Thursday, November 30, 2006

This is the place for your questions and comments

Welcome to the Carpetguru's question and answer forum. I used to try and answer questions by email, but the volume of email has increased to the point to where I was answering many of the same questions. By using this forum, I hope to answer your questions as well as creating a sense of community. Here you can ask the guru any questions concerning carpet, carpet pad, vinyl flooring, laminate flooring, and hardwoods.

Also, if you have an installation question or problems I will discuss it with you here for all to see. To Reach the latest comment click on the comment link below, and then when the screen changes, click on the newest. If you are having trouble reading this blog you can leave a comment at www.facebook.com/carpetguru.CarpetClassics

Thank You,
Jim

2,566 comments :

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Anonymous said...

Jim,
You said:
Foamex pad will work, but you will like the feel of a 7/16th pad over a 3/8 pad. I'd use the 8 lb 7/16th if you can find it.

We talked with our dealer and they say they only have 2 pads available to us... The leggatt one 7/16 & 6lb or the foamex one 8lb & 3/8th... what do we do? This was for an elite Mohawk Smartstrand frieze carpet... They say the pad has a lifetime warranty and the carpet 20year..

Thanks again! We are so close...

Carpetguru said...

If your dealer has only 6 lb pad available, and you can get him to put in writing that the carpet will be installed following CR105, and that he will take care of any restretch problems for five years, then use the 6 pound pad.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Jim,

We found out the dealer has one more pad option for .40cents extra a sq ft..

Leggatt & Platt - Monterey

Is this a good option?

Otherwise, as discussed previously, our options are:

Leggatt & Platt - Service Magic 7/16" & 6lb)
Foamex - Jewel 3/8".. 8lb (we think but packaging said rebond 5.5.. but if I look up on foamex site says 8lb and dealer said 8lb)

This is for a SmartSTrand frieze carpet..

The dealer doesn't seem to know anything about the installation... so I doubt I can get him to put CR105 on the contract.. everything we ask they look at us like we are crazy...

Thanks again... we really appreciate all your advice!

Carpetguru said...

Sounds like your salesperson is not aware that in order to keep your Mohawk 20 year warranty, the carpet must be installed in accordance with CR-105. Does your dealer have his own installers???

The Monterey pad is NOT worth the extra money. You'd be better off with the 6 lb pad.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

I have a fairly typical downstairs area of a split-foyer house, with no moisture issues to speak of. We plan to recarpet most of it with two Shaw products: Chula Vista for the bulk of the floor, and Arcadia for the bedroom. Do you have any concerns with either product? Two adults live in the home, along with a medium-sized dog (a corgi). The dog isn't especially destructive, but he does love to run around the house at full speed, or dig his paws/claws into the floor for leverage when playing tug-o-war.

Also, is it typical when pricing carpet to include installation fees on the excess (waste) carpet that is purchased but not actually installed? Due to the shape of the area and the carpet coming in such wide rolls, there will be a fairly substantial piece that will just get cut off and left as scrap. Should they quote/charge installation on that piece, or keep it closer to the actual installed area?

Thanks!

Carpetguru said...

I cannot comment on the two Shaw products you mention because I am not familiar with those carpet names. Shaw has many carpets that are identical, but under different names.

It is common practice for all carpet taken into the house or touched by the installers, to be included in the cost of labor. The only way to avoid this would be to hire your own installer, and explain to him that you do not want to pay for the labor on the waste. Due to current economic times, you may be able to get your wish.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

I've read your whole website several times. Thank you so much for the help.

I've narrowed my search down to three and would like your opinion.

1.Shaw: Finders Keepers
Tactesse BCF nylon continuous dyed
Face Weight: 62.4oz
twist: 6.5
Softbac platinum
Density 2707
cost:$5.39sf

2. ShawMark: Anything goes Timeless Treasure- Anso Crushresister BCF nylon w/softbac platinum
twist: 7.75/5.8
face weight: 63.4oz
density:2153
Cost: $4.60

3. Mohawk:Sea Star
Smartstrand Sorona Polyester Filament
Twists: 6.5 x 6.5
Face Weight: 65oz
density 3357
Cost: $3.99sf

All cost include 8lb virgin foam and installation. I am working on getting the sales rep to understand frothed foam pad so this may be an option.

Will be in home next 10 years. 2 adults and 1 dog. Stain resistance and wear pattern our concern due to dog and stairs.

Thank you,

Raegan

Carpetguru said...

Reagan,
All three of these carpets will stand up for the next ten years, it is just that the Smartstrand Mohawk carpet will do so without fading, or having to ever add additional stain treatment during its lifetime.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Thanks Jim. I went to Shaw's web site to see if I could find another name for the Arcadia and Chula Vista carpets. Based on color options, material and style, the closest matches I could find were listed as Caliente and Cota de Casa. It's hard to tell just off the internet, but if those are in fact the two products in question, what can you tell me?

Thanks again!

Anonymous said...

Jim
Oh my can this be confusing. Thank you so much for this website. I am interested in carpeting my basement and will be carpeting over a concrete slab. From what I have ready in your blogs, I am focusing on the Frieze nylon and have found one that I am not sure if it is a good deal or not at Home Depot. My goal was to not spend too much money but this is a bit over my budget but I want something that will hold up and last with my little kids growing up to teenagers. Love to hear your input:
Stevens by Gulistan
Mount Whitney 4381
100% StainMaster Tactesse BCF Nylon
Stainmaster Platinum Plus for $2.88 sq ft
25 yr warranty
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?pn=Flooring_Special_Buys&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&cm_sp=d23-_-Carpet-_-Hero-_-Carpet_Section-_-See_Special_Carpet_Buys-_-9_11-_-learn_more&locStoreNum=153&marketID=1

Love your input!

Mary Kinnaman kinnaman@mindspring.com

Carpetguru said...

Mary,

The carpet you have selected is most likely a good one. Gulistan makes great carpet.
To save money and frustration I would suggest that you "borrow" Home Depots sample, and take it to a local dealer. I am sure they will be able to match the carpet, measure properly, and save you money while getting a quality install.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Caliente is a 46 ounce frieze with a 6.65 twist made by the Tuftex division of Shaw Industries. This carpet has a par rating of 3.8 and will perform well in all areas of the home.

You have chosen wisely,

Jim

Anonymous said...

Which professional carpet cleaning method should we use for Karastan 100% nylon carpet installed over Karastep Ultra (white) padding? Pat D.

Carpetguru said...

Pat,

If you were given an warranty booklet from your dealer, you will find the warranty only stays in tact if you use hot water extraction (steam) cleaning. This must be done by a professional certified carpet cleaner at least once every 18 to 24 months.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

dave.....as a retired carpet installer, after 48 years of service it seems I am totally lost when it comes to selecting carpet for myself. Just today I discovered a new innovation on the mohawk smartstrand fibre and that is "Lifestrand ultra carpet fiber" introduced by PHENIX. do you have any unbiased info on this. Thanks.....karl

Carpetguru said...

KARL,

This is Jim.

The Life Strand fiber is just a filament version of PET polyester fiber. It is not 3GT PTT fiber that Mohawk uses in their Smartstrand Horizon and Mohawk carpets.

Jim

Anonymous said...

I was tasked with the job to have an area rug clean, and finding someway to keep it from bunching up. The area rug goes under a table that has rolling chairs and the chairs cause the rug to bunch. what do you recomend using to keep the area rug from bunching? The rug will be laid on top of industrail type carpet under the table. I was told that a carpet pad would work better then tape or glue. what do you suggest?

Carpetguru said...

There is no way to keep your area rug from wrinkles when you insist on using chairs that have rollers.

Jim

Anonymous said...

I am shopping for a sorona smartstrand for my bedroom and walk-in closet. So many labels and brand names are confusing. Can you compare Mohawk "latest craze" 49 oz. with Floorcraft (at Dobson Floors) "never say never 59 oz and with Karastan "wilderness retreat" ? oz. Are they equal in quality? What is the best carpet pad? Thanks! Gayle

Carpetguru said...

Gayle,

The 49 ounce carpet is not as heavy as the 59 ounce carpet. However, that does not mean they will not perform about the same; especially if they are both made from 3GT Sorona PTT fiber.

My question would be is the Mohawk carpet from their Aladdin division, or the Horizon division? The Aladdin division supposedly does not use the Sorona version of the PTT fiber, but still carries the elite warranty. This makes no sense, as PTT is PTT.
Karastan, a division of Mohawk , does use the Sorona version of the PTT, and, because Mohawk is "proud" of their Karastan carpet, will always be much more expensive than the Aladdin line.

I cannot comment on carpet names you mentioned because those names are most likely private labeled, and apply only to those particular dealers.

To learn about carpet pad, visit www.carpetguru.com/pad.html

Good Luck,
Jim

anonymous said...

Hello, I am considering purchasing carpet for my whole house. We like the Beaulieu Hollytex Luxury Collection/Stainmaster xtralife "Snuggles"; it also states Luxury Bac and Tactesseon the sample. With all the labels I am confused as to what it means. The carpet salesman said it would be installed over an 8lb pad. Can you please give your opinion on this brand /line of carpet to help our decision? Thanks in advance.

Carpetguru said...

Hollytex is the high end brand of the Beaulieu carpet company. The Luxury Backing system is superior to most all other backing systems being offered on residential carpets today.

You have chosen wisely,

Jim

Anonymous said...

Hi Jim,

I've been reading your thread for days as we just purchased a foreclosed home that needs carpeting replaced in three bedrooms and a basement.

I've been to all the big-box retailers (HD, Lowes, Menards) and not to any of the Abbey Carpets, Carpet One, Carpet Kings yet - but plan on visiting those today.

I haven't been able to find the froth pad you've mentioned and maybe it's just me but I've also read conflicting statements about what to install in the basement. I don't know a great deal about the house but it was built in 2002 and doesn't appear to have a wet basement but the previous homeowner installed tile over the concrete. I've seen you mention not to put vapor or water barrier pad in the basement on the concrete - but then I've also seen that it's good to put the froth foam on the concrete basement floor and I thought that had the vapor and water barrier?

