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
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«Oldest ‹Older 1201 – 1400 of 2568 Newer› Newest»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!
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
WHAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE SHOULD WE EXPECT IN GOING FROM ACTUAL AREA SQUARE FOOTAGE TO SQUARE FOOTAGE OF CARPETING AS ESTIMATED BY MEASURING COMPANY.
THE CARPET IN QUESTION DOES HAVE A MATCH.
WE HAVE BEEN QUOTED A 16.3% INCREASE, WHICH SEEMS EXCESSIVE TO US.
For patterned carpet, a 20% increase is not uncommon. The size of the pattern match will dictate the amount of increase. A non pattern piece could easily have a ten percent increase, depending on the amount of one carpet of one color used.
Good Luck,
Jim
I am replacing about 65 sq.yds. of bedroom carpeting in a rental house. I would like to be able to rent to a dog owner. I recognize the risk in this. Your recommendations about carpet and padding for this situation would be appreciated. I'd like to keep the cost for carpet and padding under $20 per sq. yd. total - not including installation.
Please advise if, in your opinion, the better way to go with my budget would be either to install quality for longevity, or install "cheap" and plan on replacing when the tenant leaves.
Some of the best pet resistant carpet is made with PTT Triexta Smartstrand fiber. I would look at some of those carpets made by Aladdin, by Mohawk. Some property management companies will not use anything else.
Good Luck,
Jim
My carpet is being replaced (manufacture defect, long story) for a 4th time, over the same previously installed padding. I am concerned that the padding may be compromised where the seaming has taken place. Should I be concerned, and request new pad be placed where seams had been done? Thanks, and when all hopefully goes well this time, I will email you my story.
Unless the seaming tape became glued to the pad, and pieces of the pad got pulled out when the carpet was being changed, there should be no damage to the pad. If there are pieces of the padding missing, then they should be replaced.
Good Luck,
Jim
BTW I would be interested to know why your carpet is being replaced for the FOURTH time.
I have two quotes for the same carpet and I've verified they are getting it from the same mill (Southwind/Family Friendly Collection/Windemere), one with "best pad available" and the other with "8# best pad." The greater of the $$ amts is more than 2x. One is a "store" while the other is a home-based business. Still seems like a huge difference. I am stymied! Any thoughts?
It would be useful to know if the bids you received are a per/sq ft or sq yd price, or are they the total cost for the job after each has measured the job.
In the first instance, a price per sq yd or sq ft alone does not mean that's what you will end up paying. Both bids have to be based on the exact same services. Are both bids including same amount of yardage, the extras like stair work, and are both installers certified???.
The only real difference may come from the fact that the person operating without a showroom, is going to have little or no "clout" if there is a problem with the carpet, and he has to deal with the mill to get satisfaction of a claim. This type of business can often sell for less due to little or no overhead.
Also, I would nail down the pad specs so that you know you are really comparing apples to apples.
Good Luck,
Jim
Actually, both are for total cost of carpet, pad and installation.
The higher/store did tell me that it sells for $19.50/sq. yd. Yardage is 143 sq. yds. and is $4700+. The installers are employees.
The lower is $21/sq. yd. Yardage is 133 sq. yds and is $2200+. He claims to have trained the installers himself and leads me to believe he uses same installers all the time. The pad is the shredded type of foam, 8#.
I am very concerned. I could see paying more for the store given overhead costs, but over 100% more?
As you said, I might have more "clout" with store purchase with manufacturer than I might with the home-based carpet sales. Any other comments would be appreciated.
I love that you are available. Thanks!!
We are comparing a Carpet One brand carpet under their gold warranty series (10 year stain, 10 year texture retention) vs. an entry level Mohawk Smartstrand carpet with a 10 year stain, 5 year texture retention warranty. I am really interested in the smartstrand carpet, but my husband was immediately turned off by the 5 year texture retention warranty, thinking that it indicates that the carpet will not hold up as well as the carpet one brand. Any thoughts?
Maria
The figures you gave me don't make sense to me. The $4700 job for a 143 sq yds works out to $32 per sq yd installed. The other guy was at $2200 for 133 yds (ten yards less than the store front), and that works out to $16.54 / sq yd. The only way the guy working out of his home can offer the exact same carpet is to broker you the carpet, and have you pay the installers direct. Even this would be questionable, as I still don't know if you are really comparing apples to apples on the pad. Having not seen the two carpets "side by side", I cannot advise what to do.
Good luck,
Jim
It would be interesting to know if the Carpet One product is also a Smartstrand carpet?. Entry level Smartstrand is often used by property management companies. They like the fact that is will clean up easily and will not fade. If the piece of Mohawk you are looking at is from Aladdin, and only has their "select" warranty, I would consider upgrading to a Smartstrand with Mohawks "elite" warranty.
Good Luck,
Jim
Thank you for your great forum. How can we tell if a carpet has been installed correctly? I recently had Shaw carpets installed wall to wall in rooms measuring 12 x 15 and 12x14.6 yards. It was not power stretched. If I lift the carpet-how much play should there be?
Anonomous
Even though your rooms were not too big, it is still necessary to use a power stretcher to install. Since there was no power stretcher used, your installer did not follow CR-105 (see carpet and rug institute),and therefore your new Shaw carpet is no longer warranted by Shaw.
Good Luck,
Jim
guru,
first let me say your website is awesome!! I am currently looking to replace my entire 2nd floor and stairs. The total area is about 1000 sq ft with 16 steps. I checked with the local shop and they showed me a mohawk horizon line called summer heights. It is a freize style with stainmaster fiber and has mohawk's permier warranty? They quote me about $4000 for the whole thing. My question is, is this a reasonable price? And would this carpet be a good choice and durable for little kids? Thanks for much!!
Hi Jim,
I am wondering if you can help me out. I was at Lowes and saw one of their special order carpet that I like a lot. It is a twist style (looks like freize) made by Gulistan with face weight 60oz, twist 6.5, density 2571. It uses stainmaster tactesse nylon. I am redoing an entire floor and have a little boy, would this carpet be a good choice that can last a long time? Thank you so much!
Lu
Sounds like a great price if it includes all labor and materials including stair work, furniture moving, pull up of old carpet and pad, and disposal of such.
Good Luck,
Jim
Lu,
Should hold up well especially if installed by talented craftsmen using CR-105 guidelines. It is also important to use a quality pad; at lest 7lb density in a rebond, or use 100 ounce slab rubber, and for the ultimate, Shaws triple touch froth foam pad.
Good Luck,
Jim
Carpetguru, HELP We are replacing 142 sq.yards of carpet, and it is so hard to pick out a carpet. there are two adults and no pets in the house (yet). I want to know what you think of Horizon by mohawk..elite.. style..south padre island
#3497,smartstrand 3GT.Color either dark amber or cigar leaf. Everyone is talking about weight,this carpet does not have a weight?? Also what pad should I have installed. Is 29.95 per yard installed with 6lb. pad a fair price?? Love the website, thanks for your info. Oklahoma
We are shopping for a frieze carpet in our bedrooms. This is not our forever home, so we do not care to spend more for the best quality, but we want something that will hold up for at least 5-7 years, around the time we plan to sell the house. We are currently considering an Everstrand - Moonlight Bay (35 oz. face weight), Smartstrand by Dupont - Sierra Heights, and Smartstrand - Colorado Dreaming. We have not been able to find more information on these carpets. Do you have any experience with any of these carpets?
Another question we have is what are the considerations in choosing between a shorter frieze vs. a longer frieze? The Sierra Heights is a very short frieze, almost does not look like a frieze, and we were worried it might be more likely to become matted down over time. Thanks so much for your helpful blog!
Alexis
To follow up with my post earlier today, I notice that Mohawk does not really publish their specs for the Smartstrand series. And I notice that prices vary quite a bit. We are looking at a Smartstrand by Dupont with the elite warranty, and a regular Smartstrand that does not have the elite warranty but is more expensive. The only difference I can see is the regular Smartstrand has a little longer pile. So my question is, is the Smartstrand Dupont a better carpet than the Smartstrand because it has a better warranty, even though it's cheaper? Does the difference in price come down to style and color? Thanks!!
Alexis
Malinda,
Wow! $29.99 installed for South Padre Island even with the cheaper 6 lb pad, is a very good price. The carpet is outstanding, and will be easy to install. Seams should be invisible. Make sure your installer follows installation guidelines of CR-105 so that you get to keep that Elite Mohawk warranty. You may have to spend a little more on labor to find a crew that will install the carpet properly.
Good luck,
Jim
Alexis,
You should know that Mohawk only uses PTT fiber from Dupont. The Triexta fiber in Horizon is the same triexta fiber in Aladdin. Some of the styles actually are the exact same carpet with different names. However, Aladdin carries more reasonable PTT carpets that does Horizon or Karastan divisions of Mohawk industries.
Also, the shorter pile heights will show less crushing than the longer piles. They may not, however, feel as luxurious.
Good Luck,
Jim
Jim,
I just bought some new friese carpet at Lowe's, and will be installing it myself. Now for the pad... I found someone here in Los Angeles who carries Shaw TripleTouch but they are out of it. They are willing to custom cut me some Monteray 1/2 froth foam pad. $150 for 25 yards.
What am I giving up between the Monteray and Triple Touch, and what do you think about the price for 25 yards?
Thanks.
Hello Carpet Guru, I read in one of your posts that LIfestrand Ultra Carpet Fiber is just a filament Polyester carpet fiber. That is not the whole story as we discovered it is a solution dyed, filament , polyester that has more benefits that just a filament polyester.
FYI
John
Monterey is not memory foam, but instead a prime foam sandwiched between two vinyl "skins" It is not the same. If you can, wait for the triple touch or just use an 8 lb rebond.
