The Truth About Laminate Flooring

I was talking to a woman the other day about laminate floors, and the topic of thickness came up.  She asked, “Aren’t the thicker boards higher quality?”  Her question centered around how the thickness of a board of laminate affects the quality of the product.  It is a great question which deserves more than a cosmetic “yes” or “no” answer.  In fact, at first glance, one may say that the thicker one is better, there is more board there, but does that really matter?

It pays to look first at how laminate is made.  While laminate may look the same on the surface, it is made primarily in one of two ways.  Direct Pressure is the most prevalent method in the industry and is used to mass produce millions of feet of laminate every year.  High pressure laminate is a much more refined process taking longer to create and costing more money to achieve.  While the two processes are entirely different, the construction and layers are parallel.

All laminate has a backing that is the same thickness as the finish layer, and likewise, every laminate has a core board that gives the laminate board its structural stability as well as the ability to having a locking system by which to connect the boards together.  The core board consists of wood pulp mixed with resin and compressed.  Both the finish layer and the backing layers adhere to the core board in their respective positions

What is in the finish layer?  The finish layer consists of a photograph of an actual piece of wood, or stone, with various layers of melamine, aluminum oxide, or any other proprietary blends which give laminate its legendary scratch proof reputation.  The process through which the three parts bond together brings us back to the two processes discussed earlier: direct pressure versus high pressure.

Most manufacturers use direct pressure for a reason: It is highly cost effective to create thousands of feet of product in a cycle very quickly.  The energy used to create direct pressure laminate is substantially less as it is done at lower temperatures than the high pressure processes, and the materials used to make the direct pressure laminate are also less in that the high pressure layers are two to three times thicker than its direct pressure counter part.

In the direct pressure process, the layers of laminate come together in a continuous process through a set of rolling presses that apply the backing and photo finish layers simultaneously.  In the high pressure process, workers stack each layer of backing and photo finish layers by hand much like a quilt or blanket.  You can see these layers in the photograph above.  Once the workers finish the blankets, they stack them together, sandwiched between metal plates, in a hydraulic press.  They roll the presses into an oven, and the laminate bakes at high temperatures under constant pressure until completion.  Once completed, the layers of laminate are adhered to the core boards and cut into individual planks.  The result of the high pressure process is a highly durable product.  In fact, although you would not know it, countertops are the most widely used recipient of high pressure laminate, and currently, Wilsonart is the only manufacturer to product high pressure laminate for floors.

High pressure laminate is rare in the flooring industry, and it becomes more rare everyday.  In fact, Wilsonart announced recently that they intend to exit the flooring business entirely by December 2010 due to market conditions.  As you can imagine, high pressure laminate costs substantially more to produce: more materials, more energy, and more labor.  While Wilsonart pioneered the use of laminate in commercial applications, they could not effectively parlay the success into the residential sector primarily because of the cost, and even though a home owner stands a higher chance of having a floor that will last a lifetime with a high pressure design, it is a difficult concept to grasp when cheaper home center laminate is available.  Direct pressure laminate rolls out of facilities at a rate of thousands of feet at a time, and as the supply increases the price naturally comes down.

All of this leads us back to the original question: Does the thickness of a core board determine the value or durability of the laminate?  What do you think?  The answer still is not that simple, and sometimes the answers are definitely mutually exclusive.  The cheapest laminates certainly come thinner than normal.  I have never seen a 6mm laminate of high quality.  Alternatively though, I see many direct pressure laminates with 12mm core boards, and when compared to an 8mm High Pressure laminate, the 12mm laminate is certainly not high quality.  Why make something so thick if it does not affect the quality?  Because customers sometimes like to see thicker….Sometimes thicker just looks better I suppose.  I am also sure that it may make a difference in sound under foot; however, I have never noticed a difference.  As always, buyers must beware of every marketing technique by reading the information, looking at the warranties, and asking plenty of questions.