We'd like to put in a twist carpet with the froth pad and have found a smartstrand by Mohawk for $4.15 a square foot at HD which just seems very pricy as it didn't include the padding or installation but it had a very soft feel and a twist of around 6.5, 2700 density and a face weight of 65oz.

What are the highest densities and twists as I'm not sure what these numbers are on a scale of and then at what point are you at a "good quality" twist and density? Is twist on a scale of 1-10 and anything above 6 is considered a good tight twist? Is density on a scale of 0 - 5000 and over 3000 is considered decent?

By decent I am referring to longevity of the carpet standing up to traffic, pets and wanting to be in the house for 10+ years. We have 2 dogs & 1 cat.

Jen in MN

Carpetguru said...

Jen,

You need to find a local dealer who carries Shaw carpets. This dealer will have access to the triple touch froth foam pad. Triple touch pad has a dual moisture barrier, but it is not a "vapor" barrier, thus water vapor will pass through.

Any twist above six is great. 65 ounces is almost an too much fiber unless you are looking at a shag. But remember, longer shags will crush !

A 48 ounce tight twist frieze (short shag) made with PTT from Mohawk Horizon or Aladdin division will carry Mohawk's "elite" warranty and will meet all your needs.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

I would like to have full-width carpeted steps going to the basement, but want to be able to easily re-carpet one tread if a step gets stained. Is there a simple way to carpet the treads (and not the risers} and have the carpet wrap around the nose and end at the riser? I guess I'm looking for the equivalent of carpet tiles for stairs.

Thanks.
John

Carpetguru said...

John,

There are no carpet tiles that would work safely on stairs. You can carpet the tread by stapling the carpet under the nose, and with the aid of a knee kicker, tack strip, and some staples, attach the carpet to the back of the tread.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

We had our house done by Home Depot with Staimaster "Aladdin" by Mohawk". (Style Gramercy Park" 100% Mohawk Everstrand P.E.T. Polyester.

Ever since we got it our vacuum clogs up with what I call fleece from the carpet. We had Home Depot's rep out here a couple months after we got it and he said that was normal, that it shuold stop shedding after a couple of months. Had it for 11 months now and it still clogs up the vacuum! It just continually sheds fuzz. Uner the coffee tables where on puts their feet while sitting on the couch little balls of fuzz gather from one's feet. Is all this normal? After vacuuming 3 rooms you have to take the vacuum hose off and clean it out and empty the bag as they are full of carpet fuzz.

Tom

Carpetguru said...

Tom,

What you had installed was not Stainmaster. It was a staple yarn version of PET polyester. This type of PET fiber will shed, and shed, and shed. It is the nature of the beast.
This shedding continues for the life of the carpet, especially if the style is a shag with a modest twist level. If your carpet is a plush , or shorter pile, then the shedding that fills your vacuum bag, will only last another year.

It is unfortunate that your Home Depot salesperson was not experienced enough to know about staple fibers.

Good Luck,
Jim

BTW, what ever happened to customer satisfaction???

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your answer to my 2/18 11:36 post. A follow up question. This is a plush. Will the continued shedding change the appearance of the carpet? Will it look wornbefore it's time? or less dense? Will it end up looking like Berber?

Thanks,

Tom

Leftyrn said...

Hi Tom what a great informative site you have. We are considering replacement of carpet over concrete slab with radiant heat. We found a Gullistan product Ultra Luxura Stainmaster Product with tactesse that is Nylon. It appears to be a private label (Lattice or Laramie) but we found the identical carpet in two stores just with different name. Our problem is a dog in the home that ruined what is down now. We have been told of a stainmaster padding that has a barrier resistent (not sure if this is correct terminology) quality.
One store has stated we should not use on radiant heat floor with concrete because we should have no barrier. (this is store wanting us to purchase their carpet) The other store states that padding does breath.
Is Gullistan carpet seem like a good purchase it is pricy 9.18 over padding and installed? Are we getting a bad price or is this on target for what we are getting? Is this barrier padding a good idea on radiant heat concrete floor?

Carpetguru said...

Leftyrn,
This is Jim. You have chosen a quality carpet from a quality mill. The radiant heat requires that you use a slab rubber pad or healthier choice's 5/16ths blue froth foam pad. Rebond is not an option here.

No carpet is pet proof, and your pet could "ruin" your new carpet.

I think 9.18 ($82.62/per sq yd) is a little pricey for non-wool carpet. You should be able to get this carpet installed for $7.25/sq ft including special pad, and moving furniture.

Good luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Tom,

Your 90 ounce face weight PET polyester plush that is shedding will continue to change appearance.

Because the pile is so thick, the traffic areas will begin to look crushed and worn. This will be brought about due to normal wear and tear, and by excessive shedding. It all depends on the twist level. The tighter the twist, the less texture change you are going to experience.

You biggest complaint will be the furniture indentations that will not come out without steam cleaning the carpet.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Back to my PET polyester plush. The Twist is listed as 5.0 x 4.8. Good, bad? Are the expected crushing and wear patterns usual for all plushes or is that a problem with just this PET polysester?

Thanks again, Tom

shawnandbabes said...

Carpetguru,

We are about to buy carpet for the first time and want to do it right. We are carpeting our upstairs: including bedrooms and hallway (no stairs). We have 3 young kids and one medium size dog. We have narrowed it down to 2 carpets based on feel and style.
1. Mohawk Hadleigh House Aladdin collection. This is a smartstrand BCF PTT carpet which says it is elite with great warrenties.
2. Mohawk Seaside Park Horizon collection. This 100% dura soft BCF nylon with a scotchguard. This says it is a preferred catagory with good warrenties.
Which would you recommend? We will be using a 8lb carpet pad.

Carpetguru said...

Hello again, Tom
Your PET plush has a typical twist level for a plush. Tighter twist level would make the carpet a frieze.

In a plush made from PET, its all about stitch rate. Denser plush carpets show less texture change. 90 ounce plush carpets tend not to be as dense, as they tend to have too high of a pile to equate to good density.
Combine this with a staple polyester, and you will have some texture changes that will become apparent quickly.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Shawn,
For family living, I'd suggest the PTT smartstrand carpet installed over an 8 lb pad.
PTT is going to be the easiest carpet to clean you have ever owned. You will love it.

Good Luck,
Jim

shawnandbabes said...

You make it sound so easy. All morning I have been staring at the samples trying to decide. PTT it is. Thank you for such a helpful and informative site.
I guess I do have one more question the PTT choice is just a little bit taller than the nylon choice. The salesman assures me it will not crush...is that true? He states it has a memory fabric that will bounce back with no crushing or matting. Before I sign on the dotted line I just wanted to ask again.
Thanks for your help!

Anonymous said...

Dave from CT - our church is about to carpeted - 800 square ft. on top of concrete floor. The installer is using 26 ounce nylon berber. Some of us were surprised that he did not recommend using a pad. We think it will absorb sound and be warmer and more comfortable. He says gluing onto concrete is most common use. Do you have an opinion?

Carpetguru said...

Dave,
Your installer is correct. Most light commercial carpet is glued directly to the floor. This is especially true on concrete.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Hello agian, Shawn.

You PTT carpet will bounce back only if you keep the carpet clean. No fiber will stand tall if it is dirty. Think of it as not washing your hair for two weeks. Your hair would be gummy and matted. The same hold true for any carpet. When clean, PTT will vacuum right up.

Good luck,
Jim

Unknown said...

I am flabberghasted as to the amount of information here..THANK YOU.

Looking to recarpet living and dining open space with no children, one dog but no accidents. The color I liked best was a carpet called Resista Overo: 100% BCF Polyester. Europa Carpets/Carpet One carries it with it's own label, calling it Gold Series and the label has "Good Housekeeping" on it. They couldn't tell me weight/density, etc. but it has a short twist. What do you think of this carpet and what should I ask in terms of information or be looking for? Help, I am really carpet ignorant.

Carpetguru said...

Mrkgallagher,

PET polyester in filament form will perform well in your situation. Carpet One is "proud" of their carpet, so their Gold Series should wear well. Make sure that when the carpet is installed that they follow the guidelines set forth in CR105.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Your site is a wealth of knowledge! We live in a bi-level and our steps really get abused. I think I found some good carpets for our houe and need your opinion. 3 of them are Beaulieu and 2 are Mohawk. Hollytex Palm Springs 1, Coronet Soft Classics Sovereign 2, and Coronet Herb Garden 2. The Mohawks are both tight twist,short friezes, Wundaweave Emerald Coast and Horizon Carribbean Secret. Could you place these in orde as to which you think are best? Thank you.

Carpetguru said...

Forget all the other carpets, break open your wallet, and purchase the Palm Springs. This is the last carpet you will buy (even on stairs). Palm Springs is made with solution dyed nylon, and will not fade, fuzz, pill, or mat, and it is stain resistant for its entire lifetime. You will love it.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

HELLO, I HAVE A PROBLEM, I HAVE 2 SMALL DOGS THAT HAVE ACCIDENTS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I AM LOOKING TO REPLACE THE CARPET IN MY HOUSE CAUSE IT IS CURRENTLY PRETTY BAD, AND WAS TOLD TO GET BERBER, WITH A MOISTURE BARRIER PLACED INBETWEEN THE CARPET AND THE UNDERLAYMENT. I DONT WANT TO BE PUTTING IN A NEW CARPET AND HAVE IT RUINED DUE TO THE DOGS WETTING ON IT OR ANYTHING ELSE. I NEED HELP HERE........

Carpetguru said...

THERE IS NO PET PROOF CARPET. BERBER CARPETS AND DOGS ARE NOT A GOOD MIX.

If you must have carpet, use a PTT 3GT polymer from Mohawk. It is called Smartstrand. Install over pad with moisture barrier. Clean carpet every six months.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

You have a great site! I was wondering what you think of the products Sisal Twist and Park Avenue, both of Beaulieu. I need a carpet that will hold up to heavy traffic, especially hard working stairs. Thank you in advance.

Carpetguru said...

Park Ave is one of the best friezes you can buy. It is filament nylon that is solution dyed. it is extremely tightly twisted. It will not loose its stain resistance.
It will last on stairs for years; just keep it professionally cleaned every two years.

