Shopping for carpet is a lot like shopping for a car. It involves a huge financial investment; all the different types of carpet, styles, colors and brands can make your head spin; and you often end up dealing with high-pressure salespeople. The experience can be so overwhelming that it&#;s tempting to shop with only a basic color and style in mind and rely on salespeople for recommendations.
Carpeting is one of the largest investments you&#;ll make in your home. By doing some basic homework, comparison shopping and working with a reputable retailer, you&#;ll be able to understand the types of carpet that will work best for your home and buy carpeting that fits your needs&#;and gives you confidence that you&#;re getting a quality product for a good price.
Here, we&#;ll give you basic background information on several types of carpet and carpet styles. We&#;ll go over how to look for quality and discuss the primary things to think about when you&#;re shopping for new carpeting.
Editor&#;s Note: We&#;re going to focus on synthetic fibers in this article. Natural fibers like wool are gorgeous, but they&#;re out of most people&#;s price range.
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It outperforms all other fibers in durability, resilience and easy maintenance. This is a good choice if you want your carpet to last a decade or longer, for high-traffic areas, and in homes with kids and pets. Higher quality nylon fibers are &#;branded,&#; and the carpet label will use terms like &#;100% Mohawk Nylon&#; or &#;100% Stainmaster Tactesse.&#; Lower-quality, &#;unbranded&#; nylon fibers are listed simply as &#;100% nylon.&#; The strongest and softest type (and most expensive) is 6.6 nylon. Nylon carpet cost is $10 to $45 per sq. yd.
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It is a newly classified fiber derived partly from corn sugar. It has excellent, permanent anti-stain properties (nylon must be treated with stain protectors over its life span). It also has good resilience, but it&#;s too soon to tell whether it will match the durability of nylon in high-traffic areas. Because of its superior stain resistance, this is a good choice if you have young kids or pets. Triexta carpet cost is $20 to $45 per sq. yd.
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Also called PET, polyester is stain resistant, very soft and luxurious underfoot, and is available in deep and vibrant colors. However it&#;s harder to clean, tends to shed and isn&#;t as durable as nylon. It&#;s best used in low-traffic areas (like bedrooms) and in households without kids or pets. A nice, cushy choice if you like to exercise on the carpet. Polyester carpet cost is $8 to $18 per sq. yd.
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It is an attractive, inexpensive fiber that&#;s strong and resists fading, but it&#;s not as resilient as nylon. It&#;s most often made into a looped Berber with a nubby weave that conceals dirt. It has good stain, static and mildew resistance. Olefin carpeting is often selected for high-traffic &#;clean&#; areas such as family rooms and play areas. Olefin carpet costs $8 to $25 per sq. yd.
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Also called velvet or plush, it is a cut pile that works well in formal dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms. It shows footprints and vacuum marks and is not a good choice for high-traffic areas and active kids. The basic grade lasts about five years.
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Textured cut pile has more than one color of yarn and varying tuft heights. Its two-toned appearance hides dirt and reduces footprints and vacuum marks, making it one of the best types of carpet for active lifestyles. It&#;s similar to Saxony in life expectancy and cost.
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Frieze (&#;fri-zay&#;) is the most durable and most expensive of the three cut pile styles. Its tightly twisted tufts give the surface a nubby texture that covers footprints. It wears better than Saxony and textured, can be used in heavy traffic areas and can last 20 years or more if well maintained.
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Sculptured, or cut-and-loop, made with looped and non-looped tufts, is economical and durable. The varied shading hides dirt well, but the seams can be more visible. Prices for sculptured carpet start at about $6 per sq. yd. for 26- to 30-oz. face weight. Price and durability increase with higher face-weight yarns.
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Looped or Berber is popular for its elegant appearance. Berbers with smaller loops wear better than large-looped Berbers, which mat down quickly and are harder to clean. Not good if you have small children or pets (toys and claws) because they snag and run easily and are tough to repair.
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A salesperson might tell you that certain types of carpet are a good deal, but don&#;t rely on his or her word alone. Check the label, handle the carpet and ask the salesperson about these signs of quality.