As always, for more information, check out our website for more information about anything involving floors.

Tips from Carpet One Floor & Home in Panama City: Moisture and Hardwood in your home

Few things will ruin your day than coming home to find your brand new wood floor buckled and broken off your floor.  Regretfully, the only cause for it is moisture, and it didn’t come from installation, unless of course, the installer didn’t place enough expansion space between the wall and the wood.

Water comes from many areas, and few people even think about it until it becomes a problem.  Unfortunately, by that time, it is too late.  They should have planned ahead.  A professional hardwood reseller knows how to look for problems before they become issues.  I’ll give you a personal example from yesterday.

I had a customer who came to my store to purchase hardwood, and she knew what she wanted before she visited me.  She had hardwood installed by us over ten years ago, and she wanted to match the product.  I happened to recognize the product on the floor immediately and was able to satisfy her product requirements immediately.  After conducting a measure and estimate, she was satisfied with the price and wanted to move forward.  Now, I told her that I needed to do a moisture test prior to completing the work, but mind you, most people take a look at the two existing rooms with wood and decide that since no issues happened with the existing wood, what could possibly happen? HA!

I took my moisture meter to the home, picked a corner of the room on an exterior wall, pulled the carpet back to expose the concrete, and immediately saw a problem.  Not only was the concrete visibly wet, underneath the carpet and pad, but the tackstrip was black and rotten.  Needless to say, it pegged my meter.  I found the same situation on the back exterior wall in another room, but not nearly as bad.

Hardwood is not for the faint hearted, and neither is it for the inexperienced.  I had to find the source because believe it or not, I’d still like to give the customer what they want: hardwood in all rooms.  A quick look around the house revealed several things to me: landscape mulch piled against the house, sprinklers hitting the home, no gutters, poor drainage, and the list goes on.

By doing this simple inspection, I found some good information for the customer.  Regardless of what she does with me and my hardwood product, she needs to fix her problem lest she find bigger ones later on: rotten walls, termites, etc…

I am glad I know what I know, but I am not happy with how I had to learn sometimes.  I made many mistakes, but I swore not to let them happen again.  If you are interested in hardwood in your home, take a look at your home to ensure you are not welcoming moisture indoors: affix gutters to your roof with downspouts leading several feet away from the home, ensure the ground slopes away from the home and the foundation is clearly above ground level, look for visible signs of moisture damage inside the house around baseboards, and hire a professional to check the moisture in your subfloor.  It will save you an arm and a leg…

Installation Professionals—Five Diamond Professionals, Carpet One Floor & Home® |Panama City,FL

Our installers undergo regular training to achieve the highest levels of technical and customer service expertise.  In fact, check around, and you will see that our store has the only certified installers in Panama City, FL.  It is not because we are satisfied with what we do that our people achieve excellence--it is because we care about doing more for our customers.  We demand the best from each installer, and we match their skills with each job to ensure the best possible performance.  When new products come out, we ensure proper training is received, and we pass on the newest industry information and standards to ensure that the customer receives the very best possible job the first time, every time.  Come in our store, and you will see for yourself the hard work and dedication demonstrated by our Installation Team on our Wall of Fame.

Carpet One Floor & Home® |Panama City,FL

Flooring Basics Area Rugs from Carpet One

Fashionable. Functional. Versatile. Area rugs serve a wide variety of purposes in home décor. They can be used to tie the look of a room together much as a scarf pulls an outfit together. They can help define separate spaces within a larger room or add a touch of warmth and color to a hardwood or tile floor. They can also serve as a link between rooms. And these are just some of the possibilities.

Because they serve such a wide variety of roles, area rugs come in all shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. Be it wild or subtle, extravagant or simple, these rugs are an easy way to express your decorative flair.

While there's no installation per se, larger area rugs usually require the movement of furniture. The amount of care needed to help maintain the beauty of these rugs will vary according to rug's material and construction as well as the specific usage.

