How to Buy Carpet

If you're feeling anxious about buying new carpet, you're not alone. Carpet shopping can be frustrating as well as confusing. But it doesn't have to be.

This information is designed to make carpet shopping easier. Use it as a guide along your buying journey to help you pick the carpet that's best for you.

Your carpet choice is an important one. Choose carefully, and it will be a decision you'll live happily with for many years.


Plan Ahead...

Before you begin shopping, make sure you're fully prepared. Consider everything that will affect your carpet choice.

CARPET FOR THE WAY YOU LIVE

Do you have children, pets, frequent visitors? These cause more everyday wear, so choose a durable carpet like a frieze or a dense saxony.

CARPET WITH A PURPOSE

What type of room will you be carpeting? Will it be used often or not? Will people be eating or drinking there? Stain Blocked Nylon is a good choice for rooms subject to food and beverage spills.

CARPET WITH A FLAIR

What decorating style have you chosen? Do you have a color scheme in mind? Do you want to coordinate the carpet with any other furnishings? Bring upholstery and drapery samples along while you shop to insure your carpet choice achieves your desired look.

CARPET WITHIN YOUR BUDGET

How much of your decorating budget will be used for carpeting? Most people shopping for quality can expect to spend $15-30 per square yard/$ 1.70-3.35 per square foot. Keep in mind, the real carpet price includes carpet, padding, installation, and the cost of regular maintenance.

Back to top

Getting down to the basics

Now that you have some ideas about what you're shopping for, it's time to get carpet smart. As you choose your new carpet, you may be tempted to buy on the basis of color alone. But remember, quality determines the overall look and life of your carpet.
Use these guidelines to choose a quality carpet based on its pile density and fiber.

IT'S SMARTER TO BE DENSE

Carpet pile is the yarn on the face of the carpet. A quality carpet is marked by a firm, dense pile. To check a carpet's density, bend a corner of the carpet and see how much backing shows. The more backing that shows, the less dense and durable the carpet.

While most consumers seem to equate a bulky, soft feel with quality and performance, the most durable carpets have tightly twisted yarns densely packed into the carpet.

These are the most common types of carpet available.

LOOP

Loop carpets are marked by a continuous uncut surface that resist crushing and matting. Berber style loop carpets, however, wear well and are suited for any room. ThermaSealed from Wear-Dated now gives you the opportunities for wool-like berbers with nylon performance.

CUT

The loops of a cut pile carpet are cut to expose the yarn ends. You'll find cut piles in a variety of styles to suit any room in your home.

In general, a bright fiber will show footprints more than a mid-bright because of the difference in color between the ends and sides of the tuft.

Velvet-Plush--This rich, luxurious surface is styled for any room with little traffic such as a formal living or dining room. The bright surface shows footprints and vacuum marks easily.

Saxony--Great for a less formal room such as a family room or den, but they will show footprints more easily than a textured style.

Textured Saxony--They're tough enough for any room and the sculpted design won't show dirt or footprints easily.

Frieze--A smart choice for any high traffic area--family rooms, foyers, or kids' rooms. They're less likely to show vacuum marks than other cut styles.

CUT AND LOOP

Cut and Loop carpets combine these two carpet piles, usually in a sculpted pattern. Often multi-colored, they're styled for any room setting except the most formal.

BULK UP ON FIBER KNOW-HOW

The fiber used in a carpet will determine its wearability. The more you know about fiber, the easier it will be to choose the right carpet for your home.

Nylon--Nylon, particularly type 6, 6 by Solutia Inc., is the strongest, most durable and most widely used fiber. The soft texture holds its color well, resists most food and beverage stains and many oil-based stains, and is easy to clean.

Wool--Wool carpets are warm and durable, but can be damaged by alkaline cleaning detergents. They're also available in fewer shades since they don't take bright color dyes well.

Back to top

Why "Wear-Dated" Carpet...

Carpet bearing the Wear-Dated logo assures you of the highest quality materials and technology available. Wear-Dated Carpet goes through performance testing, just to be sure your new carpet's beauty will last.

KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY

You'll find a great selection of Wear-Dated Carpet types and styles of carpet. Look to the Wear-Dated Carpet family to find a carpet to match your specific needs.

READ THE BOTTOM LINE

Your shopping adventure is nearing a close, but before you buy, read the carpet label carefully. It should list the name and number of the carpet pattern/color, as well as the fiber types.

Ask your salesperson for a written warranty and read it carefully. Many warranties are void if the carpet is treated with in-home protective materials.

And most importantly, look for the Wear-Dated logo. Solutia Inc. warrants Wear-Dated Carpet for five years normal wear versus the mere 100% fiber loss covered by many other carpet warranties.

WORK WITH YOUR WEAR-DATED® CARPET DEALER

If you have any questions concerning carpet, contact the people who can help you shop for carpet in the real world. Your local Wear-Dated Carpet Dealer is Kitchen and Floor Decor. They have the best selection of colors and styles anywhere. Plus the expertise to put an end to your carpet shopping anxiety once and for all. And bring you a carpet that will keep its beauty, and keep you smiling years down the road.

®Wear-Dated is a registered trademark of Solutia Inc. ThermaSealed is a trademark of Solutia Inc.

© 2009 Copyright Kitchen and Floor Décor