[My Favorite] Tigressa SoftStyle by Kevin Bryson

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In this post Kevin Bryson will talk briefly about why he likes Tigressa SoftStyle and what his favorite style and color is.  Kevin is the Manager of our Historic Downtown Westminster Showroom and has been a part of the Mercer Team for over a decade.

“Tigressa…the newest, strongest nylon made.  One touch of this extremely soft carpet and you’re hooked!! 

"All the newest styles, newest colors, combined with the newest technologies makes this carpet a great choice for any room of the house.  Tigressa comes with some of the best warranties possible in the industry, which gives you piece of mind. 

"My favorite is Pillow Soft in the color Willow: a soft sage color that is sure to calm any room.”

3 Questions to Ask When Searching for a Healthy Floor

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We're all concerned about staying healthy for obvious reasons.  But how can a floor help increase the healthiness of your home? 

When it comes to the health of your home, there are three questions you need to ask when deciding upon a flooring type.


  1: How easy is it to clean?

A clean environment is a healthy one.  You need to know how easy the floor is to clean because that will tell you how easy (or difficult) it could be to keep germs, pollutants, and allergens out of your home.

  2: How does it react to moisture?

This question refers to mold and mildew.  The least they could do is cause irritation in the body's airways.  Some, could also be potentially fatal.  You need to know how easy it is to prevent the growth of these health risks in, around, or under your new floors.

  3: How will it stand up to my lifestyle?

The better a floor wears, the better it performs, the less you have to replace it, and the less you have to work to keep it clean and free of health risks.  This is probably the most all important question to ask when looking for new floors, no matter what you are concerned about.

What are your lifestyle concerns? Does someone in your family have allergies? Do you entertain a lot? Do you have pets? What do you need your floors to stand up to? Is there something I mentioned in this post that you'd like to learn more about?  Please let me know by posting a comment!

[Commercial Column] All About LEED Certifications

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You've probably heard about LEED certification in the building and architectural industries.  But what is it?

According to the U.S. Green Building Council, it is "an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most." 

These metrics include...

• location
• energy efficiency
• materials and resources used, and how they were used
• indoor environmental quality
• what methods are used to educate the owners/users of the building on being environmentally responsible
• innovative design
• water efficiency
• plus the region where the building is has it's own priorities that are taken into consideration

And LEED certifications don't only apply to commercial buildings, they can be awarded to residential homes as well.  Below are the types of construction that are eligible to earn LEED points.

• commercial interiors
• schools
• homes
• existing buildings
• new construction

There are also multiple levels of certifications based off how many points are achieved out of the possible 110:

• You need a minimum of 40 points to be Certified
• It takes 50-59 points to be Silver Certified
• To be Gold Certified, you need 60-79 points
• Platinum Certification requires 80+ points

On the Real Life LEED blog, a post with lists of where you can find national and local incentives for becoming LEED certified.  Here are some that you might find interesting...

• Baltimore County provides tax credits for new residential and commercial buildings that earn at least a Silver LEED Certification
• Howard County has done the same as Baltimore County, plus existing buildings who achieve at least a Silver Certification receive their own tax credit

(Source for County Incentives - USGBC)

Whew, so that was a huge information dump!  Hopefully I didn't bore you.  What are your thoughts on LEED Certification?  Have you worked on a project that earned a Certification?  Are you thinking of incorporating it into future projects?

Since this post didn't have as many pictures as I typically include, here are some cool pictures of projects that have already received their LEED certification.  (Source: Google Image search.)

What did you think of the pictures?  Do you have any that you'd like to share?

The 'My Favorite' Series Continues: Tigressa SoftStyle Carpet

During this round of 'My Favorite,' some members of the Mercer Team will talk about Tigressa Soft Style carpet, the leader in the recent Soft Revolution.

Tigressa was the first real soft and durable carpet.  Many steps went into its creation:

• 3 design teams looking towards the future
• collaboration between the leading retailer and one of the top manufacturers
• many years of research, development, and discussion

And the results were well worth it.  As soon as Tigressa SoftStyle carpet became available, it quickly became the most popular carpet (this was before the Relax it's Lee's re-design).

