What Carpet Padding is the BEST?

What Carpet Padding is Best? (Residential)

You’ve found the carpet that you love so why is the pad underneath it so important? Carpet pad not only adds cushion underfoot but it protects your carpet and is required for warranty compliance in most cases. The pad will help lighten the impact of foot traffic and heavy furniture on your carpet. There are so many padding options, it may seem overwhelming and confusing. So in this guide we’re cutting straight to the chase and reviewing the best 2 residential pad options that do great under most residential carpets:

8lb, 7/16” Rebond Padding

This foam pad is compiled from recycled material and is available in different densities and thicknesses. We recommend 8lb, 7/16” because it performs great under a nice mid-grade nylon and will withstand even the heaviest of traffic. Most importantly, it is cushy and comfortable underfoot! The lighter density pad, 4 or 6lb will be cushy but not withstand traffic for years to come. And on the opposite spectrum, a 10lb will be durable but is very firm underfoot. The 8lb, 7/16” rebond pad is our most popular pad. It is a fantastic value, performs well and is very comfortable!

Rebond with Moisture Barrier Pad

Another great foam pad option is one similar to the standard 8lb rebond pad, except it has a moisture barrier layer on top. One to look at in this category is the Shaw St. Jude’s Charity pad. This pad is not “waterproof” but it will hold spills over the pad for a longer period of time than the standard rebond pad. Bonus on this one is that it has memory foam in the mix adding a different feel! This pad may be good for the home where accidents and spills happen more often. This pad will wear just as wonderfully overtime as the standard foam rebond padding. You can read more about the St. Jude Charity pad on Shaw’s website here.

There are occasions where we install felt padding, rubber padding or different rebond pad densities but for the majority of our residential customers, the standard 8lb and St. Jude’s Charity pad are our main GO TO’s! If you’d like a detailed guide to other types of carpet padding, Alan the Carpet Professor has excellent information here.

Office Remodel Update

Recently our office and some areas of our showroom have been remodeled. After a long 2-month process of feeling like we don’t even know where to find a pencil around here…we are finally putting the pieces back together! We’re excited to show off the details…

In our office, we extended the size and added a second front counter. Brand new office furniture was designed by Hyphn and we chose a modern directionally patterned nylon carpet plank: J&J Stria. It will wear excellent in our office with rolling chairs, and heavy traffic. You can see more information on this product here: https://www.jjflooringgroup.com/product/stria/.

In the office we also added beautiful new window coverings. The top down/ bottom up Applause Honeycombs by Hunter Douglas work great for us to let in lots of light, see outside during the day, close them for privacy at night and they are efficient at keeping the heat or cool in. We love operating them with PowerView motorization. We can move our shades with a remote, wall controller, app on our phones, AND Amazon Alexa! We have more on the way including a couple roller shades that will fit the style of our office wonderfully.

Then in the showroom we added:

Marmoleum (an all-natural, durable hard surface) installed in our back hallway to the warehouse. This area needed a tough enough floor to withstand equipment and tools being dropped as well as furniture moving & rolling. https://www.forbo.com/flooring/en-us/products/marmoleum/cfctp7 It looks great against our new office carpet!

Cascade Prime Sand Castle. It’s no secret LVT has taken over. This beautiful grey
& beige mixed LVT floor is great for homes with pets, kids, and high traffic. It’s also waterproof. This one goes excellent with our new carpet right next to it..

Anderson/ Tuftex Carpet: Furever- Yes you guessed it by the name, it is a pet friendly carpet! It’s a durable nylon with subtle cut and loop pattern. Soft enough under foot for bedrooms and tough enough for your hallways and steps. https://andersontuftex.com/rugs/details/fur-ever-zz218/avon-00342

Brand-new waterproof hardwood. This is new to the flooring industry and we’re loving it! Real wood with the price tag of an LVT? We’re all in! See the other colors and style options here: https://raintreefloors.com/products/

So, what do you think of the new products? Let us know your favorite part of the office & showroom remodel!

2020 Trends Forecast

The start of a new decade is right around the corner! A new year inspires the need for a fresh start or new look. In your home this could mean anything from new throw pillows or fresh coat of paint to a full remodel with flooring, furniture and all! Here are 6 top trends you’ll see take off in 2020…

1.       Customization: Out with the “click to buy”, same as your neighbor styles. Readymade, mass manufactured furniture pieces have become more popular over the last few years and they’re are a dime a dozen. In 2020 people want handmade, personalized designs that are unique and show off their style. At Koebers we specialize in custom made furniture at a variety of price points! Everything from the style, fabric and cushions can be customized. Start Designing your personalized piece HERE.

2.       Vintage: As the decade comes to a close, styles are filtering back around. Vintage, antique pieces are expected to be mixed in with modern and contemporary styles in 2020. Using your grandma’s antique chest in a room full of modern furniture will be a unique personal design we’ll begin to see more of.

3.       Dark Floors: Midnight brown or charcoal flooring colors are coming back. This trend is popular among homes with no pets or kids since maintenance is more extensive. Dark toned floors offer a sophisticated look and relaxing feel.

