Carpet Buying Guide

Where to Start

Carpeting generally uses two layers of material, the padding and the carpet proper. Exceptional cases aside, there are seven types of padding used in carpet installation today: waffle rubber, foam padding, rebond, slab rubber, fiber, berber pad, and frothed foam. Frothed foam pads are widely considered the best of the bunch. They are compatible with any type of carpet and are remarkably durable. In terms of price, it is roughly equivalent to slab rubber, and will last longer. The carpet proper is typically made from one of seven fibers: nylon (and soft nylon), PET polyester, Olefin (polypropylene), wool, acrylic, cotton, and rayon. Of these, nylon is the most commonly used (and recommended); rayon the least.

Waffle rubber is sometimes still used as padding, but usually to ill-effect. The material is really too soft to properly support the plastic backed carpet flooring used these days. The material also tends to break down easily when exposed to high traffic. This is the same essential problem with foam padding as well. When it comes to padding, the denser the material, i.e. the less air moving around under the carpet, the longer the carpet and pad will last. Rebond is used often, and can be purchased in different thicknesses for higher or lower traffic areas. Finally, for the highest of traffic areas slab rubber, fiber, or frothed foam are best. Berber carpet occasionally requires a special pad.

As stated above, nylon is the most commonly installed carpet type. However, the other types mentioned are also encountered from time to time. PET polyester looks more natural than the polyester of the past, and is liked for its resilient stain resistant quality. The material is also partially made from recycled materials, and can in turn be recycled. Stapled versions of this fiber can, however, lead to premature matting, as can improper care. Polypropylene is best suited for use as an outdoor carpet. Wool is a fine luxury carpet, but impractical and too expensive for most homes. Acrylic carpet is sometimes, though not as much as in the past, used as a wool imitation. Cotton is primarily restricted to throw rugs, and rayon is very rarely seen as a carpet fiber since the material itself is not really suited for making carpets.

Texture is another distinguishing characteristic of a carpet. A carpet’s texture can be “cut pile”, “cut and loop”,” level loop”, and multi-level loop. The level loop and multi-level loop are regarded as good choices for high-traffic areas. The “Frieze” version of the cut pile carpet texture is also a well-wearing and informal choice that minimizes footprints and can work in relatively high traffic locations. The “Saxony” and “Velvet” versions are smooth in texture and look more formal.

There are a few purchase options for people interested in quality carpet. The particularly adventurous and skilled may simply find a vendor, order the materials, and install the new carpet. For the many of us with somewhat less motivation and skill, carpet installation can be performed by a professional carpet installation service. Many showrooms work with their own team or know a network of reputable service providers.

With respect to carpet warranties there are a number of things to consider. For one, the “10 year wear warranty” offered by the majority of carpet manufacturers is conditional. In most cases this warranty only really covers the rate of fiber loss of the carpet. If within ten years any part of the carpet loses 10% or more of its fiber, the manufacturer is obligated to replace only the affected part. As one would assume, this warranty is seldom claimed or honored. The “stain warranty” is another industry stand-by. The main thing to be aware of here is that there is no such thing as a truly stain-proof carpet. These warranties seldom cover stains from such household commons as tea, (animal) vomit, inks, or other chemicals, etc. Always gather as much information on a warranty as possible before making a purchase.

Before the professionals come in to install the new carpet, be sure the installation agreement is clearly written and understood so that both you and they know exactly the work to be done and with what materials. When shopping for someone to install your new carpet, ask questions. Any installer unable to give you up-front and honest answers to questions like “how much experience does this team of installers have” should not be worked with. Some installers will remove the old carpet and dispose of it for you. If you must dispose of the old carpet yourself, be sure to vacuum it before removal. Once removed, clean and vacuum the floor so that nothing will be left under the new carpet when it is installed. With proper care your new carpet should provide style and comfort for years to come.

Outdoor Carpets

Outdoor carpet has many different uses.  It can be a welcome addition to your outdoor space or a high-traffic room in your home.  But before you purchase outdoor carpet, you need to know what to look for so that you get quality carpeting for your indoor or outdoor space.

Types of Outdoor Carpet

When considering carpet, outdoor spaces can be livened up by a wide variety of carpet choices.  Perhaps the most commonly thought of type of carpet outdoor spaces see is grass carpet.  Grass carpet, sometimes referred to as Astroturf, works well on sporting areas, but most people prefer not to have this type of carpet in their own backyards.