Good Luck,
JIm
John,
A great deal of PET polyester fiber is filament and is also yarn dyed , not solution dyed. Yarn dyed is when the fiber is dyed while still in fiber form, not carpet form. Solution dyed is when the fiber was a chemical, it is colored, and the extruded fiber is that color. Both types are color fast, and therefore get misnamed by many sales people, as the end result is about the same.
The key to remember is that PET is NOT as strong as nylon or Tirexta fibers.
Good Luck,
Jim
Dear Carpet Guru,
Do you have any opinion/experience with Mohawk Smartstrand carpets called Windwalker or Atlantic Shores? If, so, which one is a better capet for high traffic?
Thank you for your time.
Atlantic Shores and Windwalker are both made with the same tirexta Smartstrand fiber. They will both wear very well, and the difference between the two will not show up in performance for ten years. The Windwalker has about six ounces more fiber per square yard.
We have successfully installed Atlantic Shores in many homes with kids and stairs. You will love it.
Good luck,
Jim
I've been reading the posts on this forum for hours!! You are wonderful Carpetguru!!! I am contemplating buying (from H. Depot)Mohawk "Silk" 100% SmartStrand BCF 3GT Polyester with DuPont Sorona Renewably Sourced Polymer. I know from reading the posts that Mohawk can now call this "Triexta" instead of labeling it polyester and that it's a better material than the old poleyster. I want a good carpet that will stand up to lots of wear and tear, dogs and cat, etc. Is this a good carpet? If taken care of correctly, how long should it last? You've probably addressed this in a previous post, but I've read so many, my mind is boggled!! Thanks, Nicki
Nick,
Smartstrand is a great fiber, but since HD private labels their samples, the style "silk" means nothing to me. Just make sure the carpet contains Mohawks "elite" warranty.
Before you venture into a contract with HD, you may want to google "home depot carpet complaints".
Good Luck,
Jim
Thank you for your wonderful site. I recently had carpet installed. The carpet installed does not appear as dense as the large sample, nor does the twist.
I understand there is an allowance
of 7% between the weights of a sample and actual carpet delivered.
Who would I contact to have an independent test done?
To locate an inspector for your carpet check out http://www.certifiedcleaners.org/locator.shtml You will need the sample from which you selected your carpet for the inspector to compare.
Some carpets come in more than one weight with the same color line. Make sure your dealer ordered the correct style. Compare your invoice with style name with the mill wrapper to make sure you are getting what you ordered.
Good Luck,
Jim
I've read your excellent forum but am clearly in over my head due to all the information. I'd like to hire a knowlegeable consultant who can guide me through the selection and purchase process. Can you give me some guidance on how to locate such a person.
Hi Jim,
I hope you can help me. I have just finished building a bedroom in my basement for my teenage daughter. I wanted a berber carpet and I like the Tuftex Hollywood Nights. It's specs are:
Fiber: Tactesse BCF nylon
Durability: 4.0
Density: 4434
Face Weight: 46.8
My question is the pad. It will be on concrete in a 22 yr. old house, no water problems. Nebraska Furniture Mart has the best deals around here, so that's where I'll get the carpet, but they have Stainmaster Ultra Life Carpet Cushion (Deluxe) featuring Odor Guard Technology, Moisture Barrier, Visco-Elastic "Memory" Foam. The label didn't have any specs, but the salesperson said it is 10 lb. and 1/2" thick. It is urethane, but I don't know if it is froth foam - the salespeople hadn't heard of that. It's similar to the feel of the froth foam samples I saw at Home Depot and Menards, but it feels like there are some harder pieced inside the foam. The salespeople recommend the Charisma II 110oz. 23# synthetic rubber with no clay, but I'm thinking that the rubber is closed-cell. Should I use one of these, or get a pad somewhere else?
Thanks,
Ray
Hi, Carpetguru
My carpet dealer introduced the following carpet to me for my bedrooms and staircases:
Brand: Kraus
Style: 1884 Milan II
It is 100% BCF nylon with 64 oz pile weight and 0.47" pile height and 5100 FHA density. To be installed on Shaw Triple touch Foam.
Is Kraus a good manufactuer similiar to Shaw & Mohawk and the carpet is good for bedrooms. The total installation cost quoted is about $50/sq.yd. Is it too expensive?
The carpet you have selected is a bit of an "over kill" for bedroom carpet, but will perform well in halls and stairs. Depending on services rendered, $50 is a little high, but it should include the triple touch pad, skilled installation, moving furniture, pull up of old carpet and pad, and disposal and clean up of old.
Kraus is a mill in Canada, and makes good carpet. You will not have to replace tis carpet for some time. If you can, you should examine the factory warranty and make sure it includes a texture retention warranty.
Good Luck,
Jim
Ray,
If you cannot find Shaw's triple touch pad, or Healthier Choice Green pad, I would use the rubber you mentioned. It will be fine on your old concrete.
Good Luck,
Jim
I know it is difficult to find salespeople who have your interest in mind, but try and locate an established smaller dealer who's business is base on referrals. This is your best choice. If you feel you need help, there are many decorators you can hire who have a working knowledge of quality carpets, and can also help you with color selection.
Good Luck,
Jim
Thanks Jim,
So I shouldn't be concerned with the rubber pad trapping moisture between itself and the concrete?
Ray
Hi, what makes a carpet elegant?
No, Ray, the rubber pad does not make a Vapor barrier. It will be great.
Good Luck,
Jim
What makes a carpet elegant ? Perception!
Good Luck,
Jim
Hi! I am looking for info to make sure we are getting a fair deal. We visited a local carpet store in indianapolis. Carpet One this is the carpet qoute we have recieved and wanted to know if you think it is fair or should we continue our search? This is for one room and a stairway. Thanks for your advise!!
Room Size 12x47 Units 564 Material Description
Resista Carpet Soft Sensation Supreme = Color : Chuntey
Price $3.50 Amount $1974.00
Stainmaster pad with odor guard / Memory foam $0.50 $282.00
"Visit us online at
www.CarpetOne.com/Greenwood!" Subtotal $2,256.00
Shipping & Handling $50.00
7.00% 6% Tax $161.42
Materials $2,467.42
Labor Description Amount 564
Carpet Installation $0.80 $451.20
15 Step Labor $6.00 $90.00
564 Take up carpet, pad and removal $0.20 $112.80
Labor $654.00
All carpets have 90 day no questions asked replacement warranty on carpet and reg. Installtion , also have 5 yr. 100% stain warrenty
Materials $2,467.42
Labor $654.00
Total $3,121.42
Dear Carpet Guru,
First of all, thank you in advance for being so generous with your time and your knowledge. It has been very helpful reading your responses.
I am remodeling my condo and have decided on a Royalty carpet (actually, it is the Avalon carpet under their Camelot line). Here are the specs:
Patterned cut and loop, tufted
Density ozs/yd3 = 5766
Face Weight ozs/yd2 = 70
100% Stainmaster Tactesse Continuous Filament Nylon
Finished Pile Thickness Inches = 0.437
Tufts per inch = 14.6
Primary Backing = Polypropylene
Secondary Backing = ActionBac
I have one area (living room) where this will be on a concrete slap. The rest is over plywood. The pad I am considering using is a Leggett & Platt synthetic rubber called Rise (density 21, R value 80, gauge .445). Questions:
1. I have a small terrier (about 11 pounds). Is the loop in this carpet susceptible to hooking on his nails or is the pile so low and tight that I shouldn't anticipate a problem? If it is a problem, what type of carpet construction should I be looking for as a substitute?
2. Is the L&P Rise 21 rubber pad a good match for that carpet? I am most interested in durability; that is, resisting indentations from heavy furniture.
3. Is that pad a good match for the concrete slab as well as plywood?
4. If I wanted to save a bit of money and choose a less expensive pad for the plywood areas (except the stairs, where I would like the more durable Rise), is synthetic fiber or memory foam a good choice? If cost were not a factor, what would you recommend?
Thank you very much.
Gregg
Gregg,
Are you sure about the specs? 70 ounces seems like a lot for a dense patterned berber. Make sure 70 ounces is not the "total weight". This carpet will perform well over the rubber pad or a froth foam. Keep the thickness 7/16ths or less. Your small dog will not be a problem unless he is a "digger".
You did not mention the fiber type, but I am assuming it is nylon in a filament form.
Good Luck,
Jim
Jennifer,
I would try and find a dealer who will show you a nylon carpet , and not PET polyester (Resista). If you are worried about stains, I would strongly consider looking at some solution dyed nylon carpets. Check out the Hollytex line of quality carpets.
The prices are in line with full service, and perhaps necessary for getting a quality "turn key" job. Just be sure the installers follow the guidelines set forth in CR-105 in order to keep your factory warranty.
Good luck,
Jim
Hi and thank you,
Yes, the specs indicate a face weight of 70 and the fiber is nylon. Sound like a good product?
Face weight ozs/yd2 70
Fiber Nylon
Gregg
Dear Carpet Guru,
Hope you could help!!! We started looking for stainmaster carpet for our bedroom and kid's room, but found out a great bargain deal in local store in Dalton GA.
It is a pattern carpet made by Karus carpet (Mission Hill style). It is 500z 100% BCF softrelle Nylon LCL level cut loop with Scotchgard, my question is, 1) In terms of stain resistance, is Scotchguard comparable to stainmaster carpet, we have two kids, so stain is our main concern 2) How is Karus brand? 3) Is this good carpet that will last 10 years?
Thanks
Brian
Greg,
You will probably never wear it out.
Jim
Brian,
Stainmaster is a coating to help prevent spills from staining your carpet. Scotchguard is another covering that does the same thing. One does not do it better than the other.
With the specs you provided, it appears that you will not wear this carpet out any time soon, however, after this carpet's second professional cleaning, you will have to pay to have the stain stuff reapplied. BTW Kraus makes some fine carpets.