This is the number of ounces of fiber per square yard. The range is generally from 20 to 80, and the higher the number, the heavier and more resilient the carpet.
Twist is the number of times the tufts are twisted together in a 1-in. length. The higher the number, the more durable the carpet.
Density is determined by the thickness of the fibers and how tightly packed they are. The thicker and heavier they are, the better quality the carpet and the less susceptible to crushing. Bend the carpet sample backward. If you can see the backing easily, it&#;s a low-density (lower quality) carpet.
Is it BCF or staple fiber construction? Carpet fibers can be either Bulked Continuous Filament (BCF) or &#;staple.&#; Staple fibers shed more than BCF fibers. This doesn&#;t affect the long-term quality of the carpet, but it does mean you&#;ll have to vacuum more often until the initial shedding stops (which can take up to a year), and it can also be an issue for allergy sufferers.
At least a 10-year &#;texture retention&#; warranty. This covers how well the fibers return to their original shape after being walked on. Although manufacturers tout their 15- and 25-year warranties, salespeople caution that warranties are seldom honored except in cases of obvious product defects.
Salespeople have a tendency to &#;overmeasure&#; your carpet needs. This means you pay for carpet and pad you don&#;t use. Get several estimates, compare the yardage numbers, and consider paying an independent carpet installer to measure your home.
A lot of carpet problems stem from poor installation. Bad seaming, a too-thin pad and inadequate stretching can make a carpet look terrible within a few years. If you or a friend knows a great carpet installer, use that person instead of one provided by the carpet dealer. The installer will measure your house, tell you exactly how much carpet and pad to get, recommend a quality dealer, and pick up the carpet and deliver it on installation day. You can save yourself some money on the installation by removing the old carpet and pad yourself. Ask your installer how much you&#;ll save to see if it&#;s worthwhile.
Get at least three estimates before settling on the types of carpet that will work best for you. Tell every salesperson that you&#;ll be getting several estimates, and don&#;t discuss details about other carpet bids you&#;ve received.
Have each carpet estimate include a flooring diagram that shows measurements and seam locations.
Get an individual price quote for each aspect of the job, including carpet, pad, delivery, installation, transition metal pieces, furniture moving, stairs, and old carpet and pad removal and disposal. It&#;s easy to be overcharged if you just get an overall price for the job.
Make sure you&#;re home on installation day. Get a sample of the carpet and pad you&#;ve ordered and compare them with the carpet and pad that show up on the truck. In some instances, retailers deliver a lower quality pad or carpet than you&#;ve paid for.
The quality of carpet pad is determined by density, not thickness. The right pad will extend the life of your carpet. The wrong pad can cut the life of your carpet in half. A good-quality pad will be 3/8 to 1/2 in. thick and have a density/weight rating of at least 6 lbs. (the residential standard). In most cases, cheap, low-density pad will only last a few years before it needs to be replaced. For high-traffic areas, get a thinner pad with a density of 8 lbs. or more.
Some carpet manufacturers require a specific type of pad in order to maintain your carpet warranty (such as when the carpet is laid over heated floors). Check the carpet warranty before you buy padding.
DIY carpet installation offers a cost-effective approach for those adept at home improvement, fostering a sense of accomplishment and customization. However, it demands meticulous attention to detail and a willingness to invest time in preparation and execution. Conversely, professional installation ensures expertise and efficiency, sparing homeowners from potential errors and ensuring optimal longevity and appearance.
While DIY projects can save money, they may lack the finesse and warranty that professionals provide, making the choice between the two dependent on individual skill level, time constraints, and desired outcome.
Adding carpet to your home can also make it feel more warm, cozy, and functional. The best carpet provides better insulation than hard flooring types to keep your home warm in the wintertime, and it also has sound-dampening qualities to reduce noise. &#;Carpet can be a great investment and really enhance a space if done right,&#; says Cameron Johnson, founder and CEO of Nickson Living.
The best carpets are available in an array of styles and materials, such as nylon, polyester, wool, or cotton. You can also get them in many colors and patterns, making it easy to personalize your space. However, since carpet fills such a large surface area in your home, it&#;s important to evaluate which carpet is best for your needs.
