How to Choose the Right Carpet

Choosing the right carpet for your family's unique needs and lifestyle can be overwhelming.  Step into a big box store, and you’ll be bombarded with various types, styles, manufacturers and colors.  Butmaking the right decision doesn’t have to be so difficult.  

The first step once you’ve decided to replace the carpet in your home is to choose the carpet style.  Once this is done, you can move on to the style, then manufacturer, and finally the color.  

Here I’ll discuss the 3 basic types of carpet.  I’ll talk about deciding on manufacturer & color in later posts.  

• Plush (AKA Saxony) Carpet.  Plush Carpet is an example of a cut pile carpeting that is distinguished by a weave that is smooth and dense.  This gives the impression of a perfectly manicured lawn.  

• Pros:
• There are several advantages when it comes to choosing Plush.  Because the fibers are closely spaced, this type of carpet offers a great cushioning effect.
• Maintenance is relatively easy with this choice. Most manufacturers offer soil and stain resistant varieties, which can be enhanced by applying protective chemicals to the surface of the fibers, which will help repel stains from liquid spills, a well as prevent tracked in dirt from “sticking” to the fiber.
• Cons:
• There are more expensive varieties, but if you plan to spend more money, you might want to consider another option.
• This variety of carpet is often used in rental homes and is considered a “builder’s grade” carpet.  This is because it’s relatively inexpensive to replace.  There are more expensive varieties, but if you plan to spend more money, you might want to consider another option
• This carpet sheds!  If you want a low maintenance carpet, or if you’re planning to install carpet in a high traffic area, this may not be a good choice for you.  

• Berber Carpet.  Many people will choose a berber because they believe it’s more durable than other choices.  However, this is not always the case.  Not all berbers are created equal.  Only an informed buyer should purchase this type of carpet.

• Pros:
• Depending on the type of material chosen, typically wool, nylon, Olefin or PET fibers, berber can be a great choice for high traffic areas. Wool and nylon are the most expensive, attractive, and durable choices.  Nylon is also very resilient.  When it comes to maintenance, wool or nylon are your best options, as they can be more forgiving. Rule of thumb: The more expensive the material, the softer, more durable, and easier the carpet will be to care for.  
• Cons:
• Berber is referred to as a “continuos loop” carpet.  With that in mind, you’ll want to be very careful moving furniture, vacuuming, walking on the carpet with high heels, and allowing children to play with their toys on this type of carpet.  The reason is because one snag can result in a run down the middle of the carpet.  If this happens, you’ll have to replace the whole room.  
• Because of the design, it has highs and lows that are uneven to walk on.  It’s not as appealing for many because of the stiff and “scratchy” feel.  
• Be careful not to purchase Olefin or PET variations if you plan to use this in a high traffic area.  Olefin is a man-made material that has been around for about 60 years, and was designed as an inexpensive substitute for wool or nylon.  PET is actually recycled plastic, and is often referred to as “pop carpet” since a lot of the material comes from plastic pop or water bottles.  Although these are inexpensive options, these materials shed and mat easily.  Even with modest traffic, these carpets will likely need to be replaced 3-6 years after installation.

• Frieze (AKA Tight Twist, Casual Texture, Short Shag) Carpet.  These fibers are tightly twisted, and in my opinion offer the best bang for your buck.  

• Pros:
• Frieze styled carpet s popular around the country.  In addition to being softer in feel, and offering a more contemporary look, it’s considered a very wise and practical choice for active households. They’re less likely to show footprints or vacuum marks than other cut pile styles
• This style usually carries the best & longest warranties when compared to berber or plush.  Many manufacturers offer a 10 year warranty on stains, and a lifetime warranty on wear.  
• Cons:
• Because the carpet-making process is more involved, frieze carpet is more expensive than traditional pile carpets.  Although this may seem like a disadvantage at first, due to it’s rugged durability, a properly maintained frieze carpet often lasts much longer than a pile or berber.  If you’re staying in your home longer than 3-4 years, it may be worth spending a few extra dollars now.  
• Frieze has a slightly shaggy appearance.  Although this is perfect to achieve a casual and contemporary look and feel in your home, it might not be the best design selection if you’re looking to replace carpet in a formal setting.  In this case, you may want to select a nice plush, since you’ll probably have less traffic in a formal area than you would in your family room.

In conclusion, you’ll want to think about a couple things before making your selection.  Where is the carpet being installed?  Living Room, Dining Room, Bedroom?  Does this area experience a lot of traffic, or is it a more formal area of your home used only occasionally?  What look are you going after? Casual? Contemporary? Formal? How long do you need the carpet to last? Are you planning to sell your home soon, is this for a rental, or is this a long-term decision?  

Answering these questions will go a long way in ensuring you make the best carpet decision for your unique needs and lifestyle.  

As always, if you have any questions, I’m here to help.  You can reach me at 586-443-3693, or by visiting my website @ www.carpet4lessonline.com.