Some samples of the Tigressa color line

And I can see why...

• Excellent Platinum and Gold Level Warranties (Example: Life of the Floor Stain and Soiling Warranties)
• Classic, beautiful designs and colors meant to outlast the trends
• an unbeatable luxurious feel

My personal favorite: Cozy-n-Soft in Green Pod (the lovely green on top)

Check back next Saturday for the first installment of the Tigressa chapter of the My Favorite Series.  You can expect the new posts to go live every Saturday between 10am and 10:30am. 

And please tell me what you think about these employee-favorite-type posts!  I hope you enjoy them.

Other Tigressa Links:
Introduction to Tigressa
Tigressa on MercerCarpetOne.com
YouTube Video for your Entertainment: Monkey Teasing Tiger Cubs

The Truth About Brazilian Cherry

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Brazilian Cherry Hardwood can be stunning with its smooth grain, stunning red tones, and exotic variations.

But what does a Brazilian Cherry Tree look like?

There isn't such a tree.  Brazilian Cherry is a term that was adopted at the beginning of the importation of Jatoba wood, an excellent material for hardwood flooring, to make it more memorable to a new market.

When shopping for what has become the classic choice for a hardwood floor, be sure to ask...

• What species of tree is the floor made from? (If it isn't made from Jatoba, it isn't truly a 'Brazilian Cherry' hardwood and is probably sub-standard wood that will not perform)
• Is it LACEY Act compliant?  (The answer must be 'YES', otherwise it is illegal in the USA)

For those who enjoy reading interesting facts about things to share at the dinner table or to impress someone at a cocktail party, then this section is for you!

• Brazilian Cherry (Jatoba) is indeed from Brazil (and surrounding areas of South and Central Americas plus the Caribbean)
• Jatoba is in no way related to a cherry tree (it's fruit give off an obnoxious smell that earned it the nickname: The Stinking Toe Tree)

Each species of wood is different and has its own characteristics that will definitely effect the design of your home.  So, the following facts, should be kept in mind when deciding upon which species of flooring to have installed in your home. 

Variation:

Jatoba hardwood floors have a high variation from plank to plank. 

This means that you could have one plank with a bright almost gold color right next to a plank that is a deep, dark reddish-brown.  Or you could have a plank with a very smooth, uniform grain next to one with a huge dark knot and nonuniform grain.

What does this mean?  If you're looking for a sleek uniform look in your floor, Jatoba is probably going to have too much variation for you.  But if you love the character that it can provide, then you've found a good option.

Hardness:

Jatoba is 119% harder than Red Oak which is the industry standard (this is based off the Janka scale which is also the industry standard for measuring the hardness of a wood).  This makes for a very durable floor.

Note: if you are concerned about scratches and dents showing you will want to go for a semi-gloss finish and maybe even a more rustic cut.  Also, always install floor protectors on the feet of furniture, use walk-off mats at entrances, trim pet nails, and remove shoes (especially anything with a point such as high heels).

Dimensional Stability:

Jatoba is considered to have about average dimensional stability (about 1% more stable than red oak). All that means is be sure to let it acclimate to the environment of your home before installing.

Be sure to leave a small gab around the edges (a hardwood flooring installation best practice anyway).  Don't worry, the gap is covered by your baseboard.  This gives your floor the ability to expand and contract without damaging itself.

Also, it is best to keep the humidity levels in your home level to keep expansion and contraction minimal.

Note: engineered hardwood floors (100% wood, NOT laminate) are more dimensionally stable because the layers of wood are criss-crossed on top of each other.  (Hardwood floors only expand and contract due to humidity changes with the grain.)

Grain:

Grain refers to the dark marks that weave across wood planks. 

Wood grain

Jatoba is known for an interlocked, medium to coarse textured grain.

Close up of Jatoba grain

Color:

What makes Jatoba a popular choice in exotic hardwood flooring is its color.  Jatoba is famous for its gold-red color that often darkens to a russet brown with time.  It is often streaked with a deep, dark brown.