To help, we&#;ve created a list of the best carpet brands. Whether you prefer a fluffy, high-pile carpet for added texture in your space or an unobtrusive, low-profile carpet that can handle foot traffic, you&#;ll be able to shop for the best styles for your home.
1. Mohawk Flooring
Why We Love It: The company provides thousands of different eco-friendly carpet styles and offers stellar customer service.
Keep in Mind: Mohawk doesn&#;t offer installation services, and you can&#;t buy directly from the manufacturer.
The Mohawk Flooring brand is a trusted name for good reason. The carpet and flooring manufacturer provides a wide selection of products to choose from and a great warranty on all its products. You&#;ll be able to shop a massive selection of carpets in all sorts of materials, styles, and colors, making it easy to find the best carpet for your needs.
All Mohawk products are made in the USA, and, as an added perk, the company allows you to order free samples. This means you&#;ll be able to see the carpet in person, compare it to other options, and place it in your home before purchasing the full yardage.
Mohawk carpets are known for being stain-resistant and wear-resistant, making them work well in high-traffic areas in your home like hallways and living rooms. Plus, if you spill, the durable fibers are easier to scrub clean than other types, so pet accidents, food spills, and other mishaps on your floors don&#;t have to become a permanent fixture.
Many of Mohawk&#;s carpets come in loop, cut, patterned, and soft-twist textures, so you can find a specific style that looks (and feels) best without trouble. Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn&#;t offer installation services, so you&#;ll need to hire a third-party professional if you don&#;t want to install the carpet on your own.
2. Karastan
Why We Love It: Each carpet and rug product is carefully inspected to ensure quality.
Keep in Mind: The carpet can be difficult to find online.
Karastan has been in business for almost 100 years, and its high-end carpet is resilient, durable, and beautiful. We love that each rug and carpet product from Karastan is made by artisans and carefully inspected to ensure the highest quality. Shop a wide selection of synthetic carpets, which come in a variety of colors and patterns to add visual interest to your space.
The patented SmartStrand carpets are designed to resist stains, including pet-related messes, and the manufacturer even has a lifetime warranty on its carpet to ensure pet stains don&#;t ruin it.
You can&#;t buy carpets directly from the company&#;s site; however, you can find the brand's many colors, patterns, and textures at a variety of retailers, including Rug Studio, Avalon Flooring, and more.
3. LifeProof
Why We Love It: LifeProof&#;s carpets are stain-resistant, so they won&#;t absorb messes as easily as other brands.
Keep in Mind: The brand doesn&#;t offer as many colors and patterns as others.
Manufactured by Mohawk Flooring and sold exclusively at The Home Depot, LifeProof has a selection of more than 1,200 carpet styles that cater to a variety of budgets. The brand offers options that start at around $2 per square foot, but most are priced in the $3 to $6 range.
We love that the carpet is easy to find and order online, and it can be delivered as soon as the next day, depending on where you live. The brand offers triexta, nylon, and polyester options, and LifeProof&#;s carpets are stain-resistant, so you don&#;t have to worry about a pet accident or spill ruining your new carpet. The carpet&#;s spill shield technology prevents spills and debris from settling into the carpet, making it easy to scrub or vacuum out.
If you&#;re looking for a high-quality, neutral carpet for your home, LifeProof is your best bet. However, homeowners who want a textured or patterned carpet will likely find more options from other manufacturers.
4. Anderson Tuftex
Why We Love It: The company offers three major collections to choose from at different price points and design styles.
Keep in Mind: The company makes only nylon carpets.
The nylon carpet offerings from Anderson Tuftex are chic and modern. The company has three main collections to choose from, including classic carpet styles at a budget-friendly price point, a carpet collection with stunning textures and patterns, and a pet-friendly line designed to survive common pet messes.
Though the company makes only nylon carpets, options at Anderson Tuftex are beautiful and durable. You&#;ll be able to shop loop, pattern, and cut pile carpets, so there are plenty of carpet types to choose from.
