10 Tips for Choosing Carpet
Carpets are warm and soft, so you won’t get hurt if you fall. It also muffles sound and is offered at an affordable price. Not all carpets, however, are equal. Here are some tips to help you choose the right carpet for your home.
Padding
Carpet padding hides subfloor flaws to improve the appearance of the floor and serves as insulation to control your home’s temperature. It also absorbs sound to reduce neighbor noise and protect your privacy. Talk to the carpet manufacturer for padding advice and recommendations. Firm, dense padding is ideal for high-traffic areas. Light-traffic rooms like guest bedrooms require less protection. Make sure that the padding is compatible with your carpet. A 3/8" pad or thinner with 8 lbs of density per cubic foot is recommended for thin loop or Berber rugs. A 7/16" pad with 6 lbs of density per cubic foot is ideal for cut loop or cut pile carpets.
Style
Carpets come in various styles such as Berber, Frieze, Saxony, Texture and Plush. Consider your lifestyle when choosing a style. For instance, Saxony is ideal for low-traffic areas such as master bedrooms. Plush carpets are made from firmly twisted piles. While it’s soft and thick, it shows vacuum tracks and footprints. Berber carpeting is dense and flat and made from unbroken fiber loops. It doesn’t show stains, tracks and soil, making it ideal for high-traffic areas.
Budget
Consider your budget when choosing a carpet. Shop around and compare prices. Ask for separate pricing for installation and materials. Stain-resistant carpets are ideal for high-traffic areas. Affordable low-traffic carpets can be installed in guest rooms. You should also consider maintenance and lifetime replacement costs. Carpet tile is a better option instead of rolled carpeting when you have pets or kids. You can also replace single tiles to keep the carpet looking new.
Carpet Provider
A reliable carpet store will offer a large selection of carpets, including various fiber options like woven vinyl, blends, jute, sisal, synthetics, wool, linen and coir. Their staff should be able to answer your questions and allow you to bring samples home. It is also important to make sure that their installation team is experienced and trained to do the job.
Maintenance
Get a carpet that you can maintain easily. Avoid high-end or hard-to-clean rugs and shag when you have pets or young children. Stain-resistant carpets can reduce cleaning time and stress. Ask the store’s salesperson about the carpet’s maintenance and cleaning requirements like how often you will need to clean it and what special products they recommend.
Warranty
There are various guarantees and warranties against stains, overall appearance and wear. Manufacturers usually provide a wear warranty that they define as a bald spot. A crushing warranty may specify that there’s no problem if the pile height can be repaired to a particular degree. However, the most common complaints are not for manufacturing imperfections, but for poor installation. Take these complaints to the retailer. Before buying a carpet, ask them what option you have if you are not happy with the installation.
Patterns and Color
Choose colors and patterns that match the overall tone and mood you want to achieve for every room. Greens and cool blues can create a peaceful setting. Golden colors or warm reds make the space feel more comfortable. Light shades can make the room feel more spacious. Dark patterns or colors can conceal stains.
Stairs
Choose the right carpet for your stairs. A woven wool carpet is an ideal choice as it’s durable and has woven backing that keeps every piece of yarn in place.
Eco-friendly
You can choose carpets that are made from recycled materials like recycled water bottles. Check the recycled-content percentage of the carpet before buying.
Area Rugs vs Carpeting
Carpeting is soft, provides cushioning and muffles sound, but holds mites, dust and other allergens. Area rugs are available in various designs and colors and can be moved around a room, but you need to have nice flooring underneath, as some of the flooring will show. Choose the most convenient option for you.
Whether you are looking for high quality carpets, tiles, vinyl, hardwood or mosaics, you are assured to find the best flooring option for you at Floors Etc. We have a large selection of flooring options at affordable prices. Floors Etc. serves Baltimore and surrounding areas. If you are looking for a flooring style that suits your home in Baltimore, just visit floorsetcoutlet.com.
