How to Choose Your New Carpet
If you want both great style and lasting durability, there are several important factors to consider.
1. Foot Traffic
Where are you putting this carpet? Is it a high traffic area such as a hallway, a child’s room, or a family room? This is one of the most important considerations in choosing your new carpet.
There are many different fibers and methods of construction in today’s carpet industry, allowing you to have just the right carpet for each area of your home based on specific needs. It makes sense to choose a very durable carpet for the highest traffic areas so the wear and tear won’t show right away. Great choices might include a nylon carpet which is made of exceptionally durable fibers and is the most popular of today’s choices.
2. Style
Are you more interested in a carpet that will easily blend into your décor and become a subtle background for your room, or would you rather make a bold statement with your carpet that complements your furnishings and window treatments? The choice is surely yours and the options are many!
It’s important to think about how long you intend to stick with your carpet choice and choose wisely when it comes to color, patterns, and textures. Today’s carpet industry is far more sophisticated than in years past. You can find carpet in almost any imaginable style today with color choices that range from bright and bold to subtle and sophisticated.
Carpet with designs, patterns, and textures can provide just the right backdrop to create the atmosphere you want. Just be sure you can live with your choices for a while if you step out of the box when making your selection!
3. Durability
What is the specific need for each room you are carpeting? If you choose very durable fibers you can expect your carpet to last much longer. However, if you’re placing carpet in an area that won’t be used often, this consideration is not nearly so important. If you choose the right type of carpet for each room in your home, you should enjoy your carpet for many years.
Your primary options include nylon, olefin, polyester, acrylic, wool, or blends.
· Nylon is today’s most popular choice, offering resilience and resistance to stains and soils.
· Olefin is another popular choice because of its resistance to stains, static electricity, and moisture.
· Polyester is good choice and has a luxurious appearance, is easily cleaned, and is resistant to water-soluble stains.
· Acrylic provides a beautiful appearance of wool with a less expensive price tag.
· Wool is the most luxurious of all carpeting choices but isn’t the most practical for a young family with children or high traffic areas.
· Carpet Blends such as acrylic/olefin and nylon/olefin are also options.
Choose Carpet that Really Works for You and Your Family
Depending on your specific needs, there are great carpet choices for you and your family – choices that will fit your lifestyle, your sense of fashion and your budget. If you do a little research before you buy, you’ll know your investment will pay off and provide the style and comfort you want for you and your family.
Once you’ve explored your carpet options, be sure to consider the care and maintenance required to keep your carpet looking attractive before you make your purchase. Choose carpet that requires the type of care you have time to provide. With normal cleaning and care, you and your family should be able to enjoy your carpet for a very long time.
Get a great selection of high quality products from DirectBuy for your redecorating, remodeling, or building project including carpeting and furnishings at wholesale prices direct from leading manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Make your home remodeling project as simple as it can be – all at great savings for you!
Tags: Flooring, Indoor Carpet, Interior Carpet
September 4th, 2007 at 11:00 am
I hate to vacuum so which carpet type is low-maintenance?
September 10th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Hello, Dorris,
Unfortunately, vacuuming is one of the most universally despised household chores. However, it’s also one that can’t be easily eliminated from your cleaning routine. In lightly-used rooms, you can get away with vacuuming once each week. But the experts advise stepping it up to two or three times a week for moderately-used rooms – and, if possible, every day for high-traffic areas or homes with pets.
Although it’s easy to skip vacuuming from time to time, there’s a good reason why we should stay on top of it. Without properly taking care of your new carpet, dirt will get into it and break down the fibers, making the carpet wear out more quickly. Some manufacturers stipulate that not vacuuming regularly can void the warranty, so it’s a good idea to see how they recommend you care for a carpet before you purchase it.
That said, there are some carpets that will be better for hiding dirt, vacuum tracks and general wear and tear. Look into Berber or frieze styles with a pattern or flecked color throughout. These carpets will still require TLC to keep them looking good for years to come, but they are more forgiving, especially in high-traffic areas.
September 24th, 2007 at 11:14 am
What is the importance of the carpet pad, and how will it affect my specific carpet selection?
September 26th, 2007 at 10:31 am
Hi Christine,
While you likely will spend a lot of time choosing your carpet, it’s crucial to put just as much thought into choosing your carpet pad.
Here are some reasons you should look into a carpet pad:
• It acts as a cushion to alleviate the pressure of your steps and make your carpet feel thicker and softer.