Good Luck,
Jim
Shopping for carpet has turned out to be a lot harder than I thought! I posted a comment on 5/15/09 because I was thinking about buying Mohawk SmartStrand 3GT Sorona carpet from Home Depot. You wisely advised me to google HD's carpet complaints. Today I got a quote from a local carpet company that has an "A" on Angie's List for quality installation. He is pushing me to buy a Shaw carpet called "Embellishment", which is a 100% Evertouch Nylon/Philadelphia carpet with R2X stain treatment. The face weight is only 43.9, the twist is 5.8. Shaw's durability rating is 3.75, and it has the Shaw 5-Star warranty. The density is 0001927 and the total weight is 084.4.
I can't find any other info. on on this carpet. I don't know if it's a frieze or textured plush or what. It's very soft and pretty - it has speckles of different colors. I also can't tell if it's a continuous filament fiber or not. The quote is $2286. for installation of 62 sq. yards, with the Premium 8 lb. pad. This includes removing and hauling off the old carpet.
Does the quote sound reasonable?? Are you familiar with this carpet? Is the Shaw carpet as good as the Mohawk Smartstrand Sorona? I'm concerned about wear and stain resistance. I have a big dog and a cat and they're both hard on the carpet.
I am really confused now. Thank you for your help!! Nicki
Nicki,
Shaw has become the leader in using soft continuous filament nylon that is also recyclable.
The carpet you are looking at will sever you well, survive 95% of stains, and from the figures you gave me, sounds like a good deal.
While Smartstrand is good, it is not a miracle fiber. The demand for Smartstrand has been high, but Mohawk is having trouble, at this time, keeping up production. So if you insist on having Smartstrand, you may have to wait six weeks or longer for the product to reach the dealer.
Good luck,
Jim
BTW I have a similar carpet from Shaw in my home.
In 2000 I spent a fortune on a custom rug made of 100% spun nylon. Loved the design but I hated the fact that it showed every vacuum mark and footprint. Because of this I'd like to get another Custom Rug and the salesman is recommending 100 Invista Tactesse Nylon or 100% Stainmater Nylon will these show foot prints? Please advise.
If you make a custom rug and don't want it to show vacuum marks or footprints, then the construction of the carpet is what is important; not the fiber.
Plush carpets show the most footprints, followed by random sheared, then solid color friezes and shags. The more luster to the fiber, the more footprints. Filament fiber has more luster than spun fiber, however, spun fiber will shed.
Hope this helps ,
Jim
Thank you for such a great source of information! We are currently trying to decide between two Richmond carpet products, both in the "Interior Motives" line (in Canada). One carpet ("Shetland") is made of Wear Dated nylon Durasoft with a durability rating of 4.5 and the other ("Satara") is made of Chromolon with a durability rating of 4.25. The area to be carpeted includes a hallway and stairs. We have a quote for both (same installer) and the nylon carpet is $1200 more. In your opinion would it be worth it (wear-wise) to splurge for the nylon carpet?
Thanks!
If you want the maximum performance, and plan to stay in the home for more than ten years, then stick with nylon.
Good Luck,
Jim
I just bought a townhome and need to recarpet over 2,000 sq ft-this includes 2 sets of staircases and many hallways. I really like the look of high pile texture carpet. I picked out one at lowes that is almost 3/4in high and has a 75oz weight. I wanted to use the same carpet throughout the home (including stairs), but am getting different opinions from people. Some say the high pile is okay for stairs, and others say no-too dangerous for stairs and hallways. What do u think?
If you are talking about a thick dense textured Plush carpet, then you should be aware of some of its characteristics. One, it will show footprints and vacuum marks, and furniture indentations. Second, being a solid color, nothing will hide the spots that may get on the carpet. Finally, extra thick carpet could cause a danger on the nose of some stairs. This is because the carpet is so thick, that the nose of the step appears to the eye to be bigger than it is. When you step on the nose on the way down the stairs, your foot could slip because there is no actual wood at the nose of the step, but instead, thick carpet and pad. This extra thickness will not support your foot, and you could fall.
If you still insist in this type of carpet for your stair, install over a thin pad on the stairs, i.e. fiber or felt pad.
Good Luck,
Jim
I bought my first house a year ago. I am not sure how long I plan on living here, at least a few more years but probably no more than 7. I was planning on replacing the upstairs carpet (3 bedrooms, 1 used as my home office, the hallway and the stairs which are wider than normal stairs) that is the original 18 year old carpet. I have 2 dogs, both pit bulls (1 is 70lbs the other is a puppy that will get bigger than 70lbs most likely) and the puppy decided to speed up the process by shredding some of the carpet. That will no longer be an issue as I do not leave him out when I am not home anymore. Other than the dogs its just me in the house. Since I know nothing about carpet I have been reading what I can and taking a crash course in the differences. I recently went to a few local family owned carpet stores and after getting past the shock of carpet prices I am trying to make a decision. I have had 2 estimates so far. Both came and did measurements and it comes out to 81 square yards.
The first place is cheaper, I initially got a price on Karastan Essential Living 60oz Dupont Sorona with the Stainmaster pad with odor guard. That price was $3700 since the Karastan is on sale for 10% off through the end of May. After reading your site I went back to get a price on the Mohawk versions since I understand Karastan is owned by Mohawk anyways. The 60oz smart strand was the same price basically so I had them give me an estimate on the 50oz ($3100) and the 40oz ($2900.)
Obviously for $200 more I would be inclined to go with the 50oz as I definitely can tell the difference between all 3 on the store samples. The 2 questions I have are, is this a fair price for what I am getting? And also is it worth the extra $600 to even consider the top of the line 60oz vs the middle 50oz variations? Again I could feel a difference and if it was $200 like the difference between the 40 and 50oz I would do it, I am just not sure why it is $600 difference between those two.
The second estimate that I got was for Mohawk smart strand and was 10% higher than the first store for the 40 and 50oz and about $20 more for the 60oz. These 2 stores are a few doors down from each other so at least I know the prices seem competitive. I did go back today to see what the price difference on a decent nylon carpet would be and it was about 10% less. For that difference I definitely think the smart strand is my better option in case of accidents by the dogs and the fact I can clean it with water and don't have to worry about the color fading.
Is there anything else you feel I should be considering? I don't want to make a mistake since this is one of those purchases I can't just return if I don't like it. Thanks for all the great info on your site, it has helped me understand a lot more than I knew just a week ago.
We recently replaced some old outdoor "grass" carpet with a berber-looking outdoor carpet. It was not inexpensive. As this was outdoor carpeting, we did not have the carpet company do the install and the carpet is laid down directly over concrete. Of course now we are getting mold from standing water under the carpet and do not know what to use as a barrier. This is an outdoor patio area and does get wet whenever it rains. As summer approaches, I am hoping the sun will simply dry it out, but that seems less and less likely. Any suggestions on what we can do at this point? Many thanks for the great information.
Carpet Guru, I've taken your advice and gone to a local dealer. I brought home 3 samples (see below) for my family room. They are all 12 foot cut and loop designs, because I can't find any 15 ft samples that I like. The carpet store said the seam(s) should not be a problem.
*Gulistan Hidden Springs (Stainmaster Tactesse BCF Nylon)
*Shaw Fine Memory (Stainmaster Tactesse BCF Nylon)
*Mohawk Horizon "elite" (Mohawk SmartStrand BCF 3GT Polyester Made with Dupont Sorona Polymer)
1. Would you recommend one of these over the others?
2. If these are "low" cut and pile designs, should I worry about the seams?
3. Does the backing make a difference (Durabak vs. Softbac vs. Optibak)?
4. Should I install the Shaw triplefoam pad with whichever one we choose?
Thanks, Kathleen
Kathleen,
Use the Hidden Springs, at least an 8 lb rebond, and a great installer for good looking seams.
Good Luck,
Jim
Try to take the carpet up and expose the back side to the sun until it is dry. Bleach the concrete to remove mold and moss.
You have to be careful because some so called outdoor carpets are not really outdoor carpets. If your carpet is tufted between two backings, then excessive moisture will cause delamination of the two backings. This will result in the carpet coming apart.
Good luck,
Jim
Hello Jim,
Love your site. I am opting for a Mohawk smartstrand - Simonton Beach - and have heard differing comments regarding padding and voided warranties. One company said you can use 10 lb padding and not void the warranty and another company said you can only use an 8lb and not void the warranty. Also what pad do you recommend?
As long as the pad is at least a minimum of 6lbs, and 7/16ths thick, your warranty will be good. The carpet will perform better over an 8lb pad rebond or 8lb froth foam, or 90 ounce slab rubber.
If you are going to be in the home longer than ten years, I would choose froth foam or slab rubber for a pad.
Hope this helps,
Jim
I am looking at 2 Resista polyester carpets from Carpet One. One that I love is a very soft feeling carpet called Soft Sensations. The fibers are about 1" long. The other is called Summer Brook, and the fibers are about 3/4". I cannot find the density anywhere on the samples, but the twist looks quite tight. I don't want a carpet that will mat down. Do you have an opinion on these two carpets? Or any suggestions? Diane Thanks for this great site!
Hello Jim,
We are in the process of choosing a carpet for our home. I would like a carpet that does not mat and is durable as we have dogs and cats as well as a teenager at home. The two carpet samples that I like are: Shaw Tuftex 100% Stainmaster Tactesse BCF Nylon and Camelot Obsession 100% Stainmaster Tactesse BCF nylon with a density of 3,120 and a yarn twist of 6.43. Would you recommend either of these or do you have other suggestions?
Thanks for your help! Sue
Sue,
I need the specs or par rating on the Shaw carpet you mentioned before I can compare. The Camelot carpet with the density rating you gave me should perform well.