The brand also has a selection of carpets specifically for stairs, whether you want to go full coverage or simply add a runner. These can also be customized. For a more eco-friendly approach, shop Anderson Tuftex&#;s Anso High-Performance PET range, which is all made using recycled plastic bottles (up to 76 of them per square yard!).
5. Shaw Floors
Why We Love It: You can choose from three different carpet backing types.
Keep in Mind: Shaw&#;s carpets are available only through Lowe&#;s and select retailers.
Shaw Floors offers six carpet collections with more than 350 styles. Although you can&#;t buy from Shaw Floors directly, the brand offers design services to ensure you buy the best carpet for your needs. The website has plenty of helpful tools such as space planning and a color visualizer, and you can order free carpet samples from the site to see your favorite styles in person before buying.
The company offers carpets in the loop, twist, and patterned textures. Nylon, polyester, and Anso high-performance carpets are available in a choice of three backings: ClassicBac, designed for commercial spaces with a superior tuft bind strength; SoftBac, a flexible and wrinkle-free backing system; and LifeGuard, which has been designed to be easy to clean and reduce odor for pet owners.
6. StainMaster
Why We Love It: The brand offers durable, cost-effective carpets with 4,000 different options.
Keep in Mind: The Essentials carpet has only a 10-year warranty, and it doesn&#;t cover installations on stairs.
Available exclusively at Lowe&#;s, StainMaster is one of the best carpet brands for quality carpet on a budget, with prices starting under $2 per square foot. StainMaster has 66 nylon offerings, which are widely considered the best carpet type when it comes to durability, as well as polyester options.
StainMaster has more than 4,000 designs, styles, and color options, making it easy to find the best carpet to match your home.
The PetProtect line of carpets comes with a 25-year warranty on pet stains, making it a desirable option for anyone with animals in the house. The Active Family and TruSoft carpet collections are both comfortable and resilient, even in households that get a lot of foot traffic, so we recommend installing these in your hallways or living rooms.
Finally, StainMaster&#;s Essentials line of carpets is the most budget-friendly option offered. Keep in mind this carpet isn&#;t as durable as others offered by StainMaster so you&#;ll need to replace it sooner. It comes with only a 10-year warranty.
7. Proximity Mills
Why We Love It: The carpets offered are affordable, durable, and beautiful, and there are hundreds of options available.
Keep in Mind: The company offers only nylon carpets.
If you want a luxe carpet without the high-end price tag, we recommend shopping for one of the many carpet types from Proximity Mills. The company offers 22 different collections, including loop, cut, and cut-and-loop carpets.
Proximity Mills also provides deluxe washable carpet tiles that are designed to look like a one-piece carpet when laid out. The company's site has a helpful floor visualizer tool so you can see what the carpet will look like in your home before you buy.
The company offers only nylon carpets, but they're extremely well-made and of excellent quality. They have low VOCs (volatile organic compounds)&#;harmful chemicals often found in carpet and flooring&#;so you can rest assured knowing your home&#;s air quality isn&#;t being negatively impacted by installing the carpet. The carpet is also certified CRI Green Label Plus for added peace of mind, which means that the product has been rigorously tested to ensure it meets the standard for low emissions.
When it comes to durability, Proximity Mills&#; carpets are incredibly long-lasting, and products come with a 20-year residential warranty. Like most of the best carpet brands, you can&#;t buy directly from the manufacturer&#;s site, but you can use the find a retailer tool to see where to buy near you.
8. Phenix Flooring
Why We Love It: Phenix carpets have an antimicrobial layer to protect against bacteria growth, and there are around 1,500 carpet styles to choose from.
Keep in Mind: The polyester carpet isn&#;t as durable as other options.
Phenix provides high-quality residential carpets in a large selection of colors, designs, and textures. The brand&#;s wide variety of carpets features a Microban antimicrobial layer that protects against mold and bacteria growth in the fibers of your flooring, keeping the carpet cleaner and odor-free for longer.
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Phenix Flooring&#;s carpet also has a special technology that helps the carpet look more fluffy and natural (read: more high-quality), even though it&#;s made from synthetic materials.
