How Long Will it Last?
Durable carpets have good densities, nice construction, and are made of high quality fibres. Generally, you will want to buy heavy duty carpeting for high traffic areas in your home, such as entryways, living rooms, hallways, and playrooms. A durable carpet will also be stain-resistant or easy to clean, so you should look for this as well.
What Type of Pile Does it Have?
The type of carpet pile you choose will depend on your personal style and the amount of traffic in your space. There are three options available: Cut, Loop, or Combination.
Cut Pile: The loops are cut at the top of cut pile carpets. This means the tufts of yarn in the carpet will stick straight up. Cut piles are more formal and luxurious than loop piles. However, vacuum tracks and footprints are always visible in these carpets, which can sometimes (and only temporarily) make them look discolored.
Loop Pile: In loop pile carpets, each strand of yarn is pulled twice through the backing to create a loop. This type of carpeting is easier to clean than cut pile, doesn’t show footprints and vacuum tracks, and the short loops makes it perfect for high traffic rooms.
Combination Pile: Loop and cut yarns can be combined to create carpeting that looks like swirls or squares. This effect is unique, stylish, and great at hiding footprints, vacuum tracks, and dirt. These types of carpets are also great for high traffic areas while providing a touch of elegance.
What Colour to Choose?
The colour of the carpeting you choose goes beyond personal style or just making a statement. Depending on the shade, the colour of your carpeting can offer some advantages and disadvantages. Dark shades hide stains well, but they may be less attractive than lighter options and show lint. Speckled or multicolored carpets hide stains and lint, but may be unattractive and appear dirty. Light shades can be quite attractive and make small rooms appear larger, but they’re easily stained and harder to clean than other shades.
How Dense is the Carpet?
The density of the carpet is the amount of yarn in the carpet and how close its tufts are to one another. Dense carpets are considered better than others because of their durability. You can check for density by bending the sample into a U shape with the tufts facing out. You’ll be able to tell how dense the carpet is by how much of the backing you see when you do this. Denser carpeting will show less of the backing.
What Type of Underlay Does it Have?
Underlays are good accessories to have because they help carpets last longer, cover minor holes and bumps in the floor underneath, absorb sound, and provide insulation. They vary in quality, but should be both firm and comfortable. This means that you shouldn’t be able to feel the floor underneath your shoes when you stand on the underlay. You can test this out before buying by simply stepping on it. You’ll also have to decide whether a rubber or foam underlay is best for you.
How Good Are the Samples?
Samples are actually an integral part of carpet buying. They’re the most effective way of ensuring you’ll get the flooring you want and need. You’ll get to take the sample home to test how well it fits into your space and décor.
How Does Installation Work?
Carpet installation is usually cheaper when it’s installed by the same people you purchased it from. There are some things to keep in mind, however, like asking for a fully itemized quote that includes everything from the price of the underlay to the price for moving furniture during the installation. This will ensure you don’t end up paying for additional services.
If you have questions about carpet or are ready to update the floors in your home or office with quality new carpeting, give us a call!