Good luck,
JIm
Diane,
While some PET products (Resista) will wear very well when the twist level is high, and the fiber is filament and not staple, I still like PTT (Smartstrand) and nylon carpets better for high traffic areas. A PTT or nylon carpet with the same specs as your Resista carpet will wear longer.
Good Luck,
Jim
Hi Carpetguru
Thanks so much for your informative site, it has helped us choose a carpet, but now I have a question about the pad the dealer is recommending. It is a 100% pure virgin polyurethane bonded foam which offers protection from bacteria, fungi and is bht free...so is this a type of frothed foam, or just a fancier type of rebond?
He's also recommending 3/8" pad as he says it will help the carpet wear better on stairs and reduce crushing from furniture (I'm not sure though if it is 6 or 8#).
Finally, the pad has a moisture barrier which I know you're not a fan of...my question is - could this type of pad be installed upside down so the barrier protects the subfloor instead of holding moisture against the carpet backing?
The carpet is 10th gauge multilevel cut pile nylon with some loops in the pattern, and the pile height is 3/8"
Thank you for your help-
Sheryll
Sheryl,
The type of carpet you are using requires that you use a thin dense pad. I suggest 8 lb 3/8 rebond as a minimum. I would prefer a 100 ounce slab rubber in this case. If your dealer does not provide that, use Healthier Choice blue 5/16th froth foam pad. The rebond you mentions is NOT froth foam, but it is good as a basic pad if it is 8lb.
Good Luck,
Jim
Hello,
I have found a carpet that I like and would like your opinion of. It is a Sorona Triexa carpet with a density of 2429, face weight of 55, twist 6.5 and pile height of .83 inches. We need a carpet for high traffic/stairs and I wondered how you felt this carpet would perform.
Thank you for your time.
If it is just stairs that you are carpeting, I prefer a shorter pile in a tighter twist made from filament nylon.
See if you can locate a dealer who carries Gulistan carpets. Ask to see Classic Mulittones. If you can find a Mohawk dealer, ask to see a Horizon style called Heavenly touch #1691. Both of these carpets are designed to perform very well on stairs while not looking like commercial carpet.
Good Luck,
Jim
Hi Jim,
For starters, thank you for writing this blog. It's good of you to give back to the community this way. My wife and I recently moved into a new house. One of the selling points, was they had recently installed new Home Depot carpet upstairs. A few weeks into moving in, we noticed a strange odor coming from the rooms. We left a clean towel on the floor one day for literally an hour, and when we picked it up, it smelled like B.O. I almost passed out from the fumes. Since that time, I've had the house tested for both mold and moisture and even ripped up a portion of the carpet. It does not appear to be a mold or mildew issue. My only conclusion is that the carpet has some kind of extra laminate, etc. in it as it is obviously continuing to give off very strong VOC gases, months after installing. When you rub the carpet, you can especially smell the odor. More incredible, is that Home Depot and the manufacturer are not standing by their product, even though it's only been installed for a few months. Any thoughts on how we should proceed would be much appreciated. The carpet looks great, but the odor is overwhelming and frankly, we are beginning to worry about potential health impacts as we are breathing in these fumes. Thoughts?
First thing you do is to hire a certified Senior Master Carpet Inspector. He has the training and testing knowhow to determine if it is the carpet or the pad that is causing the problem. You can find on of these inspectors at : http://www.certifiedcleaners.org/locator.shtml
Good luck,
Jim
what is the proper install for the triple touch padding? and should you use duct tape over the seams? Loy
Loy,
It is a good idea to use a pressure sensitive packaging tape at the seams in order to keep the integrity of the moisture barrier. Duct tape may work, but too expensive for large job. Duct tape may, in some types, be too thick.
Good Luck,
Jim
May 30, 2009
My husband and I are moving in a few months, but we need to replace our carpet in order to sell our house (our existing carpet is all worn out and stained). We have no idea how long our home will be on the market so we don't know how long we will be living with the new carpet. Our problem is we have three cats that we can't watch 24/7. Cats tend to vomit up hairballs mixed with undigested food. Our cats seem to leave stains from hell...big yellow stains. Our old carpet we can't get the stains out. We need the best carpet that will resist stains and be the easiest to get clean. We don't want to spend a lot of money on carpet since we are selling our home, but we don't want it to look too cheap and turn buyers off. We need about 128 sq. yards of carpet. We live in Orange County, California. What would be the best type of carpet to get for our needs and how much can we expect to pay per sq. yd. with removal of old carpet, pad and installation? And where is the best places to shop for carpet in our area?
Thank you for your time,
Mrs. G
which way is carpet pad installed? Does the mesh go face up?
Most rebond pads have a mesh or plastic sheet on the surface. These should go face up so that the carpet will slide easily over it.
Some fiber pads are the same on both sides, and it does not matter which side is up.
Waffle pads always are installed waffle side down.
Froth foam pads, however are installed with the mesh or moisture barrier down.
Hope this helps,
Jim
Mrs. G,
There are a couple of PTT carpets from Aladdin Mills (by Mohawk) that will work great for you. The PTT fiber (now called Triexta) is the only fiber that may survive the cat vomit (although this is not under warranty by Aladdin). These carpets are favorites of people who manage apartments for a living because they are so cleanable.
Good luck,
Jim
Carpet Guru,
My husband and I just came back from HD and looked at the Beaulieu Puresque with PermaSoft Plus since they are offering a $200 discount for 500-700sq ft carpet. We have a toddler at home. We really like the softness of the carpet. We don't know which one to choose from when it comes to the face weight. Do we choose the 55oz, 70 or the 85oz as we are planning to have a 8 lb pad backing. This is for our living room where we spend the most time.
Thank you.
Kit
Kit,
Perma Soft Plus is a great yarn system, however before I would hire HD I would do a google on "home depot carpet complaints"
The 55 ounce version will last as long as you want it to, while not showing much traffic.
Good Luck,
Jim
Carpet Guru,
Thank you. Going with the 55oz will save us some money. It is 26.73 per sq yard. It is a good deal?
Kit
nn
Kit,
What does that price include??
Jim
I am considering Mohawk Smart Strand for my living room, hallway, and two bedrooms. I have read numerous positive comments by you, and this will be put on a 8 lb. 1/2 inch stainmaster pad. My question is about color. Is the fleck going to look dated in a few years or is it considered a something that has been around and will stay around? Thanks for your help! Jodi
Jodi,
The flecking in carpet will always be part of the design spectrum because it is a great way to hide general soiling. The coloring of the flecks may change between decades, but the concept will always be with us.
Good luck,
Jim
Sir,
Thank you for a very informative site and for taking the time to educate so many. I recently purchased a berber type carpet for use outdoors. As the carpet is now developing mold, I suspect it does not have marine backing as my recent research indicates is a "must" in wet outdoor use (my carpet is on an uncovered concrete patio). As the carpet was expensive, I am trying to determine if marine backing can be installed after the fact (the original carpet was never glued or tacked down) and if so, where I might be able to purchase said backing. Any information you could provide would be much appreciated.
I am sorry, but any marine backing must be part of the manufacturing process.
Jim
Hello,
I'm shopping for carpet. The carpet I have (and carpets from the past) crushes easily. That is, when I want to move a piece of furniture to a new place, it's pretty much impossible to get the indentation removed. That's even if I leave a lightweight item on the carpet for a short time. What should I look for in a carpet to make this less of a problem? A frieze? Something else? Thanks, Suzanne
Suzanne,
Furniture denting is most obvious in plush carpets and some loop carpets. It is least visible in shags and friezes, and printed carpets.
This condition can be lessened by using a firm pad (at least 8 lb 3/8th inch), and even more with a memory froth foam pad with at least an eight pound density.
For extra heavy furniture it is wise to use furniture coasters available at fine furniture stores.
Good luck,
Jim
Hi Dave, carpeting can be a tricky guessing game unless you find the right contractor. I ran across your carpetguru site which really opened my eyes to the scammers. I'm a young installer in Cincinnati with a 37 yr. vet in the biz and always has taught me the correct way to install plus interact with customers! He's like a father to me.
thank you
Does your store sell any prefinished solid or engineered hardwood flooring that is NOT finished with aluminum oxide? I read the Wood Floor Doctor's views on aluminum oxide (http://www.woodfloordoctor.com/_product_reviews/articles/prefinishedchoose.shtml) and I don't want those particles in my home in the event we need to sand the floor. Thanks.
Thanks for your kind words. Keep learning, and you will be successful.
Good Luck,
Jim
We sell and install Kahrs wood floors from Sweden. NO AC3. These are highest quality floors not found at mass marketers, as these floors are not your typical HD special.
Kahrs wood floors are the thickest in engineered wood. They can be sanded and stained up to three times.
Hope this helps,
Jim
would it be possible or advisable to use the frothed foam under a blow-up swimming pool outside? I need a soft but durable surface to put on my brick patio and put the pool on top of, and I'd like something I can roll up and put away during winter. Thanks. Joyce
joycewbergman@yahoo.com
Joyce,
Froth foam is not designed for any use except under carpet in a wall to wall installation. It also does not react well to being in contact with water on a regular basis.
Good luck,
JIm
Hi Jim,
This site is very helpful. Thanks! I stumbled on your site after discovering something interesting while ripping up my carpet at home. The carpet was laid in the late 70s and the padding underneath is black and glued to the subflooring (but scrapes up easily). When my husband and I removed the carpet, he noticed that the padding felt moist. There are visible spots in the padding where it is more moist than other spots. There is no visible water leakage in this room and the only odd thing about it is it is extremely hot in there because of an old chimney.
I'm hesitant to just scrape up the padding and laying down new carpet without investigating this any further. Thoughts on what the problem is?
Without personally inspecting the site, it would be impossible for me to guess what is going on with your moist pad.