Recommendations
The first rule of choosing an area rug is to understand that really are no rules per se. Since much of the selection process is based on your own personal taste and sense of style, we simply offer some general guidelines instead.

Size Guidelines

• Room size rugs should leave a border of 18" to 24" on all sides.
• Dining room rugs should measure at least 4' longer and wider than the dining room table, so chairs will not fall off the rug when pushed back from the table.
• Hallway rugs should leave be approximately 2" to 4" narrower and 18" to 24" shorter than the hallway.
• Other area rugs will vary in size according to need.

Design Guidelines

• Try using different patterns that use some common colors in the same room for a coordinated look that is also fresh.
• Don't get boxed in by traditional rectangular or square rugs. Consider oval and round shapes as a way to inject new life in a room.

Wear Guidelines

• Consider traffic patterns, exposure to spills and other wear factors when choosing area rugs.

We have a huge selection of area rugs in varying sizes, styles and colors. Fill out the form below and we'll contact you to set up an in-store appointment to help you find your perfect rug! Or, simply stop by the store at your convenience. Click here for directions

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Flooring Basics Area Rugs from Carpet One

Fashionable. Functional. Versatile. Area rugs serve a wide variety of purposes in home décor. They can be used to tie the look of a room together much as a scarf pulls an outfit together. They can help define separate spaces within a larger room or add a touch of warmth and color to a hardwood or tile floor. They can also serve as a link between

Fashionable. Functional. Versatile. Area rugs serve a wide variety of purposes in home décor. They can be used to tie the look of a room together much as a scarf pulls an outfit together. They can help define separate spaces within a larger room or add a touch of warmth and color to a hardwood or tile floor. They can also serve as a link between rooms. And these are just some of the possibilities.

Because they serve such a wide variety of roles, area rugs come in all shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. Be it wild or subtle, extravagant or simple, these rugs are an easy way to express your decorative flair.

While there's no installation per se, larger area rugs usually require the movement of furniture. The amount of care needed to help maintain the beauty of these rugs will vary according to rug's material and construction as well as the specific usage.

Recommendations
The first rule of choosing an area rug is to understand that really are no rules per se. Since much of the selection process is based on your own personal taste and sense of style, we simply offer some general guidelines instead.

Size Guidelines

• Room size rugs should leave a border of 18" to 24" on all sides.
• Dining room rugs should measure at least 4' longer and wider than the dining room table, so chairs will not fall off the rug when pushed back from the table.
• Hallway rugs should leave be approximately 2" to 4" narrower and 18" to 24" shorter than the hallway.
• Other area rugs will vary in size according to need.

Design Guidelines

• Try using different patterns that use some common colors in the same room for a coordinated look that is also fresh.
• Don't get boxed in by traditional rectangular or square rugs. Consider oval and round shapes as a way to inject new life in a room.

Wear Guidelines

• Consider traffic patterns, exposure to spills and other wear factors when choosing area rugs.

We have a huge selection of area rugs in varying sizes, styles and colors. Fill out the form below and we'll contact you to set up an in-store appointment to help you find your perfect rug! Or, simply stop by the store at your convenience. Click here for directions

rooms. And these are just some of the possibilities.

Because they serve such a wide variety of roles, area rugs come in all shapes, colors, textures, and sizes. Be it wild or subtle, extravagant or simple, these rugs are an easy way to express your decorative flair.

While there's no installation per se, larger area rugs usually require the movement of furniture. The amount of care needed to help maintain the beauty of these rugs will vary according to rug's material and construction as well as the specific usage.

Recommendations
The first rule of choosing an area rug is to understand that really are no rules per se. Since much of the selection process is based on your own personal taste and sense of style, we simply offer some general guidelines instead.

Size Guidelines

• Room size rugs should leave a border of 18" to 24" on all sides.
• Dining room rugs should measure at least 4' longer and wider than the dining room table, so chairs will not fall off the rug when pushed back from the table.
• Hallway rugs should leave be approximately 2" to 4" narrower and 18" to 24" shorter than the hallway.
• Other area rugs will vary in size according to need.

