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Brocade: A carpet or rug in which a raised pattern or engraved effect is formed using heavy twisted yarn tufts on a group of straight fibers.
Cut-loop pile: Carpet whose face shows a pattern made up of a combination of loop pile tufts and cut pile tufts to give a sculptured design.
Cut Pile: A carpet pile, the face of which is composed of cut ends of pile yarn, as compared to loop pile. Clean with the pile direction if floor tool pops or "chatters".
Frieze: (Pronounced "free-zay"): A tightly twisted yarn that gives a kinked or curled appearance to carpet pile. Pile lifting is too aggressive for this style of carpet.
Fusion bonded: Backing material for fusion bonded cut pile carpet is a system of layered vinyl or plastic compound and fiberglass scrim for dimensional stability. Usually used in fabrication of 6-foot wide carpet or modular tile.
Level loop: Loop pile where the loops all have the same length and, therefore, give a smooth level surface. Larger loops would be the Berber style. The larger the loops, the greater possibility for crushing.
Loop Pile: Pile surface in which looped yarns are left uncut. Can be level, textured, or patterned. Also called "round wire" in woven carpet terminology.
Modular carpet: Also called carpet tile. Generally 18" x 18" squares.
Multi-level loop: A loop pile construction in which some loops are smaller than others resulting in a sculptured appearance. Rough surface. Clean at 45 degree angle or you'll get splotching and streaking and lines from the floor tool "chattering".
Plush: Sometimes called velvet-plush or simply velvet. A luxurious smooth-textured, highly finished, sheared level cut pile carpet surface with a very smooth, formal look in which individual tufts are only minimally visible due to its low twist and the overall visual effect is that of a single level of yarn ends. Plush is longer and more dense than a "Saxony".
Random-sheared: Textured pattern created by shearing some of the top or higher loops and leaving others looped. This gives a cut/uncut texture.
Saxony: A dense smooth level-cut pile carpet with surface yarns that are closely packed and even across the face with the yarn ends visible to create a less formal look - Minimizes foot prints.
Sculptured: A cut and loop patterned carpet where all of the high pile is cut and the low pile remains a loop.
Shag: A deep-pile texture with long cut surface yarns. Pile height is greater than 3/4 inch, with density not exceeding 1800. Shag is nearly impossible to clean satisfactorily.
Sisal: Strictly speaking, sisal is a tough plant fiber from the West Indian Agave plant and is used sometimes to make rope. However, it is now applied more loosely to a particular woven carpet or rug style normally of natural fibers such as sisal, jute, hemp, wool, sea grass, etc. Natural Sisal water spots severely, has very poor clean ability, and is often dry clean only because it readily browns. Additionally, the pattern usually results in poor vacuum. If wet cleaning, always apply Brown Out® afterward and protect with fluoro chemical protector such as 3M Scotchgard™ Brand Carpet and Upholstery Protector or Teflon® Advanced Carpet Protector. The preferred detergent to use when wet cleaning sisal is Natural Fiber Cleaner.
Textured: Curled or twisted tufts make for a textured surface that helps mask footprints. This style is also frequently called trackless. The major difference between a plush or velvet carpet and a textured carpet is the appearance of the color. A plush will have a very uniform looking color. A textured carpet (even if it is the same color as the velvet) will look like it has a random mix of light and dark fibers. This is because the fibers in a textured carpet are twisted to hide footprints.



Cork is nature's versatile treasure. It is the outer bark of the cork oak tree, grown predominately in the southern half of Portugal. Cork is used in products ranging from engine gaskets to wine corks. Cork has adapted to the worlds rapidly changing tastes and technology for over two hundred years. Beyond the versatility of cork, it is also one of the most environmentally sensitive materials available. This characteristic includes, not only the organic techniques used to grow the cork trees, but also the manufacturing processes, where much of the work is performed with traditional hand labor. Why use cork? Cork provides the most functional, beautiful flooring available that combines functionality, ease of maintenance, beauty, and environmental sensitivity together. Is cork durable? If properly maintained, cork flooring can last for over 80 years, even under high traffic. Why is cork durable? Cork flooring can be purchased with factory applied polyurethane or wax finishes which are extremely durable and resistant to scratches and gouges. Because of cork's natural resilience, it tends to give if materials are dropped or moved across it, whereas, hard flooring surfaces will scratch or gouge. Is it easy to maintain? Regular damp mopping with a well wrung out mop and mild soap (Ivory Liquid) is all that is necessary to maintain your cork floor. Cork is not easily stained, therefore; it does not require scrubbing or use of harsh cleaners. Can cork be refinished? Both waxed and polyurethane finished tiles can be refinished many times during the life of the floor. How long does the finish last? The life of the finish directly relates to the care given to the floor. Polyurethane finish can last up to 10 years in a residential installation if properly maintained.
Vinyl
Today's vinyl floors (also called: resilient floors) and vinyl floor tiles are more durable and stain-resistant than over before. Many of the designs and colors are inspired by nature and will add style and color to any room. Vinyl floor designs are extremely realistic looking, patterns range from simple contemporary designs to beautiful weathered stones to rich hand scraped hardwoods. If you haven't explored vinyl floors for a while you will be amazed at the new, exciting vinyl floor offerings.
Rubber flooring is durable enough to withstand the most demanding environments, including commercial gyms and large scale weight rooms, and also a great option for use in home exercise rooms, garage floors, and other many areas. A wide range of colors and thicknesses are available for rubber flooring products. Most importantly, buying rubber flooring products is great for the environment since the primary raw material used in producing rubber flooring that is 100% post-consumer material derived from recycled tires. Durable and flexible non-slip garage flooring solutions in the form of garage floor tiles and roll out vinyl flooring for use not only on garage floors, but also for used as trade show and exhibit flooring, kitchen floors, basement flooring, laundry room and locker room floor locations, and more.
Concrete has become the new material of choice for designers and homeowners across the United States. Concrete floors in stained, colored, painted, and personalized glory are popping up in retail stores, trendy restaurants, offices, and homes everywhere. A concrete floor offers numerous options for interior rooms including nearly limitless designs, colors, and even health benefits. One of the most common places you'll see decorative concrete these days is under your feet. Whether it's acid-stained, painted, overlays, microtoppings, radiant floors, or a unique personal floor, concrete floors offer a range unlike any other material. Concrete flooring, sometimes referred to as cement flooring, no longer has to be gray and boring. Now coloring concrete, or applying textures, patterns, saw cuts, etc., can bring new life to this traditional substrate. Concrete can be so uniquely designed or so naturally colored that it blends seamlessly with other elements in a room-oftentimes, you don't even realize it's a concrete floor you're standing on! Concrete floors enhance the integrity of the design, easy to maintain, easy to change, great in regions with a lot of sand or snow, and a very good alternative to carpet if you have allergies.
Chris Mellon & Company Flooring out of Carefree Arizona takes the hassel out of your flooring design & ordering. Can't find the flooring in our Arizona showroom? Let us know and we'll get the tile, carpet, cabinets kitchen & bathroom appliances for you. Chris Mellon and Company helps designers do what they do best: