Carpet Buying Guide

There are many benefits to a carpeted floor. It adds warmth and comfort to any room in your home. There’s no doubt about it; carpet is the most comfortable flooring option with thick and soft options readily available.

Carpeting can also be a very economical flooring option, depending on your choice of material and style. It’s also an extremely versatile flooring option. Think carpet isn’t a good fit for high-traffic areas or families with kids and/or pets? Think again. Today’s carpeting offers enhanced functionality, and many premium carpeting brands are designed to stand up to high-traffic wear and resist life's little messes better than ever before.

When it comes to carpet options, it’s not all function over form. Today’s carpets suit traditional to contemporary aesthetics. It is available in many colors and textures and in soft, durable and easy-to-care for fibers. Whether you are building your new dream home, updating your existing home, fixing up a house to sell or rent, or remodeling your commercial building, there is a carpeting option that can fit your functionality requirements, as well as style preferences.

Types of Carpet:

1. Loop Pile - Loop pile carpeting is made of little “loops” of fibers, which are fastened to the backing of the carpet. This carpeting is typically durable and offers high levels of stain resistance. However, it may not be as soft and cushy to the touch. There are two main types of loop pile carpeting. Level loop carpeting, or Berber, consists of loops of equal heights, creating a smooth surface. While this carpet performs well in high-traffic areas, it typically offers a low profile and less cushioning underfoot. Multi-level loop pile carpeting includes loops of varying heights, creating a textured look and feel, and adding some softness to the equation. Loop pile carpeting typically isn’t ideal for homes with pets, as claws can snag on the loop fibers.
2. Cut Pile - Cut pile carpets feature loops that are cut at the ends. While cut pile carpets are generally denser and softer, there are many types available and the features vary greatly. Types of cut pile carpeting include plush, textured and frieze carpets.

Additional Carpet Categories:

• Patterns - Patterned carpet, which is comprised of differing loop and cut heights, can add versatility and beauty to a room. Carpets are offered in a wide variety of patterns, helping create a distinct personality for different spaces. Many fashionable options are available to fit different design styles, from traditional to lifestyle to contemporary. Patterned carpet often features several shades of the same or similar colors, which can help mask wear and soiling.
• Textured - Bringing texture to any part of a home or office design, textured carpeting delivers subtle style and versatility. The current trend is toward tailored textures, and the color combinations are endless, with many exciting heathered and tweed combinations available. Textured carpet has a very soft feel, and since it’s made of tight twists, it resists soil and can be used in medium to high traffic areas.
• Plush - This smooth-finished surface carpeting features very closely packed fibers, giving an overall elegant appearance that can be well suited to formal living spaces. However, it is considered a higher maintenance option, as it can easily show footprints, marks and even vacuum lines.

Carpet Materials:

Another consideration that will greatly impact the look, performance and price of your carpet is the type of fiber. Carpet materials include synthetic and natural options.

• Nylon - This man-made carpet fiber is durable and available in different treatment options to provide the desired performance, including stain resistance. Nylon carpeting ranges greatly in quality as well as price.
• Polyester - Another man-made option, polyester is stain-resistant and available in a wide range of prints, patterns and textures. There are many options available, including budget-friendly picks. Generally, polyester is not as durable as nylon carpet.
• SmartStrand - SmartStrand (Triexta) is a high-performance carpet fiber from the well-known Mohawk brand. Smartstrand offers superior stain and soil resistance. This synthetic carpet performs well in high-traffic areas and can be as durable as a comparable nylon carpet. It is soft to the touch and is a great choice for active households. Cost can vary depending on weight, density, and brand, however is generally considered an affordable option. SmartStrand is also OEKO-TEX certified free from harmful substances and partly made from renewable resources, offering a more sustainable option that is popular with many consumers.
• Wool - While wool typically comes at a higher price point, there are many advantages to this natural fiber that make it an ideal fit for many. Wool is a luxurious, soft and beautiful carpet choice. It’s environmentally friendly, resistant to allergens and dust, available in gorgeous designs and can last a lifetime. With current design trends focusing on natural, sustainable and eco-friendly choices, many are choosing to invest in the quality and good-looks that come with wool carpeting.

What’s the Best Carpet for My Space?

