REVIEWS: Both the present and past president of the California Carpet Cleaning Institute have endorsed this book. Ralph Nader's Cal-Perg organization recommended this book.
Author Comments: Carpeting in the average home is the third most expensive investment that the average homeowner undertakes. This book is designed to save you from making expensive mistakes in your carpeting decisions.
Written by an expert in the industry, this book tells you how carpets are made and how you can avoid making big purchasing mistakes and how to care for the carpet once you get it.
Back Cover Copy: These days nearly everyone has carpet in his or her home and you probably do too. Wall to wall carpet is as common today as a car in the driveway or a television set in the living room. After a home and an automobile it is the third most expensive investment made in your lifetime.
The majority of people today know very little about this expensive investment. The sad truth is that less than one percent of the population knows enough about carpeting to make the proper choice of purchase, or even the best method of cleaning. Ten years of research into consumer floor covering problems has made author Robert L. Selby one of the most knowledgeable men in his field. His experiences with home owners, renters, real estate and property management firms have brought into focus the tremendous lack of knowledge that the consumer has in regard to their floor covering., he also has uncovered widespread fraud, incompetence and deceptive advertising by carpet retailers and so-called "professional" carpet cleaners.
Ten years of research into consumer floor covering problems has made author Robert L Selby one of the most knowledgeable men in his field. His experiences with home-owners, renters, real estate and property management firms have brought into focus the tremendous lack of know-ledge that the consumer has in regard to their floor covering. He also has uncovered widespread fraud, incompetence and deceptive advertising by carpet retailers and so-called "professional" carpet cleaners. From coast to coast in nearly every city the consumer is being cheated and lied to by the greedy and unscrupulous.
"Knowledge is the key to protection," states the author. So it is through this book that you, the consumer, may be aided in all phases of floor covering... from purchase to spots and stains and everything in between.
Table of Contents:
PART I General Information 9 BRIEF HISTORY OF CARPETING 11 THE NATURAL FIBERS 14 THE MAN-MADE FIBERS 17 HOW ARE TODAY'S CARPET MADE? 20 CARPET TYPES 23 CUSHIONED-BACKED 26 CARPETING 26 ELECTROSTATIC SHOCK 28 PART II Purchase 31 SO YOU THINK YOU NEED CARPETING? 32 ROOMS FOR SPECIAL THOUGHT 36 WHAT ABOUT CARPETING THE KITCHEN, BATHROOMS, AND LAUNDRY ROOM? 38 CARPET SQUARES 40 CARPET THE WALL 41 SPECIAL CARPET 41 DYE ORDERS 41 MEASUREMENTS 42 CARPET WEIGHTS 43 THE HIGH PRESSURE 45 SALESPERSON 45 WHO DO YOU BUY FROM? WHAT STORES DO YOU GO TO? 47 LET'S LOOK AT THOSE ADS! ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO SAVE? 48 THE BARGAIN 49 SHOPPING PRICES 52 CARPET GUARANTEES 54 PADDING 59 DO YOU NEED PADDING? 61 SOIL RETARDANTS 62 SUCH AS SCOTCHGARDING 62 WHAT ARE FOUNDATION "GRADE LEVELS"? 62 NOW YOU CAN BARGAIN! 63 THE ACTUAL PURCHASE OF THE CARPET 64 THE INSTALLATION OF THE 65 CARPETWHAT TO EXPECT 65 SCRAPS 69 THE NEW HOME CARPET 71 COMMERCIAL CARPETING 72 RESILIENT FLOORS 73 COVING 74 MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES 75 OTHER TYPES (NOT AS COMMON) 76 HARDWOOD (PARQUET) 76 CERAMIC TILE 78 OTHER TYPES 79 ORIENTAL RUGS 80 RENTAL PROPERTY