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 Volume: 9 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

In "A Tale of Two Cities," Charles Dickens opens with, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

This story could be a parable for today's business climate. The pressure to cut a corner here or there to stay profitable, or to find creative ways to get more work done with fewer people, is testing the mettle of many companies.

 Volume: 8 |  Issue: 2 |  Download

A PRIMER ABOUT CARPET CONSTRUCTION FOR END USERS
What are some of the performance components that make carpet perform well? Although you needn't be an expert on all carpet matters, a basic understanding of construction will help you choose a carpet that meets the physical and aesthetic needs of your space. Plus, a working knowledge about construction will help everyone on the project — manufacturers, designers, contractors and end users — ensure that the carpet delivers on everyone's expectations.

 Volume: 8 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

WHAT GOES INTO THAT MAGIC NUMBER…
A flooring contractor can provide a ballpark estimate during a project's pecification stage. But providing a hard quote for the actual cost is like predicting the score of a game when the first pitch is thrown.

Sure, player stats and team standings may be good indicators, but how any one game plays out can leave us in suspense until the bottom of the ninth.

And so it is with floor preparation estimates. Every job is unique.

 Volume: 7 |  Issue: 3 |  Download

Work With a Starnet Member!

In 1992, a handful of independent professional flooring contractors from around the country came together to discuss a novel concept. By sharing knowledge, skills and resources with each other, they realized they could become a positive force for the betterment of their trade, and help their customers do their jobs better, too. Fifteen years later, and now 168 Members strong, these industry leaders hold true to their original vision. By doing so, they continue to earn the respect and trust of architects, designers, facility managers and the flooring industry's premier manufacturers.

 Volume: 7 |  Issue: 2 |  Download

Moisture-related floor covering failures are responsible for over $1 billion annually in damages. The problems range from cupping, buckling, blistering and adhesive failure to discoloration and mold growth. These issues can occur soon after the installation, and in some cases, years down the road. This StarLog provides information about concrete, moisture and pH problems and solutions.

 Volume: 7 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

Every business develops words, definitions and terminology that become part of the language of the trade. If you're a designer, specifier, facility manager or building manager, learning and using interiors language and lingo helps you communicate better with and to each other. You not only sound smarter, you are equipped to make more intelligent decisions. Understanding trade words can be essential to the integrity of the job itself. At the very least, it eliminates misunderstanding and confusion.

 Volume: 6 |  Issue: 2 |  Download

Patterned carpet is not new but its design sophistication is breaking new ground. With multiple colors and intricate patterns, these carpets were originally introduced to hide foot traffic wear and stains in large spaces. Today's patterned carpet visuals have evolved into an art form. Carpet mills have engaged the services of big-name designers to develop exquisite patterns. The variety of standard and custom yarn colors is virtually endless.

 Volume: 6 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

The environmentally responsible commercial construction market will reach $10 to $20 billion over the next five years. This "green" growth will offer greater opportunities for everyone from product manufacturers to specifiers to be involved with environmentally responsible building projects. Along with this growth you can expect more information, and unfortunately, more misinformation, about green construction materials and methods. To help you separate fact from fiction, this issue of StarLog focuses on the most often asked questions that designers, specifiers and facility managers have about how flooring can contribute to earning LEED points and play a role in environmentally responsible projects.

 Volume: 5 |  Issue: 3 |  Download

An Initial Low Cost Strategy Can Be A Costly Decision

Time and again, businesses decide to purchase carpet directly from a manufacturer. Their reasoning is simple. Buying a commodity product direct will save middleman expenses. More often than not, these companies find out the hard way, that carpet is not a commodity, and that buying direct does not save money in the long run. In many cases, it doesn't even save money in the short run! Buying direct paves the way for "nobody wins" scenarios that drive installation complaints and claims up. Good flooring contractors, such as StarNet Members, provide more than just quality installation services. They are valuable resources whose expertise in product selection, site issues and project management assure a successful project.

 Volume: 5 |  Issue: 2 |  Download

Ask retailers what they hate most about floorcovering renovations, and they'll tell you it's the hassle of removing merchandise off of, and then back on to, display racks and fixtures. Librarians have a similar lament about packing and unpacking volumes of books off of, and back on to, shelves and bookcases. Conventional renovations are highly disruptive and costly when you factor in the time, the labor, the damaged and misplaced items, downtime to normal operations and patron annoyance. The process can also pose safety risks to workers. The good news is that there is a better way to manage retail and library renovations, and it's available only through your StarNet Member professional flooring contractor.

 Volume: 5 |  Issue: 1 |  Download

On the surface, flooring projects may seem fairly straightforward. Specify a nice floorcovering. Negotiate a fair price with the installer. Down goes the floor and in comes the furniture and building occupants. But, scratch that surface and the potential pitfalls that can undermine your flooring project reveal themselves. What if the subfloor has hidden moisture? How about the floorcovering that's missing in action even though the furniture has arrived? What if the installation looks awful due to sub-par equipment or workmanship? Then there's the problems that sneak up after-the-fact, like the floorcovering that looks great the day it is installed, but starts to ugly-out a few months later. And, every specifier's and facility manager's worst nightmare: the floor that becomes unsafe due to trip and fall hazards. Now that straightforward flooring project is a huge issue, if not a serious liability. How do you anticipate problems, and better yet, prevent them from compromising your flooring project? The solution is to work with contractors who are committed to bringing your job in on time and on budget, despite all the potential pitfalls.

 Volume: 4 |  Issue: 6 |  Download

We've created our own maintenance monster, in a sense, because today's carpets are masters of disguise. The intricate patterns mask soiling and stains. The advanced fibers and backings are engineered to resist crushing and fluid absorption. New dying techniques ensure that carpet colors stay bright, vibrant and colorfast. Yarn treatments applied during manufacturing and even some after-market treatments, effectively repel stains. All this can create a false sense of security.