Design Guidelines

• Try using different patterns that use some common colors in the same room for a coordinated look that is also fresh.
• Don't get boxed in by traditional rectangular or square rugs. Consider oval and round shapes as a way to inject new life in a room.

Wear Guidelines

• Consider traffic patterns, exposure to spills and other wear factors when choosing area rugs.

We have a huge selection of area rugs in varying sizes, styles and colors. Fill out the form below and we'll contact you to set up an in-store appointment to help you find your perfect rug! Or, simply stop by the store at your convenience. Click here for directions

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Flooring Information from Carpet One

Flooring Information You Can Rely On

Quality flooring is the hallmark of a refined home. We are committed to bringing our customers flooring information about the finest brands in the widest selection of colors and styles available to fit your specific flooring needs. Turn to Carpet One Floor & Home to deliver the look you desire at a price you can afford.

If you are in the market for new flooring, look at Carpet One Floor & Home for flooring information solutions. Carpet One Floor & Home has been in business for over twenty years and with over one thousand locations throughout the United States and Canada there is sure to be a Carpet One Floor & Home near you to suit your needs. As the name implies, Carpet One Floor & Home is a retailer of carpet but we also have flooring information on hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, resilient flooring and area rugs. Not only does Carpet One Floor & Home provide quality flooring but we also pride ourselves in superb customer service.

Carpet One Floor & Home's dedication to excellence is evident in our customer service policies and convenience. If you are one of the many who don't have time to shop several different stores, rest assured that you are getting flooring information that includes the best possible price for both the flooring and the installation. You can even get samples, purchase your order and schedule installation without ever coming into the store, an incredible convenience when shopping for carpet, tile or hardwood flooring.

First, you need to determine which flooring options will best suit your room. You can pick out samples of tile, carpet, vinyl or laminate flooring and place them in your home to see how they would look. Once you make a decision, their flooring professionals will come into your home for a free estimate and an accurate measurement. Their professionals are highly trained and experienced so you can expect a professional installation of the flooring you choose. In addition, all Carpet One Floor & Home's flooring is 100% guaranteed. If you are not satisfied with the installation of your flooring, Carpet One Floor & Home will replace it completely free of charge.

Pricing is a factor in everything and Carpet One Floor & Home has you covered there. Because of our size, we have enormous buying power with some of the largest carpet, tile, hardwood and other flooring manufacturers in the world. The savings then gets passed on you for the best value in flooring solutions. You can even get financing options to ensure you get the flooring of your dreams and it's easy on your budget.

There are over one thousand convenient locations throughout the United States and Canada, we are sure to have a store near you. However, you can also choose carpet, tile and hardwood flooring by contacting the store and speaking with a design professional who will help you navigate the process of choosing the ideal flooring for your home.

When looking for flooring information you want the best selection possible all in one place. Carpet One Floor & Home delivers. For carpet you can choose from a variety of styles and designs. Hardwood flooring is available in various grains and wood choices. Laminate and ceramic tiles can be found in different colors and patterns. For those high traffic areas, resilient flooring is the ideal solution and no matter what you choose, area rugs are a great accent pieces.

For the best in flooring options, price and quality, Carpet One Floor & Home is the answer. Not only will you get an abundance of choices, it's backed by a guarantee that will ensure your satisfaction. We are dedicated to providing excellent customer service and will assist you in picking out the flooring that is best for you.

Below is a list of some of the products and services Carpet One Floor & Home offers. Products and services will vary by location.