How about you?  Do you have Brazilian Cherry/Jatoba in your home?  How do you like it?  Or are you thinking of having Jatoba installed in your home?  Do you have any questions about it? 

What is your favorite hardwood species?

We Need Your Help Sending Care Packages to the Troops

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Have you heard about our project to send care packages to our warriors serving overseas? Have you heard how you can help?

There are 4 easy ways You can help show Our Support to our Deployed Soldiers!

1: Help Cover Shipping Costs

It takes $25 to send two care packages to our troops serving abroad.  And there are 3 easy ways you can help cover these shipping costs (only until the 29th).

• Bring your donation into our Downtown Westminster Showroom
• Mail your donation to Mercer Carpet One, Attn: Care Packages, 26 W. Main St, Westminster, MD  21157
• Submit your donation online at our secure website

2: Help Fill the Care Packages

The drop box at our Downtown Westminster Showroom is still open and looking for item donations (only till the 29th).  A list of ideas is here.

3: Help Pack the Care Packages

When? Sunday, January 30th anytime between noon and 4pm
Where? Our Downtown Westminster Showroom (look for the teal building near Johanson's)
What? Help us pack up the care packages for shipping.

Everyone who helps prepare the packages for shipping will get a small thank you gift from Mercer Carpet One. Light refreshments will be available. (Birdie's is bringing the coffee!) If any of our soldiers (including military, police, fire fighters, etc) can come to help out, please wear your uniform so we can thank you properly.

4: Help Spread the Word

Please help us spread the word about this project.  We believe the more people who know about it, the better the care packages will be for our troops. Some ways you can spread the word include...

• email your friends, family, and coworkers
• share the news on Facebook, Twitter, and any other social platforms you are on
• invite people to join you
• blog about it (or get a blogger and/or reporter you know to cover the project and/or event)
• talk/text about it

In advanced, I and the entire Mercer Team would like to thank you for any assistance you can provide.  Hopefully we can see you on the 30th!

[Bill's Column] LVT vs. VCT: The Better Choice

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Luxury vinyl tile, or LVT as it’s commonly known, has been widely used in the commercial flooring market for a few decades now.

However, in the last 10 years or so we’ve seen LVT make its way into our homes as well.

What defines LVT vs VCT or (vinyl composite tile) is that LVT is a solid vinyl product. VCT in contrast is less durable and manufactured with only an 8%-12% vinyl wear layer over a compressed or composite mixture of limestone and clay.

Limestone

LVT incorporates more design options such as rich and colorful natural earth tones, various wood species, stone or ceramic visuals. It’s also easy to maintain and install. LVT utilizes a durable, abrasive resistant wear layer.

Most brands like Mannington, Armstrong, and Karndean use a UV-cured urethane coating that reduces chemicals and labor needed for routine maintenance. Unlike VCT which requires several coats of finish in order to protect its porous composition. Therefore, VCT may be cheaper in material costs, but costs more to maintain than LVT.

Healthcare facilities including hospitals, doctors’ offices, and other clinical areas see the benefits and strengths of LVT. Not only does it provide a warm inviting atmosphere, LVT has that extra wear layer to advert staining and damage from medically used chemicals. These chemicals would be Metaldyne blue, betadine, and most phenolics. VCT usually doesn’t stand up to time and use in these environments.

What has been popular recently is using the solid vinyl “wood look” planks in birthing rooms of hospitals to give the mother the feeling of being more at “home”. Mannington’s Nature Path Plank and Select Plank certainly capture that look and ambiance.

Another area where we’ve seen more LVT used is in retail stores and boutique shops. In Wal-Marts clothing areas we see Karndean’s Van Gogh being used to help provide an upscale look and draw attention to these areas. Restaurants can be a great venue as well for LVT. Giving a rich warm visual along with great durability and very easy to maintain.

Therefore, luxury vinyl tiles have all the benefits of durability, ease of maintenance and great visuals while providing a superb value.

