Carpet Buying Guide: Don’t make these mistakes when buying Carpet
While most homes are moving to hardwood or laminate flooring, carpet still makes a home cozy and warm. In fact, some homes still have carpet in the bedrooms. Occasionally, carpet is installed from wall to wall. Whatever your choice, don’t get taken in by these mistakes.
Floors N More carries a plethora of options for flooring solutions and offers a wide variety of carpet options for you to select from. Call us today for a consultation, and to discuss your specific needs with one of our trained professionals.
A Guide to Buying Carpet
The Carpet Weight Trap: Carpet is rated by face weight, but it’s only one of many things to consider when purchasing and installing carpet. Many sales professionals use the weight of a carpet as the major selling point because it’s the easiest to confidently present. However, the weight rating doesn’t always take into consideration other factors, such as twist, density, or material.
It’s only one aspect of determining quality. Don’t let this be the main factor in determining your carpet purchase.
Underpad Matters: The quality of your underpad will have a significant effect on the comfort and the longevity of your carpet. It’s easy to fall into the mindset of “if you can’t see it, it’s not important” but that’s a huge mistake. An underpad works by acting as a cushion between your carpet and the subfloor. It gives a softer landing for each footfall and protects the underside of the carpet from damage.
A high-quality underpad will make a lower quality carpet feel and perform better for longer than a high-quality carpet with a low-quality pad.
Don’t Compare Apples to Oranges: Lots of carpets will look and feel the same on the showroom floor, but after use, you’ll discover they weren’t the same at all. When you’re getting quotes and looking at the carpet options, make sure that the materials and style are the same. Double-check the warranty, and if they’re the same carpet from two different merchants, the warranty should be the same.
Promotional Marketing: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Massive sales and installation promotions are called a loss leader. $99 installation sounds like a dream to the budget savvy homeowner, but you know business doesn’t work like that. They have to make it up somewhere else. For every “free underpad” or “discount installation,” they’ll likely be charging hidden fees for installation materials.
Additional charges can be tack strips, staples, seaming tape, and similar materials.
DIY Install Confidence: Most carpets require professional installation to maintain the warranty. It’s easy to look at YouTube and other tutorials and feel confident in your abilities to install your carpet. However, there is a reason that professionals charge for their services. They’ve got the experience, tools, and proficiency to tackle any of your carpeting needs.
Where most DIYer’s get caught up and see mistakes is in rooms with odd angles or staircases that need covering. If the carpet installation is done incorrectly, you will notice the carpet to come up and edges or bubble in the middle. Improper installation can shorten the life of the carpet.
- If you live with pets and children, you’ll want to find a stain-resistant carpet with high wearability for high traffic areas. If you live alone, that isn’t so much a consideration.
- Carpets with colored flecks or variances will hide stains better than solid colored carpet.
- Choosing a color close to your pet’s fur will mean it doesn’t show excess fur as easily.
- Fade resistance should be considered for rooms that will see a lot of sunlight.
- Synthetic carpets will be beneficial for climates where moisture can cause mildew or mold.
Miscalculations: Math isn’t the strong suit of most of the population. It’s a costly mistake to make when you’re calculating your budget for carpet installation. This is another reason you should consult a professional when calculating your square footage. There is more to calculating the carpet needs for installation than just having a square foot number.
Closets, stair railings, the width of carpet rolls, pile direction, and other factors go into calculating your needs. Lifestyle Needs: Not all families have the same needs. Not all carpets cater to the same needs.
Things to consider when you’re looking at your lifestyle in regards to carpet are varied. Some examples:
Carpet Buying Guide: Your Best Resources
When you finally make the jump to buy and install your carpet, consider the team you work with. Floors N More is here to make sure you are excited about your new carpet and delighted with your experience.
Our professionals are ready to meet with you and help you make the carpet choice for you and your family that will be most beneficial. Give us a call to set up a consultation to discuss your carpet needs.