4.       Natural Floors: Aside from dark floors that have been a hit, cooler natural wood tones are starting to take over White Oak floors are light but rich in tone and texture. It’s the perfect look for any farmhouse style or coastal beach home. Light natural colors allow the space to look lighter and brighter.

5.       Curves: Regular boxy sofa? No way! In the upcoming year we’ll see more curved furniture. From sofas to chairs and ottomans, curves are in. Check out these new pieces from Norwalk that represent this style.

6.       Dusty Colors: Pale pinks, blush, and grays are what we’re seeing more and more of. These muted neutrals are trending from everything warm to cool. Check out Sherwin William’s Mantra Collection for ideas.

Pet Friendly Flooring Guide

At Koebers you’ll find several pet friendly flooring options. Here are a few favorites to start, then stop by the showroom so we can recommend the best option for your home and pets!

Child Safety Window Tips

As per the National Safety Council’s statistic, 3300 children under the age of five are seriously injured from falling out of a window. Windows provide a nice breeze, sunlight, and an emergency escape route but without proper education or care they can be a huge risk to the safety of your children.

Here are some basic window safety tips to make sure children are safe in your home:

1.       Avoid purchasing window coverings with dangling cords if possible. Many window covering manufacturers product shades standard with cordless lift. If you have hanging cords, be sure to wrap them up as high in the window frame as possible. Nearly one child per month dies from entanglement in a window covering cord (according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission) See example below:

1.       If a window is open for air flow, be sure it is not within a child’s reach.

2.       Keep open windows no more than 4” and use a stop guard to prevent kids from opening the window further.

3.       When windows are closed, be sure they are in locked position.

4.       Screens are meant for insect protection and cannot hold a child’s weight in the event of a fall.

5.       Keep furniture away from windows to prevent children from climbing on the furniture and falling into or through the window.

6.       Educate your child on the dangers of windows. The National Safety Council is an excellent resource for more information on child window safety, click here.

Hardwood Care and Maintenance Guide

So you’ve just invested in new Hardwood flooring for your home. Maintaining your floor the properly will keep it looking new, for longer! Follow this simple care and cleaning guide for hardwood floors.

Cleaning:

• Sweep or use a soft microfiber dust mop 1-2 times per week.

• Avoid dust mops that have been pretreated such as Swiffer brand which can leave a film on your floor.

• If a food, soft drink, sticky or greasy spill occurs, use a hardwood floor cleaning spray as recommended by Koebers and your manufacturer. Always try a damp but well-wrung cloth before using a cleaner.

• If a deep surface scratch occurs use a hardwood touch up pen (Lowes or Home Depot will have several stain options to match your floor).

Floor Protection:

• Attach felt pads under furniture legs.

• Protect high traffic areas (ex: hallways, flooring in front of sinks, and rooms with high usage like a family room) with an area rug from Koebers. If we installed your hardwood, you will receive a 30% OFF discount on area rugs!

• Protect the floor when moving heavy furniture by using a mat turned upside down.

• Watch for high heels or certain types of footwear that may dent your hardwood.

• Place door mats at exterior doorways. 

Temperature & Humidity:

• Keep room temperature a consistent 67°F  -72°F.

• Maintain a relative humidity between 30-50%. Use a humidifier or dehumidifier to if needed to prevent wood from splits, cracks, cupping, gapping, etc. due to moisture absorption.

• Do not allow the floor to exceed 80°F.

Water or Liquid on Hardwood:

• Never allow water or other liquids to stand on hardwood.

• Do not mop or steam hardwood floor.

• Quickly wipe up any spilled liquid from your floor.

Intense Light:

• Natural changes in color due to normal aging of wood and normal UV exposure is expected.

• Move your rugs occasionally to keep color changes uniform.

• Avoid letting hardwood sit in direct sunlight for long periods of time with blinds from Koebers.

This guide is not for oil finished hardwood floors.

If you have specific questions or concerns, call the office at 503-641-1901 or refer to your hardwood manufacturer’s specified maintenance program.

Get To Know: Jason

Get to know a Koeber’s employee on our blog! When you choose Koebers, you’re choosing the best installers in the Northwest. You will get to know your crew very well. Here on our blog, we’ll help you get a head start.

Meet Jason! He specializes in hard surface installation, everything from LVT to Hardwood. Jason has been a Koeber’s employee for 25 years! When he started in high school, he rode his bike to work and managed our warehouse operations. He gained the nickname “Chief” as the chief of our warehouse, and it’s stuck all these years! See what he had to say in an insider interview with him…

Q1: What is your favorite part about working for Koeber’s?

They treat you like family

Q2: What is a random fact about you?

I like the outdoors!

Q3: If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Steak

Q4: Do you have a favorite sports team?

San Francisco 49ers!!

Q5: What is the best trip you have ever taken?

My 20th anniversary gift, a trip to San Francisco and watching a NINERS GAME

Q6: On your days off, what do you look forward to doing?

Working on my farm

You can say Hi to Jason at the Customer Appreciation sales or request him for your next hardwood or LVT installation!