Selecting the ideal carpet for your home requires consideration to your unique lifestyle—and the needs that come with it. There are several quality indicators that you should consider when choosing carpet for your residential or commercial application.

One quality indicator is the face weight of the carpet, which represents the amount of fibers on the surface of the carpet. Look for higher carpet weights to generally indicate better quality carpet. Additionally, the carpet density can help you determine the right carpet choice for your application. Density is the measure of how close fibers are together in the carpet. It greatly impacts the feel and performance of the end product, with higher density resulting in a stronger carpet. The twist or the number of times fibers turn per one inch length can also be a performance indicator, as carpets with a higher twist generally have greater resilience and resistance to crushing and wear. Finally, the PAR Rating is a scale of 1 – 5, with the higher number indicating higher performance, appearance and retention, making it ideal for higher-traffic areas, like commercial applications.

Family-friendly carpet - Carpet is a great choice for families with active young ones. Starting with young families with babies and kids, carpet adds extra padding for tummy time, learning to crawl, as well as tumbling toddlers. For older kids that run through the house, carpet adds traction to help prevent falls, as well as extra cushioning when falls do happen. Carpeting also helps reduce noise levels by absorbing sound — a benefit many active families could use! While some families may worry about cleaning up carpet when spills and other accidents occur, there are options available to provide high levels of stain resistance and make clean-up easy. Many are purchasing a carpet with a stain repellent, such as Scotchgard or R2X, to prevent heavily trafficked areas from becoming dingy and worn, or opting for the inherent stain resistance of a SmartStrand, Pet Perfect or Envision SD carpet. Another consideration for choosing carpet is selecting one that carries a warranty for stain resistance and soil resistance, so you know you’re getting a durable product that will last for years to come. You can also look for a warranty against abrasive wear and texture retention, offering peace of mind when purchasing carpet.

Pet-friendly carpet - For families with fur babies, stain and wear resistance are equally important. Choose a carpet that repels moisture, so spills aren’t absorbed by the carpet and are easy to clean-up. Also, look for a carpet with built-in stain and soil protection, so the protection against spills won’t wash off or fade away over time. Plus, pet protection warranties are available for extra reassurance against accidents and more.

Carpet Trends

Today’s carpets offer many patterns, textures and colors to fit any space, as well as any design preference. Whether you’re looking for a neutral carpet that will quietly complement your furniture and room décor, or a bolder carpet that adds a dramatic design element to your room, carpet options abound.

For lovers of color, carpet options run the gamut from cool tones to hues that will add warmth to your room. Neutral carpet remains popular. Gray carpet has been one of the most popular choices over the last years. However, we’re starting to see the trend move away from cool grays and back to warmer neutrals, such as beige, cream, champagne and khaki.

For neutral carpets as well as brighter colors, texture comes into play in a big way. In general, textures are big, colors are layered, and designs are more dimensional than we’ve seen before. Patterns are becoming one of the most popular ways to add style to your carpet, with designs ranging from subtle to bold. Following the lead of home furnishings and décor, natural patterns reign popular in carpeting. Nondescript flowing, cross-hatched and striated carpet patterns bring life and design to indoor carpeting. Bold and bright colors and patterns are also available, in everything from florals to geometrics, bringing some carpets from the background and into the design foreground.

Carpet Cushion

Once you’ve picked a carpet that will be both functional and fashionable for your home, commercial space or other property, there’s one more choice to make: the carpet cushion. Carpet cushions add extra support underfoot and help protect and extend the life of your carpeting investment. Choose a carpet cushion that meets your comfort preference and works with the carpet type you selected. Typically, a pad of ⅜-inches or less is used with a low-pile carpet such as a woven carpet or tufted pattern. A thicker pad, up to ½ inch, can be used with cut-pile carpet in most homes.

Installation and Care

When considering an investment in new carpeting, it’s important to factor in installation costs. Professional installation can ensure that your carefully selected carpet will last. The process starts by having your floors measured and getting a quote.

If your home or commercial space needs an update, consider what new carpeting can do for your space. From soft, neutral and understated to bold and dynamic, new technology advancements have led to more looks than ever before to choose from, and performance options abound as well. Step into the new year on soft and luxurious new carpeting!