Could carpet be an sustainable flooring alternative?

An interesting trend in the flooring industry is that carpeting is now becoming sustainable. More and more people are recycling the carpet and padding, Green flooring options are becoming increasingly popular and buyers are making informed decisions. This weeks "What We Are Reading" showcases sustainable carpet, green home trends and flooring choices.

Carpet, area rug technology gets softer, more sustainable.

5 Green Home Trends for 2012.

Bamboo Flooring, Exotic Green Friendly Environment.

Making your nursery safer & Top 7 things to buy in 2012

There is a Holiday Season, Hurricane Season and Snow Season. There is, however, no Baby Season. Babies are arriving every day and new parents are always looking for advice. In this weeks "What We are Reading", we showcase some tips for new parents on how to prepare the nursery for the new baby. There are many decisions that go into decorating a nursery, one of which includes the type of flooring you wish to install. Carpet has always been a favorite for new parents, though if allergens are a concern, hardwood, laminate, bamboo or cork are excellent alternatives.

Easy Ways to Make Your Nursery Safer

Top 7 Things to Buy in January

Residential Flooring Trends

Kid Friendly Flooring

Congratulations, you're expecting! You have a little less than 9 months to get your affairs in order before all hell breaks loose. One area you will spend time redecorating and redesigning is your new nursery. We know you are going to paint the walls, buy new furniture, bedding and fixtures you need to consider the type of flooring you will have in the new nursery. Flooring choices can be difficult in any circumstance, now throw in the fact that you may not find out what the sex of your child will be before the big day comes.

Here are a few thoughts about your flooring choices:

Carpet - Great for floor time with baby as it is soft (depending on your selection). Select natural fibers. Vacuuming and cleaning regularly is essential.

Wood - Be careful of spills and spit-ups. Easy to clean up. Hard surface, not great for floor time, though if you add rugs that changes.

Asthma Friendly Flooring

Asthma, a respiratory disease, according to a 2009 report, affects over 25 million Americans including almost 8 million children. Advancements have led to treatments allowing many  affected to lead normals lives including the likes of US Olympians Jackie Joyner-Kersee & Amy Van Dyken as well as former NFL All-Pro Jerome Bettis and NBA Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman. Creating an environment at home that reduces the possibility of an attack is important. The South Florida Asthma Consortium provides many guidelines for how to prepare your home for an asthmatic.

What are some of the things that I can do to help prevent an asthma attack?

Avoid the use of cleaning products that have strong or caustic odors.

Use hypoallergenic pillows, with a  dust mite proof cover.

Flooding and Wood Flooring

A few weeks ago, we talked about how to deal with carpet after flooding. Since so many of our clients are installing hardwood and wood laminate surfaces, it is appropriate to share the same information for their flooring. Here are a few DIY remedies to help you deal with this type of situation. Of course, speaking to a flooring specialist about your particular type of flooring is recommended before using harsh chemicals on your floor. Also consult your insurance company about potential financial reimbursement.