New Earthscapes Flooring Line – Hacienda

Following are pictures of the new line of Earthscapes vinyl flooring – Hacienda. Call or email for more information and a quote on this fantastic and very-durable flooring you can put almost anywhere!

Coronado Bambus 542

Coronado Bariki 590

Coronado Caramba 593

Coronado Caramba 598

Coronado Mallorca 541

Coronado Parchment 536

Coronado Parchment 549

Coronado Parchment 592

Coronado Parchment 595

Coronado Parchment 597

Coronado Parchment 598

Coronado Santana 585

Coronado Santana 591

Coronado Valise 549

Coronado Vecchio 591

Hacienda Coronado Milano 836

Hacienda Manzanita 905

Hacienda Manzanita 930

Hacienda Manzanita 935

Hacienda Manzanita 939

Hacienda Manzanita 941

Hacienda Manzanita 947

Hacienda Manzanita 991

Hacienda Manzanita 996

Hacienda Manzanita 997

Hacienda Manzanita 998

Hacienda Tabacon 903

Hacienda Tabacon 928

Hacienda Tabacon 930

Hacienda Tabacon 938

Hacienda Tabacon 946

Hacienda Tabacon 997

Granite Tile & Countertops in Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland

Giallo Veneziano – One of the many styles we offer.

Call 703-370-0000 or email for all of your natural granite, marble and stone needs.

Whether you are working on the kitchen of your dreams, or would like a tile or stone product with radiant heat underneath to melt ice on your patio, walkway or driveway, we can work with you.

Do you want a warm floor under natural stone or tile in your bathroom? It’s amazing and I have it in my bath and sunroom. Radiant subfloor heat is energy-efficient and more comfortable than you may think.

Absolute Black
Baltic Brown
Black Galaxy
Blue Eyes
Blue Pearl
Giallo Veneziano
Kashmir Gold
Kashmir White
New Venetian Gold
Paradiso
Santa Cecilia
Shivakashi
Tan Brown
Tropical Brown
Ubatuba

SLABS
Abrolios Green
Absolute Black Z
Alga Green
Amadeus
Amazon Tiger
Aquarella Macauba
Artic Cream
Atlantic Gold
Azul Bahia
Azul Imperial
Azul Platino
Barbarella Gold
Baricatto
Bianco Romano
Black Galaxy
Black Meteorite
Black Pearl
Blue Eyes
Blue In The Night
Blue Pearl Gt
Breche De Vendome
Brown Lapiz
Brownie
Butterfly Gold
Butterfly Green
Capolavoro
Carnaval
Carpe Diem
Colonial Cream
Colonial Gold
Cosmic Black
Costa Esmeralda
Costa Wave
Delirium
Diamond Arrow
Emerald Pearl
Emperador Dark
Gaya Dream
Gialla Viara-Rosewood
Giallo Antico
Giallo Crystal
Giallo Napoleone
Giallo Ornamental
Giallo River
Giallo Veneziano
Giallo Vicenza
Giallo Vicenza Light
Gold And Silver
Golden Beach-Jup.Persa
Golden Dream
Golden Flower
Golden Macauba
Golden Oak
Golden Queen
Golden Sand
Golden Taupe
Green Dream
Green Soapstone
Hurricane
Impala Black
Imperial Yellow
Indian Dakota
Ivory Chiffon
Ivory Coast
Ivory Fantasy
Ivory White
Juparana Bordeaux
Juparana Cascadura
Juparana Colombo
Juparana Crema
Juparana Delicatus
Juparana Florencia
Juparana India Gold
kashmir Gold
Kashmir White
Kosmus
Labrador
Labrador Angola
Labradorite Blue
Labradorite Multicolor
Labradorite River Blue Lethered
Labradorite White
Lapidus Gold
Latino Mascarello
Lotus
Luna Pearl-Bianco Sardo
Madura Gold
Magma Gold
Majestic Brown
Mari Blue
Mari Blue Leathered
Mascalzone Latino
Mascarello
Matrix
Metallica Leathered
Moonrock
Namib Bordeaux
Namib Green
Nero Africano
New Bianco Romano
New Caledonia
New Venetian Gold
Ocean Red
Paradise Gold
Paradiso Bush
Paradiso Clao
Peacock Green
Persa Blue
Persa Verde
Picasso Green
Port Laurent
Rainbow
Rainbow Tobacco
Red Dragon
Red Hollywood
Red Montana
Red Multicolor
Riviera Beige
Rosa Beta
Royal Blue
Sandal Wood
Santa Cecilia
Santa Cecilia Light
Saphire Blue-Saphire Brown
Seafoam Green
Seaweed Green
Shivakashi Gold
Sierra Brown
Silver Pearl
Silver Sea Green
Smoky Black
Solarius
Spectrolite Brown
Splendor
Summer
Sunny
Surf Green
Tan Brown
Tropical Treasure
Typhoon Bordeaux
Verde Bamboo Light
Verde Fantastico
Verde Fucco
Verde Laura
Verde Marinace
Verde Speranza
Violetta
Volga Blue
Vyara Gold
Waterfall
White Fantasy
White Galaxy
White Macaubas
White Persa
Yellow Arandis

Viscobond carpet underlayment… memory foam for your feet

Have you seen the TempurPedic mattress commercials? Well, I’ve got one of their mattresses and I love it. Know what could be better? How about one for your feet!
I’ve got that too!
In fact, as I step out of my office each day I step onto a wonderful wool carpet by Godfrey Hirst, installed over ViscoBond memory foam cushion. It feels… fabulous and it’s not because of the carpet, although the carpet is exquisite.
Following is a primer on carpet cushion in general. We hope it helps and look forward to talking with you about any flooring project you may be considering.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CARPET CUSHION:
Why is Quality Cushion Important?
Cushion, not your carpet, plays the largest roll in determining how carpet feels when you walk on it, and helps maintain your carpet’s original appearance. It also affects your carpet’s warranty in that most wear and texture-retention warranties are void if you choose the incorrect pad.