Information on Types of Flooring

Area Rugs

Bamboo Flooring

Carpeting

Ceramic Tile

Concrete Flooring

Congoleum Flooring

Cork Floors

Hard Wood Flooring

Laminate Flooring

Linoleum Floors

Vinyl Sheet Flooring

Commercial Flooring Information

Commercial Flooring

Commercial Flooring Installation

Residential Flooring Information

Residential Floor Installation

Bathroom Floors

Kitchen Floors

Flooring Services Information

Floor Tile Installation

Hard Wood Flooring Installation

Flooring Underlayment

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Green Select…For the Environment |Panama City,FL

Carpet One Green Select
Helping protect our environment is everyone’s business!
At Carpet One, we care about more than just floors. We care about the community and its environment. We know there are lots of things we can all do to make them cleaner, greener, and healthier.
Today we face numerous environmental challenges, including global warming, energy deficiency and the depletion of our natural resources. Though we may not see the effects today, we must always be thinking to the future.
Our Green Select initiative represents our commitment to making our environment better through our relationship with our communities, our customers, our suppliers and our employees. One key example is our Green Select Labels. We’re continually working with our vendors to produce flooring that meets our strict eco-friendly standards.
To earn a Green Select label, the product must currently be recyclable, contain a minimum of recycled material and/or be made from a natural, sustainable, quickly renewable resource. A key example is our Montado Cork flooring. Beautiful and durable, MontadoTM is 100% natural cork flooring made from a naturally sustainable resource, so it’s good for the environment.
Look for other exclusive Green Label flooring at Carpet One, including Mirror Lake laminate. Plus, ask about green select tips to practice every day. Join us in trying to protect our environment.
Working together we can make a difference.

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Wilsonart Flooring—Panama City, FL

High Pressure Laminate Story

Laminate – the Wilsonart Difference. (HPL) is manufactured at 1400 PSI of pressure. In comparison, Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL) is manufactured at 300-500 PSI. Even though both laminate types are made of the same basic materials, the pressure used in the manufacturing process helps determine both hardness and performance. HPL Advantages:

• Superior wear resistance – fewer scuffs and scratches

• Superior static load capacity – no dimpling

• Superior impact resistance – no denting

• Superior design clarity – higher sheen levels

• High in-carton product integrity – less damage in handling, less damage during installation, no chipped corners

Tap-N-Lock Installation System
The Dent Test

The following test was used to show the difference between Direct Pressure Laminate (DPL) and High Pressure Laminate (HPL). Laminate flooring planks were laid on Wilsonart 2-In-1 Pad and placed on concrete. A simulated can weighing 396g (the weight of a 14 oz. can of soup) was dropped vertically from a height of 36 inches (standard countertop height) onto the floor’s decorative surface. The resulting damage was cross-sectioned and photographed at 10x magnification.

Beauty, Durability & Details

The world waited a long time for laminate flooring and now that it is here, homeowners are finding it has many important performance advantages over other types of flooring:

Wood
    * Easily damaged by sunlight
    * Susceptible to scratches, burns, dents
    * Swells, warps and spots with prolonged water exposure
    * Requires routine waxing and/or finishing

Vinyl Tile
    * Easily damaged in high traffic areas
    * Requires regular waxing and buffing
    * Yellows and discolors with age
    * May require extensive subfloor preparation prior to installation
    * Limited range of designs and colors

Carpet
    * Signs of wear and traffic patterns become visible over time
    * Retains odors, mold, mildew and other allergens
    * Difficult to clean, easily stained

Ceramic
    * Costly, labor intensive installation
    * Difficult and expensive to repair/remove
    * Grout is easily stained, requires regular maintenance
    * Hard, unforgiving surface increases injury risks

Sheet Vinyl
    * Yellows, dents, curls and tears
    * Easily stained and scratched
    * Requires careful subfloor preparation
    * Even minor subfloor imperfections telescope through to surface
    * Limited design options 600

Three Great Collections, One Great Installation System!
Laminate flooring has become an increasingly popular choice for homeowners. Yet not all climates or home environments are conducive to laminate flooring installed without a bonding agent.

