What to Look for When Shopping for New Carpet

Today there are so many carpet choices available that it’s hard to get a clear grasp on what’s what. Multiple styles, materials, stain resistances, and warranties make shopping for carpet a major pain. Throw in the fact that different carpet salesmen tend to say different things and you’ve got a migraine headache in the making.

First realize that there are only a few main categories of carpet to choose from. The first is berber carpet which is simply any carpet with loops. A cut-loop carpet is a combination of berber and cut pile which brings us to the next carpet style; cut pile. A traditional cut pile has dense, straight fibers. A textured cut pile is simply a cut pile carpet with alternating thread lengths. A plush carpet is a cut pile with thin tightly twisted threads and a finely sheered finish. A frieze is a cut pile carpet that has been twisted and then crimped somewhere along the fibers length. A shag carpet is essentially an out of control frieze with very long threads. Shags are a pain in the rear end to clean and often times require a carpet rake.

Traditionally, berber carpets stand up well to wear and tear. The most common carpet types you’ll find in homes nowadays are cut piles and berbers. Patterned carpets are becoming increasingly popular and are normally made out of cut loop carpet. The raised and lowered combinations of loops and straight threads are used to create intricate patterns.

If you want to play it safe, we suggest selecting a traditional textured cut pile or berber carpet. Avoid wild colors and patterns as it may make selling your home more difficult down the road. Traditionally, indicators of quality in a carpet are pile height, tightness of twists, and density. If your fingers can easily breach the carpet and touch the backing, you may want to move on to a different carpet sample.

As far as stain resistance and material you’ll need to research your options. Keep in mind that nylon carpet tends to be more stain resistant while wool is less so but more durable overall. Consult your salesman regarding which carpet is best for you. Be sure to inform him of the age of your children and any pets that you may have. For instance, a delicate white plush may not be your best choice if you have eleven cats and five children.

When evaluating stain resistance decide how long you’ll need to live with your new carpet. Spray on Scotch Guard treatments tend to come off when your carpet is steam cleaned while carpet made from Stainmaster retains its built in stain resistance for life. A new product, Smartstrand Sorona looks very promising and may be a good item to research. According to the Mohawk website, carpet made from Smartstrand Fibers is resistant to bleach and extremely durable.

Whichever carpet you choose, be sure to do your research ahead of time. Shop around and ask for several different bids before making your choice. Don’t fall in love with the first carpet sample you find at the first store you shop at. Carpet is something that you’ll be stuck with for a long while. It’s not a decision that you want to make hastily.

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Greg is a carpet cleaning guru at how-to-clean-carpet.com