 There are a number of vinyl click flooring products claiming to be 100% waterproof, I get asked often about this, people want to know what type of flooring will be the most durable, especially when it comes to basement flooring where moisture is common and flooding is a possibility.
So are these floors really waterproof ? The Answer is Yes and No, Some of the SPC (stone plastic composite) vinyl click planks will not get damaged from water, I remember years ago the Coretec salesman carried a water bucket with a piece of flooring submerged in the water to demonstrate the waterproof aspect of the flooring. So yes, there are floors that are 100% waterproof! But the real question is, what happens if my basement floods? Your basement is different from a piece of flooring submerged in a bucket of water, once water goes under the flooring it's important to get the subfloor dry as soon as possible or mold can start growing. To do that, you would have to take apart at least some of the flooring and have fans blow air underneath the flooring, you will also have to take off some of the base moldings to be able and take apart the flooring, depending on the layout you may have to take apart more or less flooring so you can get the air to reach the whole subfloor. Furthermore if the leak is sewage it is almost impossible to sanitize and disinfect without taking the complete floor apart and cleaning each piece. If there is a minor leak or spill and water didn't get under the flooring you can just dry the floor and it will be good. Bottom line, waterproof flooring may need to be replaced if there is a major flood, but can withstand minor leaks and some moisture, and overall is a good option for basements. Here is what you need to know when choosing carpet. First let us discuss the different types of carpet, Plush (Saxony), Texture (Twist), Loop (Berber), Frieze (Shag), Cut/Loop (LCL), Woven, and Printed Patterns.  Saxony Saxony Carpets have a very soft luxurious feel and are perfect for a master bedroom and formal areas  Texture Textured Carpets are very durable and are ideal for most areas in your home. They are available in solid color and 2 tone  Berber Loop pile carpets are recommended for active areas in your home and can withstand heavy traffic  Shag Shag/Frieze long twisted fibers create soft, bouncy, springy feel and create a unique look  Cut & Loop Cut and Loop Carpets are very popular and can be used in any area. They are available in simple textures and a variety of patterns Printed Pattern Carpet & Woven Carpets  Woven Carpet Woven Carpet is produced on a loom similar to woven fabric known to last longer then tufted carpets. They are used widely in Europe and most woven carpets are imported  Print Pattern Carpet Print Pattern Carpet are great for traffic areas in your home. Patterns also help to hide stains and wear and can add a theme to any room The next thing to consider is is the carpet fiber. There are four yarn fibers used in the construction of carpet, Nylon, Polyester, Olefin and Wool Nylon is the most commonly used carpet fiber. In overall performance characteristics, nylon is the most versatile of all fibers, and provides excellent flexibility in creating a variety of carpet styles. Nylon can be found in a wide range of both cut pile and loop pile styles. It is durable, resilient, and receptive to dyeing for color versatility and uniformity; many new nylon yarn systems are also exceptionally soft. Though not inherently stain resistant, most nylon carpets feature a treatment for protection against household spills and stains. Polyester offers value with it's softness and color clarity, and is also naturally stain and fade resistant. While polyester is not as inherently resilient as nylon, today's polyester yarns are greatly improved and perform much better than in years past. Olefin (Polypropylene) is great for areas prone to moisture or sunlight. It does not absorb water and the color will not fade, even when exposed to intense sunlight, bleaches, atmospheric contaminants, or other harsh chemicals or elements. However, since it is not as resilient as other fibers, olefin is normally used in loop pile constructions in which there is less need for superior resiliency. Wool has been used for carpet making since ancient times. It will last throughout the years. Its superior properties assure quality, function and design. Wool is the premium classic floor covering material. Today, wool used for carpet making comes from sheep in countries like New Zealand, Argentina and the United Kingdom. Factors to consider,
usage of area - light traffic (bedrooms, guest rooms), medium traffic (family rooms, playrooms, dens), heavy traffic (hallway, stairs). The look - your style, color and overall look, what works well together what doesn't. Your budget - how much you plan to spend.  To Use Padding (Cushion that goes under the Carpet) or not to, is a question I am asked a lot when we install Carpeting in a basement or ground level over a slab. We generally recommend using padding unless there is a good likelihood the carpet can get wet, like rooms that are next to boiler/wash rooms, or areas that are prone to water seepage. See below the benefits of padding and of direct glue down installation.
If you have padding and the carpet gets wet, the padding will have to be changed in most cases.
The Shaggy Carpets of the 70's are back in a big way, and they have gone through a big makeover with up to date colors and patterns that can truly and uneekly define any space into something special. So if you want to do something different and soft consider a shag carpet. 
Rebond Padding is sort of like a sponge and comes in different thicknesses and density’s. We recommend to use the ½” (thick) 6 Lb. (density) with most plush carpets, And the 3/8” 8 Lb. for lower plush carpets.
Felt Padding is a more dense padding with less give and doesn't feel as soft underfoot But will last longer than the rebond padding and is recommended for most low pile carpets, Woven Carpets and is also used in high traffic areas. It’s our preferred padding for most Installations. Some other benefits it is hypo allergenic and moisture resistant. Specialty Padding (Rubber Padding, Pet Proof Padding, and more.) will be discussed in our next Blog. 
I'm on the new jersey turnpike on my way back from the Shaw distribution center in Cranberry new jersey, where I went to pick up a roll of carpet that has to be installed in 2 bedrooms Sunday morning because the customer had to move in later that day, and due to the Thanksgiving weekend the order was delayed. So instead of doing estimates and catching up on some unfinished business I'm listening to Rush Limbough going on about how messed up our country is and how we're all going down the drain. At least Mr. & Mrs. H. won't have to push off their moving date. I'm happy to do what's needed to show how much we appreciate our customers and that we are happy to go the extra mile(s).
Basic Steps To Take If You Get FloodedIn the past few years Rockland County has suffered some major floods which caused millions of dollars worth of damage. But flooding is not only caused by natural forces. Sometimes flooding is caused by a leaking pipe, leaking toilet, blocked sink or bathtub or other problems in the home. We get a lot of questions from people that their house got flooded; in this article we try to answer some of them. If the flooding was caused by problems in your home, you have to find the cause and fix it right away otherwise the flooding will not stop. Then the first thing you need to do is remove as much water as possible using a portable water pump and a Shop vac, then fold back the carpet and remove all padding that got wet and turn on fans and dehumidifiers until area is completely dry. When the area is completely dry the carpet could be reinstalled over new padding. If the carpet was glued directly to the subfloor without padding, vacuum out as much water as possible then put fans and dehumidifiers till carpet is completely dry. (Turning on the heat helps) The carpet should not be left wet past two days because then it becomes a breeding ground for molds. If it is not possible to dry out the carpet within two days and see some molds growing, immediately remove the molds with a mold and mildew killer or a homemade cleaning solution. The place where your carpet is being dried should be well ventilated and free from moisture as molds thrive on moisture. If the flood water is dirty and might contain contaminants that will be dangerous to your health, it is best to call in a professional to assess the damage and suggest some remediation measures. Some may advise professional carpet cleaning and carpet restoration. If the damage is really bad and the carpet becomes a health hazard, the professional might suggest just disposing of the carpet altogether and replacing it with a new one. The whole floor should be thoroughly disinfected and sanitized though before a new carpet is installed. To sum it up, 1. Find source of water and fix. 2. Remove water - Use pump then water vac. 3. If there is padding remove area's that are wet. 4. Ventilate area using fans and dehumidifier. 5. Disinfect floor.    |
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