Shop at home carpet, hardwood, vinyl, tile, pergo, laminate – Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland.

Shop At Home Flooring Service. Serving the DC metro area for nearly 40 years.

Hi, I’m Chris. Are you interested in a Shop-At-Home appointment for your flooring? If you have a pretty good idea as to what you are looking for, we can bring samples within that range to your home. The convenience can’t be beat because our Shop at Home service brings the showroom to your home!
Email me and we’ll get you on your way to a very user-friendly experience.

Working around your schedule, we will help you match samples to your room, lighting and style.

In fact, color is crucial in making a flooring decision and, more often than not, the decision is not final until the samples are seen in-home, where lighting is as it will be and existing furnishings can be matched more exactly.
The business I had for over 10 years was built on the shop-at-home principle and it helped my customers save time and ensure they’re making the right choice by making it in the area where their new flooring will be installed.
If you think you may be interested in an appointment, give us a call or send me an email to set one up.
All the best!

Chris Moline
Residential Group Manager
email
703-370-0000

LEED for Homes – the environmentally-friendly home certification system

by Chris Moline, LEED AP

I was talking with a manufacturer’s representative in my office a few weeks ago about “green” carpet cushion. The information I got was, to put it mildly, wrong. Had I been working on a project with LEED certification as the goal, reliance on this one bit of mis-information could have cost me endless hours and many thousands of dollars, not to mention failure to get certified. In my case, I could have relayed that incorrect information to a customer and caused them to lose faith in me and my company, or worse.
As retailers, both commercial and residential customers may approach us with LEED-specific questions. The LEED for Homes certification program impacts homeowners directly and in this economy, savvy builders can stand above the crowd by building a LEED-certified homes. Retailers can stand above their crowd by taking time to get certified or at least understand where the products and services they offer tie in to specific rating systems.
Our customers are growing in their eco-awareness and we stand out by knowing what we’re talking about. They can, and frequently do, verify what we say, most often online. Get it right, and we’re on the road to a deal. Get it wrong and we lose credibility, making it more difficult to work with a client on all fronts.
Since most knowledgeable end-users have been exposed to green-washing (unrealistically stretching the green attributes of a particular product or service), they understand and trust the information they’ll get from us. It can make our job easier in that they may approach us with one less guard up.

If you are interested in the LEED for Homes process, this video may be useful.

LEED for Homes Certification Process Video
GreenHomeGuide.org site

Please feel free to email or comment with any questions on this worthwhile certification system.
All the best,

Chris

What you need to know before making a carpet, hardwood, laminate or tile flooring purchase

by Chris Moline, LEED AP
University of Maryland College of Journalism Graduate

I’ve been in the flooring business for over 15 years. It never ceases to amaze me when I or my sales staff ask clients what type of pad they currently have under their carpet. That’s just one of the glaring errors of “professional omission” I’ve seen in competitors. There is a lot to know when making one of the top 5 most expensive purchases of your life (some flooring projects cost more than a new car).  Below is a brief list of things you need to know when shopping:

What type of pad is best for your carpet and application?
2-pound FHA base-grade foam or 22-pound slab rubber? And… what thickness is best?
If you don’t know what kind of pad you are getting, it’s time to stop and ask some questions.
Did you know that the wrong pad can void the best carpet warranty?

This answer is most definitely a “no”, but do they have field service supervisors who monitor installations in-progress?
We do.

Who is doing the installation?
Are the installers CRI-certified professionals?
What is CRI anyway?

Will the company be there to stand behind the sale?
How long have they been in business and are they going to last?

What are the different types of carpet fiber and what makes them different?
Nylon, Olefin, Triexta, PET, PTT, Wool, 6,6 Nylon, Solution-Dyed, Stapled, Continuous-Filament… etc.

What is radiant subfloor heat and can it save money on heating?
Did you know that radiant heat is the most efficient room-heating method? It’s too late once your job is done, but wouldn’t you love to have had the choice?      And, can they help you understand how much you can save and the value-added to your home?

What types of warranties are offered?
Abrasive wear
Stain (what types are NOT covered?)
Texture retention
Labor – is it guaranteed for the life of the floor?
Satisfaction guarantee

Will they put everything in writing or do they get nervous when you start asking questions?
If you get that “deer in the headlights” look from the sales person, please give me a call or send an email. I and my team have been doing the right things in the flooring business for years and we’re ready to work with you.