I have no glue about the other carpet you mentioned.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

I am glad I found your site. The posts over the past few days have addressed stairs. I have that problem as well. Today I took a ride and looked at the Hollytex carpets you mentioned, Park Avenue and Palm Springs. They are so different, one seems too long and the other seems too short. What will their difference mean as far as wear is concerned? I also liked the Snuggles mentioned in an earlier post. What is your feelings as far as stair wear on that carpet as well?

Carpetguru said...

The Palm Springs is a little longer pile and will show a little more texture change on a set of stairs than Park Ave. Snuggles is in between in length, but is not as well made. It is, however, tweeded, and will hide general soil very well.

Hope this helps,

Jim

Carpetguru said...

Rita in Arizona,

I did not publish your comment due to its length. I will mention that the slab rubber is not a good idea for your laminate floor. Use 1/8th inch pad for your laminate. I like "sound solution" by the Healthier Choice people.

I'd use the slab rubber that you have under all the carpet. It will give you over 20 years of good service; especially on concrete.

Good Luck,
Jim

corlieb said...

Thanks for the great site. I am looking at 2 carpets for my home. The carpet will go in 3 bedrooms. I have twins that are 4 but no animals inside the house. I am looking at Shaw, Every Season, 100% BCF Cleartouch Pet Polyester, it is a 5 star rating with a performance rating of 4. Priced anywhere from $13-17 per yd, with 10 year warranty. The other carpet is by Mohawk, Alladin collection, premier, Aspen Heights. 100% Smartstrand, BCF, PTT Polyester. $16.99/yd. The Shaw carpet has a better feel, (much softer) and I have heard so many conflicting opinions about which would be best for my home. Money is important, as we have several projects we need to completed in the house. I had one rep tell me that the Mohawk is actually a Nylon but they can't put Nylon on the label because it is tied up in a court battle that was brought on by Shaw?? Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you so much.

Carpetguru said...

Corlieb,

You must be aware that PET and PTT are not near the same thing. You will like the long term performance of the PTT fiber over the PET fiber. Examine the elite warranty from Mohawk(Aladdin). It is the best in the business.

Good Luck,
Jim

CGP-Cincinnati said...

Your site is terrific and helped me so much in understanding all the different options I saw at the flooring store I went to. My issue is that in reality I probably need laminate flooring because I have six cats (I really didn't mean to!) However I have never seen a laminate floor I liked so I wanted to know what you would recommend if I go with a prefinished hardwood floor.

Thanks in advance, I wish I lived in your area! Would you like to move to Cincinnati??

Cynthia

Carpetguru said...

Thank you for your kind words, Cynthhia.

You should check out Mannington.com for a look at their prefinished hardwoods. I also really like the Karhs line of prefinished hardwood flooring.

Good Luck,
Jim

sonyako said...

How can I find out the original style number for a Mohawk Smartstrand carpet which has been given a different style number for special Mohawk dealers. The style is listed as FV112, but I want to be able to compare at other carpet stores. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

What is your opinion on Beaulieu's Bliss selection of solution dyed nylon versus the Hollytex Palm Springs or Park Ave?

Thank you,

J

Anonymous said...

I have decided on Resista Ultimate polyester from Carpet One as my first choice. Shaw Mammoth nylon from Home Depot is my second choice.
My research found that the most common reason people replace carpet is stains. The Risista is thicker, softer and resists stains better than the Shaw Nylon.
Should I put Texture Retention first or stay with this reasoning that I should worry more about staining?
I have stairs so I worry about matting but I also have my dining room table on carpet in the family room so staining is a big concern. No kids and no pets.
Thanks, Brian

Carpetguru said...

Brain,

While the Home Depot nylon will probably look good for some time, you will get better overall service and performance from the Carpet One dealer. The Resista line is a filament form of the PET fiber, and will do well for the first five or six years; even longer with proper professional cleaning.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Comparing the Bliss collection and Palm Springs is like comparing a Cadillac to a Lexis. Both will get you there, but the Lexis will be trouble free for a longer period of time.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Mohawk carefully guards their private label names to protect those dealers who paid for special samples with special names. The only way to compare is to take the sample from store to store and hope you can find a salesperson who can identify the carpet.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

To Jim,

This is Roger. I think I left a post yesterday regarding two carpet replacements I was considering. One was from Mohawk, labeled Bainbridge, a frieze, 53 oz., 6.5 twist, 2703 density. The 2nd one I found out is by Beaulieu, Embraceable You, 2561 density, 5.28 twist, 65 oz. Both are BCF nylon. The Beaulieu has luxurybac. Which would offer better wear, etc. Thanks.

Carpetguru said...

Roger,
The two carpets you have selected are both going to perform well. I would make my selection on which ever color you like best, or which ever is more friendly to your pocketbook.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Hi Jim,

I have a small flooring business out of my home. I deal mostly with builders so I am getting rusty on residential. I have a client who is interested in a carpet with the Resista yarn system. Who is the manufacturer of this product? I am guessing that it is Shaw. Thanks for your help!

Carol Ann
Houston, Texas

Carpetguru said...

Carol Ann,

Resista is a private label for continuous filament PET polyester carpet. It is part of the Flooring America Franchise system. They can have any mill make this carpet as long as they use CFN PET fiber. It does have to meet certain standards, but you will not be able to cross reference this carpet. You must have their sample to compare with the samples you carry.

Good Luck,
Jiim

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your prior info (please refer to my first blog 2/18 @ 11:36). Home Depot has offered to replace this carpet with one of my choice, but of course if I pick a more expensive one I'll have to pay the difference. We paid around $25/sq. yard, including pad, including tax, and a little for installation.($15.80/sq. yard just for the carpet). But now we have to pick something else out. I think we are going to stay away from a plush. I have a question about the twist. The one we had had a twist of 5.0 x 4.8. I've noticed that on your blogs you recommend at least a "6". Is that referring to the first number and I should ignore the second number? Also I take it we should be looking for a PTT and stay away from the PET? And if we are looking for a non-plush what kind of a face weight should be a minimum (we don't want berber or anything like that.)

Thanks,

Tom

Carpetguru said...

Tom,

I find it amazing that you got HD to replace your carpet.

If you stick with a filament fiber, you may use nylon, PET or PTT fibers.
Twist levels must be 6 or higher for any frieze you may choose. Stick with a face weight of at least 40 ounces.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

To Jim,

What is Mohawk's Ultrastrand carpet? I can't find any information as to what is is comprised of, or how it compares to Weardated or Stainmaster carpet?
It is a nylon or polyester? Thanks.

james said...

How can we tell if our carpet is an axminster carpet? We want to sell it and don't want to be misleading to potential buyers.

Thank you.

Carpetguru said...

James,

An Axminster carpet is a woven carpet where you can see the white weaving threads when you look at the backing. Also, Axminster carpet roll up really easy one direction, and is almost impossible to roll up the opposite direction.

Hope this Helps,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Ultrastrand is Mohawks brand name for their "unbranded" nylon pile. It is often the same Wear Dated fiber or even Stainmaster, only without the logo. Thus, Mohawk
does not have to pay a royalty to Invista for the use of the Stainmaster name.

Recently, Mohawk purchased the Wear Dated brand, and in the future you are going to see a great deal of the new "Wear Dated" labeled carpets from Mohawk.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Wow, I can't believe this great site! I hope you will answer my question. I found a carpet that I love the feel and color of. It is Gulistan, Park Avenue it's a plush with a barber-pole twist density 4179, face weight 65. Installed with a 8lb pad it is $55 a yard. Hoping to save some money I looked around and found Shaw z6249 "So Far Away". faceweight 46, The color is almost exact, but it has shorter length of yarn so not as cushy. It is only $31 sy with the same pad. Quite a savings! Any recommendations? Is the higher priced one that much better? BTW the less expensive one has a 4.5 durability rating and the more expensive gets a 4. Thanks!

Carpetguru said...

While Gulistan makes some very nice carpets, the Tufttex piece from Shaw that you are looking at will provide years of service. The Tuftex piece may end up looking nicer for a longer period of time due to the shorter pile length.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Hi again,

I'm the one who has the P.E.T. carpet that Home Depot is going to replace. My wife likes one they carry made by Beaulieu of America. Now I know this is one at the lower price range ($20/sq. yard, w/o padding)(Home depot is going to spring for the installation, use the same padding as the crummy carpeting, its only 11 mos. old). We just have to pay for the diff. between the old capteitng cost and the new one. Anyways what do you know about this carpeting? It's Trilogy 808, 100% bcf nylon. Tufted face weight 46.2 oz., twist 5.4, density 3529. The warranty isn't so good, 10 yr. limited wear, 7 yr. stain, 5 yr. texture retention. Continuos Filament Fiber.

Thanks. This is an outstanding site.

Tom

Carpetguru said...

Tom,

With those specs, you will be much better off with the nylon carpet from Beaulieu. This carpet will not shed, and should hold up well when compared to the "crummy" carpet you are replacing.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Dear Jim,

I would really appreciate any help you can provide to my husband and me regarding the purchase and installation of our new Mohawk Smartstrand frieze carpet. I vacuumed our carpet for the very first time today with our Dyson DC17 and was horrified to see what it did to my carpet. I had no idea that my vacuum could damage our brand new carpet and I am just sick about it. I am not sure what to do? Fortunately I caught onto the damage early, but I need to to know what I should use to clean and vacuum my carpet? Is there something in particular I should be looking for in a vacuum? Thank you in advance for your time and advice.

Sincerely,
Deb

Carpetguru said...

Deb,

Please give me a detailed description of exactly what your Dyson did to your new SmartStrand carpet.

Jim

Unknown said...

Hi Jim,
So glad to find your site! We are looking at two carpets...
One is called Priceless Sensations by Shaw. It is super plush and thick. I'm told it is a BCF polyester, and thus has no stain protector, just the fact it's poly. Priced at $41/sq yd installed. The other is also by Shaw, called Underway II and is less plush, less thick, but still pretty nice, priced at $28/yd. Our store is suggesting a good 8 lb pad and that is included in the price. Do you have an opinion on either of these? Thanks so much. Linda

Anonymous said...

