Carpet is the floor covering of choice among homeowners. While most people appreciate its beauty and comfort, carpet is more than just a "pretty face," as millions of homeowners have learned about the functional aspects of this popular floor covering.

ADVANTAGES OF CARPET

Unlike other types of flooring, carpet is a natural insulator, providing additional warmth in cold seasons; in warmer weather, it also insulates against invasive heat. Its use in a wall-to-wall application actually increases the R-value, or insulation level, of the carpeted area. While the improvement may be modest, with today's skyrocketing energy costs, even a slight increase in R-value is welcome.

Moreover, some carpet backings can add to the insulation capability of carpet. Backings like SoftBac Platinum from Shaw, a leading floor covering manufacturer, enhance the carpet's existing R-value. Construction of SoftBac begins with the traditional open weave fabric that is then encapsulated with a soft fleece felt, providing another insulation layer as well as providing extra comfort underfoot.

Beyond its potential value in actually reducing heating costs, carpet also enhances the perception of comfort and warmth. Everyone knows that it's a much more pleasant sensation to step barefoot out of bed on a cold morning onto carpet than onto any other type of surface.

Carpet also reduces a home's noise level, eliminating or muffling distracting clatter. Carpeted rooms absorb and contain noise, offering a greater degree of privacy from room to room. Soft underfoot, carpet also provides a comfortable, non-slip walking surface that reduces leg fatigue. Perhaps more important, a resilient layer of carpet minimizes the danger of injury from falls and accidents.

Another, often overlooked advantage of carpet is its ability to improve indoor air quality. EPA scientists have concluded that carpet can be beneficial in trapping and immobilizing potential allergy-causing particulates, preventing them from reentering the indoor air stream, if the carpet is properly cleaned and maintained. Similar results have been obtained in a number of other studies conducted in recent years. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) explains the research:

"... clean, dry, well-maintained carpet actually improves air quality. Carpet acts as a trap for airborne particles grounded through natural gravity. Professional Testing Labs (an independent industry laboratory) studied the distribution of airborne dust associated with normal activities on hard and soft flooring surfaces. Their findings showed that walking on hard surfaces disturbed more particles. These particles became airborne and entered the breathing zone. In contrast, carpeted surfaces trapped more particles so that walking disturbed fewer particles. Result: less dust in the breathing zone over carpeted floors."

Of course, as with any interior furnishing, appropriate cleaning is required. This includes regular vacuuming, removal of spots and spills, and periodic overall cleaning. Shaw recommends using the hot-water extraction method, often referred to as "steam cleaning," although no steam is actually generated. Shaw's research indicates that this method provides the best capability for cleaning.

CARPET VALUE

Carpet is a remarkably durable and practical floor covering. Technological advances in everything from fiber to backing enable carpet manufacturers to offer products suitable for virtually any residential or commercial setting -- indoors or out! Shaw, for example, now offers "Inside/Out," a collection of styles suitable for indoor use as well as outdoor settings such as patios, porches, and walkways.

It is important to recognize that carpet is also an exceptional value and, in general, is significantly less expensive than other floor coverings. Best of all, carpet is a beautiful home furnishing that can add elegance, comfort, and fashion to any setting. Extremely versatile, carpet is available in an extraordinary selection of styles, patterns, and colors. From solid, formal cut piles and shags to natural, loop pile Berbers and patterned cut/loop styles, carpet affords unlimited decorating flexibility. 

Carpet can serve as a neutral backdrop that complements other furnishings, or it can make a statement as the focal point of a decor. The only truly three-dimensional floor covering, carpet offers textural possibilities that other hard surfaces lack.

Value, comfort, safety, beauty ... it's little wonder that carpet has outsold every other floor covering for almost fifty years. For more information, visit www.shawfloors.com or www.carpet-rug.org, or call 1-800-441-SHAW. 

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