About Us
Mertel Carpets has more than a half century of history in Marin County.
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. But it’s not just the Novato connection that makes Mertel Carpets right for the job. They have a reputation for excellent quality products and fast, clean installation. Their reputation is so long-lived that word-of-mouth advertising is sufficient for their needs.
“We really don’t do much advertising,” says Jeff. “Nearly everything has been word-of-mouth. And that means lost of satisfied customers. “I’m personally involved in every job we do,” he continues, “And unlike some companies who subcontract the installation – to who knows who? – I have my own crew of reliable, longtime employees who always do great work.” Jeff knows another reason to maintain an impeccable reputation. “I do work for my friends and neighbors,” he says, “so I see my customers on the street. That means the work we do just has to be right.”
In addition to a full range of carpeting, Mertel Carpets sells and installs hardwood, cork, vinyl, and laminate flooring, as well as area rugs. That makes Mertel a virtual “one-stop shop” for your floor covering needs. The company carries top-quality brands of carpet, including Camelot, Catalina, Fabrica, Masland, and Tuftex, with a nice selection of patterns, berbers, sisals, and other natural-fiber products.
In wood flooring, Mertel’s carries Anderson, Lauzon, Mannington, and Legend pre-finished hardwoods. “Prefinished hardwood flooring is a great option,” says Jeff. “It’s far less messy than a sand-in-place installed hardwood floor, and it’s finished a lot quicker. You can even stay home while the installation takes place, as there won’t be any noisy power sanders running or smelly fresh finishes being applied.”
Mertel Carpets also sells bamboo flooring, which is gaining in popularity due to its natural look and its environmentally friendly, renewable characteristics.
Jeff, a true Novatan, wants to assure people that though his shop isn't in Novato, that doesn’t mean his heart isn’t there. “We aren’t that far away – only about 10 minutes south down the freeway,” he says. “And people should know that when we do a job for their home or business in Novato, the point-of-sale for tax purposes is the installation site. That means the sales tax they pay stays in Novato.” So if you’re planning a new floor or an upgrade to an existing one, call Jeff today. Or come by the showroom and see the full range of available products.
Mertel Carpets is on the east side of Hwy. 101, just north of the Marin Civic Center. It’s open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment.