Perhaps you should have a home inspector view the area. He may be able to locate problem, or at least explain what is happening.
Good Luck,
Jim
We are planning on installing carpet in a funeral home. So we need something that will last and not leave footprints. I am afraid about getting berber carpet though. That is what we have now and ladies heels have caused it to ravel. What do you recommend?
You should contact your commercial carpet specialist. Ask for a commercial plush made from Antron nylon pile, or, if money is no object, a quality wool commercial plush. Install either over 120 ounce slab rubber.
Good Luck,
Jim
Hello - I have been looking at luxury vinyl tiles and there are 2 companies that have products in the coloring I like. One is Earthwerks Adobe Stone and one is Cryntel Villastone Pompei Beige. Both seem to be relatively new. Do you know the products or can give me suggestions for a good LVT? I can't find any information on the web about them.
Thanks
Unfortunately I am not the "tileguru" and thus can be of little help with it comes to being an expert on Luxury vinyl tile. I don't even know who all the players are.
Good Luck,
Jim
Hi Jim! We are recarpeting 1100 sq feet in our home (living room, 3 bedrooms) and we have a 3 yr old in potty training, 2 large dogs, and 1 cat. (And I sometimes spill red wine.) Because of the pets and child, we were planning on an 8 lb. pet pad, but carpet shopping is hard! We've looked at MoHawk Premiere Living (Lowe's)--2115 density with 3.4x3.8 twist, faceweight 52 oz; weardated durasoft nylon w/scotchguard and Resista SoftStyle Premium, which I understand is Generation 4 polyester. The selling point on the Resista was the antimicrobial and anti-odor properties. We live in Oklahoma with lots of red clay, and I need something that will withstand everything!
I want nice looking and durable carpet that we can enjoy, as well as help our house sell quickly if we are moved by our company. The Mohawk was going to run us about $30.00/sq yard, the Resista about $36.00/sq yard (both with pet pad, but not installed).
Is one of these a better choice, am I getting a good price, and is there a better choice?
Thank you so much!!
--Michelle
Michelle,
The nylon carpet will last longer than the Resista. Resista is a PET polyester and not as strong as the Dura Soft nylon.
If is difficult for me to comment on price without seeing the samples myself. The price from Lowes does seem good; especially if you can get labor for $139.00 for the whole house. However, I don't think Lowes labor is the best available.
Good Luck,
Jim
Do rebond cushions pretty much come in standard colors for each weight? I'm trying to find out if the pick rebond pad installed in our home is 6lb or 8lb. The number stamped on the backside is
ETL170201 2 05 11 09
Marilyn,
The only way to be sure is to weigh the pad. A cubic foot of material will weigh 6 lbs or 8 lbs. etc.
Hope this helps,
Jim
Carpetguru-
I purchased a used wool (berber) Royal Dutch carpet for a very good price. The store told me they installed it & the homeowner decided it was "defective", so they had to remove it. It looked in new condition except for a few single spots where the tuft was missing & since I plan to put it in a small bedroom, I wasn't concerned about that. Now I've heard that installing a used carpet can be a real problem. Is that true? And would the installer need to be a "master installer with a power stretcher" if the room is under 100 sq. ft.?
Appreciate hearing your opinion on this. Thanks.
Any room should be power stretched in. The only problem with installing used carpet is when one has to make a seam in the room. This is because you may end up with a worn area next to a new area. However, in your case, since the carpet was "like new", this will not be a factor.
I would look for a CFI certified installer if possible.
Good Luck,
Jim
I read that steam cleaning a PTT carpet can injure it and most of what is said about it is mostly hype. Is someone mad at Mohawk or is there something to this statement?
There will be some resentment of Mohawk's successful marketing of their Triexta fiber (ptt).
The Invista (Stainmaster) folks have the most to loose, as after heavy lobbying against Mohawk getting a fiber classification by the FTC, they were not able to keep the FTC from granting Mohawk its reclassification of the PTT fiber. Hence, the demand for PTT has increased, and Mohawk is scrambling to keep up with production.
Steam cleaning is the only method that is recommended by the Carpet and Rug institute and Mohawk industries. It is strongly suggested that this cleaning be done by a competent professional.
Good Luck,
Jim
Hi Carpet Guru,
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. It has really helped in selecting a carpet.
We are planning to buy a Karastan 100% smartstrand BCF 3GT Polyester w/Dupont Sorona Polymer. We live in Baltimore MD and Bill's Carpetland is quoting us a price of $3263.52 for 90 yards. What do you think? Thanks for your advice. Martha
Martha,
It may be a great buy?? However, I do not know the specs of the Karastan carpet you have selected. I can't tell quality by just the Karastan name or the Karastan style name. I need ounces per sq yd, and if possible twist levels.
You are on the right track.
Good Luck,
Jim
Carpetguru,
I'm looking at a Shaw/Queen Mammouth Platinum Plus frieze that I found at Home Depot. 100% nylon,55.6 face weight, 7.4 twist with Softbac backing. The cost is $27 per square yard. It carries a 25/10/10 warranty. I intend on carpeting the whole house which includes 4 bedrooms and living room, 2 hallways and a set of steps. Myself, wife and 2 teenage kids live here.I plan on being in this house for a long time. Am I on the right track? Do you have an opinion on this carpet or can you suggest another few to look at?
thanks, jerry
Jerry,
I think the carpet, or something like it, will be fine. However, before you contract with Home Depot, I would do a google on "home depot carpet complaints"
Good Luck,
Jim
Dear Guru:
We are about to recarpet our house which is an Eichler which has a slab floor from which the heating comes. What pad would you recommend, since we don't want to completely insulate ourselves from the heat? Slab rubber which you've mentioned would appear to be too good an insulator?
Thanks for this great site.
Sincerely, Valerie
Valerie,
Slab rubber is an excellent choice over radiant heated concrete floors. Try and stay close to 100 ounce weight.
Jim
Dear Carpet Guru:
Thanks for your immediate and helpful response- you're real!!
I've read your site and feel much better about tackling the salespeople. I've also been saved from a possible mistake with a big box dealer! Thanks.
Valerie
Thank you in advance, I appreciate your expertise and searched your site and still have a question on polyester carpet. I have two senor cats who can soil the carpet with food they spit up and occassional urine accident.
I have researched and want to know what you think about MILLCRAFT RESISTA who makes a carpet that is warrantied for 10 year vs BEAULEIU continuous filament which has "additional" stain resistants that boost the fibers resistance to stain.
Sue,
Your choices are not ones that will best withstand the pet accidents you mentioned. I would suggest you find a triexta carpet from Mohawk under the Aladdin or Horizon label.
If you feel you must have a nylon, look for one with R2X treatment from Shaw. These will be your best chance of preventing pet stains.
Good Luck,
Jim
I have had a flood in my home and all of the carpets are getting replaced. The insurance conducted there analisis of my carpet which was much lower than my independant analisis (from Itel). My carpet is worth 70 a sy. I am not sure if I need a carpet that expensive, but if I do I want to make sure the pad is REALLY good. Someone said Shaw Triple Touch is Shaw’s newest Green Edge introduction. That it will allow your carpet a long life span. What do you think?
Your selection of Triple touch pad is a wise investment. This pad can be seen on our website at www.carpetguru.com/pad.html. This pad will double the warranty on any Shaw carpet.
Good Luck,
Jim
Thanks for the great information. I have been looking at the smartstrand by Mohawk. Need about 200sq. yds to do a whole house, including steps. No pets and only adults, an occassional visit by grandchildren. Will be selling the home in the future, but may be 8 years. Looking at Atlantic Shores and Sacred Star by Mohawk. The Atlantic Shores would cost about $1000 more. Total cost would be between $5000 for Sacred Star and
$6000 for Atlantic Shores. Was told
the 6 lb. pad would be sufficient. I will move my own furniture. What are your thoughts?
Lori,
$6000 for 200 yds of Atlantic Shores is a very competitive price, as long as the labor is skilled. If you are sure you are going to live in the home ten years or less, then 6 lb 7/16th rebond will be the minimum I would install.
Good Luck,
Jim
Thank you for your opionion. I just received a call on my carpet estimate. The Sacred Star or Living Destiny as they are both called with an 8 lb. pad will be @$5200. To get the Atlantic Shores, I would probably need to add $1200. I can tell the Atlantic Shores is a little longer. Would the Sacred Star wear just as well? Will it hold up on the stairs? Really wanted to stay in the $5000 range. The installers I believe are reliable and install for a well-known flooring company. They use a power stretcher. Thanks again on your help. I haven't shopped for carpet in close to 30 years. My nylons held up well, so it's hard to switch, but it needs to go. Hope my new carpet will be a selling point. Thanks again for your help.
Lori,
Sacred Star will hold up well, it will just not be as plush feeling. You are wise to consider the 8 lb pad upgrade.
Good luck,
Jim
Carpetguru,
I am looking for a "healthier" carpet for my house. I am looking at the Puresque line at Home Depot- Would you recommend this as a healthier carpet compared to others?
Thank you,
Rebecca
Dear Sir,
The local carpet store/installer told a client of mine to not let me or any one else put protecter on her olefin carpet. It is two years old but has had two clear water floods on it. It was not professinaly dryed so I can't believe the warranty is still good. What is the reality?
I found carpet tiles with a heavy rubber or vinyl backing. I think this would be perfect for a drop-in carpet on my boat deck. Where can I buy a roll UNCUT?
On very rare occasions, the mill sells the remnants of their tile products in roll form. These remnants are usually 6.2 wide and vary in length from 3 to 20 ft. I buy some from Shaw industries when available. Most dealers do not know these remnants are even for sale by the mill.
Good Luck,
Jim
Pete Peterson,
Once the carpet has been flooded there is a good chance the backings will separate in the future. I would strongly suggest your customer get her insurance company to replace the carpet and pad.
