is your floor made from? Is this a renewable resource? If you are going with timber floors, ask the supplier if it's from a responsible resource. Some companies may use recycled materials. You should also consider the energy efficiency of the product for example; carpet has good insulation properties, which will save you in heating and cooling bills.

 

Installation

If you are building a new house, installation of your new floor won't be an issue. However, if you are replacing an existing floor you must research the installation process because some floors are easier to install than others. Timber floorboards for example, will take much more work to install than a laminate floating floor.

Once you have thought of the points mentioned above, try doing these tips from the World Floor Covering Association:

1.     Identify the type of flooring you want to replace and why.  Establish the need, is it really necessary to do it and do it now?

2.     Identify the subfloor you’ll be working with and if it needs special preparation or treatment before the new flooring is installed.           

3.     Get an approximate measurement of the area you want to cover, this way you immediately have an idea how many – the quantity of the materials and how much it’ll probably cost you.

4.     Keep in mind that the final costs will be affected by some factors like the quality of the material, its quantity, the pattern you wish to create and of course, waste allowance.

5.     Have the flooring retailer in your home prior to purchase and installation so they can examine a flooring product’s compatibility with the rooms and take the exact measurement to give you an exact quote.

6.     Also take note of the sources of light as light plays a significant role in flooring visuals or appearance.

7.     In terms of longevity, determine traffic pattern – where it is the heaviest and lightest.  Knowing the concentration will help you pick the appropriate material.

8.     Identify adjoining surfaces for both aesthetics and functionality

Buying floors doesn’t have to be a mystery.  Cinderella Carpet One can help!  Contact us in San Luis Obispo or Salinas for your FREE In-Home Consultation and estimate.