Carpet San Rafael | Mertel Carpets

Common Questions when Purchasing New Flooring

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Furniture moving during flooring installation:

Floor installation may seem like a scary process to some homeowners. The idea of strangers moving around furniture seems risky and potentially dangerous. However, with simple methods and strategies, most floor installation providers can move furniture with ease. Here at Mertel Carpets our flooring installation services in San Rafael and throughout Marin County involve trained professionals who are well aware of the moving techniques they should use.

Moving Glass: Installation experts know that broken glass is hazardous and is terrible to try to clean up. When we move glass objects and furniture with glass parts, we're well aware of the dangers that broken glass may pose to both ourselves and to the residents of the home. Our trained installation experts know to carefully wrap glass before moving it and to store it where it cannot fall, shatter, break or crack while installing flooring.

Preparing Light fixtures: Well trained installation experts also know what to watch out for when moving objects around or out of the room. For example, if a light fixture is obtrusive, READ MORE
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Flooring Installation - How Long Does It Take?
If you're planning on installing flooring in your home, or you're having it done by a professional, remember to figure in preparation, damaged surface repair and the number of workers when you're determining how much time it will take. On the average, plan to spend at least a full day, stripping old flooring and preparing the floor for new materials, and in some cases another day doing grouting, sealing and edging. Mertel Carpets highly skilled staff realizes the importance of taking each order on a case by case basis, knowing that the size of the room and customer specifications will determine the length of the job. Carpeting is the most straightforward flooring material to work with, only because there is very little post work that has to be done. The majority of time will be spent measuring, cutting and laying padding, pounding loose nails and resetting old floor boards. A 12ft x 12ft room should take two days with two workers. Laminate flooring is the perfect option for people who are working alone and don't want to remove old flooring. READ MORE
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There are several types of cushion available to support your carpet
REBOND: This is the industry workhorse. Most carpet is installed over rebond padding. Generally rebond comes in a density from 3# to 8#, which signifies how firm the cushion is. Most of our installations are over 8#, ½” Rebond cushion. We have tried rebond cushion from several manufacturers and have found CARPENTER CO. cushion to be superior in quality and consistency.
STAINMASTER: brands a cushion, also made by Carpenter, that has a moisture barrier and odor protection built in. This pad is is about 50% more costly than the standard rebond but is beneficial in some instances.
HIGH DENSITY FOAM: Made from urethane foam, this cushion is more homogeneous in look and consistency. Usually gives a firmer feel to your carpet. Slightly better quality than rebond.
WOOL CUSHION: Made with no chemicals. Is denser than the rebonds and slightly inconsistent. Is truly a GREEN cushion. READ MORE
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General Flooring Care
Flooring care is an important maintenance procedure for homeowners and businesses alike. Proper flooring maintenance requires knowledge, skill and just plain old hard work. But with the right type of care, all kinds of floors can look their best and remain durable and visually appealing.

Carpet Care

Flooring maintenance for carpets presents its own set of circumstances. Carpets can easily get stained with spills of food, drink and household chemicals. Both adults and children are responsible for these accidents. One of the best ways to prevent stains occurring in the first place is to either purchase stain-resistant carpet or to fully coat the carpet with stain resistant products that can be bought at the local hardware store. READ MORE
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The Longevity of Your Household Carpet
Carpet Lifespan isn't a cut and dry number. There are several factors that can effect how long your carpet lasts, whether it's where you live, who you live with, or what you do in your home. But even carpet under the most trying of conditions can last many years, with the right carpet maintenance.

In the average household of about 2-4 residents, carpet lifespan is usually about 3-5 years. It is by this point that most carpet fibers become old and frayed. Stains will also have sunk in, turning what started out as a pure white carpet into something graying and dull. This is why apartment owners and most homeowners change out their carpets every 3-5 years, due to discomfort and degrading visual quality of the current carpet.

If there are children or pets living in the household with the carpet, this number READ MORE...

Welcome to Mertel Carpets

Jeff_Mertel_8-5-09_-11 Welcome to Mertel Carpets, Marin County’s premier flooring solution center. While you’re here on the site you can read more about our business in the "About Us" section. Or you can browse the portfolio to see a variety of jobs we’ve done and take a look at our show room and the many products that we offer. Though “carpets” is in our name, don’t be fooled. We provide many different types of flooring and our team of experts can install almost any type of flooring you can imagine, from bamboo hardwood to vinyl sheet. The Mertel family has been in the carpet business for over 50 years and Jeff Mertel brings that knowledge and experience to every job. The Mertel team handles every new project with the utmost care and professionalism. Your new flooring will be a beautiful addition to your home and something that you can appreciate for years to come.

If you like what you see and would like to get a free estimate on a your next flooring job, give us a call or come on down to the show room. You can also fill out the contact form in the "Contact Us" section or the free estimate form in the "Estimates" section. We hope to hear from you soon.

A little about our history...In 1952, Jeff Mertel’s father and a partner opened Carpets Unlimited on San Rafael’s “Miracle Mile.” Eighteen years later, his father left that business to open his own shop: Stan Mertel Carpets. When Stan retired in 1985, son Jeff took over. Today Jeff carries on the family tradition, and Mertel Carpets looks forward to serving all of Marin County’s present and future floor-covering needs. Jeff has a long and happy history in Novato. He was born and raised here, went to Novato High, and has raised three children of his own in Novato. He was active in youth sports for many years - coaching soccer, Little League, and basketball – and he’s a member of Marin Country Club in Ignacio. read more...