Outdoor Berber carpets are also available.  These carpets, which look quite a bit like indoor carpets, come in a wide range of colors and patterns.  The main reason people use this type of carpet outdoors is because it is highly durable and will keep people from tracking dirt and mud into the home.  Often Berber is the carpet of choice for an outdoor carpet rug.  It makes a great flooring for a gazebo or sun porch.

Outdoor Carpet Tiles

One excellent, fairly new product that is out there is indoor outdoor carpet tile.  This product can be used both inside and outside and comes in easy-to-install self-adhesive tiles.  To install this carpet, indoors or outdoors, simply remove the backing and stick it in place.  It fits together like a puzzle, so when you use indoor outdoor carpet tile, you cannot see the seams. 

Difference Between Indoor and Outdoor Carpet

When you put carpet outdoors, it has to be durable and resistant to moisture.  While many outdoor carpets used today look much like indoor carpets, they have a different fiber make up.  Outdoor carpet is made from a special fiber that is called olefin.  Olefin is very resistant to damage from moisture.  Because most outdoor carpets look like indoor carpets, many people are putting indoor outdoor carpets in rooms that are prone to moisture damage, such as basements.  Read more about indoor outdoor carpet here: http://www.carpets-guide.com/indoor-outdoor-carpet.html.

Benefits of Indoor Outdoor Carpet

Whether you use your carpet outdoors or indoors, there are many benefits to purchasing indoor outdoor carpeting.  First, it is very resistant to staining.  In fact, this carpet is some of the most durable you can find.  All you have to do to clean it is vacuum it like you normally would.  Another benefit is that deep cleaning, when needed, is easy.  Because this carpeting is so resistant to damage from water, you can simply wash it off using your household cleaner and water.  Finally, indoor outdoor carpet resists the wear and tear of normal life, making it an excellent choice for busy households with pets and children.

Oriental Rugs

Things You Need to Know When Shopping for an Oriental Carpet

When buying an oriental carpet there are many things that you need to know.  These things will help you ensure that you are getting the most for your money.  Many people assume that they have purchased an authentic oriental rug and carpet only to find later that they have purchased nothing more than a good, or not so good, replica of an oriental rug.

You need to really inspect an oriental carpet before you buy it.  You should look on the back of the rug to inspect the color and wave.  Many artificial oriental rugs are lighter on the back and the front because they have been artificially aged.  This doesn’t mean you can’t buy it, you should just know that you aren’t getting an antique oriental rug.

You should also know that Iran, Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Tibet, Turkey, Aserbaijan, Morocco, Romania, Egypt, Armenia, and Albania are generally where genuine oriental carpet comes from.  If you know where an oriental rug comes from it can help you determine if it is genuine and if it is worth top dollar.  This knowledge can come in very handy when it comes time to bargain with the sales people at a rug shop.

Another thing that you will want to do when shopping for an oriental rug and carpet is to test the color.  The last thing you want is a rug that will transfer color onto other surfaces.  You can test colorfastness simply by rubbing a damp rag over the surface of the rug.  If the color bleeds onto the rag you should probably keep looking.

When you are shopping for an antique oriental carpet you should know that there are no genuine carpets of this nature that are made from nylon of polypropylene, despite what a salesman might want to tell you.  Wool and even silk are used, but never these synthetic materials.  You should also know that brands such as Wilton, Karistan, and Couristan are machine made rugs and they are not really oriental rugs, though they replicate the designs well.

Where to Shop for an Oriental Rug and Carpet

When shopping for an oriental rug you should look for a reputable dealer that understands what you are looking for.  You want someone who is knowledgeable and you will probably want to stay away from going out of business sales as well as hotel room sales if you want quality rugs.  You should also steer clear of stores that do not offer price tags.

Saving Money on an Oriental Carpet

You can save money when you buy an oriental carpet.  If you are at a store you can ask the salesman to barter with you.  Even if you can get the salesman to take a dollar off of each square foot you can save a lot of money.  You can also trade in your old oriental carpet so that you are basically getting something newer or different for an even trade or just a bit more.  Many people can save money when buying by dealing with reputable auction houses.