With around 1,500 different carpet styles, Phenix&#;s selections are made of either nylon or polyester, and they can come with solid colors, patterns, low and high piles, and more. The polyester options are less expensive than the nylon collections, making them a great pick for anyone on a budget, but keep in mind that they aren&#;t as long-lasting.
The brand also offers two SureSoft collections, which contain recycled plastics and have a super cozy and comfortable feel. The PetPlus selection works well for pet owners because it&#;s extra-durable and designed to resist stains and odors from pet-related messes.
A handy virtual decorator tool on the manufacturer&#;s website can help you choose the best carpet for your space, and there&#;s also a helpful installation guide if you want to put the carpet in yourself.
9. Fabrica
Why We Love It: Carpets are carefully manufactured with long-lasting and durable effects.
Keep in Mind: It&#;s one of the most expensive options and the brand&#;s warranty does not cover carpets used on stairs or in hallways.
Fabrica is well-known for its high-class and superior-quality carpets&#;with a high price tag to boot. However, we think that the company&#;s carpets are worth investing in due to the careful manufacturing process, premium materials used, and longevity of the carpets. The carpet fibers are made with a tighter twist giving them a soft yet durable finish that looks smooth and chic.
Giving the company an edge over other carpet brands is Fabrica&#;s carpet coloring techniques, such as the Beck Dye, that go far beyond your average quick dip and dye and involve hours of immersion for a rich and fade-resistant final finish.
The brand&#;s carpet backing is made from a strong synthetic latex that won&#;t stretch, wrinkle, or break, holding the fibers securely in place. In addition, Fabrica offers carpets in all sorts of piles, heights, colors, patterns, and materials including 100% wool, and wool blends. There are also carpets specifically made for pet owners.
The website has a handy visualizer allowing you to see the carpet of your choice in your room before you buy. Fabrica doesn&#;t offer a warranty on carpets used for hallways or stairs, but most products come with 20 years of prorated fade, texture retention, and abrasive wear cover. Manufacturing defects are only covered by a two-year warranty, however.
10. TrafficMaster
Why We Love It: The brand offers a large selection to choose from and is less expensive than other options.
Keep in Mind: The carpets may have a shorter lifespan than other brands, especially if you put them in high-traffic areas. Plus, the generous warranty also only applies if carpets are cleaned by hot-water extraction every 12&#;18 month.
Starting at well under a dollar per square foot, TrafficMaster&#;s offerings are ideal for those who need carpet that looks good and will last at least a few years. While not the most durable of options, the company offers loop, twist, textured, and patterned carpets in many piles, colors, and heights.
The company has a good selection to choose from for every type of flooring, like options for bedrooms and basements. TrafficMaster even has a line of commercial carpet rolls, perfect for kitting out an office or workspace, thanks to the product&#;s durability, and five-year warranty.
Many of the brand&#;s carpets are made using recycled materials. Impressively, the company does offer a wear and stain warranty on many of its carpets from five to 15 years, prorated (this begins after the three-year mark). To keep the warranty valid, the carpets must be cleaned by hot-water extraction every 12&#;18 months.
11. Dixie Home
Why We Love It: The carpets have superior stain and soil resistance and impressive warranties.
Keep in Mind: Hallways and stairs are not covered by the warranty.
For those who want the high-end look without the high-end price tag, Dixie Home provides an excellent middle ground. Owned by the same parent company as Fabrica, Dixie Home&#;s carpets are manufactured using premium materials and are offered in various patterns and colors for all tastes.
Whether you want a minimal look in grays and beiges, or something to make more of a statement, Dixie Home has got you covered. The brand offers cut pile, loop, tip sheared, and pattern carpets in its own patented PET polyester and nylon fabrics, with a choice of dyeing techniques. The company&#;s website also has a visualizer that&#;ll show you what the carpet will look like in your home.
All of the company&#;s carpets come with stain and soil resistance for a longer life, and the Pet Solutions carpet comes with a prorated lifetime warranty on even the most stubborn of pet stains. The company offers a 20-year warranty on texture retention and abrasive wear, as well as any fading, with a lifetime warranty on anti-static, soil resistance, and most food, beverage, and pet stains. However, no warranty is provided for carpets used on stairs and hallways.