All the best,

Chris


Email Chris

Armstrong’s acrylic-impregnated hardwood floor line, in Alexandria, Virginia

Why choose Armstrong acrylic-impregnated hardwood flooring?

Acrylic-impregnated products are exceptionally durable—twice as resistant to indentation as non-impregnated wood. Acrylic impregnated floors are the toughest, most durable hardwood floors ever made. Stain is injected through the wear layer, for consistent color that lasts a lifetime. Liquid acrylic
fills and supports the open cells of the wood for an unprecedented level or indentation and wear resistance. Acrylic impregnated hardwood is over 50% more crush proof than un-impregnated hardwood flooring. Armstrong acrylic impregnated floors feature a 25-year commercial wood layer wear warranty.

Armstrong injects stain pigments completely through the wear surface of each acrylic impregnated hardwood board. The result is brilliant, consistent through-color that stays true over time. This is color that won’t wear down, walk out or wash off. It’s color you can count on for the life of the floor.
Acrylic-impregnated products are exceptionally durable—twice as resistant to indentation as non-impregnated wood.
For the toughest end-use applications… even your foyer or kitchen… this cannot be beat.
Call or email for more information. We have what you need and provide certified installation service to back it up.

703-370-0000 Email

Here are answers to some frequently-asked questions about hardwood floors:

Should I expect color variations in my floor?
Yes – wood is a product of nature; therefore, you will see variations from board to board in all categories. No two boards are ever the same.

My wood is denting. I thought I was buying hardwood?
Hardwood contains a cell structure; therefore, if enough pressure is applied, the cell wall will collapse and a dent will appear. Acrylic impregnated products help reduce indentations in wood.

I moved our area rug and my wood is lighter where my area rug was. What happened?
Wood goes through a natural aging process called patina. Bright sunlight can also accelerate this condition. Moving area rugs or other items that may cause this effect from time to time is recommended.

When I walk across my hardwood floor, I hear popping sounds. Why?
There are a number of reasons for this condition. Usually it is caused by uneven sub-floors (see manufacturer’s instructions for sub-floor tolerances). Improper trowel or improper adhesive could also cause this.

Can I have hardwood installed in bathrooms?
It is not recommended, due to the high moisture associated with those areas. It may cause unfavorable conditions for hardwood flooring.

What does “edge treatment” mean?
Edge treatments refer to the amount of reveal on the edge of each board – square, micro or eased edges, or beveled edges.

Mohawk’s SmartStrand and Shaw’s R2x… get ready to laugh

I get inquiries daily regarding this or that fiber and specific end-use applications. As a US Green Building Council LEED AP, my favorites are the ones looking for balance between stain resistance and eco-friendly attributes. Of course, past posts have shown my bias for SmartStrand, but I had no role in the production of the following video clips.
But oh, how I truly enjoy them and hope you do too!

SmartStrand and R2x

SmartStrand & Bleach

R2x floats… big deal!

For more information on SmartStrand, check out this post:
SmartStrand and Sustainability

Masland carpet sales in Northern Virginia, Metro DC and Maryland

Masland Carpet styles at Alexandria Carpet One Floor & Home

Masland Carpet style Bellini

At Alexandria Carpet One Floor and Home, we know buying carpet can be fun or frustrating.  Masland makes it easy to find a style when you are looking for just the right piece. From the tight weave of Twist and Shout to the remarkable character of the Westminster, Masland carpets provide a rich elegance to any room. Celebrate your style with Fretwork and let Broadcast tell your design story as the colors and textures of Masland carpets decorate your life.

We are premiere dealers with over 36 years experience in the DC area. Our guarantees and warranties make buying from us worry free. Combine this with the buying power of over 1,000 stores and you’ve got a recipe for fashion success in your home or office.

All the best!

Chris

Following is a complete list of available Masland styles:

