By Mike Brodsky, President, House of Floors - Tampa
We at House of Floors only know how to conduct business one way and it starts with honesty. Too many times have we submitted proposals for carpet and pad only to find that we are not bidding apples to apples, but rather apples to oranges. We can appreciate competition in our industry, but let’s keep it on the same playing field. We have found that when House of Floors bids against another competitor on the exact same specifications, that our pricing is most favorable. So again we ask- are you getting what you pay for?
Some of these issues that have arisen are pad discrepancies. Make sure you are aware that there are shaved and nominal pads available to the flooring industry. Many companies out there
are substituting these lesser quality goods without notice to the property. For example, a 6lb pad can be shaved and the weight reduced to 5lb pad. Even a professional in the industry could not tell the difference with the naked eye.
There is a difference with the performance of the pad. These pads cost 10 to 15 cents less, but the property still is being charged for the better quality. Another area of uncertainty is the different types of Continuous Filament carpets in the market.
There are many types of Continuous Filaments that on paper appear to be the same, but are actually very different. Most of you are aware of the basic 25 oz. Continuous Filament and are probably using one right now. For example: Davenport and Atherton are 25oz. Continuous Filament carpets, they seem to be the same on the specification sheet in terms of weight and fiber content, but when you physically touch the two carpets there is a world of difference. The Atherton product has a much better twist ratio and the fiber is pulled down tighter, and in turn will perform better than the Davenport. The price per yard is higher in Atherton than Davenport because of its better quality. So do not assume by paper specifications alone, that the two styles are comparable and therefore should be priced the same. Remember to ask for a complete break down on price and yardage when accepting bids. We have found that many companies will give a price per square yard without the total yardage, thus not giving a true cost for the floor plan. House of
Floors will give you not only a price per square explaining how we have come to that yardage. The floor plan will also show the direction the carpet will be installed. Quarter turning by having the carpet installed in different directions is not an accepted practice in the flooring business, yet some companies will do it to cut down on yardage quotes. If carpet is installed in this fashion, you will see the difference in the color and texture. It will appear that you have two different shades of carpet. Another subject of concern is the introduction of Sub-FHA filaments and Continuous Heat-set Nylon Filament carpets. As carpet prices continue to escalate from the flooring manufacturers, many companies are substituting these Sub FHA carpets to replace FHA standards for Continuous Filament Nylon. Sub FHA can be Continuous Filament, but the weight of the carpet is not at the minimum to be approved by the Federal Housing Authority. There are legal issues that can arise from this misrepresentation. This is not the direction House of Floors will take. Continuous Heat-set Nylon Filament is a very misleading term, as it is not a Continuous Filament but rather a staple yarn that will have fuzz up on top of the carpet. What happens with Continuous Heat Set Nylon or staple yarn is that the carpet is losing surface fiber causing the carpet to mat down much quicker. The carpet does cost less, but you can only expect one year of life out of the carpet. In summary, honesty about the carpet you are receiving; honesty about the pad size you are receiving and honesty about the service you are receiving, is House of Floors highest priority. Our staff and installers know and adhere to our policy. Most of our installers have been with us from five to ten years and many of you know them well. If you have a particular crew that you want to service your property, let us know and we will send them to your property. Please do not hesitate to call any of our eight locations for more specific information.
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