Looking for some tips on buying a new carpet? Buying carpet is a pretty significant and—hopefully—long-term investment. Here are a few pointers to make the process easier to navigate.
Carpet Buying Tips
Size Matters
You need an accurate measurement of the room where the carpet will be installed. Consider doorways, stairs, if there is an island in the room, and so on. For more detailed information on how to measure a room accurately, check out our page on how to measure for carpet.
Function, Function, Function
Next, you’ll want to think about the room’s purpose. Is there heavy foot traffic? How often will you vacuum? Does the room get a lot of direct sunlight?
Answering these questions will help ensure your carpet stands the test of time. Buying the right carpet type for your space is one of the most crucial carpet buying tips to keep in mind.
Get Your Fiber
In general, carpet fibers come in five varieties: nylon, wool, triexta, polypropylene, and polyester.
- Nylon is known for its durability and cost-effectiveness. It comes in a variety of styles and wears well under high traffic.
- Wool is the gold standard of soft fibers. It is stain-resistant if the stain is removed promptly, and versatile in styles and colors.
- Triexta is one of the newest fibers on the market. Sold under the brand name SmartStrand, it is soft, stain-resistant, fade-resistant, and colorfast. It is also easy to clean.
- Polypropylene (previously called olefin) is stain- and water-resistant, making it suitable for indoor or outdoor use. It is solution-dyed, which makes it fade-resistant as well. It is popular in low-pile carpeting.
- Polyester is soft and works well in thickly-piled carpeting. It has impressive stain resistance and is less expensive than many other options. Polyester is a good choice for bedrooms or playrooms.
Find Your Style
The three primary carpet styles are cut, loop, and cut-loop.
Cut Pile
Cut pile gets its durability through twists of the yarn. The higher the twist, the better the quality. It has several sub-styles.
- Saxony is excellent for living and dining rooms.
- Frieze has a high twist rate that gives it a curly appearance. It is ideal for rooms with high traffic.
- Plush (velvet) has a formal feel to it. It easily shows footprints and vacuum marks and is best for rooms with low traffic.
- Textured Plush is a fantastic choice for the entire house because of its versatility. Its textured surfaces are better at hiding footprints and vacuum marks than regular plush.
- Shag is an older-style carpet with a very high pile.
- Cable is similar to frieze but has a mixture of thick and thin fibers for a varied appearance.
Loop Pile
With level loop pile, all the loops are the same height. Because the yarn ends are not exposed, this style of carpet wears well and withstands high traffic. Multi-level loop pile has different loop heights to make patterns in the carpet.
Cut-Loop Pile
Cut-loop pile carpet has both cut and looped yarns, making it appear to have more than one color, reducing the visibility of stains.
Get the Perfect Carpet for Your Home
Now that you’re versed in size, function, fibers, and styles, we hope you’re feeling more confident about buying carpet for your home.
If you still have questions or need more tips for buying carpet, we’re happy to help. At Remnant King Carpet, we offer quality carpet installation in Everett, WA, and the surrounding areas. Our experienced team is standing by to help you pick the perfect carpet for your home. Contact us today to get started.