Dear Jim

I have dogs and cats so I can’t use loop. I have high traffic areas, stairs and halls.

I would like a carpet that doesn’t crush down, or at least vacuums back up.

I understand that nylon is good for this, what is 3GT?, is that better, I have seen you and your posters refer to hollytex solution dyed or the Mohawk smart strand 3gt as good for pets, your thoughts on this, or does something better come to mind

I figure getting a carpet the color of dirt will aid in the stain removal dept.

I am completely confused by the pads

Thank you

Ron

Anonymous said...

Jim,

Hello again! Thanks for reading my post. The reason I found out something was wrong is that I stopped my vac in place for just a few seconds to kick a cord out of the way. When I pulled the vacuum back to continue, that area was completely frayed and fuzzy. The ends of our carpet were completely pulled apart and had a very fuzzy appearance--completely different than the original look of our carpet which was very "clean". I had already vacuumed the majority of our carpet when this had happened. When I got down and looked at the other areas I vacuumed, they were different than the other room we have it installed in--it wasn't nearly as bad as the place where the vac was stopped for a few seconds, but many of the ends were frayed and fuzzy in appearance. I have already contacted Dyson and Mohawk. I guess what I am most upset about is that I had no knowledge at all that there was any special care for my new carpet. Very frustrating--our carpet is only a week old today. I did catch it early and have just a couple of really bad spots, but it should have never happened in the first place. I am extremely nervous now about cleaning/vacuuming my carpet for fear of damage. I am hoping that you might be able to provide me some insight/suggestions for the care of my new frieze carpet. Do you have any suggestions for what I should be looking for in a vacuum? Thanks again, Jim.

Sincerely,
Deb Painter

Carpetguru said...

Deb,
There have been very few accounts of Dyson vacuums causing damage to carpets. Perhaps you particular model had more suction than others.
I have both a Dyson and a Panasonic Upright at home. Even though the Panasonic cost half as much, I like it better than the Dyson. It has a feature that when you set the handle upright, the brushes automatically stop moving. Thus, no damage to the fibers of the carpet.
Look for this feature on any new vacuum you may purchase.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Ron,

You may use either of the fibers you mentioned, as you will not have a stain problem with either.
Look for a short tight dense frieze like Park Ave II from Hollytex, or Atlantic shores from Horizon (Mohawk).

Install over 8 lb rebond as a minimum pad, and over 100 ounce slab rubber or froth foam as the ultimate pad.

Good luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Linda,

I cannot give advice about the two carpets you mentioned, as the names you have given are not familiar to me. Those names could be used only by your particular dealer (private labeled). A PET BCF fiber is long lasting, but in a real thick carpet could result in lots of footprints, vacuum marks, and deep furniture indentations. The thinner plush may actually look better during its lifetime.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Good stuff on your website. I learned much (but then I knew virtually nothing about carpeting to begin with)

Lowes has a carpet called APEX ll by Gulistan (Nylon, face weight 73 oz., density 3809) This line does not appear on the Gulistan website, however. The Gulistan people replied to my email query saying that this one of there styles, but a private label style with Lowes (as you mention on you website)

Lowes also offers "whole house installation for $139 (as you have also commented on).

Have you heard of APEX ll? If so what do you think of it?

Carpetguru said...

Charles,

Apex II is indeed a Lowes private label. I have no clue about this carpet. I need to know the fiber content, and if is filament or staple. Also, I need to know if it is a shag or a plush???

Get back to me,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Do you have any Words of Wisdom regarding carpeting stairs and the adjacent hall upstairs? I have 3 questions: What type of padding is best? Would Shaw Tuftex "Bella Flora" patterned carpet be durable enough, even if it isn't (apparently) treated to be stain-resistant? The hall is the landing to the stairs, so where stairs meet hall, should the carpet nap change direction? Thank you, Guru!

Carpetguru said...

Miss Caroll,

The pattern you have selected will last a long time on the stairs and hall; however, good luck on finding one installer in a hundred that can make the installation look good. The pattern and direction of the carpet are important.

Good luck,
Jiim

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the warning and your fast response! Now, do you mean those 99 of 100 installers would have problems trying to match the seams of the “Bella Flora” pattern (on each stair step and at the T-shape configuration where the stairs and hall meet), or problems trying to handle the texture/stiffness of the carpet? Would it help to use another carpet instead, such as Shaw Tuftex “Moondance” (Z6198, textured but not patterned)?
Thanks again.

Carpetguru said...

Moondance, will serve you well and will be much easier to install. Seams can be hidden, and stair work will look much better. Most installers worth their salt can install this carpet.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Hello,
I posted the comment about the Park Avenue being a bit short and the Palm Springs being a bit too long, what, in your opinion would be a good compromise, in length, between these two carpets. I like the Hollytex, as it seems you do as well, but am open to any other option. I like Friezes and have a need for a high traffic rated carpet due to hard used bi-level stairs.
Thank you in advance.

Carpetguru said...

If Park Ave is too short, look at Supreme elegance which is the same mill and same solution dyed nylon.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

I am looking at Tuftex MyMyMy Berber for my family room, but I am concerned about how well it will withstand vacuuming if my vacuum has a beater brush or if the fibers will get caught when vacuuming. Do you know if anyone has had issues with vacuuming this carpet?

Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Dear Guru,

Your web site is amazing!

My husband and I plan to build our "forever" house where we hope to stay for 25 years. We intend to carpet a "bonus room" (what in the southeastern U.S. is often called finished attic space), which will serve as a game room with pool table, and the stairs leading up to it. We're undecided between broadloom and carpet squares which appeal to us because they can be replaced in case of staining or wear without having to move the pool table. If we go with carpet instead of squares, we would like a durable, crush-proof, stain-resistant and wear-resistant carpet and pad that will be slip-resistant on stairs. We prefer a low-level, closed loop texture. Based on what I've read here, in the way of broadloom, it seems that a solution-dyed, continuous filament nylon carpet over a froth foam pad would serve our purposes. Do you agree? Have you a preference between broadloom and squares? What is the safest treatment for stairs?

Many thanks!

Carpetguru said...

There are a few carpets that will meet your needs without looking like a commercial carpet. One is called Brocade II from Hollytex. It is solution dyed BCF nylon, and in a two ply loop construction. This will be a softer than carpet tiles, and, installed over froth foam, more fun to walk on.

Good luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

As with any looped carpet (berber) one must be careful when using an upright vacuum, or a vacuum with "power head". if the base plate of the head of the vacuum is smooth and free of barbs, screws etc. then you should have no trouble when vacuuming a looped carpet.
Made sure to install over a firm pad so that the carpet does not delaminate to the point where the loops come loose. This could result in the loops fuzzing or pulling out when vacuumed with an upright vacuum.

Good Luck,
Jim

Prof said...

Hello, I would like to know how to install carpet over a tile basement floor. Water or any moisture is not a problem.

Carpetguru said...

John,

Are you talking about a ceramic tile floor or a VCT (vinyl composition tile)? Each requires special skills that are normally not found in the average do-it-yourselfer. I strongly suggest you call a certified carpet installer (fitter).

Good Luck
Jim

Heidi said...

Guru,

Thanks for all the great information. I'm looking to re-carpet our whole house and have narrowed the search to two products. The stairs and upstairs hallway get the most use and need to remain fresh, stain and wear resistant for as long as possible. We have had our current carpet for 13 years and would like to keep this as long. We are a family of 5 with one small dog. The products are a Mohawk Alladin series called Suffolk Place at a local dealer and is SmartStrand BCF PTT Polyester, the second is Carpet One's platinum series called Instant Country which is BCF Resista polyester. Both would be installed over 8lb pad. What is your opinion on which would be the better product?

Thank you!

Anonymous said...

Hello,
I need a carpet for heavy traffic/stairs and was wondering your opinion on a Gulistan carpet called Satisfaction- Density 2,123; twist 6.50; Face Weight 46oz., Pile Height .780, 100% Stainmaster Tactesse BCF Nylon.
Thank You for your help!

Carpetguru said...

If the Smartstand is even close to the Resista in feel and construction, definitely go with the Smartstrand.
Better stain resistance, better wear, and better warranty from Mohawk.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

If you are wondering about your Gulistan carpet, don't worry, it is a great carpet.


Jim

Anonymous said...

My wife and I are in the process of upgrading our downstairs carpet. We picked a Shaw carpet called Fresh & Fabulous in a Mocha Froth color. We checked a number of color boards in a number of stores (5 to be exact) around the Nashville, TN area. All looked the same. When the carpet finally arrived last week, it was a completely different color on the truck from what the sample boards were (it was too brown and my wife did not like it). The installers had already ripped up my old carpet from one room before the sales rep came out to our house and confirmed that the color was indeed different. We met with a representative of Shaw yesterday and he also admitted the color is different between the carpet coming out of the factory and the sample boards we looked at. I would think that someone at Shaw messed up and that every color board in this country probably shows my carpet style and color as not being the proper color versus what is coming out of the factory.

In this case, should Shaw make good on the color stated on all of these sample boards and just produce the carpet we want or should they at least offer some type of compensation for the trouble we have been through having our downstairs torn up for over a week? It seems the Shaw rep did not want to do anything except say he was sorry and state that accidents happen.

Have you ever heard of things like this happening before? How were they resolved? What should we do? The only other carpet we like at the store is a Mohawk and it is $5 more per square yard.

Carpetguru said...

Eddie,

There are always some dyelot changes from roll to roll and sample to sample with carpet or any other textile. However, in your case it appears that Shaw may have shipped sample boards to their dealers with the colors swatches out of position; meaning that the color you want is a good color, just mislabeled.

For what ever reason the carpet was bad, Shaw should offer an equal carpet at no additional cost to you. You will not receive any compensation from the Shaw, but you may get the dealer to provide some extra service for your trouble. This would just be good business.

When our store has a job go bad due to defective carpet, we try and make the customer's house as livable as possible while the replacement carpet is in transit. However, we only do this for our full service customers. Those who just purchase goods and had their own installer do not receive such service.