Applying a stain treatment to olefin is often redundant in that olefin is naturally stain resistant. Now if you can apply a treatment that would stop oils from soaking into the fiber, you would have something.
Good Luck,
Jim
Rebecca,
I am not aware of the puresque line from HD. However, there are some carpets that have anti bacterial treatments that seem to be a good idea for those with pets.
Carpets are really only unhealthy if you never vacuum or professionally clean them.
Good Luck,
Jim
Dear Carpetguru:
Today I asked a flooring company (no. 2) for a bid on Shaw Tuftex carpet -- "It's All Right", 58.5 oz. I had already received a price from another local flooring commpany (no. 1). Company no. 2 advised that in order to match or beat the price, they would need to order the carpet under the private label "Ventura Highway". I'm a bit uncomfortable with this and wonder if there is a way that I can confirm that the carpets are identical.
Also, would appreciate your opinion of the "It's All Right" carpet.
Thanks for your assistance. You provide an incredible service -- I wish I had happened upon your site prior to spending hours attempting to educate myself on carpets, pads, etc. But as they say, better late than never!
Thanks.
Tuf decision
Tuf,
I know that Shaw makes many carpets under several different names that are really the exact same specs. I am not aware of either of the names you provided. However, a 58 ounce carpet should wear well. The only way you will know if the two carpets you are looking at are identical would be to take both to another dealer who has been in business for a long time. Their expertise may be able to answer your question.
Regardless, it will be almost impossible to compare "apples to apples" due to the vast amount of private labeling that is part of our industry today.
Good Luck,
Jim
Amazing site. What a service to the confused public!
I need to replace carpet in two bedrooms. One room is used as office/sewing room. Looking at Carpet One "Sunny days", Resista. Would I be better off to forget any polyester type carpet and stick with a nylon. Previous carpet was 14 years old and wore very well. I have always bought nylon, but sales person says the resista is wonderful.
Thanks
Confused in Texas
Confused in Texas,
Resista only performs well when the carpet is constructed well. Look for a dense plush, or a super tightly twisted frieze. Stay away from loops or shag in this case.
If you want a shag, buy nylon or the new triexta. For a sewing room , I like a dense plush so one can pick up the pins and bits of thread easily with an upright vacuum.
Good Luck,
Jim
Jim,
I am looking at a frieze from PHENIX (One World Carpet). We think we have narrowed it down to two - a shorter, more dense version called "Urban Suite", and a longer version called "Symphony." Both are made of the "Lifestrand Ultra" carpet fiber. We have quite a bit of square footage, and the price of the polyester is quite attractive compared to the nylon. However, we are a little concerned about durability given what we've heard about polyester vs. nylon.
We have stairs and some high traffic areas. We really like the look of the longer version, but are concerned about it matting down over time.
First, what do you think about this carpet in general, and second, would you recommend one over the other?
Thanks,
Mark
Mark,
Lifestran Ultra is a PET filament polyester fiber. The longer version of your choices will crush on the stairs quickly. If keep the carpet clean, you can rake it up every few days if you want to take the time. If you have fallen in "love" with the color, use the shorter version.
Good Luck,
Jim
I would look at the twist level and the density of this carpet. They must the good in order to expect the carpet to perform. If the carpet lacking the proper construction, you must convert to nylon. Nylon will perform, even if constructed less dense than some others.
Carpet Guru, I think I called you Dave in my original post, I'm sorry, I had someone named Dave in my head when I was typing! How rude of me! I wanted to add that the price all in for the Beaulieu Herb Garden II that I spoke about earlier is $27.00/square yard. this includes materials, 6lb. rebond pad, and labor. The $4.00 I mentioned in my previous post is included in the $27.00. We will probably upgrade to an 8lb rebond pad for about $85.00 total for our 118 yards. Is this a reasonable price? Thank you, Jamie
Jamie,
For Herb Garden the price you mentioned is a very good price. Pray that the installer knows what he is doing. Herb Garden does seam up well, and is easy for even a marginal installer to make look good.
Good Luck,
Jim
I am about to firm up arrangements to have Gulistan Starcast carpet installed, and due to an availability issue with the 8 lb. Mohawk rebond padding, I'm letting them install the 8 lb. Mohawk "memory foam" padding instead---a more expensive padding my dealer has offered at the same price. Where does "memory" foam fit in your descriptions of prime foam and frothed foam, and are there any issues with long-term furniture indentation with memory foam compared to other pads?
The Mohawk pad you mention that is memory foam, is at the top of the rebond pad line. Your dealer is doing you a favor. No pad is going to completely stop furniture indentations.
Good Luck,
Jim
Hello Carpet Guru: Thanks for the previous answer. New question: Per the floor plan of my home's builder, (Eichler) the area of rooms for carpeting add up to 1,182sq.ft. I added 10% for pattern match (18" x 13") for the chosen one, and aimed for 1,300 sq. ft. I have five estimates ranging from 1,260 - 1,428. What is a fair % to add for pattern matching?
Thanks.
Valorie,
You choice of carpet pad will work well with your radiant heated floors.
Figuring pattern match must be done in layout fashion by a skilled estimator. It requires knowing the exact sizes of the rooms, a diagram of how the rooms connect, and knowing the pattern match. It cannot be figured by just adding a percentage to the rough square footage. Have your carpet installer or dealer compute the yardage and discuss seam placement with you.
Good Luck,
Jim
Carpet Guru, Two questions...
1. I received a quote from a local flooring company and wanted to see if you thought it was reasonable. The price I was quoted for a 15 foot Shaw Chic Luxury,style number 19647(100% Stainmaster Tactesse BCF fiber) carpet with a 7/16, 8 lb moisture barrier pad was $2560.80 for about 56 square yards.
2. If I want the Shaw triple touch pad, it is an additional $180.
Do you think this is a good price and should I spend the extra for the Shaw pad as I believe it may extend the warranty?
Kathleen,
The price you received for Shaw's Chic carpet is outstanding if it includes pull up and disposal of old carpet and pad, and is only great, if the price just includes basic labor. The $180 for the triple touch pad is a good investment, as this plush carpet needs the support of this memory froth foam. Yes, it does double your Shaw warranty.
Good Luck,
JIm
Carpet Guru,
You are a great man and always very helpul! I am about to purchase the carpet today but want to get a second opinion.
It is Kingscote made by Mohawk( karastan?), the twist is 5.75*5.75, density 3322,pile hiehgt .596 and face with 55 oz. Is this good carpet that can last 10 years?
We have two young baby, so we are looking for carpet with somewhat thick since kids always fall on the ground. Aslo, stain removal is our main concern. The fiber treatment for this is ULTRASTRAND LISSE W ADV REPEL, we were told this is as good as STAINMASTER, but not sure about this. What do you think?
Thanks
Brian
Brain,
Based on the specs you provided, this carpet should last ten years provided you have it professionally cleaned every two years. The stain treatment is as good as Stainmaster, but like Stainmaster, you will to have it re-applied in six or seven years.
If stains are your main concern, you may want to check out the Mohawk carpets made from the new Triexta fiber. This fiber will never loose its stain resistance, and is as strong as nylon.
Good Luck,
Jim
Thanks for being available!!!!
I liked a carpet I saw at Home Depot by Beaulieu, called Lakes Allure, in their Puresque group, but another carpet professional I was referred to does not recommend it. The carpet appears to have the face weight, twist, and density of a great product, and is very soft to the touch! What do you know about this carpet, and does it get 'fuzzy' in time since the carpet ends are open (not closed or tight at the top).
thanks,
Melissa
Melissa,
The only way for me to comment on the quality of this carpet would be for me to have it in my hands. HD does a great job of private labeling their carpets. Unless you took the HD sample to your local dealer, he would not be able to reliably comment on the quality of this carpet. I cannot give you information base on the specs because those specs are not always accurate.
Before you rush to purchase from HD do a google on "home depot carpet complaints".
Good Luck,
Jim
I am looking for carpet padding for my basement that presently has ceramic tile. I am concern about moisture and mold. What type of carpet padding would you suggest? I spoke with a carpet salesmen who suggested Air Jute 40oz. padding. The carpet I want to buy is a Paragon 100% continuous filament nylon.
Hello! I hope you can help...
I'm going to replace the carpet in my entire house (three floors plus stairs, including some floating stairs). I have pets.
I've been looking at SmartStrand and am trying to decide between two different places. I think one is trying to scam me and I have concerns about installation with the other.
The first is from a local store selling Selesia by Karastan, with a special price on "in stock" colors of $3.59/square foot carpet only. The store insisted that Karastan does not provide specs on their carpeting like other manufacturers and insisted I find the EXACT same carpet to compare "apples to apples". I called Karastan to get the specs and they could not find any product under that name. I'm still trying to find the product code to get info from Karastan but in the meantime I had the company come give me an estimate (mind you they wanted 1/3 down first, until I refused). They came back with a price of over $11,000 (carpet, highest end pad w/moisture barrier, removal, installation, everything) BUT offered me their 45% discount--conveniently for something different every time I talked to them--to take it down to about $6700. The problem is they will not tell me the total square yards the quote is for or how it breaks down, they'll only give me a total number. Also, the salesman told me they don't use a power stretcher, that there is no need to and their guy has been doing this for years and doesn't need one.
The second is Home Depot-- Silk by Mohawk, 60 oz w/5.50x5.50 twist for $20.52/square yard plus pad and installation. I'm looking at their high-end pad which will cost about $5.50 a square yard. I know that doesn't figure in all the extra costs and am planning on scheduling an estimate w/them.
My question is whether or not the first store sounds like a scam to you too? No power stretcher, no break down on the price, 45% discount...?
I've read a lot of complaints about Home Depot but I'm not sure I want to use this other company. Does the carpeting Home Depot is selling sound reasonable for the price? Is Karastan carpeting really that much better than straight Mohawk?
