Buying a new carpet for your home requires more than just deciding what color you like the most. But while color is certainly an important point to consider, particularly if you want the carpet to look good in the room where you plan to install it, there are other factors that are just as critical to keep in mind if you expect to get something that’s going to last.
That’s right, quality counts. You’re purchasing more than a floor covering, you’re placing an accessory into your home that you are going to live with for the next five to ten years or more. So you want to make sure you not only love to look at it, but that it provides you with all of the necessary attributes that are best for your home.
Before you head out to that carpet store, consider the following points as you make your selection:
Where It’s Going
Think about which room you are planning to install the carpet. This will have a big impact on the many other decisions you will need to make for purchasing your new carpeting. Should you be looking for carpet that is going to be laid down in your living room, you know it’s going to receive considerably more foot traffic than a master bedroom or a guest room.
Choosing the right color can be helpful in minimizing the effects of the wear and tear the carpet will receive on a regular basis, but you may also decide to make other decisions as to the style, density, even stain-resistance and allergic reactions that can come from natural vs. synthetic fibers.
Simply put, the more people who you expect to spend time in the room where the carpet is going will urge you to decide on carpeting that can withstand all of that foot traffic. If you have pets and children who will be spending any amount of time on or near the carpet with any consistency, then you are going to want to take even greater consideration as to the type of carpet you select and the features it offers.
Style
When you buy your carpet, you want a product that’s built to last especially in the face of high levels of foot traffic. The style of carpet you select will play a part in ensuring that it can meet the challenges that you plan to throw at it once you have the material in your room.
Many of the more common style types are likely familiar to you such as twist, shag, plush, and saxony. Every one of them has certain positive advantages that can give your home that beautiful, unique aesthetic to make any room look its best.
However, style is just one aspect of the carpet’s overall design and manufacturing qualities. You must also consider the fibers, specifically the pile and the loop of the fibers. These are both going to be different from one style to the next and they can have an effect on how to determine the resilience and durability of the carpet.
Density
Here is another important facet of your carpeting to consider because it’s another indication of your carpet’s quality. You can expect your durability to be increased or decreased based on your carpet’s density.
So what is density then? Density refers to the fibers, namely the spacing of those fibers in how they’ve been stitched into the backing of your carpet. The thicker the density of the carpeting, the more durable you can expect it to be in your home and resist the daily wear and tear of typical foot traffic.
You may find similar styles of carpet to have different densities. So just because you’re buying a shag carpet does not necessarily mean you can expect the density to be the same as every other shag carpet out there. This is the same for carpets with similar fibers and pile as well. Don’t think your density is pre-determined based solely on the style of carpet you’re buying.
Face Weight
Just because the word “weight” is in the terminology does not mean you can tell how durable or thick the carpet is when you buy it. In fact, face weight refers to the weight of the pile and not the weight or thickness of the carpet or the fibers.
Density is about the placement of the fibers in the material, face weight is one factor that dictates the overall weight and heaviness of the carpet. Using them together as a basis for deciding on the carpet you wish to purchase is only part of the equation, even if they are both important factors to keep in mind.
Manufacturer’s Warranty
When you are comparing the carpet options you want to buy, consider the warranty that comes with each of them. Warranties are becoming a common component of purchasing new carpet and consumers are reaping the benefits. But you want to make sure that the warranty you are getting with the carpet you choose is sufficient enough to protect your purchase.
These warranties will typically cover the carpet from certain things like manufacturing defects or other potential perils that are all outlined in the wording of the warranty. Be sure you read the warranty or at least understand it fully before you ultimately decide on the carpet you plan to purchase.
One of the things you need to completely understand about the way your warranty works is the instructions or recommendations for care. Most such warranties only remain valid if you are maintaining the carpet properly. We all know you need to keep carpet clean but if you fail in these duties, you could end up voiding the agreement between you and the carpet manufacturer.
The warranty typically suggests that you call a carpet cleaner Arlington every 12-24 months and have them come over to professionally deep clean the carpet. If you fail to provide this minimal amount of care, you could be left paying for any carpet repairs or replacement out of your own pocket when those costs would have normally been taken care of under the warranty.
