It just makes sense that, the more you know about something, the better able you
are to make a smarter purchase decision.
That goes in spades for buying carpet. Information about the construction of carpet
is good, but knowledge about carpet specifics and characteristics, about its traits
and subtle differences, can be invaluable.
It’s a fact. Choosing the best carpet is really about knowing the right combination
of characteristics, aesthetics, performance and budget to best meet the needs of
your lifestyle.
For example, looped Berbers and high twist friezes perform wonderfully in high traffic
areas in your home, but an elegant Saxony in the same area may show footprints.
Isn’t that good to know?
We want you to know all of the important carpet facts and we’ve created this
section specifically for that purpose. Our goal is to help you get smart before
your carpet is laid down -- and long before you lay down your money.
So, we invite you to read on, check out these notes, tips and considerations and
get the upper hand on the flooring that may soon be underfoot.
Understand this about some seams.
Carpet is available in 12’, 15’ and sometimes 13’ widths. Unless
the room to be carpeted is narrower than these widths, the carpet will be seamed.
With looped or low-profile patterned carpet you may have visible or peaked seams.
The degree of their visibility depends on texture, color, lighting and furniture
placement.
A note on backing and loops.
Be aware that, as carpet bends over stairs, its backing may show depending on texture,
color and density. Plus, you should know that looped carpet can snag, particularly
at a seam or at a carpet transition.
But never fear, in the Carpet Floor Care section we provide information on how to
properly care for looped carpet.
Every carpet has a chosen course.
The nap of all carpets run in one direction. Pile reversal, or shading, is a normal
characteristic of many cut pile style carpets.
This can be particularly apparent with plush carpet. If this becomes an issue, consider
window treatments and furniture placement as a way to minimize this affect.
Durability is a function of quality.
Higher quality carpet will typically have greater pile density, and tighter twist
construction, which will result in better durability.
Another consideration is that it’s easier to replace or update a home’s
décor with carpet compared to other hard surface products. Dollar for dollar
carpet offers significant styling advantages, and adds value to any home. Carpet
also feels warm underfoot and reduces household noise.
Color rules. You should know these. Color has a big impact on any room in the home.
Carpet covers a large area of any room, so it’s important to keep some basic
rules in mind when selecting your carpeting.
An important consideration about carpet color is that once a carpet is installed
in a new home, it will often look lighter than the sample you saw in the store.
This is a natural optical effect and you should be aware of this when making a carpet
color selection.
Another thing to keep in mind is how the color of carpet affects the apparent size
of the room. Lighter colored carpet will visually expand the size of the room. Darker
carpeting will seem to bring the walls closer together, and create a more intimate
feeling.
Neutral colors are the best choice if you expect to frequently change the decorating
scheme, or if you’re trying to incorporate a lot of existing furniture. Using
a neutral colored, good quality carpet is a good idea if the home will be resold
any time soon. It’s easier for a prospective buyer to imagine their furniture
in a room that is decorated with neutral colors.
Check your warranty for stains. Stain protection is an important consideration in
any carpet purchase. Carpet products come with different stain protection levels
and warranties that help guard your carpet against stains. As you increase the quality
of carpet, stain protection also typically increases, as does the manufacturers
warranty coverage. With this in mind, it is important to understand exactly what
is covered by the warranty of your specific carpet as warranties do vary.