Thank you so much for your input, as I've been debating this for a while now!
Any retailer that does not have their installer use a power stretcher is voiding your warranty on the day of installation. If you look carefully at the Mohwawk/Karastan warranty, the carpet must be installed in accordance with CR-105. I would find another dealer who carries Mohawk's Horizon or Aladdin brand Smartstrand.
You are correct to be nervous out HD, so if I were you, I'd keep shopping at other dealers. You may want to check "angieslist.com".
Good Luck,
Jim
Adelia
If the carpet you are installing is a commercial or level loop carpet, I would strongly suggest a spun nylon fiber pad. Yes, 40 ounces is your best choice.
Good Luck,
Jim
Hi Carpetguru,
We are recarpeting out whole house and just went to look at carpets today. We're deciding between two different brands of frieze, Shaw and Phenix. We can get both installed with padding for $22/yd. I'm a little nervous about the Phenix since I've never heard of the brand and can't find much about it online, but it comes with a lifetime stain warranty, which is nice considering we have two little kids. Is Phenix a good brand or should we go with the Shaw?
Thanks!
Bethany
Bethany,
I would stick with Shaw brand. You have many more dealers from which to choose, and the warranties are very good. if you find a Shaw carpet with R2X stain treatment, you will find that it is more resistant to stains than that S brand that is so heavily advertised.
The Phenix carpet is most likely the brand of a national chain like Carpet One, Abby, Color Tile, etc. It might be good carpet, but comparison shopping will be almost impossible.
Good Luck,
Jim
I'm have purchased and am starting installation of the Karastep Ultra II "Premium Molded Urethane Cushion". There is a thin fabric on one side of the urethane cushion. Does this face up or down (against the floor)?
Thanks In Advance!
Whm,
Most of the time that thin fabric is installed face up. However, to be sure, I'd check with the Karastan dealer who sold you the product.
Good Luck,
Jim
Hi Jim-
Just finished browsing the web site posts and am a bit confused. I recently inherited my grandfather's "persian" rug- very nice and apparently worth protecting with a good pad. Is froth foam the answer? I read that berber rugs needs a thinner, plastic (poly?) pad but obviously that is not the same as a persian. We will be putting it over a hard wood floor, and pet stains/spills are a consideration.
We live in north Seattle (Lake Forest Park)- do you have anyone you would recommend in the area?
Thanks very much!!
Todd
Todd,
You Persian rug needs to have a product by the Foam Products Corp. that is a fiber pad with a rubber coating on the bottom, and a velcro-like coating on the top. It is called "double-loc" This is designed to keep the rug in place, and also provide firm support for your rug. Look for this product or something like it at your better area rug dealers.
Foam Products is located in Calhoun, GA and their toll free number is 1-800-526-3626. You may have to give this information to the dealer and have him order it for you.
Good Luck
Jim
HI -Great site. Thanks for all the time put into it. We are replacing carpeting in 5 rooms and a staircase. I spent a lot of time finding a carpet I liked: Carpet one Evan Black Platinum Series- Somerton. 100 % Anso Caress BCF Nylon. I then wanted to compare prices and after reading your site confirmed my road blocks, it is pretty difficult. Any consumer tips to make sure we are getting a good value? Or is it a gut feeling, reputation of store? I feel like I am spinning my wheels on this decision.....Please advise.
Mary
Mary,
Your Evans and Black carpet is really made by Shaw. If you want to compare, you must take the Carpet One sample to your nearest Shaw carpet dealer. He should be able to identify want the real name of the carpet is and give you a quote.
As far as being satisfied with your purchase, I would join Angies List and look at all the carpet dealers in your area. Get a quote from those on Angies List with A ratings.
Another way would be to check with your friends and neighbors for a referral.
Good Luck,
Jim
Carpet Guru,
A quick question about carpet installation. I saw somewhere in the forum saying that when hiring installer, you need to check whether they will follow industry standard CRI105.
I just get price quotes from two installers in Dalton, Ga to install smartstrand carpet from Mohawk, both of them charge me $5.5/yd. One with 24 yr expereince but but insist he will not follow CRI105since he is doing great job.Another is 12 yr expersice with certificate (RI-II, CI-II).
Does CRI105 really matter? Should I hire a person with more experience? I don't know whether they will really do it or not anyway.
Thank Brian
Brain,
The Mohawk warranty book says the carpet needs to be installed in accordance with CR-105, however, it is impossible to follow that to the letter in many instances. The important parts of CR-105 are 1) use of a power stretcher; 2) sealing the seams with a sealer that contains a marker; 3) proper placement of tackstrip; 4) use of proper pads; 5)not using a single spike type stretcher.
If you ever have a carpet complaint after the carpet was installed, the inspector will look for the marker in the seam sealer, he will look for large holes in the carpet caused by the single spike, and he will check for proper stretching of the carpet. If any of these are improper, your claim will be denied.
The man with 24 years of experience may be a good choice, but not if he has been doing it wrong for 24 years. The man with the certification is more than likely a better choice.
Good luck,
Jim
Carpetguru,
A quick follow up... I just learned that my carpet installer is one man team. He cited that, it is easy for him to control the process, rather than worry about the other person, plus he is 7 feel tall and 270 lbs with a lot muscle and has furniture slider.
I was under impression that carpet installation normally requires 2 people. I have 4 bed rooms with 2 furnished rooms with basic furniture. Can one installer do the carpet work with high quality without assistance? should I go for two man team for installation instead, what is your opinion?
Thanks Brian
Great website!
We had Mohawk/Aladdin carpet installed in 2005. Recently had it inspected as I've had it stretched once and I still have large ripples. The inspection report cited weak dimensional stability and lamination strength. The manufacturer failed to securely lock the individual fiber strands into the yarn bundle during the coating cycle of the manufacturing process.
The mill indicated they are not liable due to a one year warranty. This is frustrating because I paid almost $30/sq.yd. Is there any recourse with the mill or manufacturer?
Brain,
There are many installers that work without a helper who are capable of quality work and who also are able to move furniture. It just takes longer than a two man team. If there are huge pieces of furniture, you might discuss with him how he plans to move the furniture by himself.
Good Luck,
Jim
You may still have a claim under the ten year manufacturing defects warranty. The claim will NOT be honored if you do not have proof of professional cleaning of the carpet every eighteen to twenty-four months. Your carpet cleaner also has to be certified, and you need receipts.
Assuming you did all this, then file the claim with "Mohawk Industries" Attn: Customer Relations, PO Box 12069 , Calhoun, GA 30703.
Good Luck,
Jim
It is difficult to compare the Smartstrand carpets, due to each dealer having different names for the same carpet. Do you know if Roaming Spirit is the same as Atlantic Shores or Windwalker? Do you know its weight?
Linda,
It is impossible to compare apples to apples these days, even with the new Smartstrand styles. Mohawk makes similar products under the Karastan, Horizon, and Aladdin mill names. Then they (Mohawk) have "color centers" that have the same carpets under the Mohawk label. Add to this the same styles under different names at both of the major big box stores.
One word of advice, if you are shopping Smartstrand, you may want the dealer to check availability, as Mohawk is having difficulty supplying this new fiber. Six week delivery times have been common.
Good luck
Jim
Hi
I am considering Shaw Orient Point which is Cleartouch Pet Polyester or the Shaw Tranquil Appeal which is evertouch nylon. We really like the Orient point how it looks and feels, but I am concerned about the high traffic areas,do you think it will be crushed and wear quickly?
Shaw does not give the Orient point an ounce rating, is that something we should be concerned about? Also they say the twist is 6.1,is that an ok twist rating?
I have been quoted 4.65 a square foot, for the Tranquil appeal 5.40 sq ft. these prices include the 8lb shaw triple touch pad.Do these prices seem reasonable? We are also considering the Shaw Triple touch pad, what are your thoughts between the 8 lbs and 10 lbs, is it worth the extra $?
Thanks so much for your time,
Carol
California
Carol,
You may well be very happy with the Cleartouch product. It will not fuzz, pill or FADE! This carpet has a par rating of 4, so wear is not the problem. However, like the Tranquil Appeal, it is a little on the shaggy side. So in the future you will have to use a quality vacuum to keep this carpet looking good. Also, don't forget to keep this carpet cleaned professionally every two years.
The price of $4.65/sq ft is competitive for this carpet using the triple touch pad. I would use the 8 lb version of this product, as one cannot tell the difference between the 8lb and 10 lb pad.
Hope this helps,
Jim
need help ..
I have a carpet installer offering a frieze carpet for 19.95 per yard.the name on the carpet sample sheet says VOYAGEUR COLLECTION". I didn't find any information about this brand on the internet. It looks almost good as a Mohawk with $42.95 per yard prize tag I saw in a carpet store. I am not sure this is a good buy?! please help
Thanks, Roni
Roni,
Buying direct from a carpet installer is never a wise idea because of warranty issues. The carpet you described is most likely form a little no name mill or is private labeled.
In order to advise you on its quality, I need to know the fiber content, the twist level, pile weight, backing info, and density.
Good Luck,
Jim
Thank you so much for this wonderful forum. I am installing carpeting over a concrete slab (there is old carpeting there now) in our living room, dining room, staircase and hallway. These are all high-traffic areas, and we have 2 kids. I want a carpet that is durable, soft and stain-resistant, since we'll have a crawling baby soon. We'd also like a carpet that doesn't give off any harmful fumes, chemicals or VOCs.