Better Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Mr Guru,

Outstanding site, thank you for all your help. Just wanted your opinion on our recent choice. We are replacing the carpet throughout our 10 year old home located in Arizona. Older kids, (moving out soon), and 1 cat. We have chosen Hollytex, Snuggles, and would like to have our local dealer install it over Shaw's Premium Touch pad. The local dealer has said they will do carpet, pad, and installation (approximately 125 sq. yards) for $31.00 a sq. yard. Are we on the right track?

Chris and Linda

Carpetguru said...

Chris and Linda,

You have chosen wisely.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

I have chosen the Mohawk Smartstrand Fort Zach carpet for my basement family room and basement stairs. What pad would you recommend? Thanks.

Carpetguru said...

As long as your basement is moisture free, you my use rebond, slab rubber or froth foam. If you use rebond, make sure it is at least 7 lb density.
If you want the ultimate, you may use froth foam (www.carpetguru.com/froth.html)

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Jim,
We're still looking for a tough but pretty carpet for our stairs and hallway. In your honorable opinion, which of these 3 Shaw Tuftex 4.5-rated carpets would be tougher for stairs: "Days Like This" (63.3 face wt., ca. 0.78 pile ht., ca. 2921.5 density, $46.95 price), "So Far Away" (46 face wt., ca. 0.375 pile ht., ca. 4416 density, $34.95 price), or "Moondance" (46 face wt., 0.71 pile ht., 2332.39 density, $34.95 price)?
Thank you!

Carpetguru said...

Carol,

The Shaw carpets you mentioned are going to perform on your stairs. They are all going to look different. The denser the carpet the better on stairs, therefore, in your case, the most expensive carpet is the correct choice.

Good Luck,
Jim

Kay said...

Hi Jim~

Thanks for contacting me by email....I just realized I could communicate by using this blog..sorry. You stated that I would like the end result with the Smartstrand carpet if it came with the elite warranty. What is the elite warranty and what if it doesn't come with it? Also, in some earlier blogs ('06 & '07) it sounded like you didn't like moisture barrier pads. I have a dog so what type of pad would you recommend?

Thanks so much....I love your site......Kay

Carpetguru said...

Kay,

Elite warranties are offered by Mohawk on their PTT products that have a certain face weight and specified twist and density levels. This warranty should be clearly marked on the back of the Mohawk/Horizon/Aladdin/Karastan carpets. Included in the elite warranty is a lifetime stain resistance warranty.

You will not have to pay extra for a moisture barrier pad unless you anticipate spilling huge amounts of liquid on your carpet. The carpet itself has a plastic inner backing that will repel most spills and pet accidents.

Hope this helps,

Jim

bocceballer said...

Hi. I recently purchased a Stanton stair runner that I'm very pleased with. My installer put a thicker rebond pad under it and then stapled the side edges of each step so you could not see the padding from the floor below. This did seem to pucker the runner a bit at each staple site. Will this damage the runner? Thank you

Carpetguru said...

Bocceballer

You could damage the runner when you try to remove the staples. Be careful. Also, if the pad is thicker and 1/2 inch, then it may allow the runner to flex too much, and this could damage the integrity of the backing; depending on amount of foot traffic on the stairs.

Good luck
Jim

Anonymous said...

Wow, can't believe your web site! Will be back with questions, just had to say Thank You for your efforts.

pk

Anonymous said...

Jim,

Help! I'm so confused. I thought I wanted a frieze for my small family room that has a very definite traffic pattern because of furniture placement and space. I'm afraid of wear since we will basically all be walking into the room in one general spot. I was thinking of going with the frieze because of that. Stain control is and issue too though. But then I came home with a Karastan endearing smartstrand and we all fell in love with the softness of it. Would it be a stupid move to choose that over a frieze? The frieze I'm considering is by Mohawk It's Everlasting impact, and is a Stainmaster BCF nylon. this room is basically where we spend most of our time and we have a small dog.

Thanks,
Ann

Anonymous said...

Jim,
Yesterday a reputable carpet installer gave me his opinion on my choice for stair carpet (Shaw Tuftex "So Far Away"- 46 face wt., 3/8-in. pile ht., 4416 density): he said that he'd consider this to be just a home-office type carpet (utilitarian looks, not a pretty look installed) and that the 3/8-inch pile will show seams more than a carpet with longer pile. The installer is helpful and honest, and was actually recommending a less-expensive alternative (but with a 3/4" pile, which he thinks would work better for stairs but which I believe is too high a pile for stairs). Oh no! Do you believe that it'd be hard to hide seams on a dense carpet with 3/8" pile height? (I'm having zero luck finding my ideal 1/2"-pile dense carpet anywhere.)

Thanks
-Carol

Carpetguru said...

Carol,

The commercial looking carpet will be more difficult to seam, and could show seams in rooms wider than 12 ft. This type of carpet will perform on the stairs.

The short dense frieze will solve your problem on both fronts. Keep looking.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Ann,

Install the Karastan piece. You will love it, and it has a better warranty.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Hi Carpetguru!
An older gentleman's house was hit by hail and lightening; all the carpet has been replaced. He hates it!! The Lab said the old carpet was a "tufted textured saxony by Piladelphia, nylon, 61.3 oz., pile height .66 in., 1/8 in gauge." The new stuff meets the requirements (is Waterside Supreme or similar) but it shows every foot mark and everytime the dining room chair moves. Since the layout of the house requires him to walk across the carpet from each room to the next, he is vacuuming all the time. What would a replacement carpet that was trackless be? Is that an alternative to replacement?
Thanks
George

Carpetguru said...

George,

The only carpet that for sure will not show footprints and vacuum marks are looped carpets i.e. berber, and light commercial carpets.

The next least likely to show footprints is a tweedy short true frieze.

All other carpet is gong to show footprints and vacuum marks to a degree. The most footprints will be seen in a velvet plush.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Looking for a frieze for a lake house, two upstairs bedrooms and large concrete floored basement with grandchildren crawling around. Shaw Mammoth Platinum Plus at Home Depot is our current choice. Any recommendation is appreciated.
Mark

Carpetguru said...

Mark,

I am unable to comment on the quality of HD carpets as their carpets are private labeled. I do not know if "Mammoth" is nylon, polyester, olefin, or what. Furthermore, I have no idea of the twist, density, face weight etc.

If you have your own installer that you really trust to do quality work, then I would go ahead an purchase the materials from HD after they quit running any "install" promotions.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Hi Carpet Guru,
What type of carpet pad should I get for my new basement media room?We have allergies and are building a green healthy house. We have selected a wool rug from Godfrey Hirst. We will need a pad to go on the concrete slab that is non toxic and doesn't smell or out gas and will not give us any mildew or mold problems in the future. Thanks for your help!

Carpetguru said...

To control moisture over concrete I'd look at Shaw's Triple touch froth foam pad. This is available at most carpet dealers that carry Shaw carpets.

Also, if the wool carpet is looped, you might want to consider Healthier Choice's blue 5/16th froth foam pad. This is a littler harder to locate.

Good Luck,
Jim

Miss Carol said...

Jim,
We took your advice and looked further for a stair and hallway carpet. 2 kids (10 & 12) plus 2 front-declawed cats.
We found 4 really nice choices! Which of the following nylon carpets with good twist do you like better: 1)) Royalty Mills “Coronation” (Stainmaster Tactesse BCF, 59 face wt., 6 twist, 5/8” pile height, 3400 density); 2)) Shaw “Seaswept” (Evertouch BCF with R2X, 70.2 face wt., “twist” type carpet, 15/16” pile height, 2660 density, 4.5 PAR, Softbac backing); 3)) Royalty Mills “Paragon” (wear-dated NYLON 6,6!!! Fiber, 62 face wt., 7.25 twist, 3/4" pile ht., 2800 density); -or- 4)) Royalty Mills “Painted Desert” (Stainmaster BCF, 46 face wt., 6.1 twist, 7/16" pile ht., 3700 density)?
We like the Shaw Seaswept’s SOFT BACKING, the Royalty Paragon’s 7.25 TWIST plus the great 6,6 nylon fiber, and the Royalty Painted Desert’s perfect PILE HEIGHT plus HIGH DENSITY.
What fine carpets! Which is more important: twist rating, pile height, density or level of nylon softness (tactess, regular or 6,6)?
Thank you!
- Miss Carol

Carpetguru said...

Miss Carol,

Royalty makes outstanding carpet. I'd use witch ever of the Royalty carpets you like best. They both will outlast the Shaw product you mentioned.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Carpetguru,
I have read your site and greatly appreciate the education you have given me concerning carpet. I would like your opinion on the two carpets we are considering. We are a family with three children (age 2 - 8) and three cats (no claws, regular vomit). We are installing carpet on stairs, bedrooms, and our family room. Wear (especially the stairs) and stains (especially cat vomit) are primary concerns. We currently have a very low pile plush and are thinking about changing to a friese. We want the carpet to last at least 10 years if not longer.

We are considering Mohawk Smartstrand Seadrift - 48 ounce face weight, 2046 density, and 6.5 twist with Optiback. Their warranty is 20 year wear, 10 year texture, and lifetime stain, plus a 10 year warranty for delamination and buckling. The other contender is a Resista product "Dressage." It has 45 ounce face weight with 2076 density, and 6.09 twist. This is a "platinum" series with Carpet One, with warranty of 20 year wear, 10 year texture, and 10 year stain. It is about $.60 cheaper (at $4.19 per square foot for install, 8 lb pad, carpet, and tax) than the Mohawk option and not quite as soft. The Carpet One sales staff assures me that Resista is on par with SmartStrand and that Mohawk is just doing a tremendous marketing job.

We have another wrinkle in our carpet choice. The carpet choices come from two different carpeting stores. Both stores have come out and measured. Carpet One is estimating 1020 square feet and the other store is estimating 1270. Any idea how we should handle the discrepancy?

Thanks again for all the information you are providing to consumers. It really helps when setting out to purchase a carpet!

Lorie

Anonymous said...

