Prices Will Floor You

Nothing revives a tired-looking room as quickly, effectively--and expensively--as new flooring. Whether it’s carpet or hardwood or tile, new flooring is one of the costliest redecorating projects.

Several years ago I discovered a deal in carpeting called a “pull-up.” A taupe shag that had once graced a meeting room at the Century Plaza Hotel was selling for an incredibly low price. A hotel liquidator (since out of business) had about 300 yards of it--most in almost-perfect shape.

Being a bit short on funds, I grabbed it and carpeted my 1,600-square-foot apartment for $610 with padding and installation. It looked terrific and lasted for years.

Most stores that sell used carpeting offer the dregs. At The Carpet Club, where pull-ups are a small part of the inventory, the quality ranges from good to excellent.

The Carpet Club gets its pull-ups from three different carpet mills that have accepted a return from a customer who was not happy with it. Most of the pull-ups have been used from one week to three months and are in wonderful condition. Owners Mike Cope and Russ Shepherd will roll one out so you can see if there are any problems, and most good installers can seam pieces so they don’t show. A coral nylon plush that sold for $35 a yard new is $10--and that’s with padding and installation. All the pull-ups range from $7 to $12 a yard.

The Carpet Club is a cheery, clean operation in a new mini-mall. Even the warehouse in the back, where the pull-ups are kept, is organized and tidy. The business is licensed by the Contractors State License Board, which means it is fully insured and bonded.

WHERE AND WHEN

Location: The Carpet Club, 16681 Roscoe Blvd., North Hills.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, or by appointment.

Credit Cards: MasterCard and Visa.

Call: (818) 376-1230.