• It improves your carpet’s sound absorption and thermal insulation properties.
• Carpet pads provide a space between the carpet and subfloor for carpet to “breathe.” More air and dirt comes up through the carpet, for more effective cleaning.
• Your carpet will last longer, because the pad will help the carpet maintain its pile height and look new longer.
This last point about keeping your carpet looking good is the reason why when you buy a carpet, the manufacturer may also require you to buy a carpet pad as a condition of the warranty. But don’t think you can buy any carpet pad and still be covered by your warranty. You have to check out the manufacturer’s recommendations first for where the carpet will be in your home, the level of traffic and other factors. If you don’t, not only will it void the warranty, but your carpet just won’t last as long.
For example, in bedrooms and other areas with light or moderate traffic, use a thicker or softer carpet pad. In heavy-traffic areas (living rooms, family rooms, hallways, stairs, etc.), you’ll need a thinner and firmer carpet pad.
The different types of carpet pads each offer their own benefits when used with the right kind of carpet.
Here are the kinds of carpet pads you’ll see on the market:
• Foam carpet pads
• Rubber carpet pads
• Fiber carpet pads
To discover which is the best kind of carpet pad for you, ask your manufacturer for guidance and always check your warranty.
September 27th, 2007 at 11:23 am
Does DirectBuy install carpet or do I have to hire my own contractor?
October 1st, 2007 at 10:50 am
Hi David
We hear that question a lot!
Your local DirectBuy showroom offers a “local suppliers, contractors and installers” program for a variety of services, including carpet installation. Because each DirectBuy location is independently owned and operated, they are able to offer products and services from local vendors and installers, in addition to those that are available nationally at our showrooms across North America.
These services are one of the many benefits of a DirectBuy membership, and can help you save time and money as you create the home of your dreams.
October 3rd, 2007 at 1:23 pm
My husband and I want to re-carpet our house, but we are looking for advice on what carpet is better for people that have strong allergies?
October 5th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Hi Amy,
Unfortunately, there is no known allergy-free floor covering. Within the flooring industry, there are some different opinions about which types of flooring are best for people with allergies.
For example, the Carpet and Rug Institute maintains that carpet is a good choice for anyone with allergy problems, because carpet traps dust. They say that on hard surfaces, dust lays on top and is released back into your breathing zone. Of course, no matter what kind of carpet you choose, you’ll need to take good care of it to safeguard against allergy issues. You should vacuum your carpet at least twice a week and have it professionally cleaned about every 12 to 18 months, or the schedule your manufacturer recommends. Remember, investing in a high-performance vacuum will make keeping your carpet clean easier and ensure a healthier indoor environment.
However, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America encourages you to opt for hardwood vinyl, linoleum tile or slate instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. Why? They say carpet is a haven for dust mites, the tiny insects that wreak havoc on allergies. Bare floors with small, washable area rugs are easier to keep free of dust mites than carpeting. However, the Foundation cautions you to look carefully at the type of finishing products used on hardwood floors and schedule a professional cleaning after installation to remove sanding and dusting residue.
Of course, what you choose really depends on the type and severity of your husband’s allergies. Because flooring is a part of your home that will be difficult to change, ask your husband’s allergist for recommendations before you make your decision.
The most important guideline to keep in mind: Don’t think that allergy-friendly flooring can’t reflect your personal style. Whether you choose carpet or hardwood, DirectBuy offers a wide range of flooring styles that will help you create the home of your dreams without breaking your budget.
October 24th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Can I get commercial grade carpeting through DirectBuy?
October 26th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Hello Casey,
We hear that question a lot from homeowners, and the answer is yes. DirectBuy offers a huge selection of carpeting, both residential and commercial, from top manufacturers at prices you won’t find anywhere else.
Remember, you’ll want to review the manufacturer’s guidelines for use of a specific carpet to ensure it matches your needs prior to selection.
October 31st, 2007 at 10:40 am
We just moved our furniture and re-arranged our living room. The carpet has flattened out where our furniture was previously. Will these indentions go away with time, or is there anything else we can do?
November 1st, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Hi Jeanette,
That’s a question that stumps a lot of homeowners!
You’re correct in thinking that these indentations will lessen or disappear with time. However, how quickly they go away really depends on the weight of your living room furniture and how long pieces were sitting in one spot.
If you want to hurry the process along a bit, try steam-cleaning that part of your carpet and vacuuming it frequently.
December 4th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
What are the benefits of carpet blends vs. a carpet made from one material?