Hi Jim,
We're so thankful we found your website - thank you for putting this information out here!
We've never had to buy flooring, but due to a flood, we're trying to learn all we can about the world of carpet and tile. The majority of our house is carpeted so we're replacing it all. We have 3 young children and two dogs, so we need a carpet that will last a long time. We're in TX and had berber in 3/4 of our house, but have found a frieze we like and wanted your opinion. What do you know about this carpet, and what is your opinion regarding a 6lb vs. 8lb rebond pad with this carpet:
Shaw, Resista/Standup, PET polyester, BCF, face wgt - 28.8 oz, density - 1152
Thanks so much!
M&M

Carpetguru said...

The Shaw carpet you are looking at is not designed for heavy traffic. It is a five year carpet regardless of the warranties you may see. PET carpets have to be better constructed than their nylon counterparts; especially in those carpets under 40 ounces. If that same carpet were a nylon, then it would look nicer longer than five years.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Lorie,

The Smartstrand is not at all like Resista PET fiber. In fact Mohawk just won the right drop the polyester name from their fiber, as it is not the same thing as polyester. PTT fiber is stronger, and more color fast. Thus, I would purchase the Smartstrand carpet.

As for the difference in meaasurements, I'd pay $50 to have a professional carpet installer measure the home. This way, you will have exactly what it takes to cover the floor. The 20% difference between the two measurements is evidence that some one either made a mistake, or is trying to make up for a low sq yd price by charging you for more carpet than you need. I'd explain to the one with the high estimate that you have had a measurement equal to 20% less than his, and you like to see a layout sheet as to how they came up with such a high figure. This is not a carpet with a match, so the overage should be minimal.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Jim - carpet newbie here looking for some feedback on two patterned carpets (cut and looped) for 3 bedrooms.

1. Royalty - BCF Nylon (Luxerell fiber); 48.0 oz face weight; 6.00 twist

2. The Dixie Group - BCF Nylon (Tactessee fiber); 50.0 oz face weight; 5.00 twist

Any advice/insight appreciated. Thanks.

-MJL

Carpetguru said...

MJL

While Royalty and Dixie Home both make great carpets, I would use the Dixie piece here.

Good Luck,
Jim

Unknown said...

Hi Carpetguru! Thanks for all your carpet wisdom. I have read your site and I still have a question.

We are looking at carpeting our master and guest bedrooms. Although we do not let our dogs into the bedrooms, our cat does have free reign and we are thinking of possibly renting the house out in the future so we have to allow for the possibility of pets and children having the run of the place.

We found Royalty Carpet Mills West Point Collection at what seems to be a greatly discounted price of $20/sq. yd. The details are:

patterned cut & loop, tufted weave, 1/10 guage, 15 stitches per inch, 51 ounces per sq yd (face wt) and 89 oz. per sq yd (total wt). 100% stainmaster xtralife tactesse nylon.

suface density is 4,201 and wieght denisty is 214,270.

Because we are buying the in-stock material and at a steep discount, the shop says it doesn't come with a warranty.

My question is: Is this a good carpet for our use?
Also, what carpet pad would you recommend that could provide comfort and insulation? Our home is cantilevered over the hillside so the subfloor is basically suspended over 50 feet of air.

Thanks so much!

Anonymous said...

Installing 40 sq.yds and 11 stairs in basement.
Can you tell me what you think of this:
- Stainmaster P1541 Zenith Xtra Life Carpet $3.49 sq.ft



- 100% BCF nylon
- Tactesse
- 38 oz
- CRI Green Label ID No: 18093078
AND
UNDERPAD: Citadel Bio-Fresh Virgin tongue n'groove 8lb $5.00/sq.yd
OR
Froth Foam $7.00/sqyd
Thanks so much, Linda in Toronto

Mike said...

I'm interested in a textured plush in smartstrand. Other than just shopping, is there a way to narrow down specs on carpet styles - online catalogs etc?

I'm comparing to a mohawk alladin PET style sp750 (no name on the sample) but it's 75 oz. face weight and pretty tall and dense.

Also, is there such thing as too much face weight, density or pile height on this type of carpet?

It would be for several rooms of the house, including a hallway.

Thanks, Mike

Carpetguru said...

Mike,

PET and Smartstrand are not the same. So it is difficult to compare. PTT is stronger, and carries better warranties. Also, 70 ounces could be too much carpet it you are talking about a plush. This is because there will be huge furniture indentations that will be hard to get out. If you are looking at a plush, stay between 55 and 60 ounces, for PET, and 40-50 for nylon.

Good luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Linda,

The specs look good. I would use the froth foam if possible. May sure the installers tape the pad seams.

Good luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Your Royalty carpet will last a long time if the loops are short and tight enough to resist pet traffic.

You may use any high quality rebond pad or slab rubber or froth foam. If you keep cost down by using rebond, make sure it is at least 6 lb density, but 8 would be better.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

I'm having the Beaulieu Park Ave II installed over Shaw's Ultimate Touch pad. The pad is labeled as 10lb. I thought it was to be 8lb. Am I ok having the 10lb frothed foam pad? They are half way done and I just want to be sure.

Thank you for all your help,

Raegan

Carpetguru said...

Raegan,

You will love the ten pound pad. It will only mean you will have a little firmer feel, and less furniture indentations.

Good Luck,
Jim

Dan said...

Hi Carpetguru,

I am going to place carpet in my basement and am wondering which pad to buy. Home Depot is suggesting I buy the PlushStep Ultra which features a mositure barrier. I am concern this barrier will not allow the pad to breath and therefore build up trapped moisture. Sure the carpet will be nice and dry but my pad will be full of mold. The pad does have an anti-mold treatment. Do you think this type of padding is good for a basement. I don't have a huge moisture problem down there but i am worried about it.

Thanks,

Dan in colorado.

Mike said...

You have me intrested in the smartstrand PTT. Do you know of any plush smartstrands, and does the 55-60 oz guideline apply?

Also does mohawk have a catalog for their carpets w/the specs? It would be nice to browse before hitting more stores (to narrow down what I'm looking for).

Thanks again

Carpetguru said...

Mike,

The Mohawk line is available at mohawkflooring.com .

With PTT you can use a face weight as low as 40 ounces for your plush/frieze carpet.

Good luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Dan,

In general it is not a good idea to place a pad with a moisture barrier on a direct concrete floor. If you have lino or VCT on top of the concrete, then it would be safe.

Use a high quality 8 lb rebond pad if you are installing directly on the concrete.

Good luck,
Jim

Dan said...

guru,

i am installing carpet in the entire basement where some of floor has VCTs and some is just plain (painted) concrete. would it just be better to not use the moisture barrier (home depot PlushStep Ultra) anywhere?

Dan in Colorado

Carpetguru said...

Dan,

Exactly,

Jim

Anonymous said...

Hi. We are considering what I believe is a new product of Shaw/Tuftex called Paradise Road. It is a twist 100% Stainmaster Tactesse BCF Nylon carpet. It has a performance rating of 4.5. I was able to find it on the Shaw website, but could only find the information - no images yet. It looks as if the face weight is only 35 oz. We are in need of a durable carpet and we do like the look and feel of this product. My question - is the face weight too low? Also, the back is a classic bac not a soft bac as were the other Shaw products we've looked at. What difference will that make? We are carpeting over 1300 square feet so we want to make sure we're making the right decision. Any thoughts? - KT

Carpetguru said...

KT,

It is never all about ounces fiber. In the good old days when kitchen carpet was king, those carpets had only 18 ounces of nylon fiber. Because the pile was so short and dense, one never wore out those old kitchen carpets. Thus, if your new Tuftex carpet has a par rating of 4.5, chances are you will not wear it out for a long time.

Soft bac is nice to have, but not necessary. Better this carpet be installed over a very firm pad ie. Shaw's triple touch froth foam, or 120 oucne slab rubber. If you are on a budget, you could use 40 ounce spun nylon fiber pad.

Good luck,
Jim

bocceballer said...

Hi again,
I was considering the Healthier Choice "platinum" 10lb pad carried at Home Depot. It looks like a foam one and is supposed to be breathable, low VOC, etc. But, I was worried that it might be too much like the old memory-foam types of pad that did not hold up well, eventhough I think this is a newer product. This is for a cement basement floor with fairly heavy traffic -- kids' playroom, dogs, etc.
Thanks so much,
Susan

Carpetguru said...

Your selection of the Healthier Choice pad is a good one, and will serve you well. Make sure the installers install the pad moisture barrier down, and tape the seams. This pad is very similar to the froth foam I discuss at www.carpetguru.com/froth.html

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your site...I was interested in mohwak (horizon) new sensation 1355 I saw back in Jan 14-16 you answered Jammie it is a PTT sorona I am confused my carpet says 100% mohawk smartstrand 3GT polyster made with dupont soronapolymer. Is 3GT the same as PTT.
2. I dont want a lot of matting
my second choice is SHAW striking 100 BCF cleartouch PET polyster
I hope you can help

Carpetguru said...

3GT Sonora and PTT are the same. The Dupont formula is used exclusively by Mohawk. It is superior in performance to PET fibers. Forget the Shaw piece, and use the Horizon one.

Good Luck,
Jim

v6steve said...

Hello Jim,
I was trying to comparison shop for Mohawk carpet. At one store the style name is Simonton Beach and the other calls it Sea Star. Are these the exact same carpet? The second store said they were.
Thanks, Steve

Anonymous said...

Carpet is installed over concrete (slab home-no basement).
Shaw Walking On Clouds III: Has ClearTouch yarn system (??) R2X stain removal system which I assumed was built into the fiber, not "sprayed on" like Stainmaster. Shows you what little I know.

RE: Shaw Walking On Clouds III Bleached Linen-100% ClearTouch Polyester/Philadelphia installed over "Platinum Pad" (foam sandwiched between silver colored moisture barrier)that we requested because it had a moisture barrier on both sides to prevent dog accidents from seeping into the pad. Carpet line was chosen because it was suppose to be party-proof- puppy friendly- toddler tough. ( from Shaw product brochure). We thought this would more then fit the needs of 2 senior adults and one small dog. Plus it felt so cushy-soft underfoot.

We live in way South Texas where most of the time the windows are kept closed with AC on. Occasionally we will open the windows to freshen the rooms when it cools down a bit.