How Does Cushion Work?
Cushion absorbs foot traffic and makes carpet feel better, last longer. Better quality cushion blocks moisture, fights stains and odors, minimizes sound transfer between rooms, provides thermal insulation and increases air flow between the floor and your carpet for better, more efficient vacuuming.

Will Cushion Protect My Carpet From Wearing Out?
Today’s carpet rarely wears out. Selecting the correct cushion helps resist “uglying out” due to premature matting and crushing – and now soiling and staining.

How Do I Know What To Buy?
Decide based on comfort, performance and a warranty that’s right for you. Typically, softer, luxurious cushion is found in living rooms or master bedrooms, and cushion with more support is used for certain precision-loop (berber) carpets and areas with active use.

Who Determines What’s the Best Cushion – The Manufacturers or My Retailer?
You do, and we can provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision. Place different cushions under a piece of carpet you plan to buy. Walk on it. Cheaply made cushion just doesn’t feel good underfoot. Next, check out the warranty and the extra functions like moisture barriers and odor and stain control.

What About These New Spill and Odor Technologies, and How Effective Are They?
Spill and odor fighting capabilities are the latest advancements in carpet cushion. Leading brands include Odor-Eaters®, Arm & Hammer® and STAINMASTER®. They are exceptionally effective, and they work for the life of your cushion. We carry them.

Every day we answer questions about pad for many different applications. Feel free to call or email and you can be sure you’ll get the best information.
All the best,

Chris - Email

PET Polyester carpet – eco-friendly flooring options

PET carpet has been in use since 1991 and is going strong. Some people, however, still run into the crusty old salesperson who remembers the terrible polyester carpet of the 70’s and 80’s that would crush flat within days of installation. This is not the same material and it’s a shame that some people just can’t get over the past.
First, check out the graphic below to see how it’s made.

PET fiber has been in use for a few years now.  In fact, this fiber is exciting in more than one way.
It’s softer than nylon.
It’s green – made from recycled soda and ketchup bottles.

That story alone (the soda bottle story) usually grabs attention faster than anything else. Imagine a carpet made from 100% post-consumer waste. Of course, this is the fiber and not the backing, but it’s still something to get excited about.

The above image shows the steps in the process:
A – used soda/water bottles are collected
B – they are cleaned and ground into chips
C – the chips are sent to
D – the extrusion processor that turns them into
E – bales of yarn ready to be turned into
F – carpet!

Here are some of the advantages of PET fiber
Superior resistance to soils & stains.
Superb abrasion and wear resistance.
Bright coloration with excellent colorfastness.
Soft feel.
Fibers with static control.
Low moisture absorption.
Over 150 million yards installed since 1991.
Competitively-priced – more face weight for your money.
I get a lot of inquiries about this process and how the fiber holds up over time. Feel free to leave a comment or send an email.

Chris – Email

Horses That Heal, Horses For Heroes & Wounded Warriors – an organization worth supporting

At Commercial Carpets of America and Alexandria Carpet One, we routinely support organizations that do good. This one, however, is close to my heart as my oldest son benefits from the use of horses in specialized therapy.  With the rise in the number of children diagnosed with conditions in the autism spectrum, this type of therapy shows promise, but it benefits more than just that segment.
According to Maryland Therapeutic Riding, using horses for therapy is a growing and widely-accepted treatment for rehabilitating a range of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. Conditions served include: cerebral palsy, spina bifida, neuromuscular disorders, post-traumatic brain injury, autism, ADHD, and cognitive disorders. Riders experience increased self-confidence and improvement in strength, balance, coordination, attention span, language and social skills. I hope you enjoy the following videos and consider supporting these worthwhile causes:

NBC Nightly News Video on Maryland Therapeutic Riding.

Horses For Heroes
Horses That Heal – Maryland Therapeutic Riding
NARHA – North American Riding for the Handicapped Association

All the best,

Chris

Martha Stewart endorses SmartStrand carpet… a green choice and a great endorsement

Click HERE to see the video

I’ve said it myself, but it looks like Martha has more clout.  In the video, you see Martha actually pour red wine onto the carpet and blot it out… that’s taking a chance. Between Martha Stewart and HGTV’s endorsement of SmartStrand fiber, I can understand why we are so busy selling this great carpet.
Not only is it incredibly stain-resistant, it’s quite green, requiring much less energy to produce than its nylon contemporaries. I’ve installed a large section in my showroom and it’s held up amazingly well. Stop by and check it out!
All the best,

Chris

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

Beautiful flooring options for your home

by Chris Moline, LEED AP

Some homes can make you stop in your tracks. And there is an entire industry based on giving you just that look for your home… just ask Martha Stewart. But how do you describe the look you want if you are dealing with someone who has no concept of style or even seems to be focused solely on performance?

The answer? Speak up and don’t waste your time. In our showroom, we have many different experience levels and senses of style reflected in our people. If at any time you don’t feel comfortable, be gracious and ask the manager to step in (unless you get the perfect sales person who realizes it first and offers to direct you towards someone with a vision more in-line with yours. It’s more than “ok,” it’s the best way.

The manager should know the people on the floor well enough to discern who will work best with whom. If you can answer a few questions, you can make sure you get just the right service. And it will only make your shopping experience more pleasant.

If you are not getting this kind of service, call or email me. It’s what we do here, it’s our pleasure.

Chris

Now, here are some pictures of beautiful homes we’ve had the pleasure of working in.

My own sunroom with cork flooring installed over radiant subfloor heat.

Stunning treads, white risers and railing.

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.