I am debating among the following carpets: the Mohawk SmartStrand BCF 3GT Polyester with DuPont Sonora Renewably Sourced Polymer; Dixie Home PET carpet Wishing Tree; and Shaw/Stainmaster Tiburon 217 HD Tectesse BCF Nylon. In your experience, which type of fiber is the most durable and stain resistant, while at the same time eco-friendly (no VOCs/chemicals) -- SmartStrand, PET or nylon? At first, I was leaning toward SmartStrand, but a salesman at a local store was pushing me toward a denser PET -- he said it would hold up better. Then, we found the nylon carpet that we like, which is $1000 more expensive, but I want to make sure it doesn't give off fumes/chemicals.
All are frieze carpets, I believe. Thank you!
To Jim,
I had carpet installed (Beaulieu) with their luxury bac(k?) about 2months ago. Upon vacuuming, I have noticed several areas about 4 inches or so from a wall where tufts were raising up. Upon further inspection, there were some tears through the carpet, and the tuft were easily pulling out. Could this be due to power stretching where the carpet may have been overstretched? Is there much information on how carpet with this kind of backing performs. And, if the backing has been overstretched, how may it affect its longevity? I'm not sure if I need to pursue complete carpet replacement, or if these torn areas can be patched.
Thanks,
Bert
Bert,
It sounds as if your installer used a knee kicker INSTEAD of a power stretcher to lay your carpet. The torn backing is not something that would result from using the methods set forth in CR-105. I would contact you dealer to have the carpet repaired or replaced.
Good Luck
Jim
VOCs are not a result of the fiber. Thus the fiber you use should be selected due to its resistance to abrasion and stains. The most resistant to abrasion is still nylon, with PTT running a close second. The most long term stain resistant fiber is PTT and solution dyed nylon.
Carpet performance is all about construction. If the carpet is not well made, it is not important what the fiber is, as it will not hold up in a family living situation.
As for VOCs, most of these come from the latex used to bind the two backings of the carpet together. If you choose the Shaw product, and it has the softbac construction, the you will have the carpet that gives off the least VOCs. Most VOCs are gone from the carpet and pad in 48 hours of being exposed to a ventilated area.
Good Luck,
Jim
To Jim,
This is Bert. I just posted to you about some tears in carpet I am now finding. You said the installer probably used a kicker instead of a power stretcher. The installer did use a power stretcher. So, I am now baffled. The power stretcher would not cause the tears, but the kicker would? I had about 200 yards of carpet installed.
Thanks, Bert
Bert,
If it was not the kicker, and you saw the installer using the power stretcher, then he used the stretcher improperly. Luxury back is strong, and should not tear if the power stretcher had its "teeth" adjusted properly for the type of carpet. If the carpet was at fault, there would be other areas that had tears that were not four to six inches from the wall.
Good Luck,
Jim
Hi
Thanks for your quick response on the 18th of August, I think we will choose the Orient Point by Shaw. We have a lot of heavy furniture, do you think the carpet will spring back, when the furniture gets moved around?
Can you suggest a good suction vacuum?
Thanks again
Carol
California
The carpet will not spring back on its own. You will need to vacuum and possibly need to steam certain furniture indentations and comb them with a pile groomer.
The backing will not "dent" as much if you use Shaw froth foam triple touch pad.
Good Luck,
Jim
BTW Vacuums change style every year, and I have not clue as to which one is best. I have and old Panasonic that seems to work very well.
Would you recomend a frieze carpet with a slab rubber pad for a person and his wheelchair who weigh 500lbs together?
The only carpet that will withstand the hard use of a wheelchair is a commercial grade carpet installed direct glue down. The carpet should be at least tenth gauge and made from nylon.
Good Luck,
Jim
Carpetguru,
I'm going to carpet my upstairs, which consists of two bedrooms and the brand new stairs that we just built. When I went to the carpet store, they said that wool would hold up better to traffic than the synthetic. What is your take on that? Also, will wool hold up to a bit of sunlight, i.e., occasional sun through a skylight?
Second, I'm trying to determine which brands are more environmentally friendly? Some carpet are now made of corn, plastic bottles, etc. I just wonder about the durability.
Thirdly, who makes the Masland brand of carpeting? One of the big carpet makers?
Lastly, the salesman at the carpet store was showing me the padding. He showed me padding that had plastic on the outside of it, some kind of moisture barrier. Then I read about your suggestion to get the Frothed Foam. Should I worry more about the kind of padding or the density? I know you said to get the 8lb. density. Thanks so much for this blog. You've answered so many of my questions already from just reading.
Crayonbreakgal,
Masland is a divison of the Dixie group, and they are know for their "high end" carpets.
Wool if constructed well, will perform on your stairs and bedrooms. The important construction feature for wool is being made from a long staple fiber. Check the amount of fuzz you made get off the sample. If it is really fuzzy, perhaps you should look a a carpet made from recycled nylon.
As I have mentioned in previous answers, the key to wear is density and twist. Carefully examine the construction of the carpet. On stairs, short and dense is good.
Also, don't pay extra for a pad with a vapor barrier. Instead, purchase a slab rubber pad for the stairs, and a rebond for the bedrooms.
Good Luck
Jim
I have read almost all of your posts on this site, and am so confused. I have found a carpet for our basement that we really like - it will be used in a playroom for the kids (age 5 and 7), a rec room, basement stairs, and a bedroom in the basement. The sales agent recommended Resista "Stand Up (T)" carpeting. It has a 3 star rating according to Resista. Other than the normal Resista warranties on it, and that the fiber is stated as "100% BCF Resista Polyester Fiber, I have no other information on it. From other posts you are not a big fan of Resista, and it seems I can find little more detailed information on the web on this carpet. The price (cdn) is $3.89 sq ft (installed) excluding underpad. Price is quite good but I also wonder will this carpet stay looking "this nice" for very long, am I throwing my money away, should I get a nylon carpet? If so, can your recommend one that the price is not outrageous?
Thanks so much.
Carri,
Because you are installing in an area that will have a great deal of foot traffic (stairs etc.), it is not a place to use a PET polyester fiber, but instead a PTT triexta fiber, or a nylon fiber. I don't know what style of carpet (plush, freieze etc) of carpet you are looking at. For long performance, a dense plush or high twist frieze, or dense looped carpet are needed.
The one thing about your post that concerns me is the price you mentioned did not include a pad. Does this mean you are going to reuse the existing pad??? This is not a wise idea. If you use existing pad, you will have no warranty on the new carpet. Also, using old pad will cause premature traffic lanes in your new carpet.
Check out Angies List in your area to get an idea for who is best at making carpet customers happy in your community. If you are going to spend a few thousand dollars, you want the best.
Good Luck,
Jim
Thanks Carpet Guru,
The carpet we discussed is friese. We are thinking of installing Dri-Core subfloor on the cement (basement is totally new construction), and then the carpet underlay, and then the carpet. I have gone today to get another comparable carpet. It is Shaw Friese carpet, seems to be a lot denser fibres - 100% BCF Polypropelene RX2 with a performace rating of 3.5/5 - cost $3.49/sq ft (cdn) not installed. The Shaw underlay pad is at an additional cost of $1.10/sq ft.
I like the look of both carpets, but am very concerned about the wear especially on the stairs. Both seem to be good in terms of stain removal.
Also, your opinion. The saleman at one of the stores told me that in today's day, nylon carpet and polyester carpet are just as good. He said 20 years ago Nylon was the way to go but today he said it makes no difference. Is this true?
Gosh, you should get paid for all this advice you give, thanks so much.
Carri,
The salesman that told you polyester and nylon were "just as good" was either uninformed or lying to you.
The Shaw product that was Comfort Touch is not as strong as nylon. You should look at some of the new looped or pattern products made from solution dyed nylon. Shaw has about eight of these that should work for you.
Good Luck,
JIm
Thank you Carpetguru!
We have now found the exact carpet we want. It is Shaw's Atlantic point HGB05 carpet. It is rated 4.0, very high Face weight, and nylon. All very good for wear. The last question I have is this. We have 2 quotes on the exact same carpet, one from "End of the Roll", and the other from "Kind of Floors". End of the Roll will sell it to us for $4.99 sq ft, plus a top of the line Shaw underpad for $1.10 sq ft, plus installation of $1.00. Total price is $7.09. King of Floors will sell to us with Triple Touch underpad and installation for %5.99 sq ft. I think the underpads are pretty much the same, both 8 lbs anyway. I would think the prices would have been more equal. Should I be suspicious of the lower price, of just accept the good deal I am getting. I would suspect the labor may be a few cents different possibly. Not sure if I am missing anything on buying from a discount flooring centre. What is your opinion? Thank you so much.
When choosing between two dealers you need to make sure the carpet you have selected comes in only one weight; not a good ,better, best offering. Also, if there is a large difference in price you need to ask how much for the total job from each dealer not the per sq ft. price. Have each dealer measure the job and give you a final completed price. Make sure each bid includes all the same services. Then if there is still a big difference in price, you need to research which dealer has the best reputation for happy customers.
Hope this helps,
Jim
we are replacing the carpet, 1500 sq ft stairs include. we have always heard the nylon is best for matting, texture retention, etc.
the carpet company told us of the triexta smartstrand by mohawk. it is less than the nylon stainmaster. is the triexta a better product than nylon, and in fact being cheaper be a better buy?
so confused!
While Triexta is a great fiber for wear and stain resistance, it is not a miracle fiber. The key to long wear is construction. If the nylon carpet is more expensive, perhaps it is better constructed (tighter twist, more fiber, denser etc) than the triexta product.
I advise my customers with pets to purchase the triexta, while at the same time warning them that it could take six weeks to get their carpet. Mohawk is having trouble keeping up with demand for this new fiber.
Hope this helps,
Jim
Yes, it does help, as I am learning a lot by finding your site today. So the key is to find the most dense, tighter twist as you can for the money. If it exists in the triexta at a lower cost, that will be a better carpet, right?
We are looking at Horizon (mohawk) south padre island, but it looks like it is less dense. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Thanks so much!
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