Carpet less the 2 years old, installed in formal living room (19 sq yards) that is surrounded on 2 sides by wood floor, the other sides are solid walls. In other words NO foot traffic unless you cut across. The only use the carpet gets is from our small dog and an occasional "guest" who takes their shoes off. To keep the dog from laying directly on the carpet I put on the front edge a (3' x 3' size) rug that has been down since day one. Yes, it was removed to vacuum carpet.

Much to my dismay when I removed the rug one day I noticed a very distinct outline of exactly where the rug was. It was a very light (like brand new carpet) square outline! After seeing that, I had the carpet professionally cleaned twice in that many days. Never been cleaned before.
First time square was still very visible. Second time, it was less noticeable. But this is only tip of the iceberg!

I got a sample of the carpet, laid it in the middle of the room and was shocked at the difference. The carpet now looks "mottled" "dirty beige" compared to the sample carpet. Good news (maybe) is the carpet dealer is replacing carpet with the same product. We were told Shaw Rep. was going to come out, next thing we knew dealer called and said they were ordering new replacement carpet. Is dealer replacing (we are repeat customers) the carpet out of goodness of their heart OR is Shaw footing the bill because there is a defect in that product line? We assumed that Shaw didn't send a Rep. because it was such a small size job, not worth the time/money effort? Who knows.

Questions:

What caused the problem? Not kept clean enough, wrong brand vacuum? Was told both! What is a good brand vacuum?

Will I experience the same problem again with the replacement carpet?
I have my own thoughts & concerns.

Our dealer is keeping a "open ticket" on the situation so if it arises again he said he would work with us whatever that means. I have great trust in dealer AFTER his handling of this problem, will purchase from him again. (another whole new set of questions-later).

Tried to ask Shaw if there was a problem / recall with this particular product line.... no real answer.

Sorry if this a bit long, wanted you to have all the facts on hand.

You have a GREAT, very informative website, thank you for your efforts and I am sure they are well appreciated by many including me.
Nikki's Mom

Carpetguru said...

Nikki's Mom,

Cleartouch PET is still a polyester product. It is not solution dyed, and can fade. Most of the time this general fading happens over the entire rug, and without a sample to compare, in not often noticed by the consumer. Color and texture changes really come to the front when part of the carpet is covered up by an area rug.

It is good that you had a dealer to go to bat for you. Often consumers purchase from wholesale type outlets, and in this case would have been left hanging.

Without having the carpet tested by a lab, it would be hard to say if the carpet was performing within industry standards. If your dealer is still confident in the carpet, then go ahead and replace with the same thing. If it happens again, opt for a solution dyed nylon pile or the new PTT fiber from Mohawk.

Hope this helps,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

v6Steve,

Trying to compare samples from two stores with different names requires that you have a sample of each in your hand; better yet , in the hands of an experienced dealer. I have no clue as to carpet names, as there is so much private labeling going on, that I can not keep track. I do know that Simonton Beach is a valid Mohawk name for one of their 3GT PTT Sonora Dupont fiber carpets.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

From Nikki's Mom,
You said:..."Cleartouch PET is still a polyester product. It is not solution dyed, and can fade."

You also stated this: ..."If it happens again, opt for a solution dyed nylon pile or the new PTT fiber from Mohawk."
I am a bit confused in that you say NOT to get polyester next time around instead buy the new PTT fiber from Mohawk which I thought was also a Polyester product?
I read somewhere (and my dealer said the same thing) that the PTT was "re-branded-renamed" in late March-2009 to say Polymer thus removing the polyester name/stigma so to speak. Hope all this makes sense.
Thanks
NM

Carpetguru said...

Nikkis Mom,

PTT has been reclassified and is no longer in the polyester family as far as the carpet industry is concerned. PTT has a different molecular structure than PET and is much stronger, and more color fast.

Fading should not be an issue with the new PTT 3GT Sonora Polymer from DuPont.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

THank you for answering about my mohawk horizon smartstrand new horizons...if you dont mind I have a few more questions (big investment) and want to be sure.
First my color samples 2inch by 3 on the back of the carpetboard fibers seem to be falling out everyone says that is because they are samples carpet will not have that problem. I was reading elsewhere that the smartstrand does cause matting is that true. Also the new horizon does not have density or twist or weight on the back do you know that? Or would another name of smart strand be better I like the texture of new horizon (no kids or pets). Thanks again for this very informative site

Anonymous said...

From Nikki's Mom,
Let me put this in a outline form:

FACTS:
A: 2 Senior adults + one small dog

B: Slab home (concrete base).

C: Plan to live in our home rest of our lives (20 years +, God willing!)
Don't plan to purchase carpeting again, hopefully. This is why I am doing my homework, (see G below) measure twice, cut once theory.

D: Master Bedroom approx. 40 sq. yds., give or take. It has 3 distinct areas we wish to carpet, main room with bedroom furniture, "dressing area" with shower /vanity (toilet room is separate+ tiled), and walk-in closet. Medium traffic with defined "traffic pattern" that concerns me.

E: Den/Family Room with 25 sq yds of carpet area. It has a door leading to a outside patio. In other words, you would walk in straight across the carpet to the other doorway that leads to the rest of our home. Traffic pattern big time! Plus this is the room we "live-in" the most. Watch TV, eat pizza, dog has her chair there, you get the idea.

F: Yes, there is always the "budget factor"... of course we want the best product for the $$ spent, yet not go overboard. Hard to explain.

G: Want a stain-resistant, easy to clean carpet. Maybe won't fade or show other color changes and if furniture is sat on it for a long time, the indentations, more or less will come back to its natural state.

With the above facts in mind, what do you suggest/answers to the following questions?

A: Obvious one: Carpet FIBER? Nylon - the old standby, and from what I have been reading, etc. there is nylon and then there is NYLON (wear-dated, branded, etc!). I assume you would pay more for the "branded", but do you get more?
PTT product (Smartstrand-Sonora)as you suggested earlier.

B: Padding types/ weight/moisture barrier both for Den and bedroom. Was told if I bought Mohawk/Shaw pad (premium price!) it doubles the warranty. Is it worth the extra cost or just stick to the tried and true rebond, etc. Keep in mind on the pad question we do have a dog that has "accidents" on occasion. AND my concern with "dressing area" wetness.

C: Carpet TYPE (Berber, frieze, Saxony, etc) Which kind in each room works best? What style or styles (Saxony, etc) of carpet does NOT show footprints, traffic/matting, vacuum marks the best?

D: Stainmaster treatment? Or other added stain repellents versus one built into the fiber? Your thoughts.

That about covers all the bases, oh my dealer only carries Shaw, Cornet and Mohawk product lines if that makes any difference. Also going shopping tomorrow, hopefully I will have my answers in hand, print out and take with.
Nikki's Mom

Carpetguru said...

Nikki's Mom,

Take this outline to your dealer.


Jim

Carpetguru said...

The samples on the boards have been cut out larger sections off rolls of carpet. The sample department is suppose to seal all the edges of the samples before glueing them to the sample board. Unfortunately, good help is hard to find at seven bucks an hour, so most sample boards have swatches that are loosing tufts on the edges. This is NOT what is going to happen to the carpet itself.

PTT will crush, as will nylon, etc. The key is keeping the carpet clean. If you vacuum, and have the carpet professionally cleaned every 18 to 24 months, matting will not be a problem. Imagine not washing your hair for two weeks. I think it would start to look pretty flat.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Just a quick check on if this thing is working

Anonymous said...

Need recommendation for carpet and and pad... we have a 350 lb person in a 250 lb wheelchair (total or 600 lbs) rolling around on it daily. Thank you

Anonymous said...

My house recently had a fire and my insurance company has agreed to replace some of the carpet but not all of the carpet for instance my stairway and landing but not the connecting rooms; as it is contnuous carpet i believe it should remain continuous but i can't find anything to support this am i being unreasonable, and do you know where i can get information to support my continuous carpet dilema?

Carpetguru said...

If you are using the motorized wheelchair daily you need commercial level loop 1/10th gauge 26 ounce nylon carpet. No pad! Glue this carpet directly to the floor. If you have real hardwood floors underneath, get rid of the carpet, and clean up the hardwood. No pad and carpet will hold up to the use you mentioned.

Good luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Unless you can prove that the connecting rooms sustained smoke damage, you are not going to be able to convince the insurance company to grant your request.

Just make sure they are willing to replace your carpet with a grade that is at least equal to what you had before the fire.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Hi
I was wondering if a 35oz(plush polyester) carpet with a 6lb pad would work in a basement.What in your opinoin is a reasonable face weight for a carpet for the basement with medium traffic.I am on a tight budget.

Carpetguru said...

35 ounces for a PET is minimal, but if the carpet is dense, and the PET is continuous filament, then you will get five to seven years wear with this carpet if you keep it clean.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Hello,
I was wondering your opinion on two Karastan Triexta carpets. The first is called Essential Living. The specs are as follows : Density- 3357, twist 6.5 and a face weight of 65oz. The second is called Nature's Harmony with a density of 2924, a twist of only 5.5, and face weight of 45 oz. I need a very high traffic carpet, bi-level with heavily used steps, and am concerned the Essential Living is too much/higher maintenance carpet, it feels so much nicer though. Also, you seem to be coming around to the Smartstrand. I was afraid of this material, but now am giving it a serious look.
Thank you for your time

Carpetguru said...

You almost answered your own question. Triexta is SmartStrand, and even though it is not a replacement for well made carpet, it does have some great properties that make PTT a sure winner.

If you get any carpet that is real thick, you will have some texture changes that will be evident i.e. furniture indentations, some footprints and vacuum marks, etc.

Just use the same common sense you would use in selecting any carpet, and believe that it is a bonus if the carpet just happens to be made from PTT fiber.

BTW you may find the same or similar carpet under the Horizon or Aladdin label for less money. Mohawk is very proud of their Karastan brand.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

Carpet Guru,
I posted about the Karastan carpet and had a question about your response. Do you feel that even with the improvements made by PTT that nylon carpet is still far superior to the Smartstrand? You mentioned it not being a replacement for well made carpets. I want to make a smart choice. I think I have found an equivelant to Nature's Harmony. It has been mentioned in your forum before, Atlantic Shores by Mohawk and Windwalker to Essential Living and they are cheaper.
Thank you for your time.