12. Doma
Why We Love It: The company offers carpets in a range of colors and has a good array of natural fiber carpets.
Keep in Mind: Carpet samples are $3 per piece.
If you&#;re after styles with patterns and bold colorways, Doma is your best bet. While most carpet places feature grays and beiges, Doma offers pinks, purples, blues, and patterns, as well as more common options.
For those who like to outfit their homes out with natural materials, most of Doma&#;s carpets are made using real wool and wool blends that look and feel high-quality. Offering a vast array of textures, the company offers swoon-worthy carpeting options, though you can also find plain options for those who want a more minimal look.
If you&#;re not sure which option would work best in your space, you&#;ll appreciate the brand&#;s comprehensive room visualizer, which allows you to choose from different rooms, floors, and paint colors. The brand also offers samples of the flooring that are $3 per piece.
Doma&#;s carpets come with an impressive warranty of 20 years for residential use. Plus, some of their products come with the same warranty for commercial use if you&#;re looking for flooring for an office or business space.
13. Abbey Carpet & Floor
Why We Love It: They offer free quotes, in-home design consultations, free measures, and installation services with a lifetime installation guarantee
Keep in Mind: Their large selection may be overwhelming to some shoppers.
You might feel a little overwhelmed when trying to select a carpet on Abbey Carpet&#;s website due to the sheer number of options available, but it&#;s the best carpet brand if you&#;re looking for a specific style that other brands might not offer.
With multiple colorways, nine different fibers, and nine types of pile, including texture, pattern, cut and loop, and sisal, you&#;ll more than likely find the best option for your home at Abbey Carpet.
In addition to the company&#;s carpet brands, Abbey Carpet sells products from other top brands like Alexander Smith, Premier Stainmaster, Mohawk, Fabrica, and Dixie Home, to name a few.
The retailer&#;s private brands include Value (polyester in cut and loop, twist/frieze, or textured), Everyday Living (higher weight polyester options), Soft Fashions (plush, stain-resistant, muted earth tones), and Hagman collections (bolder colors and patterns, with natural sisal cord options).
When it&#;s time to install or replace carpets in your home, Abbey Carpets makes each step of the process easy, from selection to installation, after-care, and even previous carpet removal. The brand also offers free quotes, in-home design consultations, free measures, and installation services with a lifetime installation guarantee. You also get a 60-day satisfaction guarantee.
14. Newton
Why We Love It: The company offers high-quality carpets at reasonable prices.
Keep in Mind: The warranty ranges depending on which option you choose.
Newton offers more than 150 carpet options that are less expensive than other brands. While they don&#;t offer bold patterns and designs, it&#;s still a reliable, quality brand to consider.
Although the selection includes mainly muted tones, we love that you can get the same color and design in various types. For instance, you can get a plusher height and cut/loop for your bedrooms (like the twist-frieze option), and a more durable lower-pile type for the heavy traffic areas in the home like hallways. The carpet looks smooth and streamlined throughout the whole house and is designed to last.
The carpets are offered with different residential warranties&#;10 years, 20 years, or limited lifetime&#;depending on which option you go for.
JONNY VALIANT
What to Know About Carpet Before Shopping
Material
The best carpet can be made from a variety of materials, but depending on the style you&#;re looking for, the pile height and plushness you desire, and your budget, some carpet materials may be better for your home than others.
Durability
If you&#;re going to take the time and money to buy the best carpet, you likely want it to last a long time. Whether you own pets, have children in the home, or want to install carpet in a high-traffic area of your house, the best carpet will be able to stand up to daily wear and tear for many years before needing a replacement.
Nylon is generally known for being the most durable type of carpet for residential use. These carpets are good for use in places with heavy foot traffic and for households with kids and pets. Some carpet manufacturers treat their nylon carpet with a protective coating, which helps it to be more stain-resistant, too.