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And there's another isntallment of Bill's commercial flooring column.  What do you think?  Was the information helpful? 

Bill Francis, Sales Consultant at our Ellicott City/Columbia Showroom

 
Have you used either LVT or VCT before?  What did you like or not like about it?

(My Favorite) Relax it's Lee's by Bill Francis

“Lee’s is for Living: our Relax it’s Lee’s collection has been totally revamped with the latest and greatest in styles, colors, and selection. Lee’s has also updated their yarn system to give the active home owner and family the best in Stain and Soil Resistance, plus exceptional value with the best warranties in the flooring industry.

“With Lee’s new Evertex fiber system, your family can actually live on your carpet without the worry of spills, wear, or ‘ugly-ing out’ like lesser grade carpets out there on the market. Only Relax it’s Lee’s gives you a 25 Year No Exclusions Stain Proof Warranty. Also, Lee’s will guarantee the Wear and Texture Retention on stairs and in hallways; no other carpet gives you this peace of mind.

“My favorite Lee’s style is Seize the Day collection, especially in the color Pineapple Cream.”

 

 
Bill Francis is one of our Flooring Design Specialists in our Ellicott City/Columbia Showroom off of Baltimore National Pike (also known as Rt. 40).

Help Support Our Troops with Care Packages

Maureen just posted this video invite to help show our support and appreciation to our soldiers serving overseas. See how you can help at http://www.mercercarpetone.com/support.htm




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The Ultimate Carpet Test - Bigger Than Ever

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Mohawk has brought it back: the Ultimate Carpet Test.  And it's bigger than ever!

In 2009, Mohawk - a leader in carpet manufacturing - installed SmartStrand carpet into Rick the Rhino's home at the Birmingham Zoo and hired Chip Wade to be his voice.

For 14 days Rick, no ordinary 12 year old, did what any rhino would do despite his new soft carpet.

Meet Rick the Rhino, no ordinary 12 year old

You can imagine the mess he made (click the link under his photo to visit his Facebook profile and see pictures)!  But, believe it or not (ask Mohawk for proof), it came clean with only hot water extraction!

This past October, Mohawk stepped up the challenge and installed SmartStrand in the Dallas Zoo home of 6 African Elephants (that's over 50,000 lbs in combined weight), another Rhino (3,000 lbs), and 3 Camels (that can stand over 7ft. tall)!



After 3 weeks, it came clean!

Why did Mohawk decide to use a zoo to test their carpet (and other flooring)?  Their tag line says it all: "Life is Wild." 
Take a look at pictures from Mohawk's SmartStrand Zoo Challenge on their Flicker page!

Kind of cool, don't you think?  Do you think this test is accurate in determining how flooring wears in a home or business?  What kind of tests would you like to see manufacturers do to test the durability and stain resistance of their floors?  What are the challenges in your home that your flooring need to be able to handle?

[Bill's Column] Slip Resistant Flooring

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Bill's back and this time he's talking about slip resistant flooring.  His focus is on businesses, but they can be useful in other situations as well; for example, mudrooms, recreational rooms, exercise rooms, workshops, and more...

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The winter months are upon us, and here in the mid-Atlantic we certainly get our fair share of snow, ice, and freezing rain. Which means a higher likelihood of slips and falls.

For a lot of buildings, foot traffic from the outdoors can track in the remnants of our nasty winter weather. Which can lead to slips and falls within your building and lead to some real liability issues for your business. Something you may want to consider as a solution would be having a slip resistant flooring installed near your entrances and exits.

There are several brands that are manufactured by leading flooring companies such as, Armstrong, Mannington, and Forbo. These companies all have great commercial applications for wet surfaces.

Slip resistant floors are usually made of PVC vinyl either in sheet or tile goods. What makes these floors different than your standard resilient floor is that they are designed and constructed to resist slips from excess moisture. For the most part slip resistant flooring is manufactured slightly embossed or studded. With the wear layer usually embedded with minute aluminum oxide granules. The remaining sub-surfaces are supported by a polyglass inner layer to ensure dimensional stability.

