Every time one type of flooring meets a different type
of flooring, a transition strip is needed. Different flooring materials
often have slight height variations. These variations need to be smoothed
with transition strips, so that people can pass from one type of floor
to another, safely and smoothly. Similar to a threshold at a doorway,
Transition strips are used wherever carpet meets VCT, Ceramic or Laminate/Wood
flooring. Transition strips are also called reducers or adaptors. Often
a transition strip is a piece of vinyl that is specifically made to accommodate
two different types of flooring. “Snap Track” consists of
a piece of vinyl that can be snapped into a metal piece. Each installation
may require a slightly different kind of transition strip to ensure safe
passage from one area to another. top
Carpet tiles are an excellent alternative to broadloom
carpet. Instead of being produced in a 12 or 15 foot roll, carpet tiles
are square pieces of carpet with their own backing attached. carpet tiles
are useful in high traffic applications where a stained or damaged tile
can be lifted up and replaced, without disturbing the rest of the installation.
carpet tiles, usually between 12” to 36” square, come with
a variety of backings and methods of installation. Ease of replacement
makes carpet tiles a best seller in the commercial flooring industry.
top
In a patterned carpet, it is the distance from one point
in the figure to where the identical point appears again. Pattern repeat
is measured in width and length. When installing a patterned carpet, there
is additional waste, since the pattern must be matched at all seams and
doorways. top
VCT stands for Vinyl Composition Tile. But, don't let the name
fool you. Did you know that more than 80% of VCT is Limestone? VCT is
a cost effective way of handling high traffic areas. Please visit our
tile page for more information about VCT. top
Cut-Pile refers to carpet, where the loops of yarn have been
cut. Generally, cut-pile carpet is a solid color. It's ideal for residential
or low-traffic commercial uses. Residential cut-pile typically has a higher
pile and is plusher than commercial cut-pile. Common Commercial uses for
cut-pile are offices or borders, where traffic is lighter & spills
less likely. Most Commercial cut-pile carpets are available in 30 oz.
and 36 oz. weights. top
A loop carpet is one where the face yarns remain in continuous
loops, connected together beneath the backing of the carpet. Loop carpets
generally combine different colors, although there are some solid color
loop carpets. Loop carpets are ideal for higher-traffic areas, such as
corridors & stairs. The combination of colors can disguise traffic
patterns and spills. top
Olefin or Polypropylene carpet is made from Polypropylene fiber.
It is strong yet lightweight. However, it has a soft polymer structure,
with lower resilience and texture retention than Nylon. top
In most commercial and residential applications, a covering
is required where the wall meets the floor. Similar to a kick plate on
a door, wall base protects the bottom of the wall and provides a finished
look to the room. Wall base can be made out of ceramic, wood, rubber or
vinyl. "Cove Base" refers to the slight curl at the bottom of the base.
Cove Base is generally used with Ceramic or VCT floors. Straight Base
is flat (no curl at the bottom). Straight Base is generally used with
carpet. top
Stringers are the material on the side of the stairs. They
follow the contour of the stairs and can be made out of carpet, vinyl,
or rubber. Stringers give a set of stairs a finished look and visually
define the area. top
The stair nosing is the piece of material that covers the
area where the stair tread meets the stair riser. Nosings are made from
either vinyl or rubber. They are available in a variety of colors to either
match the tread/riser or to contrast with the stiar material. Contrasting
colors or detectable tactile material change alert the visually impaired
to a change of surface. Stair nosings are often used on carpeted stairs,
so that there are no worn edges in high traffic areas. top
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Transition
strips
Carpet
tiles?