December 6th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Hi Betty,
The flooring experts at DirectBuy say that there’s no clear benefit of opting for a carpet blend over a carpet made from one type of material.
Keep in mind that most carpets on the market are not blends made from different types of material. However, you have probably looked at carpets that feature a subtle mix of colors throughout. These are flecks of colors within the carpet and not different types of fibers.
If you have questions, visit your local DirectBuy showroom. You’ll find a huge variety of flooring options from top manufacturers, plus product specialists and designers who are specially trained to help you choose the best option for your home.
January 28th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
We are replacing our flooring and are leaning towards carpet. What advantages does carpet have over wood or tile flooring?
January 31st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Hi Susie,
While hardwood and tile floors have enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years, carpet, with its many styles, textures and types of construction, continues to be the standby choice for consumers. The reason? Carpet will maintain its beauty and durability for many years when it is properly chosen, installed and cleaned. Well known for its ability to provide warmth and style to a room, absorb unwanted noise and provide firm traction, carpet is a logical choice for most families.
Other benefits include:
Carpet provides actual thermal resistance, or R-value. In colder climates or seasons, it retains warm air longer, an energy conservation benefit.
Carpet also provides a comfortable place to sit, play or work and gives a room an overall warmer feeling.
Carpet is ideal for cushioning our footsteps, reducing slips and falls and minimizing injuries when falls do occur.
Carpet provides safety protection for the whole family, but especially for toddlers and older individuals.
Carpet also works as a sound barrier between floors by helping to block sound transmission to rooms below.
Carpet on stairs helps mask the sound of constant foot traffic.
At DirectBuy, you can choose from many thousands of carpet styles and colors. Your ultimate choice will reflect how you want to personalize your living space. Carpet can be a neutral foundation, or it can be a focal point with vibrant colors and stronger bolder patterns and textures. The Product Specialists at DirectBuy can help you pick out the carpet that works best for your home, while complimenting your walls and furniture.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:20 am
Iam currently building a house. We’re almost ready for flooring. We’ve chosen to put carpet throughout most of the house, besides the kitchen, bath and laundry room. Anyway, we are on a pretty strict budget. I need to know what quality of carpet is best. Like, do I have to buy the super expensive stuff for it to last and stay looking nice? I know that carpets have different weights and densities, does anyone know I should look for when I begin shopping around?
May 16th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Hi Christopher,
New carpet can be a fairly large investment. Choosing the types of carpet that meet all of your needs, rather than choosing by color or style alone will help insure that you get the best value. You should be able to find the perfect carpet to fit your needs and price. Below is some basic information on different types of carpets to help you with your selection.
PLUSH
This type of carpet is usually one solid color and has a smooth, even pile height. It is the most popular style used in homes and apartments today. You can find practically any color imaginable. A plush carpet made of nylon cleans easily and will wear well if properly maintained. Plush carpets will show footprints and vacuum marks.
TEXTURED PLUSH
This plush carpet style often has more than one color of yarn and has varying tuft heights, thus reducing footprint and vacuum marks. It comes in many colors and has about the same cost as an even pile-height plush style.
FRIEZE
This style of carpet has very tightly twisted tufts and wears very well. This style of carpet can last 15 years or more. It is often used in heavy traffic areas and provides reduced footprint and vacuum marks. Typically more expensive than plush styles, this would be a durable and elegant selection for the home.
BERBER
Berber has become quite popular in recent years because of its elegant appearance. The tufts are looped and aligned in rows for a clean uniform look. If you like Berber but are looking for a high performance carpet, be sure to select one with smaller loops to get the best wear. Large-looped Berbers tend to collapse quickly and look worn-out sooner.
VELVET
Velvet carpet, or “Smooth Velvet,” is cut many times to create a velvet-like shimmer. Velvets are lush, elegant carpets and are perfect for the most formal settings. More formal types of carpet do not hide tracking. Every mark will show, which is why tracking marks are sometimes incorporated into the design plan. The carpet is gently raked to make shapes that compliment the rest of the decor. The design can be changed frequently to give the carpet a new, interesting look each day.
At DirectBuy, you can choose from thousands of carpet styles and colors. Your ultimate choice will reflect how you want to personalize your living space. Carpet can be a neutral foundation, or it can be a focal point with vibrant colors and stronger bolder patterns and textures. The Product Specialists at DirectBuy can help you pick out the carpet that works best for your home, while complimenting your walls and furniture.