Vinyl tiles that are slip resistant have similar properties, but are constructed in a 12”x12”, 18”x18” or 20”x20” format. Perhaps you have seen these tiles in your local supermarket around the produce section of the store? The concerns for slip and fall liability in these areas are high since the sprayers for the produce tend to leak on the surrounding floors.

 

When looking for slip resistant flooring please make sure they are rated by the ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials). This independent organization tests and provides consensus standards for all products that desire a rating based various types of commercial applications for flooring.

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What do you think? Do you have any questions regarding slip-resistant flooring?  Did Bill leave something out that you believe is important?

(My Favorite) Relax it's Lee's by Travis Mack

“If you’re searching for a carpet with a proven superiority complex, look no further!

“Our Lee’s line offers only the best in construction, allowing it a downy soft touch with ironclad soil and stain protection. Backed by our Titanium Warranties, Lee’s carpets are guaranteed to resist staining and soiling for the life of your new floor! Due to it’s superior Evertex nylon fiber being part of its double woven, ExtraLoc backing system, lee’s promises not to wear out or lose its texture for the next 25 years.

“Only a carpet manufacturer that has been in business since the 1800’s could boast such an impressive line. Offering the soft and luxurious Affectionately Yours, the cozy and comfortable Make a Statement, and the high designs of Montelle, Lee’s is a line deep in beauty and color choices to suite any room in your home.

“Personally my favorite is Affectionately Yours, this tip-sheared plush in Chocolate Brown will add depth and warmth to any area.”

Travis Mack is one of our Flooring Design Specialists in our Ellicott City/Columbia Showroom off of Baltimore National Pike (also known as Rt. 40).

Care Package Donation Ideas

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Please help us show our appreciation to our warriors serving abroad for everything they do by donating items to be included in care packages.

Top 12 Requested Items:

1.    Beef Jerky

2.    Good coffee

3.    Ziploc bags (to keep sand out of things)

4.    Individual wrapped snacks of all kinds

5.    Movies

6.    Nuts

7.    Wipes (to help keep clean)

8.    Cards or small games

9.    Powdered drink mix (esp. w/electrolytes)

10. White socks

11. Lip balm

12. Moisturizing lotion

Food/Snacks:

·         Cookies/crackers/pretzels (snack sizes)

·         Tuna in a pouch

·         Canned meats (no pork)

·         Any kind of jerky

·         Cheese spread (no aerosol cans)

·         Ramen noodles

·         Peanut butter

·         Pop-top canned fruit

·         Snack cakes

·         Gum

·         Nuts/trail mix/dried fruit

·         Granola bars

·         Pop-Tarts

·         Throat drops

·         Individually wrapped candy

Hygiene Supplies:

·         Razors and shaving cream

·         Deodorant

·         Toothpaste and toothbrushes

·         Facial cleansing pads

·         Eye drops

·         Soap/body wash

·         Shampoo and conditioner

·         Sunblock (High SPF)

·         Feminine hygiene products

·         Foot powder

Entertainment:

·         AA and AAA batteries

·         Books (mysteries, action, drama, SciFi)

·         Magazines (new or nearly new – sports, news, entertainment, travel, nature)

·         Playing cards

·         Small hand-held games

·         Crossword puzzles/word search/sudoku

·         CDs/DVDs

Sports Equipment:

·         Baseballs/softballs

·         Baseball/softball gloves

·         Soccer balls/basketballs/volleyballs

·         Pump for inflatable balls

·         Squirt guns

Other Good Ideas:

·         Socks

·         Cool scarves

·         Sand scarves

·         Blank cards/stationary/paper

·         Envelopes and stamps

·         Pens/pencils (w/sharpeners)

·         Pre-paid international phone cards

·         Disposable cameras

·         Cards and/or letters of support and encouragement

Notes:

·         All food items must be in the manufacturer’s original packaging

·         No chocolate except M-n-M’s

·         Wrap any potentially leaky items in Ziploc baggies

Please share this on Facebook, Twitter, Email, etc... The better the word gets out, the better the care packages for our soldiers serving abroad.

