Top 10 Flooring Do's

Shag carpets and other long-pile rugs are back in style. Enjoy the new textures and forget the old ideas — this is not your grandmother's carpet.

Warm up cold bathrooms with radiant heat in the subflooring, or use a beautifully plush area rug that is made to resist mildew.

Sisal and other natural fibers will stain quickly and frequently if not treated with a sealant. Spend the money and save the rug.

Use one of the fabulous new polypropylene woven rugs as a walk-off or runner at doors or in high-traffic areas; they're quick, easy to clean ... and look great!

Apply UV (ultraviolet ray) film on windows to protect valuable rugs and floor finishes from sun damage. Think of it as sunscreen for flooring!

Never use wall tiles on bathroom floors as they are inherently slippery. Get corresponding floor tiles for a perfect match.

When shopping for floor coverings, always bring samples of your fabrics, paint colors and wallcoverings to narrow down your choices and to make the best selection.

If you have allergies but still want to go wall-to-wall, think about choosing natural fiber floor coverings, such as sisal, coir, seagrass and abacca. They pose fewer problems than conventional carpets.

Get competitive floor-covering quotes, and make sure they include the same elements — the same yardage of carpet and quality of pad, the same footage of tile and quality of grout and sealant, as well as any up-charges for flights of stairs, removal of old floor covering and freight.