30 - Friday, November 18, 1988 — North Shore News LIFESTYLES} CHOOSING FLOOR COVERINGS Get the best car} INVESTING IN new carpet is an important decorating decision and a wise choice will provide many years of beauty and easy maintenance. “There is no such thing as the ‘best’ carpet, just as there is no ‘best’ car,’’ advises the Canadian Carpet Institute (CCI). The best carpet for one room or one indi- vidual may not be the best for another. To get the best buy, you must first ‘understand the product. Then, begin to define your needs and budget. A reputable and knowledgeable retailer can help guide you to ensure that you get the most value for your motiey. There is no doubt that different styles and grades of carpet vary widely in price. There are many different levels of quality available. However, the CCI ad- vises that the basic terminology and carpet components are the same regardless of style: © Carpet fibre — The carpet fibre is the raw material from which carpet surface or pile is made. It can make the difference between a carpet that simply looks beautiful and one that is both beautiful and durable. Although there seems to be a long list of different carpet fibres, there are actually only five generic or basic types. These are wool, a natural fibre, and the man-made or synthetic fibres: nylon, polypropylene (olefin), polyester and acrylic. Approximately 97 per cent of alt carpet is produced using these state of the art synthetic fibres which provide style, easy maintenance and ‘outstanding value for today’s consumer. Wool, the traditional carpet fibre and leader in the higher pric- ed luxury lines, is still regarded as the one others have to live up to in many of their properties. Soft and warm to the touch, it is highly resilient and very durable when densely constructed. Wool accepts dyes very well and thus comes in a wonderful array of col- ors and patterns. It is also resistant to damage from burns. Although it is subject to static build-up under dry condi- tions and can be damaged by moths and other insects, protection against these dangers is generally incorporated during carpet manufacture. The low lustre level of wool provides a velvety finish which is most attractive. Nylon is the fibre that accounts for about 75 nec cent of all Cana- dian carpet sold today. One reason for nylon’s tremen- dous popularity is its toughness and versatility. Many carpets first produced of nylon had a somewhat synthetic appearance and suffered from static and soiiing problems. Today’s nylon, however, is almost indistinguishable from the more traditional natural fibres and has built in, anti-soil, anti-static and anti-staining properties which are permanent for the life of the carpet. Even anti-microbial treat- ments can be incorporated. Polypropylene (olefin), once generally thought of as a fibre for indvor/outdoor carpet because of its resistance to fading and en- vironmental degradation, is fin- ding increasing usage, particularly in dense loop pile styles and to some extent in cut pile construc- tion. By nature, polypropylene is highly resistant to soiling, stains and static build-up and provides a moderately priced, easy-to-main- tain floorcovering for many ap- plications. Polyester is a familiar name to most consumers of clothing and household articles, particularly as a blend fibre with cotton and wool. Although not as widely used in carpets as nylon, polyester has recently gained in popularity and has similar properties of durabili- ty. Somewhat less resilient than nylon, polyester carpets are usually styled in dense, fairly heavy con- structions which provide good per- formance and a soft, luxurious feel. Polyester is not prone to developing high static levels and can be protected against soils and stains. The popularity of acrylic carpet fibre has declined in recent years. Acrylic fibres have a soft, lux- urious and wool-like feel and can be adapted to many carpet styles. They are generally found in high quality carpets alone or biended with wool or nylon and are therefore relatively expensive. Again, there are many fibres with brand names which are heavi- ly advertised by their producers. A shopper can quickly identify branded fibres by labels affixed to the back of in-store samples. The industry also offers products made with unbranded fibres which are quite suitable for areas where the features of premium branded fibres (anti-static, anti-soil, etc.) may not be essential. The key is to work with a Christmas Delivery Sale SAVE 30% OFF TOTAL INVOICE! Includes fabric and labour on custom draperies, 1, NAN. upholsery and blinds. 985-6149 knowledgeable retailer who understands your needs and who CCD-F30 Handycam with Superimposer 1488 ¢7 SPECIAL BONUS PACK WHEN YOU BUY CAMERA & CARRYING CASE (Vaiue $200) Become a> uy offers a variety of products by reputable carpet manufacturers. ccD-V9 8mm VIDEO CAMCORDER High performance CamCorder / tull func- tion playback deck C) High density 2/3" CCD image sensor, RGB color process Q Increas- ed low-light Sensitivity {5 LUX) 0 Variable speed shutter (1/2000 to 1/60 sec.) (1 Crystal- Clear freeze-frame, trame-by-frame, advance and slow motion. 1948 “BIGGEST XBR TV” UP TO 600 HORIZ. RESCLU- TION STEREO MONITOR. STAND NOT INCLUDED UNICEF Volunteer Ma Hla Hia, Burma Lor Andrea Martin Actress and Unicel Volunteer Unicef Canada ¢%) 1-800-268-6364