Buying and installing carpet can be one of best investments you can make to increase the appearance and comfort of your home. Knowing the basics in how to purchase carpet can not only save you time and money, but can also ensure that you get a quality carpet that will not only enhance the beauty of your home, but also will last for many years.
The first rule of carpeting buying is to get multiple quotes from a minimum of three carpet sales and installation sources. Prices, discounts, and buying incentives, such as free installation can vary tremendously from one seller to the next. When selecting the buying sources from which to get quotes never include the cheap discount outlet that operates from a temporary facility or in some cases, out of large truck. These discount carpet sellers invariably sell cheap, low quality carpet that will do everything but add to the beauty of your home.
Once you have selected a minimum of three reputable sources of carpet sales get measurements for the rooms you which to carpet. Measure the length and width of each room, hallway, and closet you wish to carpet. Multiply the length by the width to determine the square foot requirements for each room. For stairs to be carpeted measure the length and width of the stairs and the rise of the step. The carpet salesperson can convert this measurement to square feet or yards of carpet required.
Prior to visiting the carpet showroom decide which criteria are most important to you in selecting a carpet. Your considerations should include price, durability, appearance, pattern, carpet pattern, etc.
Most often your requirements will be a combination of criteria, for example “low price, high durability”. If your home has young children or high traffic from family or visitors durability will be a key factor in your carpet selection choice. If you are a retired couple with little outside traffic in your home you may select a higher end luxurious carpet and be less concerned about wear.
Making these decisions are critical to selecting the best carpet for your needs. These selection criteria must be made prior to ever visiting a showroom.
The following are some key considerations to made when purchasing carpet:
1. Determine the carpet fiber that best fits your need.
Most, if not all, carpet fibers used today are man-made, synthetic fibers, but these vary in characteristics and performance. Based on your specific application and carpet location select the fiber that best fit’s the criteria you have set (above).
Nylon fiber is one the oldest and most durable of all carpet fibers. It will wear longer and clean up better than other synthetic fibers. Nylon fiber is nest used in high traffic areas or in homes with young children. To maintain its’ stain resistance nylon fibers must be treated with protective coatings (such as Scotch guard) over its’ long lifetime.
As a note: I have had a 100% nylon carpet installed in my sunroom for 27 years. It cleans and maintains its’ appearance beautifully and still looks like new.
Nylon fiber costs from $8 to $40 per square yard.
Polyester fiber is similar to nylon, but has a softer hand and feels softer and more luxurious than nylon. Polyester can be treated to be stain resistant, but does not clean as easily as nylon. This fiber also tend to shed and as a result is best used in low traffic areas.
Polyester costs from $6 to $20 per square yard.
Polypropylene fiber (Olefin) is a man-made fiber that has proved to have good stain resistance and relatively good durability (not as good as nylon). It is often used in high traffic areas such as playrooms, dens, family rooms as a less expensive substitute for nylon.
Polypropylene costs from $6 to $22 per square yard.
Wool and wool blend fibers are still available in very expensive, decorative carpet. Carpets made from wool have a luxurious hand that is unmatched by any synthetic fiber. Wool carpets are relatively durable, but show wear patterns quickly in high traffic areas and as a result are used primarily in rooms and homes in which traffic is low.
Wool carpet fiber costs from $15 to $50 per square yard.
2. Consider Yarn Density:
Once the carpet fiber has been selected you will need to consider the density of fiber placement. In effect, you will need to consider the number of carpet threads there are in a square yard of carpet. This is important as you can select and buy the most expensive carpet fiber, but if these fibers are distributed in a very low density you will still have an expensive and less durable carpet that will not last over time.
One initial check of fiber density id to fold a face section of the carpet back until the carpet backing is exposed. If there are visibly wide gaps between the carpet threads the density is low and the carpet will be subject to fast wear and a short life.
The best check of thread density is to check the carpet face weight which is expressed in ounces per square yard. The higher the weight the more durable the carpet. Don’t accept anything less than 30 ounces per square yard.
3. Consider Yarn Strength (Twist)
Other factors to consider include yarn twist. Carpet yarns are twisted to add strength to the yarn. The higher the twist in carpet yarn, the stronger and more durable the carpet will be. Yarn twist is expressed in twist (or turns) per inch of yarn length. Do not purchase carpet with yarn twist of 3 or less turns per inch.
Finally, after selecting a carpet that meets all of your carefully chosen criteria do not attempt to save money by purchasing a low end quality carpet pad. A low quality carpet pad can significantly shorten the life of your carpet. Most carpet manufacturers suggest a quality pad must have a density rating of no less than five pounds (greater than six is preferred). Many carpet warranties specify a carpet pad with a six pound density or higher in order for the warranty to be valid.
The above are the critical factors in carpet selection. There are many others such as color, style, texture, thickness, etc, but these are left to the homeowner’s taste.
I hope the above helps make your carpet selection easier.