Wilsonart Flooring’s BlueFusion® Adhesive is a critical part of any residential installation where there are extreme or wet conditions, or in lieu of acclimation:

• Extreme Conditions: In areas with relative humidity below 35% or above 65%, BlueFusion provides extra protection against shrinkage or expansion and helps minimize the effect of climate conditions.

• Wet Areas: BlueFusion is the perfect solution for areas where there is a greater chance of moisture exposure. A Type 2 PVA Adhesive, it is water resistant and will prevent seams from swelling.

• No Acclimation: BlueFusion eliminates the need for flooring to be acclimated prior to installation. And you can use your floor immediately after installation, so there’s less disruption to your household!

BlueFusion – A Whole New Dimension of Strength and Moisture Resistance
Installing Wilsonart Flooring with BlueFusion Adhesive results in up to four times stronger seams and up to 10 times the moisture resistance of other leading laminate flooring installation systems – yet it adds virtually no time to the installation process. Plus, other products may require up to two days of curing time – while Wilsonart Flooring is ready to be lived on immediately.

“An “A+” On Every Test
The TONKA® Truck Test
TONKA® Toys are meant to last, even at the expense of every surface they come in contact with. We make our floors with high-pressure laminate which is manufactured at 1400 PSI of pressure, so they are less inclined to dent, scratch or otherwise suffer from rough play. Take that, TONKA.

The Crayon Test
Children don’t always color inside the lines – nor would you want them to. So when young Rembrandt’s art strays off the paper, don’t despair. Just dampen a rag with Wilsonart Flooring Cleaner and wipe it away!

The Puppy Test
Kids and puppies go hand-in-hand. Fortunately, with Wilsonart Flooring on duty, keeping things neat and tidy couldn’t be easier. Spills and spots disappear simply by spritzing with cleaner and wiping them away. And because the floor is scratch resistant, tough puppy toenails are not a problem either.

The Scooter Test
It doesn’t matter how many times you say, “Don’t…” Kids will be kids and scooters will find their way into the house. Not to worry, though. Wilsonart Flooring just rolls with the punches.

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The Beautiful Guarantee™ for Laminate

Laminate flooring products with a Titanium, Platinum, or Gold SelectAFloor™ warranty carry The Beautiful Guarantee™ Replacement Warranty. If at anytime after installation and during the terms of The Beautiful Guarantee™you wish to change your new laminate for a different SelectAFloor™style or color, your Carpet One Floor & Home® retailer will replace it free with another SelectAFloor™ laminate style or color of equal or lesser value. Should you wish to replace your flooring with a SelectAFloor™laminate upgrade, you may do so by paying the difference in retail price.No monetary compensation will be paid if a lower priced laminate is selected.

This is a one-time only replacement. Simply call your Carpet One Floor & Home® retailer within the time frame of the warranty and indicate you wish to choose another SelectAFloor™laminate floor under The Beautiful Guarantee™ Replacement Warranty.This is a replacement warranty and does not apply to matters covered by other warranties.

Replacement includes material and labor. Labor to move furniture,permanent construction (built-ins such as cabinets and bookcases),equipment, or electronics is the responsibility of the customer.

No replacement will be made with respect to laminate that has been subjected to abuse, improper maintenance, vandalism, alteration, or damage caused by smoke, fire, flood, wind, lightning, or any other casualty event. This warranty applies only to the original purchase of a Carpet One Floor & Home® style laminate floor that has been professionally installed by a Carpet One Floor & Home® retailer or Carpet One Floor & Home® authorized independent installer.

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Flooring Basics Laminate

Decorative. Durable. Affordable. Offering the beautiful, true look of real wood, tile or stone at an often substantially lower cost, easy care laminates have emerged as one of today's hottest and most versatile flooring options.

Laminate flooring is actually a four-layer sandwich constructed of a protective wear layer over a decorative sheet containing the pattern, which is supported by a rigid core and a bottom balancing layer to help prevent warping. The result is one tough flooring that resists fading, stains, scratches and moisture. In fact, laminates frequently outlast real hardwood, tile or stone floors.