Alhambra

Americana

Annaka

Ardenne

Argiro

Bandala

Barbabos

Barcelona

Basis

Belize

Bellagio

Bellini – Wool

Bombay

Braided Touch II

Brighton – Wool

Broadacre

Broadcast

Cabaret

Cadence

Capstone

Carib

Carino Wool

Cartesian

Casablanca

Casbah

Cashe

Catalan

Ceylon

Chakra – Wool

Charmant – Wool

Confections

Confections2

Connection

Crosstown

Dumaine

Espresso

Foulard

Frankfurt – Wool

Fretwork

Fusion

Gotham

Gramercy

Gravitas

Groove

Grosvenor

Harlequin

Harlequin – Wool

Harrison

Harrison_

Hemingway

InSight

Kalahari

Karakul

Kinetic

Lindley

Linea

Londonderry – Wool

Longfellow – Wool

Madison

Madrid – Wool

Maroc

Metro

Mica

Mirabel

Montego

Montserrat

Mumbai

Naples – Wool

Novellino – Wool

Panache

Park Avenue

Parkway

Pebbletex

Preswick

Quadrate

QuadrateII

RadioWave

Reggae

Reverly

Rhythm

Samba

Samsara – Wool

Sandia

Santorini

Satori – Wool

Savannah

Sea Island

Sea Pearls

Seurat

Shangri-La

Shanti – Wool

Sicily – Wool

Solid Impact

Sotheby – Wool

Stria

Subway

Suede

Surrye

Tangier

Taza_RS

Toccare

Topline

Trelliage

Trends

Tresor – Wool

Twist-and-Shout

Urban

Venice – Wool

Veritas

Verve

Vibe

Wavelength

Westminster – Wool

Wexford

Wexford – Wool

Whitney – Wool

Zone

Supporting the American Cancer Society

Alexandria Carpet One is proud to be a long-time supporter of the American Cancer Society, as well as many other charities.

As is now tradition for the flooring retailer, Carpet One welcomed spring this year by introducing designs for its cause-related welcome mats created to support its continued fund-raising campaign: Carpet One Welcomes Your Support.

More than 700 Carpet One stores across North America will donate all April and May profits from sales of these specially designed welcome mats to their local American Cancer Society chapters and Canadian Cancer Society community offices. There are four designs to choose from — Leaves of Life, Dreaming of Spring, Eternal Ivy and Daffodil of Hope — each also emblazoned with a pink ribbon design.

Carpet One has committed to raise a minimum of $250,000, specifically earmarked for breast cancer research and awareness through this grass-roots initiative, which began during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.

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Armstrong, Mannington gain FSC certification

Armstrong’s engineered hardwood manufacturing plant in Center, Texas, and Mannington’s wood operations have each been awarded FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Chain of Custody (COC) certification.

For any project positioning for LEED certification, using FSC-certified products is  a matter of importance, especially when considering furniture and flooring to be used in the project space.

Mannington will also be adding and FSC-Pure option on selected product lines.

Christopher Moline, LEED AP
Residential Group Manager
Commercial Carpets of America
703-370-0000
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Carpet Designed For Fun, Kids & “Joy”

Those of you who know me know I’ve got three wonderful kids… and they’re ACTIVE!
So, since Joy’s carpets are made with Stainmaster fiber, I know we’ll be ok.

More pictures on the way!

Christopher Moline
Residential Group Manager
Commercial Carpets of America
703-370-0000
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Disney carpet line – Cars, Hannah Montana, Tinker Bell

I haven’t been this excited about a line of flooring in a long time! Of course, with three children under 11, my days are full of Tinker Bell, Lightning McQueen and Toy Story. So when Tuftex and Disney Consumer Products launched a new collection of wall-to-wall carpet based on some of Disney’s classic stories, I flipped. Literally.

This isn’t your average, run-of-the-mill (pardon the pun) printed area rug deal. Nope, this is actual broadloom patterned carpet made to be installed wall-to-wall. Of course, we can still make an area rug for you, but this simply represents an exciting shift in this market.

Fairies is one of the collections available.

The non-character based line takes inspiration from some of the most well-known Disney franchises, including Disney Princess and Disney Fairies, Winnie the Pooh, the Disney∙Pixar films Cars and Toy Story, and Disney Channel’s hit series Hannah Montana. It incorporates unique patterns, color treatments and design elements that subtly bring to life these Disney properties.

Tire tracks aka Mater from Lightning McQueen.

Winnie the Pooh is the basis for “Friendly Old Bear,” with a silhouette of the famous bear etched into the pattern and that’s just one example of many in the series.

Each assortment has its own unique color palette to compliment other Disney Home interior products. We’ll have the display in our showroom in April and I can guarantee you my daughter will have Tinker Bell or Cinderella on her floor the moment it’s available!

Here is a link to an interview on Floor Daily explaining it.

All the best!
Chris

Chris Moline, LEED AP
Residential Group Manager
Commercial Carpets of America
Alexandria Carpet One Floor & Home
703-370-0000
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