Note: there are other ways you can help.  We are accepting monetary donations to help pay for shipping through out the month of January.  Also, on Sunday, January 30th between noon and 4pm you are invited to join us in packing up the care packages and preparing them for shipping.  See our website for more information.

Any and all questions, comments, or ideas are welcome!

(Featured Blog) Tea and Carpets: The North American Art of Hooked Rugs

I've always called rugs artwork for the floor (and walls if you like tapestries).  The featured post below by Tea and Carpets talks about how the traditional past time of hand-making hooked rugs developed in the USA and the rest of North America.

I personally enjoy reading Tea and Carpet because of the stories behind items (yes, I also haunt local antique stores and flea markets for the one treasure).  The writing flows well and is quite informative.

What's your favorite blog and why?

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It is always fascinating to see how rugs in so many parts of the world originated as practical necessities but evolved into items of art.


One example is hooked rugs.

They are a peculiarly North American creation that began as floor coverings and today are just as likely to be prized wall hangings.

Just how hooked rugs evolved in the 1800s is a fascinating story.

Author William Winthrop Kent writes that the earliest forebears of hooked rugs were the floor mats made in Yorkshire, England in the early days of the industrial revolution.

At that time, workers in weaving mills were allowed to collect the excess pieces of yarn that were by-products of the work. The pieces, which were called “thrums” and usually some 9 inches (23 cm) long, were valuable to the workers because yarn in general was expensive and the products of the mills were affordable only to the middle and upper classes.

The mill workers put the thrums to good use.

They pulled the strips of yarn, one by one, through a grid backing to make carpets. The backing was linen or burlap or any other such heavy material and the tool for pulling the yarn through was a simple hook with a wooden handle.

Later, this technique transferred to North America, specifically to New England and the Canadian Maritimes, and flourished.

It became a favorite way for poorer households in these regions to produce colorful floor covering at a time when most 19th century homes had unsightly floors that were hastily cobbled together by the builders from softwood boards of random sizes.

Read more here...

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What did you think of this post?  Do you like posts like these?

January is the Month of Thanks

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At least it's the month of thanks at Mercer Carpet One!  And we're showing our thanks to those who serve.

Thank You Event #1: For the Educators, Caretakers, and Protectors of Howard County -


On January 15th from 4pm till 9pm the Mercer Team at our Ellicott City/Columbia Showroom are offering the Educators, Caretakers, and Protectors of Howard County their thanks with an extra 10% off their new floor plus a free gift.  And, they'll have a chance to win one of many great prizes!

As readers of our blog, you are cordially invited to take part in this show stopping sales event.  Come on by and see what's new in for the season, grab a cup of delicious coffee and pastries (graciously provided by Kolache Kreations), and enter to win exciting prizes such as...

• gift baskets specially prepaired by Gifts to Treasure Inc.
• Grand Prize: Free Flooring Installation

Travis Mack, Ellicott City/Columbia Showroom

Learn more by calling for Travis Mack at 410-480-0087 or emailing him at Travis@MercerCarpetOne.com. (P.S. - Be sure to save your spot and give Travis your RSVP!)

Thank You Event #2: For Our Soldiers Serving Overseas -


Throughout all of January, the Mercer Team at our Historic Downtown Westminster Showroom is working to pull together care packages to send to our deployed troops.  And you're invited to show your support as well.  You can help by donating...

• time (help us pack the care packages on Jan. 30th)
• items to fill the care packages (drop box is at our Downtown Westminster Showroom)
• money to help pay for the shipping ($25 pays for two boxes!)

On Sunday, January 30th from noon till 4pm we're opening our Downtown Westminster Showroom to pack up the care packages and you're invited to join us.  Light refreshments will be available and everyone who helps out gets a free gift.  (Birdie's Café is bringing coffee!)

You can contact Maureen Schildt for more information at Maureen@MercerCarpetOne.com or 410-876-2026.  More information is also available at our website.