Simple and easy to maintain, laminates are an excellent choice for high traffic areas like hallways and family rooms, plus moisture areas such as kitchens and baths.

Recommendations
As a more versatile, durable and affordable alternative to virtually any other flooring material except carpet, laminate flooring continues to grow in popularity. In fact, there's hardly any room in the house where it's not a smart choice.

In formal rooms such as dining rooms and living rooms, laminate duplicates the look of more expensive natural flooring materials at a fraction of the cost, while also offering more resistance to scratches and stains.

Laminate also brings the look of hardwood to rooms where the natural material couldn't be used due to moisture concerns. However, because laminate offers better moisture and stain resistance than many natural materials and at a lower cost, it creates exciting, new decorative possibilities.

With its exceptional durability, Laminate is also excellent for use in virtually any high traffic areas. It's also suitable for below grade installation in basements.

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Retailer of the Year Award for Leadership (ROYAL)

Last year we received an award from the Florida Retail Federation that went a long way in demonstrating the effort that we have put into moving our company ahead in the marketplace. Through the work of many people, we achieved what many said could not be done.

For the last couple of years, we worked to set ourselves apart from the competition through technical expertise, training, and product knowledge. Beginning in 2004, we did this in a couple of ways. First, we embarked upon a journey to become Installation Excellence Five Diamond Certified. Installation Excellence is a Carpet One Floor & Home program that measures the ability of our sales and installation team to satisfy our customers, and we achieved it in a record setting six months. Most please to us was the absolutely high marks we received from our customers via the surveys we sent out with every job.

In conjunction with the Installation Excellence Program, we began a long certification process for our sales and installation personnel through a variety of industry resources. Carpet One Floor & Home has a robust training program mixing online, on site, and off site educational curriculum. When combined with the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), we certified two sales personnel as Certified Flooring Sales Consultants (CFS) and one person as a Certified Flooring Executive (CFE). All of the certifications are available online at the WFCA website. What achieved the certifications through WFCA? Hours of dedication on the part of our personnel taking product knowledge, design, decoration, colors, and all sorts of other courses to demonstrate a level of learning beyond the industry standard.

In addition to the learning programs, we had one individual attend a graduation two inspection programs through industry recognized leaders in their respective product categories: the Tile Council of North America (TCNA) and the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA). Through the TCNA sponsored educational organization Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF), we graduated the Ceramic Tile Inspector Course, and through NWFA, we have a Certified Wood Floor Inspector on staff. Click here to find out more about the NWFA certification.

Adding to our list of technical qualifications, we recently added the ability to install the Ardex Moisture Control System, an industry leading in concrete preparation for flooring installation. We achieved a technical certification from Certified Flooring Installers (CFI) as well.

Other courses and training include Wilsonart, the American Plywood Association (APA), Earthscapes, and Florida Retail Federation (FRF) Retail Masters.

In addition to our professional efforts, we made tremendous strides and inroads into the community through many charitable endeavors: Marine Corps Toys For Tots (TFT), American Cancer Society (ACS), Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC), Delta Society, Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), and many other local schools and organizations.

In recognition of our endeavors, several organizations recognized us for our endeavors. Carpet One Floor & Home presented us with the National Community Service Award in 2005 and 2007. The Bay County Chamber of Commerce awarded us the Small Business of the Year in 2005. The Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida presented us with the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics in 2006. The Panama City Jaycees awarded us the Community Leader of the Year in 2008. The Florida Retail Federation gave us the Retailer of the Year Award for Leadership (ROYAL) for 2008. As you can see, we are very active in the community, and we take it very seriously.

We hope that you will give us a chance to demonstrate what separates us from the competition. As a store, we commit to providing you the best service that money can buy with a product that is premium in quality, choice, and selection. Please stop by and learn about us or visit us online to find out more.

Click to watch a video about our efforts...