Anonymous said...

A question. What do you recommend for basements. It's a new homw, showuld dtay dry. Should pad be installed and is wool a good option or isa synthetic better?
Mark

Carpetguru said...

Mark,

If your home is new, then the concrete will always need to vent vapor, thus no sealers should be used, and it is not necessary to use a pad with a moisture barrier. you should use a nylon or PTT fiber carpet installed over a good rebond, or 100 ounce rubber pad.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

PTT is as strong as nylon, so you should not make your choice just on fiber. What I want you to do is to compare constructions. Twist, weight, etc. then select the feel, and color that you like.

Good Luck,
Jim

Team Bravo! said...

Hi Jim, a.k.a. Carpet-guru! : )

golly I've searched your site, and hope I'm not being redundant.

I want to know if carpet rakes work, and which one to get. i couldn't tell you what kind of carpet i have for the life of me. It seems decent. 4 years old. installed in new construction. I now vac with a dyson, ( the hoover windtunnel gave out) and shampoo with a hoover steamvac (water+white vinegar only). But its tired and flattened, especially on the stairs and main pathways. Shampooing helps, except for the cursed stairs. Its so hard, kills my back, and i cant do a good job with the hose attachment--no whirly bristles or strong suction like the main unit can do to lift the knap on the stairs.
I'm wondering if a carpet rake, or carpet brush, or even renting a rug doctor might help me with those matted areas on the stairs and main walkways.

It was all doing beautifully until about 1.5 years ago, i couldn't keep up with regular vacuuming anymore and dirt or whatever got down in the fibers (kids + husband who forget to remove shoes.)

now our home is for sale and the realtor says its fine, but not to me. ...I'd like it to look as fresh as possible since we're competing with new construction around us. Every little bit helps in this market. Right after vacuuming it does have stand-up pile, but within a day, no more.

I don't want to call in a carpet cleaner, maybe its just me but my personal experience has been that their single pass over an area is no better on tough areas than my diligently repeated passes with my home machine. And at least when I do it, I can re-do it until I'm satisfied with the outcome and money still in pocket. You can convince me otherwise, though. : )

Thank you so much for taking the time to advise me on how to restore or improve it.
Gratefully,
-Military wife, carpet-cleaner, and bottle-washer

Carpetguru said...

Dear Military Wife/Carpet Cleaner,

You first need to hire a certified professional to steam clean your carpet with the newest equipment available to him.

Second, go to http://www.groomindustries.com/products.html and purchase a groom to bring the pile up during the visits by prospective buyers of your home.

Good Luck,
Jim

Dave said...

Hi Jim,

We are re-carpeting our house (one young child, one small dog, and stairs). We like the look of cut and loop carpets with a geometric pattern. We have narrowed it down to Camelot Prominence 100% Stainmaster Tactesse BCF nylon and Karastan Home Sweet Home Smartstrand DuPont Sorona. Are these good choices and is the Camelot product worth its 20 percent higher cost? Should we use the froth foam pad you recommend? Salesman recommended an 8-pound pad. Also, we want to limit off-gassing if possible. Thank you!

Huntersville, NC said...

Good morning Carpetguru:
We are replacing our 14 year old carpet in the dining room, formal living, upstairs that has four bedrooms, hallway and stairs. We are trying to decide between the Dixie Home Cabrini that is a short frieze with Tactesse fiber and Stainmaster warranty or the Shaw Queen Wood River which has the R2X stain resistance and the SoftBac backing. The Shaw carpet is very similar in looks to our builder installed carpet, but we are leaning towards to Dixie Home product. Although with the frieze, we are concerned with how much it will crush and how easy it is to vacuum up the dirt and grit, since it is a looser density. Could you give up any advice, please.
Thanks from Huntersville, NC

Carpetguru said...

Dear Huntersville,

Your best bet is the carpet from Dixie. The Wood River carpet is a staple fiber that will shed a great deal, and you will not like that.
Dixie also has a stronger backing system. SoftBac is ok, but not meant to replace a quality high pic back that is used by Dixie and few other mils.

Hope this helps,

Jim

Carpetguru said...

Camelot makes a quality product, and yes it is worth the extra cost in this case. You can use a quality 8 lb rebond, but if you can get your dealer to sell you Shaw's triple touch pad, or Healthier Choice pad, you will extend the life of the carpet, and limit vocs.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpet Flooring Bradenton said...

You have started great resource for carpets.

Carpetguru said...

Thank you for your kind words from Florida. It is amazing how my little website in Oregon reaches all over the world.

Jim

Anonymous said...

Hi,
Just wondering what your opinion is on the following carpets for the basement.I'm deciding between 56oz.PET[Beaulieu] and a 43.9oz.nylon[Shaw]both are available at home depot.The saleswoman there was encuoraging us to go with the nylon since according to her PET sheds quite a bit and leaves alot of lint on your clothes if you are lounging around on it.The price difference is minimal about .90 cents a sq.yard. For a 110 square yds[with 7/16th inch 6 lb. pad] the nylon has an installed price with everything included around $2000 and the PET is $1900.What do you think of these prices?I am hoping to order the carpet by tonight.Thanks so much you have helped me out once before as well.

Anonymous said...

Hi, I'm from Canada and it's really difficult to find specifications for carpeting. A dealer wanted to sell me a Coronet Webster III Ivory Dust carpet. I have no idea whether this is a good carpet or not. I can't find any information on the number of twists, density or face weight. All I know is it's 100% BCF Nylon and has a 10 year warranty. Have you ever heard of this particular Coronet carpet? What are it's specs?

Carpetguru said...

In Canada US specs may not be listed, as the US is all about the non metric system. The rest of the world works on the metric system. The specs on the Coronet Carpet you are looking at may be available online to a Coronet dealer. Coronet is one of the mills owned by Beaulieu of America. Ask if your dealer will look up the specs at accessbeaulieu.com.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

For the price difference, its a no brainer. Go with the nylon.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

I need help in deciding between two carpets. Both are shaw carpets and 100% Nylon. The first one is a stainmaster ultralife aulani frieze with 45 oz, face weight durability 4.5. The second one is a Shaw Tuftex butterfly wings frieze stainmaster masterlife 58oz faceweight, durability 3.8. Which one would last longer? They are about the same in price, we have not changed are carpet in 19 years and would like to have the same longevity.
Thanks Dan

Carpetguru said...

Dan,

When you select between two carpets, and you are looking the least amount of texture change (wear), the higher the par rating the better. In this case the 4.5 rating wins.

Good Luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

I recently had Shaw Queen carpet, Style Tranquil Appeal installed. The carpet installed does not appear to be as dense as the large sample. To your knowledge does Shaw make different weights of a style? How would I verify the weight?

Anonymous said...

Any good ideas for getting old stains out of a berber carpet? The professional steam cleaning didn't help much.

Carpetguru said...

Tranquil Appeal is a shag and will be very crushed when the carpet first comes off the roll. After several days of vacuuming and exposure to humidity, the fibers will blossom and appear to be fuller than the day the carpet was installed. If the carpet you observed was installed for a while and it still looks lighter weight than showroom sample, then you could have a sample of the installed carpet tested for weight.

Shaw does make several carpets in a "good better best" system (three weights), but Tranquil Appeal is not one of them.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

If your Berber carpet is made from Olefin (and most of the cheaper ones are)then there is no amount of cleaning that will remove the stains to the point where they will not come back.

When you replace your berber carpet ask for a solution dyed nylon or a berber made with the new Triexta fiber.

Good luck,
Jim

Anonymous said...

I am choosing between Stevens (Gulistan) 100% Stainmaster Tactesse BCF Nylon and Royalty 100%Stainmaster XtraLife BCF Nylon with Lotus FX Fiber Shield. The carpet is for heavily used stairs, bedrooms, hall and home office. We are two senior citizens so our heavy use may not compare with the norm. Any suggestions (padding is 7/16").

Grandma Pat

Carpetguru said...

Grandma Pat,

Both Gulistan and Royalty make good carpet. I cannot tell you which one is better in this case because you did not give me any spec as to pile weight, twist levels, and stitch rate. These numbers are not normally printed on the sample and must be obtained from the dealer. The fact that both are branded nylon tells me that these are not cheap carpets, but still I cannot give you advice on performance.

Good Luck,
Jim

Kathleen Gizzi said...

Carpet Guru, I found a carpet I like at Costco (Pleasant Ridge by Shaw) for my family room. It is a cut and loop with a twist of 5.5, a weight of 44 oz, and a density of 4789. Would you recommend this for a high traffic area. Although I like some of the 12 foot carpets, I have been limiting myself to the 15 foot so I don't have more than one seem. Is that wise? I assume I should ask for the triple touch froth foam pad, correct? Finally, do you know anything about the quality of the installation for carpets purchased through Costco, as I believe they are installed by a subcontractor. Thanks. Kathleen

Carpetguru said...

Kathleen,

Yes, Costco does hire out its labor, but they must install the carpet per CR-105 or there will be no warranty from Shaw. Costco uses the triple touch pad as their standard pad, an added plus for them.

If the carpet is not looped or a short plush, then you need not limit your selection to 15 ft material. Quality installers should be able to make a good looking seam in the carpet.

I do not know which Costco you are shopping, but if you are in a major city, you may want to try your local Shaw dealer. He may be able to save you money in this case.

Good Luck,
Jim

Carpetguru said...

Grandma Pat,

Based on your findings , I would use the Gulistan product.

Good Luck,
Jim

Rachel said...

Carpetguru,
You seem to have the most complete information about carpet padding that I've read anywhere. I'm looking for a pad for a 9x12 rug that I'm putting in my bedroom to counter-act my downstairs neighbor with a loud TV. What pad would you suggest for the best sound dampening, and do you know where I could find it on-line?
Thanks!

Carpetguru said...

The pad with the most sound dampening quality will be a wool pad. Look for one that is at least a full 3/8 inch thick, and if you can find 7/16th, all the better. You will not find this product at every carpet store. Locate those dealers that are stressing to be "green". They will be your best bet of having such. I do not know of any online contacts for this product.

Good Luck,
Jim

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