The least durable type of carpet tends to be olefin, which is a less expensive but mildew-resistant polypropylene material. While it limits the growth of mold and bacteria, it&#;s prone to get matted down. Similarly, high-pile carpets can be difficult to keep looking fresh and fluffy due to the long fibers that hold debris easily. We recommend using these carpet types in low-traffic areas of the home like bedrooms.
Design
Carpets are available in many different designs and colors, from solid-hued options and marbled designs to other styles with funky patterns and textures. Modern carpets can feature designs such as stripes and geometric patterns, which add movement and visual interest to a space. More traditional carpet styles may have florals and paisley designs built into the fibers.
Care
Almost all carpets can be kept clean with routine vacuuming and once-a-year professional carpet cleaning. Keep a powerful vacuum on hand to tackle dirt, hair, and more that can get trapped in your carpet fibers. We also recommend using carpet spray cleaners to deal with pet messes, food spills, and other stains as they happen.
Some carpets, such as nylon carpets, have a coating that helps prevent stains and dirt from getting absorbed into the fibers and creating a permanent mark.
You&#;ll most likely notice wear and tear first in high-traffic areas like hallways, living rooms, and entryways. If your carpet appears faded and looks heavily worn in certain areas, it&#;s probably time to buy a new carpet for your home.
Density and Fiber Construction
Fiber construction refers to how the carpet is woven; these can either be cut piles, loop piles, or a combination of the two. The amount of fiber used within a cubic yard of carpet determines its pile density. Carpet with a high density is typically more durable than looser carpet types, but many dense carpets aren&#;t as soft. Materials, such as triexta, can still provide a high density&#;and therefore higher durability&#;without compromising on comfort.
According to Johnson, the carpet pad&#;s thickness and density should also be key considerations. &#;This will help determine how soft the carpet is underfoot,&#; he says. &#;Face weight is the weight of the carpet,&#; he adds, &#;and this will generally indicate durability (the higher the weight, the more durable the carpet).&#;
Pile
You&#;ll also want to consider the carpet pile&#;s height. High (or deep) pile carpet is quite soft and cushiony, and most people prefer this carpet type in bedrooms. Those with small kids or pets, however, might want to be wary of a high pile carpet, as these can be the hardest to clean.
A low pile carpet makes it easier to remove dirt and debris since the fibers are shorter and your vacuum&#;s brush roll has a higher chance of reaching all the hidden gunk. Most people opt for a medium pile carpet for areas such as the hallway and living room, as this option is still comfortable but not too hard to keep clean.
Your Carpet Questions, Answered
How do you know how much carpet you need for your space?
&#;If you are installing new carpet, the first step is to measure the space,&#; Johnson says. Carpet is typically sold by square foot, so you will want to measure the length and width of the space and multiply them together to get the square footage of the room. You should also measure and account for closets or other areas that you may want to carpet and repeat the exercise.
&#;As a general rule of thumb,&#; Johnson says, &#;you should then increase the final number by 10 percent to ensure you have enough materials&#;the carpet may have to be cut and otherwise manipulated to fit neatly in your space. You may have a bit of extra carpet left over, but that can come in handy for repairs down the road.&#;
How do you install new carpet?
Installing new carpets on your own can be a little tricky unless you are experienced at home renovations. However, it can be accomplished with a little hard work and some research. You could also ask the customer service department at your local hardware store for some installation advice.
&#;After you measure the room, you will want to prepare the floor for installation by removing the old carpet if necessary, removing baseboards, and removing doors to the room,&#; Johnson says. &#;You will then install carpet tack strips around the perimeter of the room&#;this will &#;attach&#; the carpet to the floor. Next, install the carpet padding, cut the carpet, lay the carpet, and stretch it. The last step is to put the room back together with baseboards, doors, etc.&#;
How much does a new carpet typically cost?
&#;The cost of a new carpet will vary by size as the carpet is priced per square foot,&#; Johnson says. While some affordable carpet options can cost under a dollar per square foot, higher-end carpets can cost anywhere from $5&#;$10 per square foot. &#;Homeowners should expect to pay between $3 to $6 per square foot for a good quality residential carpet,&#; Johnson says.
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